[Solomon Ward] Calls go out. Random calls, unplanned calls, unscheduled communications. Some may already be in the chantry, others may have to travel to it. Such is life. Either way time is getting short and the priest is getting a hold of people. He may have asked Nathan to do the same. What ever it took.
Besides, every one needs a side kick right ?
So he waits, in the first living room of the chantry. Big Black Bag settled at his feet like some sort of security blanket. Tired and worn looking, but not as much before.
Time is of the essence, these days.
[Nathan Spriggs] The priest's call reaches Nathan, who was until recently occupied meeting someone else for much the same reasons as this very meeting. When asked, he reaches all the people he can get ahold of while himself and the Orphan named Kage.
They arrive by her truck shortly after, the Cultist taking the front as he checks around the house for a moment and steps inside. He had some things to mention to the priest himself, brainstorming had occurred and he had made a realization or two along the way.
[Emily Littleton] The Apprentice comes, and not entirely begrudgingly, back to the Chantry for the second or third time this weekend. She's beginning to think she out to get a nicer car, since the El ride between her place and the Chantry is hardly worth the bother. And this time she's offered to pick up Ashley along the way.
She's wearing a navy blue dress tonight, it comes to her knees. There's a bright white stencil of a giraffe on its front. Emily's hair has been wound back into a loose knot at her nape, and there's the messenger bag. As always. But that's about as together as the Apprentice gets on a Sunday evening without any forewarning. That and she's swapped the flip-flops for bright white tennies.
[Basil Gillingson] Basil arrives not long after his call...he takes a seat at the table but remains quiet. He was there to listen...input if he had to but he had no new information to add...he knew that from the get-go.
[Israel Cohen] She's there, dressed simply: A soft lilac sundress, modest enough, though sleeveless. She's sitting near or next to Solomon, a mug of steaming coffee in her hands, legs tucked up beside her, dress smoothed over her knees. On the table a cafe service and a tea kettle emit lazy, fragrant steam. Assorted coffee mugs; a pastry box filled with baklava, a tray of fudge brownies, a fair sized platter of sliced veggies, deli meats, cheese and crackers [the cheese is partitioned well away from the meat] and a stack of napkins.
Those who know her know well enough that Israel is a firm believer that food makes pretty much everything better.
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley is a bit more grudging than Emily, when it comes to coming to the chantry for another meeting. She hates them, feels out of place and awkward in the large gatherings of mages, and resents having to watch what she says at all times. She resents having to be politique in a way she doesn't have to worry about when she speaks to people one-on-one.
The Tytalan shows up with Emily, dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue and orange striped shirt. She doesn't look quite as tired as she did earlier this week, appears to have finally gotten a night or two of sleep. No signs of grief on her face, in her demeanor, even if she is still drained.
Food does indeed make everything better, and by the time others are arriving, Ashley has already put together a sandwich and grabbed a handful of baklava. Who knows where she puts it.
[K. R. Jakes] The red-haired Orphan shows up with Nathan. Her truck -- black, monstrous -- is parked down the block, around a corner. She's dressed plainly, jeans, a demure white blouse, red red hair loosening from its tie. It's a hot day in Chicago, Hell-hot, steaming, muggy. She watches Nathan as he scopes out the place first and once they're in the room that will be used for the meeting, she makes a point of saying hello to Israel and Solomon, an aloud-thing, a not-just-a-courteous-nod, which is what Emily, Ashley, Basil all get. Ashley and Emily, maybe, each get a quirk of her eyebrow, something not-quite-inscrutable, something eloquent. A sort've suppressed, And here we are. Is that baklava?
[Solomon Ward] "I apologize for the short notice... I'm starting to realize that I've got a talent for interrupting peoples lives, so I'll try to make this as condensed as I can", he starts, waiting for the bulk majority of those called to be assembled. He'd called them all, or had them called, for a purpose. Nathan and he had been working close for the past week, getting to the root of a few issues. Israel was an obvious. Ashley, for all her 'sort it yourself' attitude wanted to be Deacon. Good, she could. Emily had found out some important information and so her contribution, even as an apprentice, was worth its weight. Mr. Gillingson ? Well, Mr. Gillingson and the priest had an under standing for now, perhaps one born of necessity, but when a Templar and a Quaesitor start putting their heads together, the situation has likely become very... ugly.
The man doesn't bother to partake of the food. He's got sheafs of paper and hand scrawled notes, a map, various depictions... your typically slew of nearly incoherent short hand an a mix mash of occult arcana that comes with such a rigidly ancient lore.
"This is what we have so far. It doesn't leave the people in this room, with the exception of updating Dr. Atlas of the Sons of Ether, Mr. Page of the Choir Celestial. Repeating the contents of this meeting to any other persons is tantamount to betrayal; I can not explain the severity of the information that's about to be shared."
He shuffles papers, more an academic at heart than nay real sort of leader. "One. We have a dead line. July fourth. The so called Chalice is actually a large opal. That date is the perfect juncture which with to fill the Chalice with the 'shadow of Telos' as it was called. Souls. The entity needs to fill it with souls. We have a location on the Chalice. We have partial Name on the demon, as well as its specific House before the fall and its cosmological purpose. That means we have a way, the basis, of how to fight it. "
Another breath, another look at his hand scrawled notes before he goes on. "The creature that calls itself Edom Baselious was an Angel of Death. Again, for the non monotheists in the room, feel free to drop the Judeo-Christian structure of what I say if it makes you happier. Again, it doesn't change the concept of what it is. A sentient concept, a self willed and self guiding cosmological force of entropy and decay. That rebelled against Creation. Later, it rebelled against the rebellion. I did som,e research and found contexts to similar names and titles. They vanished about two thousand years ago. As it hasn't been overly subtle since its arrival in the city, I'm bound to believe its unstable. What I mean to say is, if an entity that wants to unravel creation could possibly be more unstable. It also belongs to a faction of the fallen that want to see that end of creation carried out. Sooner than later...
"Thoughts, questions, additional information, or any thing I missed before I begin to lay out the tentative groundwork of what we might call a plan ?"
Sure, call it a plan, Solomon. Like a fucking billion year sentient force of the cosmos can really be planned for... but it makes feel better to think so.
[Ashley McGowen] "After speaking with Kage the other night," Ashley says, with a nod toward the Orphan, "I did my own research, and I can confirm the information you've found. I've also acquired the True Name of the chalice itself, which might prove useful when we actually go to retrieve it."
That appears to be the Hermetic's contribution. She watches Solomon, raises her eyebrows as if to ask him for his plan, and transfers a piece of the baklava, whole, into her mouth.
[Ashley McGowen] [Scratch that part about the True Name, she'd say she's working on acquiring it! Apparently she doesn't have it yet, sorry!]
[Israel Cohen] "The 'Shadow of Telos' is probably better seen as the timing needed - or preferred - for putting the Chalice into play. Like the warning from the Umbrood messenger weeks ago, it seems more accurately a designator, a colourful depiction of the Red Star's alignment." Her interjections - postulation, clarification - is quiet spoken per usual; one finger wanders along the smoothness of the heated mug in finespun hands. "Apparently that is the 4th of July?" She turns her face in the direction she last heard Kages voice -- whether or not the woman is still there; certainly Israel has no other way of telling until she speaks up again. "My concern," well, one of them. Her concerns are many. "is where is the Demon getting the souls to fill it? The Tormented ones he seems to have at his disposal? Or fresh ones?" It pains some part of her to speak of human souls so briefly, so nakedly... but, alas, what can one do?
[Emily Littleton] By the time they've seated themselves, Emily has collected a cup of coffee. Caffeine being requisite to dealing with demons, or so she'd learned from her own research this weekend. She'd collected a piece of baklava, okay two, and a napkin. With Owen absent, she pulled out a notebook to jot down whatever innocuous thoughts she could ot jog her memory later... but when Solomon called down the spectre of betrayal and treason, that notebook went away. Stowed safely back in the belly of her messenger bag, which was tucked behind her feet against the legs of the chair.
"Everything I have to contribute Father Ward and Owen Page are already aware of," Emily says, carefully. As if talking about this topic at all makes her vaguely uneasy.
[Basil Gillingson] Basil listened, taking in the information but staying silent. His fingers drummed slightly across the surface..his eyes closed. The discussion was to the point and so far no squabbling on details and who would do what had started.
[Nathan Spriggs] The Cultist remains quiet as the room is briefed, no signs of surprise or disbelief at the news however. He had known it for a while now, most of it anyhow, the Name part had been news to him too. Everything else had been uncovered recently, but he'd been there or briefed. A look around, he considers something. Several matters that needed to be brought to attention.
Ashley's contribution however gets a quirked brow, interested maybe? It was good to know there was information they were still missing since the big picture was still fragmented. When they continue speaking, he decides to step forward with potentially important information Solomon missed.
"We also learned it has a pestilence spirit working for it. Guarding the chalice in the Umbra. It would be good to investigate on that side too. We need to obtain this chalice before the 4th."
[K. R. Jakes] "Why not both?" Kage says, quiet, to Israel's question: her voice is smoke; is cool. Composed, controlled; she is a reserved creature. "The fourth of July," the way she says it, as confirmation, "Independence Day. It's a day when the crowds come out. If another disaster like the one at the bridge were to strike, well," a pause, she shrugs: loose, elegant. "Assuming the fresher, the better, it's a good day for a harvest."
[Solomon Ward] "Right, so, that being the case..." nodding to Kage. He still wasn't entirely sure who the woman was, but be damned if she wasn't the voice of reason and forethought every time he met the woman. Points to her, even if it was all doom and gloom. It was valid.
"So we have two problems, Edom and his plot. I count them as two problems because we're going to have to separate the man from his toy. Which we have to secure. From the the other side of the Shadow. Said Shadow is so unstable right now, even I won't fool with it right now. I highly recommend to others to be especially wary of the use of any Sight or spiritual arts. So actually, physically, retrieving the Chalice is a problem we need to figure out and quickly".
"My proposal... I know it was mentioned of assigning Cabals to specific tasks. We can try that. Unfortunately, do to skill sets, knowledge's, and magical practices that may not be possible. We're going to need one group to go for the Chalice. At the exact same time, this is going to take some coordination, we're going to have to have second group challenge Edom and hold it off. I believe it is possible to do so. Myself, Mr. Gillingson, and Dr. Winters will likely compromise the second team. Unfortunately, that's most of the magi in this room with any real Shadow arts that I'm aware of, or ?" he trails off, letting the question sit. Who else can summon, beseech, or interact with the Unfleshed.
"I'd rather keep the plan for confronting Edom confidential. Now we need to figure out how to pull the Chalice across, or get to it. I can, if needed, create a Shallowing at the site of the node. At this current juncture I'm also rather sure that doing so would kill who ever had to trek that far across the umbral city, it would turn the Chantry into a gate that would require massive defense, and it could very well rend Catherine... not the wisest course of action by any means."
[Ashley McGowen] "I don't know of many who are familiar enough with the Ars Spirituum, other than yourself, to open a Shallowing in order to go through and get the chalice," Ashley tells Solomon. "But I would think it would be possible to pull the chalice itself directly through on its own, if we could find out where it is."
There's a pause, a beat while the Hermetic folds her arms, gaze trailing away while she considers. "Opening a Shallowing here in the chantry is a terrible idea. Particularly since we have so few Willworkers who are skilled in dealing with spirits themselves. It would be difficult for us to defend against whatever came through. Would it be possible to just -move- the chalice elsewhere within the Umbra, or hide it, until after the second group kills Edom? If he can't find it it's still useless to him, even if it's not in our possession. We can get it later."
[Basil Gillingson] Basil listened...he knew that he could reach across the Shadow to touch something...wondering if it would be possible to remove it.
"You will still need someone to help remove the chalice. As Disciple Ward has stated...I, himself, and Disciple Winters will likely be engaging the demon. So who amongst us who has Ars Manos will be aiding you in this?"
[Emily Littleton] Emily casts a look at Kage. It's a little lost-and-seeking. The language, here, preempts her from actively joining the conversation. She wonders, albeit silently, if the Other with the cold-fire hair has ever felt this set-aside from a meeting, excepted from the whole by something as seemingly innocuous as language.
It divides.
"It is possible that someone in my cabal has a rudimentary knowledge of these... Ars... if someone would like to translate for me, later, I can get back to you with any potential names."
[Israel Cohen] At Ashley's mentioned idea and Basil's comment, Israel shakes her head, her lips pressing together in a small grimace -like remembered pain or perhaps a chagrin of admittance, "Not likely. I don't think a Disciple of Spirit could manage it either. It's next to impossible to get a read of any sort on it and what you can sense is... fixed and obfuscated. I think if the Chalice is retrieved it'll have to be done the old fashioned way: Fighting for it, up close and personal."
Then, to Emily, "Ars Manos refers to the Sphere of Spirit." a hint of a smile in her lips; some understanding there -- to be on the 'outs' of the Hermetics pet names for such things. Not, of course, that they are the only Tradition to have them by far.
And,
"Barring finding some feasible way of getting into the Shadow to retrieve the Chalice... the only other option is to have people prepared and waiting on the 4th." Best option, hardly. But barring some feasible way of transporting a group of them into the Umbra... "If it is looking to take fresh souls chances are high another Shallowing will appear. If the Demon can be handled as soon as possible - prior to the 4th - those of us able to manipulate the Barrier might be able to hold it open long enough for the rest to try and thwart what's going on."
[K. R. Jakes] Emily glances at Kage, and Kage is looking at Emily. The Orphan does this: when someone speaks, she studies them; she studies, too, the reactions of those who are listening. Her expression is pensive; her eyes are dark. She is thinking, planning. Kage is a thinker. Those who know her, well - they've likely realized this by now. Kage is cautious. There's a reason she's managed to attain the level of enlightenment she has while being without a Tradition. So all she says, or adds, is - " - I can keep an eye on the other side; alas, that is all." A beat. "If Kaya is still in the city," another shrug, loose: "I believe she has the requisite abilities."
[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan considers the position they're in, weighs the roles that needed to be played. What needed to be done. It isn't hard for him to decide which of the two teams he'd be better suited in. Much as he didn't like the thought of it. First though, another relatively important matter. "A map on the table has the place we've found the chalice to be in marked. Near the shoreline of Chicago and Lake Michigan."
Now to actual business, much as he dreaded it. But then more reason to put it off! The suggestion of Kaya being involved. He considers that for a moment, weighing whatever personal feelings on the matter he has with allowing a Demon to have his way. Not a hard decision to make. Not to him anyway. "I think Kaya is, I can get in contact with her on this matter." That's that.
"As for teams, I believe I'd be of at least some assistance on the team against Edom. At the very least to provide cover and take some of the heat off you." He says, that's right, suggesting himself a living target. Better than the alternative though. Only Israel and Solomon would understand why.
[Solomon Ward] Solomon shakes his head slowly to Ashley, the thought already having had crossed his mind, "I don't have the necessary skills. With out a knowledge of the manipulation of material objects I could reach over and move it, shove it, touch it... but I can't draw it back across with out higher understanding of spiritual principles or the manipulation of solid matter. Though now that you mention it, I could potentially ensorcel some one or some thing that could grant that power, and then they, with the proper knowledge, could... but the difficulty would be staggering, especially given an amateur in such arts attempting to apply them with whats effectively only a hammer, a tool. The idea of moving it solely on the umbral side has merit, but there's going to be so many spooks and boojums in the area, I doubt it would go unnoticed for long. If we can't get to this thing, we're out of luck until the day of the fourth... not an ideal time for cabals of mages to be running around a crowded city, flinging who knows what".
Still, Ashley's initial idea had got him thinking, and apparently Mr. Gillingson along similar lines.
"As to the Shallowing, you wouldn't need mages with spiritual arts. The gauntlet would, for a limited time, be reduced to nothing. It would be as before the mythological shattering. It isn't a matter of spiritual arts, its numbers. We simply wouldn't have enough mages in the city to hold back the things that may be gathering on the other side. At the Node that is" a slight wave of the hand "If we have to wait for the fourth, and there is a second shallowing, Israel's right. We can use that to our advantage, and myself and perhaps Mr. Gillingson can hold it open for others to get back out. Still risky, but feasible. Sadly that's also a worse case scenario."
Israel's lucky she's blind. The priest is glaring at her, and there's a thrum of resonance in the air as the mystical connection that binds them together twangs.
A glance to Nathan, and a small shake of the head "I appreciate your sincerity, Nathan, but Edom is going to require mages well versed in spiritual arts, wardings, life magic, entropic essences, and quintessential manipulation. You've got the latter, but unless you have moderate to amazing talents in any of the former... "
[Ashley McGowen] There's a frustrated noise out of the Hermetic as Solomon makes his response, though it doesn't seem to be directed at the priest. "We don't have enough mages with Ars Spirituum. Always seems to be a problem."
She glances toward Kage, then to Nathan, when Kaya's name is mentioned. "Kaya is unstable," she says, blunt. "I'm reluctant to trust her with something like this when she's proven to be flighty in the past, and has some Nephandic entity hunting her across the Gauntlet. The last thing we need is for -it- to show up and throw in."
She bites the inside of her cheek, looking back toward Solomon. "If the Gauntlet thins to nothing, a group of mages should be able to cross it and get a hold of the chalice then, shouldn't they? I mean, getting back -out- might be a problem, but..."
[Basil Gillingson] Basil went back to his silence after saying his peace. He listened once more, offering very little beyond his earlier words.
[Ashley McGowen] [Scratch Ashley's last question, misread Jessiah's post.]
[Emily Littleton] "I don't know about Spirits," Emily offers, unsurprisingly, to the class. "But if I'm correct, Warding is an extension of Correspondence? And I've at least rudimentary understanding of that art, as well as life pattern and entropy. I am currently studying quintessential energy, or however Father Ward and Mr. Gillingson best choose to describe it."
There is a small pause here, because she's said this before to no avail, but it bears repeating. "Should there by any way that I can assist a more experienced Awakened in his or her work, I would be happy to do so. Both in preparation for and at the time of this encounter."
[S. Ashton Winters] There's a meeting going on.
There's a meeting going on and this particular mage, in Union blue scrubs and a ponytail that has seen better days, comes to the chantry after a day that was rife with car accidents and what-have-you. Her schedule is...
Awkward.
She comes to where there's a gathering of people, and makes little fanfare. People know who she is; it's cold. Of course they know who she is.
[Israel Cohen] She is aware of the feeling of the glare or, more so, the charged twang in the connection between them. Once upon a time [she was after all, his apprentice] it might have made her flinch back. Years later there is a tension in her jaw [willful. what is done is done.], the barest inclination of her head. [I'm sorry it came out this way.]. Then she's moving along, shaking her head. "Better minds than myself might be able to suss out what holds the Chalice in place and makes it so.. slippery... to scry. I can share my impressions with anyone who would care to 'see' for themselves." A slight shrug, her words earnest: From what she could tell it seemed well beyond the capabilities of anyone she knew, but she'd be glad to be proven wrong.
Then, "And... it's not entirely the worst case scenario. Not completely. There's one benefit to a group of Magi going in through a Shallowing and attacking: We would have the liberty to use our Arts in a manner which hurts us here in our world. Paradox does not function in the Shadow as it does here; the bonds of the Concensus dampen or obliterate completely. We experienced that last night." It isn't news to make the whole matter much more thrilling, but it's a perk. A benefit. The little blind ray of [sorrowfilled, hope willing] sunshine.
Emily speaks up and Israel again inclines her ear the younger womans way, "Actually there is a very good way yourself and others could prove helpful: In deterring any Sleepers who might wander upon what is going on. For their own safety and the general greater good. And, in general, watch the backs of whoever goes in there, if that is what it comes down to."
[K. R. Jakes] Of Kaya, Kage (neutral) says - "It's true; I wouldn't vouch for her stability, or for her ability to perform under pressure."
Solomon says that he doesn't have the necessary skills. This is a point that the Mages come back to again, and again: not having a Sphere; not having a knowledge. And it's a wall, but walls have door, right? Kage says - "I imagine that focusing on what we do not have is going to become an exercise in frustration. Look: the people in this room are, by and large, intelligent creatures; where one of us lacks, another may not -- and I believe that's where ritual comes in. Perhaps there's some way to effect the Chalice -- or Edom -- before the 4th, not just by sending out individual Magi collected in a group, but by creating a Working. In tangent. Together. Where there's a gap, someone else fills it: a nice, tidy knot. It might take some creativity."
"I mean, there are plenty of people in this room with the ability to Reach, with the ability to share things, Mind-to-Mind. Maybe it's possible to Rube Goldberg the Chalice out. Heck: to replace it with a copy. The copy probably wouldn't fool its keepers for very long, but..." Kage trails away, her chin cupped in the palm of her hand. "If Ashley gets its True Name, I imagine this will be easier."
Israel speaks, too, and Kage listens to that, pensive-thing, says - "It might behoove everybody to try and figure out where some kind of 'harvest' is most likely to take place. Assuming it'll take place in one location. Where are the most people going to be gathered on the Fourth? Weak spots, well: maybe they can be shored up, and disasters averted. If people aren't killed, and their souls aren't..."
She trails away, because it's a messy topic. Maybe also because Ashton comes in, and draws the Orphan's attention. Doesn't seem like there's anything else she wants to add. Kage is still in thinking-about-things stage. Testing options.
[Nathan Spriggs] The Cultist is quiet as Solomon shoots down his idea, holding back a response. He understands what's on the line. More ideas traded back and forth, he looks from Israel to Emily to Kage as they speak. First to what Israel says, in regards to Emily. "What methods do you think would be best for that? We'd need to know where things are dangerous in the first place, though the beach is a given and that's mostly on the 4th. In any case, I have a few ways to help with that."
To what Kage says, he nods. "I can also see about that as well, tracking down reserved spots for parties as well as annually held ones shouldn't be too difficult."
[Ashley McGowen] There are a lot of ideas being thrown around, and Ashley is quiet, thoughtful, while she tries to parse through all of them. While she tries to figure out which would be the best solution, the least likely to result in the deaths of valuable chantry members - what would be the most challenging.
Truth be told, she'd like to be in the group hunting down Edom, but she recognizes the sense in being elsewhere. "The problem with ritual magic here," Ashley tells Kage, "is that each person would need to know the rudiments of what's involved and have a basic understanding and agreement with what everyone -else- is doing. It might not jive with a group with this much disparity." There's a wry look in the Hermetic's eyes, something that passes. "But replacing it with a copy is a thought."
She bites the inside of her cheek again. "If it becomes necessary to lead a group through - which is looking like the most likely option, at this point - I'll go through. Another option if we can't get to the chalice itself - I could Will as many Sleepers as possible to try to stay inside or keep them away from certain areas, though it would be easier if they had a reason to rationalize it."
[atlas Mason] Footsteps resound on the porch steps outside, footsteps that interrupt and intercede with the meeting already in progress within the nexus point for the mage's of Chicago. Those footsteps are followed by a sudden and repeated rap upon the front door, polite and nice, before the white door itself swung open gently on its hinges.
Who strode in upon that moment, that meeting of paradigms and minds, but the elusive yet ever present Atlas Mason, tonight though there was no roar of a motorcycle well past its age, the Etherite must have found his way here by other means today, considerably less obvious way's to be certain.
He strode into the entrance way, glancing about as he called out openly. "Are there any personages located within the physical limitations of this...oh." He says as he stops and notes the presence of several individuals all sitting about the living room, he looked from one to the next coming to grasp with the fact that they were probably here for similar reasons to his own.
He was as he always was...however tonight there was a sense of intense interest, behind a scholarly visage the man was almost manic with excitement, and in his hands, he held an intricate, inverted metal pyramid, of which the design is elegant, masterful, potent, and all together occult.
"A societal convergence is already in progress within this physical locality? This increases the forward motion capacity of this time juncture by 25.27%." He says with a smile as he steps into the room.
[Solomon Ward] A small hand is waved towards Kage. Not so much dismissively, simply a 'won't work, "The problem with that is two fold. One, each member of the ritual must have knowledge of what many of you refer to as arts or spheres. If they don't have a basic understanding of all arts involved, it cant be done... Ms. McGowen covered that admirably. Second is magical style and knowledge. I can easily combine my magic with Israel's, and maybe Mr. Gillingson or Ms. McGowen. Emily is pliable, as shes young. Nathan, Dr. Mason, and myself are completely incompatible. We just don't have the same arcane and occult correspondences"
"Don't get me wrong Nathan...its appreciated. Also, consider you have a very strong talent for divination and probability.. maybe not all powerful, but more than most in this room from what I gather. That can go a long way to aiding a group of mages who may not be entirely in their element when it comes down to things."
Theres a look cast to Ashley, a double take almost, in hindsight of her words about Kaya. A look that carries weight, as if he wishes to speak to her later. It also gets Nathan a small glare.
Wonderful.
[Emily Littleton] Emily glances from Israel to Ashley, and then to Nathan. "I am happy to help with redirection and rationalization. If we think through a common excuse beforehand, we may even have the upper hand in believability. Little things like uniforms go a long way in selling a half-truth -- and there should be enforcement out in force for a holiday."
"Maybe we should talk about that, off-line, Nathan? I'm sure we can come up with something together." She smiled, gently, however displeased she may be about working together with the Cultist who recently shot her would-be-Mentor.
[K. R. Jakes] Kage listens to Ashley, to Solomon, and hms to herself. It's easy for Kage to fit different paradigms into one Working -- at least, it's easy in her head; but she's an Orphan, and her world-view is particularly flexible. She doesn't seem put-out, just: okay, still thinking.
Enter, Atlas. Kage smiles at him -- brief smile, but true. Says, "Hey, Atlas. Good timing."
[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan gets a glare, not quite sure why. But he does. A look over to Emily as she suggests a course of action and a nod when she suggest talking about it later. An idea at Solomon's words though, why didn't he think of it before. "That gives me an idea. I don't know for certain with what accuracy, but I could look to see if we can track Edom's movements or at least the biggest danger zone. Unfortunately I'm incapable of using Correspondence magic, though if I could somehow boost someone's with my own Time and Entropy magic..."
[S. Ashton Winters] "Timeline on this. Is it going down in the next couple of days?" she has to ask, sh ehas to.
She watches, she listens... and asks because it's June. It doesn't feel right for her to be so cold this time of year. She folds her arms across her chest, "we might have already covered this, but I need to be certain so appropriate measures can be taken."
[Solomon Ward] "Before July fourth, if at all possible... though if we can't figure out how to get a group in the umbra, that isn't suicide, before that... who knows. Right now it looks like we're screwed until this prophetic shit storm comes to pass" A slight shrug.
[Ashley McGowen] Ashley sighs, raises a hand and rubs the back of her neck as Solomon speaks again. "If we don't have any other options...then if it's dangerous, it's dangerous. We have to do something."
[atlas Mason] Atlas receives a smatterings of welcome's and he returns the gestures in kind with a amiable smile and a nod in each person's direction as he listens intently, parsing together data as he listened to each person talk about him. He gets a small portion of whats going on, what the topic is, but he seems to be lost on precisely what it is they are attempting to discuss.
"I must interject and disengage this cross conglomeration dissemination of data and action plan preparation and designation with a pertinent query with which to clarify the particulars and requirements of this convergence before I may ascertain the potency or direct usefulness of my personages' own specific data and materiel."
He says/asks as he looks from person to person trying to ascertain exactly what was going on. Sol mentions something about crossing into the Ether and he raises a brow.
"Furnish and disseminate the requested data and my personage may have a particular device that is capable of fulfilling your required task."
[Israel Cohen] At Atlas' entrace she'd smiled at his greeting.. rather distracted and tired, but smiled nonetheless. "Hi, Atlas... there's some food and coffee and tea..[/i]" Indicating the table.
Things move on then; for now there seems to be a lull in ideas to put out on the table, the reality of what has been discussed and what options there seem to be sinking in. Then Atlas speaks up again and the blind woman cants her head to the side, eyebrows arching up, interested. Curious. Dubious. Hopeful?
"The problem is this: We know that the Demon - Edom as he calls himself - had in his possession an item called the Twilight Star, an Opal that, we believe, can serve as a chalice for soul harvesting. We even know where abouts he's hidden it... but it's in the Umbra, which is teeming with dangers as Telos hangs over us and, from my own attempts at crying, is difficult to get a register on and seems solidly held or fixed in place... it seems the only way to get it safely away from the Demon's usage is to wait for when he plans to use it - the 4th of July it seems - and hope that if a Shallowing appears a team can go in and try to rest the Opal free. There's... something you have that can help?" Quizzical, but not dismissive.
[K. R. Jakes] Kage: listens, says nothing. Her attention is on Atlas. Her gaze, eloquent, echoes Israel's question.
[Nathan Spriggs] Nathan doesn't particularly add anything. Just waiting and listening for now.
[S. Ashton Winters] She sighs, and adjusts her ponytail. The woman watches for now.
[atlas Mason] Israel, blessed Israel furnishes Atlas with the information that he needed, and the man thinks on her words for a few moments before a smile spreads across his lips, it is both a friendly, and eager smile, that manic look in his eyes spreading ever so slightly, oh the science he would do! and the assistants he would gather here tonight.
"Particular gratitudes categorized and released within the vicinity of your personalized dynamic sphere Israel." The man says with a nod in the blind woman's direction before looking back to the group in general.
"Synchronizing our intended action junctures with that of the actualizing free form super-ether based entity labelled Edom would be a gross miscalculation initiated by ourselves alone. The acquisition and neutralization of the aberrant materiel catagorized by its properties as an essential etheric essence cultivation and capture device is at this juncture, plausible."
He says now holding up the inverted, and intricate looking pyramid he had walked in within his hands, the thing is made of metal, and is clearly arcane in its design, but here was Atlas, master of technology...of a sort holding it like it was normal as daylight.
"This device operates on similar principles to the Lafette's currently inoperable light space fold drive systems. Its internalized paradigmic components actualize and replicate the standardized spatial dimensional wormhole utilized by many etheric and non etheric devices and paradigmic effects. Nominal operation requires the presence and direct interaction of three paradigmically initiated individuals with no concurrent or parallel capabilties. Given current statistical data, this...is the most efficent route to the afformentioned materiel."
[Solomon Ward] Solomon blinks. Once. Twice. Three times.
I actually understood all of that... .
"We have a solution for Edom" he says to Atlas, given the mans statement. That part is going to get settled one way or another, but Solomon is confident it will work... or at least work well enough to remove the man from the picture when they go for the Chalice.
"What you just came up with... When ? How ? I'm amazed at the good fortune...."
Because so far, every thing else has been a trap. Paranoid much ?
[Emily Littleton] Emily's trying to parse what Atlas is saying. She gets most of it, but it's confusing there at the end.
"No concurrent or parallel capabilities?" she asks. "Does that mean that, as long as three Awakened with paradigms that support your workings are working together, they don't need to have overlapping gifts?"
[Israel Cohen] She cannot see what Atlas is holding, of course, but what he says has her sitting up, placing her bare feet on the hardwood floors and unseeing hazel eyes widen, though their direction is somewhat over and to the left of Atlas' shoulder or thereabouts. "Wait... you have a device... a Wonder?... that can... open a portal into the Umbra?" her words are tentative as she works out what the man just said in all his techno-phraseology. "Can it sustain such an opening? And seal it again as needed? Is it an Artifact? A Charm? A Talisman?" There are differences, yes, though ultimately not pressingly important.
[Ashley McGowen] It takes what Atlas is saying a moment to process, but when it does, Ashley looks at the device he's holding aloft with interest. And a moment of hope, of the first inkling that they might be able to do this without it being nigh unto suicidal, without waiting and relying upon unknowns.
"If that's what it does, we should get a group together, plan out how to retrieve it, and get it as soon as possible. I'll go."
[K. R. Jakes] "So it's like a key," Kage says, also: seeking clarification, perhaps, "which opens a door."
A beat. And: "If that's what it does," an echo, of Ashley, "then whoever uses it should use it as close to the chalice's exact location in the oth--in the Umbra as possible. How does it work, Atlas? Did you create it yourself? Can the three individuals, uhm, operating it be the three who go through, or do they need to stay in one place, in order to keep it open?"
[Nathan Spriggs] The Cultist shifts at Atlas' words, attention falling on the device. Memories of another box that took people to the Umbra still fresh in his mind. It was either a trap or something worse. Either way, bad news and probably a necessity right now.
[Solomon Ward] A shake of the head to Ashley, raising one hand as if to imply the woman have some patience.
"Mr Gillingson, myself, and Dr. Winters, minimum, should tie the entity up first. We either have to remove it from the equation in its entirety, or we have to be able to delay its ability to retaliate."
A slight pause.
"I don't know its exact capabilities. What it did, exactly, as a cosmic force. All I know is 'Angel of Death' is pretty clear cut. It isn't some thing I'd want rearing up possesively over some thing I was often when half the mages don't have the occult knowledge to even attempt to hedge out its powers. ...
... we kill it, or slow it. Stall it. Banish it. What ever it takes. Don't go for the Chalice before that takes place. During, after, what ever. Not before"
[Ashley McGowen] "Then figure out when you're going to go, and we'll coordinate something," Ashley says - and yes, her tone is a touch impatient. It isn't one of her virtues. Well, most of the time it isn't.
"This isn't something we have a lot of time to sit on."
[atlas Mason] They all begin questioning once he revealed what he had in his hands, their interest piqued only after the devices intent came to mind, he shook his head slightly as a thought crossed his mind before he turned his attentions to addressing each of their questions and concerns. He turns first to the young priest.
"This device is actualized by the integration and assembly of three concurrent components, each of which were discovered and reclaimed from the materiel that had formerly been the physical structures of the three opposing paradigmic individuals encountered in the sub level of the sexually aligned and provocative display business which several of our personages converged upon recently."
He then looked to Emily and smiled, it was a proud thing, the woman had made a logic jump, he loved those. "Both correct and incorrect is your thesis upon the effect of this device Emily, the individuals do not require similar knowledge or capabilities, in addition they do not require to be paradigmically aligned, however it is unlikely that the device would function if members of the technocratic conglomeration were utilized."
He then looks over to Israel. "The correct correlating title utilized by non Etheric socio-conglomerations would be that of a Talisman Israel, and your posited statement of the operation of the device is precisely what I had indicated to post hence."
Finally he turns to Kage, shaking his head. "The individuals that utilize the device are the personages who will incur dimensional phasic transition, they're structures once, transitioned will be required to remain within a specific proximity.
[Israel Cohen] "Ashley," This is said quietly but not cajoling. "Solomon, Basil and Ashton will be attempting to take on a relative incarnation of Entropy and Death. They will act as quickly as they can but it isn't something that can be lightly slapped together." She isn't playing up the risk those three are taking. That should be clear enough. The probability of one or more [all] of them not coming back from their encounter?
Very. Very. High. That her voice is nearly a whisper is perhaps the only indication of what a strain [terror] the idea is for her.
Then, "Alright, so... I think for now we need to start to figure out: Who will be going after the 'Star'. Who will be working with Atlas to work the Talisman. Who will be backup/helping to keep Sleepers safe. And whether we do this after whatever happens with Eliminating the Demon happens or simultaneously. Also, are there any other Awakened we want to bring in on this? Cabalmates, certainly. What of the new Akashic in town - Li Daiyu? She seems very capable. For myself, I've been making more Charms, most of them for Healing. I might be best off acting as, er.. corpsman. Distributing the charms as needed where people are taking hits."
[Solomon Ward] Solomon just stared at Ashley for a moment before looking to Israel, nodding slightly, and nodding. He had nothing to say on the matter that the woman hadn't already mentioned admirably, and had done it with twice the finesse he could have any how.
"Dr. Winters, care to join me ? We can go over my initial idea and you and Mr. Gillingson can add your input as well. I'd sincerely like to hear you opinions and alterations once the basic ground plan is laid out."
"I appreciate every one coming. This is important. Thank you, and go with God".
Exit one priest.
[S. Ashton Winters] She nods, and starts to head off to follow the priest for some planning. Exit, one doctor. Off with said priest, and inevitably wherever she needed to go. The woman heads on.
Relative incarnation of Entropy and Death. Really sounded like something people needed a Euthanatos on.
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