Clean up crew: Lingering Sewage

[ReubanBrightwood]

The plot starts here, please remember to include your stats (including paradox count and vulgar spell cast), spells (With potency and duration), and gear in a spoiler or OOC box and link and spells you use or have on.


If you have any spends to do on your character sheet please do them before joining the plot thread, you will not have anything that has not been approved on your sheet once you join the plot.


Thank you!

Once more the two arrows have agreed to convene outside of the sewage processing plant that has been the center and focus on several strange events over the last few years. Last time boggled down by growing fears and communication issues they had beat a retreat before learning all to much of what had brought mages to the scene before or what had lead to the mass murder. The however discover a spirit court present and functioning across the gauntlet a castle of fetid filth and waste that seemed to attracted equally gross and vile spirits of filth and decay. A risk no doubt but also a potential lead. A brief foray into the communications and admin building caused the arrows to bulk at a growing sense of dread and darkness that was beyond easy description.

Now on the hot and sticky summers night the smell of human excrement and harsh chemicals it all the more over powering and the drawn of hours of sunlight have shaved down the time in which the the pair can utilize the cover of darkness by a few crucial hours. They won't be able to dilly dally if they hope to make headway before the grey light of dawn breaks.

Skye LadySin
Asclepius Jombot

[Asclepius]

The time had come for a second attempt at the espionage of the sewer works. The Arrow was hoping this time that the attempt this time would be a little better but he knew the world did not work this way. He had held his frustrations at having to leave and being defeated by the growing fears that had overwhelmed him. This time however he would not easily give in to such fears and he would at least take some risks to getting the answers he needed.

Parking his car around the corner once more and keeping his mask and gloves in his pockets for now. His attire kept the same as the last attempt, black shirt and jumper with black jogging bottoms and black trainers, keeping to dark colours to hide in the shadows. He made his way to a location outside the walls of the sewer plant and a little distance away to meet with Skye once again. I hope some time of reflection has given her some ideas of how to progress as well.
The smell in the air was not something he wanted to be back into but he did not get to choose the location of these occurrences. The Arrow did wonder if the Spirits were still gathered or if they had dispersed this time but he would gain those answers in time, he did intend on peeking across the gauntlet once more.

For a moment he took a moment to look around to survey the current landscape and see if Skye had beaten him here or if there was anyone lurking around at this time of night.

Perception - 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-07-14 15:51:43	Asclepius rolls 5 to Perception (Wits 2 + Comp 3) (10 Again)	7, 10, 10, 4, 6, 7, 7	2 successes

Gear

Ski mask x1 (in pocket)
Male Gloves (In pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Wedding ring (worn)
Smartphone (in pocket set to vibrate)
Car keys (in pocket)
Combat knife (dedicated tool in sheath attacked on belt)
Flashlight (in pocket)
Pepper Spray (in pocket)

Spells

None Currently

Stats

Health:
Mana and Willpower:
Defense: 2
Speed: 10
Initiative: 6
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 0/3
Active spells: 0/6
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Caution to risk, fear to folly the balance was ever one that had to be readjusted, re-evalurted and ultimately held up to the imperfect knowledge of any given situation. had he been right to mark a retreat or had fear really gotten then better of him? Maybe the arrow would find out on this short dark wretched evening.

Taking care and caution he takes in the surrounding industrial elements outside the walls of the plant itself, his car parked behind one such building to keep it from sight and provide a means of swift extraction if it could be reached. So far no sign of the first talon greets him, no carving in the wall, no note, message or signal tied off to a railing or pipe and no Skye herself. Otherwise things are much as he had left them at least as far as the slowly rusting, slowly rotting fallen world would have him believe, buildings of a dilapidated nature he could climb to view over the erected wall, the wall itself prevent clear vision of his goal. The bright light of the floodlights seeming almost like a joke despite the dark as the light invoked ideas of heat and the night was hot and sticky enough without them. The scent of human waste and harsh chemicals burn slightly with each breath, the sound of industrial machines humming in the background.

[Asclepius]

Moments pass, time ticked on, all that greeted those that would listen was the hum of machines. The First Talon left no signs of her arrival and to some degree the Talon did expect to be here first as he was last time. One down side of the current season, other then the heat making the air barely tolerable here, was that the amount of darkness was shorter. Every moment counted when it came to getting away before first light.

I would have thought that she would have been close by to either meet me or catch up with me... ah well, no messing around this time. Let's see if there are any spirits to communicate with before searching across the gauntlet fully.

The Arrow's logic was that perhaps a wandering spirit was around to spare him the further magical strain of calling out to an area in the shadow that, when last checked, was very densely populated.
With the use of his enlightened will, he attempted to bring forward the ability to speak and see the spirits in Twilight.

Spirit Tongue - 3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-07-17 16:37:23	Asclepius rolls 6 to Spirit Tongue (Spirit 3 + Gnosis 3) (10 Again)	10, 10, 1, 6, 9, 3, 3, 7	3 successes

Spirit Tongue:
Spirit●
Practice: Knowing
Action: Instant
Duration: Prolonged (one scene)
Aspect: Covert
Cost: None

With the Spell taken hold, the Arrow brings his phone up to his ear. With a small sense of luck, anyone that was out for a walk, unlikely as it was, would at least see a man chatting on the phone instead of talking to himself like a mad man.

Now to see if there is any Spirit lurking around in Twilight.

With phone brought up to his ear, he gave a look around in hopes of spotting some entity and then prayed it would willingly talk without another spell needed.

Gear

Ski mask x1 (in pocket)
Male Gloves (In pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Wedding ring (worn)

Smartphone (held to face, set to vibrate)
Car keys (in pocket)
Combat knife (dedicated tool in sheath)
Flashlight (in pocket)
Pepper Spray (in pocket)

Spells

Spirit Tongue

Stats

Health:
Mana and Willpower:
Defense: 2
Speed: 10
Initiative: 6
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 1/3
Active spells: 1/6
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

I do really appreciate all the spell info, your really going above and beyond there! but just the link to the spell is fine

Still alone, still waiting Asclepius makes the executive decision to begin his probing. Choosing to start with what came easiest, and what was among the safer option for dealing with spirits the arrow loses sight and awareness of the fallen world to peer past the corners of reality that normally pressed itself agasint his senses and instead he perceives the washout out grey of twilight the spiritual significance of most of what is here should be he expects none existent urban area usually drove spirits away. But Some did flourish and he knows all to well a spirit court resides just past the gauntlet.

Most of the buildings in the industrial park lack the spark of significance he is looking for they just do to matter enough and the wall around the sewage plant is far to new to have gained anything relent, if he could step into twilight he could walk straight past where it should be with no problems at all. Scattered motes of essence to drift lazily around the area they themselves not yet anything more then food for spirits but each with its own potential to become more should time and events take the course that allowed for them to do so.

Casting his awareness out through the grey fairly featureless plane he does however settle on something a generator powering some building a few alleyways down is present the ticking and thrumming of its parts still quite audible in the otherwise quit place and in the shadow of this generator what looks to be a plant pushing through cracks in the ground it's stem is made of concrete it's leaves of metal and beads of oil glisten where water should, it is small a sprout only a few inches tall but it is by appearance undeniably a spirit of some kind.

[Asclepius]

With the ability to look around in the realm of twilight, he was not surprised at the lack of presences. When he was last here, he did identify that there was an ongoing Spirit Court that was gathering within the sewer plant. Given the environment, the Arrow was simply happy that there was something to observe here, he did fear that he would again need to look across the gauntlet to see anything of spiritual significance.

Eyes wandering, he looks for anything that could resemble a spirit to communicate with. It did not seem that there was much to choose from, perhaps because of the Spirit Court, but there was at least something that caught his eye. In the shadow of a power generator, what appears to be a small concrete and metallic flower came to bloom. Well that is certainly more pleasant then the last Spirit I met on an investigation. Fingers crossed it does not have a request I can not provide.

Phone to the ear, the Arrow moves towards the Flower by the Power generator. His movements were slow, careful and calm. This was due to the possibility that this Spirit may get spooked if he quickly made his way over to it and cornered it into conversation. I hope Skye does not mind me beginning without her, I at least hope she doesn't run in without me. This is possibly a good lead on what happened.

Once close by to the Flower Spirt, the Arrow attempts to strike up communication with it, his eyes looking at its metallic petals as he speaks. “Hello there, Sorry to bother you so late, would it be possible for a quick chat?” His choice of words were a sort of deception that he was making a phone call to any onlookers, however unlikely it may be.

Gear

Ski mask x1 (in pocket)
Male Gloves (In pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Wedding ring (worn)
Smartphone (held to head, set to vibrate)
Car keys (in pocket)
Combat knife (dedicated tool in sheath)
Flashlight (in pocket)
Pepper Spray (in pocket)

Spells

Spirit Tongue

Stats

Health:
Mana and Willpower:
Defense: 2
Speed: 10
Initiative: 6
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 1/3
Active spells: 1/6
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Pushing through the gauntlet is difficult for spirits, remaining on this side even harder as they burned through essence rather quickly with out a fetter and even then it was no guarantee of being able to endure outside their native habitat. Exceptions exist of course, certain numina, certain spirits, certain conditions. It was a complex mess of a flow chart that often had options that never even appeared on the chart to start with. All in all it is not all to surprising that spirits don't flood the twilight space and the influence they could have on the fallen world if they did, well that might be for the best. Still it seems he has caught this one either popping over for a visit, fleeing he court perhaps? newly formed? Once again the possibilities remain many until such an effort is made to narrow them down.

With the sound of cracking stone the stem of the flower seems to sway slightly in his direction as the arrow voices his greeting with his phone pressed against his ear, the metallic metal shudder just slightly and in doing so create a high pitched whining noise a grating that is unpleasant on the ear yet by virtue of his spell the arrow understand this is speech. "Hello, who are you?" Small simple and direct.

[Skye]

Rushing through the streets, having spent far to long trying to make up plans, counter plans in case they ran into the bastards from starbucks, and to gain differing views of things still pissed that the one that actually had all information they could need had decided to mostly just leave without sharing it or holding his part.

Hurrying as much as she could, cursing her lateness until arriving at the area, immediately starting her search for her fellow arrow, worried something might have happened. Powerful as he were in the ways of arcana so if the chance of Sleepers around along with Athena´s presence would they have started to move in was a risk that did not sit well within her mind, unsure how such an encounter would end, or worse if she had brought a partner more suitable for the job for that matter.

Pulling the symbols floating around herself close, wrapping her body in them as she gets closer towards the area, melting out over her skin and shooting out a disruptive shimmer of breaking light to make herself Invisibility to machines.

Invisibility to machines, 4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-07-20 09:02:05	Skye rolls 7 to invisibility to machines (forces+gnosis+ex-1/tol) (10 Again)	6, 7, 8, 10, 3, 1, 9, 8	4 successes

Scanning desperately around, ignoring anything and everyone that wasn´t either him or danger finding him was the only thing that mattered right now.

Perception, 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-07-20 08:58:08	Skye rolls 4 to Perception (wit+com) (10 Again)	2, 8, 7, 9	2 successes

Not relaxing until spotting him, breathing in relief and leaning back waiting, not wanting to interrupt what he was currently doing, just making sure to place herself in such a way as to make it easy for him to spot her. Sipping a little water and patiently waiting.

Gear

Hand towel (in pouch), light black gloves covering her hands and fingers, knivesx2 (+1), kevlar vest thin under shirt, LED flashlight (small), dark balaclava hood (not on), copy of city map for the area around plant (roughly 3 mile radius) folded, athletic running shoes, dark none descript clothes, wooden coin necklace (dedicated tool, around her neck under shirts). Dark leather medium pouch strapped to her leg, canteen, (50cl water filled), 5cl plastic bottle X3, .

Spells

[4/3$] Combo pulse of the living world and Organic Resilience (armor 5, cloaked)
[9$] Body Mastery +3 (Cloaked)
[9R$] Honing the form Dex (+5, cloaked)

[1] Invisibility to machines.

Stats

Health:
Mana:
Defense: 2 (7 when dodging)
Speed: 14/19
Initiative: 7/12
Willpower:
Armor: Organic resilience 5, Kevlar vest thin 1/2(bulletproof), Iron Skin 1/bashing
Spell tolerance: 5/3
Spell control: 4/6
Paradox spells cast: 0

Notes

Hair temporary colored black, hands/wrists/face/neck/ears covered in simple makeup to give herself a healthy Caucasian appearance.

Apologies for my extreme delay in joining, matters are mostly settled and calm again now though.

[Asclepius]

A smile formed as the flower responded to him. While the sound was unpleasant to his ear, he was happy at least that it was willing to communicate with him. “I have come to talk, I harbour no ill will towards you and will leave you alone if you wish it.” Wishing to get straight to the point as time was of the essence. “There was a noticeable event in the area at [date/time] have there been any whispers on what happened? If you do not know anything, if you know someone that would know something, I would ask if you could point me in their direction.”

For clarification, the date of event being referred to is the one where the four mages went into the sewer plant originally.

While he stands their with his phone up to his ear like a phone call, he catches something in the corner of his eye and looks over briefly. He spots someone staring at him and he looks a little concerned before returning his gaze to the flower. Oh god please let that be Skye.

Gear

Ski mask x1 (in pocket)
Male Gloves (In pocket)
Kevlar vest thin (Worn under shirt)
Wedding ring (worn)
Smartphone (in pocket set to vibrate)
Car keys (in pocket)
Combat knife (dedicated tool in sheath)
Flashlight (in pocket)
Pepper Spray (in pocket)

Spells

Spirit Tongue

Stats

Health:
Mana and Willpower:
Defense: 2
Speed: 10
Initiative: 6
Armor: 1 /2 Kevlar vest thin (1 /2)
Spell tolerance: 1/3
Active spells: 1/6
Paradox spells cast: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Just a reminder that occ boxes used to clarify IC actions have no bearing. What happens IC is what happens. They are useful for tracking mechanics and powers that have been used but not changing the details of what has happened. In this instance that is to say if Asclepius can't convey the vent he means IC the spirit won't know, it can't read the OCC box to get the clarification.

Skye rushes into the area well aware time has begun to move on already, casting as she does so to protect herself from any machine recording, she does indeed spot her fellow arrow although the same cant be said of him as his awareness is focused elsewhere right now.

The metallic grating reverberations sound again. "I have not been long. I know not of this thing. Many others gather beyond the wall. The court, the court. It would know of what happens on it's doorstep. The sound of the count of swarming rats, it can be heard. Many eyes does the count have. The count would know."