DYLF: Not exactly six feet under

[ReubanBrightwood]

Philip goes to warn witch as best as the coughing and spluttering mage can about the dangers above, of witch her self having passed through earlier is well aware. Darren, still gagged inhales through his nose and holds that wit ha hand, it seems he is very willing to do what he's told to get out of here. It is bizarre though the eyes staring back at her one being Darren's own the other being clearly one of Mothisa's as can be known from various pictures seen of the model that alerted this entire investigation.

Still it doesn't seem to be interfere as Darren runs up the stairs.

Corn lands a blow into the rock solid abs of the hunter who legally renamed himself Hercules and perhaps for good reason. Strong, stubborn and apparently seriously lacking in situational awareness, not a good trait for a professional sports car racer one would think. Maybe there's reason Philips information found him living a less then glamorous lifestyle at his training track. Still it works for them at the moment as Corns punch holds the indignant wanna be hunters attention well enough to allow witch to hurry Darren up the stairs and into the house without being physical stopped.

The blow to his guts seems to have really angered him as launches heavy punch at Corn. That sends the powerful and angry brawler reeling and off balance.

Retaliate against Corn 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-20 08:53:44	hercules rolls 6 to Punch corn - armour - defence + all out attack -1 vision + wp (10 Again, WillPower)	5, 2, 10, 1, 2, 7, 9	2 successes

Corn takes 2 bashing

Corn might be taking the brunt of the bruises today but at least his opponent seems to be running out of steam starting to breathe heavy and irregularly.

[Philip Crosen]

Fortunes Protection

Fate

Shielding

  Prolonged

Sybils Sight

Fate

Mage Sight

  Prolonged

Shifting the Odds

Fate

minor boons and banes

  Special

Quantum Flux

Fate

"aim" any action

  Prolonged

Evil Eye

Fate

penalizes target's rolls

  Prolonged

Witch`s refusal and shake of the head, to head the way he indicated frantically, were acknowledged by Philip with a brief, grim nod of understanding. He would not stand in her way, even if her idea to get herself and Darren out through the smoke was life-threateningly risky in Philip`s opinion. She had been warned, and that was all Philip felt he could do for her. Even if he couldn`t form the words- he briefly wished her good luck, as it were, with his facial expression. Although not empowering his look with actual awakened will, as he had more important things to do such as assist Corn- as he called out he needed a second hand. And from the sound of it, the buff dude appeared to be winning. So Philip did as Corn asked- trying his luck, or whatever that amounted to, to attempting to punch the dude as well. Turning around, he went up to punch him despite continuing his frantic gesturing towards the tunnel until right before he tried punching the dude, this time trying to get Corn`s attention. Of course, he simply couldn`t hit anything due to his lack of experience, the gloom, and his own problems after running down the stairs. He hoped, at least, his feeble attempt might buy time for Corn to escape.

*If he was able to notice his gestures towards the tunnel, and/or he was able to recognise the opportunity Philip was trying to give him by trying to draw the attention of the buff dude away from Corn by attempting to punch the attacker. And to understand what Philip had already recognised several seconds earlier- that they were apparently outmatched against this buff sleeper in hand-to-hand combat. At least in their present situation.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-20 15:03:22	Philip Crosen rolls 1 to punch dude (str. 2 -1(untrained) -3 (condition) -1 lack of light) (10 Again, Chance)	6	failure

Potency [0]Evil Eye (potency spent), contagion remains 4/2 because Evil Eye is cast on Hercules.

spells, effects and gear

Armor: 4 (FP), Speed 10, Init +6, Defense: 3,
Spells active: 5/6([0]Evil Eye, [1]Fortunes Protection(FP) and [2]Sybils Sight, both still cast with 2-day duration, [2]Shifting the Odds, [1]Quantum Flux),
Spell tolerance: 4/2 (2 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0 Health: , Mana: Willpower: (max WP/scene 2, 0 left)
Gear: in his jeans pockets: wallet with car and apartment keys, 20$ Cash and various mundane ID`s and membership cards, lighter, order-tool-slash-phone,
bag with ashes of Mothisa, can of hairspray, pack of cigarettes, hair comb, laptop (portable computer), 4 TB SSD, hunting balaclava, roll of duct tape, pack of zip ties, survival kit(urban), first aid kit

In car: duct tape (four extra rolls), zip ties (two extra packs), additional first aid kit, pepper spray(one can), survival kit, climbing tools, night-vision goggles, fire extinguisher, unloaded shotgun with ammo in seperate compartment, katana.

[Corn]

The meat giant's punch got the wind kicked out of Corn. Well, the Abyss punches worse...Corn thought as he concentrated for a moment, keeping his defensive posture and using that moment of genuine disorientation to focus his will to healing the punches he could cure, i.e. those NOT from the Abyss.
And he does.

2 S

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-21 18:36:46	Corn rolls 5 to Gnosis + Life-2 (wounds) (10 Again)	7, 9, 5, 8, 3	2 successes

Gym-bro thankfully was beating his sides and guts so he wouldn't see bruises disappear as Corn got a few breaths. These punches he can take, the Abyss, no.
Witch gets the sleeper (and ghost) away, while Philip heroically throws himself at the meat giant... what is that?! Philip's condition appears to be much worse than Corn anticipated. This is not good, not good at all. Corn was running out of mana to heal all those non-Abyssal punches and Philip obviously needed more time to clear his head.
Let's keep him focused on me...
"Grandma punch" he mocks. And braces for a retaliation.

spells and effects

[3] Jury rig pen
[2] Gain Skill, Brawl
[4] matter armor
[2] Alter Conductivity
[3] Transmute Air
[2] Speak with Ghosts


Armor 5
Spells active: 6/8
Spell Tolerance: 3/3
Vulgar spells: 3
Mana: 2

1 WP remaining, 1 Bashing that I can heal


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
disposable plastic gloves
A big pen that can actually fire bullets.

[Witch]

On Darren’s heels, Witch takes a deep breath before hitting the main house proper and gets ready to hold it. A hand on his shoulder, she navigates him through the house off her memory from earlier. She wanted the back door. And the sooner the better.

[ReubanBrightwood]

Philip fails the darkness and the debilitating effect of having inhaled a not insignificant at amount of poisonous gas making the effort and exertion painfully difficult, each breather burns his throat each swing of his arms makes him dizzy. Corn's imago forms and sets him right , well right enough, the abyss caused wounds being completely resistant to supernal healing taunts the angry yet tiring man.

But this might not be an encounter they wish to prolong. The scene of gas becomes palpable in the basement as the dangerous substance begins to permeate very quickly the air is going to grow very thin in here.

The swings of the gym bro look sloppier, they are slower the man is panting out of rhythm the fight has gone on to long for him and he looks all in all spent. All he has left are wild haymakers with no follow up that leave him completely exposed. Has he not listened? has ne not realised the danger?

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-24 07:13:51	hercules rolls 3 to punch Philip 9 + all out attack - armour - defence - darkness (10 Again)	7, 6, 10, 4	1 success

even so he has enough weight and enough momentum from the wide swing that Philip in his state being the last to collide uselessly with him gets a blow to the kidney and takes a 1 bashing damage. "Oh. Come on." he pants. Surely he can taste the gas.

Witch having the good common sense to hold her breath and having Darren do the same guides them both out the back of the house, into the garden, eyes stinging and weeping some sure but otherwise it is a quick rush into the fresh air. She has what they came for, there out of sight of the crowds, away of the gunman's last known position, out of immediate hunter proximity.

[Philip Crosen]

Fortunes Protection

Fate

Shielding

  Prolonged

Shifting the Odds

Fate

minor boons and banes

  Special

Body Control

Life

assume control of autonomic processes

  Prolonged

Quantum Flux

Fate

"aim" any action

  Prolonged

Evil Eye

Fate

penalizes target's rolls

  Prolonged

Outmatched, now a little roughed up by the buff dude, and with Corn not doing well either and Witch and Darren having gone who knows where, Philip would not abandon his friends or let them down. They would make it through. If anything, his friends would have another day, even if he`d have to sacrifice himself. While he was frustrated that Corn had apparently failed to understand his opening and stayed in the fight he still became filled with determination and resolve. One way or another, they would survive. Philip would make sure of it. Analysing the buff dude coldly, he noted that he could perhaps be out-lasted by the two of them, if the guy wouldn`t listen and save himself from the gas as had been explained to him previously and now should be blatantly obvious to anyone. Or so Philip figured. Or at least, he was sure they could at least last long enough for himself and Corn to make a getaway and meet up with Witch and Darren who hopefully made it out despite his warnings. So, focusing on the here and now, he ended Sybils Sight despite the increased duration as the present situation was much more important and dangerous. And, with his entire resolve and will behind it, he decided to attempt to re-cast Body Control. Forming the imago, born of desperation more than anything, he somehow managed to get the spell to form. And he thanked Fate inwardly for not abandoning him, just as he would not abandon Corn.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-24 14:50:46	Philip Crosen rolls 2 to Body Control (gnosis 3, life 2, -3 lack of focus, -2 Contagion -1 2nd try) (10 Again, WillPower)	6, 8	1 success

Potency [0]Evil Eye (potency spent), contagion remains 4/2 because Evil Eye is cast on Hercules.
WP regained to 5 and 1 spent. Spent mana for Body Control in spoiler. Philip has no mana left in his pattern.

spells, effects and gear

Armor: 4 (FP), Speed 10, Init +6, Defense: 3,
Spells active: 5/6([1]Body Control, [0]Evil Eye, [1]Fortunes Protection(FP) cast with 2-day duration, [2]Shifting the Odds, [1]Quantum Flux),
Spell tolerance: 4/2 (2 over limit), Vulgar spells: 0 Health: , Mana: [0] Willpower: (max WP/scene 2, 1 left)
Gear: in his jeans pockets: wallet with car and apartment keys, 20$ Cash and various mundane ID`s and membership cards, lighter, order-tool-slash-phone,
bag with ashes of Mothisa, can of hairspray, pack of cigarettes, hair comb, laptop (portable computer), 4 TB SSD, hunting balaclava, roll of duct tape, pack of zip ties, survival kit(urban), first aid kit

In car: duct tape (four extra rolls), zip ties (two extra packs), additional first aid kit, pepper spray(one can), survival kit, climbing tools, night-vision goggles, fire extinguisher, unloaded shotgun with ammo in seperate compartment, katana.

[Corn]

Why isn't Philip leaving? Corn thought. He knew the answer of course since he was the one that told poor Philip to stay.
So, obviously, Corn would stay too. And hopefully not die in flames with his kid still missing. But it was not right to leave an enemy fighting an exhausted mage after all they have done.
They have my things, they can save Cloud, Corn thought as he formed the imago to slow his breathing down.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-24 16:04:45	Corn rolls 7 to Gnosis + Life (10 Again)	7, 4, 5, 2, 8, 5, 2	1 success

Corn could feel his breathing slowing as his body used less oxygen but not as much as he had hoped for magic that required half his remaining mana. Then, he boldly, much more boldly than he felt, walked towards Hercules to get his punches. Not the wisest strategy, as he was the one that had a chance to actually harm Gym-bro before the entire place went up in flames, but that's what he did anyway.

spells and effects

[3] Jury rig pen
[2] Gain Skill, Brawl
[4] matter armor
[2] Alter Conductivity
[3] Transmute Air
[2] Speak with Ghosts
[1] Body control


Armor 5
Spells active: 7/8
Spell Tolerance: 4/3
Vulgar spells: 3
Mana: 1 (one, not a typo, I don't miss a 0 there. I am down to a single mana)

1 WP remaining, 1 Bashing that I can heal


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
disposable plastic gloves
A big pen that can actually fire bullets.

[Witch]

Despite reaching the outside, Witch waited as long as possible before forcing herself to take a shallow breath. Her body cried for big gulping gasps, but she resisted until she could be sure they were far enough away of the house. When she did reach clean air she let herself breath deeply finally and then pulling Darren to a halt, she tugged the gag free of his mouth. Before he could say anything though, she spoke.

"You aren't free of danger so stay quiet and stay with me. Do you understand?" she commanded.

She had Darren and judging by his eye, Mothisa too. But no Corn. No Philip. Ghost hunter in the street watching and already on high alert. And oh yeah. A sniper. If she could get Darren-Mothisa to come along nicely, it would be oh so much easier to get him to the car.

Darren wasn't gym-bro Hercules ... but she imagined her success at bodily forcing him to the car would go about as well as her fight in the tunnel.

Equipment & Stuff

Backpack, phone, notepad, writing bag. Multitool & sample collecting kit.
Willpower
Health


Plot items: Keys, journal, phone


Active spells: Grim Sight
Active spells: Alter Raiment
Active spells: Animate Shadow

[ReubanBrightwood]

That's 30 days I will post into the new and what really might be the mast thread