Monday September 6th, 1999, continued...
... with Arashiel, Matt, Rook and Jael in their van, parked outside the Eason residence and playing chess. Bob was off acquiring Essence in that special Creationer way, and Arabis was at the residence of the two men who had been watching the Easons.
Arabis was waiting - waiting! an Ofanite! - when something else occurred to her. She had sensed a Bad Man earlier today...she should check up on him and see what sort of justice he was running from. So she switched out vessels and hunted up the man under the bridge that she had become aware of earlier. They exchanged words but he did not rise to either her words or her actions (communication failure...she tried for small talk, and he says , "Who sent you here to antagonize me, little street bitch?") . She saw that his clothes, which might once have been nice, were now dirty and abused. Arabis left, feeling the communication breakdown was Not a Good Thing, and felt his eyes follow her with every step. She returned to the Watching Men's house, and came just in time to see one of them leaving. She took her raven vessel down the chimney to investigate. in the thirty or some minutes she'd have before Man Number Two got back. After much enthusiastic wriggling -- head first -- down the chimney, Santa Ofanite emerged on the hearth...totally filthy. She carefully made her way to the kitchen, outsmarted the sink and the faucet -- one of those lever-types, thanks to the merciful GM -- and washed her raven feet. Then - hop, hop - she set off to investigate. First order of interest: the sword. She committed every detail to memory. It was certainly something ancient, something that had been used, definitely a crusader sword...and it seemed familiar, but she could not quite recall how (had it killed a vessel of hers?) . This was very clearly also not a House of Hellish Influences...looked rather more like a monastery, with lots of Christian iconography, real crucifixes, Latin bibles looking well used and old. She decided she needed hands, and changed vessels yet again...the better to pick through people's dressers, my dear. Arabis found a few personal effects, like a picture of a woman and baby from some time in the 70's but little else. There was ammunition under the bed, one bullet of which Arabis took to be true to her other vessel's nature (take shiny!) . Rifling through the desk produced paid bills, and a name: David Bruce. She sneaked back out the front door, being careful not leave prints on the doorknob. Lacking spare essence at this point - a common affliction among the PCs - she navigated her way across town by bus and human feet to rejoin her friends and share what she had learned.
After Arabis' briefing, Rook shared his conclusions: Were these creatures of evil they would be hiding themselves. Everything in their stance and what little has been learned through resonance suggested that they were good. Rook felt that the PCs should just approach them and talk. Everyone thought that was a fine idea - provided Rook went and did the talking. Matt also volunteered to go. War and Flowers - another joint mission to humanity - approached the car. The Soldier - for indeed they are - was freaked at having celestials approach and want to chat at first ... in the paranoid environment of where-is-the-Shedite anyone is suspect. Eventually, the Soldier lightened up and started talking : he and his partner and John Eason were all Soldiers in an hereditary Order belonging to Laurence. They had served in a line dating centuries into the past. They were a part of the mission on which Eason was killed and felt that some part of the local Factions might come back to exact revenge upon the remaining household. Although their Seneschal had
asked them to lie low and so technically they should not be doing this, they were doing it out of their own sense of duty, and had not told anyone what they were up to. Soldier Wilson was understandably concerned that the open approach of Rook and Matt hadn't blown his (admittedly shoddy) cover. Rook assured Wilson that should there be any fallout from angelic actions he would assist them...and a Malakite's promise is good. Wilson was not entirely appeased...because he knew how many new angels were in town. Our angelic Mulder and Scully also learned one other item of interest. This particular hereditary line in service to Laurence did include women, though not as soldiers. Thus Susannah, the elderly woman that we had already observed and was John Eason's mother, knew of his role and the nature of his death -- the Soldier said it was so. Marion and Elizabeth, however, did not know. Soldier Wilson added that without a male heir there would be no one to take over for their fallen comrade. Rook and Matt left the Angelic Cell Phone Number with the Soldier, and returned to the van (Bob had arrived back in the meantime, and was stunned by the amount of incredibly interesting activity taking place in the van...all that chess. Wow.)
That evening, at eight, Bob, Matt and Rook went to speak with Elizabeth and Perry at a local restaurant. Jael and Arashiel got a table nearby to watch and eavesdrop - and, let's face it, gossip - and Arabis stayed in the van to watch the exterior of things and listen to the radio. Matt and Bob immediately resonated them both. Perry was reserved, suspicious and curious, but had faith in Elizabeth's wisdom and would trust whatever
action she suggested. Elizabeth was open, friendly and a little anxious that we would not like her response to the offers we'd presented. The three angels soon learned that the Happy Couple did not *want* to move the wedding. Rook informed them that the PCs - whose nature was still a secret, shh, don't tell - had serious worries that the wedding would be attacked in retribution for the activities that her father had pursued and for which he died. This did not reassure our mortals. (Elizabeth: We don't really want to move the wedding, and besides, I am not particularly religious. Matt: Can we be honest with you? Perry: Haven't you been? Matt: The Botanical Gardens in Denver would offer excellent protection. Perry: What, is there some secret service base in the Botanical Gardens? Matt: Would you think to look for a secret military installation there?) Rook, feeling all of this talk was getting them way off the point, asked Elizabeth what *she* wanted to do, and thereby proved that he knew exactly who is in charge of weddings. Elizabeth said she was willing to be given away by one of her father's superiors if that person felt the need to do so. and given the potential threat , she thought maybe a move to St. Mary's Cathedral would be acceptable - provided Colonel Depew and his comrades would help with the changed arrangements as they had said that
they would. Rook, in an apparent about face, said that were it going to be St. Mary's then the wedding might as well remain in Memorial Park. At this point Matt jumped in, apparently failing the Elohite Mind Reading Trick, exasperated (but not acting because of that), and said that St. Mary's would be fine. Elizabeth and Perry, now thoroughly confused by Colonel's Depew's reversal decided to believe Matt. Rook asked the couple for the guestlist so that he and his party could call them and make the necessary changes. Elizabeth shifted neatly into business-mode and handed over the list. There remained some concern over when the mystery father would arrive -- in time for the rehearsal dinner, or at the last moment? Rook: Don't worry, Miss Eason. He will be there. He is an expert at all things honorable. Perry (as revealed by Elohite resonance checks) was distrustful but somewhat ambivalent as the angels left and Elizabeth, though somewhat bewildered, was quickly moving into the practical.
Both Matt and Bob resonated Rook, who they suspected was angry with them. They were not far off the mark. He was both frustrated and angry, both by being undermined by those he was there to work with and by the realization that there had always been a reason he did not work with these particular kinds of angels (one assumes Flowers and Creation, not Elohim). Matt also used his resonance check to determine some potential actions and results. Were he to confront Rook about these emotions Rook would ask Matt how he knew of them. Matt didn't like the sound of that one. Were Matt to ask Rook to explain why he had reversed himself on the venue then Rook would explain. Rook, disgruntled and
unaware of these resonance checks, returned to the van. At this point, the GM sees potential conflict...and cackles.
Meanwhile, Jael and Arashiel continued their dinner conversation.
They were both curious as to what role the women served in this
hereditary line of Laurencian soldiers. They had already reveled in the
apparently independent thoughts that Wilson and Bruce, both Laurencians,
were exhibiting by going against their Seneschal's orders and sticking
close to the Eason residence (Creationers! Man, can you believe 'em?) . They wondered if the women in the Eason line could also be soldiers. If Susannah Eason were still active in her service could she pass this information on to Elizabeth? They know that
Elizabeth does not believe in God. Would Perry be a hindrance to her
service or a help? (Jael: Do we want to encourage Elizabeth to become just
another mindless zombie I mean, a Laurencian soldier? Arashiel: Should we attune to them?) The Cherubim pondered that one...reluctant to attune, yet suspecting they ought to. Arashiel resonated Elizabeth and found that she would
make an excellent Soldier. They digested this information and finally decided that given the current sway of the mission and their own natures, they would attune to Perry and Elizabeth. To that end, Arashiel followed Elizabeth into the bathroom, 'accidentally'' bumped her and attuned. Then, being social and sneaky...she started a conversation...and cheated, since she knew the right questions to ask to prompt a friendly, harried human woman to chat. Who better than a caring stranger in the bathroom to tell your troubles to, after all? She learned that while Elizabeth's mother believes in God Marion also hates the Church and so will be opposed to this last minute change in locale for the wedding. "It doesn't really matter to me," Elizabeth told her. Jael meanwhile attuned to Perry.
Outside, Arabis then heard something disturbing on the radio (which Jael taught her to use -- "Press this, then this..." and Arabis was charmed). A brutally dismembered body had been found south of town. Hmm. Man under bridge - on the run from justice. Dead body. Arabis can add. The radio also mentioned a similarity in this body's state to several other unsolved murders trailing up from the south. A serial killer, maybe. When Rook and the closely trailing Matt arrived, she explained that she wanted to pursue this person fleeing justice. She wanted Rook to come. And she wanted to go to the Tether to switch forms so she could a)change quietly and b) fly instead of ride. Since the restaurant was only a block from the hotel, Rook told Matt what had transpired, and he and Arabis were Off To Deal Justice. When Bob and the Cherubim arrive in the parking lot, Matt reported with some vigor that Rook and Arabis had gone off to kill someone.
Upon reaching the Tether, Rook and Arabis informed Laban- Lael of the
change in wedding venue. He was pleased to hear that it would be in a Catholic
church at least. With Arabis successfully changed, the two left to
track down her target. They found him on foot and proceeding north. Rook resonated him...and found out that (by his own standards, mind) his most noble act was to kill a woman and his most ignoble action was to spare the life of someone who was bothering him. Rook made a 911 call to hopefully get the man arrested by the police, and feigned being victim of a peeping tom type. When the police arrived (in no great rush, either) it seemed that the Bad Man was going to get away -- he bolted down an alley. Can't have that! Rook knocked him down and the Symphony twanged. Rook and Arabis also heard the Bad Man attempt the Corporeal Song of Motion. Knowing he must be a Soldier of Hell, Rook held him down until the police arrived, then faded away. Hopeful that this exposure to the police would lead to a background check and such, Arabis followed the cops and their injured charge to the hospital while Rook made his way back to the hotel. Unfortunately, the Bad Man ended up looking like a victim to the cops, and they let him go. The man walked free, used a Corporeal Song of Healing to mend his injured leg, and continued merrily on his way. Grimly displeased by this turn of events, Arabis went to think a while.
Things were quiet back at the hotel. Jael and Matt were ah...bonding...
while Arashiel and Bob were passing the hours just -watching in the atrium. Arabis concluded that she would be unable to sit still (difficult on the best of days) until she had taken care of this man. She snagged Rashi and Rook and off they went. They ascertained that he had covered a good bit of distance and was in the fields north of town, all hunkered down and looking for all the world like he was sleeping. The three considered what they should do. Mere arrest wouldn't do anything, necessarily -- Malakite resonance is not admissible in court.. However... Laban-Lael might have some connections within the local police. Hmm. Rook used the Angelic Cell Phone and called Laban-Lael and asked, and yes, indeedy, you betcha the local Malakite Seneschal has a way to Get the bad guys. Legally. Rook crept up on the man and rendered him unconscious with pure Malakite ease. Then our trio took the unfortunate Soldier to the Sword Tether and handed him over to Laban-Lael. Gotta love the gleam Malakim get in their eyes, you know? Rook listed out what the Soldier had done, what his resonance had said, and other damning info. Label-Lael asked if any of the three wanted to be present for the interrogation...execution...whatever. Arabis initially says no, and the others take her cue. The Seneschal is pleased, and nods to and thanks the appropriate angels. Rook and Arabis are quite pleased with themselves, and happy to have accomplished something.
Tuesday, September 7th, 1999
Morning found Arabis happily suckin' up Essence in a steam tower. The angelic office staff began making phone calls to the wedding party. With the unpleasantness out of the way (eeeew, phone calls to someone else's relatives...) , the PCs decided to accomplish other things - Matt and Jael would check out St. Mary's, Bob and Arashiel would speak with Susannah and then proceed to the Easons to offer additional security and Rook would remain at the hotel to coordinate things and (one suspects) to remain apart from the Creationers -- why else would a Malakite agree to coordinate a mission??
As Bob and Arashiel approached Susannah's residence they noticed a really big dog in the bushes. This piques Bob's paranoia, and he resonated it. Clearly, if it were a dog, he reasoned, there would be no resonance, right? Ah, and the GM grins... Bob has discovered what he suspects is a Djinn. Djinn do not make angels happy. Bob and Arashiel rang the doorbell and discovered Susannah, elderly, unflappable, and maker of good cookies and tea. She responded rather well to questioning - confirming that her son was a Soldier of
Laurence, and that it has always been so in her family. The women serve in the
capacity of records keepers, watchers and aids in any way necessary (OOC -- "Morale troops." GM passes on a withering glance. Sheesh!). No women, to Susannah's knowledge, had ever been a soldier in literal sense. "We'll probably try to assimilate Elizabeth eventually. She has a practical mind and would serve well," Susannah told the Creationers. "If she has a child then we will work with them too, male or female appropriately." Susannah noticed Arashiel's apparent disapproval of such sexism, and commented that Rashi must not be one of Laurence's...whereby Susannah learned she had Creationers in her living room. (Susannah: Are you a part of the group of doomsayers in the kitchen yesterday? Arashiel: --- OOC: room cracks up.) And while Arashiel made happy chat with Susannah over chocolate-chip cookies (fastest way to a Cherub's heart) , Bob undertook a silent debate about whether or not to tell Susannah about the Djinn. They needed to discuss this. Much angelic eye movement ensued and resulted in the ever-popular "Could you go in the kitchen a moment?" to Susannah...in her own apartment. Ah, etiquette. (OOC: Bob: Oh, and while you're there, could you put your fingers in your ears?) Susannah was a good sport, being not entirely unused to angels. Bob and Arashiel discussed the Djinn and decided that at least for the time being they would not reveal its presence (why worry an old woman?). Then Arashiel attuned to Susannah (it's a family thing) and the angels left . Arashiel then explained to Bob why the secrecy -- "It is no danger to her. We're going to kill it." Oh -- but before we go Djinn-killing -- Bob got to resonate Susannah, one of his favorite activities. She was calm, curious and interested. She would be terrified by the thought of the Djinn, however. Bob also got the satisfaction of seeing her react when Arashiel said that Laurence would be giving Elizabeth away.
Then our Creationers called the Malakite Hit Squad...of one...and off they went in pursuit of the second demon in as many days. By the time Rook arrived, the Djinn was o fits pursuit and trotting off accordingly. Hoping to get it to someplace isolated so that Arashiel could use her light saber (patience...all will be revealed as to WHY she has a light saber) , they instead herded it into a busy street. It bolted into traffic, caused a lovely wreck, and bailed downstairs for its Heart. They stopped to render aid to wounded humans as need, and then retreated to the Eason house to check on security there.