Ashley, looking pleased about the praise, started to remove her ipad from her purse so that she could pull up the copy of the article that she had bookmarked when a sugar glider plopped down on her armrest and telepathically asked, "you going to eat that fruit?"  Ashley jumped slightly but was quickly drawn in by the innocent sounding voice and cute appearance.  “ooh…aren’t you cute.”  She gently stroked the tiny creature as she offered it one of the small pieces of honeydew that had been included in the fruit cup.

Ruby didn’t linger long however.  Noticing the cluster of grapes Akiri was offering, she quickly set off to claim them as well.  It took a lot of energy to fly after all….and regardless of what a certain technician might have said earlier…. eating all of the fruit she could convince Robert and his friends to give her was NOT going to make her fat.

Ashley frowned slightly as she saw Kyle’s reaction to the sugar glider passing over him.  “Are you alright?  Do you suffer from musophobia?”

But she ended up dropping her ipad on the floor as Kyle shouted "AH... Who’s that screaming. someone’s in the back is being injured... badly."  Not hearing anything, she glanced around wildly and didn’t see anything either.  Her expression changed slightly as she gave Kyle the look that indicated she was having doubts about his sanity and inched a bit further away from him in her seat.  The villainous laugh coming from Akiri didn’t help matters and she wistfully glanced over to Dr. Gopala wishing he was finished with his document so that she could speak with someone…normal and then reached down and picked up her ipad, checking to make sure that it hadn't been damaged in the fall.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

The Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport is relatively small with only a few flights coming in each day.  In a fortunate coincidence, however, Alaska Airlines was test marketing a new flight between Los Angles and Santa Rosa that was scheduled to arrive exactly 30 minutes before the rest of the team was.

While the Los Angeles International Airport was as crowded as usual, things seemed to progress incredibly smoothly.  A window at the ticket counter opened up just as Bernard arrived, meaning he only had to wait in line for five minutes to check his bags.  The security checkpoint was running extremely smoothly and he moved through the line two or three times faster than normal.

Based on the number of people waiting at his gate, it was clear the flight was very lightly booked and as he boarded, he could easily see why he was flying economy.  It was the only section there was on the small plane.  As it was, the stewardess had made an announcement as they were boarding stating that people could sit wherever they wanted.

The four other passengers who boarded with him distributed themselves around the plane, giving him the option to have a row entirely to himself if he wished.

The flight itself was non-eventful, although due to the weather, there was a fair amount of turbulence as they got closer to the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport.  Still the flight arrived on time, slightly early actually, and the landing was reasonably smooth.

Bernard had already received a text notifying him that the team had decided to bring their own vehicle, so a rental car would not be needed.  But he would have sufficient time to find the airport coffee shop and buy hot drinks for the team if he wished to do so.


OOC:  For players that are new to mage, this is an example of what a coincidental three dot correspondence effect can look like (in this case correspondence 3, life 3 since it was used on someone other than the caster).  Three dots in the sphere would let someone teleport from one location to another; but as you can imagine, that is very vulgar.  So, someone cast an effect that made it so that Bernard could be exactly where he needed to be, when he needed to be, as comfortably and smoothly as possible.  And since there was nothing obviously magical about it, it was a coincidental effect.  Did the test flight exist before the spell was successfully cast?  It doesn't matter.  As far as consensual reality is concerned, it did.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:50, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 28):

OCC

I would like to add that I would have checked my weapons properly at baggage checkout, case and all. I don't know exactly how checking weapons in at baggage at an airport is like, but at Staples, I had a customer bring in weapons to ship and it was relatively easily. Hardly anything different done from the norm when using the UPS station.

I'm not too sure what weapons and body armor I was issued, but if I could be left to my own devices, I would bring 2 handguns, 1 smaller handgun to fit in my holder by my foot, and 1 assault rifle, with plenty of bullets for all. (Don't ask me what kind of guns exactly, I don't know enough about them)

In Character

Having retrieved all his luggage, Bernard stood aside in the corner of the baggage claim. He had received a message that a rental vehicle was no longer needed. Good, one less thing to maintain or worrying about. Now he was going through his NWO issued tablet and was looking to secure lodging for his team. There wasn't too much being offered in the small town of less than a thousand, just some Bed & Breakfasts, cabins, and small homes being offered as inns...no, too vulnerable. After much more searching than he hoped, he eventually found a found a motel with vacancy still available before he sent the number to his phone and dialed them up.

The phone rang for a long while before a shaky young man's voiced picked up. "Y-yes! Thank you for c-calling Motel Seaside and Sand! How can I help you?!"

Bernard looked down at his watch and saw it almost 2300 hours, he wished he called sooner, but he had to hurry packing to catch his flight. "Good evening, how are ya going tonight?"

He heard a thunder crash on the other side of the line accompanied by the young man's yelp. "S-sorry about that sir! We're having a bit of thunderstorm tonight."

"Hang in there, sport, the storm will pass soon enough. I'm online and I saw you have some vacancies, can I go ahead and reserve three rooms with two beds and hold them for an hour?"

"Umm, okay, just one moment sir, just checking my computers, though I can tell you we have plenty of rooms. Okay, there. So three rooms with two beds?"

"Yeah, that's good to hear actually. My party is still trying to figure out sleeping arrangements, so can I call back soon to confirm?"


"Sure-" Another thundercrash and another yelp from the young man. "S-s-sorry about that sir! Can I please get your name and contact info?!"

"Hang in there sport, the storm will pass soon enough" Bernard repeated to the youth again, hoping to put him slightly more at ease. He then gives the clerk his contact and payment info before hanging up with him.

Bernard then eyed the airport's coffee stand. He had hoped that once he got a vehicle rented, he could have driven to a more reputable place to get everyone food and drinks, but this will have to do. He adjusted his luggage around so the suitcase filled with spare coats and umbrellas were on top of his cart before taking a seat near the stand. Pulling out his NWO Tablet, he researched into past cases with similar Level 4 Space-Time Breaches to better prepare himself while he waited for the rest of the team.

He soon received a message that the team's plane has touched down. He picked up a variety of foods and drinks before heading out to where the plane was, and he could already see an impressive Humvee being offloaded. Bernard couldn't help but whistle at the beauty. What he would have done to ride that instead of his squad car back with LAPD? He read on his dossier that this beaut belongs to Akari Yamimoto, and that it was her baby and sole driver. He just hope that she'd let him take it out for a spin just once.

He thought back to the dossier. It certainly delved into everyone capacities and expertise, but hardly touched on their personality. He hope there wouldn't be much clash. God knows he's seen that plenty too much back in LA. "Well...here's putting my best foot forward." He moved to go meet them.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

In reply to Bernard Hathaway (msg # 29):

As the plane starts to land and final approach, Akari slips her seat belt back on and looks out the window at the storm. The belt buckles just in time as the plane dips violently in the storm and lightning lights up the cabin briefly. "Hey Robert, can you do anything about this?"

She pulls her hoodie up again. **IVAN...its raining. I know how you feel, but don't worry, I'll get you fixed up and nice again as soon as we stop. And there are six of us now. One's a new guy so BE NICE, or I won't install those anti-grav modulators until we get home.**

Maybe it was her imagination but she could feel the rumble of annoyance all the way up here.

In reply to Akari (msg # 30):

Waking up as we start the final approach, I hear Akari's question to me, "Sorry, smaller weather and forces I can deal with but something on this scale is still beyond my ability....for now at least"

Kyle looks out the window as the plane passes thru the layer of thunder clouds on decent. "i hope all those storm spirits out there don't notice us passing thru... nope to late. get ready for turbulence guys"

As if on cue the plane starts shaking. Kyle pulls out a device. "this little box here emits a frequency that the spirits don't like. just gotta dial it into storm spirits." (2 success)

the turbulence stops, right before leaving the cloud layer "there we go. you see if you pick out the right frequency it the area becomes annoying to the extra demintional beings and they move away"

(anyone sitting close enoph to touch him can see the spirits too)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

In reply to Kyle Moskowitz (msg # 32):

Akari lets out the breath she had been holding as the plane settles. "Oh good. Nice Kyle. Thanks." She flips on her computer, running a program. (2 successes) then looks out the window. "Oh..." for a moment she is fascinated by the storm spirits and their storm dance through the lightning. It reminded her of dolphins. Playful and graceful....and powerful in their element.

Except....they looked a little annoyed as they moved further from the aircraft. Just as well though. she didn't relish the thought of crashing into the national forest below.

After a few minutes, she turned back towards the front as the plane started touching down.

The turbulence clears long enough for the plane to make a safe, if slightly bumpier than usual, landing.   Fortunately, the jet taxis up to a jetbridge, so you don’t have to disembark from the jet and walk into the airport in the rain.

While the jet is taxiing, the pilot’s voice comes over the loudspeaker.  “We have arrived at the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport.  It is currently 2335 local time.  The current temperature is 47 degrees and the weather is stormy.  According to the national weather service, the temperature in Mendocino is 43 degrees and they are experiencing a severe storm with high winds and heavy rain.  We are currently on the edge of that storm.  Bernard Hathaway should has indicated that he will be meeting you at the gate.  Your luggage will be waiting on the jet bridge.  The vehicle will be unloaded and brought around to the front of the airport.  Once the mission has been completed, please send at text to 505-956-1854 and we will be dispatched to pick you up.”

Ashley and Xhiva disembark from the plane with the rest of the group and pick up their bags out of the stack at the edge of the jet bridge.

As the pilot indicated, Bernard is waiting at the gate and IVAN will be brought around to the front of the airport for you.

Bernard walk up to the team with all the food and drinks on top of his cart of luggage. "Good evening, Presido Construct, glad you guys got here safe and sound with the storm so close by. Name's Bernard Hathaway, former detective from LAPD, and currently with NWO, pleasure to meet you all." He then gestures to the food and drinks. He will shake anyone's hand who offers it. "It's cold as hell outside, and we've got a long drive ahead of us, so I got us all something for the road, so help yourselves. I also brought some spare coats and umbrellas for anyone who needs one in the top trunk, grab one if you need one." Bernard will make any quick pleasantries with anyone that starts it. "We do have a long trip ahead of us, plenty of time to talk and get to know each other then, so I recommend hitting the road as soon as possible. Unless there's anything you need here from Santa Rosa first?"

OCC: Let me know if the coral color doesn't work for anyone's screen.

In reply to Bernard Hathaway (msg # 35):

Akari has her bag with her and heads off the plane with the others. After listening to the pilot's message she remarks offhandedly TO Kyle or Robert, "Charles M. Shultz....isn't that the guy who created the Snoopy and the Charles Brown? The um," she thinks a moment. "The Penis gang!"

Disembarking she walks toward the man designated as Bernard Hathaway and listens as he gives the rather lengthy introduction of himself. She says, "Akari." Then looks over the food and grabs a cheese tray and fruit (with grapes) "Arigato, gaijin-san."

She currently wearing her goggles (think Tracer or my icon picture) and an over-sized black hoodie with a subdued honeycomb pattern on it. The hood is up, over her head, with random strands of hair poking out the front. She's quite obviously Asian complete with accent. She's also wearing baggy denim jeans (actually bib overalls but top is hidden under hoodie) and high top boot-type sneakers.

She looks both ways down the terminal seeing both ends. "Man, I thought that airport in Oklahoma City was small...it is very large compared to this one." She walks over to a giant Snoopy and takes a selfie, in which she doesn't smile, but does the 'V' with her fingers.

A bit antsy, she waits on the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:32, Sat 19 Sept 2020.

Ashley and Xhiva exchange greetings and introductions with Bernard, shaking hands and accepting a hot drink and a snack.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Hathaway,” Ashley responds, “I’m Ashley Collins."  Since he had mentioned his profession, she adds ”biochemist.  Thank you for the food and drinks.”

Ashley is dressed in business attire.  She is wearing black slacks, a dark blue blouse, and flats and already has a raincoat and an umbrella.

“I’m ready to head out whenever everyone else is.”


OCC:  Since I’m not entirely sure exactly what Xhiva would say or how he is dressed (though based on what I’ve heard about him so far, I’d say he is probably in business attire as well) I’ll leave that part open for now.

    I chuckled at Akari's words, "Wow, that changed a lot in translation. And now i want to see the Snoopy anime." I looked thru the refreshments, "ooo Fresca, don't mind if i do." I was wearing black cargo pants with lots of pockets, a crisp white button up shirt, a skinny black tie and a motorcycle jacket. "Kyle Moskowitz," I introduced myself, shaking hands, "Minor celebrity." [since Ryan has influence ,ill change mine to fame. been coming out that way anyways]

    I reached into my luggage and pulled out a small bag of chips. "If you guys all want to wear one of these" I pointed to my own chip adhered behind my ear ~It will make it easier to keep in contact, and for you to see what i see~ i continued talking telepathically.

    As they put them on (assuming you put one on) they heard a thousand different voices speaking garbled messages at once, like rapidly turning the dial on a radio, before becoming clear. They looked around shocked at the plethora of strange ghost and spirits they never knew were there before. ~don't freak out, it only works while I'm transmitting. Also try not to pay attention to them unless you have to. It lets them zero in on our dimensional frequency, in turn allowing them to exert more influence~ I warned
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:37, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

Walking by I shake Bernards hand "Hi, names Robert, thanks for the coffee", I grab a coffee then start to catch up as Rose sees the grapes now in Akari's possession and leaps off of my shoulder to land on hers, I sigh a little "Rose, could you behave for a little bit please? at least until after we get on the way?" Rose turns her head to my and sticks her tongue out at me. "Fine, lol just be careful ok, the rains coming down pretty hard".

Rose telepathically "Hello......you going to eat those grapes by chance?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

Bernard's attempt to gather data about Mendocino was moderately successful and provides an indication why the technician who received the alert didn’t provide additional information along with it.  The information he finds is limited at best.

“Despite its small size, the fact that it is an extremely popular artist colony and makes the majority of its income from tourism, significantly increases the chance that certain types of Reality Deviants may be present.  This includes including fairies and some of the more artistically inclined types of vampires and mages (see Piper Pastore).  No vampires or fairies have been documented as living in Mendocino.”

A later notation was added to the page by an un-enlightened citizen: “A script analyzing the text of various small-town newspapers has indicated the possible presence of one or more individuals with extra-ordinary botonny skills.  Several of the plants listed as winning prizes in the Annual Mendocino Garden Contests over the last few years have been things that are not typically found in nature, such as a carnivorous purple orchid.”   It does not appear that anyone ever followed up on that information.

When Bernard clicks on the link associated with Piper Pastore’s name, it goes to a dead page (403 error, page not found).  And when he attempted to do a search on her name in the database, he did not receive any results.  While that might not be significant, Bernard’s instincts are telling him that something might be wrong here.

OCC:  If anyone wants to do further research, please give me both a research roll (intelligence + research + library) and a computer roll (intelligence + computers) (the hacking specialty will apply)  Difficulty for both with be a 7.

Team members with a bit more experience with the Presidio databases would be aware that data on reality deviants is not removed upon their death.  It is just updated to include the date of their death.

Note:  This information is based on the 2 successes that Bernard indicated he received in the Discord chat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:08, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

As was mentioned before, the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport is small.  There are two gates, a coffee shop, a Hudson News (where you can by books, magazines, snacks, and various other small items), the ticket counter, the baggage claim area, bathrooms, and a statue of Snoopy.  That’s about it.  Both the coffee shop and the newsstand have closed since Bernard arrived and your group appears to be the only passengers in the airport.  The ticket counter is also appears to be closed and you only see a couple of airport employees who seem to be closing down, cleaning up, and getting things ready for tomorrow.  One of those employees does a double take as Rose flies over to Akiri.

Both Ashely and Xhiva accept one of the chips.  Ashley looks very uncomfortable as she hears the array of voices and sees the various spirts, but does her best to follow Kyle’s advice and ignore them.  She doesn’t really relax though until the transmission ends and the spirits once again fade from view.

Provided she has turned her radio back up, Akiri can hear from IVAN that he has been brought around to the front door and is VERY unhappy about being rained on and more than a bit concerned that he is going to get hailed on at some point in this trip.  He thinks they should find a nice hotel somewhere, one with an underground garage, and wait out the storm there.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 00:00, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 41):

Akari is a bit concerned about IVAN. Not so much that the wind, rain, or hail would hurt him. She was more concerned that wet feet would be getting in, along with open food. She was praying no one spilled.

She accepted the chip from Kyle and looked around at the jumble. It was a little more intense then she was used to, but nothing she hadn't seen, or heard, before.

Smiling, she held up the grapes for Rose. After all, that's who she got them for. Can you be addicted to fruit, she wondered? "Better head inside Rose, it so to be rainy and windy out here."

She listens to Bernard for a moment then tries to see what she can dig up. (Research roll: 3 successes -- Computer roll: 11 successes) pulling into the coding of the site and following IP accesses. She's trying to work backwards to see if she can find who deleted the file. There are ALWAYS traces remaining.

Messing around with her computer she starts wandering towards the front and IVAN.

In reply to Akari (msg # 42):

Walking up to IVAN I see Akari looking from IVAN to the group drenched from the rain then back to IVAN with a look of concern, "No worries Akari, I got you and IVAN covered" Walking up to IVAN I place my hand on the floor board and concentrate for a moment, after a moment a barely visible thin sheet of force spreads across the interior floor and seats inside IVAN, acting as a barrier against all the wet clothing. "There ya go, water protection at its finest" I comment then stand aside to allow the others to enter.



Robert rolled 3 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 2nd ed, Specialised system with a target of 3, rerolling 10s ((2,9,8,4)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Akiri quickly determines that an entire section of the page on Mendocino, California was deleted approximately 20 minutes after you received the alert.  A trace of IP addresses indicates that the action was performed by someone inside the Presidio construct and further research focuses it down to Susan Douglas’s desktop computer.  She is Jonathan Norton’s administrative assistant.  Jonathan Norton is one of the higher-level managers in the construct and is part of the Syndicate.  The changes appear to have been made by someone who already had access to the system rather than someone who hacked their way in.  Of course, you are well aware that someone could have used social engineering to obtain a user’s id and password.  Since Robert is part of the Syndicate and you know he pays attention to the political side of things, he may be able to provide you with additional information.

With a bit of effort, you are able to reconstruct the missing data.  Most of the records have not actually been deleted, the links have just been modified enough that they don’t come up on a search.  But there were two deletions:  a couple of paragraphs on the Mendocino informational page and all of the records relating to Lucius Selig.  (Note to Akiri:  That name sounds very familiar.  Like you might have seen a reference to it very recently.  Give me an intelligence roll if you don’t remember or can’t find it.)

Prior to the deletion, the last update to the Mendocino page was made three years ago and consisted of the information that was just removed.

“The members of the Selig/Pastore family initially came to our attention as a result of their association with Lucius Selig (see Lucius Selig).  Multiple members of this family possess enhanced abilities and appear to either be mages or sorcerers.  The family refers to themselves as “Children of the Anomaly.”  No correlation or association with any of the known groups of tradition mages or crafts has been discovered.  While additional observation is warranted, currently, other than Lucius Selig, no member of this family is considered an active threat.

Please see their associated pages for additional information:

Emerson Selig
Jean Selig
Lucius Selig
Piper Pastore
Nicolae Pastore
Lex Pastore
Morgan Pastore”

Pulling up the associated pages takes a bit of effort since the links have been modified, but is no challenge for someone with Akiri’s computer skills.  These pages have been updated a bit more recently, with the last update being about a year ago.  There is an exception to this.  The page on Lucius Selig has not been updated for 2 years.

Emerson Selig:

Grandfather of the family.  Age: 65, Birthdate: April 15, 1955.
Address:  45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460
Group Affiliations: United States Army (Retired) Bell Laboratories Skunkworks (Retired)

Emmerson Selig can best be classified as an Esoteric Scientist (with abilities similar to those shown by members of the Sons of Ether).  He has an affinity for machinery and the ability to create working devices without knowing what they will do when he is finished.  Engineering is an emotional and intuitive act for Emerson.  Emerson’s specialty is in esoteric science focusing on the unique sonic spectrum associated with each individual.  He has created and utilized devices that have allowed him to search for other individuals with extraordinary abilities (this is how he met his wife, Jean Selig), and devices designed to animate the energies of a person, once that person’s body dies. Fortunately, the traumatic events of his life have kept him cautious and afraid to push boundaries

In the past, Emerson Selig experimented with performing resurrections by tracking the deceased through its unique sonic spectrum.  He then utilized a device (the Transducer) which harmonized with this spectrum, drawing the spirit back into its original place.  He stopped this line of research after adversely affecting one of his children (Lucius Selig) during an experiment.

According to Emerson’s writings, while serving in the Vietnam War as a radio operator, he appears to have met a reality deviant going by the name of Seventeen (no additional information is available on this individual).  Seventeen was in position of a powerful device which he was using to heal a young boy and eventually ended up teaching Emerson how to use the device.  It appears that something must have happened to Seventeen in Vietnam.  Emerson has indicated that he died and is currently in possession of the device.

After leaving the Army, Emerson worked as a researcher for the Bell telephone company and continued his researches into esoteric science during his free time.  He became obsessed with researching how science could call back a deceased person’s personality, or essential spirit.  Emerson was at the height of his scientific powers when the family’s hamster died in 1993. He built a machine that he thought would pinpoint the hamster’s energy signature and draw it back into its body, effectively resurrecting the hamster. Had Emerson been any less careful he would have collapsed time and space.   The experiment was a success (from Emerson’s point of view, anyway) but it also injured his son Lucius, who wandered into Emerson’s lab and grabbed his pet hamster during a critical moment. Lucius was pierced with powerful sonic energy.   The hamster was revived, but exposure to the energies caused Lucius’ spirit to separate from his body and travel to other dimensions.  It took quite some time for him to gain control of this ability and resulted in him being confined to his home for much of his childhood.  Emerson, consumed by guilt over what he did to Lucius, retired from esoteric science. When his wife died, he refused to bring her back.

Since Emerson has ceased his experimentation and research, his current threat level is considered low to moderate.  If the technocracy had been aware of the hamster experiment earlier (before it became clear that it had resulted in the cessation of his research), he would have been considered a high threat and dealt with accordingly.

 
Jean Selig

Grandmother of the family.  Age 63.  Birthdate:  Unknown.  Died:  Dec. 21, 2017

Very little information is available about Jean Selig, including precisely which enhanced abilities she may have utilized. No records about her are available prior to her marriage to Emerson Selig.  And even after the marriage, she could never be tracked by mundane or enhanced surveillance.

However, Jean Selig appears to have acted as a muse and teacher to the other members of her family, encouraging and perhaps magnifying their abilities.  The term, “Children of the Anomaly” appears to have come from her.  Since her death, the family has floundered and their fragile connections to one another are starting to break down.

Threat level:  none.  Subject is deceased.

Piper Pastore

Mother of the family.  Age 39.  Birthdate:  November 2, 1981
Address:  45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460
Affiliation:  Elizabeth Allen Gallery

As a child, Piper Pastore had the ability to observe every iteration of reality and every dimension.    Due to the trauma, she experienced by seeing the accident that granted her brother his abilities, she suppressed her own.   However, the abilities have recently started to return.

An illness which, caused her to experience visions of every possible version of herself, caused Piper’s abilities to manifested at a young age.  Her mother Jean, helped her through the transition and encouraged her to take up painting as a way to process what she saw.   A few years later, Piper’s twin brother Lucius had the accident which caused his spirit to begin traveling through alternate dimensions.  Piper lost her gifts soon after.  Statements Piper has made indicate that she resents her brother for “robbing” her of her gift.

Piper is currently makes her living as a painter.  Her heavily-abstracted realism paintings are moderately successful; though, only enough to be sold in small local galleries.   More recent works have shown indications that she may have regained the ability to see into realms of non-standard reality and some of the images have been identified by void engineers as beings they have encountered in their travels.

Piper meet her husband Nicole during an “artist retreat” in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Married and broke, the two moved from New Mexico back into Mendocino. Piper gave birth to twins, Lex and Morgan. Piper appears to be deeply unhappy and may be suffering from clinical depression. Her family is living in a cramped home with her father and brother. She has been arguing with the only gallery owner who will show her work. Her husband has been distant— when he’s not at the radio station, he’s obsessively working on an experimental instrument called the laser harp. The couple barely talk anymore and Piper may leave him within the year.

Threat Level:  Low


Nicolae Pastore

Father of the family.  Age 42.  Birthdate:  September 3, 1978
Address:  45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460
Alias:  Nicolae “Kid Galaga” Pastore
Affiliation:  Public Radio, Galaga Laureate

Nicolea Pastore uses sound and sonics to produce supernatural effects, such as moving or destroying large objects.  His children Lex and Morgan brag about him at school saying that he has taught them “Sound is the key to the Multiverse” and that he is perfecting an instrument made out of light.

Nicolae refers to the “instrument made out of light” as a Laser Harp.  The laser harp is meant to be an instrument that can manipulate sound in three-dimensional space, allowing him to sculpt sound rather than playing it.  He believes that this will let him fine-tune frequencies to shape sound, time and space.  The instrument would be so delicate that it couldn't be built out of wood and strings.   He believes that only light would be fine enough to give him maximum control.

The only child to two emotionally distant parents, Nicolae grew up in a remote country home in Kansas, far away from children his own age.  According to notes from a school counselor, his parents were concerned about his odd habit of turning the family television to static and watching the noise and cupping his hands in front of the screen, as though he were trying to catch the electric hiss from it in his hands.  At the recommendation of the councilor, his father attempted to focus his attention elsewhere by buying him a viola.

According to comments Nicolae has made, one night after a fight with his mother, he ran into his room and picked up his viola, sawing one ragged, angry note against the strings. As he played the note his door slammed shut seemingly on its own. Pictures fell off Nicolae’s bedroom wall. From then on, he attempted to recreate that moment.  His sessions on the viola sounded like caterwauling noise to anyone else, but he was in ecstasy, summoning chaotic musical forces around him like a localized storm.

As a teenager he became a minor celebrity in the local arcade for his ability for his ability to play Galaga while blindfolded. He shattered high scores by listening for auditory cues from the cabinet.  The newspapers called him “Kid Galaga.”

Once he reached adulthood, he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to study under an amateur scientist who studied “acoustic levitation”, Dr Kim.  Apparently, Dr. Kim vanished while they were in the process of creating a larger than life harp using two-inch-thick cables.  No additional information is available about Dr. Kim but it sounds as though he might have been a Reality Deviant (possible Son of Ether) who was dealt with by another construct.

He interned in Santa Fe for several years before meeting his wife-to-be Piper Selig. After eloping with Piper, Nicolae moved to his wife’s childhood home in Mendocino, California. The couple had a pair of twins, Lex and Morgan. Today Nicolae works as a producer at a local radio station. His nights are spent trying to perfect his laser harp.

Nicolae’s distracted, daydreaming nature was initially a counter balance to Piper, who often feels anxious and over-stimulated. Today, Nicolae’s absentmindedness and his obsession with sound research is starting to grate on Piper, who feels unappreciated. She may leave him.

Threat level:  Moderate.  While Nicolae Pastore is actively practicing magic and attempting to create additional supernatural effects, he has thus far not caused any significant damage to Technocracy resources nor to reality as a whole.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:36, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Lex Pastore

Son of the family.  Age 10.  Birthdate:  June 17, 2010
Address:  45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460
Affiliation:  Dana Gray Elementary School, Fourth Grade

Lex Pastore is highly intelligent and shares his grandfather’s innate sense of engineering paired with his interest in esoteric science.  His teachers have made several recommendations that he skip one or more grades, but both he and his parents have refused.  Recent homework assignments indicate that his scientific pursuits are taking on a darker and more esoteric tone.  The death of his Grandmother and the natural maturing and individuating of his twin sister has badly frightened Lex.  Due to this fear, he has been attempting to solve the riddle of death and resurrection in hopes of finding a way for him and Morgan to be together forever.

His aloof and analytical personality, high intelligence, and extremely close relationship with his twin sister have resulted in him having few relationships outside of his family.  He has no close friendships with any of his classmates.

Motivating Fear:  The realization that he and his twin sister Morgan are going to get older and separate. Over time they will resemble each other less and less. One of them could die. One of them (he fears that it will be Morgan) will become bored or fed up with the other twin and leave. These fears are rooted in the death of his grandmother Jean and the rocky relationship between his mother Piper and her twin brother Lucius.   He is terrified of being alone.

Threat Level:  Currently Low to Moderate may increase as he becomes older and more experienced at scientific experimentation.  Possible recruit once he reaches a suitable age?



Morgan Pastore

Daughter of the family.  Age 10.  Birthdate:  June 17, 2010
Address:  45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460
Affiliation:  Dana Gray Elementary School, Fourth Grade

Morgan Pastore is an empath, someone gifted with the ability to feel as other feel.  This gives her the ability to know (or intuit) what people around her are thinking and feeling.  This gift extends to the natural world; she seems to have an affinity for plants and they do unnaturally well under her care.   While she sings and speaks to all of her plants, she has one special plant she named after Jean, her deceased grandmother, that she spends hours whispering to.

It is extremely challenging to follow Morgan covertly.  She always picks up on the fact that something is wrong and spots the individual following her.

Projective analysis indicates that separating Lex from his twin might prove disastrous.  She acts as both a moderating influence and a conscience to him.  Her presence also appears to ground her family in general.  This could be a side effect of Morgan’s empath abilities. On the other hand, Morgan’s family, all of whom are highly focused on their own concerns, tend to ignore what she has to say.

Jean Selig appeared to have been training Morgan’s empathetic abilities.  Case in point: Jean and Morgan used to play a game where they would try to have a conversation by only using facial expressions. At first it was play, but within a year Jean and Morgan would “talk” in this way for hours at a time.

It should be noted that Morgan keeps her uncle at a distance. Lucius, the most selfish of Jean and Emerson’s family, is living with his sister after being run out of his self-help cult, The Power of Positive Mechanics. Assuming Morgan is a true empath, it’s possible that she suspects her uncle of taking advantage of her family.

Threat Level:  Low.  Possible recruit once she reaches a suitable age?
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:36, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Lucius Selig

Piper’s Twin Brother.  Age 39.  Birthdate:  November 2, 1981
Address:  578 Montgomery Street, San Francisco California
Alias:  Master Lucius
Affiliation:  The Power of Positive Mechanics

Lucius Selig is a very powerful mage with the ability to project his consciousness into subdimensions and to add new worlds to the multiverse.  His method for this travel is a focused sonic meditation he learned from his mother Jean which allows him to send his mind into a "blank" universe. These universes were like clean sheets of paper and Lucius eventually learned how to write on them. Lucius has recently developed the ability to build new worlds within these spaces and to take other people with him.

He started a church: The Power of Positive Mechanics. Positive Mechanics began as a self-help group but as Lucius grew in power and ability it mutated into an influential and wealthy cult.

Next, Lucius built Portals Bermuda, an extra-dimensional health spa and resort for the spiritually aware. It is accessible only to the wealthiest of his followers, who traveled there through interdimensional wormholes originating from the Positive Mechanics headquarters in San Francisco.  Portals Bermuda is a cosmic abomination, cobbled together from five different subdimensions and its rickety structure is putting a significant strain on reality.  This poorly construct resort has already produced reality bending paradoxes.  Currently, Lucius' wealthiest followers sip margaritas on alien beaches and do yoga in the middle of prehistoric forests while the poorest worked as unpaid interns.

Biography:  As a boy Lucius was completely oblivious to the extra-ordinary pursuits of his parents. At the age of 11 he wandered into his father’s laboratory while Emerson was trying to resurrect Nimsesku, the family hamster. Lucius grabbed the pet at a crucial moment in the experiment and he was bathed in dangerous chaotic energy. The experiment brought the hamster “back from the dead” but it also caused Lucius' consciousness to separate from his body and travel to other dimensions. This ability was not a gift at first. Lucius could not control where and when he traveled. Without warning he would slip into a trance, his consciousness gone from this physical plane. Lucius did not understand what was happening to him or why he could no longer live a normal life. His father, wracked with guilt, could never bring himself to explain the experiment to his son. He pretended the experiment never happened and told Lucius his condition was the result of “blackouts.” When neurological therapy failed to cure Lucius his parents pulled him from school. Lucius was a shut-in until early adulthood.

It was then that he had his so-called awakening and learned to control his powers. In his bestselling book The Power of Positive Mechanics, Lucius claims that he traveled to a planet of pure crystal: Murok-Inoo. There, he met a sentient crystal who became his spirit guide. The crystal taught Lucius how to control his powers and how to create new worlds. Lucius made this experience the centerpiece of his religion. He preached a message of mystical self-reliance, arguing that everyone could be as powerful as he was if they focused their positive energies and rejected all “negative thought patterns.” Lucius used his powers for personal gain, experiencing enormous success characteristic of many charlatans. He impressed his followers by taking them on spiritual pilgrimages to other dimensions, but he never told them the true source of his power. He swindled fortunes from his clients, who all believed that Master Lucius got to where he was through positive thinking and not due to the effects of a magical ritual.
 
Known Associates:

Personal assistant and boyfriend, Christian Garcia.  Christina Garcia has shown signs that he is growing increasingly concerned about the actions of his cult-leader lover.

Murok-Inoo (Spiritual Guide): Lucius meditates and communes with Murok-Inoo, a sentient crystal who lives in outer space. Lucius named one of the locations in Portals Bermuda after his teacher. We do not know whether such an entity exists anywhere other than in Lucius' mind.


Threat Level:  Extremely High
None.  The situation has been dealt with.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 48):

Akari looked up at Robert with a genuine appreciation for the saving of IVAN's floorboards. "IVAN thanks you," she said. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text message to Liberation after turning off any ability to track or trace the call, and routing it through several secure locations as well as a bit of magick. "Hey L1B3R4710N, what's up?"

"Hiya!" came the reply

Of course, she didn't actually know Liberation. She felt like he was a guy, but she didn't know. Nor did she feel the need to try to find out. They were all hackers, a community. Much the same way that leading neurosurgeons of the world know each other or the top nuclear physicists were all acquaintances. So were the hackers of the world, and they ALL kept secrets. It was considered Taboo among the elite to hack each other. They all had hacked against each other here and there, but those hack battles...well that was all just business.

This was personal. "Hey, how much $$ did Bill and Georgia Hayes pay you?"

">.< Of course it was -you- to track me. Anyway, those two? For a couple of millionaires, they were pretty tight. Not enough."

"Well, they won't be that much longer. I'm opening an account in the Credit Suisse, here's the number 86573 95739 60019 482427. Putting some more in there for you. You can thank me later."

"LOL ok H3X4D3C1M4L. I appreciate. Hack ya next time."

She ended the text and hacked back into their bank and moved the remaining 2.5 million into a new Swiss bank account. Oh, she wasn't heartless, she left them 10 grand. It was enough to get them home to the states if they wanted, or to another cheaper hotel.

She toyed with the idea of giving them both criminal status with an order to expedite back to the US, and she had to decide which charity to donate this money too.

"Hey, Robert-kun, what charity do you want to donate that Wish Upon a Star money to?"

Reaching IVAN first she climbed into the driver's seat and immediately the interior lighting turned red. "This precipitous precipitation is coetaneously pestiferous and pernicious.”," IVAN said. "It was quite fortuitous that your colleague safeguarded my underbody urethane metatarsal stabilizers."

"Aliterate much?" Akari teased him but nodded in agreement, and IVAN continued his rant.

"Now what about my outside? What if it hails? Or worse, this is California, what if there is an earthquake? The odds of one occurring while we are there is 1 in 1--"

"Never tell me the odds." Akari interrupted. "And besides. Your 'outside' is enhanced carbon fiber and kevlar composite over a steel and titanium frame. Your windows are transparent reinforced aluminum polycarbonate, and your tires are self-sealing, synthetic nylon compressed polymer." Akari shut the door, waiting for the others, "A little hardened water isn't going to hurt you."

IVAN harumphed. "If you rode on the rack by the drone you wouldn't say that. In fact I--" He stopped speaking abruptly as the doors opened and the others started to get in.

"Everyone, I got a bunch of info about the Selig family and I think we should go to Portals Bermuda." She prints off a copy of all the info she found and hands it to the first one in.




OOC: Today: Akari rolled 9 successes using 10d10 with the World of Darkness 2nd ed, Specialised system with a target of 4, rerolling 10s with rolls of 10(+10,1),6,7,7,3,10(+6),7,4,10(+1),6.  Hacking. (I gave it a diff of 9 before mods seeing as its a swiss bank account, which became diff 4)
- Today: Akari rolled 3 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness 2nd ed, Specialised system with a target of 4, rerolling 10s with rolls of 5,4,5.  Arete.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

Motel Seaside and Sand

Bernard loads his luggage into the truck of IVAN while also bringing out and holstering his weapons (2x Glock G22 & 1x Sig P365) before sitting in the front seat next to Akari. Bernard takes a moment to admire IVAN as he ran a hand along the dashboard. "Aww man, ain't she a beaut? You built this girl, right? Man, what I would have done to have something like this back in LAPD when I got roped into a turf war."

"He." Bernard looked over to Akari. "IVAN is a he, Hathaway-san."

'Of course, derr" he thought to himself before he humored her. "Right, right, sorry about that, ol' boy." He gave the door handle a soft pat. "And please, Bernard is fine. Hopefully we'll be working together more after this." Bernard blinked when he heard the sounds of what seemed like a printer printing off sheets.

Akari leans over before producing a small stack of papers and hands it off to him as everyone takes their seats. "Everyone, I got a bunch of info about the Selig family and I think we should go to Portals Bermuda."

"Portals Bermuda?" Bernard goes through the papers before finding the info on said location. "In San Francisco? That is definitely a place of interest, but what do you think we'll find? ...There is also the matter of getting in, too. I can tell you, even some federal clearance, us getting a warrant to enter and search the place is gonna be pretty damn hard. In LA, we've hard more than one of these cults to deal with, and every time we come close to any of them, every one of their members slams down lawsuit after lawsuit, bogging down the entire D.O.J. systems. That stuff takes months to clear up, so you can imagine that they'll want to stay as far away from this as possible for however long they can. And if we want to buy our way in, well, don't know about you guys, but I sure as heck don't know any millionaires to get us in either."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

After stowing their luggage, Ashley and Xhiva took two of the seats in the back, careful not to spill anything.  Xhiva once again put on the noise cancelling headphones, pulled out his laptop, and got back to work.  Ashley listened quietly to the discussion, not contributing anything for now.

OCC:  Although I posted before most of the other PCs, I will assume that Akiri handed the documentation to a PC rather than to one of the two NPCs.