OOC: Continuing from Hallow's Haven

As Mistral worked her mystical investigations upon the portal's former location, she said casually, "I will have this 'spike' you speak of.  I will not permit my Portes to be breached by witch-hunters."

She listened to Michael's explanation, and tossed in a remark, "Not fully human.  Je vois."  Mistral considered for another moment, then asked, "Your Conspiration is aligned with old religion, is it not?  Our destruction is their dogma, so if you expect enlightenment from such peers you will be doomed to disappointment.  Your tolerance does you credit, Monsieur Michael, but you have aligned yourself with an intolerant organization.  Soon you shall have to choose."

Through her scrying eye Mistral spotted Dapper Noah strutting toward the Haven twirling his cane, and she groaned.  Over the earpiece she inquired, "You are aware you approaching enemies, mon dragon?  What précisément is your intention?"

A cartoon dragon appeared on a nearby slate or screen and spoke. "I am going to ask him why he is a Nephandi demon worshiping cultist to get him wondering what exactly is going on. I am then going to give him a warning that demon worshipers are not tolerated in New York and he and his cult should get packing now. It will give me a sense if he is active in the area or a lone operator. Then it will plant a seed to get them chasing after the demon cultists in the city."

"If the real cult is running from one enemy that will let us flank them effectively. The hunters will get the morbid satisfaction of a successful hunt, and then will later find out that there really are no mages in New York. The local Merlin is very good at not being seen by hunters. He's dealt with them before and found avoidance a good case and to operate through a select few."

"Strike group kinda deal."

"In the essence of the art of war, 'Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.'."

PM

Mistral spoke through the slate, "Have you considered, mon dragon, that accusing a self-styled holy warrior of demon worship may provoke hostility?  What will you say when he asks who you are, to know of such things?  He had means to pierce mon Porte, so it is possible he may sense your nature.  If so, he will consider you his enemy."

She added, "I was minded to warn him that we are not his enemy unless he makes himself so.  If he were not to heed my warning, he would never be seen again.  Problème résolu.  To my mind your method is an unnecessary risk, though if it does not go immediately awry there is potential to learn."  She sighed, then added, "I shall watch and remain ready to respond, if necessary."

Fate found herself back at the amethyst palace once she had went though the portal. She then immediately went to find Michael, if she could.

The little cartoon gave a bow. "Immediate response and quick action has been my go-to for a long time. Go ahead with yours, that way it's fewer chunks carved out of my backside."

Mistral replied to Noah across the slate, "Très bien.  We shall see."  She proceeded to reach a hand through a tiny portal to retrieve a notepad and ball-point pen.  She began to write without looking, eyelids still fluttering as she watched something elsewhere.

The little cartoon sighed, "He saw me, I'll keep my distance but inquire, both plans in action."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Fri 19 Mar 2021.

Mistral paused her writing, then clipped the pen onto the notepad and tossed it to the side.  Instead she rested a hand on the hilt of the knife at her belt and stood, staring at nothing.  She spoke coolly into the slate while her sight remained elsewhere, “Have your palaver.  If he misbehaves or if you say the word, he will be gone before your next breath.  You may inform him of this, if it suits your agenda.”

Mistral waited and listened, still and ready.

"Mistral, you may want to go ahead with your plan. If he becomes aware you can get that close it may protect the group as a whole. Harass one of us you harass us all kinda deal maybe?"

"He is talking like a mafia thug with backup so I'll take a step back on the plan but still set him on earthbound trail."

Michael sighs as he knew this day would come the second he decided to help them. They weren’t demons. They did not hunt people. Why couldn’t the others at least consider this? To join forces to fight the greater evil would do more good than harm. Unfortunately, self righteousness was a plague that affected many of the clergy. Not all but enough to cause problems. He waved at Fate as she approached and turned to Mistral. “I choose the side of what is right and good. Hopefully the others will join that side. There is a balance that must be upheld no matter how fine that line is.”

"You alright?" Fate stopped a few feet from Michael and started looking for any signs of injury or danger.

The Cartoon Dragon started putting video and picture files on the desktop it lived on. Photos of the hunter and his license plate, transcript of the conversation, and a catalog of samples Grey was hunting with her tiny robots.

Mistral remained standing where she was, remotely observing and waiting.  At some point she picked up the notepad again, turned to a new page and wrote.


She removed the page, folded it crisply in half, then deposited it into a tiny portal.  She looked through the data coming in over the slate, then spoke over comms, “Very thoughtful, mon dragon.  I have offered this Voscal the opportunity to walk away.  Should he refuse, I have more than I need to erase him.  Tu vas bien?”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

The cartoon dragon gave an awkward thumbs up. "I've got enough layered armor spells that I could survive a tank round. Keeping an eye out for any co-operatives of his just in case. Any idea if Michael wants me to pick his stuff up? We cant bring this many sleepers to the island but I can pack his stuff real quick and send it while I am here."

 With the situation more or less handled for now, the group was now left with quite a few more hours of night. Talion's plan had been for another 4-5 hours of revelry but there was also the option of turning in early.

PM

 Mistral managed to sneak the note inside the door handle but not well enough to secure it. It fell out as he reached to open the door. He caught it with his other hand and opened it to read it.

 Looking spooked, he hurried inside. Mistral did not manage to breach the interior of their security before her feed was cut off. They had some form of ward blocking her perception around the cathedral.

Noah packed up anything that Michal wanted before he headed back. There was still Halloween oddness to be had and it wouldn't be an Ark Cabal event if there wasn't some kind of work involved midway through. It was all par for the course.

Michael responded in his slate. “I travel light and had grabbed everything I needed when I left, so I wouldn’t have to go back.”

Michael shook his head at Fate. “I’m not hurt, but I’m afraid trouble may have tracked me to here. The Hunter kind of trouble.”

"So are we looking at a fight headed our way then?"

Mistral performed a final arcane gesture before turning away from the blank amethyst wall where her portal once was.  She took the liberty to reply to Fate’s question, “The more pertinent question is, are these hunters suicidaire?  I have issued fair warning to Voscal, so if he persists in this misguided crusade he will have chosen to make it their last.”

She turned to Michael and asked pointedly, “Will he, penses-tu Michael?  I do not know what affection you may yet hold for your order, but do not doubt that threatening us further will be their ending.”

Michael sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “You have given them a warning which is more than they ever get from what they usually hunt. They are quite zealous which means eventually they will attempt something. Since they now know they are being watched, they will only observe until they can come up with a plan. They’re not used to beings of your caliber. This combined with knowing that a Hunter is with them will make them hesitant. I can tell you their normal tactics. If they choose to attack then their fate is sealed and have refused to listen to reason.”