Adri shook her head, and said "Not Bella. She doesn't cut across time.  She just moves from point a to point B.  I would KNOW if her emanations attracted other Hounds.  She's boring to them.  More like . . well, skunk to a dog."

Victoria nodded.

"Yes Mr. Gysbourne...one of my first considerations was Ozzy. From what I have seen of him, he's a very capable hero in his own right."

Oswald smiled, chuckling a bit, "I should hope so, otherwise both he and I have wasted a good deal of time, effort, and resources. It is always good to hear that his... additional training was not for nothing. I would be amenable to him aiding you in preemptive strikes. Assuming he agrees, of course. Since he's still awake, I could call him down for you, if you wished."

  Andy blushed a bit, his skin graying and he said "Ah.  It'll take him a few, given what I sense.  Might be kinder to let him keep doing . . . whatever it is."

Victoria smiled.

"It can keep for now, Mr. Gysbourne. It sounds like young Ozzy is...preoccupied."

Oswald turned pink, guessing at what Andy meant.

"Ah. Yes. He is a healthy young man, after all, and occasionally needs a bit of privacy. Still, I do not doubt that he will be most willing to help you. So, other than my grandson, who did you have in mind?"

Victoria smiled.

"Well...in addition to Ozzy...perhaps the cryomancer...he's called Icepick, right? For that matter the entire team of New Age Defenders actually. Looking at what they can do, they have the capability of being able to zip in, deal with what needs to be dealt with, then leave."

  Andy smiled, and said "He's a healthy young man with a girlfriend.  And I don't need to be an empath to know that means attraction.  However, I AM an Empath, of sorts.  Trust me, he definitely will appreciate NOT being paged."

Oswald chuckled, "Thus the communication spell. Hmm... if he sent his familiar with her, that would explain some things. And it would also explain what you're sensing, Andy."

He then turned to Victoria, "Yes, they do make a good team, I agree. Though, I do ask that you don't force Iris into anything too... bloody. She grew up in a government facility for studying parahumans. She seems to have enjoyed it, but I worry that she's blocked some trauma from her memory."

  "An ounce of prevention IS more than worth ten pounds of cure."

Victoria nodded.

"I understand, Mr. Gysbourne. Iris' powers would be very suitable for high-speed reconnaisance. It's just that with all of the things I've seen in my short time here in Weston, we really need to take more of a proactive approach than a reactive one. Adri taught me that.."

Oswald nodded, "Thank you. I will, of course, try to help you as best as I can. However, I know that the Vampire Lord who kidnapped Megaira can block my scrying attempts. He is quite skilled in the magical arts. Hopefully, there will not be too many more such threats."

"Vampires?" Victoria suddenly questioned. "This city is a lot more lively than I thought...not to mention this time-traveller that Adri sensed."

  Adri chuckled at Vic, and said "Yeah.  Something for the two of you to hunt, unfortunately, Andy can't snack on them.  They turn to nasty ash in your mouth.  But he's immune to vampirization.  You did realize that, right?"

Victoria nodded. "So..it looks like we'll be busy tonight too.."

  Andy snorted, and said "Probably has to do with that nice black stuff I bleed now . . ."

"Yes, vampires. The Order's 'liaison' to our little group, Brother Joshua, came and enlisted our aid in dealing with the threat. They will be hunted down and destroyed, no matter how long it takes," said Oswald, knowing that it would be a long, hard effort to keep the new vampire epidemic contained within Weston.

  Andy's Mom said "Do all the classic things work on them?  I would prefer not to get attacked while I walk home from work. . . "

Oswald nodded, "Carry a clove of garlic in your purse, and you should be all right."

"All right..we establish a base until we get our house set up...then we go after these bloodsuckers," Victoria said with a determined look on her face.

  Andy said "There's another trick that works.  Don't spaz."  One talon extended and he jabbed it through his other hand, then took a different finger to dip in the welling black blood.  Then he painted a sigil on his mother's forehead, which flared deep purple and vanished.  He gave everyone a wry smile, and said "Demon magic.  Doesn't work for anyone else."

Victoria looked on as Andy warded his Mother, then looked towards Mr. Gysbourne, wondering if he would "spaz."

Oswald did not 'spaz'. Rather, he watched carefully as Andy used his own blood to draw a protective sigil on his mother.

"Ah, yes. A bit of blood, in a shape which can draw the mana to power the effect. Similar to my grandson's own magic. You should certainly be fine with just that, Mrs. Black. A blood-fueled spell, given willingly and in love, is more powerful than any old-world charm could ever hope to be."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:40, Thu 23 June 2011.

  Andy smiled, and said "There's plenty of love.  She's the only Mom I have.  And yes, there's a crapload of power in demonsblood.  It's basically solidified energy that's got some unique properties."

Victoria smiled.

"Love can work many wonders. Just look at Andy and I.."