NMYF: House of serpents

[ReubanBrightwood]

Preparations made the uber picks Aurora up a few blocks from the circle and drops her off nearby the the Sepeanterium a moderately sized warehouse out in the northeast of Sacramento boasting signs and sales for reptiles and their maintience. The car park is reasonably sized and half empty, a slow trickle of customers come and go from the store clearer few enough that a store of that size can't be particular bust at the moment.

It is a better candidate then most that her would be assassin got his venom or the creature from which it comes here, would he be present? Well that was the risk. What certainty was inside was enough venom to drop a portion of the city's population. All be it in animal form.

In the carpark A blonde woman with heavy goth makeup make up, accessories and a black band t-shirt is putting a carboard box containing some form reptile into the boot of her mini cooper along with a glass tank and heating lamp having clearly just brought herself a new pet.

Orianna Aurora

[Aurora]

Stepping out of the car, thanking her driver, she positions herself a reasonable distance from the store. Taking her cell out, she sends a quick text, seeing if someone was free for some backup.

Once the text was sent, she kept her phone out, glancing at it, like she was waiting for a call or something. Because in a way, she was. But in another way, it was an excuse not to go into the business. Who walks around a store on the phone? It was rude.

Until she gets a reply…or doesn’t, she would be content holding her phone and looking around.
Outside.

Where there wasn’t poison just waiting to be shot at her. Again.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-28 15:10:08	Aurora rolls 6 to Checking out area(Wits+Comp) (10 Again)	6, 1, 10, 2, 9, 3, 5	2 successes

Stats

Health:
Mana:
WP:
Armor 5
Defense 3

Vulgar 0
Active Spells: 3/3
Personal Spells: 3/8

[5] Pulse of the Living World (Mage Sight)
[5] Organic Resilience (Armor 5)

[2] Suppress Aura (2)

[Asclepius]

Asclepius attempted to arrive in a more discreet fashion, as his fellow Thyrsus Councilor requested. This meant that his music was off for once, his clothes he kept plain and simple, black T-shirt and jeans with his usual shoes. This was to not give any identifiers with his clothing choice, he was not fully sure what Aurora meant by 'Little fanfare' but he hoped he has sufficiently done so.

He stepped out of his car once parked and made his way over to her, his combat Knife attached to his belt but did not bring his bag. He was not fully sure of what the occasion was.

He spotted Aurora standing and waiting, assuming she was waiting for him, and went to greet her subtly. “Hey, how you doing, you okay?”

Gear

Smartphone (in pocket)
Cash (in pocket)
Car keys (in pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Combat knife (dedicated tool attached at belt)
Wedding ring (worn)

Stats

Health: 7
Mana: 7
Defense: 2
Speed: 9
Initiative: 5
Willpower: 3/3 (usable)
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 0/2
Active spells: 0/4
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Aurora is on the look out senses sharp and awareness high. After what had happened eelier that day who wouldn't be she can say confidently no one is looking at her funny, no one seems to be stalking her or more importantly aiming a gun dart or otherwise at her. She is beautiful and famous so of course she is noticed but its more excited whispers, a little gushing a the odd double look followed by a hushed whisper to a friend. None of the sleepers outside or around the store seem to have or be acting with ill intent. Of course that doesn't mean any car that drives past won't try a drive by shooting.

One such car carries her fellow mage as a casual Asclepius makes his way into the parking lot, gets himself sorted and leaves his vehicle to approach her.

[Aurora]

There was a sense of comfort when she saw Asclepius approach, he was familiar, and he could help.

And as far as she knew, didn’t want to shot her up with fucking deadly snake venom. So bonus.

Deep breath taken, “Hey, thanks for coming! I’ve been better.” Reaching into her bag, she takes out the notebook and realizes her notes might not makes sense. So she writes down a couple quick things as she talks, “Had a run at a local park earlier, never had a run like that before. So I headed to the office to collect my thoughts and do some investigating. That lead me here, and I realized I probably shouldn’t be doing this alone.” Cause, yah. Handing over the notebook, it would say shot with dart gun, have the dart, dart contains deadly snake venom. Also, have video if you want to see it.

“Saw this place online as one that carried the type of snake I learned about, so figured it might be worth looking into. Snakes are not really my thing, but, I’m not sure where else to look you know?” maybe he had a better idea?

Stats

Health:
Mana:
WP:
Armor 5
Defense 3

Vulgar 0
Active Spells: 3/3
Personal Spells: 3/8

[5] Pulse of the Living World (Mage Sight)
[5] Organic Resilience (Armor 5)

[2] Suppress Aura (2)

[Asclepius]

His Smile that started the greeting slowly drops as Aurora speaks. Oh christ, what is happening right now, did the enemies of the mages all decide to hit at once? Ok baby steps. Showing concern as he looks to the note pad and then gains his composure once he finished reading.

"Probably a wise choice, and I am happy to lend a hand. I shall assume you wish to take the lead on this, and yes looking into the snake at the shop is the best plan. It would definitely be my first step. Maybe we can find out if they sell a lot of them or if they are unique purchases.” if not of course encountering the assassin themselves. He types onto his phone and flashes the message to Aurora discreetly as he can on the street for her to read before they head inside. It reads: “Would you like me to refer you to your usual name or use a made up name like Jane?”

Allowing time for her to respond and he keeps an eye out for anyone that is giving them long unbroken looks and stares.

1 success for looking around for people staring

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-11-01 19:45:12	Asclepius rolls 5 to Perception (Wits 2 + Comp 3) (10 Again)	7, 5, 9, 4, 6	1 success

Never meet your fans:

Gear

Smartphone (in pocket)
Cash (in pocket)
Car keys (in pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Combat knife (dedicated tool attached at belt)
Wedding ring (worn)

Stats

Health: 7
Mana: 7
Defense: 2
Speed: 9
Initiative: 5
Willpower: 3/3 (usable)
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 0/2
Active spells: 0/4
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

The lady putting her new pet in the car finishes up and pulls away across the course of heir conversation. A few others enter and leave the store. A chill breeze blows foretelling the onset of winter, all the world none the wise for the risks, the battles in the shadows that awakened playout around them, reality itself the constant wager. Had this store been dragged unknowingly into those battles? Was it more sinisterly a factor providing their foes knowingly with weapons to use against them? from where would the next attack come and how could they get ahead of it? What answers would they find within?

Even as the currents of the awakened struggle flow unseen around them the mages calmly and discreetly transfer the necessary information across to each other in good order.

[Aurora]

She expected the smile to drop, this wasn’t going to be a fun time. Shit got real; deadly poison was on the table. And they were about to go into a place that was fucking giving it away.

“Well, it’s kinda just been me up until now. From the park, to headquarters to here. I’m just glad to have someone else around.” She did sound very grateful. “I can show you the research I did later if you want, it’s all pretty basic, this is a new topic for me.” She worked with what she had, covered some ground and hoped for the best. The best being not dying. “Oh, you’re going to love this,” a nod towards the building, “they give the babies away, yeah, seriously, on their website.” Figure that one out. Looking at the cell, she types one on her own, “Madison, I can’t get away with anything else.” She could try, sure. But it was a hard sell. “You?” always good to check.

Stats

Health:
Mana:
WP:
Armor 5
Defense 3

Vulgar 0
Active Spells: 3/3
Personal Spells: 3/8

[5] Pulse of the Living World (Mage Sight)
[5] Organic Resilience (Armor 5)

[2] Suppress Aura (2)

[Asclepius]

He knew she did not call him here for fussing or Sympathy, but how can you not feel for someone having to deal with an assassination like this, especially when such awful methods are used. “I am sorry to hear you have had to deal with this alone until now. True to my word I am here to help you and you won't have to carry this burden by yourself now.” She has already done research into this before consulting others? Maybe this was not the first time for this but man, I cant imagine putting something that aside so quickly. “I would be happy to take a look at the research once we get to somewhere you feel comfortable in explaining to me.” Gave? Like Free? “Like a promotion? Or just 'hey we have some snakes for the pick up? Sounds very irresponsible.” He took a look at her phone and responded once again with a typed message on his phone. “Charles is fine.” He looked up, outstretched a hand towards the shop in question and gave a smile. “Shall we begin?”

Gear

Smartphone (in pocket)
Cash (in pocket)
Car keys (in pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Combat knife (dedicated tool attached at belt)
Wedding ring (worn)

Stats

Health: 7
Mana: 7
Defense: 2
Speed: 9
Initiative: 5
Willpower: 3/3 (usable)
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 0/2
Active spells: 0/4
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

The peace remains unbroken, no crack of a gunshot, no sting of a needle piercing flesh no looming shadows or untoward figures. But when anyone of the mundane population can could be more then they seem, hiding their malice like a mass of coiled serpents just waiting for the opportunity to strike it was always better to be informed. Both mages know the dangers that haunt their awakened lives and as the old saying goes it is not paranoia when there is something out to get you.