It’s December 23rd – the adventure started off in two groups. The first group in Fort Worth at the night’s beginning, and the second group in Deep Ellum. Word on the street is that the Texas Rangers are in town to help DPD find out what’s behind a rash of unexplained missing person’s reports.
Fort Worth
Jaime had been hired by a lady to come to a séance along with Doña Esmeralda. Apparently Mrs. Carmila Johnson, a latina who married a white guy, was being haunted and she was willing to pay for a peaceful night’s sleep. She had, through her own connections, found The Purple House on Bell and from Belle Starr gained Jaime and Dona Esmeralda’s contact information. Jaime was for the creation of a spiritual ward if necessary, and Dona Esmeralda was to speak with the spirits… not knowing what she needed, Carmila hired both for the night.
The sun had just risen but it was still fairly cold this fine December day. Well, cold for December in Texas anyway. Meaning it was only in the upper 40s. Conor was standing under the noble boughs of a noble old tree in an undeveloped lot in Dallas on North Carroll Avenue. Here, in between San Jacinto and Ross, he was the lone pale white face surrounded by dark brown, he was also the only one who barely spoke any Spanish at all. Christmas was still a little over a week away and many of these men were looking to earn a little more money for their families. It was difficult. Many of them (possibly most) were in the country illegally and many didn’t speak a lick of English.
Conor was in the same situation in that he was also illegal and broke. However, he wasn’t so stupid as to not realize that his white skin and Irish brogue meant that he’d easily get a job. Many of his friends would spend the day trying to get into a work crew (usually working on some middle class white person’s suburban lawn) but instead come home empty handed. The ones that spoke some English had a better shot of attracting the attention of the-white-guys-in-the-pickup-trucks that had the jobs. Conor wanted to learn Spanish, they wanted to learn English, so Conor did what he could. He also just generally loved people and their stories.
Elena studies a figure through her scope. She’s not sure how many shots it will take, but she’s willing to use up all her ammo to take care of this one. It’s been several weeks since the rally, and she’s been tailing him this whole time, keeping her distance and watching him from the shadows or from her really nice, high powered scope. The scope isn’t always attached to her weapon. It’s too good, too useful to not carry with her at all times, and it’s been really handy these past few weeks. Tonight, though, the scope is attached to the Winchester 70 she picked up at the gun show.
She has timed her speed from her current spot in the rooftop of the main house of the compound to the porch of Big Fish’s house. The big house has a perfect roof for this kind of reconnaissance. Its roof is gabled, with several dormer windows offering perfect camouflage and inconsistencies of level that cast shadows and trick the eye. From this roof, she has a clear view of the whole fenced area, with blind spots caused primarily by a few thicker bushes and some of the outbuildings.
Big Fish is talking to Boss, and she wonders idly what they’re talking about. Someday, she’s going to have to learn to read lips. Or get some of that awesome eavesdropping gear that the Feds use. That could be fun.
It was quiet in the upper room of Atwater’s Speakeasy. Dallas’s only “Accorded Neutral Ground” featured a second floor. Here, discussions could take place in peace. It was winter, cool, and the Metroplex was enduring a three day drizzling rain.
There were only a couple of patrons who had braved the weather and roads. After recent events, a few of the individuals sitting in the quiet in front of an early December hearth fire just wanted to relax with a few drinks and maybe listen to a little music. To that end, Conor was quietly picking at his guitar – a half empty Guinness within arm’s reach. He had been talking with friends about various topics – none of any importance in the grand scheme of things.
“Well I suppose if that’s your only frame of reference, then sure. Disney is fine. Though they lack the soul of the original tales I’m thinking,” Conor’s thick Galway brogue was especially pronounced.
“Ok then. I’ll bite. Show me. You’re a bard of the Fae, what was it like in the age of heroes?” The speaker was Matthew Consprite, a man with which Conor shared much recent history and danger.
“Conor you must! Please?! I’ve never seen you perform anything but music!” Spoke a voluptuous, dusky-skinned woman with thick curly black hair of Greek origin. She was Conor’s girlfriend, a supernatural herself and emissary of the Muses.
The scene before us was horrifying. Well over a dozen young women – all unconscious and hooked up to IVs – were laid in a circle on the floor, surrounding the object that started us down this path – the Shadesphere. It didn’t look very impressive, but swirls of violent red energy covered most of the object’s surface, with only a few dark spots remaining.
Just outside the circle, a …well, I think it was a woman, but she was in such bad shape it was hard to tell, was in the midst of a ritual incantation, arms outstretched, and eyes rolled back in her head. What little hair she had left was clustered small clumps on her head, and sores covered most of the exposed skin that we could see. Not only was it clear that this was the demon Malzen’s host, but it was clear that removing the possessing demon would not save her from death – but could perhaps save her soul. While I noted that Sarah Tyler (a practitioner in her own right) and the tough from the bike show (possessing some supernatural abilities) were with the demon, my focus was solely on the foul creature. I would have to trust that my allies could deal with the others, just as they were trusting me – and my God – to deal with the demon.
Ren carefully placed the wrapped sphere at her feet in the car and looked at me, “So why would you agree to take me to Uncle’s if you can’t stand the White Council so much?”
A dark look entered my eyes as I began my rant, “First off, the White Council is the one who has a problem with me. Every encounter I have ever had with the Council they have reminded me that I am not a member of their club; that I have no pedigree. I was taught by no master and they are just waiting for me to screw up. The one time a Warden came to town I had to risk my life and take on a cult just to prove I was innocent. All that aside I want to make sure this artifact is put in their hands and never sees the light of day again.”.
I gave her one of my mischievous smiles, “Plus I want to see your Uncle’s face when I walk in his store with this.”
Ren was smiling when she responded, “So you have a big chip on your shoulder, and you want to get a rise out of my Uncle ‘cause he does fit in with the White Council. I understand it is annoying; just don’t show them that you can be useful otherwise they will want you then…”
I carefully placed the wrapped sphere at my feet in the car and looked at over at Jamie, “So why would you agree to take me to Uncle’s if you can’t stand the White Council so much?”
A dark look entered Jamie’s eyes as he began to rant, “First off, the White Council is the one who has a problem with me. Every encounter I have ever had with the Council they have reminded me that I am not a member of their club; that I have no pedigree. I was taught by no master and they are just waiting for me to screw up. The one time a Warden came to town I had to risk my life and take on a cult just to prove I was innocent. All that aside I want to make sure this artifact is put in their hands and never sees the light of day again.”
Jamie then gave me a mischievous smile, “Plus I want to see your Uncle’s face when I walk in his store with this.”
I responded, “So you have a big chip on your shoulder, and you want to get a rise out of my Uncle ‘cause he does fit in with the White Council. I understand it is annoying; just don’t show them that you can be useful otherwise they will want you then…” then I lost my smile “trust me”.
This is another modified transcript, thus it will be quite, quite long. Again, forgive grammar, etc. I’m not a professional writer, heh. ~Jaelie
After a nice, relaxing time at the pub and enjoying small talk and a drink, Elena and Matthew arrive at Jaime’s house on Saturday evening. Shortly after they arrive, Ren and Jaime come back down the ornate, cast iron circular staircase. Elena assumes that they’ve finished whatever it is that people do in attics.
Jaime grimaces, and then explains what he discovered. “So, Malzen is a demon of cancer. They can sometimes inflict cancer by touch. So don’t touch it if you can avoid it.” He pauses and thinks a moment, then adds, “Some demon tricks: they’re stronger, faster, and tougher than regular humans. Demons come to the world in two ways. They possess someone or build themselves a body. Cancer demons always possess.”
Everyone is silent. “So, who wants a glass of whiskey?”
After a night of preparation, the heroes set out to assault the lair of a demon of the Nevernever (a cancer demon no less). The creature is nearly finished with a grand thaumaturgical ritual that will unlock the Shadesphere – an artifact of ancient and terrible power. Everything from the past week all comes down to this simple Sunday morning.
So, after a pancake breakfast that Jaime cooked; Elena and Conor both set out to provide recon and intel on the headquarters of the Steel Knight Motorcycle Club in Grapevine. Elena recons the physical world, Conor checks out the Nevernever. The backyard garage facility is a nightmare of wards and dark energy.
Conor assists the heroes through the Nevernever and into the house. Jaime, Elena, Matthew and Ren come along, ready for battle. While preparing to remove the sentry from the situation, they instead … well … have a chat. Conor and Matthew convinces the guys in the house that maybe now would be a good time to go and grab some sodas or something from the nearest convenience store… or maybe go to church. It is Sunday after all. They leave in a cloud of dust and exhaust… eager to get away from this house of wierd energy and “bad stuff.”
It’s December 23rd – the adventure started off in two groups. The first group in Fort Worth at the night’s beginning, and the second group in Deep Ellum. Word on the street is that the Texas Rangers are in town to help 
I carefully placed the wrapped sphere at my feet in the car and looked at over at 
After a night of preparation, the heroes set out to assault the lair of a demon of the Nevernever (a cancer demon no less). The creature is nearly finished with a grand thaumaturgical ritual that will unlock the Shadesphere – an artifact of ancient and terrible power. Everything from the past week all comes down to this simple Sunday morning. 
