Robyn frowned. "How sure are you that you can trust Mickey?" she asked. "He was looking into Vamanando for the Tremere. No doubt he's already relayed all he knows to the government. He's been actively looking for the Tome since before Seavers died."

"Trust Mickey to what?" Liam said. "I trust he's working for the government in good faith. And I trust he has it out for the Tremere."

"I didn't think there was anything about tomorrow's plan that risks compromising the Tome, or our future intentions. Why, what are you worried about?"

Robyn shifted uncomfortably. "I'm just worried, that's all," she said. "That guy creeps me out. Just... watch your back, okay?"

"Good," Liam said with a smile. "Worried is smart. I'd be afraid if you weren't."

"But I promise. I'll watch my back out there."

"Think you can help me move around a one-tonne stone gargoyle and a seven armed spider tonight? It would probably be a good idea for us to meet in person before tomorrow. Mickey can make his own way there - we'll just pick somewhere closer to the base."

"That won't be a problem," said Robyn. "Pick a spot far from camp to put down the portals, and let me know where they're coming out. Shouldn't take more than ten minutes to put together."

"Will do."

Tyr was presumably at home, and Mik hopefully had the forethought to return to 'his' tree - or at least the tree Liam had found him in two nights running. He whistled for Caleb to join him as he set out into the periphery of Nowhere, and a small natural clearing not far from the Edge. He picked a meeting spot half way between the base and the gangrel encampment and resolved to put a call in to Cal as soon as he stepped over the threshold to give Mickey and Elijah a chance to get there.

Unless Robyn has anything else for him, Liam will gather all the stakeholders together. He'll use the portal network to get Tyr and Mik. The others can get there on their own.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Wed 10 Jan.

Mickey was still busy in the communication centre, studying the crater and what little indirect footage they'd managed capture of the ritual. He seemed eager for an excuse to step away from the headache, and promised he'd be there as soon as he could. Mik and Elijah had found each other, likely during the Redwatch massacre. He found them both at the Gangrel camp, celebrating their victory together. Tyr, unsurprisingly, had little to do but prepare for their assault, and was in his home.

The temporary portals Robyn conjured to facilitate the meeting were far more conspicuous than her invisible ones. These, she explained, were keyed to let light and sound through. They appeared as impossibly thin windows into their respective destinations, and were a fair sight easier to manage than the invisible archways.

Mik and Elijah had already arrived at the meeting place when Liam and Tyr appeared. Mickey was the last to arrive, and he looked exhausted.

"Okay, Liam," said Mik curiously. "Care to explain why you've gathered us all here tonight?"

"Tonight was the warmup," Liam explained. "For some of us, anyway."

"Tomorrow, Elijah is leading the Gangrel into the Alhambra to burn the aerie. Mickey, Tyr and I are going to pull as much heat away from them as we can by taking out the guards at the ruins and flushing out the mages."

"The kids in the village want to use the cover to liberate the suburbs. They're in good company, but I'd appreciate if you kept an eye on them, Mik. The base is already notified and expecting survivors."

He paused to make sure this was understood before continuing, turning his attention to Mickey and Tyr next.

"The three of us have two entrances to contain before we blow the charges. Mickey, if you want to sweep Seavers' I propose we handle that end quietly an hour before the Gangrel are due at the Alhambra then make our way to the main entrance."

"Then we push into the ruins through the main entrance, setting charges as we go. We deal with the mages as we find them, and exit through Seavers' before taking down the roof."

"Elijah, if we end up triggering a bigger fight in the first half you may need to be ready to go in early. I trust Cal will be watching everything, so you'll get your cue."

"Questions?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Thu 18 Jan.

"Happy to help," said Mik. "Especially if it means a far less bloody evening than tonight."

"I doubt they'll encounter any resistance," said Mickey. "Especially after tonight. If I know the Pyramid like I think I do, they're pulling up their stakes in the city and looking to bug out. Honestly, the only iffy part of this plan is whether or not they'll take our bait."

"Well, how important are these ruins?" asked Elijah.

"There's a power in there," said Mickey. "Ancient and terrible. We've just got no idea how to harness it. Van Fokke is desperate, so we'll have wait and see how hard he's grasping at that particular straw."

"Aren't you worried about... disturbing it?" Elijah said cautiously.

"Whatever's there is older than the temple," said Mickey. "And the temple's as old as humanity. Nothing anyone has done has roused it, and believe me, people have tried. I doubt anything as simple as a few bombs are going to bother it. But Liam, you're the closest thing we have to an expert. What do you think?"

Liam shook his head.

"The charges wont wake It up," he concurred. "The bigger question is whether they'll put a dent in the stonework at all, but we're going to try."

"We'll just have to wait and see how tightly van Fokke is holding onto that straw."

"I think we got this," said Mickey. "We know the layout well, we've got the element of surprise, and one of us can move through stone." He nodded cordially to Tyr. Tyr sneered.

Mickey clapped his hands, and continued. "So, now that that's taken care of, how 'bout we talk about the other thing I know all of us are dyin' to know," he said airily. "What's up with your friend, Liam?"

"I suppose I don't have to ask you to be more specific in light of tonight's events. I just had a healthy talking to by the neighborhood wizarding association who were none too pleased. What is it you want to know? She promises not to abscond with any more of Canada's sovereign territory, or anymore terrestrial matter for that mater. The wizards were quite insistent on that point."

"I'm more curious about what, precisely, she is," said Mickey. "Because I've been hunting powerful hedge wizards for seventy years, and I've never seen that kind of power before."

"The only thing I've witnessed that came close was the Riverhead Incident," said Mik. He, too, seemed genuinely curious to hear an answer to that question. Elijah stayed silent, but his curiosity was piqued. Only Tyr seemed indifferent.

"I'm no wiz..." Liam paused, and corrected himself. "I mean, I'm not much of a wizard myself."

"She's given me a few pointers..." he said sheepishly to their inquiring stares. "Its nothing really."

He cleared his throat and hurried on.

"But anyway, she is a hedge wizard - or a sorcerer as I'm sure she'd insist upon. She's an especially clever one. Once in a generation maybe."

"The limitation of linear magic isn't in scaling the magic itself but in mustering the willpower or mental reserve, or whatever it is to command it. Robyn found a way to uncouple the two. But for that you really will need to talk to her, because its well above my grade level."

The others really didn't see the gravity of the revelation, but Mickey was stunned.

"That's... A world-altering discovery, Liam," he said. "I mean, holy fucking shit. It explains everything, but..." He exhaled loudly. "I gotta sit with this for a bit."

"I'd say the world has been altered," Liam said, gesturing in the direction where the grove once stood. "The wizards seemed to think so as well."

He looked to the others.

"Are we good? If so I'll wish you good luck now, Elijah. I'll look for you tomorrow night after the fireworks, once the kids are back in the village."

"Yeah, we're good," said Elijah. "We'll see you tomorrow, after it's done. Back at our rally point in the woods."

"And I'll make sure the kids get home safe and sound," said Mik.

Tyr looked at Mickey, then at Liam, and grunted. Mickey was lost in his own thoughts.

"Alright then," Liam replied. "I'll see everyone tomorrow."

"Best of luck."

The assembled conspirators wandered off on their own ways. The portal that bore Tyr to his home conveniently passed through Liam's, and the two of them had a moment to themselves. Tyr took the opportunity to speak to him.

"In case we need to get rid of your friend tomorrow," he said. "We should have a go word."

"Mickey? I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that. He's been genuinely helpful. But... I suppose its only wise to plan for the worst."

Liam smiled faintly.

"Beast. Its the word Hasan chose the last time we tussled with Mickey."

Tyr grumbled. "Sure he's been helpful," he said. "Helped himself plenty. Plenty interested in Seavers, too. If he thinks it helps him more with us out of way, he's gonna turn. He's Tremere."

"Maybe," Liam conceded. "He's free of the cup, and I don't think any price is worth going back to him."

"We'll just have to see. Get some sleep, Tyr. I'll see you tomorrow."

Tyr grunted his assent, and stepped through his portal.

The night was nearly over, not that it mattered much in Nowhere.

Liam stayed to watch the sun rise then quietly made his way back into the cottage to pass the day.

Tomorrow would be the biggest test they had yet faced - they were bringing the fight to the Alhambra itself. The detente was over. One way or another, from here on in things would move quickly.

[3 XP for the scene]