A night passed and Noah and Mistral found themselves exhausted from their ordeal. Even Sal found himself to be sluggish and requiring a reprieve. However, morning came quickly and the three found themselves disturbed at sunrise bythe sound of hammering.

 Looking out, Grey and Talion were outside, building... or, rather, Talion was building and Grey watching intently. Talion was shirtless and remained scarred, likely beyond the help of magical healing, as the sun beat down on him.

 He was building tables and chairs, though it was not readily apparent where he got the wood and nails from. However, it was immediately apparent that Talion's craftsmanship favored function over form while Grey's was often the opposite.

 Soon there were three chairs and a table, all sturdy but plain. He then set to work carving a flat surface from stone, standing it upright as he began to carve formulae into it.

 All in all, it was not a quiet process... so sleeping beyond dawn became a difficult prospect.

Mistral and Noah had the means to spend a lot of extra time to vacation time. Eight days of work to a single night of sleep. With such Noah was extremely greedy when it came to using all that extra time rather than let it waste. Noah was unsure how things really sat as he had a tiny worry with how things went as of late. But instead of curled around her like normal Noah kissed Mistral to wake her up. With flesh and blood hands, old Noah style.

During the dream time Noah would have asked lots of questions on space magic as he was working on an Omni rote spell. It was a hyper fragile spell but one important so he could interact with Mistral as she deserved.

In typical Grey fashion, each of the living quarters in the amethyst palace was large enough to serve as a ballroom, and the furniture was just a touch over-large as well.  Mistral quietly retired to one of these chambers, set her wards, and then availed herself of a much-needed hot bath.  Afterward she dred off and went straight to the nanofiber bed, where she sank into a deep slumber.  Noah would find that the wards had been configured to permit his entry to Mistral's chamber, and when he came near she would curl close to him without speaking.  She was nowhere to be found in the realm of dreams that night.

Mistral awoke to a kiss, and opened bleary eyes to see Noah the man, rather than the dragon.  She checked the room for dragons, regarded him for a long several moments, then said, "You've updated a doppelgänger, have you?  Bien."  Mistral pulled Noah close, and so whiled away their morning.

Some time later, Mistral gazed up from the bed to the glow of sunlight filtered through amethyst.  She broke the silence to say, "You do not trust me."  She didn't phrase it as a question.  Mistral added, "I would not, either."

---

Later, Mistral crossed the vast plaza outside the geode palace to discover Talion laboring at furniture construction, of all things.  It was strange to see the inventor of sentient synthetic humans working such at such rustic craftsmanship, but she could understand the cathartic benefits of such work.  When Talion raised the flat stone and began the carve glyphs into it, Mistral remarked, "Bonjour.  What is this project?"  She went to Grey, whom she gave a brief stroke upon silvery hair, then asked, "Are you helping or distracting, mademoiselle?"

 Grey grinned enthusiastically and climbed up into Mistral's arms once she had woken up. "Helping!"

 Talion, for his part, wiped the sweat from his brow. It was hot on the island despite being late November. "Preparing a classroom, of sorts. I told you I'd answer all of your questions. It will likely be difficult without some visual aides."

 The dark circles under Talion's eyes revealed that he had not slept, despite having gone to bed.

OOC: still much posting between players to do before moving on to the Q&A part :P.

Noah contented the morning with Mistral and had the will to, if not the plans to burn the whole day with her. It was only in the lull did he grip from inside the spell causing it to pop so the real Noah could curled about her for their usual embrace. "Not a doppelganger. You have only ever been with me. I like you far too much to be intimate with you through remote control." when she spoke of trust he leaned in and whispered her real name into her ear. "I would have never given my name to a woman I do not trust. You would better use that armor for someone who would not make it his lifes work to get it off you." He rumbled that deep tone that was his preference. "I worry. I dont care to forget you or be forgotten by you. I'll be giving up my market stall... bigger and better things to spend my efforts on." he curled about and sighed as he curled a wing to block the light from them.

---

True form Noah trundled his way outside with grill from the ship. It would be who tuna steaks for breakfast outdoors today.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Sal didn't normally benefit from rest, but something had changed within him, and it felt good. So good, in fact, that he slept, for the first time since Talion had given him what he had so long been denied: the ability to enjoy the Sun.

He woke to the sound of hammering, and went to see what was up. When he saw everyone together, he smiled and said, "Good morning, everyone. A wonderful place you've built for us here, Grey. Very comfortable. Very pretty."

Mistral was surprised when Noah suddenly transformed back into a dragon quite suddenly, and said, "I see.  A warning before making such a change in bed would be welcome.  Inopportune timing could be problématique."  She nonetheless curled comfortably against the smooth-scaled draconic form.  Noah's reply to her sharp-edged challenge was not entirely unexpected, knowing him as she did.  Mistral sighed, "You can be supportive to a nearly annoying extent at times, mon dragon.  I will not begrudge you to tell me when I've been une connasse."  She rested her head on him and said, "Trading away a memory that has only brought pain seemed a bargain to moi, but I was wrong.  I was so concerned that the Fae would try to take more that I was unprepared when he took less instead.  He left the pain and regret, but took all else and I have doomed an innocent stranger to enslavement.  I do not even recall enough to know my reasons.  The gloves are novel, but not at all so useful as to be worth their cost.  They itch, even.  The trade was vexingly foolish of me."

Later, Mistral was only too pleased to answer Noah's questions on the space arcanum and demonstrate some of its more mind-bendingly esoteric concepts.  He got the information he sought, but it was perhaps more than he bargained for as one prone to portal-vertigo.  Eventually she had to ask, "I can see your scheming.  What is this Omni rote you are formulating?  Is it an improved articulation of the destroyer of fairies?"

---

Mistral greeted Sal with a demure wave when he arrived to investigate the hammering sound.  Grey had already clambered up as she so liked to do, and she didn't mind it.  Especially since she was light as a feather despite her having a direct conduit to at least a mountain's worth of condensed matter.  On the subject of the unexplained classroom classroom project, Mistral remarked, "Your dedication to education is admirable, mon ami, but answers can wait until you've rested.  Can we be of help?"

Sal offered, "I don't know much about magic runes, but I am well studied in calligraphy, and I'm not half-bad with my hands."

Noah smiled a wide smile, "Now why would I go and do something like that when it is so much more entertaining to do things like snatch you up into a cuddle puddle at the most inopportune times? I know some of it comes from culture, some of it is the nature of being a hidden person. But so long as you don't bring it home, else I'll make sure that icy armor is tossed away. Though I do promise you'll know when you've gone too far, as I expect the same."

"Though I think the French have a saying, 'Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir'. Better to prevent than heal." He kissed her brow and rumbled at her. "Give it time, we are both new to this."

He listed as she talked about the deal. "A lot of the fea are like that but not all of them. The kind ones generally want to be left alone and live their life that way." He had an eidetic memory. A fact she would be one of the few to know based on the link they normally had. "If I see that person I will bring it up. But the important thing is you know who the Fea is. If there is one talent you have with the fea, it is to make the regret dealing with you. And there is no law forbidding future interactions.

When it came to his scheming he produced a small portion of the rote "Bigger on the inside" and shoved a talon into it which was several magnitudes larger than the limb. "It is fragile. But the rote allows for giant things to come in tiny packages. I picture a bullet filled with hedge vines, or a knife filled with silver dust. Once broken they dump their contents." It was a tass construct that he some how hollowed out and bent what space she had taught him before so the space inside the tass was larger than the tass. It wasnt supposed to work but no one told him that.

---

Noah smiled as he put on a giant apron that said "Kiss the cook and offer gold as tribute." He was already slicing tuna steaks and setting out a nice mix of veg for the grill.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

 Talion nodded as he finished the last of the rustic chairs. They were sturdy, if plain. They had been sanded but not varnished.

 When he had finished, Grey exhaled an intricate latticework of fibers into three fancy blue embroidered cushions on top of the chairs. They were comfortable but looked slightly out of place sitting on such rustic chairs.

 Talion took a deep breath. "It is not wise for me to sleep outside of my mana reactor right now... and Thanksgiving is coming up. I missed my first Halloween with the children. I will not break another promise to them."

 Talion began to make marks on the board with another stone, writing with it as though it were chalk. "Calligraphy is a useful skill, especially with rune magic."

 He rubbed his tired face with his hand before pulling out what seemed to be a candy of sorts and handing it to Sal. "I sense something off about you today. I think the artificial blood you've been drinking has had a reaction with the mana in the Stairwell of the Gods. Eat this and tell me how it makes you feel. If it does what I think it will, your skill in Calligraphy may become extraordinarily useful to you soon."

 Once he'd handed the candy to Sal, he went back to writing on the chalkboard. His writing was thin and spidery but the level of detail to his calculations was above what most masters could achieve. It would have been incredibly obtuse and difficult to comprehend had the group not seen the Stairwell themselves.

 Now it made perfect sense. Magic was simple. People made it hard. The decay of reality made it hard... but magic was simple. It was as simple as plucking a string and singing along.

"Thank you," says Sal, accepting the candy. He looks at it for a moment, shrugs, and pops it in his mouth.

 Sal found himself experiencing a whole range of unusual non-candy flavors as the candy burst in his mouth. They were not things he had ever tasted before and there was no comparison to anything close.

 Talion stopped writing to study the effects of the candy on Sal. "Well, that seems about right. Looks like you're no longer fully dependent on blood. Ghosts, Spirits, and Mana are now fair game too. Let me finish writing all this down and I'll go over the basics of extraction with you."

"My 'icy armor' is not so easily discarded, I'm afraid.  You will have your work cut out for you.  As do I in trying to keep you sensible enough to so as not to break reality and society alike."  She smiled a little as she accepted the dragon-kiss, and nuzzled in closer against him, with an arm draped around his serpentine neck.


Mistral considered, then asked despondently, "Bring up what?  The deal is concluded.  The man has likely already been kidnapped and replaced by a fetch.  If you see him it will only be the imposter."


Mistral sighed and shook her head.  "Typique that you would vastly over-complicate such a thing.  You do not need every arcanum to accomplish this."  She glanced around and found a small cardboard tissue box on an amethyst-carved nightstand, which she snatched up and then whispered a few arcane syllables.  She then proceeded to reach into the tissue box until her entire arm disappeared inside with no outward effect on the much-too-small container.  Mistral then reached a little further, pushing her shoulder against the opening, until the bottom of the box began to bulge outward slightly, pushed from the other side.  Another push popped open the bottom of the box, breaking the spell and all at once her entire arm extended through the other side of the box and launched tissues fluttering across the chamber, as one might expect if shoving an arm through a tissue box.  She explained with a smile, "This working is stable in itself, but will break when the container does."

---

Mistral studied Talion's spidery script with intense interest, reading the lines and asking him occasional questions on some bit of esoterica that would be incomprehensible to most listeners.  As she read she performed some experiments that did strange things to the space around them.  She compressed the space of the vast courtyard such that it looked no different, but could be crossed in a single stride instead of fifty.  She folded a doorway in upon itself, rendering it invisible and inaccessible unless approached from a specific angle.  She moved one of Talion's chairs and a table into the same place, yet also not.  She could freely slide the chair in and out of the spot and also set things upon the table, though to watch these things happen was rather difficult for the eye to process.  "Brilliante." Mistral remarked, with much satisfaction.

Noah smiled, "Of the two of us I think you've got the harder task, Imma nut job." He snuggled in to enjoy the last bit of a lazy start to the day. "The main reason mages don't go hunting fetches and use their connection to the original is because only archmages can get there, and they cant come back. It is not a problem that may ever be solved. But you're no garden mage anymore. You can do things not even archmages can do even if there are a few steps involved."

"It may be invisible, but you do wear a crown. People may never see you but any archmage worth his salt will know you are not to be flippantly dismissed. Don't take my suggestion we may find him as gospel. But given our unique position and abilities... it's not entirely out of the realm of what we can deal with." He curled about her enough so they could stand to ready for the day. "After all. A contender for the Fea crown is in shambles. They won't know it was us as no one's true name was used. But that was no small deed my shiny knight."

He watched very closely as she worked her magic. More than once his eyes became unfocused as his vertigo kicked in but he was a hyper sharp study. "I have so much study to do..."

---

Noah looked at Sal, "The consumption of souls is a pathway to the dark side of the force."

Noah foiled the tuna steaks and the veg with enough butter to be sensable. He leaned down and ignited the coals with a quick puff and smiled. He did so with one eye keeping a watch on things as perfect memory failed if you didn't see it. In watching everyone he pulled out a small black block out of his pocket and set it in front of Sal. Then followed a silver block and a vial. "Siderite, Hermium, and Lunargent. Perfected metals have become extremely easy to access." He looked at Talion, "After a lot of processing, purification, and care."

He thought for a long moment. "Screw it, I will ruin the joke. Dragon bodies are effectively magical factories." He cleared the fact by his horns growing the dragon stones that he used to hold mana, the same stones peeking out from under his scales. Half of such stones offered to Grey as a tribute.

"Goes the same for just about anything. I don't even sweat normally. But on the upside, it means I can make perfected material for making things like swords, Oricalcum for portal anchors, on and on." He shook his head. "Sorry, the point is we have materials to start equipping the Cabal with more than just basic gear."

"Part of me wants to have everyone with Thaumium chain built into their clothing." He pointed at Talion as he flipped the foil packs without tongs. "And no poofing stuff in. You should be resting so we can take a nice calm drive to Japan for a forge and a warehouse or something."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

Random magics at play.

"Ghosts, spirits, and souls... you'll have to teach me the difference, and the moral implications of consuming each. I've heard, of course, the Lupines are very protective of spirits. And every Christian, not to mention most other religions, is taught the value of a soul. But then, not everything I learned in Catholic School is true... Perhaps I'd best stick to Mana. You seem to have plenty to go around..." He pauses, and a thought came to him suddenly, "Talion! If we were opposed by another mage, could I consume his Mana while he still lived? I mean, without accidentally killing him, or eating his soul instead."

 Talion nodded as he finished writing and set down the rock he was using. "All a soul really is is mana woven through ribbons of Essence and imprinted upon Ectoplasm. It took a great deal of time to learn how to make one but, once you get the pattern down, it's not terribly difficult. Grey can make several per day if given the raw materials. The moral implications come from consuming such things after they have been imprinted with memories and a personality... because you can't get those back after they've been destroyed.

 Any Death Mage worth his salt can make ectoplasm for you to consume and a great many spirits are non-sentient. Grey eats them all the time... but yes, consuming mana will likely be far easier on your conscience.

 It will be difficult to extract the mana from a living mage without access to a way to disrupt it. Every soul has what Mages refer to as a "Pattern". They are ribbons of Essence encased in Ectoplasm. In the case of a mage, mana is stored in these 'ribbons' and it is the mechanism by which they pluck the threads of reality.

 If you want to consume the mana of a living mage, you'd need some way disrupting and extracting it... hmm, give me a week or so to think on it and I'll come up with something for you."

"That would be appreciated. Its always helpful to be able to take an enemies resources, and make them yours. And in this case, there's no antitrust laws to deal with." said Sal, smirking with the last bit.

Mistral caressed the scaly ridges along the back of dragon-Noah's neck as she considered the problem of the unknown man she'd doomed into service to the Fae.  She said, "Talion opens portals across boundaries between realms, even across the Abyss.  I have meant to discover how he does it, and at what cost.  That may simplify the problem of Arcadia, but not our ignorance of the one taken."  She sighed and kissed him on the chin, then said, "An invisible crown... absurdité poétique.  I would rather to be underestimated.  That is better than any magic for operating unnoticed."  Mistral had to fight to keep the smile off her face after those remarks.  Noah's way of lionizing her was quite annoying, but it also made her annoyed at herself for being flattered by it.  Mistral had a love/hate relationship with compliments.  She climbed off the bed and went straight to the impractically-large showers of Grey's design, and took her time in washing up and getting ready for the day.

---

Mistral enjoyed the seared tuna steaks and the veggies, which were a welcome bit of comfort food after their recent ordeals.  She offered a compliment to the chef, "C’est délicieux, mon dragon."  On the matter of perfected materials, she suggested, "We should bring these materials to Vulcan and see what he might make of them."

 With the majority of his lesson concluded, Talion retired back inside the mansion. "If you want to talk to Vulcan, please wait until after 5pm. With the changes to the timeline, I am no longer imprisoned and I have re-opened the Institute so there will be sleepers on campus. Be mindful of that.

 I contacted Alyssa this morning. I'll be mobilizing all of the blanks just as soon as I've recovered some mana. Much like Grey, I can transmute materials into other things... so I will begin the reconstruction of New York soon.

 Unlike Grey, I cannot gain energy by directly converting matter, so it may take me a month or two to recover sufficient strength to do so."

Noah inclined his head to Mistral at her comment on the food. "Fresh caught food is the gourmet in the age of American processed food." Noah started the process of cleanup. "You know your limits better than we Talion. But mind your pace. There is a change in crowns as of late and they are going to look to complicate things." He clapped his talons together. "Right, so a meeting with Vulcan is on the table. I need to stop and have a personal meeting with the Merlin. He is owed a personal explanation."

"You have anything on your to do list Sal? We have a bit of time to get stuff done."

"Well, legally speaking, I'm still dead, which has been pretty inconvenient. I need a new identity, but I'd be surprised if my usual guy hasn't left the city. Not enough Kindred left in New York to make a living selling us new identities," said Sal.

Noah nodded, "It won't be long until we can get around. However, if you need a fake idea I can cook one up for you if you like." Behold the golden age of computers. "It won't pass a database but it will be good enough for the local retailer."

"Its a start, but I will, at some point, need an ID that can stand up to scrutiny. After all, I strongly resemble a corporate power-player who died less than a year ago," Sal says, dryly. Then, "By the way, do any of you have any way of convincingly changing my face that would be more convenient than wearing makeup all the time? Permanent physical change is exceedingly difficult for my kind, or I'd consider surgery."

Noah shook his head. "Anything we do to you with Tech would be extremely painful and be ejected by the nature of vampirism in the morning. However, I am sure I have a few necromancers who could pull it off. I was a Moros before the scales, I can hit up the old classmates to see if someone can magic you up if you like."

"Let's hit the town and you can check with your contacts. But the option is there. If I had more control I could put you in a suit."

"If you want I can use a bit of mind magic and give you a few Dragon stones to keep it gassed up. People will see you as someone else unless you talk to them directly and bring attention to yourself and who you are. Easy simple mind magic."

Sal winces and says, hesitantly, "We'll see if Milo is in town, first. He can change my appearance, but it will be costly and unpleasant. Though considering I have gone this long without ever letting him so much as touch my face, it might only be extremely unpleasant. The Prince will, of course, certainly still know who I am, but that doesn't bother me." He pulls out his slate and starts with the Tzcimitze's last known contact information.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

 There were three rings and the audible pop of the phone making connection. "Hello?"

 Sal could hear loud music in the background. Unsurprising. As the only Kindred in the entire city who could permanently change a vampire's appearance, his skills were always in high demand so he was never without a party invite. This seemed to hold true even in the midst of disaster.

Since Milo had created each of Sal's new identities over the years, he knew Sal's real name, so Sal used it, "Hello, Milo, its Sal. Raymond Fujita's childe. When you have time, I'd like to make an appointment to see you."

 Milo's voice picked up with his usual enthusiasm. "Sal! It's been a while! Long time no see! I thought you'd still be in topor after the whole incident with Raymond. Sad state of affairs, that. Guess that means you're... what was it your clan called it again? Ronin, that's it! Anyway, I'll be back at my flat around three. Come meet me then. Chao!"

 Milo had taken to the city life like a fish to water... but Sal had been around him when he wasn't at a party. He was an Elder, in many ways far more dangerous than most. Every thing he did cost a favor and he almost never cashed them in... so, when he did, the entire city moved as a result. There were rumors at one time that Milo had influence in New York than even the Prince. They were never substantiated though and were quickly silenced.

"See you then," Sal said, his tone friendly, though not as enthusiastic as Milo's.

 It was going to take some time to get from Grey's Island to the city and perhaps another few hours to get to Milo's flat... so he needed to get started if he was heading there by conventional methods. mistral's magic worked wonders but could not take him to places she'd never seen.

 So 2 hours by boat and 2 hours by foot later and Sal found himself at Milo's flat. This part of town had been relatively untouched by the storm... relatively.

 Milo's flat even had power, it seemed, though Sal could hear the running of a gas generator as he took the stairs to the flat. Three knocks and Milo was at his door.

 The Tzimisce Elder seemed more akin to the Daeva in appearance, sporting a host of tattoos that he'd done himself and short hair. However, in private, he was far less foppish, though not an ounce less pleasant and polite.

 His flat was clean, neat, and organized, without a single trace of the horrible flesh furniture that are told in horror stories about the others in his clan. It took considerable effort not to forget what he was.

 "Good morning, Sal. I'm glad to see you again, truly I am. You said you wanted an appointment with me. So, will it be your usual or do you want to try something a little bolder this time?"

As had become his habit when meeting other Kindred, Sal left the ring Talion had given him in a safe place (Mistral's stash, most likely, along with his katana and rifle. He gave each of his companions a password to recognize him by, though he somehow doubted they'd need it. He knew he would likely have to sleep at or near Milo's today.

He greeted Milo with a smile, "Good to see you, too, Milo. I'm glad you're doing well. I've worn this face for over two-hundred years. I'm not the man I was when Raymond Embraced me. I think its time for a whole new look. Besides, I've been a bit busy to be spending so much time on makeup every night. I'm sure you've heard the rumors: I've been working with mages. Considering my ronin status, a new last name, as well, though I would like to remain Sal, if you don't mind, so as not to confuse the mages."

 Milo quirked an eyebrow. "Mages... take care around those, Sal. They get into some crazy shit. You don't want to be standing near them when it hits the fan."

 The prospect of a whole new look was something he had offered Sal multiple times but one that he'd never taken up. "I actually have just the thing." The Kindred grabbed a touchpad and began furiously tapping and swiping. After about 5 minutes of working, he showed Sal the result.

 It was a blonde man with shoulder length hair and a neatly trimmed beard, seemingly of Nordic descent with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes. "So, how about this? Your last name would be Heilyn. See, we had a bit of a breach of the Masquerade involving one of the Ventrue a few nights ago and people are starting to ask questions. This face in particular will solve most of them with just a little file editing. It may just ingratiate you with the venture as well."

Sal raises an eyebrow, "Sal Heilyn? Well, its no stranger than Sal Fujita. Anything I need to know? Should I expect nosy mortals to come around asking questions? I'm willing to deal with that kind of trouble, of course, in return for consideration regarding your price. I'd just prefer to be prepared."

 Milo nodded and took back the pad. "My price is the same it's always been: One Favor. This just nets us both a bit more status and gets you a favor from the Prince in the process. You may get a bit of attention from investigators but all you really need to tell them is that you 'had a rough patch' after losing your job but you're okay now.

 Repeat it enough times and the heat should go away after a week or two."

"A rough patch after losing my job, huh? That's not even a lie..." Sal says, clearly amused at the thought. "I suppose if they want more details than that, it wouldn't be hard to convince them that, said 'rough patch' involved copious alcohol. Okay, we have ourselves a deal. Your work speaks for itself, and can't pass up having Victor owe me, after all."

 Tilo's undead eyes lit up ever-so-slightly. "Splendid! Let's get started."

 The next hour involved Sal sitting in a chair and Milo with various hair products. The vicissitude itself felt something akin to stiff muscles after waking up. Unpleasant, but not overly so. The beard was a bit less pleasant though. The process of actually growing hair itched fiercely but Sal was not allowed to scratch while the growing was in process. However, once he was done and the initial scratching was satisfied, Sal barely noticed it at all.

 Once he was finished, he held up a mirror to display his results. Sal looked like a different person entirely "I can't say how long I've wanted to sculpt that face of yours. So, what do you think?"

"As I said before, your work speaks for itself. It'll take some getting used to, I'm sure, but I've always been good at getting used to things. Never wanted to be one of those kindred who is so far behind the times it breaks the masquerade, after all. Thank you very much."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

 Milo nodded. "You're welcome."

 He reached into his pocket and produced a key. "I keep an apartment on the first floor rented out for any guests that may drop by. It's getting late in the evening so you may use it if you like. Just return the key to me this evening and I'll have your new driver's license ready for you."

Sal accepts the key and thanks Milo for use of the apartment. He feels safer in Milo's building than he would in an abandoned one. After all, if Milo meant him harm, Sal had already given him a chance to do so. Besides, he didn't want to be rude to a powerful elder that he owed several favors to.

PM

Once Sal wakes up, he returns the key to Milo, heads back to the island, and if there is still enough downtime, he will work on his Kendo, as well as strengthening the discipline of Resilience.

 When Sal wakes up the next night, Milo hands him his new driver's license and, with that, his new identity is complete.

 After returning to the island, he finds that Talion is awake, staring up at the stars. However, as he begins training, Talion takes up a wooden sword to spar with him. His eyes are tired but hold a softness... as though recalling a fond memory. "I can't tell you how many people I've trained with the sword. It's been a long time since I've held one. Mind helping me shake off the rust?"

"Of course. I'd be honored," says Sal. He bows and says, "Onegaishimasu," before adopting his fighting stance.

 Talion placed his left hand behind his back with his right foot forward but the majority of his weight on his back foot. He bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement.

 He edged closer, mostly waiting for Sal to make his move (but, if Sal did not act would continue to move forward till he was within arm's reach)

Sal begins with an overhead strike, stepping forward swiftly as he does.

 Talion responded, not by backing away or dodging, but by stepping forward himself, redirecting the tip of his sword so that, as you brought your own blade down, the tip of his wooden blade struck your armpit and your wrists struck his shoulder.

 He pressed the tip of his blade into your armpit, pushing you back before flicking the blade back into position, guarding his face and body against your retreating blade.

OOC: there is currently only about half an arm's length between you two. Not nearly enough to swing properly (and the bonus for a kendo stick is +2)

Sal will take two quick steps to the right, and swing from right to left, hoping to catch Talion before he can fully turn.

 Again, rather than backing away or blocking, Talin stepped in toward Sal to close the distance, forcing his shoulder under Sal's armpit, spinning the blade around and jamming against Sal's wrist as he brought the weapon down.

 This time you felt some force behind the strike, jarring your sword arm. Talion seemed to waste no movements in his attacks and, even though he seemed to be completely unguarded, he reacted as though you were moving in slow motion.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

Mistral had been about the amethyst mansion for the last several hours, mostly exploring its many features and ensuring full and proper ward coverage.  She had seemed a touch distracted as she worked, but that was not necessarily unusual for her.  At length there came a moment when she regained a degree of focus all at once, as if she'd reached a conclusion and had decided to act upon it.  Mistral turned away from wherever she'd been at that moment and stepped out into the night, where she found new-Sal sparring with Talion in the expansive courtyard.  She had been present when Sal discussed altering his identity, so the change in appearance wasn't entirely a surprise, but this was her first sighting of the result.  After some minutes of quiet observation from the sidelines, Mistral chose a moment of respite to make herself known by remarking, "Assez beau, mon ami.  Whose face is this?  It has the look of un vrai visage.  A true face."  She inclined her head to Talion, then added back toward Sal, "Your technique has improved."

While she spoke with Sal and Talion outside, Mistral also went to wherever Noah was to be found within the palace.  She found him working on something or other despite the late hour, as was his way, though the objective of the work was anyone's guess.  Mistral appeared next to him like a ghost and greeted him with a gentle touch upon the back of whatever form he happened to be in.  This was far from the first time she'd been entertained by the rapid range of reactions to his being surprised by a comforting touch.  With a subtly impish smirk she said, "Bonsoir, mon dragon."  Mistral drew closer to him to see whatever work she was presently distracting him from.  She leaned in to claim a small kiss, then said to him quietly from very close, "The Guardians have made contact.  There is a chance for Talion to win their support, and thus the Concilium's.  He will not like what would be asked of him despite my negotiation on his behalf, but it may be the best way to prevent a new Celestial War."

This news hardly qualified as 'sweet nothings,' but Mistral wasn't one to let discussion of momentous matters ruin an intimate moment, nor vice versa.

Noah was in the Human disguise as it was expensive as far as the energy to make it was considered. And he did indeed seize up when she ghosted next to him before he relaxed. He wasn't getting used to it but he was getting to tolerate it. "Evening my Knight. Fetching as always." He was working on a set of weapons that could be used as magical tools. But more importantly, weapons designed with the threads of magic in mind. He did allow himself to be drawn in and away from his work from her kiss. "They would be unwise to push the matter with him without you." He turned with her as he had in dragon form before in the mess hall. "But if Talion wants to better the world he needs to get mages to adopt his casting style. The only way to do that is to earn their trust. What you are proposing is the best and most effective means to do that. Talion at his core is a father and a pragmatist." He smiled "A veteran of war does not wish to see war again I would think?"

PM

Sal managed to avoid injury, but the attack did sting. When Mistral came in, he bowed to Talion and said, "one moment please," Only after Talion acknowledged, did he turn to Mistral and say, "I wish I knew, Mist. Some poor victim of a vampire attack, I assume, that the Ventrue would prefer be seen walking around. Its a way of earning brownie points with the most influential clan in the city. By taking this face, I may be able to ask a favor from the Prince, himself. And thank you. The surest way to improve is to train with someone whose skill exceeds your own. Talion here fits the bill quite nicely." He smiled at Talion, while rubbing his sword arm where he had been struck.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Mistral quirked one eyebrow upward slightly at Sal, then said, "You have assumed the identity of a missing man.  I think it would behoove you to discover who this man was.  He may still be remembered by enemies, family or debtors who would come for you in his place."  She picked up one of the spare wooden practice swords and began to twirl it experimentally in one hand, but quickly gaining speed.  She remarked, "It has been some time since I've trained the Pangolisi d'Eskrima."  Mistral moved the stick in flowing figure-8s timed with her steps and conserving striking momentum while keeping the weapon ready to guard, supported by her other forearm.  She looked to Talion and Sal, then twirled the stick once more and asked, "Might I join the spar?"

---

Mistral narrowed her eyes at being called 'Knight,' but still wore a little smile as she listened to Noah's take, then answered, "Oui.  I saw his memories of trillions of lives lost in wars reaching back to before Atlantis.  I think he would rather not add to that number.  We have sufficient enemies outside the Pentacle, as it is."  Mistral turned with Noah, pressing her forehead to his.  Then, Mistral's voice spoke up from across the work table, where an exact replica of her was preoccupied in close examination of the weaponry.  The Mistral in Noah's arms smirked impishly as the duplicate explained, "The Guardians mean to test Paradox mitigation in the presence of Sleepers.  I was obliged to talk a Magister out of une idée débile to test Talion by way of base trickery."  The speaking Mistral leaned in for a closer look at some particularly interesting supernal script circling a pistol grip, but the nearer Mistral picked up where she'd left off, "I persuaded the Magister to conduct the testing via la méthode scientifique.  A double-blinded experiment conducted with Monsieur Talion's consent.  If we can have that, the only problem remaining is how to ward off an Oracle's sight, while allowing Paradox to affect his will-workings."

Both Mistrals looked at the worktable, where sat a containment vessel holding a cube of a rare magically-reactive metal.  The duplicate on the other side of the table suggested, "A custom-forged supernal sensory isolation chamber, warded from within to hide outside sources of paradox."  The closer Mistral wrapped her arms around Noah and asked, "Could that suffice, en théorie?"

 Talion nodded and dropped his stance, taking several steps away from Sal, back to a respectable distance. "I have no problems with that. I was just shaking off the rust. It's been many years since I last held a sword and my skills seem to have deteriorated a bit over time. Besides, a good friend once told me that a master can only improve if he teaches others."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Noah tilted his head as Mistral duplicated herself. It was a feat he had not yet seen done by anyone and well outside his wheelhouse. He knew it could be done with tech but she had managed it with either time or space. He reached up and gave her ribs a squeeze to see if only one or both reacted. That and it was a delight to gently torment her.

"You've found your right track. It will be interesting to see if he takes the bait and if they do also." He pulled out a slate and googles a telescoping ball. "At the joints place wards to oppose scrying and post cognition. Should take a day or two to fabricate. But this way you can use it again and take it with you."

"This must be what it feels like when I surround you." He smiled at the... twins? "A hell of a lot safer. And about half as much potential mischief."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Sal shrugged, saying,"Unfortunately, when dealing with the more powerful members of my society, these are the kind of risks one must take to get ahead. I simply have to satisfy myself with the knowledge that I am more valuable to my elders alive then dead, so I doubt they'd set me up to deal with anything beyond my capabilities. I don't expect to like the complications this new face will bring me, but I expect the rewards to be worth it. A mere chance at a favor from the Prince is something many of my kind strive for."

"This sounds as if we have a plan." Mistral-in-arms said to Noah in the new Faboratory.  When Noah squeezed her ribs there seemed to be no reaction from her duplicate, until he touched that one ticklish spot that was her secret greatest weakness.  Both duplicates yelped and squirmed at the touch, and a moment later the Mistral in Noah's arms became insubstantial and phased away from him like a ghost.  Noah found himself fixed with twin amused glares as one explained, "These are but projections spatiales de moi.  I may act through each independently, but only one may be substantial at any given moment.  Useful, I find."

The twin Mistral's winced in unison as if struck, and her expression turned dark.  She said, "Pardon, mon dragon.  My third is sparring with Talion in the courtyard, and I believe I will attempt another application.  À bientôt, mon dragon."  The twin Mistral projections flanked Noah and, in quick succession, both planted a substantial kiss on each cheek before vanishing into thin air to join the training outside.

---

To Sal, Mistral remarked, "Your choice, mon ami.  For my part, I would rather know than be surprised.  It may be the case that your elders have arranged for you to help them in the way of a scapegoat."  Mistral sparred Talion in a flowing style of rapid strikes and deft footwork, but had little better result than Sal.  After a couple of drubbings she decided to tilt the odds in her favor by bringing two exact duplicates of herself to join the battle.  The Mistral triplets were able to fight independently, although only one was substantial at any given moment.  Rapidly switching between copies from moment to moment to avoid attacks and press advantages turned out to be quite the tactical boon.

Despite blatantly cheating, Mistral could hardly manage to land a hit on Talion, for all of his 'deteriorated' swordsmanship.

Noah smiled, she was advancing so much and proved brilliant in fields of study that many couldn't even contemplate. He had seen a space mage duel before and it was like looking at a end of the world in a bottle.

"Much love, kick his ass." He sighed and smiled at her twinned affection before getting to work on her project.

 As Talion reaccustomed himself to fighting with the sword, his movements became even faster and more accurate, if that were possible at all... and, once Mistral began to "cheat", she could feel threads of magic moving... just not ones she herself possessed... but there was nothing she could see that was immediately different, save that he and his sword began to move faster.

 Still, he did not land a decisive blow. For all his unwasted movements, all he did was defend. "My daughter, Mira, was an accomplished mage, skilled in Space, Time, and Fate... but she always aspired to become the greatest sword master in the land. I never trained with the sword to fight, only to defend against her speed so that she would always have a hurdle to overcome. By the time she was eighteen, her skills had already far outstripped her seniors. If she had had only a few more years, her skill with the sword would have outstripped what I could do on my own. You met her, you know, back in the Museum of Memory.

 It is similar for you three. Your skills are already beginning to surpass those who have been doing this far longer. Seeing you all progress brings me great joy."

Sal says to Mistral, "You keep speaking as if you think I didn't ask. All I was told was it regarded a breach in the Masquerade, I would need to speak to some investigators and tell them I had a "rough patch," and then the Ventrue would owe me a favor in return. My standing with the clan, well, I have a long way to climb before they'll offer me any respect or status again. This is a way to start."

To Talion he said, "Thank you." Then he returned to his room to meditate, after securing his katana and ring.