"Alright, I have your back girl."  Kumiho says, splitting up and taking an alternate stairway down.

The music has picked up.  Smoke machines have begun filling the area with stylistically-appropriate fog... or, well, based on the whiff of it, maybe some good ol' canniboids.  That'd certainly be keeping with the Lifelink's rep... she has to be careful.  She's heard stories about hallucinogenic gas pumped in for some bands.

((Two rolls.  Make one Stealth to sneak up on Cuttlefish; this will be contested.  Make another Hardiness, difficulty 30, to deal with the "mood-enhancing" smoke.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:09, Mon 06 May 2019.

((Stealth roll: 10, 10, 10, 6, 5, 4, 2 & 1
30+20+10 = 60

Hardiness roll: 10, 10, 8, 4, 2, 2, 2 & 1
float 2-2-2
20+10+10 = 40))


Tugging her hood on, Lyla tries to loosen her walk up, blend in and be one of the dancer, spending the night away just like anyone else. Not even once does she loose her target though, when she weaves between the people like a tiger crouching in the grass. She lets her essence shroud her features, and soften her step, splitting the disco lighting to offer her respite.

The fog, while suitable for her and the venue, caused a different sort of hazard. Something that was not possible to be seen by bare eyes. Fortunately her darkness didn't rely on such sense, but instead paved way for itself, purging even the air as it went.

Keeping vigilant, she approaches Cuttlefish, aiming to sneak up on her from behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:22, Wed 08 May 2019.

((Cuttlefish Awareness:  31 + 15 + 10 + 5 = 61!))

Lyla moves her way through the crowd.  Her dancing draws little true attention, though one or two of the dancers are actually talented enough to maybe make her pause a bit longer than she should.  But really, that's an excuse.  Cuttlefish is a trained operative, and she knows when she's being tailed.  But most importantly she knows who she's looking for.  Of course she'd be on her full guard, spending those trickles of essence, like a frightened submariner captain reaching out into the void to ping her pursuer.

Their eyes lock across the dance floor.

((Cuttlefish Init Round 1:
10, 10, 9, 7, 5, 3, 2 & 1
*Cover Ground 20 + Footwork 15 + AB 10 = 45
*Init 19 + Speed 15 + AB 10 = 44))
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:07, Wed 08 May 2019.

((Initiative: 10, 8, 8, 7, 3, 2, 2 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Light Diffused by Clouds 1 solar chi
Initiative: 13+15+10= 38
FoB: 17+15+10 = 42/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 32+20+10 = 62
Cover Ground: 28+10+10 = 48
))

She lingers a bit too long, while approaching her prey, leaving an opening for Cuttlefish. But that was really fine. She needed to witness her next step, before making her own. And even if giving an opening, that didn't make her any easier of a target when being in an environment that was like a second home to her. Oh, all the night spent in the shady clubs dancing the time away, trying to find some meaning in it all.

Maybe its the nostalgia that lets her essence wander a bit too freely, that slows her down, or the other dancers. Lylas eyes lock with Cuttlefish's, the green of her iris shining through the darkness, challenging her.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Wed 08 May 2019.

((Cuttlefish Attack R1:
10, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4 & 3
*Knockback 25 + Stealth 5 + AB 10 = 40
*Break CG 26 + Strike 15 + AB 10 = 51, she wishes that would break Lyla's wave... but it don't
*Attack is a pitiful 13))

The Ombra operative raises her concealed gun and aims in Lyla's general direction. Instantly Lyla knows what she's doing.  Cuttlefish isn't trying to shoot her... she's trying to rile up the crowd.

And boy, does a gunshot work.

The crowd goes nuts as Cuttlefish fires over her head, immediately swarming around Lyla and drawing her off guard as Cuttlefish hurries out and away.

She has to know how this ends.  It doesn't end pretty.  A jostling, terrified crowd won't stop Lyla for long.

((Lyla also has some idea about how the woman fights!  She knows she's skilled with using a gun in tandem with unarmed attacks, and prefers to fight at range or in ambushes- and her skill at setting up an ambush is probably helping her along.))

((Defense: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 & 2
Resist knockback: 19 +20+10 = 49 vs 40, resists
Dodge vs attack: 18+15 (footwork) +5 (GP) +10 (AB) = 48 vs 16, dodges

Attack: 10, 8, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3 & 1
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: flood 32+20+25(IKF)+10(AB) = 87, better blocked
Burn: 24+10+10 = 44
Disrupt footwork: 23+20+10 = 53))

Well there went the hope for that the music would have suitable notes for gunshots. Lyla is hardly flinched by her move. It was to be expected of her to do something to hinder Lyla's movements, because close-by would be a partial loss of the game. Because nobody wanted to meet their boss face to face, when they were extremely mad.

There had to be a reason behind Cuttlefish's action, and Lyla was very keen on finding out it. The situation required for quick action, that'd end the situation as soon as it began. Lyla twirls between the crowd, reading their movement and shuffling between. She lunges after Cuttlefish, her shadowy talons ready to hinder and stop her...more so than maim. Unfortunately in situations as these, the job hazards come in to play.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Sat 11 May 2019.

((Cuttlefish Defense:
10, 10, 10, 9, 5, 5, 5 & 3
*Defense vs Strike 35 + Footwork 15 + AB 10 = 60 vs 87, 2 Ripples + Roll
*Defense vs Burn 30 + Footwork 15 + AB 10 = 55 vs 44, dodges
*Takes Disrupt:  Footwork (Recovery 53)

RR on Cuttlefish:
*13 + Damage 15 - Toughness 5 = 23 - Chi Aura 16 = 7, a Trivial of Lyla's choosing

Lyla has first init ))

Cuttlefish bursts out of the crowd, still firing her gun behind her when Lyla ends up slipping through the panicking dancers like smoke over a still lake.  The water-goddess leaps to the side to avoid some of the slash, panicked essence flaring like fireworks to Lyla's vision.  Despite her best efforts, the goddess still takes a cut from her employer.

((Initiative: 9, 8, 7, 6, 2, 1, 1 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Light Diffused by Clouds 1 solar chi
Initiative: 17+15+10= 42
FoB: 16+15+10 = 41/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 19+20+10 = 49
Cover Ground: 31+10+10 = 51

Trivial to the leg
))

Lyla is relentless but also feels as if she was pushed to a corner with such a brazen approach. Then again without confrontation she'd never get through to Cuttlefish to find out whats amiss. So after her attack she blends in with the passing crowd but follows her close by, closer than she'd think.

"I'm always up for sparring but this is not the way to do it. Whats irking you to make you point that thing at me?" She shoots at Cuttlefish.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Thu 16 May 2019.

((Initiative R2:
10, 10, 9, 8, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*Float 0-0
*Cover Ground 23 + Footwork 15 + AB 10 - Disrupt 5 = 43
*Init 19 + Speed 15 + AB 10 = 44

Attack R2:
10, 10, 7, 5, 5, 4, 4 & 3
*Flowed Strike 40 + Strike 15 + AB 10 = 65, Better Blocked:  Dodge -5
*Knockback 24 + Might 10 + AB 10 = 44 ))

It looks like Cuttlefish was saving up her attack for something. The goddess shows surprising strength as she shoves her employer backwards, hopefully getting an opening so she can open fire with a shot right to her heart.

Her face is one of anguish, though.  Not hate.  She doesn't say a word.

((Defense R2: 9, 9, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4 & 2.
 Channel 3 Chi.  You have a +15 bonus to Footwork.
Float 9-9
Dodge: 28+15 (footwork) +5 (GP) +10 (AB) +15 - 5 = 68 VS. 65, dodges
Resist knockback: 26+20+10 = 56  vs. 44, resists

Attack R2: 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 6 & 4
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: 28+20+25(IKF)+10(AB) = 83, better blocked
Burn: flowed 59+10+10 = 79
))


You can't shoot something that isn't there. Or at least no longer wasn't there. Her essence turns her form shadowed, and torn, hard to spot where she is. Cuttlefish shoves at Lyla, but she dances aside, quickly returning her footing to where it was.

Lyla's brow is furrowed, deeply and most of all out of concern. She didn't want to fight her employee, but she also wanted this to end quickly, and find some answers that Cuttlefish wasn't probably ready to give her voluntarily...or wasn't capable of. Thus her strike is swift from within her essence. She powers it by her initial knockback, aiming to her arms and legs.

Despite fighting Lyla does lay a small look around the dance floor seeing if Kumiho is there..or someone else, not really being able to look away from her opponent.

((Yeah that's gonna do it for the Cuttle; inflict a Major of your choice.))

Cuttlefish has the wind knocked right out of her.  She collapses as Lyla drives into her, sending her sprawling onto the edge of the dance floor.

Lyla looks back to see Kumiho has jumped down onto the dance floor, heels and all, knife held and looking around wildly.  There's nobody else attacking.

"F-fuck..."  Cuttlefish gasps, trying to raise her gun to shoot at Lyla.  The gun has been shattered.  It falls apart in her hand, leaving only a trigger.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:01, Thu 23 May 2019.

((Major: broken leg))

Lyla sighs when it all ends. Luckily she was not dressed cleanly anyway so no harm was done to her clothes by little extra sweating. She strides to Cuttlefish, at first ready to kick the gun aside but as it shatters, she just steps closer grabbing the front of Cuttlefish's jacket.

"Explain. Who, when, where?" Her eyes pass to Cuttlefish' broken leg.

Cuttlefish hisses, her eyes flicking weirdly like a fish's. "I don't- know-"  She says in obvious agony, "Had a text..."  She pulls her phone out and drops it on the ground next to Lyla.  "A few hours ago... threatened my congregation..."

To the gods, a congregation is the most important part of their life.  The congregation keeps the god alive, supplies them with power, and in return are the god's personal family.  In essence, whoever had texted Cuttlefish had not only threatened her life but hundreds of her closest family.  It'd be like holding a knife to a hundred and fifty children's throats.

"Kill you tonight or they die."

Lyla takes the phone to look at it. It was no surprise to her that she had been threatened to this stunt. It was either that or brainwashing... she never thought of herself as that bad of an employer.

Now where was Cuttlefish's congregation mostly located? It might add up nicely to the locations given by Michael, if she was lucky. Could the new endings though kill specifically an entire congregation... Probably with some effort. But most likely this smelled like a distraction in hopes of making Cuttlefish slow Lyla down from catching her. It was highly unlikely for Cuttlefish to succeed in her task.

"Understandable. But I'm sorry for not being able to die for them at this spot. Can't afford it for the sake of the whole fleet. Your congregation, mostly spread around or located somewhere specific?"

She flicks a glance at Kumiho.

"Lower the knife, and breathe. We need to get her to the infirmary in a moment," she notes to Kumiho inclining to Cuttlefish.

"Didn't have the choice,"  Cuttlefish says with a shamed face, "They're in Gorgonhold."

Aha.  Gorgonhold, a subset of Pandora Bay, near the hangars; it was named after the Gorgon, one of the first Nike-class cruisers that was built in record time by the town.  It's a fairly centralized town with a lot of space.  She'd gone there before in the past- they'd thrown a parade down their main street for some mechanics and she'd had Ombra business.  Honestly, as far as Last Refuge towns in the Underdecks go, it's pretty frigging nice.

And, judging by her memory, it's smack-dab in one of the places identified by Core.

"Maybe I'd better do that,"  Kumiho says, flipping the knife and handing it to Lyla handle-first.  "I'll take her to Sanctuary and get her quarantined.  You can't risk doing it yourself- she might stab you in the back."

"... I can't promise I wouldn't."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Sat 01 June 2019.

"No hard feelings. I'd do the same. Thats why you work for me. Though I'm sorry that you had to be put through this," Lyla nods, pondering for a moment, before taking the knife from Kumiho with another nod. "Ah, yeah, thanks. I've got somewhere else to be anyways... Before our culprit does more damage."

She adjusts her dirty beer smelly hoodie, and tries to relax the battle tension away from her limbs.

"Thanks for the help Kumiho, and company above all else. Next time we'll have a real party...Prolly somewhere more private, since being public is always like this," she chuckles. "Thats a promise. You two stay safe, and contact me if anything appears.

With that, she puts the knife on her belt, and heads out towards Pandora Bay. With luck her culprit could be bothering Arkady for all she knew. Worse thoughts pass through Lylas mind: hopefully she was not too late...again. She felt as if there was no way to cross the gap that was between the two of them to manage to be one step ahead of her. Or at least that crucial one centimeter ahead of her opponent, that'd be enough to give her leverage.

"Sure will.  Stay safe, Lyles."  Kumiho gives her a wave as she starts trying to offer Cuttlefish a shoulder so she can get her to sickbay.

As she heads over to Pandora Bay, she receives a text from Sonia.  "This one has checked many shops for your purse but no purses are on sale.  However this one assures you not to check these shops for purses.  This one's friends have made many a scene in these stores, this one is ashamed to say."

Translation?  The Asherim, and Sonia, are kicking up a fuss in several of the points of interest.  It's a classic maneuver, well-known to many a detective and investigator; visible police interference to direct their prey to a smaller operating area.

She's then texted some deckcodes corresponding to clothing shops in dozens of locations throughout the Last Refuge, all clustered around Core's data.  There are only 3 they haven't made a fuss in, including Gorgonhold; the other two townships are New Christchurch (a locus of New Zealand refugees) and Boondoggle, a little shit town that is only famous for once being the very temporary headquarters of the Void Demon Rebellion.  All three are in Pandora Bay and are relatively close.

If Cuttlefish's congregation is in Gorgonhold and they're being actively threatened, her target should be in any one of the three.  But it's also very easy to move between them, as there's no shortage of mass transportation and access tunnels connecting them.

Lyla waves goodbye to Kumiho and Cuttlefish, before departing. She reads her phone on the way, taking a last sip of the beer just for the sake of it before ditching it on a railing. Her nerves sure needed it. Absentmindedly she nods to herself as reading Sonias message. Their work makes hers easier, so much easier.

The locations are all of interest, full of great purchases as she mentions in return to Sonia. Especially Boondoggle could be promising, and most likely local for anything shady...but she also felt responsible for checking out Gorgonhold and on Cuttlefish's congregation.

When closing in on the area, she immediately withdraws to the shadows, blending in with the crowd and her surroundings. It could be hard to tell who to trust at this point, so she keeps her eyes peeled.

Sonia replies that she'll send her friends to go for a shopping party in New Christchurch- effectively also removing it from the equation.  Sonia also mentions that she'll personally meet up with Lyla for brunch at the other location.  In essence the Neomah have reduced Hales' options to Boondoggle and Gorgonhold, with Sonia personally waiting at Boondoggle in case Hales is there or Lyla chases Hales in that direction.

Gorgonhold is, as mentioned, a sterling example of a well-operated Underdecks city.  It's built in one large cavernous hold, and is about the size of three old-world city blocks.  The center of the town has a broad open main street for the occasional ground transport or parade, bordered on both sides by professionally built multiple story buildings.  Civilians stick to the sidewalks.  It looks like Gorgonhold has aspersions towards middle-class life; the civilians are fairly well dressed, favoring classy and ornate attire.  The men are in suits, the women in prim dresses.  Lyla would stick out like a sore thumb if she wasn't sticking so hard to the shadows.

At the end of the main street she can see a single-story building with a steeple and bell, the Church of the Kraken, which must be Cuttlefish's.

Glad to have assistance from Sonia and the other Neomah, Lyla can almost carefreely head for Cuttlefish's church. Gorgonhold and how it appeared was always like a breath of fresh air, especially from most of the places Lyle tended to spend her time in while trying to catch culprits. So organized and so...well what could have been considered normal back in earth.

There is no way in hell that Lyla could blend in, even in her normal get up that wasn't drenched in sweat and soot, she'd be a little different from your occasional civilian. Then on the other hand if she would doll up in a dress, she'd stand out again for those numerous reasons that Sayeed and 5DD were talented at listing. She chuckles to herself, and ditches the hideous hoodie into a nearby garbage can. It was in such a condition that nobody would miss it, and the stench of beer from it would be something that could tip her presence off to others before she'd be even seen.

Before entering the church itself, she scouts around, looking to see if anything was out of place, or if there was a sermon going on. Backdoor would be more suitable for entry for her anyway.

The church is one big boxy building, a central room with no back door- just a simple chapel with a lectern and pews, big enough for maybe 200 if they crammed themselves in.  The double-doors swing open in the artificially circulating breeze, flapping back and forth.

Inside the pews are in disarray.  She can see a splash of dried blood here, a broken remnant of a tooth there.  Her trained eye sees a bullet hole by the doorway.  A quick glance is all it takes for Lyla to recognize whoever was behind the pulpit made the shot.

Whatever happened in here was quick and decisive but not especially brutal.  Otherwise there'd be more people in the town concerned about it, of course.  No, the congregation had to leave peacefully and relatively quietly.  Blackmail, perhaps...

((Awareness and/or Wu Wei, same roll.  The higher the better for either, of course.))

((Awareness roll: 10, 9, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3 & 2
45+20+10= 75 ))

Its so ominous. All of it. The calm outside in comparison to the disarray inside. She methodically looks around the church, looking for tracks, for direction, for numbers of how many people there was.

It was almost certain that they had all left in unison, portraying as if everything was alright. Otherwise she at least should've felt some discord out on the streets. But all was well...maybe too well. Did they even leave the church to begin with?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Wed 12 June 2019.

There's enough footprints for her to follow- they walked out, calmly, for the most part-

She suddenly understands.  The Long main street.  The church at the end of it.  The swinging, open doors.  The nothingness in the chapel... she turns around and sees a three story building, far off in the distance, the moment before the bullet arrives.

((Make a Dodge or Block:
9, 8, 8, 7, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Poison Attack 28 + Strike 15 + EKF 20 + AB 10 + Laughs 5 + Fears 5 = 83; Block is already automatically -5
*Doesn't get to float))

((Defense vs ?? : 10, 8, 7, 4, 2, 2, 1 & 1
Crow Eclipses the Sun 4 chi
Dodge: 22+15(footwork)+5(GP)+20(IKF)+10(AB)+5(laughs) = 77 vs 83))

Her continuous venture from point A to point B to C and so on as marked by Michael, Lyla had been on her toes, every second waiting for an ambush, waiting for the unexpected to happen...which really wasn't unexpected, since she knew better. It was bound to happen any moment after Hales had found out who she was up against.

The set up had been perfect. Too perfect in reality. Too presumptious. Lyla had stuck to her shadows, essence shading the lines of where she had been walking, where her person really was. With blurred lines it was harder to take the shot, and she was ready to duck even before the bullet is there. The price of her knowing what will happen, is being ready to pay the price of being the bait to get her opponent to make the shot.

Thus her dodge falls slightly short as she skids behind a pew. Now she had an idea where to go herself. Finally.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:23, Thu 13 June 2019.

((One Ripple.  Lyla has effectively broken LoS of the baddie so they can't get a hit in while she's hiding.

Baddie Init:
10, 10, 8, 8, 8, 7, 5 & 2
*Float 8-8-8
*FoB with 20 for 2 Chi
*Init 17 + Speed 5 + AB 10 = 32
))

The shot echoes through the church as it slaps through her aura, barely grazing her shoulder enough to cause a bruise.  Thankfully it's not any weirder- Lyla knows some gods who'd make her pay for that sort of thing, but this seems like a conventional sniper bullet.  The pews and walls of the church make for good shelter, and just by dodging out and behind the pews there's no way they can see where she's at, let alone shoot a sniper rifle through metal and concrete.

But Lyla also knows they're out there reloading and with only one exit, that means Lyla is in the kill zone.