Evil's Return Chapter 6: Road Rage

[Toastburner B]

It didn’t take long for the clean up after the battle. The medics had arrived on the scene shortly after the surviving shadow creatures had vanished. Those with injuries were treated at the Manor…one of the old ballrooms had been recently converted into a clinic after the attacks had started in earnest.

In the hours after the attack, Duncan had shut himself in his library once more, this time attempting to figure out what the monsters that had attacked him where. At first, he thought it would be easy…after all, shadow demons were a common theme in mythology. However, as he tracked down the information, it became clear to him that these were no regular type of shadow demon. Another hour of tracking down cross references and footnotes lead him to a part of the library he had rarely visited. It was here, in an old, fragile book that looked like it hadn’t been opened since it was moved to the Americas, that Duncan found his answer.

And he didn’t believe it.

He left the library, unsurprised to find Jenkins at the door. “I’m going out for a bit,” Duncan told the butler. “I need a drink…and some information. Give Nat a message for me…”

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A few minutes after getting Duncan’s message, Nathaniel was in his room, on the phone. “Yes, I need to speak to Farsight…I mean, Mariann Concorde. Yes, I know, but this is very important. Look, desk jockey, what an authorization code? Zulu tango red six alpha green delta omega. Is that a high enough code? Thank you.”

Nathaniel waited impatiently on the phone until the old hunter answered. “Hello?”

“How long have you known something like this was hunting her, Farsight?”

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“Ah…Mr. McCragge. I was about to contact you.” Nevar Huggins said as Duncan walked into the Observatory Lounge. The words were enough to stop Duncan in his tracks. As far as he knew, the more-than-human barkeep had never stepped foot out of the building, let alone try to contact someone on the outside.

“Then it is just as well that I came, Nevar. I need information.”

The barkeep looked at Duncan with his black-irised eyes. “Not here, Mr. McCragge me. Follow me to my office.”

Nevar lead Duncan to the back room. The office was small, but decorated in objects from many historical eras. A collection of large, leather-bound books were on the shelf. Nevar gestured for Duncan to have a seat, and he took one for himself.

“If you’re here, then you’ve already guessed what is afoot,” the bar tender said, dropping for the first time that Duncan could remember the extreme politeness he always had. “And I am afraid I cannot give you anything put confirmation of your worst fears…”

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“A Fallen?” Nathaniel whispered. He had known what Mariann would say, but to have it confirmed shook him to his core.

“Yes,” Mariann repeat on the phone. “I’ve had the visions concerning it for months now…but I didn’t have any other confirmation until now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, Nat, but this was something I had to make sure of before it got out. There hasn’t been a being of this power on the Earth for over 700 years. I don’t know why it was cast down, or how it kept it’s powers fully intact, but it seems to believe that Laurella is it’s key to reclaiming it’s exhalation…”

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Duncan thanked Nevar for the information, and left the bar. It took a supreme effort to keep himself from shaking as he returned to the car. He pulled out his cellphone. “Jenkins, it’s Duncan. Gather the Protectors at the Manor, and tell them to pack up. See if you can’t track down the twins and the thief…Task was his name, I believe. Contact Caleb Balthazar as well, this will concern him, too. And keep the two hunters that were tracking the shadows there, they’ll want to hear this.”

((OOC: Okay…just a short interlude before I post the briefing for this chapter. Just get to McCragge Manor however you can. Jenkins will be contacting you, and will be suggesting that you pack enough things for a prolonged trip.

THIS WILL ALSO SERVE AS A ROLL CALL TO SEE WHO IS STILL PLAYING AND WHO IS NOT! Just post a little blurb saying that your character is there, or PM me or post in the discussion thread if you are still playing. I just want to know who is still hanging around, so that I know who I need to prepare surprises for. Thanks for sticking with this.))

[PyrosNine]

Well, this sucked. Not only did the thing die before anything worth while could be gleamed from it, but soon after they'd off'd the guy some suits came over asking for the Thief and Ninjas trio.

The elders were aware that there was some military group keeping tabs on the two Ninjas, but they asked for Task by name and wondered if Task's unofficial status had been compromised.

Task was given normal clothes that were designed to make him look perfectly harmless. Task was to lead those present at the McCragge manor to assume that he was merely a rich adopted heir to some dead rich guy, which assuming Task could pull off the fooling, may end up true in the long run. Well, if Batman could do it, surely Task could two.

Task did not know if Trish and Troy would come though. They were ninjas after all, and would make their own decisions.

Task got in with his personal driver in a black SUV and took a ride to the Mother's manor. He hoped it was as good as the one he'd been living in for some time....

[mauve]

Trish was disappointed that the smelly thing had died before she had a chance to throw even one measly little rock at it. Throwing rocks was the best part!

But no matter. She, her brother, and the theify kid had been summoned by Jenkins to La Casa De La Madre De... um... el Hell. And THIS time, she was going to bring her weapons, dammit!!

"Bah," grumbled Trish, restocking her reserves of darts and origami. "Why can't WE get a personal driver like Task's? Well, I mean aside from the fact that we're poor and we don't live in a mansion and we're ninjas." She shoved her black mask into a pocket on her pants. You never know when a ninja mask will come in handy.

"Well, we'd better get going before they think we got killed along the way. As fun as faking our own deaths may be." She left the Trish n' Troy Residence and headed towards McCraegge Manor.

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick spent quite a long time unconscious. He saw the controller being finished off. He remembered walking toward the manor, making some snide comment about it being too easy. He did remember cursing Shori as he fell. That was the last he remembered. He slept well, dreaming of a quiet sunny day, relaxing on the hillside.

He bolted awake, looking around franticly, reaching for his knife, which he did not find. Where is my knife? Where am I? What the hell happened? Why the hell am I so sore? And why is there incredible pain where my lungs are supposed to be?

He immediately noticed the bouquet of flowers, Lilacs. Rick fell back into the bed in his bed, relieved, and annoyed, re-annoyed if you will. Better late then never, eh, Shori? He coughed to himself, grabbing the bouquet. He searched through it, finding a tiny note.

You lived, Congratulations. Present in one of your flowers. Briefing on your palm-top.

Rick rolled over to the side of the bed, finding his bag and his gear, all of it. What the…? He dragged out his PDA, and entered his password.

You have been moved out of your apartment. The area has become too hot due to your rescue. All of your gear has been gathered and delivered to the manor. We will consider setting you up elsewhere should it be required. Take the pill, it’ll help you. You’ll need it too, your new mission begins soon. Try not to die, I hate paperwork.

Rick fell back into the bed, took the pill and waited for his pain to go away. I hate just lying here… where is here? As he stared at the ceiling he began to piece together the events, and realized he must be inside the manor somewhere. It even smells like the manor. As he contemplated his next step, the medicine took effect, causing him to once again lose consciousness.

[Demetrius]

In the aftermath of the attacks Harm was driven back to the Manor by an ambulance, he had several broken ribs a fractured shoulderblade and a fairly damaged mind (the after effects of using his gauntlets). The medical team amnaged to patch him up, but he would need a good amount of rest or some serious healing to do more than move in a wheelchair for a couple weeks.

[Sir Pinkleton]

((Sorry if I'm god-modding, but Zack is supposed to be unconscious anyway, right?))

Jacob was brought to the Manor by the same ambulance that carried Zack. He also traveled with Zack to the make-shift clinic to get patched up a little. The adrenaline from the action of before was wearing off, and Jacob was beginning to feel the pain from the wound on his back; he also didn't realize the amount of blood loss he was subject to, but both problems were fixed quickly enough at the clinic. After getting the proper bandages and minor pain-relieving drugs, Jacob was approached by a man in a black suit who told him to pack up and await further orders. Groaning a little, Jacob got up from the medical bed, thanked the man, and made his way to his room.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella's car pulled into the garage next to the manor. Stacey wasn't with her. She wanted to check up on the others, but since they might all be leaving, Laurella would do what she could, and she could cook one hell of a breakfast.
"Please let there have been no casualties," Laurella worried as the smell of the best part of waking up wafted through the ventilation system.

[Incendius]

Michael sat fluttering in between consciousness and unciosness as he waited in the manor for the senior protectors to let loose the revelation of, what exactly was happening now. Michael's face was now a pale pasty white, paler then normal, due to a large lack of blood. On his right arm was, yet another medical apparatus, this time large wrappings. He also had a blood IV drip set up for him, to help him replenish what he lost in the fight. He sat silently in one of the old, oak chairs, contemplating the days events, and many new things,

[Krylo]

After the shadow had fled, Jimmy leaned against a nearby wall and lit up a cigarette, calming his nerves a bit, before he was found, thanks to his ear-piece, and brought back to the compound and the makeshift clinic. His wounds were bad, but not serious, and should be mostly healed relatively quickly thanks to the help of a bit of healing magic and some stitches.

Jimmy had always been a quick healer, anyway.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

"Smells good." Alicia arrived just in time to sniff the delicious flavours that wafted across the room to her nose. She stood carefully in the doorway, her right arm now bandaged neatly and tucked in a sling.

Alicia Mai nodded a polite greeting to Laurella.
"My name's Alicia. The Society sent me to track those shadow creatures. The rest are all in the makeshift med ward getting patched up."

As she spoke, the Hunter extended her left hand to shake.