Tuesday, September 7th, 1999, continued...
Bob, Arashiel and Rook were in the van, heading for the Eason residence and Matt, Arabis and Jael were returning from recon in St. Mary's.
Rook, having concluded that the Celestial Song of Forbidding will help him in his combats against demons (i.e. let him keep his vessel and avoid more dull stints in the Marches), ascended to his Heart in his own personal tent in the Groves. After spending some good time with it, Rook set out to find Michael. As usual, the Groves were lively and busy, but Rook would not be deterred by idle chatter; he responded politely to the angels who greeted him and flew on anyway. He found Michael, bright awesome Seraph that he is, speaking with one of his Word-Bound, perhaps the Angel of Bloody Axes, if one was to judge his Word by his weapon. When the Angel of Something-or-another was finished, Michael turned his bright gaze on Rook. Michael asked for an informal report on matters -- who was is Malakite working with, why was he here -- did he need another vessel? Rook explained, and there was a little commiseration about working with Flowers. Michael agreed with Rook's petition for the Song, and wove it into Rook's being. Rook, pleased, promised that
he would do his best to serve Michael better and control his discontent
with his temporary compatriots. Michael turned rather serious, and assured Rook that he was certain Rook would be able to rise to any occasion. It's always gratifying when one's Superior thinks one is competent.
Rook descended through the Laurentian Tether and discovered that the questioning was about to begin for the hapless Hellsworn. Rook could think of one angel who might really want to watch, so he contacted Arabis to reiterate the Seneschal's offer for her to be present.
Arabis exercised her right to change her mind, accepted the invitation and arrived a short while later (she's an Ofanite, after all -- it can't take very long). They were taken to a dark but very clean collection of rooms beneath the chapel -- *nice* dungeons. In the room: Laban-Lael, looking Malakitely angry, a Seraph wearing a female vessel, and the Soldier, bound and gagged to a chair. Laban-Lael asked Arabis
if she had any specific questions. Arabis, still in her raven vessel,
fixed the Soldier with a beady raven stare and launched into her interrogation. (Arabis: Who do you serve? Creepy Soldier: I serve Death. Arabis: Who do you work with? Creepy Soldier: Why do you care? Arabis (menacing): Me like eyes, oooh Š Creepy Soldier (sneer): I'm not going to walk out of here alive
anyway.) The Soldier waxes recalcitrant, and refuses to answer any questions about someone named Arnu. Arabis keeps hammering at him about when he last saw Arnu, and finally he spouts: "Who knows. Maybe in the mirror. He may have talked about
French habits. I know that you're looking for the Habalite that kicked
your ass. You should join him sometime." Arabis is not satisfied with these answers since they yield no real information. Rook, knowing that Arabis is low on essence to spend on her Songs and having used none himself, offered to share some with her. He gave her three day's worth, enough to sing a Celestial Song of Truth.
She sang and danced to better prepare it (recall: she's a raven, still). It seemed to work, and she asked him again. The Soldier admitted to meeting Arnu in Littleton in three days at Columbine High School. They were meeting to work toward the creation of a new Tether. Then, Soldier-jab: "He told me how you screamed and cried. You almost joined us too. A little revenge, a little hatred. I love it. I'll be
waiting for you in hell." Arabis decided she's had enough from him, and Laban-Lael had no objections...so she ignited the Soldier. Burn, cruel man, burn. There was much icky graphic burning. The Seraph left; the Malakim watched. Arabis and Rook took their leave after Laban-Lael, pleased with this successful mini-campaign, refilled both of their essences.
Meanwhile, at the Eason residence, Matt and Jael, having joined Arashiel and
Bob, were patiently awaiting The Return of the Avengers...um, the Malakite and the Ofanite. Once they had returned and everyone learned about the new Death Tether, they decided that the Denver Tethers should be informed. Matt contacted the Tethers at the Botanical Gardens and the Denver Mint while Rook called Giles up in Boulder. Arabis became quite agitated, fearing that, if Arnu knew people were coming for him he'd start murdering humans. Rook pointed out that while any loss of human life was a great tragedy, that loss would be preferable to the evil that would be fostered by the creation of a new Tether (this was greeted by stares from a few of the others. Like Matt). A new Tether would greatly increase the likelihood of greater evil in the area and, possibly, countless deaths. Arabis was still unsatisfied and so Matt suggested that she tell the Seneschal at the Mint all she could about this
Arnu. "He's good at the Song of Possession and incredibly good at hiding," she offered. Ah, powers of description. (Briefly describe your worst enemy. Once all
the calls were done Arabis was not entirely mollified. It was evident
that she wanted to go to Columbine and be involved directly. (GM holds her breath thinking she may have just undone her plot...moment...passes...) Rook convinced her to wait a bit, just so we could finish what we started here. Wedding, Archangel, that bit of business. Arabis agreed.
The group, at Bob's suggestion, then separated. Arashiel and Arabis
would check out the location of the rehearsal dinner, Fargo's Pizza. Bob
and Rook would check out the Doubletree Hotel, where the reception would
be held, and Jael and Matt would remain to guard the Eason residence.
Arashiel and Arabis approached the manager of Fargo's and confirmed that yes, the dinner would be there (which Susannah had told them, but hey.) They also learned How To Make A Reservation, but Rashi decided to play around a little, and thoroughly confused the manager. Arabis then investigated the other entrances to the restaurant (encountering, in her sneak through the back kitchen (as a human this time) the freezer. The Fire Wheel peered in, established its temperature...murmured "freezer bad. Move along" and continued on her quest. OOC : the room cracked up.) Arashiel discovered Old Cool Video Games and stayed safely in one place while Arabis did her work.
Bob and Rook checked out the ballroom where the rehearsal dinners
would take place in blissful uneventfulness.
Matt and Jael had a mini adventure. A silver Audi pulled up at the Eason residence.
Matt had already seen Elizabeth leave with Susannah and knew that meant
only Marion was at home. A tall broad man and devastatingly beautiful woman
got out of the car and were admitted to the house. Matt, intrigued and
paranoid, moved closer and saw that the license plate on the car read
tictoc. Weird. Clearly Something Important. When the Broad Man and the Pretty Lady left, Matt feigned a stroll along the sidewalk and resonated
them. The man was satisfied and thought this was a job well done. The
woman was calm, satisfied and confident that she and her comrades were
drawing ever closer to their goal. They drove off with no further ado. Jael emerged from wherever it is she hid and asked Matt what he'd learned. He reported. (Matt: I want to look into this, but if they turn out to be demons of Kronos like
the license plate would suggest then Rook will just try to kill them. I
don't like working with him. Jael: You and Rook are not
going to get along unless you leave him be. Giles says Rook has a sense
of humor. If you could sit still for a few minutes at a time you would
find it too.) Matt did not have time to reply because the remainder of
the group arrived and reports were exchanged. Group communication is wonderful!
Rook had Arabis check whether or not Marion was well. Arabis found her
apparently fine and reading a book. While Matt phoned the
Laurentian Tether to have the license plate checked out, Rook went to
resonate Marion through the window. He found that at best she could be
a lonely, bitter woman and at best she could be a volunteer in the
church (we can't *all* have interesting lives). Matt, intrigued and still suspicious, resonated her as well. She came up as peaceful, content, happy to understand finally and know that there was nothing more to worry about. This did nothing to allay his paranoia, for some reason.
The remainder of the day passed quietly with Arabis flying over the
Factions Tether uneventfully, Arashiel chatting with Susannah and the
others occupying their time without event.
Wednesday, September 8th, 1999
Arashiel, in her canine vessel, and Rook were watching Susannah Eason's residence when the dog-Djinn returned. Rook, focused, moved into action and struck the hapless demon with a Song of Forbidding (Thanks, Michael!), binding it to its vessel. As it bolted, startled by the Symphonic noise, Arashiel attempted the Song of
Entropy. (Die roll: 666. Many shocked shouts, GM scrabbles frantically for an idea, Arashiel's player swears) Arashiel's mind channeled directly to Beleth's Tower for a moment: and Arashiel and Beleth exchanged a Look. Beleth's eyes
met Arashiel's and memorized what she saw there. Pure Nightmare backlashed into Rashi, and she cowered on all four paws, her tailed curled beneath her tightly. Rook, happily unaware of the extent of his comrade's distress, used a Song of Motion to teleport in front of the Djinn. He then proceeded -- with the aid of another Song of Forbidding -- to beat it to a bloody pulp. Happy Malakite. Dead Djinn. When Rook became aware of his surroundings he noticed that not only were there a few spectators to this bloody and noisy carnage, there were cops on the way. Realizing
the danger that this situation presented from people who knew only that
they had seen a man mercilessly kill an innocent dog, Rook pierced through Arashiel's catatonia and they both ascended, leaving the situation behind.
As soon as Arashiel had been struck by Beleth's malignant gaze, Jael's attunement went off. Though Arashiel's and Rook's rapid movement left her somewhat confused and disoriented, Jael eventually joined her sister and Rook at the Laurentian Tether. Rook had cleaned up (eeew, Djinn blood) and Arashiel was still rattled by her close encounter of the Demon Princess kind. Jael was officially Not Pleased to know that Arashiel had had a stare-down with Beleth. What would Beleth do? Moreover, they were all three curious what Nightmares wanted with Susannah. Though her attunement was quiet, Arashiel decided to check on Susannah and went to visit her, with a new shadow that looked suspiciously like Jael.
Susannah greeted her visitors with some surprise, but she is becoming used to angels on her doorstep. She reported that Elizabeth had at first been quite shocked by the revelations of celestial beings, but eventually came around since Susannah was convincing and 'angels' explained a great many things that would otherwise be a product of human strangeness instead. Elizabeth was also due to enter training after her honeymoon in the Cayman Islands. She gets a little fun before all the work... Arashiel noticed a huge tapestry rolled up on the table and asked about it. "Susannah confessed she was its guardian, but she didn't know what it was, precisely. It had been part of the duties for centuries. She unrolled it for the Cherubim: the tapestry was an intricate and colorful tangle of images and motifs and knots, like Celtic art gone mad. Arashiel determined it was the Boss' work and concluded that it must be Something Important; Jael concurred. Why else let human Soldiers guard it for so long? Why else the unlikely pairing of the Sword and themselves, tow old Cherubim who remembered Laurence from his days as Killer of Cool Things in the Purity Crusade? And was the tapestry the reason Beleth was watching? Arashiel finally attuned to it.
In our nest episode: Arabis and Bob go to Littleton to investigate the proto Death Tether.