The Halloween Special: The Conspiracy of Wraiths and the Fate of Connor
We have a black cat. Thats where it starts. Then we have Jimmy. Then we have a new side to Martin. And we have a paranoid Dylan. Oh, and the cat talks. (Lets not forget the mob of wraiths, human dogs, and stolen bodies…)
Connor is made an offer as Leon makes a direct assult on the NWOdb.
Session 23 Summary: The Halloween Special (I): The Conspiracy of Wraiths and the Fate of Connor
Title: The Halloween Special (I): The Conspiracy of Wraiths and the Fate of Connor
Time: 7pm, Thursday 26th October 2000
Players: Fiachra, Peter, Grainne, Tim, Tiarnan, Alan
Summary:
Connor’s Fate
After a while Connor finds himself somewhere else (how Connor got there is really irrelvant but it appears Connor was “teleported”). A room with a huge window overlooking the outside of the NWOdb and the far away “firewall”. A large rickety and hacked together looking space-ship is just about visible as it approaches the firewall.
Connor notices quite quickly that there is someone else in the room. He’s dressed like a Man in Black except he’s not wearing the standard issue sunglasses. His eyes are jet-black. As soon as he notices that Connor aware of him, he opens his arms and says “Welcome.”
(To speed this up along, Connor don’t get the chance to do anything to escape, magic doesn’t work, there are no doors etc.)
The MIB swings his arm to his left and several spotlights appear. Then fuzzy images blink into existance. They are “halograms” of Shadowlord leaders (the ones from the revel). As each appear they offer some greeting to the MiB and Connor.
Then the MiB steps forward and says “We’re here to offer Connor a choice Connor.” The shadowlords mumble and nod in agreement.
“But before we offer it and to give Connor a chance to change Connorr mind, for I percieve what Connorr choice would be right now. We have some things to show Connor…” he points out to the ship that is float through the firewall.
Several of the smaller ships that attacked the carrier Connor came in on are lining up in front of. Suddenly shots and blasts are seen… the big ship is under attack but it’s holding up extremly well given it’s appearance.
“That is a Glasswalker net-Ship, Connor. Guy, one of Connorr fellow pack mates, has managed to raise help from the Glasswalkers to save Connor, Leon and your friends. It is a valiant effort but I’m sorry to say, one doomed to failure. They will not get near the database.
“But do not give up hope. Come here please…” he beckons Connor over to large screen that was not there before. Weather Connor go over or not is irrelvant because Connor can see what it shows quite easily.
An image of Leon, strapped to many devices, some are similar to modern day medical equipment. The image expands to show Connor a large ward of several hundred. Some look like demons, wolves, humans, mythic creatures, children etc. Some Connor might recognise as mages or werewolves that have dissappeared long ago. “This is the horrible carnage created by a common enemy, Connor. We are not experimenting on them or torturing them. We are trying to find a cure and keep them alive till we do. Everyday more of our people and reality deviants are effect. The numbers are small world wide but what it is… is still baffling.
“It can effect all super-reality beings, reality deviants, some of our experimental scientists and so on, not normal mortals which we are all trying to protect. Our entire progenatior convention is bent on finding a cure or vaccine to stop but they seem more and more doubtful.
“All we know is that it is a fore-running to an invasion force. Extra-dimensional beings are plotting to weakening the powerful defenses we’ve erected to protect the earth. Some even now are walking amoung the populace, spreading, preparing… I believe the Traditions call them collectivally Nephandi, Welewolves call them the Wyrm. Our common enemy Connor.
“We are preparing and we have lay down our war and offered a truce to the other races. The shadowlords are with us as Connor can see, the Akashics have joined our cause and we are in negotiations with other races and orders. Our Iteration X has been preparing, off-world, a counter force. There also the others prepare.” The screen shows image of lines of lines of cyborg and robots being created, then of open areas where Martial Artists are fighting, Werewolves hunting etc.
“Connor may ask, why we are telling you this. It’s simple. Your cabal is some sort of key in this preparation for the enemy. Your cabal could be a wild goose chase or a visible pawn in the stragetic placing. We do not know. Many times, Your cabal has crossed our paths, be we have not pursed, only watched.”
Outside, through the window, Connor can see the Glasswalker’s net-ship moving slowly forward. Fire and constant explosions hammer it’s way. As each small attack ship gets destroyed from the net-ship’s guns, two take it’s place. It dips lower but still continues forth.
“The cabals importance is not known. Many in the conventions deem that you and the rest of yourr cabel should be exterminated rather then let loose. But I have fought against that and so have your Shadowlord leaders. Information is my forte and information is what will win the war before it starts.
“The sad incident at the Gower Chantry has I’m sure weighed on your mind. A small split-fraction from the Void Engineer’s convention decided more radical action was needed. They did this without the consent of their own convention leaders, intent on retrieving the information held by a Mage there. She, Zera, had refused to share her findings with us. We had decided to let her display her research to the Traditions in the hope that we can recruit the Traditions after the revelations. But things went wrong. The Enemy also attacked hoping to keep the Traditions in the dark. We believed that Zera had knowledge that could have identified the origin of the virus and therefore we could have created a cure or vaccine.
“But now all we can do is prepare for the war.”
One of the Shadowlord halograms steps forth. “We know you have loyalty to your pack members. We respect that and honor it. But Guy has gone against our decisions. As you can see, we know the condition of Leon. I beg you to considered the bigger picture. Mages and Werewolves risk to lose if we are divided.”
The net-ship outside is very close, occasionaly one of the small attack ships completely eclipses the window. But the net-ship is shinking fast. Most of it is on fire. It doesn’t look like it’ll last.
“I offer you this Connor.” The MiB continues, “go back to your Cabal. Connor and the cabal will no longer have the police after them. You’ll have our protection. But you will be an warrior of the Alliance, a double-agent to the Darkness and Us. You know now what is at stake. Make the choice. Are you with us?”
The MiB offers his hand…
“That’s quite a deal. you won’t kill me, you’ll let Guy and the glasswalkers go, you’ll get the police off our backs, and you’ll save the world from evil, and all I have to do is be your friend.
“Well, fuck you, pal. you won’t kill me, and you won’t kill those idiot Mages, because you can’t. Someone higher up the tree than you doesn’t want it done, and they’ll string you up by your balls if you touch us. I don’t give a toss about the cops, I’ve been running circles around them for years. And you don’t want to be my friend. Friends don’t send commando squads after each other’s allies.
“But if you want to make a deal, here it is.
“First you give me, right here and now, everything you know about this ‘disease’. I can take your data to people who would never deal with you, and you need their their knowledge and experience.
“Then you tell me what really happened to Gower Chantry, and you can cut the crap with your ‘small split-faction’. The Void Engineers don’t let rogue elements wander around with the kind of firepower that blows up a chantry, because thay can’t afford it. The V.E. had to make a deal with those Nephandi and place a mole in the chantry to have any chance against Gower, and if rogue groups are pulling off that kind of stunt, you guys have much bigger problems to be thinking about than me.
“Then you’ll give me access to your arsenal. If I work for you, I’m going to make enemies, and you don’t want me wasting precious time running away from them, do you?
“And then I’ll go back and join the Mages. I’ll figure out what I can about this ‘key’ we’re supposed to be. I’ll do my damnedest to stop the Nephandi and save the world for you.
“And when I’m done, I’ll come and find you, and I’ll rip your fucking head off.”
Connor smiles and extends his hand.
“Do we have a deal?”
The MiB grins back but does not extend his hand.
“You are over-estimating your worth and under-estimating our honesty.”
One of the shadow lords steps forward and says “Guy’s and the Glasswalkers fate is out of our hands. We compelled him not to do sucidial action. He has gone against…”
Another of the shadow lords cuts across him “Leon is safe and getting the better help then our own Theurges. You are not even a real werewolf, how dare you demand such things of us…”
The MiB says “Silence Lords, please, petty squabbling will get us no where. you, we do not need the assistance of the other mages. But we can and will give you much that we know about the disease.” He opens his hand and there is a cd there. “But you will get no support from us. We can not possible be seen to help you. If we believe the Enemy know of your involvment, you and your cabal will be destroyed. We know nearly everything about your cabel. Even now, one of your number is submitting us all we need to know.”
The screen shows Martin strapped down to some sort of operating table. Wires are coming from his skull into some sort of machine.
“We do not control anyone, Connor. Even after this process, Martin will be let free as will the Mage Delta though she has been a pain in our side for a long time. We wish your help by your own free-will for we feel that you have the ability over anyone else in the your cabal to do the necessary things.
“Someday, it maybe too late for us to interfer or prevent. you will act as our Agent in this regard but till this time you are free, Guy’s life will not be lost today and Leon may manage to leave longer.”
Outside, the net-ship is slowly descending. It’s mostly in fire, no longer shooting back at the attack ships that continual pound it.
“That are the terms of our offer. It is not a deal to haggled. you have nothing to offer us beyond a willing agent.”
The MiB extends his hand.
Connor is pissed and claims that the Technocary are stupid. The MiB says the decision has been made. The shadow lords dissappear, the MiB shrinks away into the darkness. All that’s left is the window showing the slow destruction of Leon’s net-ship. Darkness swallows Connor.
A large glen. Bright, green. Connor doesn’t feel so real anymore. There is a tree and underneath it a woman in white. When Connor approaches and the woman looks up at him but her face is like looking into ordered chaos, the ultimate potential, the wyld etc. She says “Do you want to return? It will only be temporary?”
Connor agrees.
Conspiracy of Wraiths
We have a black cat. Thats where it starts.
In a small hotel room, in a small town called Clunyville, on the outskirts of New York State, there is a small ear-popping air explosion. Jimmy Da Buzz appears in Reality. The first shock is the fact that cause and effect apply here. The appearance for a moment of a black cat does not seem out of the ordinary.
Across the state, June has returned home to her school only to find it’s public front has been boarded up and they have no accomadation for her. As she returns to her hotel room, she notices a black cat relaxing on her bed. That isn’t the most shocking part. The fact that it’s asking for food with a male voice is a lot more surprising.
In New York City. Kat, Nicholas and Sathathor have been holeing up. Early that morning Sathathor said he was popping out. He never returned. When a black cat appears and starts demanding where the food is. Nicholas and Kat are remarkable unsurprised. The Cat is named Mestefoles.
Martin has physically been healed. But mentally he’s still unbalanced. The confines of the comfortable cell in the Cult of Isis has been intolerable and he has left. Nefer, the young hedge mage, has been assigned to keep tabs on him. She isn’t too excited about it. They drive to New York in search of Nicholas and Kat. As they travelling, a black cat appears and says “Hello”. A little later he gets the inkling to return to Clunyville, the place where they met Anthony and the wraiths contacted him.
First thing Jimmy Da Buzz does is talk to the bored, apathic clerk. He discovers the room he found himself has been left empty for over a month and the last occupant had been the Cabal. After that he goes in search of the rest of the Cabal and seeks out Martin whom he finds and sends him an image of the hotel.
June has gone to her teacher to ask him about the cat. The Teacher consults one of his Big Books(tm) and suggests it’s a familar. Quite useful. At that moment, the cat decides to reappear. Coughs a fur ball on his book and is captured by June. After a struggle the cat jumps down and wanders through a door. Her teacher goes off to get a net to capture the ill-mannered cat. June follows the cat, to suddenly find her self with Nicholas and Kat in New York. There the cat explains that Jimmy is in Clunyville, so they orgainse themselves and head there.
Connor is getting used to his surroundings. He’s standing in a graveyard. The sky is overcast, the stones and the walls and plants are lifeless and dead. He doesn’t feel quite solid. A small black cat eyes him from a grave stone and asks “Are you dead?”
Martin finds Jimmy and they start talking. Moments later, Connor turns up. But they don’t see him. Nobody sees him. In fact everyone to Connor looks like the walking dead except for Martin, Connor and Nefer. Martin somehow hears him and shortly after that Connor makes himself visible. Connor tells them everything that has happened to him.
A while later, a black sedan appears outside the hotel. Dylan, whos been on the run from a pschyo super-powered MiB, has been hiding here for a day or so. His highly honed paranoid instinct makes him instantly nervous at the sight of any black car. When he sees Nicholas getting out, Dylan rushes into hero mode and jumps apon him and aims his gun at the driver…
Most of the original cabal and a black cat are now in Clunyville. It’s 3 days till Halloween, one of them is dead and not particularly liking it, one is having a problem readjusting to reality (yet again), one them is in two minds about everything, one of them is making sure his back is against the wall and he can see the door, one of them is plotting and another of them is messing with “Spirit Poo”. Looks like Halloween is starting early.
So starts trouble…
They use the room they had booked before. (Do you remember that Paradox spirit Nicholas? That floating nebulas cloud that grins?). Kat secretly offers Connor that he can be restored to full life.
In the skinlands (the land of the dead in which only Connor participates but Nicholas can also see), a horrible grinding, screaming sound can be heard outside. A roman-like chariot dragged by human shaped into dogs drag a huge man clothed in armour of souls and a mask. Nicholas gets it’s attention but the being can not get near him or Connor through the shield. Nicholas tries to tell him about the ghost he encountered in the hotel but the being makes no sign of recognition but leaves one of his human-dogs to stand outside the shield.
Meanwhile, Jimmy leaves, walking through the space the being just occupied, completely oblivious. Dylan joins him and later June. They sit and relax in a local cafe. The same one that the cabal had used before the VAs identified them. Unfortantly the VAs are there again and appear to recognise them.
Jimmy’s magic seems to effect other around him so his time rote effects June and Dylan.
The Bum that had contacted the Martin before, appeared and told Connor and Nicholas about the evil wraiths that have taken over the place killing/capturing the local wraiths.
The gang notice the VAs scanning through computers. Outside Dylan tries to scan them and realises that they scan back. Dylan, in a paranoid frenzy, pulls out his gun and intends to shot them but they use Correspondance to disappear. Jimmy tracks them while June distracts the local sherif.
Nicholas tries to control the dog. Connor tries to break the control-band around it’s neck but it’s tough. But Nicholas nearly fails as it breaks the dresser and one of his chains (those with out spirit sense see the dresser suddenly explode after Nicholas is dragged across the floor). Finally, Nicholas captures it.
Time passes. Night falls. Martin changes. He lits up a smoke. His eyes are strangly diffrent and Nefer is nowhere to be found. Dylan passes off Martin. Martin flicks his cigerrette in Dylan’s face and then removes the floor underneath him.
June and Connor pick up that somethings wrong and find Nefer in her car. She explains that horrible derangment that Martin suffers. A split personality. She shows them a tranquilser gun she has in case his night half, Imhotep, gets out of hand.
But trouble is not far away. A large gang of wraiths come streaming down the empty skinlands. They carry pieces of the chariot from earlier, obviousily having destroyed it. The leader is the wraith that Sanathor, Kat and Nicholas encountered in the Hotel in New York. His hands are covered in blood and he yells “Mage come out here.”
Nicholas does, coming out to the front of the building. June can see this using her Spirit-Poo-Glasses. The wraith leader demands that Nicholas leave as soon as possible. Nicholas tries to deal but the local sherif sees Nicholas waving his hands widly in the air. He comes over to investigate but the Leader has other plans and possesses the Sherif. The leader uses the sherif to arrest Nicholas and bring him to jailhouse.
Martin, Jimmy and Dylan rush to the Jailhouse falling the patrol car.
Meanwhile, the wraiths sit around Nicholas in the car. He is brough into a cell. There Nicholas constructs a ward but the wraiths bash away at it. It won’t last long.
Martin arrives and standing outside the cell converses with the leader in an attempt to deal. But the leader is taking pleasure in Nicholas fate.
Jimmy and Dylan stock up on weapons. The Sherif is sound asleep, nearly dead after the possesion.
Dylan eventually gets around to the cell and ignoring Martin tries to open it but can’t as the Leader resists it. But the wraiths eventually slip out and Nicholas is saved.
Back at the hotel the bum wraith explains that the local gang steal living people who then just dissappear.
Jimmy is determined to do something about it.
Jimmy heads off to the mountain where the VAs went but the cabal and the hotel room follow him through his correspondance magic.
There they find a mortal woman tied to cross (those with spirit sight see the huge mass of wraiths around the body). Dylan discovers the woman is effected by the virus. Jimmy goes into heriocs rushing to her but as he gets close. Invisible blows slow him down. He correspondances around them and picks her up.
Meanwhile the others try diffrent tatics, June creates fire while Nicholas wakens their spirits. But he loses control and the fire goes wild. Dylan and Connor use prime charged weapons. Somehow the cabal escapes the flames, racing down the mountain. Jimmy, moving faster then the eye, carries the woman to the room. The others just stay ahead of the flames. The mountain is on fire.
So ends the first Halloween Special
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