PRP: DYLF: Back to the lounge

[ReubanBrightwood]

Urgency gives Philip clarity and he is finally able to pick out some details regarding the figure in heels. Philip has seen him before only not dressed like this like this. It happens as he turns to call the taxi a flash of light in head beams makes it clear. The face covered in make up that now does little to flatter him, the long hair, the the build ... it's Darren Greenfield!

If you want to take the time to do that instead of something else sure

Both mages have no trouble hearing the sound of an engine and spotting a taxi pulling out from a connecting street its pace slowing.

Blue jeans guy maintains pace he does not seem hurried or rushed by any of the developments at hand. He has placed his hands into the pockets of his light fabric jacket.

Corn the majority of the ghosts focus is on the figure in heels. However again as that figure turns it brings Corn into the corner of the vision of the eye which the ghost still seems to exercise some control or influence. And Corn is not making a concerted effort to be subtle. The ghost notices. She turns hollowed cheeks and the one sunken eye still currently in her face to look right at the Moros. Her gaunt head tilts heavily to one side, the fragile strands of hair barely moving with how little impact the motion seemed to have ... and she starts walking towards you.

[Corn]

Corn attempts to find some device on the person-that-was-Mothisa to turn to a transmitter but doesn't manage to spot anything.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-08 07:34:58	Corn rolls 4 to Wits+Comp-2 (10 Again)	1, 4, 1, 2	failure

What he does notice is that the ghost is eerily approaching him. Exactly what he wanted... then why is he creeped out? He is the one that 'wanted' the ghost to notice and approach him in the first place! But that was when he thought the ghost couldn't go too far from the anchor or its part on the person.
"Buddy, " he tells Philip "I managed to attract the attention of the girl I saw in the bar near the model. The one you didn't see. She is coming. Right now. Take some distance but don't go far and if something happens to me, well, do what you can." Not so happy about it right now. He has a wife and kids. He can't be spending time possessed.
"Also, our friend is about to leave with a taxi. What are the chances that the taxi will get a flat tire before it goes far?" As subtle as he could make it with a ghost that possesses people coming for him. Taking a breath, and fingering his own wedding ring, Corn takes a step towards the ghost and whispers to her pointing at a shadowy corner - incidentally the one the blue-jeans guy was hiding at - "We could talk there. I am not a threat." He says that in a very low voice, hoping the ghost would listen but not the blue-jeans guy or the person-that-was Mothisha.

[Philip Crosen]

The situation was turning more dangerous by the second. That much was abundantly clear. He`d just barely recognised Darren Greenfield in the disguise, much to his shock, despite knowing he`d seen him before in connection with Mothisa and this case. But on top of everything, and most importantly, they were also running out of time. And Corn had somehow gotten the ghost that looked like Mothisa`s attention and it was coming towards him, based on what he said. He briefly nodded to him in understanding. He also gott from the way Corn was seemingly silently talking to himself, that he was talking to the ephemeral asset whose attention he`d gotten, because what he said was mildly disturbing to Philip. Hopefully the ephemeral situation doesn`t turn into a fisaco. he thought, worried.
So he knew it fell to him to prevent the escape of the taxi, and Corn`s advice was good. Something connected to the taxi had to be an accident waiting to happen. And Philip knew now was the time to use his rote to be Shifting_the_Odds around to attempt to make, indeed beckon, in any way Fate decided, to slow down the departure of that taxi or stop it somewhere close to them. Stop it on the road or blow out a tire, cause a roadblock, driver`s distraction, or indeed something even more outrageous. Anything Fate wanted so they could follow them, gaining these precious ideally minutes they`d need. He even thought to attempt to mask his gestures despite being in the gloom, except for the brief lights of the taxi. But instead, the gloom and standing beside Corn made him look more like a bumbling fool than a serious person, despite his apt party clothes. He was certainly acting weird, being uncomfortable and uncertain because of the awkward situation only exacerbated this.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-08 14:50:27	Philip Crosen rolls 5 to Masking his gestures(Wits 3 + Subterfuge 2) (10 Again)	4, 7, 3, 4, 5	failure

But still, he cast his wish into the ever-mercurial streams of fate, feeling the mana drain that accompanied it and bracing for fun, to come to him (and possibly even them) as it all-too-frequently did after his spellcasting unfortunately. If the last couple of times were any indication at least, fate was having a good laugh at him and going for mighty big effects so far on this mission.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-08 14:53:09	Philip Crosen rolls 8 to Shifting the Odds (Wits 3 + Science 2+Fate 4 -1(contagion, 3rd spell)) (10 Again)	2, 10, 1, 2, 7, 9, 3, 10, 2, 3	3 successes

In his mind, he thought: I`m sorry. Hope Fate doesn`t hit us too hard, this time dude.

spells , effects and gear

Armor 4, Spells active 3/6: ([2] Fortunes Protection, [2] Sybils Sight, [3] Shifting the Odds(special duration)), Spell tolerance: 3/2 (1 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0, Mana: Willpower: (max WP/scene 2) Gear: backpack with: 1 L plastic water bottle, lighter, cigarette pack, can of hairspray, hair comb, order-tool-slash-phone, first aid kit, wallet: with car key, cash already spent getting in twice, various mundane ID`s and membership cards, in car that was parked some distance away from Lounge: additional first aid kit.

[ReubanBrightwood]

Feeling the mana drain from his pattern adding weight and intention to his will impressed into the cosmic weave of fate Philip watches as the taxi, the thing he hope to disable pull up the curb and keeping pulling, and rolling along until it is past Darren. The window rolls down and a voice calls out.

''The Breaks aren't working I can't stop it.'' Luckily the roads are almost empty but the taxi will in due to course keep moving until it hits a shop window across the street.

Darren curses loudly. ''SHIT.'' and begins looking around, not to help the taxi drive but in desperation. The guy in blue jeans seems to sense this is his time as he makes a move. ''Hey if you need a lift my car is parked nearby?''

Corn the ghost closes the rest of the distance between you looking up into your face. The gaping hole of her missing eye shows a view of an ephemeral brain in disturbing detail, yes she has one. Now you see her closely everything of he the hollows her cheeks, the glazed look in her eye, the recced gum lines is in sharp inhuman detail.

From her tiny shrivelled throat the faintest of gasps the memory of air passing through. But no words no sound just her head cocked to the side the better to bring you into view with her remaining eye.

Make me a manipulation +persuasion check

[Corn]

Corn barely registers the words the Taxi driver said. He does register the taxi crashing into a window but he keeps his focus on the ghost. So, some ghosts have brains, crosses his mind as his mind tries to not stay in the present scene. Corn is not squeemish, this is not the first ghost he has seen, but he is not entirely used to them yet. But he stays put.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-08 18:04:16	Corn rolls 6 to Man+Pers (10 Again, WillPower)	7, 3, 2, 6, 7, 1	failure

spells and effects

Armor 5
Spells active: 4/7
Spell Tolerance: 4/3 (I am at -1)
WP: 4/5 (can use 2 total, 1 remains)
Vulgar spells: 1
Mana: 8





[2] Grim Sight
[3] Matter shield
[2] Speak with ghosts
[5] Alter Raiment




Cellphone
Lead Medallion (dedicated Tool)
Wallet, includes his ID, credit cards, some cash
His cross and his wedding ring
A bottle of water and a candy-bar
pack of hankerchiefs
pack of gum

[Philip Crosen]

And Fate seemed to want to continue its`s stunning effects as the taxi seemed to inexorably be destined to crash into the nearby building, ostensibly because of faulty brakes. Granted this time, Philip had asked Fate to delay the departure, but still this was spectacular even for Philip. And Darren Greenfield-slash-Mothisa looked around desperately, his means of escape having been temporarily delayed. Until the guy Philip now classified as his accomplice suggested using his car instead. After briefly glancing at the crashing taxi, Philip used this opportunity to try to identify the other guy, who was now likely heading to where he`d said he was going, his car. Then, `all` they`d have to do would be tailing them to the other guy`s car and then follow it somehow.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-09 08:55:12	Philip Crosen rolls 3 to Perception (Wits 3+Comp. 3 -3 (3rd retry that scene)) (10 Again)	8, 8, 7	2 successes

Or, well. Tailing was what he would have done, because after taking a look around and trying to identify the other guy, he was suddenly hit by a stark realization. Wait, what? he thought, stunned, taking a few seconds to process what just happened after having taken advantage of the confusion to try to identify the accomplice. And when he did, he was speechless, the hairs in the back of his neck went up. It wasn`t the escaping veil breach, it wasn`t the ghost that Corn had gotten the attention of. It was the fact that it dawned on him that he was responsible for a car crash. He had cursed that poor, and likely innocent, taxi driver to crash. Granted it was slow-motion, but still. Oh, no. What have I done? he thought, as he was overwhelmed by nausea and numbness.

spells , effects and gear

Armor 4, Spells active 3/6: ([2] Fortunes Protection, [2] Sybils Sight, [3] Shifting the Odds(special duration)), Spell tolerance: 3/2 (1 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0, Mana: Willpower: (max WP/scene 2) Gear: backpack with: 1 L plastic water bottle, lighter, cigarette pack, can of hairspray, hair comb, order-tool-slash-phone, first aid kit, wallet: with car key, cash already spent getting in twice, various mundane ID`s and membership cards, in car that was parked some distance away from Lounge: additional first aid kit.

[ReubanBrightwood]

Corn's efforts to move the silent shrivelled husk of a ghost into some kind of direction prove both more and less successful then he had hoped. The ghost does follow him into the shadowy corner, follow right up walking in the same slow measured steps that seem despite the pace to eat up the ground. She follows right into him! all in silence.

Possess Corn 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-09 11:39:41	Ghost rolls 10 to Possess Corn 7 (10 Again, WillPower)	6, 5, 5, 2, 8, 9, 1, 1, 3, 5	2 successes

Roll resolve+ composure+ Gnosis -- remember xp buys don't come into effect for scenes you have already started before the purchase

The taxi continues at what must 1 mph maybe 2 tops until it gently rolls into the shop window across the way its momentum halting as the glass pane shatters in a specular cascade of noise in the gloom of the night, that does nothing to the taxi it being designed to withstand bumps of considerably more force. It's a good thing there is a night club right behind you pumping out music or that sounds could have echoed for some distance as it is, the sound mostly fits into the local ambience.

Blue jeans to persuade failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-09 11:45:10	Blue jeans guy rolls 8 to Persuade 5 (10 Again, WillPower)	6, 2, 4, 5, 2, 7, 7, 5	failure

Darren seems hesitant. ''That's good of you mate but I don't know you.'' He ties to back off a little stumbling in his heels.

Blue jeans guys takes steps towards the stumbling Darren. ''Come on, your clearly need a hand. I'm just around the corner.''

Darren shakes his head more firmly. ''No I said I'm good.''

Philip despite the distraction and internal crisis of releasing he had with full intention cursed someone, manages to get a good look at the situation and can say with confidence he has never seen blue jeans guy before in person however he does recall someone that looked kind of like that as one of the profile picture of an account he got some of his researched information regarding Mothisa and Darren from.

Both mages please make a new perception check for something.

[Corn]

The human (or mage's) mind is a curious thing. While with growing terror Corn realizes Mothisha's ghost plans to possess him, his senses actually somehow focus on what happens outside his body and soul.

-2 penalty as discuss with the ST.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 07:19:32	Corn rolls 4 to Wits+Comp-2 (10 Again)	8, 9, 10, 4, 2	3 successes

He also catches that the person in the dress doesn't trust nor wants to be with the guy in the blue jeans. A hunter then? Corn thinks at the edge of his conscience as he battles for control of his body and mind.

Meanwhile, his enlightened will provides a barrier to the ghost's numina. Hopefully enough of a barrier to avoid his conscience being subsumed by the ghost or his body possessed.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 07:22:39	Corn rolls 9 to I am not your possession! (10 Again)	1, 6, 9, 5, 2, 2, 10, 4, 3, 2	2 successes

spells and effects

Armor 5
Spells active: 4/7
Spell Tolerance: 4/3 (I am at -1)
WP: 4/5 (can use 2 total, 1 remains)
Vulgar spells: 1
Mana: 8


[2] Grim Sight
[3] Matter shield
[2] Speak with ghosts
[5] Alter Raiment


Cellphone
Lead Medallion (dedicated Tool)
Wallet, includes his ID, credit cards, some cash
His cross and his wedding ring
A bottle of water and a candy-bar
pack of hankerchiefs
pack of gum

[Philip Crosen]

He overheard the guy with the blue pants, who he hasn`t seen before, but he thought he saw someone similar to him during his research into Darren and Mothisa. Anyway, in that moment, this unknown guy seemed desperate to convince Darren to go with him to his car, seemingly confirming Philip`s assessment that he was a threat, too. Meanwhile, he left Corn to his own devices. Hopefully he doesn`t get possessed. he only briefly thought. Sure, he was focused on his guilt, but even so, he was no fool when attempting to cross the street to help the driver. This had the effect of snapping him momentarily out of his daze in order to look around for what was generally going around them, yet again.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 07:35:32	Philip Crosen rolls 6 to Perception (Wits 3+Comp. 3) (10 Again)	4, 1, 5, 1, 8, 6	1 success

But he still wrestled with his morality, and after that brief look around, he was back to wallowing and tunnel-visioning in his guilt. He knew had to come to terms with what he`d done, somehow. And he saw no one else interested in the taxi driver. So he rushed across the street to help him, in order to come to terms with himself, but also because he genuinely wanted to help the taxi driver and he felt bad for what he`d done to him. The taxi had by now crashed into a window, causing the glass to shatter spectacularly. And that was despite the slow collision that everyone around them should have been able to see coming from a mile away because of it`s incredible slowness, but no one seemed to care. And despite all that, the seconds continued to tick by, as if in slow-motion, and still no one else seemed to have noticed him.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 07:34:58	Philip Crosen rolls 5 to running towards the taxi to help driver (Strength 2+ Athletics 3) (10 Again)	7, 9, 3, 1, 6	1 success

It was astounding and eerie to Philip. His curse, but also the complete lack of care from anyone. And even Darren, who had only moments before been interested in the taxi, seemed to lose complete interest as soon as he crashed, scurrying off to who knows where. He`d to double back for him later, but at the moment, he wasn`t on his mind. Sprinting, he yelled in the direction of the taxi:
"Hey, dude. Are you ok?"
almost out of breath.

spells , effects and gear

Armor 4, Spells active 3/6: ([2] Fortunes Protection, [2] Sybils Sight, [3] Shifting the Odds(special duration)), Spell tolerance: 3/2 (1 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0, Mana: Willpower: (max WP/scene 2) Gear: backpack with: 1 L plastic water bottle, lighter, cigarette pack, can of hairspray, hair comb, order-tool-slash-phone, first aid kit, wallet: with car key, cash already spent getting in twice, various mundane ID`s and membership cards, in car that was parked some distance away from Lounge: additional first aid kit.

[ReubanBrightwood]

Both mages manage through their various struggles to hear the sound of a second engine approaching. Corn manages to make out the car before hearing it even, pulling out of the public parking zone across from the club it is approaching well below the speed limit but still faster then any could walk straight towards the cluster of increasing chaos that this pursuit is quickly dissolving into.


Corn can tell it was a close run thing the ghost trying to move through into him the sensation is truly horrid like his brain his very sense of self is hit with the worst case of brain freeze he can imagine. Darkness encroaches on the corners of his eyes however even as things fade his enlightened will, the power of the supernal and knowledge the truth buoy his efforts to resist the will of others in this case a emaciated ghost women who is pushed from him stumbling a few steps. He remains very much himself.

The ghost stumbles back as if physically shoved minute frame goes tumbling down, from the floor she looks up at corn still utterly silent, no scream, no protest. Just her head cocked to one side. However as Darren's cries, grow in distress her attention snaps back to the confrontation as if she had not even realised it was happening before. Picking herself up to her feet she begins to move back in that direction.

Philip rushes across the road hearing the other car coming he is more then able to avoid, the car is not going that fast. He makes to the taxi as the driver is opening the door and emerging. His hands on his head in despair as he looks at the damage done. ''Ah man this is not going to go down well.'' Looking over as Philip rushes up. ''Yeah man, yeah. The breaks must have jammed or something the car won't stop.'' Looking back to the smashed window. ''This is going to come out of my pay check I know it is.'' He himself seems perfectly unhurt however.


The blue jeans guy seems to realise that talking is not getting him anyway and changes tac lunging for Darren he gets a grip on the heels clad other preventing further retreat. ''Just come with us already.'' Grunting through the effort.

Grapple Darren 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 09:59:37	Blue jeans guy rolls 5 to Grapple 5 (10 Again)	9, 3, 6, 6, 7	1 success

Darren for his part struggles.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-04-10 10:01:32	Darren rolls 1 to break grapple (10 Again, Chance)	2	failure

But is clearly the more weaker in the contest and unable to tear free. ''HELP. SOMEONE HELP.''

From this point everyone roll initiative.