"Well that's a little better, at least." Sarah rubbered her temple and gave Tyler an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Tyler. I've been rude and a little dismissive. I'm just worried about everyone here." She shook her head and turned to the acolyte who had offered refreshments. "Some hot tea would be lovely, thank you."

She looked back between Doran and Tyler. "As far as the magic and the cards go: all I can say for sure is that it's not normal magic. Not the Tuatha or Asgardian sort, and certainly not the sort of thing the late Dr. Strange would dabble in. But that doesn't mean it's not still powerful or magical." Sarah clasped her hands together and let them rest in front of her. "Maybe later ye' could let me have a proper look? There's nothing a little bit of arcane scrutiny can't usually solve, given time."

Tyler looks back Sarah, "I understand and im still in the wow I can do this stage of this powers things. I'm sure that if I thought about the security side of all this id be just as worried about it." He looks a the acolyte offering refreshments after Sarah mentions it again, "Just Water please."

At the mentions of old magic he perks up further, "I would love to learn anything you can tell me. Tuatha and Asgardian magic are different? What makes them diffrent? Dr. Strange used a diffrent kind of magic then gods? Are the N..N..Ntr and the Olympians also able to use different magic?" Its clear that the how an why are as interesting to him as the actual fact of there being different magic.

OOC:Sorry for delay I spent all day yesterday traveling and just never got a chance to post.

Sarah takes her tea from one of the acolytes and sips it while she answers Tyler's questions. "Magic is a story we tell the universe. Hand motions an' ritual circles an' spoken words are the medium, but in the end they are all the same. The difference between magics of different practitioners is how the power is sourced." She takes another sip, then finds herself a seat on a nearby padded stool. "Mortal sorcerers like Dr. Strange draw it from the world around them and from other planes of existence. Asgardians, Tuatha, Olympians, other gods, demons, and angels draw their power from divine sources. Sometimes themselves, and sometimes their patrons." She points at Tyler's cards. "Artefacts can also be a source of power. But the distinction is whether you're drawing the power from the cards to manifest your own spells, or if you're just using the powers of the cards themselves." She smiles. "Maybe ye' can tell me more about these cards? And this 'planeswalker' person?"

Tyler was bouncing abit as she explained more about magic. Fanboy energy and just a look of awe about it all. When she asks about the cards he starts to explain again. Probably going into to much detail, "As far as I know they are just cards used in a adversarial trading card game where players build decks to challenge each other. The game was called Magic the Gathering. So this deck is just normal cards that were massed produced 50 years ago. The Planewalkers in the lore of the card game are a  powerful mages that had the power to cross between planes. As part of the fantasy aspect when you take up your deck you are a planeswalker. In the games lore, Teferi is a planeswalker and a Chronarch that travels the multiverse and eschews violence. He dies and is saved through time travel and then goes on to become a sort of peacekeeper and protector as well as a time wizard."

He pauses for a drink of water he thinks about what he said above bouncing the topic back to something that might be more practical, "Another major event recently. I was reading a Novel that Teferi was a major player in when he spoke to me. After the initial discussion my deck appeared in my hand warm to the touch as if either I or someone else had been holding it and placed it there. The exact words were 'Tyler Jensen, you have been chosen, You will help me heal this world.'" When he speaks the qoute he attemps to do a booming and intimidating voice like the words at the time. It sounds like a puppy trying to be a wolf rather then being at all intimidating.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Rolled a total of 3 on the Presence roll for that.

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Sarah nods, unphased by Tyler's imitation of Teferi's pronouncement, and ponders a moment while sipping her tea. She also wraps her shawl more tightly around her shoulders, warding-off a chill that Tyler himself couldn't feel.
"Well, there's all sorts of possibilities in the multiverse. An infinte number, true as ever. It's possible that in some reality your Teferi is a real person, and he came to you just like you said... and you are the chosen one." She cast a glance in Doran's direction. Obviously he would prefer that conclusion. She imagined that Tyler would as well.

"Or..." She set her tea down. "... it's possible that you manifested him yerself. Ye' could be a mutant with the power to manifest or summon things; you said you were read'n a book when your power activated? Maybe ye' just need a focus, like a card or a book. Meaning that Teferi is as real as that goblin." She spread her hands. "Only time will tell what the truth of it is. In the meantime, I think you should be excited! Ye' have been blessed, and this world certainly needs good people with the power to make real change."

"There was a weird aspect to the goblin. It could communicate Mentally with me..and the impression I got was that it was annoyed for being taken from its home. Like there was somewhere it would rather be than here. So I do not believe that the creature is created by whatever I'm doing. The fact is you are correct that the power could be internal or granted by an outside being" He smiles at her blessed comment. Considering back to the discussion of planning the next move. Sipping on the water, "Do you have any questions about the state of the world as I know it?"

Sarah looks toward Doran again before responding to Tyler.
"Doran has told me most of what he knows. I've been here a week or two. We've had our chats, but maybe you have a different perspective?" She looks up toward the ceiling while taking a few seconds to think, before once again locking eyes of Tyler. "The government of the city nearby... in your opinion, can it be salvaged? Or is the corruption too deep? I suppose I'm ask'n, if in time: will it all have to be torn down? Or is it possible to work with it?"

As Sarah locks eye contact he looks down and then back to her. He is trying to keep the eye contact but clearly isn't used to being focused on. Once he gets talking his eyes float away but he seems to get into the analysis, "It is a organization that works off of one person with personal authority that rewards those that do what he wants and punishes those that don't. He also rules by creating a class that needs him or the power he represents to keep there power. Every powerful lieutenant is controlled by making sure that he both needs the leader and gets what he wants out of serving that leader. My grandfather, wanted safety and security for his family and to keep being able to use computers. There are some that are in it for drugs, or other forms of pleasure. I would expect the organization as it is will have to be dismantled but its structure could be used as the basis for something new. If you destroy the structure without having something else in its place thousands will die." As he stops he looks back at her, "The only way the current system works is if you replace the leader with another and eventually that will end up with a bad leader."

"So, it's basically a feudal dictatorship by any-other-name." Sarah pondered the situation, recognizing that he was avoiding eye contact, but keeping eyes on him all the same. "Are you saying we should replace him, then? Depose him and put someone in his place who might be more agreeable in the short term?"

She finally looked away, this time to stare out a nearby window, still thinking. "... and what about the world beyond this city? Do we know who Fisk reports to, if anyone?"

"I suppose feudal dictatorship is an effective analogy. Though Feudalism itself is defined as by lands in fief. Though i might consider it more applicable as a totalitarian regime in the vein of the last 200 years. Feudal dictatorships existed from a monopoly on land ownership and the king has very little connection to other aspects. This dictatorship is more of one where all the reins of power run up to the leader. That said no one person can manage all the organization hence his trusted underlings could overthrow him if working together." He looks back to meet her eyes, thinking hard on the question about who Fisk reports to  He doesn't look away but its clear that he is looking at something other then her most likely memories in his own mind or internal arguments.

OOC:Sorry Sarah I somehow missed your response. I think i need a GM adjudication on what exactly I know.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
GM Rolled a 20 on either Investigation (well-informed) or an Expertise:Current politics whichever you feel fits better. If Expertise and Eidetic Memory applies its 25. 

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Sorry about the delay, folks. We are now back on track.

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[Private to Tyler Jensen: You know that after the big bang, the world was divided up amongst the supers that had the greatest impact on the fateful battle and were powerful enough to get their 'flags' in the sand and then subsequently defend it. While you are not privy to international politics, you have been able to find out that the 'United States' are now a group of 4 autonomous regions: To the west is 'hulk land', you are in the biggest habitable section which is owned by kingpin but divided amongst his lieutenants as you said, Next to that and covering the entire center of the country is 'no man's land' where monsters roam, further to the east is Doom's lair and next to that is the 'President's quarter' which is presided over by the red skull. This is essentially the smallest of the 4 as DC is where the nuke went off.]

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Tyler, please explain IC whatever you wish before the following happens:

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Doran had stepped aside and been having a side-conversation while the two heroes continued chatting. Suddenly he exclaims, "Is that really the time??" And will try to rush everyone to the meeting that was planned earlier.

In the meeting, the news of the missing acolyte Michael is made public. There is much fear and panic as this is spoken of, arguments break out as blame is flung around like an unwanted gift basket. The commotion begins to rise to a crescendo until Doran finally raises his hands, signaling for quiet.

"I am disappointed, my children. Disappointed not just because one of our sacred lambs is missing but because the rest of us seem to have forgotten our calling so quickly. Are we not here, now, all of us seekers? Are we not here, now, all of us blessed by the arrival of both our savior as well as the chosen one? Are we not here, now, and forevermore triumphant??"

There's a roar of approval at this. It is impressive how quickly Doran is able to guide the mood of his 'children'.

"Now. We need to form a search party. Who volunteers?" The crowd again grows silent.

Well... it was almost impressive.

Sarah keeps from visibly cringing at Doran's speech. One would think she'd have grown used to the sort of people inhabited by earth in the post-apocalypse, but the people here continued to surprise her. Doran was a good man, but he was also a fanatic and... well... a cult leader. Sarah briefly wondered how far his 'goodness' would extend if he suddenly had reason to doubt her, but she doubted that day would come anytime soon. Until then, all she could do was observe and do her best to keep her head on her shoulders.

"I volunteer." Sarah stepped forward, coming to a stop next to Doran. She released her illusion spell, revealing her archaic arms and armor, all intricately designed and fitted to her person. She was no Thor, but she was still in fantastic shape: toned and naturally beautiful, and even though her gear wasn't magical (yet), it had still been crafted by some of the most talented smiths in Tir Na Nog. They took pride in their work, no matter how mundane, and it showed.

Sarah drew her sword and raised it high, striking a righteous pose. "Proving ourselves to the world starts with being able to take care of our own! Michael may be in trouble, or he's already dead. Or worse. Either-way, we bring him home!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Thu 26 May 2022.

Tyler finally comes back and answers the final question about Fisk having a leader, "Fisk is one of the 3 leaders that claimed portions of what was once the United States. He claimed that it the has owned the largest habitable section, containing the dust bowl. The other areas are Hulk Lands, Doom Lair, and The President's quarter. I believe all the leaders of each area are independent but do sometimes work together." Tyler finishes the ideas and looks over at Doran when he explains. Jumping slightly from the break-in his focus.

As Doran does the explanation on what they need to do. He nods along to that idea, "Doran, I am happy to help but what was Acolyte Michael actually doing. Drawing attention to him with a large search party might be an issue. So searching smarter not harder could help."

As the glamour from Sarah's spell dissipates, revealing her regal armaments, there is a hush of awe that over takes the crowd. Suddenly, another hand goes up, "I volunteer!" it boasts, quickly followed by another hand echoing the same sentiment. On and on it goes now, a small ignition leading to a large wildfire.

Doran leans over towards Tyler during the din, a proud smile playing across his lips, "Michael was gathering supplies from the town. We have had another patrol search the dustbowl, including the two acolytes that escorted you and found nothing. We believe he must've been waylaid from his path."

With a gesture from Doran, silence falls again. He makes a grand show of bowing to the two on stage with him and turns towards the crowd to speak, "We thank you, Savior! Your heroism and inspiration surely know no bounds! But what the chosen one has said is true too! We've survived this long due, in no small part, to our relative anonymity!" When he says 'relative' he gives Tyler a sideways look, "We can not give away any more indication to the enemy by amassing in large numbers!"

Now, Doran turns to face the two Heroes, the whip of his robes adding a theatric exclamation point to his display, "What would you two suggest that we, the seekers of Eden, do?"

"That depends on where we think Michael is." Sarah turned toward Doran, and recast her illusion spell with a wave of her hand, once more making it appear as though she was wearing humble robes. "Before we can make any plans, we need to know more. If we think he's out in the wilderness or the more rural areas, then we can travel in small groups and avoid attention." She glanced toward Tyler. "... but if he's in the city proper, which is how it sounds, then tha' complicates things." She shook her head and turned back to Doran again. "So fer' me, priority one is finding out everything we can about where we're look'n."

Tyler considers for a bit. Trying to decide how best to make a move, "Well if it is in town the easiest method would be Sarah and me just go into town and see what we can find." Looks at Sarah as she transforms back into someone more normal looking, "Can you do that transformation thing on someone else or just yourself? Is the transformation always the same form or can you pretend to be someone?"

"It's a glamour, not a transformation, and it can be anything I imagine, within limits." She stared closely at Tyler for a moment, taking in his details, before waving a hand to cast the spell again. This time, she took on the appearance of a nearly identical twin of Tyler, though if one looked closely enough one could see the subtle differences in height and build. She looked over at Doran and repeated the spell again, making it look like there were three Tyler's on the stage. "It's not hard to maintain a few of these at a time." She said, noting that her voice had not been changed the spell. "But the greatest limits are volume and detail." She cast a variation of the spell, causing a fourth Tyler to appear next to the original one. Then a fifth.
"Independent ones can speak and react, but they still can't 'interact'." One of the 'clones' of Tyler said, while stuffing one hand in his pocket and waving the other through the real Tyler's shoulder. It passed through him as one would expect an illusion to.

Sarah flicked her wrist, and all of the illusions disappeared.
"Why? Did ye' have someth'n in mind?"

Tyler watches the illusions move around. A looks of awe and interest. The idea of being able to create illusions of people that are so real. It is a cool and useful ability, "Well, having a identity to interact with the political powers and an identity for when we decide to use powers would prevent attacks coming back at people we care about. If Fisk realizes I can use powers or you can we are either his peons or he will throw everything he has at destroying us and if he cant succeed alone I'm sure he will ask for help. So we need to keep the powers away from both this place and my identity."

He stops explaining the problem she probably already knows, " I think you and I should go to town to search. The Seekers of Eden search outside. We just need a good reason why I was brought here and why I am willing to help. I guess I could have been curious and managed to talk someone into showing me. I have an idea for the excuse for why Im helping..." Blushes a little bit, "We could use the idea that I'm trying to get with the pretty women with missing family. A trail thats 3 days cold is going to be tuff to follow without a start point. "

At the casting of glamour there is another outburst from the crowd. This time it is of awe and adoration. The people have not seen much 'magic' and it shows.

Doran looks at his form with a smile, clearly tickled to be part of Sarah's demonstration.

"This is a great idea if we are as known as you say, Chosen one." He says, raising his hands again to the crowd. "We will split up then into several groups. Seekers, you will divide and scour the mountains while our two God-sent will see what they can find in the Dustbowl."

"We have precious little information to arm you with, sadly." Doran says, turning back to the two heroes, "is there anything or anyone I can make available to you for this quest? I think it best to begin the search right away."

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
In your next post, please describe what your plan is for starting the search then i will close this scene and we will start the next one.

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Sarah pursed her lips as she gave Doran's request and Tyler's suggestion some thought. "Well, first thing is we need to know everything we can. The routs he might take. Transportation he was using. If Michael has friends or family in town. We'll also need a list of all the usual places where he would have gone fer' supplies. If ye' have other contacts in town we can trust, that'll be good to have too." She then turned to Tyler. "How long can you be away before people notice that yer' gone?" Then she motioned at his cards. "... and what do you bring to this, aside from who you know and yer' position? Is summoning beasties all you have in that deck, or is there more to it?"

As Sarah lists extra information he nods along. He considers how long he can be away, "Im not sure how long. Its already been noticed since we got stopped by a cop. If im seen by nightfall in town I think it will probably work out fine." As the discussion of his powers turns he pulls the deck out and pulls out each individual card and holds it up, "Assuming the deck works as the game; This card can summon fire to strike all enemies I am fighting. This card can Summon Lighting to strike at one opponent. This card will heal one enemy. This card summons a dragon, this card summons a single goblin, and this one summons multiple goblins. Personally, I'm also fairly well educated though its fairly magpie in effect."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Thu 02 June 2022.

Sarah is filled in on the information she asked for: She is given 2 routes, one coming and one going. Each of them leading through another mountain. She is told that he would've taken the same type of car that had picked up Tyler. Michael has no living family and all his friends live inside the commune, they have no idea where he could have gone. You receive a list composing of: 2 farmers, 1 artisan, and 1 general store that the commune does business with.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Just lmk if you two agree to search the town and where you would like to start and I'll start the next scene. If you want to talk more feel free. Both of you just say 'end scene' and answer the question when you are ready and I will end it.

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"Alright." Sarah put her hands on her hips as she considered what to do. It wasn't much to go on, and aside from the quick healing, it didn't sound like Tyler had much in the way of 'finding cultists' utility cards. Of course, she could attempt a divination ritual, but that could take hours. Something for later, perhaps? In case their initial search didn't turn-out?

"Here's what I think: we head into town in disguise, stopping at each of the businesses and following his routs along the mountains. With luck we can narrow-down the search area by figuring out who he visited, and who he didn't. We'll also keep a weather-eye out for his automobile." She shrugged. "A simple enough start. If that turns-up noth'n, then we can split up and try other avenues. Tyler can ask around when he gets back home, and I can try a divination spell." She looked at the older and younger man. "I don't think we should involve the local authorities unless we have no other choice. The quieter we keep all of this, the better... not to mention that we still don't know the circumstances. For all we know: he's in jail, or the so-called 'police' killed him outright. Wouldn't be too much of a shocker, all things considered." She raised an eyebrow. "Agreed?"

End Scene

"That should work. If we get stopped on the way into town are you going to handle talking us through so I dont have to play who I am again?" With that Tyler grabs what he needs to head back.

End Scene

Scene Ended! Good Job y'all! 5pp each is awarded. Please mark it on your character sheet if you don’t want to use them now.

We will begin next scenes after the weekend at the latest with all 4 players. If you wish to purchase upgrades, send me a PM with what you are using your points on.


Cheers!