Chance found himself in the last available seat of the last bus headed to New York, arriving shortly after the storm cleared. As he looked outside the window, the entire countryside was blanketed in vines. The roads, the buildings, everything.

 Aside from that, the opposite lane was clogged with the traffic of people trying to leave the city. Very few people were trying to enter, so there was little traffic on his side of the road. He was still a good 30 minutes from the city itself but the vines still stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"What the..." Chance said as he looked up from his phone to see the strange sight out the window. He turned to the attractive woman sitting next to him, it was lucky for him that the last seat available on the bus had a pretty 20-something sitting next to it, and asked, "Brittany, do you have any idea what the hell happened here? This definitely doesn't look like the pictures they have on the website."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Thu 18 June 2020.

 The woman near you stared out the window in shock and shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen anything like this... it's unreal."

"Yeah, you can say that again," Chance said as he shook his head and looked out the window. "This is some weird shit," he said as he glanced out the window, focusing on the vines in an attempt to see if he could discern anything more about them.

 There were more and more people staring in disbelief at the supernatural wonder they were passing... which should, by every law of magic, have invoked tremendous paradox... but nothing was happening. The plants did not vanish. Nothing changed... and the people stared.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:13, Thu 18 June 2020.

Chance just shook his head as he looked out the window a bit longer, and then leaned back into his seat as his eyes started to scan the other passengers on the bus.

 Chance felt the presence of the Abyss like never before... like a massive predator clawing at the inside of its cage in impotent rage. He was safe, for the moment, and his vision detected the presence of other supernaturals, but they all kept their heads down as the masses gawked at the impossibility before them.

 The last 30 minutes of the drive felt oppressive, the ever-present thrashing of the abyss making itself known and, every once in a while, its gaze fell upon you for a moment, only to pass over you harmlessly.

 Finally, you were out of the bus and into the station. Like on the bus ride, the vines were everywhere outside the station as the people inside, now inured to the scope of their situation, passed by no longer noticing the monolithic display of supernal might outside.

Chance shuddered briefly in his seat as the presence of the Abyss unnerved him. Chance had never been one to delve to heavily on the Abyss, or really the politics and skirmishes within Mage society. No, he'd focused on using his skills to make his life easier, and occasionally aiding a local Comsilium when it suited his purposes and the task wasn't too difficult.

But for some reason Fate had brought him here, and it seemed fairly evident that this strange phenomenon likely had something to do with that. He stepped off of the bus, surprised at how ordinary the sleepers seemed to be taking in the scene, wondering if their was magic at work to inure them to its very presence.

Stepping outside of the station, he walked over to one of the vines, examining it in great detail.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Fri 19 June 2020.

 As Chance observed the vines, he noticed that there were more people like him, people examining the vines in much the same way he was... people watching in horror as cleaning crews came through tearing down the vines.

Chance shook his head at what he was seeing; he had no frame of reference to understand who, or what, could have caused this, or why. It seemed a waste of time to spend more time focusing on the strange phenomenon and trying to speculate what might have happened; better to find someone that was here when it happened that might have some theories.

But he couldn't just ignore this amazing fruit. Luckily, bus stations were hubs of activity, with people constantly coming and going, and often with luggage and other bags, so it shouldn't be too hard to find an abandoned backpack that would be of use to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled a poker chip out, twirling it between his fingers as he casually glanced around inside the station. To his great fortune, he found a backpack that had been careless discarded by a hurried traveler. Picking it up, he went back outside and started picking the largest of the mana-laced fruits he could find and filling the backpack up.

Once the pack was full, he through it over one shoulder and started walking down the street, twirling the poker chip in his hand as he aimlessly wandered in an attempt to find a local mage.

 Chance managed to fill up the backpack with 8 of the magical fruits after emptying the contents of the backpack (clothes, water, and MREs) before making his way down the road... but Fate was a strange thing. As he walked down the street, he noticed a preacher of Chinese descent on the sidewalk.

 He was leaving the area, but behind him you could see an emergency supply team, handing out food, water, and medicine.

Tammy would be wearing his priest garb, blessing people who still seemed to have faith and were struggling, just saying a few words before quickly moving on. "Got to figure out a way to banish this...hell,  may need to get out there further." He had a sadden look on his face while patting his hip to make sure he still had his weapons and book on hand while continuing to move.

A preacher? Christ, you've got to be kidding me. Well, at least we know Fate still has a sense of humor, Chance thought to himself as Fate seemed to direct him to the priest. He took a moment to look the guy over and then sighed, "Hey preacher man," Chance called out to him, "you got a second?"

"Yes, do you need something?" Tammy crossed his arms and looked with a kindly and curious expression, though with a longer look from Chance, there could be twitch that could be seen. From his fingers, they seem ready to move at any moment while staring at this guy without a second to blink.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Sun 21 June 2020.

Chance smirked as he noticed the slight twitch and tenseness in the other man's posture. Obrimos, he thought to himself as he shook his head, "Hey padre, is that anyway to treat a newcomer to your fine city?" he asked as he casually played with the poker chip in his hand. "I was just wondering if you were from around here, and if you knew where all of this," he said as he motioned to the strange plants, "came from? I just got into town, and damn if this isn't the craziest shit I've ever seen."

"If you are a newcomer, you are definitely not normal because of recent events, though I will let it slide my boy. And the fruits, while strange...I couldn't notice anything too strange, but I have been handing out food to make sure people don't consume at lot of this stuff. Do you need any food yourself?" Tammy says with an eye rise at the man's poker chip, and was still on guard about anything that could happen, from this guy or anyone else.

Chance shrugged, "Hey man, none of us are normal, and I ain't your boy. But hell man, I just hopped on a bus, hoping to check out the city. Just got here," he said as he motioned back to the bus station he'd just left. "How was I to know all of this shit had happened? I mean come on, are you gonna go ahead and insult everybody else that came on that bus with me and call them 'not normal' too?" he asked a little incredulously. "I mean, when did this happen? Did anybody get hurt? Does anybody know what the hell this is? Is this some shit from Revelations or something? I figure you'd at least know that, right?"

"Well I suspect this event could be felt for miles, was lucky enough that my flock and myself are alive. This is hell trying to fake the apocalypse, by trying to kill us and send us to a false paradise." Tammy taps his chin with a sigh as he looked on at the disarray of his city. "At least, that's what I think, and I do not insult, I just need to know if you aren't normal...it is a way for me to track the people and the strange, and lead them both to somewhere that can be safe, so long as they don't commit harm to others. But I don't want to delve too deep in that. This happened just a little while ago, though it has been a blur..."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Mon 22 June 2020.

A small smirk came over Chance's face, "So do you hold some position of authority withing the 'not normal' hierarchy of the city or something? Because otherwise, from what you've said about the number of 'not normal' people around here, trying to be some sort of shepherd all on your own is probably pretty dangerous don't you think?"

He shrugged and put his hands back in his pockets, "as for me, I just came to the city for a good time, and boom, crazy apocalypse level shit."

"My whole life has always just been the strange, the oddness that touches our world everyday. I am definitely not a God send who will pick up the willing children, but I believe in every work and piece of text that God, and the priest, have written, to have mercy for those who need it, and destroy the wicked with all of my might. Even if I am alone right now, I would continue on in faith if I can do something to help " Tammy said with a sudden snap, each word rushing out like a speeding car before he suddenly tightens his lips and composes himself. "And I guess you live far out, though, you are willing to do anything to help? You do seem to have something." Tammy says as he walked out, stepping over the vegetation growing on the ground.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:52, Tue 23 June 2020.

Chance raised a questioning eyebrow at the priest who seemed to be getting stranger and stranger with every passing moment. "Oh, really? And what 'something' do you sense in me? I'm not here to help anyone but myself, which in this case means satisfying my curiosity into what the hell caused all of this," he said with a large motion of his arm at the overgrown vegetation.

"And it would seem that you are not very well-positioned to help satisfy that curiosity. Now, if you know any other 'special' people that might know more of what happened than you, I would love for you to point me in their direction." He glanced briefly back at the bus station, "Otherwise, I should probably be on my way. Fate waits for no man, as they say," he added with a smirk.

"Well our cause is the same, though you better get in line for who wants to figure out what, otherwise, you gonna get shot. Not by me most likely, but.." Tammy seemed to be quite protective of his home as he shows his gun and knife that is underneath his priest garb before sighing. "I can try to show to some of my other friends, others who stop the more evil strangeness and can try to give some info, though while I satisfy your curiosity, try not to be such an asshole." Tammy would continue walking on as he picked up his phone and tried to get some information from his buddies after they were done with going around the area.

(Using Allies from the church/Long Night to get some information.)

Chance literally laughed out loud, "Me being an asshole? Seriously? I'm not the one that just flashed a gun and threatened violence for literally no reason. Are you sure you're actually a man of God?" He shook his head in disbelief, "I mean, what the hell did I do to warrant that? I think maybe you need to switch to decaf, padre," he said with a shrug.

He followed behind the priest nonchalantly, hands in his pocket as if he didn't have a care in the world. If there was any fear or concern, if definitely wasn't visible.

"Well, the simple fact is, you are a stranger around here, and you gotta show your hand at some point to make sure you stay straight and narrow. And I will tell  you, there are more like me, worse even. I try to be nice, but you are making it hard." Tammy says as he continues talking on the phone and rolling his eyes at the new guy, not really in the mood for the supernatural, though here this guy was. Luong was at his edge, so he tried his best not to fly off. "And come back to me with me being the asshole when I annoy you while your home and nearly every person you care about, almost has just been completely burned. It's not easy alright?...Anyway, I'm helping you since every person needs to gather up during this crisis, and you aren't the exception, just try to be a little helpful when it comes to the ground work on this investigation."

Chance shakes his head, "I didn't call you an asshole because you annoyed me, I called you one because you threatened to shoot me when I have literally done absolutely nothing to you. I don't know, maybe you New Yorker's do just overreact to everything like on the TV, but damn. Where I come from, threatening someone is a little bit more than an annoyance." He sighed, "Besides, if you're expecting me to 'stay straight and narrow' you might as well just shoot me now, if you think you can. I mean, I'm not planning to kill anyone or anything crude like that, but let's just say I don't make it to church very often. I'm not here to save the world or anything, just curious what the hell did this."

"I am as well just looking into it, doesn't mean you can't help some people and try to something, and I already have met more than enough monster who act as self-serving as you." Tammy says with a small grunt before looking on at his city, just tapping his hip while then looking back at Chance, just taking a moment to breath and not be caught in his grief. "I will say that I am sorry, not all that hasty on taking you out, and I definitely don't want to shoot someone who just got around her. But the straight and narrow is what you said, keeping yourself out of harming these people in your escapades of trying to figure this out with me, and whoever else if they are trying to figure out this mess. We can both agree on that, right?"

 Unfortunately for Tammy, no one in his circle of friends knew much about anything that was happening in the city. There weren't very many members of the Long Night in New York, perhaps ten, including Tammy... and that was before New York was hit with the storm of the century.

 As they walked, Chance saw three men in their early twenties walking towards them. They didn't seem particularly friendly. "An what do you think you're doing? This area's off limits. Scram!"

 Unlike Tammy, these guys didn't have to flash weapons. Their knives were clearly visible and there was no one nearby at the moment.

Chance pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them down to his side in a non-threatening manner as the three men approached. "Whoah, hey guys. Umm, hi, I'm Brian and this," he said pointing his thumb at Tammy, "is...my father," he said with a small smirk.

"I'm not from around here, just got off," he turns and points back in the direction of the bus station, "the bus, and DAMN, crazy plants and shit everywhere. I mean, this isn't normal around here is it?" He stopped, and then seemed to remember their threat, "Oh, is this your turf or something? I mean, like I said, I'm new here and don't really know the city or anything."

"You didn't even use the family lie to convince these guys." Tammy whispers to Chance as he seemed worried that his flock couldn't find anything. The thugs though, he wasn't sure if they weren't a major threat yet. With a huff, Luong placed a hand on Chance's shoulder, and subtly placed a foot forward, like he was ready to just get in front of his new acquaintance in case this turned bad. "Hello, I am Father Luong, a priest around here, we were simply trying to get back to our church. Though yes, my boy here, I was wondering as well on why you seemed so keen here."

 Either Chance's lie worked or the three men in front of the two of you didn't actually care, but their stance softened ever-so-slightly when he mentioned being a newcomer. They looked one to another as the priest stepped in front of Chance. As he spoke, the man in the lead bristled. "And I don't give a damn where you're going, priest! You ain't going through here!"

 Behind the man in front, hands were now resting on knives.

Chance sighed as Tammy felt the need to step forward and say his piece, completely nullifying the more relaxed vibe he'd been able to quickly foster. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, visibly showing his frustration so the strangers could see it, "Sorry guys, I literally met him like five minutes ago. I had my wallet stolen right after I got off the bus...the authentic New York experience, right" he said with weak smile and a shrug, "and he said he'd take me back to his church and help me out. I really don't want any trouble, I've already had a bad day, and this crazy apocalypse level plant shit is just making it worse."

He turns to look at Tammy, "Surely there's another way to get back to your church, right? No sense in causing any problems, yeah?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Wed 24 June 2020.

Tammy looked at the men with knives, holding the shoulder of Chance while nodding, not wanting to let these guys go but sighed. "Yes, I'm sorry my good men, please, just stay well in the grace of God." He would then drag him along while whispering. "You could have just I said I was protective kind of family member, bit more calming." And hurried along to navigate his way quickly to his church without running into more thugs.

 The men glared at the two of you sharply but made no further moves, letting you leave without further trouble.

Chance shook his head, "Why don't you just let me do the talking next time something like that happens? Everything was fine, they were calming down until you decided to step up and posture at 'em. Completely unnecessary and could have seriously escalated the situation. I mean, you realize they weren't 'normal' right? Who knows what they might have done to us."

"These guys seem to be moving around pretty much everywhere, can barely tell when they are just come around to fuck with people. And no one with a huge knife being swung is normal, like myself. And I step forward because I am a pretty well known priest and...well, didn't want you to get hurt, can handle something like that... don't know if you can yet." Tammy says as he tries to find a safe path to his church, though is mostly going directly towards it.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Wed 24 June 2020.

 The sky was beginning to tint red with the hues of evening as Tammy led Chance to a secluded church nestled in an alley surrounded on all sides by residential blocks, separated from the communal parking of the residents by a chain link fence.

 Like everything else, it bore the marks of the vines that covered everything else but great effort had been made to clean it up in the surrounding area.

Chance looks at Tammy incredulously, "Wait, so you're saying anyone with a big knife is supernatural? Man, that is just plain wrong. There are plenty of normal gangbangers running around with knives and much worse. You need to get out more." He shakes his head, "But please, in the future, do not try and defend me, I can take care of myself. Besides your attempt to defend me possibly almost got me killed. I don't need that kid of help. And you're obviously not that well known," he added as he kept walking.

"Not supernatural, I said not normal, gangs usually aren't this vocal around there, though then again, look at what happened." Tammy says as he pats Chance on back and looks around his church. "And everyone need some help at some point, rather have a jumpstart, and I am a well known preacher, not as a hustler. Enough of that though, this is my church, hopefully my flock will be here to discuss matters." He would walk inside, looking around with a wave as he checked around.

 The church looked to be a fairly simple building on the inside with pews, a pulpit, and carpet... but also with reinforced windows. It looked almost like a reinforced bunker on the inside with reinforcements on all of the entryways.

 The crosses that hung within easy reach from nearly everywhere were sharpened at the bottom and there were a great many basins of water located about and filled with bottles.


 As Tammy entered, Chance could hear sounds coming from a room behind the pulpit. A man in his early fifties peered out before making his way out into the main area. Chance could note that he was covered in wood shavings. "Tammy, what are you doing out this evening... and who is this?"

 The man spoke kindly but his face was drawn and haggard, telling a story of a life hard lived. "My name is Gregory. You are?"

BUMP

A warm smile falls over Chance's face as he crosses the distance to Gregory, offering his hand in greeting, "Gregory, nice to meet you. I'm David. Just arrived on a bus, was coming here for vacation, and BAM! I see all of these crazy vines and weird looking fruit all over the place. I ran into Tammy here and he said you might have an idea of what the hell happened here. I'm the curious type," he adds with a self-deprecating shrug.

"Like he said, this is David, and it looks like you have been well here." Tammy says while holding the priest arm and shaking his hand while looking around the church to make sure everything is in order. "I did hear we couldn't find much leverage to finding out the cause of all of this, though don't we have any records of this kind of incident?"

 Gregory threw up his hands. "We've got nothing! I've poured over all the ancient texts. There has never been a historical account of anything like this before!

 We've been combing through contacts and our contacts' contacts, along with all of the documents we can get our hands on. It's maddening... but also facinating.

 We've replanted a few of these things for testing and they're impervious to any herbicide we throw at it... but they break with almost no pressure at all."

Chance raises a questioning eyebrow as he listens to Gregory, "So, other than these massive vines with their strange fruit appearing from nowhere, did anything else happen? Did the vines grow up from the ground, or maybe down from the buildings, or did they just appear fully formed? Were there any strange sounds, maybe explosions, strange people or animals? I mean, it all seems crazy."

 "Haven't you heard? It was the greatest storm in the past century. Meteorologists can't explain it. Chunks of the city are missing entirely."

"If we do have a chance, we can watch how the plants grow and I can add something to the test. And yes, like I said, we are lucky to be alive, besides from the grace of God." Tammy says as he held his friend on the shoulder and ushered over to the altar, looking around carefully for a better look around in the area. "Have our other members made it back safely? We could try to send out a party to help people out there, and try to get around closer to more dangerous parts of the area."

 Gregory shook his head. "Not yet. Everyone is still out, though I expect they'll be back before nightfall."

Bump.

Chance's eyebrow raised questioningly, "Umm, when you say chunks of the city are missing, do you mean to be dramatic and they simply were destroyed and crashed down into rubble, or they literally disappeared? Because that's a whole other issue."

 "Well, some did crash down but some are simply gone. Time's Square just vanished overnight..."

 Gregory was about to continue but was interrupted as an eight foot tall furry murder-beast burst through the front door and two more leapt through the windows, showering the group with glass.

 Gregory turned to run back toward the room from which he came.

"Holy sh..." Chance had started when he heard the crash, but couldn't finish the thought when he saw the three massive creatures that appeared to have murder on their mind. He started walking backwards slowly as he raised his hands and said, "Whoah guys, I'm just passing through, take whatever you want, no need to hurt me," as his eyes focused on the group with the intensity of Fate.

 As Gregory ran, two of the wolves gave chase. Chance could hear the blast of a gunshot from within, followed by a whimper and then a scream of pain.

 The other leapt at you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:16, Tue 07 July 2020.

As Chance continued stepping backwards, he happened to step on a book that was carelessly left on the floor causing him to trip just as the furry monster leapt at him. Luckily for him, by tripping Chance's head and chest were no longer where the beast had targeted, and the creature barely missed him. "Hey man, I don't want any trouble," he said as he got up and started running towards the front door.

16:41, Today: Chance rolled 1 success using 8d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,1,7,10(+5),2,2,3,7.  Dex + Defense.

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