(TMTP) Huddle Up!

[Puck]

Puck's pad was a brightly lit and open space. The tv was turned onto the local news and the resonance from the hallow (however subtle it maybe) inspired a curiosity that would lend itself well to today's pursuits. The smell of citrus filled the space.

Today plastic totes of various sizes were pulled from storage and under the furniture. Half opened and half still sealed, books on the spirits laid stacked and strewn about the tables, desk, and counter. The totes themselves had been around just long enough to gather their own layer of dust someone didn't seem to think or care to clear off. Speaking of someone? Puck is standing behind the counter. Blue jeans, black t shirt, socks, and hoodie completed his home look. And if anyone else stepped behind the counter? He was suspiciously citrus scented as he washed his hands.

Time's up. People are coming. There was no more desire time to clean. Yeah, definitely time.

[Aeolus]

Since Shane has announced some absence in posting interruptions it's safe to say that for know you and Phoenyx Xadun don't have to wait for them.

[Phoenyx]

For someone usually so keep on his own ways, it was surprising that Puck invited Phoenyx to his apartment to discuss the theatre. She had expected the Circle. Still, she made an effort to be adaptable.

In her usual leather coat, red tank-top, loose pants and sneakers she knocked on the door. She had even cut back on her weapons - this was Puck's home after all - to the knife that served as her magical tool.

She found Puck difficult to deal with from time to time - She was sure he meant to do what was best and was honest, but his moods seemed to always change drastically save for an almost natural antagonism. What would he be like today?

[Puck]

What was Puck like today? Citrusy. Would the similarities extend beyond the odor? That remained to be seen.

"Sup." He smiles and gives the First Talon a chin up as he opens the door for her. "I got bottled water and a variety of sodas and beer in the fridge if you like. Help yourself."

My house is your house. Make yourself comfortable in the mass of plastic and musty books.

"So you remember those Libertines we helped? I didn't get a long look at the hard drive, but it used references from other mages and lore houses in the notes. I made some calls and did some digging and I found these!"

His hands extend out towards the books as a wide smile spread across his face.

​"It's my new spirit library. All things spirit here at my finger tips! I'm hoping you two can help me sift through it all and maybe find out some information about what that thing was and how to stop it. I got nothing on spiritual possession, but this might help find other means of dealing with it. I skimmed through a few books but I'm by no means an expert yet."

[Phoenyx]

"Hi," she returns his greeting simply. "Thank you." She moves to the fridge and takes a bottled water before heading to the sofa and perching on the edge, back straight, looking over the books.

There was a nod - it was hard to forget. You didn't see fire spirits every day, or experience how her host would do the exact opposite of everything he was told seemingly on reflex.

"It sounds very impressive. Spirits are something I have little experience with, but I know how to reference. Do you have something specific I should be looking for, or should we try to find anything similar to what we saw as to the mental and emotional influences?" She took a drink from the bottle, setting it down next to her.

[Puck]

"Cool."

Books are good. You don't have to argue over what's in a book. Unless the book is written to be argued about? Maybe you argue over books.

"I was thinking about looking for it's ban. It'll be the most obvious thing we can use to manipulate it. Maybe look for what kind of powers similar spirits have? I found out some stuff that should help us narrow down the search in my interview with Malcolm, but I want to wait for Guru before giving the full informational exchange."

He grabs himself a bottle of water and settles into a chair by the counter.

"So, uh, what's up?"

Guess who sucks at small talk, this guy!

[Guru]

It wasn't long after that before there was a knock on the door. Physically he seemed fine, skin was healthy, no bags under his eyes and there was a smile at the edge of his lips. He was dressed simply for the moment, a pair of jeans a white tee shirt. Messenger bag slung around one shoulder and a disposable tray in his hands. Today it was banana bread it seemed. His body entirely still, one hand resting on the bags strap as he waited to see if he'd been too late or not.

Sorry for the delay, know it's not the best but didn't want to forget about y'all!

[Aeolus]

Okay, just dropping in now to give you the the compiled rules for this research:

Capping skill: Investigation (so research is done with (Int + Academics or Investigation), whatever is less. Characters with no dots in Investigation suffer penalties for untrained skill use.
Time per roll: 30 minutes.
Each character can only attempt 2 rolls with Puck's library (if he lets them use it).
Modifiers: Character has failed a (Comp + Gnosis) roll (+1), character has Status or Contacts (Culture) (+1).

Characters who want to use the Internet to dig around can do so with one additional roll, but do so with a further penalty of (-1) and the time per roll goes up to 1 hour.

I'll be counting successes as a group, not individually if everyone is okay with that.


Removing my marble for now so you can exchange information without me; will keep tabs on this anyway.

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx didn't try to hide her confusion. "A ban? What is that?"

There was a small nod - it made sense to wait until they were all together. She shifted a little, trying not to look as awkward as she felt. "Nothing. Um.How are you?"

Amazingly, the Arrow was also not good at small talk. The knock a tthe door came as something of a relief from the awkwardness.

Just going to wait for Xander to confirm what ewe're using before I make the rolls

[Puck]

"Sup." Puck says as he lets Guru into the condo. "Drinks are in the fridge. Help yourself."

"A ban is a quirk spirits have. Either a thing they do compulsively or a thing they can't do at all. Apparently spirits are really weird and have strict rules on how to behave?"

This is as new to Puck as it is to Phoenix. Well, almost. He had the Arcanum to talk to the creatures but that was where his expertise ended. He mostly used it to round out his socials skills at work. The whole spirit liaison thing? Phoenyx knew everything Puck knew except what was actually said.

"So we can dive into reading but I wanted to touch base on what we all found so we have a better idea what we're looking for. I spent most of the performance going over the actors and crowd with Fate. I saw what almost looked like a leash around Malcolm's neck originating from the tree, and collars around the other actors originating from him. At first it seemed a form of abusive authority and I had assumed it was the doing of the seers, but in hindsight the gross, inky black quality of the collars and chains seems obviously abyssal."

He lets out a sigh. He had gotten ahead of himself, and he wasn't as prepared for the reality as he would have liked to be as a result.

"During my interview with Malcolm he revealed that he had rewritten the play recently to reflect an encounter he had with another individual. The bench under the tree was meant to emulate his encounter, and he said that it was after this exchange he rewrote the play and people started coming out to see it. I think he might be a sleeper that unwittingly made a deal with something, but after my mistake judging this as a seer problem I was hesitant to say anything until I got more information. That's when we went up to see the tech and the altercation started."

He didn't need to continue because the others were there. Actually...

"Were you able to see the thing?" He's looking at Phoenyx. "I have access to the spirit arcanum and Guru's path made it a no brainer as to whether he could. I didn't really think to ask if you could until now."