As the team left the lower chamber, they headed back  up the stairwell headed towards the artificial church. They met Earl and Aeviternus headed back down the stairs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Sat 02 June 2012.

Relieved to see the group he had so recently met, Aeviternus absently twirled the staff in his hand over his index finger while he watched their approach.  All seemed accounted for, if a little worse for wear.

He watched for Malcohm as well as the families, waiting to see how all this movement was to occur.  Though with what he'd seen from the Tibbs brothers, his mind was open to the possibilities.

"Good to see you all." he nodded at the group as he spoke.  "Zhè shì hǎokàn dào nǐ shènglì. Fēi lóng, ránhòu shì bù pǐpèi?" he asked of Xuan, the mirth in his voice apparent as his relief was undisguised.

"Lóng shì tài huá.Shēntǐ shì méiyǒu shēngmìnglì de, dàn qítā dìfāng de xīnzàng tiàodòng."

John moved with deliberate purpose, directly up to Aeviternus. There would hopefully be another time to talk, but every minute gave them more chance of exposure. He would have to make it quick.

"The slick man jumped out." There was a touch of acid in John's words. Slick was one he did not want to let get away from him. With more solemnity he added "The other three are dead." A frown creased his face and he looked away.

As the others approached, John changed the subject. "Fx's head was removed. With some force. Your handiwork?" John glanced at the spinning staff in Aeviternus' hand.

"We're headed to the helicopter now, and it seems it would not be prudent to bring you along. The Captain will clear you when we get back, and we'll bring you in after that. We'll need a way to contact you." Looking shrewdly at Aeviternus, he hesitated. "That is, if you want to."

The hood nodded at John's answer.  At John's question he followed his eyes down to the staff which ceased to spin, then he half bowed in response.

So they don't trust me yet.  Interesting, but not surprising.  I suppose they can't be blamed after what has transpired here tonight.

The prompt for a means to reach him caused him to smile, though most of them wouldn't see it.  "Either of the Tibbs brothers have the ability to reach me.  I don't exactly carry a cell phone."

John eyed the staff again at the half bow. It had him more intrigued than he'd have liked. Biting back the request to handle it and searching past the cowl, he once again considered Aeviternus. A hooded mystery figure standing non-chalantly in front of him, who gave very little away, fought by their sides and knew more than he should. Maybe too much altogether. What is your objective?

He intentionally let the silence grow heavy between them while he waited for the others to catch up, as he studied this man and considered his actions and non-actions throughout the night, waiting for any reaction. Will we be speaking again? Time would tell. Or Orlando would tell, if he truly could contact Aeviternus without a phone.

The silence was broken by the growl from John's stomach. Why did that happen every time he was within audible earshot of this man? John squeezed his eyes shut briefly and released a defeated sigh. Aeviternus probably thought him half starved. He chose not to try to explain.  Instead he turned to see how close the others had come.

Next mission, he would remember to bring a Powerbar. Or two.