ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: SEATTLE WASHINGTON- January 01 2012:

   When it was founded in 1852, Antioch was named after the Syrian city where the apostle Paul launched his missionary expeditions. Antioch's beginnings were indeed Christian, although its first president was statesman Horace Mann, himself a fierce non-denominationalist.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Sun 08 Jan 2012.

Luke stopped just near the front gates.  He dropped his duffle bag by the tree trunk, and sat down to enjoy the available shade.  It had been a long walk from the budget bus depot that he had conned a ride into town on.

But Luke was used to walking these days.  It's really all he did.

From his vantage point, Luke could see the yonder dorm buildings ... his destination.  He wasn't enrolled, of course, but that had never impeded his use of the communal laundry facilities at any other Uni across the country, nor his use of the Gym's change rooms for that long awaited shower.
Nobody ever took exception; because nobody ever cared enough to notice that he might not be a student.

After a short while, he hoisted the duffle bag onto his shoulders again, and headed into the campus, and across the large car park.

Alexander stood and began to pack up his things from the table.  It had been a long day, studying high-end programming was mentally exhausting.  Packing all of his books and gear into a backpack, he finally left the campus library.

As he walked across the campus, Alex didn't pay particular attention to anything but the growling in his stomach.  Eventually, he found himself in the cafeteria
ordering up his usual sandwich.

   The cafeteria, which most of the students called the "Feeding Trough" still had a respectable number of students huddled around the well worn oak tables.  Some sat in clusters, books open on the table, others had lap tops, iPads, or iphones on the go, and still others lay back listening to music.  Some were even eating, not that the food was particularly special, but some of it was quite good, and most of the regulars knew which items were worth their precious money.
   Moments after Alexander finds himself a seat, he notes that he is not alone.  Parminder Patel, a second year Computer Science major, stood looking down to him with her bright chocolate eyes and smiling.  A striking woman of Indian-American descent, she had made friends quickly with Alexander, whom she considered 'moderately intelligent' or so she claimed.  She watched him for a moment, holding her tray, on which could be seen a sandwich which was undoubtedly vegetarian, like Parminder herself.

   "Hi Alex, may I join you?" she asked politely, as always.


---------------------------

   It was late in the afternoon, just after five, and the sun was peeking in and out of the grey clouds, on its way towards the horizon.  It was still a few hours before sunset, however, and Luke found the parking lot all but empty of people as he threaded his way through the tightly parked cars.  The few folks who were out seemed to pay him no attention, too busy on cell phones or lost in their own thoughts.
   Almost to the sidewalk, Luke sees a young woman stumbling towards him. She appears to be in her early thirties, with striking waves of red-golden hair and pale green eyes.  She was wearing a forest green cloak, over a brown wool bodice and green plaited skirt.  The styling of her clothes is clearly antiquated, to Luke's eyes, and as she comes closer, he can see dark stains from mud and...blood!
   Coming close to Luke, her eyes light up, as if he is somehow familiar to her.  She smiles weakly, though this is quickly replaced by a grimace of pain and she falls forwards, leaning against him.

   "You're not at all what I expected...." she gasps in a lilting accent, then slips into unconsciousness.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:37, Mon 09 Jan 2012.

Luke caught the woman in his arms as she fell.
"I gotta be honest, lady ... You are not at all what I expected, either", he replied to her limp form.

He looked around quickly, to assess the threat situation; caring not for any quizzicle looks from campus dwellers, but worried about the inevitable arrival of whomever had gifted this woman these wounds.

Seeing nothing immediately, he scooped her up in his arms, and carried her off the car park.

Under the awning of a nearby building, he carefully lay her on the grass, and placed his duffle bag nearby.  Like any wise traveller, he carried the basics of healing, and quickly drew the first aid kit from his bag, along with a towel and a bottle of water.
Kneeling beside her, so that he could watch for any danger approaching, he began to gently strip the wound. With the sodden materials removed and her rendered flesh cleaned down with the dampened towel, he inspected her wounds.

He also made sure to check what weapons she had, should he need to defend her.

Alex smiled at Parminder, "Of course, Parmie."  He gestured toward the empty seat across from him.  As nervous as he was about the test, Alex had always found studying the weekend before take the edge off."Do you wanna get together to study for the big test Friday?"

   Luke tries to make the injured woman as comfortable as he can.  Baring the wound, he can see she has a deep hole in her chest, the size of a quarter, the skin around it is red and tender, blisters beginning to form.  Blood is seeping from the wound, now that Luke has removed the hasty cloth bandage ties around it.  She has lost a considerable amount of blood, and it is astonishing that she had the strength to make her way to him.

   Her eyes flutter and she looks up to him, smiling weakly. "Its...not...m...me that matters...now, Luke.  F...Find Alex...he needs...you...g...go..."  She lapses back into unconsciousness once more.

   On her person she has not discernable weapons.  In fact the only things she has are a small silver pen...or at least it seems to be, a tarnished silver mirror, an odd looking old fashioned ornate key, and a creased and yellowed picture of a young man's face.  Underneath is hand written and still barely legible the words:

   'A reasonable likeness of me to keep close to your heart, as you requested.  Fondest regards, dear Charlotte.'  Humbly yours ALEXANDER DE MAREST

Luke crouched upon the ground.
His back was to the wall; from where none could come at him unexpected.
The woman's form at his feet; where he could step up and over her to protect.

And he looked, with consternation, over the wounded body, and the array of items spread before him on the ground.

'Find Alex ...' she had said ... and carried a likeness of some self-monikered picture of one Alexander De Marest.
Coincidence?  Luke thought not.

And she had known Luke's name.  He wondered on this.

She was unconscious, and in a bad way.  'Find Alex ... He needs you' she had said.  But Luke wasn't willing to just leave the woman here.

Pocketing the assortment of items he had looted from her, he took a moment to look carefully at the picture. Then tucked it into his top pocket for easy reference.

Then, taking her in his arms, he stood, and looked around.  Heading off through the Campus, he went looking for a phone box.

*******

Ten minutes later, he inserted coinage into the pay phones slot, and dialed the information service.

The woman lay, probably uncomfortably, outside the booth, where he could watch over her.

When information services connected, he asked them to locate the phone number for 'Alexander De Marest'.   If the stars were aligned right, this might actually put Luke in contact with the man.   When asked for a location, Luke went out on a limb, and said 'Seattle', hoping that the woman's arrival here indicated that this mystery man was somewhere close.

   Parminder smiled with a warmth that could light up the whole cafeteria.  Then she ran one hand quickly through her long raven hair and nodded.  "Sure Alex, I'd like that a lot...I could really use the study time I mean. Networking and Information Security Applications has been rough this semester.  I mean professor Hanover is seriously critical of everything I do.  Sometimes I think she just doesn't like me.  Um, so how about tomorrow evening?  You could come to my dorm room, my room mate is out late most nights, she won't even know you've been there."
   She regarded him for a minute hopefully, then she blinked and her eyes opened wide.  "Oh, Alex, I almost forgot to tell you.  Professor Medvedev would like to see you before you go home he said.  He didn't say why, just said it was important.  I thought maybe you'd know."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Fri 13 Jan 2012.

"Tomorrow evening sounds great, I'll see you then.  I know Hanover is pretty tight with us all, I don't think it's personal.  Hrmm... Professor Medvedev..."  Alex paused, trying to think of what the professor would want him for.  It sounded pretty urgent.

"I don't know really, but he is my mentor for my computational modeling project.  Maybe he had some breakthrough he wants to share."  He wondered aloud, as they walked out of the building together.

Once outside, the two went their separate ways.  Alex wandered off to Professor Medvedev's office hoping to catch him there.

   After several tense minutes, the automated voice message supplies Luke with a cell phone number containing a Seattle area code.  This is followed by an offer to dial the number immediately, in return for an additional small fee.  The injured woman slumps over now, still weak from loss of blood, her breathing shallow.
   Intent on obtaining information Luke barely notices a large group of students slowly walking his way.  All of them are wearing heavy jackets against the cold, all of them staring at him with intense expressions.

-------------------------------------------------

   Alexander knocks on the door of the office, but there is no response.  He does find, however, that the door is unlocked.  Going inside, he sees the familiar spacious room of Doctor Andrei Medvedev.  It was an elaborate office,  adorned with antique furniture, movie memorabilia, a plethora of kick-knacks and posters of rock bands from the Eighties.  Hardwood floors were mostly covered by a large area rug and several comfy chairs, spaces around a hardwood desk, loaded with three computer monitors and a stacks of cds.  He does not see any sign of the Professor however...

Surprised to see the empty office unlocked, Alex took a seat. "Well, he'll probably be right back."  He said to himself.  Alex pulled the 'Networking Security' book from his backpack and began reading while he waited 15 minutes.

   Walking around the hardwood desk, Alex finds Professor Medvedev laying on the rug, twitching uncontrollably.  He must be spasming as Alex can actually SEE the muscles on his back bunching and moving under his dark brown sport coat.  He gasps and then cries out to Alex as he sees him, then his eyes roll backwards behind his eyelids and he grits his teeth, shaking uncontrollably.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Thu 31 July 2014.

Alex stepped back at seeing Professor Medvedev in such a position.  He barely knew the basics of first aid, and mouth-to-mouth didn't seem to fit the situation.  "Ah... umm"  Looking around the office for anything to help, he knelt near the Professor.

Finally, not knowing what else to do... Alex pulled out his cell to dial 911.

As Informaion Services gave Luke the number, he quickly pulled a pen from his pocket, and the self-portrait of Alexander.  He wrote the phone number on the back, and checked it when the service repeated the number.

He hung up instead of accepting the call-through.

Glancing at the woman with concern, he returned his attention to the phone, and began dialing the number he had just received.
But something niggled at his conscience, and after a moment of thought, he turned to take a better look at the group of students coming his way.

Concerned, he hung up the phone, and stepped outside. He knew he couldn't outrun an angry mob carrying the woman, but he wasn't going to leave her either.
So now, he waited casually for the group to either pass by, or initiate.

   The woman opens her eyes, staring at Luke with curiosity.  Although it seems impossible that she could still be conscious, she manages to gasp out...

  "Luke, go, I'll be okay, its....you they want!  You and...Alex!  You can't f...fight them...too many...go w...while you c..." She falls unconscious once more and this time she does not reawaken.

   As the mob gets closer, Luke can see there's about eight of them...

-------------------------------------------------------------

  "Alexander de Marest, there is no need to summon assistance.  The Professor will be fine, once the "Joining" has been completed."  Says the echoing voice of a young female student as she walks into the room, followed by three others.  All of them are wearing leather coats, jeans, and strangely vacant expressions.  The young man in the rear closes the door behind him, and then all four draw pistols, though unlike anything Alex has ever seen before today.
  "Slide your communication device to me, slowly."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:33, Mon 16 Jan 2012.

"Woah..."  Alex held his hands up at first assuming some kind of mugging going on.  After a brief second, he realized the female had asked for his phone.  Laying his cell on the desk, Alex looked with concern at the professor then nervously at the four students who had him cornered.

Luke knelt close when she started to speak, and was troubled by her words.
He still didn't like the idea of leaving her behind; but she seemed confident in her assertions.  And, the fact was, Luke wasn't even sure whether the lynchmob could even see the woman.

As he lay her unconscious head on the ground, he looked up at the approaching mob.  Nodding to himself, he muttered 'Ok.  Ok, let's see what you kids have in you'.

He grabbed his duffle bag and ran.


Since he had been young, Luke had been an athlete.  He had played most sports throughout his school days, many team sports as well asTrack & Field.
When Luke ran, he did it well.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Tue 17 Jan 2012.

   As Alex watches in amazement, Professor Medvedev rises to his feet, his jacket writhing in the back, then finally settling.  His expression becomes a serene smile and his eyes widen as he looks around, then over to Alex.

  "The Joining is complete, I am now in control of Andrei Medvedev.  You have captured the human Potential.  Excellent work, now prepare him for transport." Although his voice is familiar to Alex as that of his old mentor, there is a second voice behind the Professor's that is much higher and filled with an edge of cruelty.
   In response to Professor Medvedev's words, the female student lifts her gun up and prepares to fire.

OOC: Initiative Alex:)

-------------------------------------------------

   Luke races across the campus grounds, the sounds of pursuit loud in his ears.  Luke is faster, however, than his student pursuers, and he begins to outdistance them.  He stops before the wide stone steps that lead up to the entrance of the Barnes Building; home of the Antioch University Engineering Department.
   In fact, so intent is Luke on evading his would be captors, that he accidentally collides with a young lady leaving the building.  She drops her blackberry and a khaki satchel.

  "Hey, what's your hurry?"  Parminder demands, clearly annoyed.  "What's so important that you can't watch where you're going?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Thu 19 Jan 2012.

Alex stared, still in shock for a moment.  Then it dawned on him, he was about to be shot.  He dropped to the floor, letting the desk provide cover for the moment.  What is 'the Joining' and why did it allow something to control the Professor?  The split second he had to come up with a plan seemed interminable.

---

19:32, Today: Alexander De Marest rolled 7 using 1d10+2. Initiative.

You know, there is no reason for Luke to do anything but barrel on past, with an apology.   But who are I to ignore a perfectly good plot-hook, graciously offered by a storyteller desperate to get us all together:

Buildings were a great place to loose pursuers.  Especially these old university buildings; with their winding corridors, multitude of stairs, and plethora of open rooms to duck into.   So Luke bounded up the stairs into this big place, hoping to evade those following him ... And, if possible, find some out of the way office, unattended, to call this Alex bloke.

Luke was not the religious type.  But he was a realist.  And in his life, there had come one god that he favoured ... and he felt favoured him somewhat.  Dame Fortuna, Lady Luck herself.
She had saved his bacon on many occasions now, and Luke wondered whether his general antics amused her enough that she had devised to keep him around; a kind of 'fool to the gods'.  Heh, yeah, that was it: 'Cool Hand' Luke, Fool to the Gods.

Well, hopefully the Lady was watching over him now.  He couldn't help but feel her warm smile.

And then he hit the girl.

Luke grabbed the girl as he barreled into her, hoping not to knock her over.  As he spun with her, regaining his balance, he said, "Sorry, miss", and began to continue his flee.
But then an idea hit him; a strange, wild, unreal idea.  The kind one learns not to ignore, as though Fate, or the Lady was stepping in to throw their Fool a bone.

He quickly turned to her, and pulled a self-portrait of some guy named Alexander De Marest from his top pocket.
"I don't suppose you know this guy?" he asked ... trying, but somewhat failing, to hide the desperation in his voice.

Expectation prepared him for the worst, and was already urging his feet to run again.

OOC: I wouldn't say desperate, I have managed to corral at least three of the seven of you so far, and got the rest on the run and one walking into danger...hehee  I appreciate you picking up on the possible plot hook and running with it though, thank you:)

Parminder glares at Luke, still clearly miffed, but glances at the picture out of curiosity.  Her eyes widen as she recognizes her friend, but then they narrow as they flick back towards Luke.

   "I might, Mr Rude.  Depends who wants to know and why,"  she responds crossing her arms and giving him a disapproving look.

   Around the corner, the mob of students suddenly appear, running for the steps where Luke and Parminder are standing...

-----------------------------------------------------------

   Alex drops behind the desk, spoiling the lady student's chance for a shot as he ducks out of sight.  The other students begin come around the desk and attempt to grab Alex and haul him to his feet, but Alex somehow manages to evade their clumbsy attempts.  Professor Medvedev takes a device from his bookshelf...
   Once behind the desk, Alex does notice there is room under part of it for him to wedge himself inside if he wishes.



   OOC:  Alex ties with the possessed students for initiative.  Alex, however, is a player character, so I'll allow him to go first.  I know the rules say to reroll ties, but I think ties should go to my loyal players and I'm the GM so there :P

   21:32, Today: LoC rolled 7 using 1d10+1. Engineering students initiative roll.
   22:19, Today: LoC rolled 12 using 1d20. Students untrained grapple attack.
22:18, Today: LoC rolled 15 using 1d20. Students untrained grapple attack
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:21, Sat 21 Jan 2012.

It took Luke a moment to realize what the woman had replied.  And in that moment, his body had already started to turn and run.
Nearly dislocating various body parts in his attempt to turn back to her, Luke grabbed her by the shoulders. As his eyes took in the mob beyond her, running up towards the building, he said to her, "He's in grave danger, WILL you tell me where he is?".

He didn't mean to be rude to the woman, but it must certainly have been obvious that Luke was only going to ask once.

Once the immediate danger was, at least for the moment, out of sight.  As he tried to make sense of the situation, it occurred to Alex that the Professor somehow seemed to be the leader of this group of students.  He decided to try to wrestle the professor for whatever device he was grabbing.

---

OOC: Oh drats, well it was nice to be considered a loyal player.  Even if I roll poorly.
21:57, Today: Alexander De Marest rolled 17 using 1d20. Wrestle Professor for device.

   Parminder tensed in shock as Luke grabbed her, none too gently.  Her first reaction was to scream as loudly as she could for campus security, but something in expression: the intensity in his eyes, the urgency in his voice, convinced her he was telling the truth.  He might be a 'nutter' as her Father would say, but she knew she couldn't take that chance.  If anything were to happen to Alex...

   And then she saw the mob.  Their strange expressions finally made a believer of her.  Something bizarre was going on that she clearly didn't understand.  But if Alex was in danger, that was all she really needed to know.

  "Professor Medvedev's office.  Across the lobby, stairs on the right, second floor, room #216, come on, I'll show you, let's go!"

   The leaders of the mob were now surging up the steps, their aflame with an almost insane determination.  There were six of them, two coming close enough to attempt to grab Luke.  The doors to the main building were perhaps thirty feet from where they were standing...

Initiative roll please Luke:)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Sun 22 Jan 2012.

   Alex springs from under the desk, grasping desperately at the device in the False Professor's hands.  Seeing the attack at the last minute, he manages to keep the device from the determined student, and they struggle back and forth for several tense moments, wrestling back and forth furiously.
   Meanwhile the other possessed students realize their quarry is no longer trapped beneath the heavy desk, and they spin around to assist the Professor.

OOC: Initiative Alex..mwuhaha...um, well not great initiatives, but wicke evil laugh anyway...mwuhahahahaaaa!

12:23, Today: LoC rolled 5 using 1d10+1. False Professor init.
12:22, Today: LoC rolled 3 using 1d10+1. Engineering students initiative roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Sun 22 Jan 2012.

Luke didn't wait for the girl.  In fact, for her sake, he wanted to disassociate himself from her.  The mob was after him, and Alex perhaps.  And Luke didn't like dragging this girl into whatever was going on.

So, instead, he pushed her away.  It wasn't harsh, and he hoped she didn't fall, or get hurt. But if the mob were chasing him, then he both wanted her left alone, and didn't want to be slowed by her.

As he shoved her away, and turned to run, he yelled "Call the cops".


Then, he was bounding in through the front doors of the building, into it's foyer, and down the corridor towards the stairs he could see, just where she had said they would be.


So: he was headed for a professors office.  That worked!
The office would have a desk, bookshelves, etc; stuff that could be piled up against the door as a bulwark against the mob, until Luke could explain the situation to this Alex bloke.

Then, maybe, they'd make their escape out a window or something ... probably leaving a confused and irate professor in their wake.
Yeah, that was a good plan.   Luke knew it wouldn't work; but it was a good plan.


- rolled 8 using 1d10+2. Initiato, amigo

Alex continued to grapple the former Professor for the device.  One hand trying to grasp the device, while the other arm distracts the Professor with an elbow to the jaw.

---

I assume that would me a multiple attack, so I rolled twice.  My understanding of this instance in combat is slightly fuzzy I'm afraid.

17:38, Today: Alexander De Marest rolled 18 using 1d20. Elbow to the face.
17:38, Today: Alexander De Marest rolled 10 using 1d20. Grapple device.
17:32, Today: Alexander De Marest rolled 7 using 1d10+2. Initiative.

   OOC:  An attack, in LoC, is actually considered to be the number of attacks you might make in six seconds, though as you progress in levels you will achieve multiple attacks, you only have one six second attack (or group of attacks).  So let us take your first intended attack, the grapple which was successful.  If the professor fails his attack you will have grabbed the device.  Hopefully that makes sense:)


   As Alex once again grabs for the device, the possessed students run forward to attack him, but before they can do so, the door bursts open and there stands a man Alex has never seen before, chest heaving as he takes in the scene around.  The only man Luke recognizes is Alex, from the portrait that Charlotte gave him, but it is quite clear to the man that the Professor is struggling with Alex over some sort of device and four other students are poised to attack, one has even drawn some sort of pistol.

  OOC: Luke movement, intentions, and actions please.
   

Bound up the stairs ... down the corridor ... into the office ... {if Alex is there} start shoving furniture against the door.

   The Professor struggles with Alex, both men determined to possess the odd device, which now begins to blink and glow in an dizzying array of colours.  After several tense seconds, Alex manages to yank it free of Dr Medvedev's hands.  As Alex frees the device, there is a loud sound like a thunderclap and suddenly a glowing line appears in mid air.  Like a flower in folds out, becoming a roughly oval shaped aperture, as if God had rent the air itself asunder.

OOC: 17:36, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 17 using 1d20. False Professor grapple attempt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:42, Fri 27 Jan 2012.

Luke threw open the door, and was already entering the room, as he assessed the situation.

His heart fell.  Five, with weapons, against two wasn't good odds, not in any language.
{Luke only knew one language, but the thought still seemed valid}

And, as usual, when the shit was hitting the fan, Luke's body acted without consulting his head first.  Fortunately, this tactic could be credited with his existence to date; and so it saw no need to begin negotiations with the head now.

The enemy were all around them, with more coming from behind.

Luke's body's first intention was to dive at this Alex bloke, tackling him through the window, and make good their escape.
He had seen it done in numerous movies, and not only had it always worked, it looked freaking awesome.

Unfortunately, there was no window behind Alex.
There was, however, some kind of rend in the fabric of space and time; and what could possibly be wrong with that:

Luke dived ...

   With device in hand, Alex notices the movement out of the corner of his eye, but Luke is coming so fast...

OOC: Luke, I need an attack roll please.  Alex has done his movement for this turn and so cannot react.  A successful attack will do what you are intending.

attack roll:  rolled 14 using 1d20 ((14)).

Luke dived         ... and collected Alex in a rather haphazard manner, with none of the grace and style he had hoped for.   But it was enough to send the two tumbling, like a drunken camel, through the unnatural apiture.

As he registered his movement through the rend, Luke found himself suddenly reevaluating the sanity and validity of the course of his action.

   Alexander and Luke both stumble backwards through the Rift, taking the odd device with them.  As the Professor's office disappears in a storm of whirling light the last thing Alex sees is Parminder screaming in the doorway and then everything goes black...

   You may now post in this thread.  You both find yourselves in a natural cavern corridor, lit by some kind of artificial lighting.  There is a large well lit open room ahead and you can hear voices.  Outside of the room stand two tall men in long coats that look like young street punks, but with the same odd expression as the other possessed people you've seen.  They blink in surprise as they see you.

   YOU GET ONE FREE ROUND OF ACTIONS make them count:)

link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Mon 30 Jan 2012.