"That's....probably not a good sign."  He grabs some tear gas, and some kind of stun weapon, but passes on the heavy artillery - it's way out of his league.

He mutters to himself, "Gorramit Jim, I'm a spook, not a soldier!"

He turns to Jacob, his voice louder and the goofy smile returned. "To the Batmobile! Let's go!"

Once they're in the vehicle he adds, "Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed. Ready to move out!"

The next few minutes are spent annoying his partner signing, "Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na...Batman!"

You're ignoring the grave danger again by acting like an idiot aren't you?

Yes, Subconscious. Shut up, Subconscious. Nobody asked you.

Well, at least if Levy's making racket like that, it'll give them someone to shoot at other than me...  What the hell, may as well have a little fun too.

Hold on to your ass, Levy, we're goin' plaid...

I gun the engine and haul ass to the lodge and strike up the Marine Corp anthem as we're approaching.


    From the Halls of Montezuma,
    To the shores of Tripoli;
    We fight our country's battles
    In the air, on land, and sea;
    First to fight for right and freedom
    And to keep our honor clean:
    We are proud to claim the title
    Of United States Marine.

    Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
    From dawn to setting sun;
    We have fought in every clime and place
    Where we could take a gun;
    In the snow of far-off Northern lands
    And in sunny tropic scenes;
    You will find us always on the job
    The United States Marines.

    Here's health to you and to our Corps
    Which we are proud to serve;
    In many a strife we've fought for life
    And never lost our nerve;
    If the Army and the Navy
    Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
    They will find the streets are guarded
    By United States Marines.

Driving:  -1(+2)=1

(I'm not clear on where you're headed.  Ariel is trying to protect the Lodge.  The citizenry is currently having a civil war while jumping the pipers, and Rebekah is following the trail to the mountain. Of the 12 elders and spouses, 8 are left.)

(I'm not clear on where you're headed.  Ariel is trying to protect the Lodge.  The citizenry is currently having a civil war while jumping the pipers, and Rebekah is following the trail to the mountain. Of the 12 elders and spouses, 8 are left.)

<OOC>Really?  I thought that "haul ass to the lodge" was pretty clear?  My intention was to reinforce Ariel and regroup before heading off to confront the pipers themselves.</OOC>

OOC - geez how many villains are we fighting, that they can be three places at once?  We're going to need to take at least one group down fast.

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 112):

(gah! selective reading! right now yer lucky you aren't fighting Simon Bolivar and Pablo Neruda with an army of exiled post WW2 nazis. which would be ironic considering Neruda was commie. I've got a Culture of South America final in a week.)

Several things stand out at you as you approach the lodge.

first: The building was obviously set on fire, as you can see parts of it still smoldering, but no longer blazing.

Second: The ground around the building is soaked, as though here and only here got a storm.

Third: Not all that liquid is water, you see signs of fighting, and blood mingling with the water in some of the pools.

Fourth:  As you get close, you see Ariel's unconscious form leaned against a tree.  There are scratches and bruises on her, but it doesn't appear life-threatening at first glance. Several children are huddled around her.  Standing next to her, guarding them from a swarm of small men, is Dena, bleeding from her forehead, one arm hanging at her side, with a large branch in her right hand, the end blazing merrily.  She swings the branch, keeping them back, delivering a sharp crack to the head to one who gets too close.

Dena fights like a woman possessed.  Long ridiculed and viewed with suspicion, she vents twenty years of frustration this night, fighting the nightmares of her youth.

She has fought like a warrior poet, but you can tell she won't last much longer against such superior numbers.

Time to give these jackasses something else to think about.

And really, I've been waiting to do this...

Israel dramatically exits the vehicle, twirls his blasting rod around, points it directly at the crowd of...whatever is threatening our friends (thugs? soldiers? Mercs? Whatever), and with an evil grin shouts "FUS, RO DAH!" and sends a gust of force at the group.

Using all four Conviction
Discipline roll 0 +3(skill) +1(Rod) =4 (phew)

The intention is to throw them back (prone if possible) giving Jacob an easy shot to  drop 'em / stun 'em / whatever he has planned.

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 115):

(In their language he is Hebrew- The Jew Born! Fus Ro Da!)

That is enough to drop the front row, a few in the back were pushed back, but they'll have their balance back quickly.  The most immediately dangerous are open for an attack from Jacob.

I fire a single warning shot into the ground at the feet of the one nearest Dena.

LISTEN UP YOU SHORT-ASS OOMPA LOOMPA BASTARDS!  THAT WAS A 5.56X45MM FULL METAL JACKET ROUND TRAVELING AT 884 METERS PER SECOND.  THE NEXT ONE OF YOU THAT MOVES IS CATCHING ONE IN THE FACE, WHICH WILL CAUSE HYDROSTATIC SHOCK TO YOUR BRAIN, BURSTING YOUR UGLY LITTLE SKULL LIKE A GRAPE UNDER A BOOT.  I DON'T THINK MISS DENA OR THESE KIDS HERE WANT TO WEAR OOMPA LOOMPA BRAINS BUT IF YOU FUCK WITH ME, THEY WILL, I SHIT YOU NOT!

Guns:  -1(+3)=2

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 117):

There is a shutter through the collective group, you hear murmurs of _{...oompa loompa...}

They are obviously not happy as they shuffle away from the children they came to take, the unconscious girl who scared the crap out of them, Dena, who fought them like a rottweiler versus a rottweiler's weight in chihuahuas, or the crazy American with big guns, or the Israeli who has video game powers.

(I didn't fully realize it before, but internationally, Americans have traditionally been associated with, well, the American Cowboy. Big guns, shoot outs, violent for violent's sake.  a little crazy and uncouth.  then the Israeli, you step on their foot, they burn your house. A little country in a sea of nations who want nothing as badly as to see them dead.  And it hasn't happened.)

For a moment, it looks like they shimmer, when you, Jacob, then Israel, look again, it's almost like looking at a 3-D image without the glasses.  You see the short men, but now there is another image imposed over that, one with horns and furry legs.  You aren't highly educated in the supernatural, but you recognize a satyr when you see one. Beady eyes look at you, surprised as they realize you are seeing through the glamour.

We leave.  Bother this place, these people, no more.  The (Something) tells us to go. Assuming neither of you speak goaat, you don't pick up one of the words.

The Satyrs look nervously at one another, then the back ranks slip into the darkness. Three stay behind, from what you, Jacob, can figure, two are bigger, with larger horns, probably the leaders of the group, or at least the ones sent here. One is small, possibly a child or female, it's kinda hard to tell and you're new at this.

We trouble the town no more.  Sunrise soon, no satyr trouble town then. Craziness in town.  Satyr acting like non-Satyr. Take too many, take adults, attack people.  Attack old woman.  There is fog in head.  Clouds our minds

I safe the weapon and lower it.

Who's doin' this to you?  You show us who's to blame and we can put a stop to it.

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 119):

We satyrs taught men how to make pipes.  Our magic comes from us, not the pipe, for man, he needs magic pipe.  He made another, one that works on us. But it wouldn't work on <goaat word>, too strong for little man pipe.  which means <goaat> is against us too.

they all seem very worried about that thought.

there is cave, in the mountain, they take the taken there.  When ready, they are moved to the trading spot. I do not know how they move them to the spot.

Where is the trading spot?

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 121):

We do not know for sure. Water, not mountain.  Not far cave from water!

As much as I love to talk, I don't think we can spend anymore time here.  Rivkah's already up the mountain and the town is apparently in civil war.  We need to get up to the mountain caves and end this.


Ooh, Action rather than words, what a change!

Shut up subconscious, nobody asked you.

I agree, first we need to get these people safe.  Dena, can you get these kids into the lodge and bunker down until we can get back to you?

I'm going to check Ariel's injuries, make sure there's nothing life-threatening, and carry her into the lodge with Dena and the rest.

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 123):

Israel, you get a strange feeling, then realize someone has put a charm on you, and probably Jacob as well. You can now see the satyr's true forms unless they really fight to keep it secret.

As the fighting here at the lodge ends, several adults come running, looking for their children.  You see them embrace Dena, thanking her, and you.  The kids and Ariel are taken inside an area of the lodge that didn't burn.

Dena looks at you, obviously tired. Thanks for the help soldier! You got good timing.  We're going to set up as an infirmary.  If you find injured, send them this way.

Don't mention it, ma'am.  Few things put the fear of God into someone like a Marine and his rifle.  We get through all this and the first round's on me.

I check my gear again right quick before looking at Levy:

Let's roll.

Israel follows, anxious to finish this before the town tears itself apart.

Dena points you in the direction of a path that will lead all the way there, and tells you how to find the cave.

As you start the jeep down the path, you pick up a message from the pilot, it's fuzzy, but he says he has to go, top priority orders for him to return to Glasgow to pick up reinforcements.

<Grey>Repeat: Director Bres wants you to locate, and if possible apprehend, the Mayor.  Any of the other elders if you can, but most especially the Mayor, a woman described as tall, solemn and unpleasant.  It is important they not escape, but of course your top priority are the kids.  Just keep an eye and ear out for them, or entrust it to townsfolk, something.  Someone's gotta pay for this mess, and they are favorite candidates.</Grey>

At the foot of the mountain, the jeep starts sputtering.  You see Thorn waiting at the base of a trail leading upwards.

Nice to see you alive! Those little devils put up a fight, and of course I'm not at my best at night.  They took the little girl at the old woman's house.  Be careful you two, someone's working magic up there.  From the feel, they're not all that strong, but experienced at what their doing.  Sort of the opposite of you, Levy. Their potential is low, but they've done the same handful of magic so often they are good at it weak or not.

Jacob's pocket vibrates.  He has to walk away from Levy and the mountain a little ways, but a new e-mail has come in.

You have less than 24 hours before that whole area goes up.  There might be a way to slow it down once the sun rises.  Be advised Director lady and Sergei will be at the lake by 8am, approx.  (3.5 hours)

Don't take stupid...nevermind.  Try not to die, unless you are in to that sort of thing.

Also, be aware, the Lake Guardian is coming. He/she/it preserves, watches over, guards the magical nodes/major lakes, of Scotland.  apparently all this disruption caught its attention.  Be polite.  Seriously.

I fill Israel in on what Ben just told me.

Thorn, I need you to help with the evacuation and keep an eye out for the Mayor and a tall, severe woman.  They're mostly responsible for this mess, so they can take the heat for it.  C'mon, Levy, we've got to move.

I set off up the trail, presumably with Levy watching my back.

Alertness:  1(+2)=3

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 129):

(you both passed endurance checks. Be advised they are going to get progressively harder without proper rest)

You hurry, pushing yourselves to reach the cave before it is too late.  At last, the first clouds in the east beginning to streak with oranges and pinks as the sun is making its way around the horizon, you reach the cave. The path ends at a large flat area, in the back is the cave, and standing stalwartly in front of it, are 2 satyrs, large satyrs, with sharp pointy sticks, and the Mayor.

Do I really have to say it?  I know you are fond of movie quotes Mr. Levy, so I will if I must.

Mr. Mayor, you are under arrest for child abduction, child endangerment, child slavery, and extortion.  Frankly, I'd have a hell of a lot less paperwork to deal with if I killed you where you stand and I'd be lyin' if I said I haven't thought about it since you first opened your mouth.  Bring the children out and come quietly, don't make this complicated.

"Ooh, Ooh, let me guess! 'YOU SHALL NOT PASS!' Is that the one? Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but that line is restricted for wizards or at least the hero of the story, while you have managed to get your self cast as the villain. Feel free to twirl a mustache, stroke a goatee or monologue, those are all still open to you.  Though, I think we're kind of low on time here, so it would be much more efficient for everyone if you would just comply with my partner here."

"You make deals, you're a man of business, I sure you can understand a need for efficiency," Israel adds with a touch of snark.