PM

In reply to Mistral (msg # 103):

OOC: Edited

"He's safe for now," said Sal to Michael. "Only Mist knows where he is. Did you learn anything else about the cult?"

Michael nodded. “My contact says that Reginald’s goal is to cause chaos amongst the Elders. Perhaps he is trying to take over as the ruling vampire power? I’m not familiar as much with vampire culture as to the fallout of such a goal. What I do know is what will happen if Milo’s father finds out. I would rather a repeat of that not happen.”

Mistral called Sal and Michael on an encrypted line.  In lieu of a greeting she said to them, "Our impaled friend is secured, but I believe that to be far from a resolution to the matter.  Will you Messieurs join Noah and myself to discuss next steps?"

OOC:  Reposting the call here, because ST would like this to be the venue for this discussion :)

Michael answered his slate in response to Mistral. “I think that would be the next best course of action. If it’s possible, I would like to set up a ward around him before the stake is pulled out just in case and cast some spells to weaken him.”

Sal replied, "I recommend doing everything we can before pulling out that stake. I don't know if a Kindred's powers lie with the body or the soul, but if its the body, Milo is incredibly powerful, and if its the soul, I'm sure Reginald would put a particularly powerful soul inside. Its also possible that pulling the stake will cause him to explode, or suck us into the the Underworld again, or something. Either way, we await transport, if you'd be so kind."

"Will sunlight be un problème, Sal?  I believe you are correct that safeguards are warranted."  Should Sal confirm that sunlight would be no issue, he and Michael would find themselves enveloped in a bright mist as their surroundings changed drastically in the space of moments.

Bright sunlight and a bracing mountain breeze greeted their arrival on a huge platform of smooth obsidian that curved upward into a spire that reached hundreds of yards higher into a clear blue sky.  The Ebon Pyramid towered hundreds of stories above the already high elevations of the French Alps, and they currently stood on one of its upper balconies where the only views were of sky.  Looking down from the edges of the platform would probably be inadvisable for those with anything like a fear of heights.

Noah and Mistral awaited their arrival, her wearing a blue scarf and matching beanie hat with a fuzzy white pom-pom on top.  The placid archmagess inclined her head to them and offered greeting, "Bonjour, Messieurs.  I believe this to be a most delicate matter, so I have taken all due precautions."  Mistral made a simple gesture that caused a round portal to open before them, looking into a featureless white void with Milo suspended motionless at its center with stake still planted firmly in his heart.  She explained, "This is noplace, a space sans dimension nor connection to reality beyond that which I allow.  We may observe it, but there is no indication of this observation from within.  Any of us here may enter, but he will not be removed until I am satisfied it will be safe to do so."

Mistral then turned to Sal and Michael and said, "I have examined his soul and have found no evidence of its being replaced or otherwise tampered with as you theorized, Sal.  Yet, something has been tampered with, but it is outside my domaines d'expertise.  I would be très intéressé to learn how he came to this state, and who is responsible."

Noah nodded at the cane he lent Sal a bit back. "Hook your slate into the cane through the charger. Give him a good pass over for any metal detection." He had been swaying to music that only he could hear in his human form. Still in a cut suit as the cold never really bothered him anyway. "I can also afford you the Omni sight. Though it is more of a shot gun for magical sights."

"Let me know if you need anything prior to going in, as I can't really go in with you. Only a drone. But it will be a great idea to have some real blood on hand. Poor guys is likely starving."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Sun 14 Aug 2022.

Sal spoke as he followed Noah's instructions. "The thing is, Reginald wants to cause chaos amongst the elders. I'm certain he wanted us, or perhaps Victor, to find Milo. Milo's body is undoubtedly a trap. I'd bet by unlife on it. I fear that stake is the pin to a grenade, so to speak..."

Michael greets Noah and Mistral as he is teleported to the pyramid once again. The priest observed the unconscious Milo as he floated in the void. He indicated to Mistral to be allowed to enter the portal. He stepped through and began praying over the area expanding the ward to its maximum limit. After the prayer was completed, he stepped back through the portal. “The area has been consecrated. Whatever power or person is in there will be weighed down by its power as long as it is within the space. What do you plan on doing? Either we pull the stake or leave him like this until we find Reginald.”

The portal was free for any present to use, although they would find it impossible to remove Milo or any of his effects from it.  Inside was a silent white emptiness devoid of gravity, color, and only illuminated by muted light.  There was also no window looking out from the space from within, which would explain why Milo was not presently burning in sunlight.  Michael found that he had no leverage to move himself in a direction within the noplace, but simply expressing the will to exit saw him returned to the windy platform high up on the Ebon Pyramid.

Mistral looked between Sal and Michael and asked simply, "Qui est Reginald?  He plays a dangerous game, laying traps for this one's sire."

She then elaborated, "As I have said, I can say with confidence that his soul has not been tampered with.  It remains intact and in association with this body.  However, I understand that Sal's so-called kindred have a number of other methods at their disposal to... misuse a being."  The archmage peered through the portal and said, "I have not yet examined Milo's mind, however.  Perhaps this will not be possible in his current state...  We shall see."

Mistral produced a fluted iron wand and an otherworldly silken blindfold from nowhere, which she proceeded to wrap about her eyes.  Standing before the portal she cast her will into the noplace to invisibly peer into the staked vampire's mind...

Most everything was well in hand and the best people to handle this would be only a call away. So Noah did the one thing he best could. He out a hand between Mistral's shoulder blades giving her access to his long list of sphere dabbling.

PM

Mistral reported in a dry, distracted tone, "Milo's memory has been tampered with, but it is difficult to determine how much.  If even half of this is true then he had... quite the night."  Her pale brow furrowed, jaw set hard with a rather displeased expression toward whatever she was discovering.  "It would seem that a mutual compagnon gênante had her own part to play.  She stands with this Reginald, of her own free will."

PM

In reply to Manofdusk (msg # 118):

PM

Michael sighed. He should’ve known they’d figure it out quickly. “Reginald is trying to to recruit. According to her at least. Considering the circumstances and who Reginald is, I’m not surprised that she is playing along. Otherwise, she would probably be dead or her soul taken…again. If his mind has been altered, how do we want to proceed. For all we know he could be crazy, lost his memory, become feral, or try to convince his pops that we tried to kill him. What are your thoughts on how to proceed?”

His phone buzzed in his pocket. A look of confusion showed on his face. He looked up. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.”He walked a few steps away and held the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

Michael had been talking calmly with someone for a couple of minutes before hanging up the phone and going back to the group. “Nefertiti wants to meet up. I told her it would have to be in a neutral place. This way we can ask her directly what the heck is going on. It would seem that the ball is in your court Mistral as far as where and when to meet. Do you have any stipulations for the meet that you would like communicated?”

Mistral answered Michael, "Milo's soul and mind are his own, to the best of my ability to examine.  His memories have been tampered with and I cannot rule out hidden triggers, however.  I am in favor of removing the stake within the containment of noplace, but I shall first like to confer with the one who has left him in this state."


"Très bien, if it comforts you both to believe there is any such thing as a neutral location.  Ask the others if they have stipulations, for I require none."  A pause, then the blindfolded archmagess added, "Tell her she has précisément one minute."

Noah pulled out a device, pointed it at Michael and then plugged it into his slate. "want to take it alone? If I go she is going to be on her back foot. Which could be useful. He'll, I'm still salty about of it."

"North got her traced back." he was digging in the ihlr system, pinging the towers to fully trace Nef.

Michael nodded to Mistral and called Nef with the response.

After listening to her call he hung up the phone. Looking to the others, he put the phone back in his pocket. “No stipulations. She said she is bringing one with her. She didn’t specify who. Since Noah knows her location, we could probably see about spying on her location if she has someone with her. If I am ported to the meet up spot ahead of time, I could set up a ward that they will be ported into. It will weaken them if that will put you all at ease especially with an unknown guest.”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

Mistral turned toward Noah when he stated he'd gotten a signal trace on Nefertiti's location through the call.  She opened her mouth as if about to speak, but then thought better of it.  She elected to let him have this one.

Toward Michael Mistral said, "La Reine confers with a strongly-built man who calls himself Hank.  She offers to speak well of him to Victor, so I presume he is of Sal's kindred."  With a gesture Mistral closed the portal into the noplace containing Milo, then turned to Michael to say, "Would such a weakening ward be advisable for a réunion diplomatique on ostensibly neutral ground?  Such measures may be taken by them as a show of bad faith."  She, of course, intended to establish a number of precautions and failsafes of her own, albeit ones that none there save perhaps Noah would be aware of.

Mistral stood poised to bring them to their meeting place.  "Sommes-nous prêts?  Are we ready?"  When all were ready, Mistral completed the supernal working to spirit them away in a swirl of glowing mist to elsewhere.

"Just a hobby mate, Mist is the one you want to talk to if you want to find someone. An unreasonable capacity for mana, that is what I've got" He tapped out a few things and set a ping on the three closest cell towers. "Tracing the phone she is using is letting me set up a pattern."

"How delightful would it be to have a general location of the hideout for Daddy D's next target?" He nodded to Mistral, "I shall do my upmost to keep my maw closed."