September 9th, 1999, continued

Arabis commences with searching for clues. She begins circling the field where Eli said to check -- and she spots a shiny! After a moment or two of agonizing about investigating shinies, Arabis flies and down and discovers that the shiny is a blowdart. Hmm. Jael is located, just entering the field on normal human feet, so Arabis gets her attention and delivers the blowdart. Why yes, the edges do look . . . tainted.
    Arabis flies up again, and looks around -- sees trampled grass, and a clear trail leading off to the far edge of the field . . . to the rocks. Jael heads off in that direction while Arabis circles back to collect Rashi and Matt, who have just driven up. Matt follows along the trail of disturbed plants, confirming what Arabis sees -- someone was dragged this way, here was a scuffle, etc. He follows the trail along the rocks -- moss notices a lot, apparently -- and through a stream bed (mostly dry this time of year) to a place where there are car tracks. Arabis thinks they go in the same direction as TICTOC did earlier. Rashi resonates on the blowgun to find out who made it, and discovers it was hell-made by an imp. Not good.
    Arabis directs us to head west, so the angels pile into one vehicle and drive. Giles is called again -- he says Rook's heart shows a man in a trenchcoat and a woman, and a dark room. Giles says he will call the War Tether and let them know we are coming. He also tells us that Colonel Thenaire is our contact there -- we should ask for his name at the checkpoint. Our western trek is shortened -- we don't know where we are going, after all, and so we head to NORAD to consult with War.
    The angels do as Giles has directed, and are admitted up to NORAD. They are met at the entrance by a very nondescript man of medium height with the name Thenaire on his badge. It is Dariel, Elohite of War and Seneschal of NORAD. They retire to Thenaire's office, wherein Q & A session ensues about possible motives for kidnapping a Malakite of War, and who might have done it. Then they try to figure out how to find him -- the Heart's vision is not enough. They hit upon the idea of tracking Rook's cell phone via satellite signals, but this is pronounced too difficult until Arashiel decides to call Upstairs and see if she can get some help -- maybe a Kyriotate to inhabit the phone. She makes a ridiculously fortuitous roll on the d666, and gets the Mercurian receptionist, who manages to find Rook. Shortly thereafter, a fax appears in Thenaire's office pinpointing Rook's exact location . . . in the Tether to Nightmares in Manitou, Miramar Castle.
    (At this point, the GM randomly rolls the d666 to see Who Is Paying Attention . . . gets a 111 . . . and officially decides we have had more than our share of divine interventions to muck up her plot this evening.)
    The door to Thenaire's office slams open abruptly, and a big, handsome and obviously not Air Force guy is standing there -- with a pony tail and Archangelic eyes. "What is one of my Malakim doing in a Tether to Hell?" To the stunned silence of the room, an appreciative murmur of "You're *cute*" is heard . . . from Rashi. (GM slaps forehead.) All the other angels stare in horror, sure Rashi will be reduced to ash. Instead, Michael gifts her with a disturbing smile. "Creationer, are you?" And on to business: Michael wants to know all the details. Nightmares hasn't given him a hassle before in this area, and while we can assume a Seraph Archangel bloody well knows the Truth of the matter, he still wants his Malakite back. Arabis promises to get him, and Michael acknowledges her by name (he remembers her from Way Back When). He asks if the angels need anything, and Arabis admits that it appears Rook is held by an artifact which prevents him from using Essence. Michael produces a key, and hands it to Arabis. Obviously this key will eliminate the problem. Michael adds that we can call on him for the duration for the Rook extraction program, and just as he's leaving, he urns to Rashi. "We talk later," he says with that same disturbing smile. (The GM notes that Arashiel is not at all nervous at this, which a normal angel would be; ergo, Arashiel is utterly mad . . . ).
    So off to Nightmares. On the way, Arabis sings Celestial Shields, and rolls yet *another* 111 . . . so everyone is affected. Apparently Michael is still watching.
    Upon arrival at the Nightmares Tether, the angels spot Victoria Strassen if TICTOC fame leaving. Matt resonates and discovers that she is nervous about leaving someone named Daspit there, and anticipating acquiring something.
    Rashi, upon hearing this, assumes Strassen wants the Tapestry. Arabis agrees to carry it in her backpack so the Cherub can keep her attuned close by.
    So the angels go into Miramar Castle -- it's a simple matter to buy tickets and take the self-guided tour. Of course there are locked doors. Arabis resonates for the fastest path to the basement, and finds one of those locked doors at the end of a roped-off hallway. Arabis and Matt set to work on the lock; Rashi and Jael creatively rearrange the ropes to redirect the wandering tours to wander down here with us -- it makes a plausible story as to why the angles are down there, right? Tours wander as expected, and all perceptive people down in that hallways hears a muffled shriek from someplace in the house. Mundanes are naturally nervous -- angels are incensed -- and the wayward crowd heads back to the main section.
    And there, leaning nonchalantly against the wall . . . is a tall woman with black hair and cold green eyes. Arabis, in the back of the group, ducks into a bathroom still down the forbidden hallway. Matt formulates a lie about her whereabouts. The Mysterious Woman does the resonance thing on everyone silly enough to make eye contact. From Matt, The Mysterious Woman gets a Need to rescue Rook . . . and those green eyes get a little colder.
    She retrieves Arabis from the bathroom, and calmly request we all leave her Tether. She cannot give the angels Rook -- he is not hers to give. She is not impressed by threats, however veiled. She would like a certain artifact . . . no? Then no go. She is quietly furious we have been so bold as to come into her Tether. Now get out.
    Wisely, the PCs do so. They formulate a plan in the parking lot: they want to negotiate for Rook using Thenaire and his War Malakim as a threat if Thenaire will agree; if not, they will try the sneak back in method. Phone calls are made. Thenaire agrees he will not obliterate this little Tether to Nightmares . . . if we can tell him who *is* responsible for nabbing Rook. And yes, he can call down a hit squad of blackwings for intimidation purposes . . .
    And what has happened to Rook, you ask . . . ? See his journal for the synopsis to this point.
    As the angels plan a rescue, Rook finds himself in a small room. The nightmares that have been plaguing him have begun to lose their intensity. Though still manacled and bound by his collar (and thus still in his Vessel) , he is no longer in the metal chair. Outside of the window, which provides him a view of the Marches from a vantage point high in a tower (can we guess which one?), he sees Gabriel's volcano and the Tower of Blandine far away. The ground seems quite distant and Rook's enfeebled intellect concludes that he must be in the Tower of Nightmares. Rook tries to escape -- first by pulling on the collar. Ouch. He tries again. *Ouch.* No, nothing in this universe will induce him to touch that thing again. No way. Not pain, not force, not friends, not even Michael.
    Badly affected by this new fear, Rook crumples and whimpers, unable to think or act in any other fashion. He ignores a Djinn who comes to stare -- just rolls over. after a long time, he hears someone actually come in -- but does not turn. That someone makes an exaggerated arc around him, very obviously not coming into arm's reach of a Malakite, however bound.
    "I doubt you're unconscious." Voice: masculine.
    "What do you want?" Rook: spiteful.
    "A conversation."
    Of course not. Rook does look, however -- and sees a Habbalite, of the size that indicates many Forces, with shaved head, tattooed with dragons and serpents, scarred and pierced with rings everywhere. The Habbie gives Rook an appraising once-over. Rook, fazed by this direct stare, rolls over. But of course, the Habbie can sense his despondence.
    Says the Habbie: "The collar is cheating. I don't like to see other angels suffering like this."
    Rook, aware of the irony of this statement, says only, "Get to the point."
    "You're going nowhere. I'm going to leave the door open when I leave. Do with it what you will. The jinn will not be in the hallway. If they catch you it is your fault, but you should be given the option to try. It is one thing to punish the weak . . . but it is another to cheat to make them weak."
    Rook was moved to speech despite his normal reserve. "What is your name? No, on second thought, don't tell me."
    "Why not?"
    Rook is galled by the reason and stays silent. (the Gm is chortling at this point).
    "Ah yes. If they ask you, you can't tell them. Honor. This is good." Exit Habbalite.
    Moments later: exit Rook.
    Back to the rescuers: Arashiel briefs the group on Thenaire's conditions -- and the fact the angels must wait an hour for the Malakim to arrive. Jael is aggravated by the wait -- and turns to Arabis, who doesn't like waiting, either.
    "Can you get me in there?" Nod. Jael turns to Arashiel: "Detune from me now."
    "I will not. Don't you go starting a fight. I have the Tapestry I'm attuned to as well. I wouldn't want to have to choose."
    "There'd be no dissonance in this, only guilt, if you detune now."
    "What's the hurry?"
    "Every hour he's in there, he hurts."
    "I see no reason to start a fight," Matt adds.
    "I am not planning on starting a fight. I am planning on sneaking. Into the basement. I'll go wherever I have to. Hell, anywhere," Jael answers, firmly.
    "We can sneak in smaller numbers," Arabis offers.
    "Do you want to wait?" Jael to Arabis -- can't go in without the Ofanite.
    "No. Fifteen minutes could have spelled the for me." Arabis: cryptically.
    Arashiel detunes from Jael.
    Jael and Arabis head around the side of the Tether. At the side of the house they consider their options. They finally decide to have Arabis pick the lock, which she does with amazing alacrity. Once inside, they soon ascertain that there must be a trapdoor under the hall rug. Going down . . .
    At the front of the house, Matt hides in some of the flowers with Arabis' backpack (and the Tapestry) while Arashiel goes to get the Seneschal's attention again. Arashiel focuses her mind so she can eliminate Needs (GM chortles again). She isn't sure if this will help protect her against the Lilim, but she's willing to give it a try. Arrive the Lilim.
    Rashi: "Hello again. You know, some really beautiful things could be done with your property here. It's so droll and depressing."
    Lilim: "Let me guess who *your* Superior is. Are you threatening to beautify my tether? You're wasting my time. Do you want to bargain or bore me?"
    "I'm trying to convince you to do one good thing," Arashiel counters, to which the Lilim laughs heartily.
    "He's gone Downstairs, you know. I'll give you that information for free."
    "Who took him?"
    "Ah, now we're bargaining. Why would I tell you that?"
    "Because it has no value to you," Arashiel says.
    "Yes, it does. It has value to me because it has value to you." The Lilim ponders a moment. "I think the Malakite is in My Lady's tower. He is to be moved, though. He is not mine. He is going to whoever pays the highest price. Were he mine, I'd keep him."
    "Do you get something to trade?"
    "I serve Nightmares. My service includes serving Her allies. I am a tool for my lady. I serve Beleth, not my mother. Thus I serve her allies, however I might occasionally find that distasteful."
    Arashiel bantered a while longer, finally exasperating The Lilim. "I did not want him here. I did not ask for him to be here. An ally has put me in a great deal of danger. I don't wish problems with War."
    "Too bad. Were things different you might like him, actually." Meaning Michael, of course. Horny Creationer.
    "I can't give you the Malakite and I don't want problems with War. I can give you the name of the ally."
    Matt, having hidden in silence in the roses for all of this, could hold his tongue no more. "Get the name of the ally!" he hisses at Arashiel.
    "The roses are talking," the Lilim says in mock dismay. "How horrible!"
    Matt throws a weed at her and then asks, "Could you give us access?"
    "No, I can't open my Tether to you."
    "We want our friend back. The name of your ally and an opening to Hell could keep retaliation from coming," Matt counters.
    "I don't believe you. Are you willing to swear to this?"
    Matt, obviously thinking about it, is interrupted by a hiss from Arashiel. "Do it and I will kick your ass."
    "You could just look away for a few minutes," Matt suggests lamely to the Lilim.
    "Isn't that what I'm doing now?" she answered with a raised eyebrow. (Rook's player about drops through the floor; the characters remain calm . . . the GM smirks.)
    Lilim: "I will not deal for the Malakite, only for the name of the abductor. I know who is in my Tether and I chose not to notice. The abductor was Daspit, servitor of Fate."
    Matt and Arashiel made hasty mental notes. The Lilim, regarding them thoughtfully for a moment, commented, "You didn't tell your Malakite much about the pretty little cloth you have. Just use him for killing, hmmm? No matter, I will not turn the forces of my Tether upon you for now. If ordered to, I will. I would like your names. I think it is only fair at this point."
    Rashi and Matt admit their names, and Rashi adds that she is already familiar (painfully) with Beleth. The Lil says Beleth will lose interest after awhile, and give them her name: Millicent.
    The military van arrives at this point, bristling with Malakim.
    Millicent eyes the newcomers, says, "I think we've reached our angel quotient here," and slams the door.
    Matt and Arashiel hastily make their way toward the van.
    "We were told to take our orders from you," the Malakite at the wheel says with obvious distaste.
    "We will wait for now."
    "Very well." He closes the window with the sound of a mechanical dismissal.
    In the house, Jael and Arabis follow a spiral staircase down, down . . . and finally come to two rooms. One room has somewhat fresh blood around a metal chair that looks ideal for interrogations. The other room had all manner of instruments of torture. Jael, still pale, grew very, very angry in that quiet Cherub way. The chamber of horrors was definitely well used. Arabis found an iron maiden in the corner, closed . . . and on a hunch went over and opened it. Inside, there was literally *nothing.* Found: one Tether point.
    "We can go down in our vessels," Arabis explains to Jael as they pause on the threshold. "Hell is the place of lies and vessels are another variety of lies. If you speak they will realize you do not belong so don't say much." Jael nods mutely, and the pair Descend.
    By this point Rook is moving around freely in the Tower. Well, sorta freely. he limped along to the left, trying for the 'down' direction. An imp, an awful, misshapen thing, passes him without noticing how Rook recoils from it, both in fear of its appearance and fear of being discovered. He passes a room where demons were playing a game with real bones. He keeps his eyes focused on each room he passed, hoping to find some kind of clothing in which he could conceal himself. To his horror he sees a pale woman in white leap from a window, her anguished scream piercing his heart all the more as it fades with her fall. His horror is redoubled when he sees her reappear and jump once more, reliving her nightmare in an endless loop. Rook finally finds a room with many carousing Calabim and steals one of their infernally reeking cloaks and covers himself as best he could. Panicked by any encounter he experiences, he makes his way downward steadily . . .
    Arabis and Jael arrive in a huge room with many doors and opening -- think Escher on LSD. At the door: a hulking Djinn looking outward. It paid them no mind. Arabis resumes her raven vessel and Jael uses a Song to render herself invisible. They headed up the encircling tunnel of the Tower. They, too, are horrified by the continually falling woman. Damned souls seemed to be everywhere. Not long after starting their quest, they run into Rook, who recognizes the sound of Arabis' wings.
    He calls her name, and the startled angels go over and get the cloak off him: what a mess. Grim but determined, Arabis moves the key toward the collar to *get it off.* Rook pulls away with obviously uncontrollable terror. Arabis, confused by this, tries to talk soothingly to him and hide the progress of the key ("It's ok, look, it's Jael? See her?"). Rook's eyes show part comprehension, part mania. When the key touches its target, the collar disintegrated. Rook immediately Ascends.
    Jael and Arabis elect not to follow him, and decide to return and report to Rashi and Matt. They make their way back down as fast as possible, more than a bit worried about how they will get past the Djinn . . . As they approach the room they see a Habbalite covered with snakes and dragons in deep and engaging conversation with the Djinn . . . and the Djinn's back is to the entrance, and the angels. The Habbalite gives the duo one meaningful look as they slip past. Once up, they go celestial and phase out into the parking lot.
    There's a quick and happy reunion (including Rashi hugging Jael and promptly reAttuning) and much sharing of info. It is decided to go to the Sword Tether and Ascend and go find Rook at his Heart. They dismiss the Malakim with their thanks, and take off in a northerly direction. En route:
    "Why would Fate grab Rook and bring him there?" asks Jael, still in shock. "We saw a damned soul. She was jumping from a window, forever."
    "It's ok," Matt tries to comfort her.
    "Nothing is ok as long as that kind of thing can happen!" Jael spits.
    "She chose that path," Arabis counters softly.
    "I don't believe that," Jael responds feelingly. "They can be lied to as well."
    "Tell me about the tower," Arashiel prompts.
    Arabis tells of the impossible height, the room with doors to many tethers and the feeling of fear and eerieness that pervaded the place.
    Laban-Lael is his usual dour self, bearing news of Elizabeth ("She was here. She told me what happened"). He allows the angels to Ascend, but wants a better report later on. The angels end up in the Cathedral, and head immediately for the Groves.
    Upon his arrival at his Heart, Rook is startled by the left to watch his Heart. The reliever races out with some enthusiasm from the tent shouting "He's back! He's back!" Rook does the sensible ting one does when one has a near escape from Nightmares: he falls upon his heart and cries himself into a fitful semi-consciousness.
    When the rest of Rook's party arrive they discover his tent surrounded by many angels, muttering and discussing and quite obviously excited by the goings-on earthside and within the tent. Heavenly gawkers. Sheesh. Jael pushes her way through roughly (wings are useful for that) and curls round the supine Rook, covering him with her wings protectively. Matt resonates Rook and discovers that the Malakite might be comforted by his presence, were he to be still and quiet. With this information in mind, Matt goes to get some flowers. Arashiel, angered by the not-so-inaudible murmuring outside, faced the angels down with the words: "He will be all right. He needs your support, not your ogling."
    The crowd disperses, none of them noticing a pensive Arabis outside the tent. She entered only long enough for Rook to whisper a pained but sincere thank you to her.
    She says she will see him on the following evening, and intends to go back earthside, but Jael warns her not to be alone, so she goes down with Rashi.
    Last advice to the Cherub:
    Arabis: "Don't dote."
    "Cherubim always do," Jael whispers.
    Arabis: "Malakim don't like that."
    "This Malakite is not right at the moment." Jael returns her attention to Rook.
    Back on earth . . . Laban-Lael, asks Rashi and Arabis to speak linearly, a truly difficult thing for a Creationer. A briefing ensues, in which it is learned that Perry may have been 'damaged' by the Shedite, and Laban-Lael's Malakite resonance detects a potential future problem. He advises that Cherubim sever their attunements. Then the angels are permitted to go.
    Meanwhile, in Rook's tent: Rook startles Jael, asking, "Can you take it off?"
    "What?"
    He holds up his wrist, shaking it weakly. Yes, indeed. A Geas. A very *little* Geas.
    Jael frowns. "I don't know."
    Matt, off in pursuit of another idea in lieu of flowers, returns at this point with "special" brownies. Rook, unsuspecting, eats them and *relaxes.* When he wakes up later, his friends are still there.
    Jael has unwelcome news: "You need to rest and get all the bad out of your system. Unfortunately, we need to go and see Michael."
    "I don't want him to know about this," Rook protests, growing somewhat agitated.
    "I'm afraid he already does. He showed up in the Tether while we were there speaking with the Seneschal."
    This was, of course, *exactly* the thing Rook did not want. Still . . . he left with Matt and Jael to find his Archangel.
    Easily found. Michael looks at Rook quietly for a moment, with poor Rook trying not to flinch before this direct gaze.
    "What did she do to you?" Michael asks, and doesn't wait for the answer -- he *knows.* "Well, it's over now. There will be no revenge on the Lilim. Promises were made." Pause -- is this *my* quiet Malakite? -- then, "Nice bracelet," at which point Rook dropped his head in shame. The archangel relents a little. "I will see what I can do about acquiring it. In the meantime, if you can f*** up anything Nightmares has going, you have my permission." He nods recognition to the other two, then returns to Archangelic pursuits.

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