Hope is for the Faint at Heart

[Star]

The bike puttered up to the theater with the sound of a cat in heat being cut in half with a chainsaw.

Granted the torn and scraped fairings knocked a little shine off the image but rolling around on motorcycle in a tuxedo is still baller. Tuxedo? Someone's been auditioning for magic shows again.

"ay muh"

Gloved hands pulled the helmet off. Cry TREsemme and let loose the mops of war.

"Hey man. You got something that, like, needs finding? I can help. I'm super good at making things disappear."

Because logic, yo.

[Truce]

Equipment: Mid-size car, First-Aid Kit (basic), Magical Tool, Smart Phone, Crime-Scene Kit, Body Bag, Ranged Stun Gun

Truce had little information to go on when he heard about the Sentinel's call for assistance. But the Necromancer already had business with July and he figured he would lend his aid while delivering his report on the Banisher encounter with Temoins du Sud.

With his report typed up and squeezed between a manilla folder, Truce drives his Chevy Impala over to the theater. He parks and sees the presence of a motorcycle with a familiar individual mounted upon it.

Folder in hand, Truce walks over to where he and July stand.

"Good evening," he says pleasantly in his soft voice that nearly gets drown out by the sputtering of Star's engine. "I heard about your need for assistance, July. Oh, and I've come to delivery this report to you as well," he adds, presenting the folder to him.

Contents of Report

April, 2015: Sanctum of Temoins du Sud

Subject "Rabbit" approached members of Temoins du Sud, then Einstein, Crowley, and myself, regarding rumors of a valuable occult manuscript. Rabbit was identified as a Sleepwalker.

Research revealed that Rabbit, a freelance treasure-hunter, had connections within Religious and Academic circles. Her goal was to acquire this manuscript, "The Deathless", which had a reputation for its subject matter on Immortality. The Deathless was being held at the Sacramento University Library and was guarded by a Ghost according to Rabbit.

October, 2015: Sacramento University Library

Rabbit provided entry into the library front entrance after-hours for Temoins du Sud. While investigating, an unseen presence was sensed and a strange gem found built into the moulding. Further investigation of the gem provoked the Ghost's manifestation. I managed to subdue the Ghost long enough for a secret entrance to be discovered.

The entrance led Temoins du Sud to a hidden stacks, possibly a Sanctum within the library ceiling. There we discovered one of the Ghost's anchors which we destroyed. The Deathless was discovered among the shelves and we descended to the library proper.

Waiting for us were four Banishers who confessed to claim the secret library as their territory and accused Temoins du Sud of "defiling" their work. Rabbit was captured and promptly killed by the man in janitorial garb. Using counterspells we were unable to perform workings and we sustained injuries before the Banishers made their escape.

April, 2016: Bismarck Hotel

With the assistance of Avis and Star, these likenesses were fashioned and enclosed for the purpose of identification. These subjects should be considered armed and dangerous and likely possess an Adept practitioner of the Death Arcanum.

Photo Attachment

[Avis]

What was the difference between a manhunt and a missing persons case?

Intent.

Both were supposed to discover the location of someone and then bring them back to where they were 'supposed' to belong, but the intent of that thought behind belonging that was most important. For the subject of a manhunt, society had decided that they belonged somewhere no matter what they willed: they belonged in a state of harm and confinement. For a missing person, it was assumed that something outside of society had done that exact same thing, and the intent of the search was to rescue the subject from that harm and confinement.

Obvious, to most people, but fascinating to Avis for the fact that that simple intent, either to harm or to help, was all that separated those activities and those who performed them. Particularly when it came to July, a manhunter whose intent had now been changed. She would have to ask him sometime exactly what inspired him to change that intent, but now obviously wasn't the time to ask. Particularly around another Cabal.

"Hey Truce," Avis offered in greeting as she approached, dressed in simple cargo pants, tanktop, and a hoodie tied around her waste. The tennis shoes were nothing new. Besides, what was really of note was the ring, the belt, and the phone sitting in her pocket. Not that the ring buzzed with the same magic as the other two, but both Truce and Star new what it really was. Not that Avis knew that Truce knew, but he knew.

"I'm ready whenever y'all are," she added, transferring her gaze to the two members of her Cabal.

Equipment: Lockpicking kit and stuff in siggy.
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[linkrulesx10]

Equipment: Tiny Shitbox car, First Aid Kit, Collapsed Survival Bow with 6 arrows, Swiss Army Knife, Magical Tool, Phone, Torch, Dog Treats, Knife, basic wilderness survival supplies.

Flidais and Puppy arrived in high spirits, well as high as they can be considering the nature of the request, although lacking in critical details of the missing person Flidais tried to be as well prepared as possible, it showed as first aid kits, survival equipment and a considerable pouch of jerky which she was gnawing on as she approached. A dead flower could be seen jutting out of her hair but otherwise there was nothing cosmetic about her appearance.

"Hello. Biltong anyone?" She offers the pouch to all before giving a piece to Puppy and tucking it away.

"If it matters, Puppy is trained to discriminate scents, specifically she is a trailing type. She's not bad for a girl." Flidais thought July should know, if he wants her help finding someone, she should let him know what she can do.

  Cast at Home

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-04-26 09:08:03		Flidais Life Sight rolls 7 to Life + Gno + HS -2 Adv. Duration (Cloaked, 1 mana) (10 Again)		5, 3, 8, 7, 2, 2, 5		1 success
2016-04-26 09:06:43		Flidais (+Puppy) Life Armor rolls 7 to Life + Gno + HS -2 Target (1 mana duration, paid by hallow 1 mana Cloaked) (10 Again)		4, 10, 4, 1, 9, 5, 3, 1		2 successes

[Star]

"Biltong? Are you into South African meat?"

Lips pursed into a Clearly Not Happy expression at the Dog inside the theatre. It had taken months to stop finding cat hair. A few kicks that seemed more enthusiastic than necessary got the bike's kickstand out and the vehicle upright. Nobody's thinking about kicking dogs, yo.

"Ummm. I mean. Food. Like, you know. South African food with, uh, meat. Not that, you know, I'm judging. If the answer is 'yes' to the other thing. Just that isn't what..."

The angel chose to enter the theater rather than continue wherever that was going. One of the dangling sleeves of Avis' hoodie got an affectionate tug. No need to get all Pee Dee Ay. The helmet, backpack and tuxedo jacket were deposited on the counter-top that ran the length of the kitchen/dining room with the casualness of someone who lived there; dropped off, without looking.

"Did you dee vee ar it?" Might as well get the Post-Cog Question out of the way. "I mean, it's cool if you didn't. You said you were busy. Just asking. And you said thirty-eight? That's a lot. Do we have a map? I mean, if they were all snatches like the first one, it doesn't sound like the car got moved. A map could, you know. Show a pattern."

Because movie-style triangulation.

[Truce]

Where Star is his supportive wife is not far behind it seems. Truce nods respectfully to the Mastigos Councilor. "Good evening, Avis," he says politely to her as he follows after July.

Flidais's arrival is a surprise to Truce too since the Cabalmates had not spoken to each other about July's call for aid. 'Puppy', as she is so oddly named, is also an unexpected addition. Though he cannot fault the use of canines for tracking purposes.

He greets her with a smile.

When July shares the reason of their summons, Truce listens carefully. The rampant abductions among the Sleepers is certainly a concern. Though Truce can't help but wonder why it should be a job for Magi to tend to what may be a mundane problem. And yet he curses himself for such selfishness in the same thought. If it were to benefit the greater good he would of course lend his assistance.

"I've worked on such investigations before, though mostly indirectly with my forensic psychology background. And if you do need someone to view the events, I am versed in that particular working. I don't suppose you acquired anything personal of Miss Brooks from her mother that would assist us?"

Even a scent would be of use if they were to make use of Puppy's sense of smell.

[Avis]

"If 38 people got kidnapped, there's gotta be some sympathy lying around somewhere," Avis replied after some time, her thoughts partially distracted by the walking flea bag sitting on her dining room floor.

And it's name...ugh! It made her queasy just thinking about it. Had it been named by a fifth grader?

Thank--whatever--that the kidnappers were all adults. She really didn't want to have to deal with those selfish little balls of vulnerability.

"Anyways, um, if there's no sympathy that'll also tell us that something Supernal is going on, which would be good to know, too."

[linkrulesx10]

"Um... Phrasing?" Was Flidais first response to the question posed by star. "I got it as a thank you for some work I did. Not everyone can afford to pay the full fees but people generally make it up when and how they can. Fortunately for me, this one guy makes the stuff himself."

Flidais and Puppy headed in and listened to what July had to say. Both Truce, Avis and Star were asking the right questions and Flidais didn't have anything else to add so was happy to listen quietly, saving her words for when she had something to say.