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12:16, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Fly By Night.

Posted by StorytellerFor group 0
Storyteller
NPC, 432 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 02:57
  • msg #204

Fly By Night

[Numbers look good to me!]

The Saiga practically cut the neonate in half. It kicked like a mule. The escort flying outside veered off towards the university, presumably to alert someone. Not good.

With his back now turned, Liam didn't see the other Gangrel draw his own pistol, and pointed it through the glass window of the closed door and square at Liam's head. At this range it would be difficult to miss.

The bullet mildly disturbed Liam's hair, and mushroomed harmlessly against Liam's impenetrable skull. The neonate coughed and sputtered in disbelief.

Cortez responded in kind. He pointed his sawn-off shotgun at the young Gangrel's head, taking half of it away. Unfortunately for everyone involved - mostly Logan - aiming the shotgun in such a fashion placed it directly behind Logan's head when it went off. And though he wore hearing protection, that was enough to cause him to lurch forward and on to the stick, sending the helicopter into a spin.

The escort did the smartest thing he could at that point, which was to let go of the helicopter and be flung away far enough to turn back into a bat and fly away.

Cortez righted the helicopter and continued towards the ocean. They were still perilously close to the waterworks and its flak cannons. "All right," Cortez said. "Now where am I going?"
Liam O'Farrell
player, 421 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 03:12
  • msg #205

Fly By Night

“Just get us away from that,” Liam said, pointing towards the waterworks. “And start veering back towards Riverhead. We’re going to have to put this bird down. They track everything. They’re tracking you right now. There’s a transmitter in your arm band.”
Storyteller
NPC, 433 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 05:38
  • msg #206

Fly By Night

Cortez ripped off the armband and threw it out the open door. Then he veered at a full clip towards Riverhead. He spotted a farmer's field on the route, and took the chopper down immediately. He cut the engines and hopped out. He made a beeline for the trees at a fast pace, shedding his equipment as he did so. Like a drone, and without anyone to oversteer him, Logan started up the rotors again and prepared to resume his orders.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 422 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 10:59
  • msg #207

Fly By Night

“Easy there,” Liam said, reaching for the bottle and spraying Logan in the face. “Logan, buddy, we don’t have a lot of time until the scouts come looking for us so all I’m going to tell you is that Grace is safe and I’m taking you to her. You’re going to have to trust me on that.”
Storyteller
NPC, 434 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 19:15
  • msg #208

Fly By Night

Logan must have been through the wringer, because he was taking the de-mooking hard. He went catatonic, and buried his face in his hands. He was, however, a short man with a slim build. He was very easy to unbuckle and carry.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 423 posts
Fri 14 Aug 2020
at 20:16
  • msg #209

Fly By Night

Liam swept the cockpit with an eye towards any physical evidence that required mitigating. Two of the scouts had made off into the night, which was regrettable, but there was nothing to be done about that now. At least the gaiter had held in place since he’d donned it on the deck of the Liska.

Spying the black box beneath the console he tore the secured container free and ripped it open like a clamshell. Tossing the device onto the open floor of the bay he pointed the Saiga down at its exposed guts and popped off a round at point blank range.

“Time to go,” Liam said, helping Logan out of the pilot’s chair and taking a moment to tear off his band. As soon as they were safely away from the helicopter Liam swapped the Saiga out for his striker and levelled a shot at the fuel tank. There was an incendiary loaded in the chamber, one of the last two he’d held onto over the years. When the fuel tank went up it took the rest of the chopper with it in a blazing fireball.

Hoisting Logan over his shoulder, Liam turned and made for the tree line.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Fri 14 Aug 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 435 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 00:36
  • msg #210

Fly By Night

Cortez had waited for him by the treeline, but didn't stick around when Liam caught up. The fireball would bring reinforcements. They were about to be hunted.

"I don't suppose you know these woods," Cortez said. "But we need to get to running water if we have a hope of losing them."

There was, of course, the river which ran from the titular Verdant Falls and then ran down underneath the city proper. Due north, right before a steep cliff that would be a challenge for anyone carrying an incapacitated Logan, though not nearly as daunting a challenge as would face a capacitated Logan. By Liam's estimation the shortest route to Robyn's would be up the river itself, and then across the lake at the falls.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 424 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 00:46
  • msg #211

Fly By Night

"I do," Liam replied. "Very well."

He tugged down his gaiter and bared his face for the first time since meeting Hector.

"Liam O'Farrell. We can shake later."

"There's a river due north of us that runs down from the falls along the base of a steep embankment. I take it if you used to run with the Bar Harbor enclave and you're not in the least bit afraid to pilot a helicopter into power-lines that you can fly?"
Storyteller
NPC, 436 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 01:03
  • msg #212

Fly By Night

"Only reason I haven't flown off yet is I still have questions, and I don't see you leaving the ground with that kine in tow," Cortez said. "What've you got in mind?"
Liam O'Farrell
player, 425 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 01:10
  • msg #213

Fly By Night

"No, but I don't leave a scent. Handy trick I picked up living under the noses of a Garou pack a few years back. Those scouts couldn't find me with a pack of bloodhounds in the middle of an empty parking lot. It'll help a bit with Logan's scent on my back but its not perfect, and the less options we give them the easier it'll be to shake them."

"In fact if you really want to throw them, give them something to smell down that'away," he said, motioning generally away from Robyn's property. "And then fly up to the top of the ridge to meet me."

"Once we get to the top we'll be freer to talk."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:40, Sat 15 Aug 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 437 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 03:08
  • msg #214

Fly By Night

Cortez scowled in the direction Liam pointed. He curled his lips and snarled. "Fine," he said, and charged away to create a distraction. Now there was the simple matter of getting up the Ridge.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 426 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 10:41
  • msg #215

Fly By Night

Liam plunged northward for another minute or two giving any tailing lupine scouts a clear path to follow in Cortez, then he dropped to his knees steadying Logan before him. "This'll just take a moment, bud," he said, stripping out of his shirt and chest armor. These went into his duffel and Liam made one last check of Logan to make sure the pilot was carrying nothing that could be tracked in its own right. Standing back up, Liam cradled Logan in his arms rather than across his back as he resumed course. The reason for this was immediately apparent as four spider like limbs made of hardened condensed blood erupted from his back.

"If Mik could only see me now," he said, racing towards the river as fast as any wolf.

Devil Channel (Abombwe 4)
Back: The character sprouts four spider legs from his back. These legs provide two additional actions if used to grapple or attack. Any attempts to climb automatically succeed, and attempts to escape by running are at -2 DC.


Once he hit the water, Liam broke away along the current. It did him no good for Logan's scent to just pick up again on the far bank. He had to come out somewhere different - ideally somewhere he could scale the escarpment unseen.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:44, Sat 15 Aug 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 438 posts
Sat 15 Aug 2020
at 20:41
  • msg #216

Fly By Night

For much of the waterfall, the deluge was away from the rocks. The surface behind the water was damp, slippery and not at all suitable for climbing. However, that was no issue for Liam. It did afford cover for nearly half of the ascent. The rest of the way was difficult, but he stuck to the shadowiest crags. It was a grueling climb, and he reached the top of the Ridge a short hop from the rendezvous.

Liam had sensed that Logan was back to his senses halfway up the cliff. But it seemed the best way to survive the night was to stay limp. It was up to Liam to decide whether it was better to set him down at the top or simply proceed to the rendezvous without letting Logan know his facade wasn't fooling him. However, it had been a long night and beating the sun home was going to be a photo finish even at a brisk pace.

By the time he arrived, Cortez looked ready to leave. "Do you have shelter nearby," he said impatiently. "Or should I start digging a hole?"
Liam O'Farrell
player, 427 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 00:42
  • msg #217

Fly By Night

“I’m getting him home tonight,” Liam said resolutely, nodding towards Logan still playing rag doll in his arms. “I don’t trust he’ll still be here at sundown tomorrow otherwise and I don’t plan to be the one to tell his wife I got him a stone’s throw away from salvation only to lose him at the gate.”

“I have enough time to get back, but only just. I promised you answers and I mean to keep that promise, but you’re going to have to decide just how many questions need asking and answering. If this is quick, ask away. I’ll tell you what I can and then I’ll be on my way.”

“If you want to dig deep, or if you’re looking for payback against the bastards who did this to you - well then you’re going to have to come with me. I’ll warn you up front, there will be other people where I’m going; Kindred and Kine both. They’re going to be suspicious of you, but if you come in with me after helping to save one of their own they won’t harm you.”

“I’ll probably get an earful about it, but I couldn’t have saved flyboy here without you.”

“You’re going to have to trust me, and I’m going to have to trust you.”
Storyteller
NPC, 439 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 19:22
  • msg #218

Fly By Night

"It’s my intention to return to Bar Harbour immediately and inform the Elders," he replied. "But I will not get far tonight. You lead, and I will keep up."

The ride home was quiet and hasty. Liam chose the form of a great wolf, and faced with the prospect of being tied to a vampire wolf's back, Logan chose to break his ruse and come around. He did not appear to be in the mood to converse with either of them. It was far simpler, if a bit awkward, for him to cling to Liam's back on his own.

Cortez followed as a panther, keeping to his promise to maintain the pace. He moved through the forest as deftly as Liam - as would be expected of anyone who calls themselves a Gangrel. It had been a long time since Liam had run with a pack. It brought to mind the times with the Garou pack of generations past. The last time his heart had been full.

He left Hector near the packages drop-off. Near enough that he benefited from the arcane warding that would keep him undisturbed in the daytime, but not so close as he could find the house unbidden. He was a wounded animal, and not in the mood to endure anyone's scrutiny. He barely tolerated Liam as it was.

Sunrise was imminent, but there was enough time to check in on Robyn. He left Logan to reunite with his wife in private. There would be time for accolades tomorrow. For now, he had a sports drink to deliver.

The door to her bedroom was closed, and a "Do Not Disturb" sign was hanging from the knob. There was a hand-scrawled "Deliveries Excepted" hastily written on it. Presumably the sign was chiefly directed at the villagers. He knocked, she grunted, and he entered.

Robyn was curled up on top of her covers, both shivering and sweating profusely. She looked ragged. She reached up weakly as Liam approached. Her lips were cracked and her throat parched.
Liam O'Farrell
player, 428 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 19:39
  • msg #219

Fly By Night

Liam already had the Gatorade at the ready. He smiled as he crouched down, twisting the cap off with a snap before handing it across. "You look like you've had a long night," he said. "Here. Its 'энергетик'. I'm reasonably confident there are no steroids in it."
Storyteller
NPC, 440 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 19:44
  • msg #220

Fly By Night

She squinted at the bottle. "Been to Russia tonight?" she quipped. She took a long draught. "Tastes like corporate homogeneity. Just what I needed. Had a lot of questions to ask tonight. About the curse, about Sunny... About you."
Liam O'Farrell
player, 429 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 19:47
  • msg #221

Fly By Night

"Little Russia. Do I want to know what the Tome has to say about me?" he said, raising a brow as he sat back on his haunches.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Sun 16 Aug 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 441 posts
Sun 16 Aug 2020
at 23:50
  • msg #222

Fly By Night

"Let me say, you command a lot of Its attention," Robyn croaked. "I wanted to confirm whether what you've been telling me was true. It confirmed basically everything you told me. And a lot about the actions you've taken in this city. Both in the past decade or so, and the distant past. The life you gained and lost in your bringing the Tome to me."

She picked at the label as she continued. "I showed you what it means to uss the book because I wanted you to understand it is both a tool for knowledge and an implement of self-torture. I need you to know that no action has ever both caused me more harm, and changed my life so much for the better as when the Tome came into my life. And that includes the murder of the love of my life. I don't know how the part you played in all that settles with your conscience, because I'm not sure how it settles with mine."

She took a long sip of her drink. Deliberately so, it seemed, to hold the silence of those words over them. "I won't apologize for doubting you. Because until recently the most decent example of your kind I'd ever had a conversation with was Nex. But I will say that I trust you a lot more than a most of the mortals I've met in my days."
Liam O'Farrell
player, 430 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 00:31
  • msg #223

Fly By Night

Liam offered a wistful smile in return. “It could have been quite a lifetime,” he said softly. “Liza was the second love of my life after Marie. I’ve been thinking about her a lot since learning of the destruction of Blue Tree. Funny you should mention Nex. I’ve been wondering what’s there on the other side. In the Shadowlands.”

Liam sighed and shook his head, casting out bad memories and bittersweet ones besides.

“You’d have no reason to apologize anyway. Knowing what you know about us it would have been foolish to place your trust in me unquestioningly, no matter Jack or Maeve’s opinion. I’m just glad that I’ve earned some measure of it now.”

“As for my conscience, I’m not sure I know either. But I still have one,” he said patting his breast over his heart. Underneath all the monster there was still a man inside. For tonight. He could never ever grow complacent.

Liam reached his hand out to Robyn.

“Come. I’ve had a busy night, and I presume you’ll have a busy day. We have a lot to discuss, but not much time. Sun’s coming up any moment,” he said, pointing to the ceiling. “I’ve done some digging around Pockets condition, and, well, it doesn’t look good. But I think I can at least get her back on her feet. I’ll need your help to do it though.”

And, I’ve figured out how we’re going to do the Waterworks job but that’s a discussion for tomorrow.”
Storyteller
NPC, 443 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 01:05
  • msg #224

Fly By Night

"Liam O'Farrell," Robyn said. "You're a credit to the evil undead. And you're too right. Any pressing business can wait until I've had some sleep."

She took his offer to help her get tucked in, and accepted his hand. As she buried her head in the pillow, she looked up at him. "But one last thing for tonight. Who's buried by the driveway?"
Liam O'Farrell
player, 431 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 01:12
  • msg #225

Fly By Night

Liam smiled. Robyn knew. Of course Robyn knew. "His name is Hector Cortez. He was the other pilot aboard the helicopter when I liberated Grace's husband, Logan. Hector's been a yellow band for the past two years. I sprayed him as well. Its unlikely I could have got Logan back tonight without him."

"Still, he's not the friendliest fellow," Liam admitted. "He has a lot of questions. Otherwise I think he would have flown back to Bar Harbor tonight. You can meet him tomorrow."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Mon 17 Aug 2020.
Storyteller
NPC, 444 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 01:49
  • msg #226

Fly By Night

"I insist on it," Robyn said, closing her eyes. "And please, don't bring any more vampires here without my permission. Just because he's the enemy of our enemy doesn't mean he's a friend. I understand you had an emergency, but at least send me a text or something. If I hadn't just had a reliable character reference, I would have assumed you were planning to doublecross me."
Liam O'Farrell
player, 432 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 03:29
  • msg #227

Fly By Night

Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out his satellite phone. “You know, Book told me I always forgot to turn this thing on. Especially when it was important.”

“Maybe he was on to something.”

Liam smiled. “I promise. No more vampires, at least not without your say so.”

“Sleep tight, Robyn.”

Liam stood and turned towards the door, closing it quietly behind him. Reaching into his breast pocket he took out a card.

Augusto Deluca, Purveyor of Fine Imported Goods.

He entered the number onto his phone and sent a text as he made his way down the stairs.

’Local birds are down. I’ll be in touch.’

Finally he reached for his earpiece as he climbed into bed.

“I’m okay, Jacob. Found my boy. Get some sleep.”
Storyteller
NPC, 445 posts
Mon 17 Aug 2020
at 03:36
  • msg #228

Fly By Night

"The boys are back home too," Jacob replied. "Good work tonight."

There wasn't time to make a reply before the sun streamed over the horizon, and sleep took him.

[4 xp for the scene]
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