Emerald City, Thursday, September 4th, 2008  7:00 AM
----

Jiro awakes to the sound of the shower running. Alex is still asleep on the bed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:37, Sun 17 July 2011.

Jiro woke slowly, hearing the sounds of running water somewhere nearby, head muzzy with the last whips of dreams. They had been... less unpleasant than the usual, on the whole. Alex, her mind gone, her body withering and shutting down despite everything he could do to try and save her... Wei, fighting him again and this time crushing him, leaving him broken and helpless as the room flooded, doors slamming shut... The darkness that had been within Johhny, reaching out and taking him, filling him and wearing his body and soul like a suit.

To counter those, he had some good dreams too. A triumphant return, armed with a cure and great knowledge and lore... Omiko, beside him, doing homework or watching television or watching him practice. Simply being together, for such was joy... Later, doing... other things together, and while he wished he could deny any such impulses... he could not deny the appeal, unrealistic or dishonorable as it was. Fortunately, he'd shifted position on the couch at some point, and thus was concealed his... reaction.

For a moment as he woke, he lay there, letting his brain catch up and taking in the surroundings. Someone was running the shower, it sounded like, and there was somebody outside running water as well. Watering the grass? Well, it wasn't that important.

He could hear someone asleep on the bed, breath coming deep and slow. He turned over, his reaction more or less gone, and looked, hoping against hope...

It was Alex, looking much as she had the night before when he'd went to bed. He muttered a quiet curse in Japanese and stood, taking further stock of himself. He felt... not so much tired as worn. He'd failed in more than a few ways last night and it had very nearly killed a friend. He'd let his feelings get the better of him as well, with that email, which was probably going to accomplish nothing other than remind Takashi Nakamura of his existence and get another mercenary tossed his way. As if he'd not done enough damage to Alex...

And we're no closer to stopping this second set of vampires... though I think we could argue that we've fulfilled the letter of our bargain with Dragoneye. We know enough about them, now, to cover the 'information' part of things. Then we can skip town. If we can get to Lillooet I can talk to Bruce. He's an even better healer than I am, AND a mage. This is much closer to his area of expertise... wait. The border. They don't have pasports... hell, they probably don't legally exist...

As he mulled that thought over he absently noted that the shower had turned off. He was hungry. He also noted that he stank of fear-sweat and night-sweat. He'd need to change, sooner than later. And... kuso, there was no way to get around it. He'd have to tell Sarah (if nothing else, the briefest of glances at his laundry bag would tell her something was up) about the curse. It went better when he told someone, when it wasn't a surprise...

Whoever was watering the lawn must have tripped or slipped or something, as there was a muffled curse from outside. Simultaneous with it, he heard the bathroom open, and a jet of icy cold water came flying in through the window and caught Jiro straight on. "Kuso!" she swore in surprise, one hand flying up to block the stream.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:24, Sun 17 July 2011.

Sarah, hair wrapped in a towel and dressed in her clothing from the night before freezes as she sees the stranger standing in the motel room. "Tabarnak!" she exclaims.

Jiro notices her hands making gestures that could well be the lead up to some form of spell. "Who the hell are you girl? What are you doing here?" Sarah does not sound pleased.

Jiro sighed. "Good morning, Sarah. I'm just Jiro, I did not invade this room and I do not threaten you." She gestures towards the couch where she'd slept. "The circumstances didn't exactly work towards mentioning this last night, but, well, I am subject to a curse. Cold water changes me into this form, hot changes me back." Another gesture, this one encompassing her current damp state. "Someone out front slipped with a hose or something."

A pause. "If you'll just let me past you, into the washroom, I can prove it." Assuming you didn't use up all the hot water. Kamis, this is not how I wanted to start my day...

Sarah stares hard at the girl, carefully taking in her appearance. "Stay where you are."

She takes a step back and gestures with her hand. Jiro hears the sound of running water as Sarah continues to stare at her.

A few moments later, assuming that she isn't interrupted, Sarah makes another move. A ball of water flies around the corner of the bathroom door and strikes Jiro square in the face. The water is quite hot, but not enough to burn.

Jiro resisted the urge to curse, blinking rapidly as the hot water stung his eyes. After taking a moment to compose himself, he straightened and said, with as much dignity as he could muster, "It doesn't have to be quite that hot, but you see the general idea."

Wiping his brow, then drying the hand on his pants, he added, by way of explanation, "I helped destroy a Triad drug lab a few years ago. They had a pet sorcerer. A pet sorcerer with a sick sense of humor and far, far too much power. The journey of discovery I told you I was on last night? Is to find a cure for it. I am sorry I did not inform you of this last night, Sarah-san, but as you might guess this is something of a sensitive topic."

And now, to see how she reacts.

Sarah's eyes look slightly unfocused as she takes this in. "Looks like him, probably telling the truth..." she mutters.

Her eyes snap back into focus as she relaxes slightly. "Sorry. I don't react well to surprises."

There is a clatter from behind Jiro. It sounds like cutlery falling to the table. A glance reveals that they are no longer as neat as last night.

Alex sits bolt upright at the noise, gasping. She looks around in confusion, fear write on her face. "What? Huh?"

[OOC: Back in play!]

"There is nothing for which you need apologize, Sarah-san. I know it is a strange thing, I meant to tell you in a less-"



"Alex-san!" Jiro turned, feeling a burst of elation. "How do you-" Split by a sudden spike of fear. In a low voice, he contiuned. "How do you feel, and which are you?"

"Alex! Oh god, Alex. Are you alright!" Sarah crys as she runs over to the bed.

Alex throws herself back with a scream, hitting the wall hard. She looks torn between fleeing through the window and fighting her way out.

Panic from Alexandria or genuine fear from Alexander? Either way... Jiro moved to put himself between the bed and the window, ready to intercept Alex should they run. "Alex-san, please, be calm. There is no need to panic." Unless you're Alexander, in which case Sarah is going to get annoyed.

Calm down, please... I want a closer look at you, make sure you're properly healthy and all there. The situation is more complex than Sarah thought...

"What did you do? What did you DO TO ME!" Alex practically screams. She breathing very fast and trembling. "It hurt. You were ripping me apart! How could anything hurt so much?"

Jiro took an open stance, tried to look non-confrontational. Not sure they'll even listen to me... or if 'they' is really the right term, given what Alex is saying... I hope I'm wrong... "We were trying to help, Alexandria-san. We were trying to remove your uninvited guest." And given my stance a couple nights ago it feels odd to talk like that, but, well, things change. "We did not intend to cause harm, and," he glanced at Sarah and tried to catch her eye as he continued, "We are going to figure out what went wrong, and what has happened, before we do anything else. We are not going to hurt you, not again."

A pause. "Please, Alex-san, please be calm. We will figure this out together."

"Alex. Please. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I was trying to save you!"

"WELL YOU WERE FUCKING WRONG!" Alex screams. "I DON'T NEED SAVING! I SAW *THINGS* AS YOU WERE PULLING MY FUCKING SOUL OUT OF MY FUCKING BODY AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE ISN'T ANYONE ELSE IN HERE BUT ME! I AM NOT ALEXANDRIA OR ALEXANDER! I AM ALEX AND I DON'T FUCKING NEED EITHER OF YOU! SO FUCK YOU BOTH!"

Alex had been climbing to her feet while she had been yelling, and as her rant comes to an end, she smashes through the thin motel wall and takes off across the rooftops at a dead run.

Jiro blinked as the gyprock dust started to come down, then sighed. "I was afraid something like this might happen." Moving quickly, he tossed all his clothes and kit together and shouldered his pack. "Sarah-san, I... did not detect any deception from her. Mostly anger, fear, and betrayal."

He looked the mage in the eye. "On my own, I can probably catch up to her. Beyond that... I do not know. Is there a way I could get in touch with you?" A glance around the room. "If nothing else, you'll need to get out of here, too. I suspect the police will not be happy to see this."

He waits for a response, then moves off in pursuit of Alex, roofhopping after her.

[OOC:
18:27, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 23 using 1d20+12. sense motive on Alex(ander?).

Array is in Ki Strike, gogo quickness 2 for packing fast(hopefully before someone investigates teh yelling and all the crashing and banging...)]
[GM Edit - missing colour tag]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:04, Wed 20 July 2011.

Sarah just stares out the hole, tears leaking down her face. "What have I done?"

Jiro paused, looking back. "Sarah-san, all you did was prove to be as much a failable human as anyone else. You acted rashly in the defense of your friend. That is not something to condemn yourself for. No-one is perfect, no-one is always right." A pause, then his lips twisted into a self-depreciating smirk. "Overdone self condemnation is my thing."

A pause as he grew serious once more, and he lightly touches her shoulder. "Sarah-san. Alex is my friend, too, and whatever has happened, I will not allow her to come to harm. I should be able to track her, and I will protect her even if she does not desire my aid. Can you get yourself to safety? Once she is over being angry, Alex will be concerned about that. Is there a number we can use to call you? An address to check?"

Get it together... the longer I wait the harder it will be to find her/them... But I cannot just abandon you, either... Paralyzed by indecision, Jiro waits for a response.

Sarah nodded jerkily and snapped off an address. "It's a small apartment I've been using as a safe house. I'll wait there."

She turned to look Jiro dead in the eye. "This situation in screwed up beyond any recognition, but no matter what, Alex is like a sister to me. There are only two people in the world... worlds that are more important to me. One is here" she rests her hand on her belly "and the other is his father. I've hurt her, and hurt her badly. I don't know how, but I'll make it right. Just find her, and bring her back."

"I will do everything in my power to do so. Go. We will join you when we can." A pause. "Good luck."

He took to the rooftops. No sign of her. Of course. That would be to easy. Moving quickly, but making no effort to hide himself, Jiro began to roofhop around the city, eyes peeled as he went. He canvased the various places they'd investigated or spent any real time in - the alley, the coffee house, the park where they'd sparred as well as the one they'd met Sarah at, the chinese restaurant, Starbase coffee(where he took a moment to ask if anyone had seen her, while grabbing a snack to alleviate the hadn't-eaten-breakfast-yet issue)

He even gave the Ruthless Asian Gang's territory a quick canvassing, and looked over the building where they'd been ambushed the night before.

As Jiro is making his way around the city, he happens to walk past someone listening to the radio on the street. He hears a news story about some kind of fight going on, and a crazy woman smashing through walls and tossing around people that are bursting into flames.

It sounds like it's probably in the center of the original vampire groups territory.

Hearing the radio report, Jiro froze for a moment. Of course. Violent catharsis. The fact that going after that bunch, with their happy all-devouring oil slick of evil, is probably nigh-on suicidal even in daylight wouldn't even factor into her thinking. I probably wouldn't give it much of a thought either, were our positions reversed.

He sighed. None of which is going to make this any easier. He took a moment to get his bearings, then started roofhopping, making his best possible speed towards the vampire's lair.

I will do my level best to save you, Alex-san. I will keep my word.

Alex threw the last vampire through the wall of the house and watched calmly as it burst into flame. One more den down. she thought dispassionately. There can't be to many more left. I'll find their master soon, and then it ends.

Flashing lights caught her eye. Alex leapt through the hole she had made in the roof. Can't let the cops try to capture me. They don't deserve the pain. Her expression darkened Unlike some others I could name

Jiro finds the area in a disarray. Emergency vehicles are spread all over the place, responding to a dozen different locations. He has to be careful to avoid the notice of the police forces covering the area, including the SWAT team. Jiro doesn't see any concrete signs of any human casualties, although it is possible that some of the blackened corpses laying in the sunlight were not vampires.

After a few minutes of searching the area, Jiro spots someone leaping onto a roof in the distance. He sees the figure pause for a moment, then it starts roof hoping in a very direct fashion towards a small office building.

Moving quickly, but not trying too hard to avoid notice, Jiro followed, trying to close the distance. Though faster than Alex, her lead was too great to overcome and she reached the building before he could catch up. I've got a very bad feeling about this...

He followed her in.

Alex stopped on the roof and looked around. There. That building was her next target. She had no idea how she knew, but there was no doubt in her mind. Whatever had lead her to these previous dens was calling her towards that office building.

She landed on the roof fist first, smashing down into the building. She was going to work her way from the top down bringing the light into the darkness and when she was done, nothing not alive would still be moving.

Alex decisively deals with a small number of vampires in the time it takes Jiro to arrive on the scene. He drops down the hole she made just in time to see her tear the head off the last vampire, causing it to explode into dust.

Alex doesn't turn at the sound of Jiro's entrance. "What. Do. You. Want? she asks, her voice flat.

He kept his voice calm, and did not approach, standing in the hole he'd entered through. "To see if a friend wanted help. I am not going to deny that I hurt you. I am not even going to throw such a fragile excuse of 'I never meant to' out there. I will tell you that I am more sorry than I can easily explain that I caused you pain. Also, I promised you I would help you find a way home. I do not make promises lightly, and I would prefer not to go back on this one." By the end of the statement, the calm tones had turned strained, and he knew that his own pain at failing her so utterly - by his ignorance and by poor judgment calls - was coming through in his words. He did not know if this was the right thing to say, he could merely go with his gut feeling.

A long pause, and he stood with open hands and relaxed, casual stance. "Is there any way I can help, or has this one given too much offense?"

Please, please, Kamis, let this reach her. I do not want to fail her...

Alex is silent for a long moment, standing utterly still. Finally she moves, pulling a stake from under her coat and gently tossing it behind her. If it had been thrown harder, it would have stuck Jiro point first in the heart. As it is, it would simply bounce off his chest if not caught.

"Don't get in my way." she says, her voice still flat. "I mean to end this."

Alex steps over to a fire ax embedded in the wall over a pile of dust. She grabs it and uses it to smash through the floor.

Jiro caught the stake. Better than nothing. Better than her deciding just to murder me.

He followed her through the door. "I will do my best to be worthy of your trust."

Alex doesn't give any signs she heard Jiro's words.

Floors four, three, and two provide no serious resistance. The scattered vampires on those levels simply die. Those that attempt to flee receive a thrown stake to the heart.

On the ground floor, the pattern repeats. A few scattered vampires are dusted without problem. Alex sneaks up on the last one standing.

Alex prepares to decapitate this last vampire, when she suddenly reverses her grip on the axe. Instead of the blade, she hits him with the flat back of the axe head.

The target crumples to the ground. Alex steps over him as she heads towards the stairs to the basement. "Leave him. It's still human."

And if he's still an ordinary human, that much blunt force trauma could kill him anyway. And how, dare I ask, could you tell?

For a moment he hesitated in indecision. No, I won't have another accidental death on my conscience. I'll make sure. Not like she'll be hard to find. He paused, quickly checked the injury and the man's vitals. He won't be moving out of here under his own power, but assuming the paramedics aren't too far behind...

Picking up his pace, he headed down to the basement, trying to catch up to the indomitable engine of destruction that had taken ahold of his friend.

[OOC:
21:22, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+9. Medical check on the guy Alex crowned. ]

The basement has more resistance, but not enough to stop Alex and Jiro. Alex fights aggressively, taking a few hard hits but she wards off any offers of healing with a glare, relying on her own swift healing.

The basement is soon cleared of foes, but Alex continues to stalk around it. Finally she stops in front of an unassuming wall. With a glare, she smashes it with the ax, revealing a dark passage.

[OOC: You've all dusted enough common vamps that I'm just not bothering to roll dice here. I'm saving it for the something that can actually slow you down like... you'll see.]

Alex strides down the passage without pausing. She yells down the corridor "YOUR MINIONS ARE DUST BLOOD SUCKER! THIS ENDS TODAY!"

Keeping his own council - like, this deep underground throwing them into sunlight is going to be non-trivial - Jiro follows, stake in hand, senses alert and tuned for any danger that might spring upon them.

And his mind was racing - something, fairly clearly, was at work on Alex. The ability to tell, at a glance, a vampire without his fangs out from a human was beyond my own acute senses and I am fairly sure they are better than hers. Also, her rampage of destruction had not been random, but, and this I am sure of after watching her somehow instinctively find secret doors and hidden foes in this building, something was leading her to its targets. If nothing else, she has developed some strange and uncanny new power. She DID say she'd realized something when Sarah nearly tore out her soul, and something about the vamps yesterday drew a very strong reaction, and I'm not seeing any of the usual signs of posession...

She is also fighting without her usual finesse. She was exhibiting a casual brutality, one that lacked consideration for her own safety. She does not care if she survives, so long as she kills a whole lot of them. I will do everything in my power to help you, Alex-san, but your Gotrek impression is going to make that much harder...

[OOC:
10:03, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+12. Sense Motive on Alex.
10:03, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+9. Arcane Lore - what's granting Alex knowledge/info?]

The air grows cold as the pair travels deeper into the Earth, following the winding passage. There is no light sources in the passage, and only their special abilities allow them to see anything. Finally it widens out into what looks to be a natural cavern. It's been furnished and decorated to look like some kind of black cathedral.

There is only one other person in the room, standing at the profane alter with his back to you. It is man dressed in red robes, long black hair down his back.

"Welcome, Slayer." he says, voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard. "Have you come to join my family? Finally seen reason and forsaken your foolish resistance to the inevitable?"

He turns to face you. There is a mirthless smile on his face. "No, I can see that you have not. You are even more then stubborn as your predecessor was. She finally accepted the truth. Perhaps you will to, in time."

Alex snarls at the man. "Jiro. That's him. He's the source of all this."

"Oh, but you were always so astute little Alex. Are you truly surprised to see me here, after our last meeting?" He pauses as he glances at the one Alex was talking to.

"But where are my manners? I see you have a new friend, and one so against type. Did you finally tire of your endless succession of mindless toys?" He chuckles coldly, then fixes his eyes on Jiro.

"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Father Jack."

"A man of wealth and taste?" The quip slipped out before he could stop it, a sign of his nerves and one he mentally cursed himself for. "Forgive me if I find your politeness to ring hollow. And your judgement of me... I am not her toy. I am her ally. And I do not fear your kind, Vampire."

He took a few steps closer, trying to get juuuust close enough to get into Fist of the Oni range in a single bound, or at least clear his line of sight for a ki blast. "And as for Alex, do not insult her again. Such as she would never be content to be a mindless thrall of a monster such as yourself. She is a hero."

A step closer, and he drew on his powers, letting the ki roll off of his body in a corona of blue, especially around his right hand, held before him. "And you and those like you will never win so long as you are opposed, not just by saints or heroes or gods, but by anyone who refuses to go gentle into the night." Focus on me, bloodsucker. Focus on me, either as a nice meal with all this life energy or as a threat or something... let's give Alex an opening...

[OOC: 11:21, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Intimidate on Jack to draw aggro. Array is in Fist of the Oni]

"Oh, Alex dear. This one looks to be so much more fun then your last ones. How do you keep finding this unending stream of fools so eager to meet their deaths? Tell me, did she train you in such words or did you pick them up on your own?" He chuckles again.

"But what is this? You call me a Vampire? Did she not tell you? For shame, little Alex, for shame. Were you afraid he wouldn't come if you told him the truth? I honestly expected better of you. You are, after all, a hero. Your friend here just told us so."

"Yes. She's a real hero, isn't she?" A voice sounds from the darkness, hidden behind the pillars.

"That is to say, a fool." A woman in a simpler set of red robes steps into view and walks up beside Father Jack. "I once thought as she did, but Father has shown me the truth."

Father Jack reaches up and caresses her face. "Ah, Destiny. So good of you to join us for the festivities."

"Where else would I be, but by your side Father?"

"Well said my dear, well said. Shall we show them that there will be nothing gentle about how they go into the night?"

The man tilts his head back and laughs. It's a horrifying sound that sends bolts of terror into your heart.

[OOC: The laugh forces you to Will save (DC 20) or become shaken. If the save fails by 5 or more, you flee. If the save fails by 10 or more, the subject panics, dropping any held items and fleeing from as quickly as possible.

You earn a hero point for the fiat to let him do so before you can react.
Then you should probably roll init.

http://i63.photobucket.com/alb...-1201150_367_500.jpg]

The man's laugh touched something deep in Jiro's soul, and for a moment an inner voice screamed to flee. But he shouted it down inside.

"You know nothing, creature. And as for you not being a vampire... well, I find myself not caring about the details." He grinned, wolflike. "Vampire, oni, akuma, sorcerer... You have made it your goal to hurt people for your own gain. That, I will not let stand." His stance shifted as he prepared to fight.

Two on two. Figures. But it won't stop us.

[OOC: 12:34, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 12 using 1d20+10. will save.
12:34, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+10. will save HERO POINT REROLL. Adjusted total 27.

12:41, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Initiative. Array is in Ki Strike]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Mon 25 July 2011.

Alex's vision clouded and her knees threaten to buckle. She KNEW that woman, she KNEW that man. She remembered, and she wished she didn't. Terror filled her and she froze in place, a heartbeat away from running.

Then she remembered something else, and the fear was driven back like night before the rising sun. She would endure, she HAD endured. The fear was nothing. She was the Slayer. And these were demons to be SLAIN.

23:09, Today: Alex rolled 21 using 1d20+4. Init.
22:57, Today: Alex rolled 30 using 1d20+11. Hero point re-roll.
22:53, Today: Alex rolled 16 using 1d20+11. Will Save VS Fear.

Father Jack smiled as both heroes flinched from his laughter. He spread his arms wide and said "Come! EMBRACE THE DARKNESS!"
OOC: 14:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Father init.
14:13, Today: Gamemaster rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Destiny Init.

Alex snarled and pulled one of her stakes from under her coat. "EMBRACE THIS!"

[OOC: 14:24, Today: Alex rolled 20 using 1d20+15. AoA5, throwing. At Jack ]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Fri 29 July 2011.

If she's got Papa Jack, that leaves me with her predecessor... Jiro surged forward, moving quickly to intercept the pale former vampire huntress. Mind racing, he could not put as much attention as he normally would into the uneven and cluttered terrain beneath his feet. I'm not closing fast enough... Oh, this is going to suck. He was still short of punching distance when he ran out of time...

[OOC: 11:42, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+14. Acrobatics to close on Destiny. Array is in Ki Strike]

Father Jack doesn't flinch as the stake strikes him full in the chest. He casually pulls it out and tosses it aside, the wound closing almost instantly. "I have done as you asked, and now I shall embrace you."

He reaches out with his left hand towards Alex. The entire arm stretches in a grotesque fashion, the skin splitting to reveal bone, blood and muscle. As it reaches farther a black fluid starts dripping from the distorted limb. It suddenly surges forward, extending across the room to wrap itself around Alex.

Destiny grins as she sprints forward to meet Jiro, and swings her now clawed hands at him. However she is slightly off balance from the run, and Jiro ducks without a problem.


[OOC = 19:28, Today: Gamemaster rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Toughness Save.
19:31, Today: Gamemaster rolled 30 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
19:31, Today: Gamemaster rolled 37 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
DC 22 toughness save for Alex. If you fail the Grapple check he will elect to pin, make a DC10 fort save as it starts to choke you thanks to chokehold.

19:56, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Claw attack. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:59, Wed 03 Aug 2011.

Jiro slid away from the arc of Destiny's claws, cocky grin on his face. "Thank you for meeting me halfway, that makes this much easier." Ki flow shifting, the blue glow gathering around his left fist. He bounded lithely on the debris, then darted inside her guard. "Fist of the Oni!"


[OOC: Array is in Fist of the Oni. 11:42, Fri 29 July: Jiro Koji rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni on Destiny; DC 25 toughness save. Acrobatic bluff for 17]

Alex doesn't let the black tentacle wrapped around her throat stop her. She struggles with it as best she can, trying to free herself.

[OOC - 20:24, Today: Alex rolled 21 using 1d20+17. Unarmed attack AoA5.
20:15, Wed 03 Aug: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
20:15, Wed 03 Aug: Alex rolled 25 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
20:14, Wed 03 Aug: Alex rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Hero point re-roll.
20:12, Wed 03 Aug: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save. ]

The vampire is superhumanly fast, but it is clear she is not accustomed to fighting someone as agile as Jiro. With a series of flips Jiro manages to maneuver to deliver a perfect blow. The Vampiress goes flying, propelled by Jiro's life force made manifest. She crashes through the pews, and comes to rest against the far wall. She doesn't rise immediately, clearly stunned by the blow.

Father Jack cackles madly at Alex's ineffectual struggles. He lifts her high above the floor and continues to choke the life out of the woman.

[OOC: 21:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Destiny Toughness Save.
21:29, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Acrobatics.

21:36, Today: Gamemaster rolled 44 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
He has Improved Pin, for a -4 to your efforts to escape the pin. Take a DC11 Fort Save.

Destiny - Bruised, Stunned ]

Jiro let himself smirk as he sent Destiny flying, saw her dazed crash landing. Do I finish her off or help Alex? He grappled with the thought for a moment, giving Alex and Papa Jack a glance, then made his decision. Alex's situation wasn't good, but they were tough, and he was confident they'd manage for a few more moments without him.

Destiny, however... she was just vampire-like enough that he was morally certain that if he left her alone for a few seconds, she'd bounce right back and become a pain in his ass. He shifted his ki as he raced for her, following the path her flight had cleared, faked a high kick at her recovering form, then loosed a mighty punch at her center of mass, pale blue ki shrouding his fist.

[OOC: Acrobatic Bluff for 16 on Destiny
18:50, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Ki Strike destiny, AoA 5 Power Attack 5. DC 28 if that hits]

Destiny shakes off the effects of the last hit just in time to stumble into another punishing blow. Her head snaps back and impacts the wall. She slumps again, but is not out of the fight just yet.

[OOC= 23:03, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Acrobatics.
23:04, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
Destiny - Bruisedx2, Stunned ]

Alex tore at the monster's unclean flesh as she struggled for air.

[OOC: Can't beat that grapple even with a 20
23:09, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
23:11, Today: Alex rolled 26 using 1d20+17. Unarmed attack AoA5. ]

Father Jack's arm/tentacle healed it's wounds as fast as Alex inflicted them. He continued to cackle as he tightened his grip. Then he noticed Destiny's predicament. He shrugged and flicked Alex towards Jiro's unsuspecting back.

[23:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 29 using 1d20+11. Toughness Save.
23:13, Today: Gamemaster rolled 46 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
23:14, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+12. Throwing Alex.
With the all out attack from Jiro that hits. DC22 toughness save for both of you.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Sun 04 Sept 2011.

While the martial artist certainly felt Alex impacting him, he rolled with the strike, unphased. He glanced at Alex, and again at Destiny, then turned to the betentacled Jack.

"Now that was just plain rude, Papa Jack. You're right, you aren't any vampire. Most vampires I've met have far more class than that. Now stay put for a moment." A moment's concentration as he shifted his ki - it had been a while since he'd last done this - and then he made a pulling gesture, and glowing blue tendrils erupted from the floor around Papa Jack, swirling around him and tugging tight. "Playful Trickster's Snare!"


20:19, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 29 using 1d20+10. toughness save from the Alex-throw.
20:30, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 21 using 1d20+8. snare attack on Papa Jack. DC 20 reflex save to avoid it.

Alex rolled with the impact as well. She tried to leap to her feet, but her recent choking made it more a climb then a leap. Alex looked at Destiny and pulled a heavy ball out of her pocket. With one smooth motion she sent it flying for the vampire woman's face.

[OOC: 21:07, Today: Alex rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
21:18, Today: Alex rolled 16 using 1d20+10. Acrobatics.
21:39, Today: Alex rolled 18 using 1d20+10. Shotput attack AoA 5. ]

Father Jack leaps into the air, avoiding most of the grasping energy. He tilts his head back and laughs. "Child, your petty taunts and playful snares will avail you not in this place of Darkness."

He retracts his arm and turns it into some kind of blade of flesh and bone. He uses it to slice through the few strands that had been entangling him.

Destiny fall yet again, this time to a shotput to the face. She snarls something as her butt hits the floor.

[OOC 21:50, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+9. Ref Save part 2.
21:50, Today: Gamemaster rolled 25 using 1d20+9. Ref Save.

He saves for half, then fails the save. Entangled. He attacks the Snare

21:54, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12 using 1d20+10. Snare Toughness.
Free

21:52, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Destiny Toughness Save.
Father Jack -
Destiny - Bruisedx3, Stunned 

Jiro watched Papa Jack cut himself free of the ki tendrils he'd tried. It was worth a shot, he thought. Then he put a grin on his features and charged, ki shifting as me closed.

"Petty and childish it might be, but the snare did it's job." Focusing all his will and power behind it, he loosed a mighty blow against the shapechanging monster.

[OOC: array is in ki strike, charging Papa Jack and attacking, AoA 5, Power Attack 5.

20:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Ki Strike Papa Jack. AoA 5 PA 5.
20:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 31 using 1d20+12. Ki Strike Papa Jack HERO POINT REROLL. Let's hear it for improved crit. DC 33 toughness save, please.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Mon 19 Sept 2011.

Alex nodded in approval as Jiro seemed to be annoying Jack. She'd deal with this bitch first, then double team the master.

Drawing a stake from her jacket, she let fly.

[OOC: 22:19, Today: Alex rolled 33 using 1d20+15. AoA5, throwing. ]

Alex's stake flies true and sinks into Destiny's chest. However, she seems to lack the overwhelming vulnerability to stakes that other vampires had shown. The fallen Slayer pulled the stake from her chest and cast it aside.

"You'll PAY for that." She snarled as she climbed to her feet. "Father wants to show you the truth, but you are WEAK. You can't HANDLE the truth!"

With that she raised her hands. Blacking lightning shot out in every direction, shattering the scenery but missing Alex by some distance.

[OOC: 16:36, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
16:43, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.

Destiny - Bruisedx4, Injuredx1]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Wed 28 Sept 2011.

Jiro's speed would have been breath taking, had any who still drew breath been watching. He felt the ki powered blow go home, felt bones start to break under the force of his strike, only for it to waver at the last moment. The darkness about Father Jack seem to drink up the ki, corrupting it and using it to restore it's dark master (or it's servant. It was impossible to tell)

"DESPAIR! IN THIS BLACK PLACE I AM MASTER! YOUR RESISTANCE IS FUTILE IN THE FACE OF MY POWER!"

Blades of bone formed along Father Jack's hands and he struck at Jiro, trying to drive them deep into his flesh.

[OOC: 16:45, Today: Gamemaster rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Toughness Save.
Just a pretty desc of him rolling a nat 20.
16:47, Today: Gamemaster rolled 30 using 1d20+12. Attacking Jiro.
DC27 toughness save. No grapple.
Father Jack - Injuredx1, Bruisedx1

Jiro dodged one of the blade-limbs, tried to block the other, and bit back a snarl as it drew blood. Okay, this could be bad. But I'm not out of ideas yet.

"You are a master of nothing, you cheap Western Bacillus-wannabe, just a demagog and slaver! I have spent years fighting filth like you - gangsters, drug dealers, and the detritus that accumulates around them. The only difference between you and a common pimp is that you believe your own lies." His stance shifted slightly, taking a slightly more defensive balance in light of Papa Jack's claws.

"You are nothing but another bit of human filth, so vile that death itself could not stomach you, and vomited you up." He darted in once more, ki-wrapped fist seeking Jack's center of mass. "Splatter like the foul mess you are."

[OOC: 15:59, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+10. toughness save vrs Jack.
16:17, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+11. Ki Strike, defensive attack 1.

Injured 1, Bruised 1, +1 to dodge this round.]

"Shut up." Alex replied, unfazed by the energy bolts. She drew another stake and stepped forward, trying to impale the vampire again.

[OOC: 22:05, Today: Alex rolled 24 using 1d20+12. Stake Attack. ]

Destiny cries out in pain as the stake sinks into chest, angled up under her ribcage. It misses the heart, but the Vampire woman is too distracted by the pain to attack.
[OOC: 20:22, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
Destiny - Bruisedx5, Injuredx2, stunned ]

Jiro's words seem to anger Father Jack. He snarls and swings both his transformed arms in a wide arc, narrowly missing the agile man and striking one of the pillars. A large chunk of stone is torn from the pillar.

[OOC: 20:26, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Attacking Jiro. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Sat 01 Oct 2011.

At Jack's reaction, Jiro felt a spike of elation. He's not thinking now, he's reacting. Good. That's step one. He let the smile touch his lips as he began to fairly dance around the monster. "Out of lies, Papa Jack? No more slogans or vows or declarations of your mastery? Well, well, well." Then he darted in, landing a solid blow against the man-thing's hide.

[OOC: Acrobatic Bluff for 17 on Papa Jack, array is in Ki Strike.

17:40, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 31 using 1d20+12. Ki Strike papa jack. That's a crit - DC 28 toughness save please.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Sat 01 Oct 2011.

"Thank you. Have another!" Alex said as she pulled the stake free for another blow.

OOC: 20:46, Today: Alex rolled 12 using 1d20+10. Stake Attack. ]

Destiny leapt in the air as Alex tried to impale her again and attempts to land on top of the Slayer. Her aim is off and Alex is nowhere near the landing point. Instead, an innocent bench takes the brunt of the impact.

[OOC: 20:51, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex. ]

Father Jack seemed to be about to spit a reply when Jiro's Ki enhanced strike sent him flying back through a set of doors behind the stage. The is a crash of an impact, but a cloud of debris momentarily blocks any view of the Dark Father.

[OOC: 20:53, Today: Gamemaster rolled 22 using 1d20+10. Toughness Save.
Father Jack - Injuredx2, Bruisedx2, Stunned]

Watching Papa Jack go flying, Jiro allowed himself a cocky smirk. Got ya that time, you asshole. Now to keep the momentum on my side. Ki shifting, he ran to the door Jack had gone flying through. "What's the matter, Jackie Boy? Can't take the heat out here?" Peering into the dust, he squinted, mind racing as he weighed his options, prepared to either smite his foe or defend himself against an unseen foe at need. "Come out, come out, whereever you are..."


[OOC: Array is in Ki Blast. Moving to the door, then will do a notice check at -5 to not use an action. IF Notice check successful at spotting Papa Jack THEN Ki Blast Papa Jack. IF NOT then Total Defense.

18:18, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 25 using 1d20+7. quick notice roll to spot Papa Jack.

18:22, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Ki Blast Papa Jack IF I spot him with the notice check. In the event that that actually connects, DC 25 toughness save.

If that notice DOESN'T spot Jack, THEN Total Defense to bring my defense to 24 for the round.

Status: Bruised 1, Injured 1]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:29, Sat 01 Oct 2011.

Alex grabs another stake and lets fly. This vampire was starting to annoy her.
22:42, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Throwing Stake.

Jiro steps up to the door and spots Jack pulling himself out of a shattered wardrobe. It looks like this room is some kind of changing area or preparation room.

The martial artist fires a bolt of weaponized life force, but it goes wide thanks to the distraction of black tentacle wrapping itself around his neck.

[OOC: 22:55, Today: Gamemaster rolled 26 using 1d20+12. Attacking Jiro.
DC 22 toughness save.
22:58, Today: Gamemaster rolled 40 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
Jack Pins, DC 10 Fort save vs suffocation.
Father Jack - Injuredx2, Bruisedx2 ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Wed 05 Oct 2011.

Destiny's eyes widen as the stake flies straight for her heart. She desperately throws her arms in front of her and by some dark miracle deflects the almost perfectly aimed stake.

"Pathetic!" She snarls, sounding somewhat less then confidant. "Your foolish attachment to such crude weapons will be your end! TASTE THE TRUE POWER!"

This time, the black lightning that Destiny calls does not go wide. Alex takes the blast full to the face.

[OOC: 23:00, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
23:01, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Fiat Save.
+1 Hero point to Alex. 27 total on save, no damage.

23:03, Today: Gamemaster rolled 30 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.

Crit on the Stun attack. DC 25 Fort Save.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:13, Wed 05 Oct 2011.

Jiro bit back a curse as the black tentacle wrapped around his throat. Desperate reflexes got a hand between tentacle and windpipe, and he held the foul black limb back from cutting off his air supply completely. Well. This is a revolting development.

Thinking fast, he shifted his ki and swung at the monster with his free hand, throwing all his energies into the blow, praying he does not come up short.

[OOC: 20:13, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+9. Fort save against Jack's tentacle suffocation.

20:24, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 17 using 1d20+12. ki strike Jack, AoA 5 Power Attack 5. DC28 in the unlikely event that hits.]

Alex shuddered in pain as the lightning coursed through her. It hurt, but not as bad as what had happened last night. After that, very little compared. She gritted her teeth and fought through it. A Shotput came out of her pocket and was thrown with great force.

[OOC: 20:48, Today: Alex rolled 32 using 1d20+12. Fort Save.
20:49, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+10. Shotput attack.  ]

Jack shakes Jiro violently, throwing off any attempts to break free.

[OOC: 23:28, Today: Gamemaster rolled 44 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
Fort Save DC 11]

Destiny's jaw drops in surprise as Alex not only survives her attack, but is able to counter attack. This explains why it catches her in the cheek. It snaps her head back hard, but is not enough to cause any serious harm.

Deciding the lightning wasn't doing the job, she fell back on her clawed hands. However she was just to slow to land a hit on the agile Alex.

[OOC:23:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Toughness Save.
23:32, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Attacking Alex.
Destiny - Bruisedx6, Injuredx2]

Jiro grits his teeth as he weathers the shaking and makes another ineffectual strike. Kuso. This is not good.

[OOC: 21:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 22 using 1d20+9. Fort Save.
21:29, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+12. ki strike Jack, AoA 5 Power Attack 5]

Jiro still seemed to be alive, so Alex grabbed one of her fallen shotputs and throws again. Better to take down one of these SOBs and then they could double team the other.
[OOC: 21:44, Today: Alex rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Shotput attack. ]

Alex's thoughts proved to be those of a Prophet, as her inhuman strength propelled the projectile into the center of Destiny's face. There was a crunch and the vampire crumpled to the ground.

[OOC: 18:33, Today: Gamemaster rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Toughness Save. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Wed 19 Oct 2011.

Father Jack's laughter echoed through the hall as he stalked back into the main room. Jiro flailed to no avail as Jack tightened his grip.

[ooc: 19:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 47 using 1d20+30. Grapple Check.
Elects to do damage. DC 22 toughness save for Jiro.]

Jiro grits his teeth as the black tendrils squeeze at him, growing tighter. This is not how I wanted things to go... Merciful Kamis, aid me...

He wound up once more for another mighty blow, aiming for the tendril holding him in place. This one found its mark.

[OOC: 16:34, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+9. toughness save vrs Jack.

16:36, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 31 using 1d20+12. ki strike Jack, AoA 5 Power Attack 5. DC 33 toughness save on Jack.]

Alex smiled at the crumpled form of the Vampire. A glance at Jiro told her that the idiot wasn't in immediate danger of dying, so she took a moment to collect some of her weapons before heading towards the Father Jack.

Jiro's hand came down like a blade, cleanly slicing through the thick black tentacle. Jack cried out in pain as hot black blood sprayed over Jiro, tingling as it does.

[OOC = 14:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 10 using 1d20+9. Fiat Save.
14:06, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+9. Father Jack Toughness.
Total save = 20
Father Jack = Bruisedx2, Injuredx2 Staggered, Stunned

Jiro needs to make a Fort Save. DC ??

He does earn 2 hero points. One for the fiat, the other for the complication.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Thu 27 Oct 2011.

As the tentacle spasmed loose, Jiro took a breath of stale, stinking, blood-tinged air, then spat twice. The blood spattered against him, and his stomach tried to flip-flop, but he smiled through gritted teeth. "Not bad, Jack. Not bad. But while I am no Slayer, anointed by old powers against your kind, I am no slouch." He gathered himself, ki shifting and forming almost as a solid thing around his right fist as he stepped into Jack's reach. "Say hello to my little friend. FIST OF THE ONI!"

He aimed through Jack's center of mass, intending to send the bastard into the nearest wall.

[OOC:21:00, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 24 using 1d20+9. Fort Save.
Array is in FotO
21:54, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 30 using 1d20+10. Fist of the Oni on Jack. DC 30 toughness save please.]

Jiro's demon fist proves it's worth yet again. Jack flies back into the side room. Even as he does, his form seems to melt into black liquid. By the time he lands, there is nothing but a puddle that swiftly soaks into the stone.

A moment of quiet comes over the area.

[OOC: 12:39, Today: Gamemaster rolled 11 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.]

As the puddle that had been Father Jack vanished, Jiro took a second to get his heartrate under control, then turned to Alex. "You seem to be able to sense these things... he dead, or, what is the phrase, 'playing opossum?'"

A glance at Destiny. "I assume you think she is... recoverable, with Jack dead?" And what do you think about me and Sarah, Alex? What are you going to do next... "What happens now?"

He shifted into a relaxed, open stance. Not hostile, but not entirely off guard, either.

[ooc: array is in ki strike, but not taking any action this round]

Alex watched the flight then turned her back. She walked back over to Destiny.



Alex just shrugged as she knelt on the floor.



Alex pulled the unconscious former woman up to a sitting position. "Recoverable? She'd recover all right." Alex said with a mirthless smile. "It if wasn't for this."

Alex sized Destiny's head in both hands and twisted hard. There is a loud crack and the vampire explodes into dust.

Alex stands and looks at Jiro, idly flipping a stake in her hand.

Jiro winced as Alex killed her - if he'd followed Jack's words properly - predecessor. He eyed the stake she flipped oh so very casually. "I see. Not... quite what I meant, but fair enough." A pause. "I have wronged you, Alex-san, and for that I am truly sorry. Not just last night, though last night was perhaps the worst of it. I made a poor judgement call, perhaps several of them, and my attempts to aid you have been mostly one blunder after another. I wronged you again while speaking to Jack, and tried to dismiss your importance as I tried to manipulate him into an error." Another pause. "If you find you cannot forgive, I will understand. I ask only that, whatever you do to me, you consider your friend Sarah MacDonald more... kindly. She is terrified, Alex-san. Terrified that in a moment of ignorance she nearly killed one she loves as a sister. Even if you cannot forgive, please talk to her, for she worries."

Then he paused, out of words, out of ideas, and waited for their response, trying not to look at the deadly stake. This could still go very, very wrong, very very quickly.

Alex stares at Jiro, the flips coming more and more frequently. They soon exceed the rate that a normal human can achieve. Finally, just as Jiro is convinced the only left for her to do is hurl the thing at something (probably him), she catches it.

"I'm not going to tear YOUR soul out of your body. I'm not even going to kill you. Sarah," Alex spits the name "will live to. Her kid deserves that, and besides I have questions."

Alex starts back up towards the surface. "I've got questions, and she has answers. Maybe I can figure out what the frack is going on."

Jiro nodded. "Thank you." He paused a moment, then gave her the address Sarah had given him before. "I will come along that far; if only to check in with Sarah. If you do not wish me to hear your questions, I will understand - I expect some of them will be... personal."

Another pause. "And if her own powers cannot aid you or return you home, I will aid you in any way you would accept. I owe you that much." I'll even give up my favor from Dragoneye. Odds are about even he'll pay up, and your problem is far more dire than mine. I have other leads, and crossing the country again will not kill me.

Alex keeps walking, but she does glance over her shoulder at Jiro. "Fine. We'll play it by ear. Let's get out of here."

Jiro keeps a respectful distance as he follows, keeping his expression impassive even as his mind reels and stomach roils, trying desperately to figure out how to play this.

As they began to roofhop back to Sarah's hiding place, he came to the uneasy conclusion that the only thing he could do was stay the course, and see what form her reaction took to her friend. And if need be, try to stand against her to shield the mother and child.

It was not a fight he relished, nor one he was terribly certain he could win.

The trek out of the black pit is uneventful. Police seem to have surrounded the building, but none have entered yet. Alex and Jiro make their way to the way they came in and commence roof hoping towards the safe house.

"Why?" Alex suddenly says between leaps, without looking in Jiro's direction.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Fri 30 Mar 2012.

Well. This is a step in the right direction. "If you ask why I aided you today, it is because I consider you a friend. It seemed obvious that you sought to confront the leader of the vampires; and equally obvious that you did not much care if you survived the encounter, so long as Papa Jack died first. What kind of man would I be if I let you walk alone into the darkness?" A pause, as he gathered his thoughts. "You have stood beside me in dangers not of your own making and proved a steadfast ally. I could do no less."

Another pause as they leaped along, the aquatransexual mustering his thoughts and, perhaps, his nerve. "As to the other; the attempt to sunder the two of you... This one made a snap decision and judgement call. This one was wrong, and will aid you however you wish; to the limits of my power and knowledge. A poor apology, but all I can offer."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Fri 30 Mar 2012.

Alex continues to run in silence for a while. Finally she speaks "Don't do it again. Fuck up that big again and I'll break your face even if I have to come back from the dead to do it."

"Understood. This one has no desire to ever make a mistake that great again."

Alex just nods sharply and takes another jump. Still, Jiro can see something in her body language has relaxed slightly. Not like she has forgiven him, but rather that it could happen.

She is relaxing. This... this might yet be salvagable. I may still have a friend in her. Jiro let out a breath slowly, eyes closing for a brief moment. Merciful Kamis, thank you.

Feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the martial artist follows Alex across the rooftops towards Sarah's place of safety, feeling a measure of hope for the meeting to come and not the dread of before.

[OOC: barring emergencies or further questions/comments from Alex, Jiro is content to travel the rest of the way in silence.]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:48, Thu 05 Apr 2012.

A few minutes later the pair finds themselves at the side door of an old house that has been converted into apartments.

Alex strides right up to the door and knocks loudly three times.

Jiro breathed evenly, trying to calm his nerves and be ready to face whatever situation might be before them when the door opened.

Sarah, I hope that between us we can reach our mutual friend; that today will be a tru victory and not a Pyrrhic one.

There is a sound of movement, followed by the door being swung open. Sarah looks at Alex with an expression mixed with hope and fear. There is a moment of stillness, then she throws her arms around Alex and starts sobbing. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Oh God, I'm sorry Alex."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

Jiro let out a breath. That was probably the best way for this conversation to start. I hope. Either way, our news can wait a few moments.

He glanced around the street, looking for anyone or anything that might interfere with a delicate and private moment.

OOC: Skill mastery on notice for a 22 - any furtive or probably crimal types looking on?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

Alex goes rigid. For a moment, Jiro has no idea of what she is about to do. Then she relaxes minutely. It is a slow process but over the course of a couple minutes Alex finds that she has wrapped her arms around Sarah and is shedding tears of her own.

Jiro lets out a breath. Merciful Kamis; thank you.

After a moment, he speaks in a low voice. "Perhaps we should go inside, where it is more private, that we can speak of... what needs to be spoken of... without airing it to all the neighbors?"

Alex nods and gently leads Sarah into the apartment.

Jiro follows quietly, making sure the door is closed and locked behind them. He hangs back a bit; feeling something like an intruder.

The apartment is quite bare, only the minimum of furniture and no decorations. It certainly doesn't look like a place that someone really lives in regularly.

The two woman sit down on a small couch. It takes a few minutes for Sarah to pull herself together enough to talk. "I... last night I made a terrible mistake. I made an assumption and I nearly killed you. As if I needed any more proof that the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Alex takes a deep breath "You're right about that. I'm not ready to forgive you for what you did last night. It still hurts, I don't have the words for it. It feels like I'm not really all here, like my body is a pair of pants a size to big and about to fall down."

Alex pauses and swallows. "But... I remember. I remember you, fighting Gabby that last time. Stopping the Walking Nightmare at the Gym. So... I'll listen to what you have to say."

Sarah looks pained but unsurprised by Alex's words. "Actually, I think it's time that I listen to what you have to say. I was angry and scared last night and I let that drive my actions. Again." Sarah closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You said you woke up in Alexandria's body without having any idea of what was going on. What do you remember from before that?"

Jiro held his breath at Sarah's question. I should have asked this days ago... Baka, at least, for now, pay attention. He said nothing, sitting quietly, wishing against all odds that this spell of civility and speech would not end quickly. Kamis, please comfort them; and please let us find a way to aid them, whatever form that aid must take.

Alex slowly nods her head. "Yeah. I remember that."

"I think I told you both the basics. How I woke up in bed staring at myself, then found that I was in someone else's head. What had me so messed up has been that the order of things has been unclear. Not to mention the fact that it's hard to tell one set of memories from another. Whatever else happened last night, the slight silver lining is that I think I can make a little sense of them now."

"I spent a while thinking about it, and you know what the last thing I remember before I went on a painful version of the end of 2001 and ended up in a back alley, Sarah? You casting a spell. I was in the middle of a circle, there were ripped apart demons all around it. I remember the feeling of being sucked out of my body and being sent into a void."

"That sounds like the ritual that I used to send Alexander home. If that's the last thing you remember then... Merde." Sarah looks horrified "What's this 2001 thing you're talking about? You mean like the movie? I never managed to get you to watch it."

Alex shook her head. "You never got Alexandria to watch it. I loved the movie, watched it a bunch of times. That's what you just don't get. I don't think I'm Alexandria. I look like her, sound like her, have some of her memories. But I also have another life, that of a common man in a common job. Only I don't think I'm him either." Her voice started to waver and she took a series of deep breaths.

"After I got sucked out of the circle, I ended up in the void. I don't know how long I was there. There were no points of reference, nothing to judge time or distance by. Just endless dark. Could have been five minutes, could have been five years. I just don't know. All I know is that I eventually saw a light. I flew towards it, or it towards me. As I got closer I saw home. I flew through the walls and was in my room. I saw myself... saw Alexander sleeping in bed. I got closer and closer until I touched him. I thought I was going to go back into my body and this nightmare was finally over."

Alex squeezes her eyes shut. "I didn't and it wasn't. When I touched him it was like sticking my finger in a light socket. He shot up in bed and we looked at each other. We both screamed. I couldn't go back into the body because something was already there and I think it was the original tenant. Don't ask me why or how. I just somehow knew it. After the screaming, I felt myself bouncing back into the void."

"This time it was worse. It lasted longer, and it started to hurt. A lot. I think that's why I forgot so much, the pain... If there is a hell it can't be any worse then that." Alex's voice breaks. "The pain went on and on. It felt like forever, nothing but darkness and pain. On and on until..."

Jiro winced, but stopped himself from speaking. Pain beyond all reason. And I stood aside as Sarah tried to inflict it again. Kamis... I have been a poor excuse for a friend...

Even as he thought that, his mind began to race. How could such as this have happened - what could have caused it... no, I do not know enough. Yet. His thoughts raced - and his heart went out to the friends he had helped so poorly. He wanted to speak, to offer some comfort... but he did not know what to say; words seemed a poor balm to offer and he had nothing else. Nothing that would be... appropriate, at least.

Kamis, what a mess.

Sarah leaned over and wordlessly wrapped her arms around Alex.

A few minutes pass before Alex is able to speak again. "Something or things found me out in the dark. I don't know what it was or they were. I heard words, they talked but it was to loud. It was like standing right in front of a rock bands speakers, all turned to 11."

Alex shuddered "I had a sense of sadness or regret or maybe pity. I don't understand what happened next. It was confusing, terrifying, and painful. They did something. It hurt worse then anything else. I begged for death, for the hurting to stop. I couldn't understand their words, but I knew they said no. I remember seeing something appear in front of me. It... it was a woman I think. She... oh god!"

Her eyes go wide. "It... it looked like Alexandria! It looked like me! They... that means..."

"That's why I woke up naked in the alley..."

A void between the worlds... things there too strange and powerful for mortal minds to grasp... Some benign, some hostile, most indifferent... Oh, Kamis...

They found a lost soul; and they tried to help. If Alexander still carried Alexandria's memories... no, not Alexander... Alexander's body was 'occupied'..

An echo. A soul's echo, lost in the vast dark between worlds; washing up at the feet of some eldrich god.

A god who was trying to help. Oh, merciful Kamis... they made a body for him... her... the two of them... out of whole cloth, and sent it here. The soul's echo must have still carried a trace of Sarah's magic. And Sarah was here, tracking Papa Jack, not in her home...

Jiro found his voice again. Hoarsely, he said, "Oh, Alex-san... Such an ordeal; such a time..." There was a long moment as he struggled for words, "And this one has been... so poor a friend... You have touched a face of god and survived, and this one attacked you for what it wrought within."

"I, who is so proud of his mystic knowledge and power, was blind to a great truth that stood before me. I... Sorry cannot be enough..."

For a moment, the martial artist was silent, shuddering as he held back a sob of his own; one of shame; and he slumped to his knees. "Alex-san... this one begs forgiveness; and perhaps a chance to help make this right."

If only I knew how...

[OOC: 19:48, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 27 using 1d20+9. Arcane Lore - analyzing Alex's story.]

Jiro see a look of understanding cross Sarah's face as she holds Alex. He's pretty sure that the same thing is occurring to her as just occurred to him. She doesn't say anything though, just keeps holding on and lets the tears fall.

Alex tries to say something, but she can't get it out. She collapses into Sarah's arms and cries. Tears of pain, and of relief.

Time passes and the worst of the emotional storm ends. It's now after noon.

Jiro let the silence keep; taking the time to sort his own turmoiled thoughts and let Alex cry herself out. Now, however, he judged it time to move on to other things.

In a low voice, he begins to speak. "So. We have learned of the past; now, I think, we must speak of the events of the day, and what is to come. The creature known as Father Jack is slain, at the hands of myself and Alex. So, too, is the vampire Destiny, and, I would judge, the vast majority of the common vampires that had plagued this city. Thus Alex-san and I promised the sorcerer Dragoneye, and we have held our end of the bargain."

"Dragoneye now owes us each a favor. Before this... understanding... I had thought to offer my favor to help Alex return home. That, I think, has suddenly become greatly complicated. I would also be more than willing to bid it to aid your own return, Sarah-san. You and your young one have a greater need than I."

A breath, then he continued. "All this, however, may be moot. I doubt Dragoneye's honesty in this bargain; he is of the Triads - something I did not realize at the start of our dealings. Were I alone, I would not attempt to 'cash in' the favor I am owed; but simply would send a message and take my leave of this place. There are other leads. But, I am not alone; and what we choose to do next will concern us all. I see several possible courses of action; we might go to Dragoneye for aid in returning you home, Alex-san and Sarah-san; or even just Sarah, if you feel Alex will be... unwelcomed... by Alexandria. We could simply take leave, and the two of us pool our mystic knowledge to attempt the same - my focus of study has been on transformation magic, but I have a broad base of knowledge and would be most happy to aid you. We could seek other allies, as well. Freedom City is on the east coast, but it is home to the greatest superheroes of this world; and they would, I think, be more trustworthy as well as possibly able to help."

"And Alex must decide what... forgive me, Alex-san, for the pronoun trouble... they wish for themselves. You are a friend, and I would help you if I can; if you want me to."