Plot: Squeaky Choir: Sewage District

[Winter]

Winter's forehead creases into a frown as he hears the cries for help. His eyes flicker to the rest of the group, likely echoing within himself the same debate which rages within the rest of the band. Guilt and empathy tug at his conscience, but the risks cannot be ignored.
"Time is not on our side," he murmurs, "Their condition is deteriorating rapidly, but if we interfere we risk never getting to the bottom of it", he pauses, "and in that case we'd be risking the lives of many to save a single one"
He turns his attention back to the worker, "Let's see what we can gather form here. If it's something we can cure or undo"

Can we scrutinize the worker from here?

Equipment

Wedding band, moleskine notebook + pencils, black stones catholic rosary, brass knuckles, Kevlar vest (thin), Wallet, iPhone, flashlight

Spells

Supernal Vision with Mind 1 [pot 1], Forces Armor [pot 1]

Stats

Health: 8
Mana: 10
WP: 2 (5)
Armor: 3 (1 from Equipment|2 vs Firearms - Lethal to Bashing)
Defense: 3
Active Spells: 2
Personal Spells: 2
Vulgar Spells: 0

[Corn]

Aaron's warning and then the scream got through to Corn and he was ready to dart... and then Winter 's warnings cut through him like a knife, sapping his early decision to simply rush there.
For a moment he practically hovers, between the human instinct of compassion to someone dying and the need to stay put - as it is very little he could do in any case. "We should call an ambulance, at least." he says towards Winter and Philip .
"And we should be closer to get a 'read' on the rat that will soon crawl out of this hapless, doomed man." Theoretically, it would be to their benefit if they caught whatever clawed out of the man alive. Corn had very little patience for monsters that eat people inside out though; Teratology was a different Mystagogue's call, not his.
He throws a look to Winter and says "I will move to get better view of the situation, unless you guys see a reason not to."

If nobody says otherwise, Corn would move towards the source of the screams, one hand going to his pistol, although he doesn't pull it out yet.

spells and effects

[2] Grim sight
[2] Matter armor


Armor 5
Spells active: 2/8
Spell Tolerance: 2/3
Vulgar spells: 0
Mana: 9





Equipment:


Small backpack and pockets:
The aforementioned Small backpack
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
Flashlight
ziplock bags
strong Duct-tape
Swiss knife
pistol

[Salem]

Salem's head turns towards the hand he feels on his shoulder, his gaze elsewhere. He watches, secret witness to what the man is going through as his coworker and possible friend watches on, helpless. His ears hear the screams that match what his gaze is telling him. His ears also allow him to hear the warnings and advice of his fellow mages and he gives a small nod of agreement after a moment. "I know.. It's too late to truly help him. It's just.. rough.. seeing it and not being able to help."

He's silent for a moment. "The screams are probably going to attract attention to that area. I don't know if we can get closer, but I might be able to let you three look around like I am, if you want to try. It's sort of like looking through the lens of a drone that you can move around..." he says, his voice a soft whisper, loud enough for the three mages to hear but not letting it carry.

Equipment

Wallet, Keys, Smartphone (Dedicated Tool), Pepper Spray, Leather Jacket, Backpack (containing: Duct Tape, Flashlight Baton, Multi-tool)

Spells

Untouchable [pot4]
Night Sight [pot2]
Omnivision [pot2]
Angle Vision [pot2]

Stats

Health:

Mana: 5
Willpower: 3 (6)
Armor: 1/0
Defense: 5 (also vs Firearms)
Active Spells: 4
Personal Spells: 4
Vulgar Spells: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Philip makes the cold but practical decision to keep his head and let events play out because ultimately information is power and if Salem can see how this works then all the better if rather horrific.

Winter seconding the needed for self control and resistant will need to find a way to see around the corner that obscures the smokers if he wants to glean anymore from the developing situation after all the only reason Salem can inform him of the play by play is thanks to his creative uses of covert will working.

How is Corn approaching? Is he climbing the fence? cutting through it? going for the vehicle entrance by the guard station? using magic in some way? Hand on gun is all well and good but that won't solve any of the immediate obstacles minor as they are that present feeble physical or social barriers to his gaining entry.

Salem maintains the vigil of what might be this mans last moments the convulsions rip through his entire body a full blown fit as blood and froth blossom from his lips the head jerks back at a sickening angle as something bulges in his throat, his co worker his backing up faster now still calling for help fumbling with a phone but panic is setting in.

The guard house by the vehicle entrance now lit by the floodlights of the complex is visible to all mages and a door in the back open as a guard in uniform with flashlight and walkie talkie in hand moves at a brisk jog out towards the screams. The same one who had just finished patrol.

[Philip Crosen]

Fortunes Protection

Fate

Shielding

  Prolonged

Temporal Eddies

Time

Mage Sight

  Prolonged

Sybils Sight

Fate

Mage Sight

  Prolonged

"Weren`t we gonna get a costume makeover, Jacob?"
he asked Corn skeptically, before annoyedly finishing internally And stick to the plan, perhaps?!. Meanwhile Salem`s ideas continued to be good, and some more reconnaissance was definitely appreciated after his own failure with his scrutiny.
"Yeah, I`d like that, Aaron. If you could make it happen for me, a look around with a sort of mini-drone might make infiltration easier."
After all, getting a good look through his Arcana was more than good good, especially since Salem was likely already getting a much better look than Corn could get, seeing as he said he needed to change his position to get his look. So Salem sharing his vision was the best Corn, and indeed Philip, could realistically hope for from their current position, and that was an idea Philip wholeheartedly supported. That, and he saw no need for Corn to risk cover to get into a `better position`. At least not before actually giving everyone else the best shot possible at infiltration so they could achieve the most together.

After all, Philip was curious too and deeply compassionate for the dying employee as well. But, while it took him quite a bit of coming to terms with over the past moments after his cold words earlier, he still recognised that rash actions would not serve them here. But Corn`s idea to call an ambulance was good, except that it might lead to uncomfortable questions as soon as the first responders were confronted with the supernal nature of the death. So Philip called for caution on that front as well.
"I`m all for calling the ambulance, but we need to be careful that they don`t immediately come in too close contact with the supernal as soon as they arrive. So I`d have to agree."
he said, nodding to Winter gravely.

spells , effects and gear

Speed 10, Armor 0, Init +6, Defense (applies to firearms too per Fortunes Protection): 7 (3 + 4), Spells active 3/6: ([1] Fortunes Protection, [1]Temporal Eddies, [2]Sybils Sight), Spell tolerance: 3/2 (1 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0, Health: , Mana: WP: (max WP/scene 2) Gear: backpack with: 1 L plastic water bottle, lighter, cigarette pack, can of hairspray, hair comb, order-tool-slash-phone, PC(Laptop), first aid kit, wallet: with car key, 50$ cash, various mundane ID`s and membership cards, in car that was parked some distance away from location: additional first aid kit, fire extinguisher, unloaded shotgun with ammo in seperate compartment, katana.

[Winter]

Fragments of a conversation he once had with Star, bubbled up like seafoam.
Magic is the art of perfecting the human's soul, every sin, every moral failing, as long as it was for a just end it, granted wisdom to the Awakened. It was their collective role as an Order to pave the way forward with their sins. Like a scale, their debased acts were the counterweight to the Utopia, tipping the balance toward a hopeful future.
But no matter how hard the task or the Paradox was, or how deep the moral failing went, the bounce back had to be possible.
Looking at the others, hearing their moral dilemma, he couldn't help but think that compassion was perhaps the most common way of honing their Wisdom.

"There's probably a way to help him", he whispers.

Equipment

Wedding band, moleskine notebook + pencils, black stones catholic rosary, brass knuckles, Kevlar vest (thin), Wallet, iPhone, flashlight

Spells

Supernal Vision with Mind 1 [pot 1], Forces Armor [pot 1]

Stats

Health: 8
Mana: 10
WP: 2 (5)
Armor: 3 (1 from Equipment|2 vs Firearms - Lethal to Bashing)
Defense: 3
Active Spells: 2
Personal Spells: 2
Vulgar Spells: 0

[Corn]

Corn takes 5-6 steps down the road, away from the others, towards the direction of the screams, staying out of the fence.
Philip gets an annoyed "There are more pressing matters, Reggie. Someone is suffering and while that is a distraction, we are too exposed for a make-over. The make-over can wait." The Libertine's callousness to the dying man's plight concern's Corn.

But then, Salem puts it in words. They are too far away to do something. The intensity of the suffering man's screams is already dying down; it is already too late. Corn nods grimly to Salem. "It is very rough. Please try to keep a visual on ... what goes out. We also need to inspect the survivor with our 'special' organs to check whether he or she is also in danger. Ambulance... How does this, whatever this is, spreads? I don't know what to do. However, Aaron, if you can help us locate the ... what causes the man to scream and convulse ... once it comes out, it would be of help, I think."

Corn strains to figure out how far the screaming man is. Salem has a visual, but from what was reported, Corn is not sure which corner of which of the several buildings they are behind, just that he can't see them, or how far they are from them. He tries to determine that with his human hearing.

listen

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-05-06 10:58:50	Corn rolls 5 to Wits+Com (10 Again)	8, 1, 4, 5, 3	1 success

Taking a quick look around, Corn check how close to them the various residential buildings are. Not that he would risk changing their attire in the open but if residents were far away, it would be easier to hide.
Calling back to Philip, he says "If we can get safely out of sight, we can change our clothes."

His eyes now, augmented with the Grim Sight, are turned towards the building to see if something that just killed a person is scuttling around. He realizes the chances to see something like that are slim - he is not a hawk.
Winter whispers something that Corn doesn't completely catch, so he moves back closer to the others. "If there is something you can do to help this man, please do so."

I assumed the whisper didn't carry 5 or so yards away, while Corn was straining to listen to the source of the screams.

spells and effects

[2] Grim sight
[2] Matter armor


Armor 5
Spells active: 2/8
Spell Tolerance: 2/3
Vulgar spells: 0
Mana: 9





Equipment:


Small backpack and pockets:
The aforementioned Small backpack
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
Flashlight
ziplock bags
strong Duct-tape
Swiss knife
pistol

[Salem]

Salem squints slightly at the sudden flood of light. His night vision makes it even more bright but it dulls quickly as he lets that particular spell unravel, no longer needing it. He shifts his gaze's vantage point so that he still see the man, watching as his throat bulges out, and so that he can see his own body and the three mages milling around it. He continues to observe the worker's sad fate as he starts to speak in high speech again, working his will into attempting to grant his fellow Libertine the ability to throw his vision around, just as Salem is doing.

Granti Angle Vision (failure)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-05-07 22:46:16	Salem rolls 6 to Gnosis + Space + HS -1ST (10 Again)	7, 7, 3, 7, 3, 1	failure

The first attempt fails but then he tries again, taking a few seconds to whisper again in the lost tongue of Atlantis.

Grant Angle Vision(1 success)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-05-07 22:50:09	Salem rolls 6 to Gnosis + Space + HS -1ST (10 Again)	8, 7, 7, 1, 3, 4	1 success

He lets others decide what to do otherwise. He's currently doing his job, keeping an eye out on the man as he dies right before his eyes. The Warlock is not happy about this task but it's feels like it's something that needs to be done.

Equipment

Wallet, Keys, Smartphone (Dedicated Tool), Pepper Spray, Leather Jacket, Backpack (containing: Duct Tape, Flashlight Baton, Multi-tool)

Spells

Untouchable [pot4]
Omnivision [pot2]
Angle Vision [pot2]
Grant Angle Vision [pot1, Target: Philip]

Stats

Health:

Mana: 5
Willpower: 3 (6)
Armor: 1/0
Defense: 5 (also vs Firearms)
Active Spells: 4
Personal Spells: 3
Vulgar Spells: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Okay everyone that's 30 days on the scene so you get 1 more post each to do stuff but please include what your plan of action is so I know where to open a new scene (or scenes you can split up!)

Corn can determine based on the screams and time the security guard who he can see by virtue of the moving beam of light issuing from the torch, is taking the incident is happening about fifty yards away.

Time and hesitation it seems has made the choice for them. Salem tries to catch an angle but his spells lets him see around obstacles not peer down like an eagle. Good thing he cast omnivision giving his total awareness around his the point his vision actually resides and by positioning his vision just so past the corner of the building he can bare witness to both the unfolding spectacle and have a distant eye on where he knows the mages to be outside the fence even if the dark now obscures them without his night vision.

Grant angle vision is not a spell in the game, nor an effect of the base spell angle vision. If you want to use creative thaumaturgy it needs to be submitted in the creative thaumaturgy thread. OR declare for spell factors and take the relevant penalties.

The shuddering man goes ridged every fibre of his body tensed as he tries to scream for all he is worth a strangled gasping sound forcing its way from his mouth with what little air remains as his throat tears open in a bloody release of life and a squealing frantic rat comes bursting forth, immediately making a dash for the darkness at the edge of the compound. The man collapses pale and still blood pumping from his open neck wound. The co-worker that had been helping him physically back peddles away in shock and fear a look of dawning horror on his face and the security guard arriving on scene stops dead in his tracks.

[Philip Crosen]

Fortunes Protection

Fate

Shielding

  Prolonged

Temporal Eddies

Time

Mage Sight

  Prolonged

Sybils Sight

Fate

Mage Sight

  Prolonged

"Let`s just be careful. But I`d be to use my limited knowledge to help him too, if I can get close."
he said, surprised Winter agreed that there was in fact a way to still help him, but also supporting him and offering whatever little he could offer to the rescue effort. After all, it wasn`t like he was completely uncompassionate for the dying employee as either. Far from it. So he was relieved when the opinion started to change, and he was hopeful that between the four of them, something maybe could be done for him.
"Yeah, if we can change our appearance quickly I`m all for getting an extra edge. If we have time."
he said, nodding to Corn and implying that he should hurry with his make-over before their window passed and the guy was beyond helping. But he also indicated he was ultimately more concerned with his own safety than the safety of that sleeper, although he was determined to ultimately follow Corn`s lead with his makeover and then follow him into the complex, leaving Winter ultimately to deal with the injured sleeper, and using his powers too if he could get close.

spells , effects and gear

Speed 10, Armor 0, Init +6, Defense (applies to firearms too per Fortunes Protection): 7 (3 + 4), Spells active 3/6: ([1] Fortunes Protection, [1]Temporal Eddies, [2]Sybils Sight), Spell tolerance: 3/2 (1 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0, Health: , Mana: WP: (max WP/scene 2) Gear: backpack with: 1 L plastic water bottle, lighter, cigarette pack, can of hairspray, hair comb, order-tool-slash-phone, PC(Laptop), first aid kit, wallet: with car key, 50$ cash, various mundane ID`s and membership cards, in car that was parked some distance away from location: additional first aid kit, fire extinguisher, unloaded shotgun with ammo in seperate compartment, katana.