((Roll: 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.
((Wuwei: 19+10 = 29...so whatever))

Weird shit was happening every now and then. At least it was an indication they were going the right way. Sticking to the shadows around them Lyla advances with the group.

Normally vigilant Lyla's focus is snatched by Lucifer and Alexandria.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

((Arkady, take a ChivJoss.))

Arkady's cigarette smoke seems to drift towards the door.  Any smoke that drifts backward hits an invisible wall.

Alexandria's quick to take Lucifer's hand.  Of course it is quite clammy.

"Doesn't smell right,"  Kumiho draws her knife, "Like... I smelled a lot of blood in the air for a moment.  Like we passed through an abandoned butcher's shop."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:05, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Kendall glances from side to side, being quite oblivious to the strangeness that is going on.

"So, some extra shenanigans going on, a trap? illusion? something else?" He asks not from anyone in particular.

Arkady draws his silver pistol out, his eyes still peeled towards the door.

"You're right to smell blood Fox lady. It's a trap, and we just sprung it. Not tech, thaumaturgy. They know we are here."

He does a quick chamber check and cocks the hammer back, peeling a quick glance in the direction of Lyla and Lucifer.

”Not necessarily”, Lucifer answers Arkady. ”Someone or something powerful is maintaining this field, but we have no reason in particular to think it lets them detect us. Its purpose seems to be separation - forcing the immaterial material and keeping things within from leaving - even things like Infallible Messengers.”

He looks ahead to the door.

”This is far beyond the scope of Thaumaturgy as we understand it - no Thaumaturgy can block Sorcery or passage and communication so comprehensively as this. My best guess at this point would be a Charm used by something in the range of a demon of the Third Circle or equivalent spirit - or an Abyssal or Infernal ritual powered by mass human sacrifice. Either would explain the blood you smelled, Kumiho.”

He walks to the door, trying the handle unless anyone objects. If it was a trap, who better to spring it?

”Either way, nothing else to do but press onward at this point.”

Lyla walks as last one in the group... she'd have no trouble dashing to be on the frontline if the situation was to require it. Also personally she felt somewhat relieved to be able to see them all there, and not wonder if someone was going to attack their backs. It'd just be her back.

"Ritual would mean it has some sort of center somewhere. Beginning of this all. So yeah, push on," she notes in agreement, her clothing shifting in colour to hide her figure even further.

"Ready when you are,"  Kumiho says, drawing her k-bar...

Lucifer opens the rusty door.  On the other side is a security station, similar to the one they opened.  It's a semi-circle big enough for one or two people side by side, with a single chair at the center, a computer, and bullet-proof glass.  On the other side of the glass is a railway station.

What he didn't expect to see was dozens of Last Refuge citizens, dressed in work uniforms daubed with red paint in two vertical stripes down their left side.  They also have bolt-action rifles, cleavers, crowbars, and dozens of other improvised weapons.  A train car sits at the station, windows broken with more citizen-militia inside, ranged weapons trained at Lucifer.

One of them- a teenage boy- has just finished scrawling 'PROPERTY OF THE GRAND REPUBLIC OF HANTHABERG' on the side of the train with blood-red paint.  He drops his paint can.

"No fucking way man? Commies? Cultists? Commie cultists? And here I thought I was as red as they get on the refuge."

He lowers his pistol seeing they are quite outnumbered, but ready for a flash draw. I mean, an angry mob against a ghost assassin, a lunar and 4 Solars? They should know their odds.

"And a nation within the refuge, really? this is some Metro 2033 shit right here comrades."

'Are you absolutely fucking kidding me' is the thought that runs through Kendalls head when he sees this ridiculousness.

"Riiiiiight, so these people had the bright idea of establishing a sovereign nation? Are you absolutely-fucking-kidding-me?" Shit, he said it out loud. "Do these people have a deathwish?" He is visibly troubled by this turn of events, technically they are all rebels and traitors who in these times are in a queue for an execution, but something extraordinary must be going on for this bs to take place, there must be.

"I advice caution, unless they fire upon us first lets go with diplomacy yeah?" He asks the group, being still fully ready to move into action if the people here prove to be hostile.

"Yes, aim for diplomacy at least at first. That's your cup of tea, Lucifer, Archon. At least there is a bullet-proof glass between us," she jests grimly."I can head to snoop around if they are willing to talk."

She doesn't head to do anything just yet, waiting to see what transpires.

Lucifer is visibly disgusted at first glance, but reins it in to a contained glower and nods at Kendal and Lyla’s suggestions.

”...Yeah, no one is this stupid by themselves. Must be a supernatural instigator somewhere, rabble like this doesn’t have the means to put up an interdiction field of this magnitude. Let’s find out if they’re idiots, being controlled, or both.”

He steps out in the open, seemingly unarmed before the people pointing guns at him and raises an open hand. His tone is relaxed, altogether too much so for someone at gunpoint, and despite an air of peacefulness there is a definite undertone of ”or else” that leaves little room for argument.

”Put down your weapons and no one will get hurt. We are here to investigate why Hanthaburg dropped off the grid.”

The answer seemed quite likely, but he wanted to hear it.

((Float 5, River at 7-7-5
1 Chi for +5 inspire
Inspire: 28+20+5+10 = 63 ))
This message was last edited by the player at 05:39, Thu 27 Feb 2020.

The rabble listens to him, looking at him and muttering.  "It's Lucifer," One of them mutters, another nodding, "Lucifer."

"Lucifer."

"Lucifer." "Lucifer."

"Morningstar."

"Lucifer."

"Matthews."

"Exalt.  Essence."

The railworkers raise their guns and sight down them, aiming right for his center mass!  The others start firing at the door, a curiously blank look on their faces.

((Initiative rolls for everyone.  Current zone for Lucifer is Station; the rest of you are in Security Office, which is a dirt-easy Cover Ground action to get out.  These are a special set of Minions and get to make a shaping wave:

10, 10, 9, 7, 3, 3, 3, 3 & 2
*Shaping Wave:  Something Special 43 + Wu Wei 25 + AB 10 = 78
*Shaping Wave:  Covering Fire 20 + Wu Wei 10 + AB 10 = 40))
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Sat 07 Mar 2020.

((Initiative 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6 & 1.
Graceful crane, unarmed
FoB: 17 + 10 + 15 = 42 /2chi
Cover ground: 28 + 10 + 20 = 58
Speed: 19 + 10 + 10 = 39

Low Moon Howl 1 water chi
Blizzard Wolf Howl (Lyla & Arkady get +1 lake) 1 solar chi, 4 chi
))


"That was fast" He states, somehow not surprised that things were so quick to escalate.

He begins by taking a stance, lowering his center of mass and letting out a harmonious stream of essence towards Lyla and Arkady, aligning their outlining essence to greater heights of martial prowess. Being himself ready to move if need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Wed 18 Mar 2020.

((Initiative 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 3, 1 & 1
Subtle force w/ unarmed-ranged
Init: 21+10+10= 41
Spontaneous effort -2 chi
CG: 19+15+10= 43 - To station
Float 3-3))

"Oi Blyat, Vy durak sukie."

slips off Arky's lips as he corner cuts past the Security booth door like some action hero privateer, trying to get to Lucifer's side. Fighting in narrow corridors. That's something he's done.

O golly. He gets to fight with his childhood Idol. A dream come true.

A side roll out of the door, but with bare steel palms up front instead of his gun. No need to kill these poor sods... hopefully.

"...Man these guys are Idiots."

((Initiative: 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6 & 3 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
float 6-6-6
Initiative: 18+15+10= 43
FoB: 17+15+10 = 43/ 2 chi
Coverground : 29+15+10 =54
))

Despite having lingered on the side of the group, Bluefox is quick to dash out and into the action, her essence covering most of her movement as she blends with the surroundings.

((Init: 10, 10, 8, 6, 6, 3, 3 & 1
Using Vengeful Titan w/ Massive/Ranged
Initiative: 18+10 = 28
Waning Metal Protection Spell: 23+15+10 = 48
Sheltering Water Intercession: 26+15+10 = 51
FoB: 20+15+10 = 45 / 2 Chi ))

Lucifer turns sideways to the gunfire with one arm in front of his face - catching a bullet in your mouth while invoking a ritual would be annoying. Like swallowing a fly when riding a bike.

He mutters several mantras/prayers that almost seem to overlap, encasing him in a blinding corona of sunfire that fades near-instantly, but flickers back into being whenever a bullet threatens to hit him, causing them to veer off or downright vaporize before making contact.

He glances to his left as Arkady rolls to his side, giving the Exodite a nod.

"They're being controlled - my guess is whatever put up the interdiction field must be fed Essence from Exalts and such."

His free hand moves to unbuckle his belt - a rather curious action, until a command word causes it to straighten, coil and transform itself into an old-fashioned elephant gun in his hand.

"Let's not kill them. That doesn't necessitate being nice, though."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Tue 10 Mar 2020.

((Attack : 9, 9, 6, 6, 4, 3, 3, 3 & 1
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 3 chi + 1 solar chi
One Murder per Heartbeat - Attacks count as Area vs. Minions

Break wave 1: flowed 46+25 (stealth) +10 = 81 vs 78
Hidden Execution Strike - May always use Stealth on Marvels
Break wave 2: 14+25 (stealth) +10 = 44 vs 40

Strike: 29+20+25(IKF)+10 = 84, better dodged
Burn: 33+10+10 = 53))

Bluefox gives a nod in acknowledgement to Lucifer's words, as she passes him and Red star in the corridor with a vault. Quickly blending in the shadows cast by the crowd, her essence dances between them all finding little openings here and there to distract them from their cover fire. Most importantly she aims to sever whatever connection they had to this something that was urging them to act as a group, twisting and dampening it with her own presence and awareness.

She retracts her shadowy talons, when parting the group with her punches, aiming to subdue but not kill.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Tue 17 Mar 2020.

((Attack R1: 10, 9, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3 & 2
Strike at mob: 29 + 15 + 10 = 54
Force of lightness - 1 solar chi, 1 normal chi.
Secondary strike: flowed 33 + 15 + 10 = 58))

"Of course they're getting slapped hard. I have a reputation to uphold."

Arkady extends his palm forward and the (to some) ominous red glow seeps off the joints of his arms as they begin concentrating essence.

A slow exhale and a gentle push with his palm, and a ripple of essence distorts the air with a deep boom and he releases the concentrated energy, blasting off his palm like a faintly chromatic shockwave.

In a wushu-ish motion he takes a step forward with his other palm forward, now facing upwards
and lifts it gently as he manipulates the flowing essence, and another boom now originating from below the poor bastards about to feel like they've just jumped off a roof.

"This is how I deal with mutineers, forced or not."

((Attack: 10, 9, 6, 6, 5, 3, 3 & 2
1 Metal Chi, 1 Solar Chi on Black Tigers Hunting
2 Chi, 1 Water Chi on Devastation of Black Ice
1 Chi on Inspire +5

Strike: 26+20+20+10+5 Laughs (cluttered/enclosed space)= 81; Block -15, Dodge -10; +1 Ripple if hit
Proper Forms of Conflict: Flooded 27+20 Inspire +5+10 = 62
Disorient Wu Wei: 23+15+5+10 = 53 ))

His defensive measures complete, Lucifer wades into the enemy ranks like the fist of - well, like the entire body of an angry god. His shot breaks through barriers, collapses walls and splits the barrels of weapons in twain; the butt of his rifle emits an almost rhythmic cracking as he knocks the living daylights out of any rabble unfortunate enough to stand in his way. Bones are broken, flesh is singed and bruised, but none so badly that they won't be able to regret their actions come tomorrow.

To the trained eye, however, the violence is almost secondary. Before each shot, after each strike, Lucifer makes a small mudra or chant as he works to corrode whatever supernatural effect was gripping the populace.

"Whatever force compels you to this madness, it will soon end by our hand. Cease this foolishness. Thus decrees the Morning Star."

((Attack: 9, 8, 6, 5, 5, 2 & 2.
1 chi, Moment of cold

Strike 25 + 10 + 5 + 5 Laughs (Linear aggression) = 45 better blocked
Freeze 22 + 10 + 5 = 37

All allies in the same zone at the end of round gain one additional point of chi thanks to Low Moon Howl))

Kendall follows suite with his comrades to the station ready to subdue the wrongdoers, he doesn't take his cool sword out, instead focusing on people from the flanks than the others might have missed. No words or jokes, just business... Not one he was expert at but business nonetheless.

((Kumiho Init:
8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 3 & 1
*3 Chi, 1 Lunar Chi:  Sword-Mindset
*0 Chi:  Flexible+Sword
*0 Chi:  Speed +5, CG
*Init 18 + Speed 15 + AB 10 + IKF 5 = 48

Alexandria Init:
9, 9, 8, 7, 7, 4, 4 & 3
*Blue Flame Dragon
*Float 9-9
*Cover Ground with 27
*Improvise Weapon with 24- Ranged
*Init 18 + Speed 20 + AB 10 = 48

Kumiho 48
Alexandria 48
Lyla 43
Arkady 41
Kendal 39
Daniel  28

Alexandria Attack:
10, 9, 9, 6, 6, 6, 3 & 1
*Break Something Special with 49 + Wu Wei 15 + AB 10 + EKF 5 = 79 vs 78, an unseen force boosts by +5!  FAILS.
*Attack Minions 36 + Strike 10 + AB 10 = 56

Minion Defense vs Alexandria:
10, 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 4, 2 & 1
*Block 39 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 69 vs 56, Replies for a ripple!

Kumiho Attack:
8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 1 & 1
*Strike 25 + Strike 20 + AB 10 = 55
*Float 1-1

Minion Defense vs Kumiho:
10, 9, 8, 8, 8, 6, 6, 5 & 4
*Defense vs Strike 48 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 78 vs 55, Replies for a ripple!

Minion Defense vs Lyla:
10, 8, 7, 6, 6, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Defense 26 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 56 vs 84, 2 Ripples
*Defense vs Burn 22 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 = 47 vs 53, 1 Ripple (1/9)

Minion Defense vs Arkady:
10, 9, 9, 9, 9, 7, 5, 3 & 1
*Block Attack 1 with 49 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 79 vs 58, Replies for a ripple!
*Block Attack 2 with 17 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 47 vs 54, 1 Ripple (2/9)

Minion Defense vs Kendal:
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2 & 1
*Block Attack with 19 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 49 vs 45, blocks
*Block Freeze with 18 + Block 20 - Better Dodged 5 + AB 10 = 43 vs 37, blocks

Minion Defense vs Lucifer:
9, 9, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3 & 2
*Defense vs Strike 29 + Dodge 20 + AB 10 - Penalty 10 = 49 vs 81, 3 Ripples (5/9)
*Defense vs Proper Forms of Conflict 27 + Confidence 20 + AB 10 = 57 vs 62, 1 Ripple (6/9, nice)
*Wu Wei disrupted.

Minions:  ATTACK
10, 9, 7, 5, 5, 3, 2, 1 & 1
*EVERYONE defends against this as an AoE attack.
*Attack 25 + Strike 20 + AB 10 = 55
*Lucifer, feel free to add your penalty as a stacking bonus here for simplicity's sake

Kumiho Defense:
9, 7, 7, 6, 3, 2 & 1
*4 Chi, Block +15
*Defend 27 + Block 5 + AB 10 + IKF 15 = 57 vs 55, blocks

Alexandria Defense:
10, 8, 6, 6, 5, 4, 1 & 1
*4 Chi:  Dodge +15
*Defend 26 + Dodge 5 + AB 10 + IKF 15 = 56 vs 55, dodges

Kumiho Ripples:  1
Arkady Ripples:  1
Alexandria Ripples:  1
Minion Ripples:  6 / 9

You have first init this round.))

And it all goes to hell, because those cars have more men, and those men have some heartier equipment...

The Exalts (and one ghost) stream out of the security station immediately, heedless of the bullets.  Kumiho and Alexandria are out in tandem, the latter picking up a wrench and flinging it into the crowd even as she begins chanting some kind of exorcism.  Kumiho tries to charge at them with the knife but their sheer volume of fire drives her back, ripping holes in some of her clothes.

"Almost have it, I've got you-" And then just as Alexandria squeezes her hand she yelps in pain as something small and shining bursts within her palm!  "Something's actively controlling- whatever this is!"  She takes a bullet in the next second!

The minions keep up a steady volume of fire, but their covering fire- which would've kept the others pinned down or inside- is quickly broken by the next out, Lyla. And so is the- spell? charm?- that's trying to take shape in the room; smothered by her essence.  Her own attacks scatter some of the rabble, knocking them out or sending them to the floor a smoking screaming invalid.

Arkady has mixed results.  While he manages to charge in and knock several down with his attack, they also manage to ping him with crossfire.  Remarkably accurate crossfire, at that.  Maybe rabble isn't quite the right word...

Kendal has mixed luck.  While he's the last to leave none of them pay too much attention to him, and so his attacks are merely avoided by shifting fire or one of the less well-armed men stepping in the way of the attack.

And then the Morningstar brings his puissance to bear.  None of them could hope to stand up to him but they prove harder to scatter and break than he'd expect.

After the Exalted assault two thirds are down, on the ground moaning or clutching their faces and sobbing, but there are still some die-hards including the kid with a paint bucket in one hand and an uzi in the other.  The remainder in the tramcars fire away with their weapons.

Throughout all of this, every single one of the essence-users feels it.  Their essence is effective but it lingers in the air around them.  It doesn't dissipate like it should, not all at once, though it does fade with each heartbeat.

((Defense against rabble 8, 7, 3, 3, 2, 2 & 1
23 + 20 + 10 + 53
+10 footwork from Yin Ice sword = 63 vs 55 defends
))

As his opponents prove themselves to be more than just random rabble, their hail of bullets finds no mark against him, they all lose their momentum as they speed at him, letting him gracefully dodge past them.

((Init R2 9, 9, 8, 8, 6, 5 & 4.
Graceful crane, unarmed
FoB: 16 + 15 + 10 = 41 /2chi
Yin ice sword: 29 + 10 + 10 = 49 (spend 1 chi +10 footwork)
Speed: 28 + 10 + 10 = 48

Low Moon Howl 1 water chi (All allies regen 1 extra chi at end of round)
Blizzard Wolf Howl (Lyla & Arkady get +1 lake) 1 solar chi, 4 chi
))

Regaining his balance and evaluating new attack vectors, he soothes the still essence around him, making his allies more adapt to reabsorb it back again.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Wed 18 Mar 2020.

((Defence R1: 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 5 & 3
against AoE: 28+FW15+10= 53 vs. 55, Ripple, At 2

Init R2: 7, 7, 5, 5, 3, 2, 2 & 1
Subtle force w/ unarmed + ranged
float: 7-7
Init 22+10+10=42
FoB: 25+10+10=45, +2chi ))

Arkady's Overconfidence bit him in the ass a bit. He somehow manages to keep moving and avoid most of the onslaught of crossfire, but still gets a couple of grazing hits in the bullet storm.
Ok, Fighting in Narrower corridors was easier. Especially if you didn't have to keep worry about your opponent's safety, and if you happened to have hand grenades...

Once the volley subsides, he just stands there, waiting with his palms open, drawing a deep breath. It smelled like gunpowder and iron.

"That's a lot of bullets and very little dead people. Are you sure you're up for this, chuvak??" he states with a loud voice looking the Uzi kid dead in the eyes.

His caste sign illuminates his forehead from under the dark hood.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Thu 19 Mar 2020.

((Defense: 6, 5, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 & 1.
Dodge: 41+15+10= 66 vs 55

Initiative: 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber

Initiative: 27+15+10= 52
FoB: 19+15+10 = 44/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 20+20+10 = 50
))

Its a bit hazardous trying to hit and aim at someone who is among themselves, so Bluefox gracefully ducks and weaves away from their hits. Now she focuses her attention to seeing who is still left to standing, ready to dash at them to resolve the fight as quickly as possible.

((Defense vs. Rabble: 10, 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, 5 & 5
Block: 47+15+10 = 72 vs 55, Blocked

Initiative: 10, 8, 7, 5, 5, 3, 3 & 2
using Vengeful Titan w/ Ranged/Massive
FoB: 23+15+10 = 48 /2 Chi
Float 5-5, River at 5-5-5
Init: 18+10 = 28 ))

Lucifer does not even seem to acknowledge the existence of the hail of bullets around him; no rabble, puppeteered by a powerful being or not, was fit to harm him. Bullets veer off or melt into slag as he strides forth.

"Let's finish this."