Please be sure to mentally separate what you know and read from what your character may or may not know. This is turning out to be a nice little mystery story…
The
Mile Higher Club: the story so far.
Index of bookmarks, by setting locations. Page by page summary below.
Los Angeles International Airport and
environs, August 2007
A hotel in Anaheim, Bat’s Day Bazaar, a
Saturday in August 2007
What happened that day:
Corat meets Mitchim on a plane via a note left in the seat pocket. Pepito teases Mitch from his seat, but Corat
prevents him from chasing the Impudite through the airport. They get word from Rina-el that someone will
attempt summoning an angel at a Goth convention, and the party goes to prevent
it. They see Gavin Russo possessed by
“the Dark Man” doing an ineffectual ritual, Pepito participating in it, and
Ryuki Watari present though his reason for being there is unclear. In a fit of anger, Ryuki banishes Pepito.
Various locations, September 2007
“The Blue Dog” coffeehouse, off Fairfax in
Los Angeles, September 2007
A suite on Century Boulevard near LAX,
September 2007
What happened that day:
Flustered from the effects of his Discord, Corat disappears for a
week. Laurence taps his angel Shenmachel
to join the project and he meets with them at a coffeehouse, where they’re
recognized from the Goth convention.
Corat calls Ryuki to set up a meeting to discover what he knows.
Los Angeles, late night November 2nd
2007
Eli’s Tether, a soul food restaurant
in the heart of Watts, November 2nd-3rd 2007
An apartment complex in Watts
and en route, November 2nd-3rd 2007
Rina-el’s home, early morning November
3rd 2007
A parking lot in Los Angeles,
approximately 7 am, November 3rd 2007
Rina-el’s home, morning November 3rd
2007
What happened that night:
the “Dark Man” aka Baron Samedi makes his move, using demonic gang
contacts to break up an All Soul’s Night celebration and truce at a cemetery. He
possesses Gavin Russo and walks down the middle of the carnage, taking three
bullets. The party finds out about this
through news sources, and Corat receives a text message from Ryuki who had
heard the Disturbance from
The rest of the party meets at Rina-el’s apartment to attempt to
make plans, but the tension between them is huge and needs to be dealt
with. Archangels Marc and Yves contribute
to the effort, identifying their “Dark Man” as the Baron Samedi and offering
wisdom on how to deal with Corat’s recently uncovered Discord. They decide collectively to exorcise Pepito
from his vessel and present the dead vessel as an accidental death to soften
the blow for his grieving mother. And
someone has pawned a Nazi war dagger, an apparent bid to get Shenmachel’s
attention.
Corat’s apartment, Ontario California,
afternoon November 6th 2007
What happened that day:
Corat offers the use of his apartment for the exorcism, and a new member
of the party is introduced.
Eliza’s dad’s house, Riverside
California, November 9th, 2007 evening
Corat’s apartment, Ontario California,
November 9th 2007 night
Corat’s apartment, Ontario Calfiornia,
November 9th 2007 night
Eliza’s dad’s house and adjoining orange
groves, Riverside California, November 9th 2007 night
Corat’s apartment, Ontario California,
November 9th night
What happened that night: Pepito attempts to murder Eliza, his
brother and his brother’s friends.
Instead he is captured by the angels with the odd assistance of his
superior Vato. They take him to Corat’s
apartment where a priest and his Sword handler have prepared an exorcism. The angels question Pepito, and then he is
exorcised. His idiot remnant creates
some confusion about redemption but is finally laid to rest in the ambulance
with a draft of poisoned beer.
Various locations, Los Angeles and
environs, November 10th through 16th, 2007
What happened that week:
The party meets with their Superiors and with each other, and Corat
arranges a meeting with his “Little Boss” at the airport Sunday night.
LAX concourse bar, November 18th
to 19th 2007, wee hours Sunday night to Monday morning
Janus’ tether, a commercial
airliner on the tarmac at LAX, November 19th 2007 wee hours
LAX and environs, November 19th
2007 wee hours
What happened that night:
Corat introduces Steve the copilot and Marty the pilot of the plane that
happens to house Janus’ tether. The
party confronts him with his faux-blasé attitude about attending the
Breckenridge funeral, Da’at in particular pushing Corat to take care of his own
needs for once. When the mere mention of
Pepito upsets him he confesses to a Discord that can be attributed to the demon
and that he himself failed to see. When
asked why he was so angry he tells them the story of his trial over the
pilgrimage to Yasukuni. His boss Ihi’Velga
interrupts with a phone call to come on board and debrief her. Velga gives them
relic-knives but alienates Rina-el, who leaves.
The party travels to
Offscreen i.e. in PM, Da’at’s
conversation with Velga is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Valefor in
the vessel of a small child. The
Disturbance wakes Ryuki who attempts to defend the cockpit from the intruding
demon. Thankfully the Demon Prince’s
interest is in the relics in back, and the Seneschal Derek puts the sorcerer
back in his seat. Valefor steals one of
Michael’s relics.
San Francisco International Airport,
November 19th 2007, early Monday morning
Gabriel’s tether, the Palace Hotel,
November 19th 2007
Gabriel’s volcano, on “the ladder”
pathway near the crater, November 19th 2007
Standing stones at the foot of the volcano, November
19th, 2007
Flatlands at the foot of Gabriel’s volcano, November 19th,
2007
Gabriel’s tether at the Palace Hotel, November 19th,
2007, afternoon
Tradewinds Pawn Shop, Los Angeles, and
Marty Lehri’s home, Castro District, San Francisco,
and
Pacific World Bank, 5th-6th
floor, financial district, San Francisco,
Afternoon, November 19th,
2007
Bus stop outside a convenience store, Los Angeles, and
Marty Lehri’s home, Castro District, San Francisco,
and
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district, San Francisco,
Afternoon, November
19th, 2007
Bus stop outside a convenience store, Los Angeles, and
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district, San Francisco,
Afternoon, November
19th, 2007
Bus
stop outside a convenience store, Los Angeles, and
En route to the Palace Hotel tether, San Francisco
and
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district, San Francisco,
Afternoon, November
19th, 2007
Bus
stop outside a convenience store, Los Angeles, and
En route to the Palace Hotel tether, San Francisco
Afternoon, November
19th, 2007
What happened that day: Offscreen i.e. in PM Shenmachel arrives
first to the airport where he runs into Ryuki and Marty, who apparently know
each other. He converses with Ryuki but
provokes the man, unaware of the incident on the plane less than an hour
earlier.
Mitchim, Da’at, Ash, and Zahira arrive at the same time as Ryuki’s
bodyguard Scott and together they defuse the situation. Zahira notes that Ryuki seems to have had a
runin with a Lilim, possibly Ruby. Corat calls from inside Michael’s camp where
his (middle) Boss orders Velga “Little Boss” to satisfy Laurence’s Malakim
squad’s questions about the breach of the Wind tether. Shenmachel tells the party in detail his
history with the Habbalite M’ranoch Atel.
The party decides that the Loa must be their first priority despite
Ash’s gut feeling of a betrayal that needs correcting.
The murder of a storefront psychic hits the news, and the details
strongly suggest it is a message from the Habbalite. The group breaks briefly
for research and welcomes a new member, a scrappy Soldier of Fire named Sunae.
Together they enter the
Sunae describes her family legacy to Corat and Ash. The party decides the Habbalite is next on
their agenda.
The party runs into the Dylan brothers wandering the
The party splits three ways:
Mitchim to his pawnshop back in
Mitchim discoves that a ‘replica’ designer watch has been pawned
at his shop by an apparent demon and calls the demon to investigate. Thankfully that demon, a djinn and possible
Renegade, has some useful information about the Habbalite they’re interested
in. He provides them with that demon’s
address, at least the address where he bought the weapon he used to kill the
fortuneteller—a rusty machete. The djinn knows Rina-el as Jasmine and knows her to be an angel,
but trusts her and her contacts.
Zahira and Corat hear the tale of how the Wind tether was created,
told by the pilot who created it unawares.
They also see to it that any divine help he gets in having a child is
from the Divine and no longer from the Baron.
The reason they’re having trouble having children is that Marty’s gender
is ambiguous, so Zahira calls on her Faith attunement for a miracle.
Sunae observes quietly at first, and Ash throughout, as Shenmachel
tries to discover what trust he broke with Ryuki to set the Cherub’s resonance
off. Seeing them getting nowhere Sunae
steps in and eventually understands that Ryuki is seeing a ledger imbalance and
is feeling cheated, unbearable coming from an angel. Once they both understand the problem
Shenmachel and Ryuki are able to correct it.
(pg 1) (Page numbers are
based on ten posts per page)
August
2007
Mitchim, Seraph of Trade, is on a
commercial flight home to
His mother cuffs the kid over the head, tells him to knock it off, and confiscates the kid’s fuzzbox. Mitchim walks past the little demon and warns him to behave, getting a typical teenager’s response of powerless mockery.
When the plane lands Mitchim is unable to catch up with the teen and his mother, in part because the mysterious blonde man shakes his head, signaling that it’s not worth the chase through the airport. Mitch takes the man aside and asks him who he is, and while leading him through a wild goose chase through the airport parking lot he introduces himself as Corat, an Ofanite of the Wind at the moment inhabiting the body of L.A. artist Alx LeDante, with whom he as an arrangement.
(pg 2)
Corat describes his role as John Wyatt,
U.S. Federal Air Marshall. Mitchim hands him a business card as the owner
of Tradewinds Pawnshop, and Corat is happily surprised to be talking to a
local. As he’s describing
On the other end is Jasmine, Corat’s Mercurian friend and information clearinghouse. She has an explanation for why Pepito was on that plane—to make contact with Ryuki Watari, by reputation one of the very few genuine theurges in the State of California. He will apparently be attending a gothic convention offshoot of “Release the Bats” where an unnamed sorceror may be playing with real power and innocent bystanders.
What Corat does not disclose is that Ryuki is an old friend of his, who has been attempting to summon angels for years without success. Theirs is a very odd friendship. Corat simply mentions that Ryuki can summon demons, and hints that he’ll get angels one of these days.
“Bat’s
Day” a Saturday in August 2007
(between entries 17
& 18—live chat “Release the Bats”)
Mitchim and Corat reach a Bright Lilim to
help them check on this ritual, hoping it’s harmless but prepared to deal with
it if it is not. Nain scouts around the sights of Bat’s Day, noting the
happy and perky Goths milling around the
Seeing that Corat has ruined any chance of subtlety, Mitchim enters the room. Four beefy men previously in the circle step out of the circle and block the door, sending Corat into Ofanite fits. Ryuki seems unperturbed, pulling a small stone jar out of his pocket, anointing it with some kind of oil, and focusing on it. Gideon, the sword-fixated Goth that Nain has possessed, charges Ryuki and cleaves the jar in pieces. The Dark Man smiles and announces to his audience that there are angels in their midst—their summoning was successful. Pepito is laughing hysterically. Corat is freaking out, his Symphony beginning to slip notes. And a humiliated Ryuki, having seen all of his objectives fail, lashes out in anger. Pepito’s laughter ends suddenly and he drops unconscious to the floor. Mitchim and Nain convince the beefy guys to unblock the door—in part by setting off the fire sprinklers—and get out before much more damage is done.
September
2007
(from #18)
Corat’s role John Wyatt, Federal Air Marshall, takes a week’s vacation. He never takes vacations. What he has done, when he hasn’t been moping, is track down some information on the Dark Man and the fallout from their misadventure. He’s also had a meeting with his boss who was not pleased, and told him to gather Seraphim for the battles ahead. Corat doesn’t like Seraphim but would never disobey, though wonders if the order is as much about improving him as gaining any more tangible rewards. He was also told to find someone who could get inside a demonic organization, to learn who their enemy was.
He learned that the Dark Man is a two-bit sorceror named Gavin Russo whose behavior has recently become erratic and self-destructive.
(pg 3)
Meanwhile, the archangel Laurence has sent
one of his own Seraphim to
(pg 4)
There while sussing out each other, the two Seraphim are approached by Jasmine, who Corat so far has been keeping from them. Silly Windy, does he think he can keep an information broker from finding things out?
The “Blue Dog” coffeehouse, off
September
2007
(pg 5)
Once she realizes she has the right Mitch, Jasmine gives him a big, sloppy, and wholly undignified hug. It’s hard to say whether she really likes people in general, or just likes to make Seraphim squirm. Either way she introduces herself as Corat’s “old flame”.
Elsewhere Aaron Reliford, social worker and
motivational speaker, is flying into
(pg 6)
Jasmine is Rina-el, Mercurian of Flowers. Gerhard, Seraph of the Sword, must secretly be glad she hadn’t hugged him…yet. They head over to the Blue Dog.
The blonde man introduces himself as a fellow ‘singer’ and asks Aaron if he’s willing to help him look into the business with the sorcerors.
(pg 7)
Nain is surprised—and a bit concerned—that Mitch brought two new faces to what was supposed to be a private conversation, but he quickly eases her fears and introduces them as discreetly as he can. Jasmine checks the room to see if their entrance has created any strong feelings, and while Mitch has been recognized there doesn’t seem to be anyone intending to harm them.
(pg 8)
While they’re getting acquainted, Corat in Alx’s body calls Nain and tells her he has one more person to help them. He claims to have a social expert coming in, but that he has to return Alx’s body to his apartment before he can meet up and explain.
Rina-el/Jasmine introduces herself as the information broker for the area, and an exotic dancer. She also connects Ryuki to the Dark Man, about whom she can get almost no other information.
(pg 9)
Nain describes the ritual to them, plus the
disturbing revelation that when she looked at the Dark Man’s destiny, he didn’t
have one. Gerhard expresses the opinion that sorcerors should be ‘put to
the sword’, and that
As Jasmine offers to clean up the club where Nain felt abused as an exotic dancer—apparently not realizing that she meant the Shal-Mari—a group of gothic teenagers wanders into the Blue Dog. One of them recognizes Mitchim from the Bats Bazaar ritual and asks him point-blank, “Are you an angel?” Jasmine and Gerhard both try to interpose, with limited success, but Mitch is an old pro. “Why would you ask that?”
The young man with her explains that they saw him at the summoning ritual, implying that he clearly wasn’t one of the Goths. Corat, with impeccable timing, walks in and ruins any hope of passing the matter off as mistaken identity, as they definitely recognize his dervishy self. Gerhard, in seraphic simplicity, introduces himself to Corat and tells him he should explain why believing as they do is a bad idea.
Jasmine, to Gerhard’s dismay, invites the kids to sit with them.
(pg 10)
Corat smiles as though making a joke, and tells the Goths that each one of them is an angel, well except maybe Nain wink nudge. A delicate balance, dissuading the young inquisitors without giving the Seraphim the bends, but he mostly pulls it off.
Aaron arrives and there’s another round of introductions, this time including the Goth young man who calls himself Jordan and his shy companion Eliza. Most of their friends stand in line for coffee, but he and his girl friend remain at the table with the angels. Corat gives Jasmine an affectionate greeting, and Nain follows his lead by asking the kids how they liked their ‘performance’ at the ritual.
(pg 11)
Aaron’s easy manner seems to make
Gerhard asks
Corat buries his head on Rina-el’s shoulder, muttering about Seraphim.
(pg 12)
After comforting the Windy, Rina-el discomforts the Sword by sitting in his lap. Gerhard asks why it’s dumb to provoke Ryuki, who Gideon is, and why they’re significant.
(#117--https://www.angelfire.com/ca2/tHEhERETIC/chatsep2807postedit.htm)
Corat explains that Ryuki is a young and gifted sorceror, which can add up to temperamental. Gideon doesn’t mean much, except that he was the body Nain was riding when she destroyed Ryuki’s jar, which in hindsight was a simple reliquary. During the conversation Corat lets slip that he has Ryuki’s phone number and a couple of his addresses—it seems he’s wealthy as well as gifted—and Gerhard “suggests” getting in touch with him to ask him a few questions. While Corat would usually consider this an exercise in creative bullsh**ing, he figures they have a chance of getting at the truth with two Seraphim along.
He calls Ryuki who answers casually, calling him ‘Corey’. He agrees to talk with him in person about the Bats Bazaar affair—in person being precisely what the angels had in mind. He says to Corat “You know my fee”, which he negotiates down to a meeting with a Seraph—also precisely what the angels had in mind. Ryuki directs them to an executive suite in the airport district, and Corat tells them they should not delay. The more time Ryuki has to wait for them, the longer he has to prepare a ‘surprise’.
Executive suites on Century Boulevard
near
Same
day in September 2007
Nain arrives first, taking a pigeon’s form and seeing through his window shades that Ryuki is doing something, perhaps tracing, around the front door frame. Gerhard, fearless, knocks on the door.
Ryuki is cordial and well-groomed, and while he has distinctly Asian manners he has not the slightest trace of a Japanese accent. He also has a set of ‘Samurai’ swords displayed on one dresser, though he confesses that they are not family heirlooms, being fifty years old at best. They are, however, functionally sharp. Despite the formalities the angels know he is up to something, whether it’s by their resonance or simply his reputation.
Aaron seemed quite perturbed to be in the same room with a professed sorceror, Gerhard uncomfortable at first though strangely more at ease as the wizard’s attention focuses on him. Corat sits quietly monitoring the situation, trying to read the room but not take sides. Nain and Jasmine are their affectionate selves, and while this makes him somewhat friendlier, Ryuki still keeps them mostly at arm’s length.
Having deduced that Gerhard is his promised guest, Ryuki asks him for his name point-blank, his sword in his hand to silence anyone who would try to speak for him. While he doesn’t get the name, he makes it clear that he understands its significance. Aaron grows increasingly hostile, and Ryuki’s grip on his sword grows just a little tighter. Gerhard is probably putting dents in Ryuki’s chair with his own grip, and the whole room is waiting for the wrong pin to drop.
Gerhard asks him why he wants to meet a Seraph, and at first his answers are honest if indirect. Gerhard pushes the issue, and Ryuki decides to toy with him despite the growing danger. “I wanted to meet you”, he said, “because you’re wholly charming. You have the most wonderful haircut”, he says, knowing full well that the obvious lies will be like cats yowling to the Seraph’s ears. Shenmachel/Gerhard explodes, booming his voice throughout the room and standing at his full height. Aaron’s rage is apparent too, and even Ryuki can’t hide his own tension. “That was silly, dear Ryuki,” says Jasmine, and he simply agrees. “What do you really want?” she asks, and the first tell that he’s truly provoked is that he addresses her by the wrong name.
“To stop calling me a devil f**ker …to see what a seraph is…(for you to understand that) I do not conspire against you.” Maybe it was Ryuki’s clear honesty, or Jasmine’s kindness, or Aaron’s new calm, or Gerhard’s pointed question about Gavin Russo, but some breakthrough had been made, and all (minus the sword in Ryuki’s hand) seemed at peace again.
What little he knows about Gavin Russo/the Dark Man, is that with his education and background there’s no way he could do anything like summoning without supernatural help. And if the angels don’t know of any demon helping him—and if demons must have destinies, which the Dark Man does not—then whatever is helping Gavin is beyond even his experience.
(pg 12 continued)
He also notes that his own name was used to publicize the event, much to his frustration. His reason for being there worked on the theory that Gavin was in league with a demon, that the demon was going to impersonate an angel; Ryuki intended to contain that demon but none appeared. He remembers, as an afterthought, that there was a demon in that room that day: Pepito.
(pg 13)
Shenmachel/Gerhard considers simply killing Pepito, but Corat reminds them that to his role’s mother he is just a teenaged son and his loss would destroy her.
To answer Gerhard’s question about the source of his sorcerous power—how it is not infernal—Ryuki explains his concept of will, and states that he would not demonstrate for fear of antagonizing his guests. Yet at that very moment while he appears to be merely meditating on his sword, the sound of the Symphony is disturbed. Corat calls him on it, but he admits to nothing.
Nain pulls Rina-el discreetly aside and describes the activity she saw before they arrived. Did he set a trap for them? Why is Corat not worried? Is any of this related to the disturbance we just heard? The lady angels compare notes on how to deal with the situation, with the Flower certain that violence will not be necessary. Gracefully, sweetly, casually, Rina-el asks him, “Did you set a trap for us?”
Ryuki is evasive.
Aaron, his hostile-act dropped, watches carefully.
(pg 14)
Corat quickly figures out what the ‘trap’ is and starts to unravel. Ryuki half-jokingly demands his original ‘fee’ which infuriates Corat even more. The double-cross itself doesn’t surprise him, but the audacity of it shocks even the old Windy. He goes to a window to remind himself that he is not in fact trapped, but his Symphony begins to slip beats anyway. The other angels are outwardly calm, even conciliatory, but it’s probably a façade.
Ryuki admits to the trap, but tells Corat to simply open the door. Aaron walks carefully to the kitchen and lays hands on Corat, singing him back to a calmer state of mind. Ryuki asks enigmatically, “Is he cured?”
Aaron steps forward, all Elohite cool, and asks “Cured of what?” but doesn’t get an answer. Everybody’s friendly and helpful, but nobody’s forgotten the celestial time-bomb in the kitchen…nobody.
(pgs 15 & 16)
The ‘trap’ turns out to be a ward, Ryuki’s own modification of the tutela, a common ward designed to keep demons out. In an act of hubris that surprises even Corat, he offers to get Mrs. Russo’s address but asks the angels to test out his ward. Shenmachel/Gerhard, ever the soldier, appears willing to lead this venture once he has some more information on the risks they face. Jasmine offers tea, and she and Mitch question Ryuki’s motives, and it’s all starting to look like a vicious game of poker.
Gerhard walks to the door…
(pg 17)
…and walks right through it, apparently unharmed. He closes the door behind him and then knocks to be readmitted. Ryuki hides his disappointment behind his cup of tea and mentally tries to work out what went wrong. On hearing the knock on the door, he asks his guests to open it. Jasmine does, letting Gerhard step into the room before giving him an enthusiastic hero’s welcome.
It has been over seven minutes since Aaron sung calm to Corat, and yet curiously Corat seems to have the munchies, as he’s poking around in Ryuki’s refrigerator. What the others don’t know—yet—is that he’s lifting a set of empty jelly jars. It isn’t rocket science to anyone who knows Ryuki what those jars are.
Gerhard admonishes Ryuki to not meddle with his betters, and while he can’t help but laugh at a hugged seraph he takes it in calmly. He thanks Gerhard for testing his ward and lets his guests know that they may “stay or go as you wish” and promises to follow up with Mrs. Russo’s address and anything else that would help with their ‘mutual problem’.
Corat enters the living room, eating sushi he’s pilfered from the refrigerator.
(pg 18)
Nain prepares to exit, but Gerhard remembers the door and asks Ryuki to remove the ward from the door. He walks towards it and abruptly finds himself on the floor. Realizing that ‘Corey’ was the culprit he takes it graciously and continues towards the doorframe, where he smears the chalk line to break the ward.
Shenmachel and Corat leave, exchanging some tense words about his relationship with the sorceror.
Rina-el waits discreetly for the others to leave, then compliments Ryuki on his ward. Then she lets him see her in all her celestial glory, and he is awed, overwhelmed, still standing but not much else. She lets herself out, intercepting Shenmachel who feared the worst when he heard her Song.
(pg 19)
The group of angels decide they need to meet somewhere discreet and share what they know, in particular to discuss Pepito who is looking less and less like a mere bystander. Jasmine/Rina-el of course offers her place for a meeting and the strip club to relax afterwards, and Mitchim offers his shop and apartment. He also spares Shenmachel yet more uncomfortable affection by offering to drive him where he wants to go. He asks for a local church, the Visitation, where his refreshment is considerably more solemn than a show and a massage, but to him infinitely more relaxing.
(pg 20)
The Seraphim spend a quiet afternoon at the church, comparing notes but not-making small talk as Seraphim are inclined to do. Peter goes to his Law Enforcement conference and Mitchim back to his pawn shop, after expressing his anxiety about Ryuki and his attempts to summon angels. Elsewhere Corat notes he is glad the Seraphim are on this team, despite his usual dislike of them.
Rina-el/Jasmine meanwhile has invited Nain and Corat to come enjoy a show. Corat, always clueless about women, nonetheless tags along and enjoys a good brew. Jasmine sets up a pair of bar patrons to romance, and until the news report (and the hellacious celestial disturbance) shows up all is well with the world.
Time passes, and southern
Gang violence is considered normal too, but the festival of Dia de los Muertos/All Soul’s Night used to be sacred, a time when grudges were put aside to honor the dead. Something—something that made an infernally loud noise in the Symphony—broke that peace this year. Seven dead and countless wounded, and an eyewitness describing a crazy white man walking through the chaos taking at least one bullet without apparent effect. And a celestial disturbance of painfully loud proportions… The angels know ‘The Corps’ will soon be here to prosecute the offending demons, The Corps being a famously efficient task force under the Archangel of War.
(pg 21)
Driving towards Eli’s tether in
(pg 22)
Neither Nain nor Rina-el is particularly
eager to meet The Corps, given their near-legendary reputation for War-like
behavior, and Corat tries to set their minds at ease. Separately Shenmachel has
heard the disturbance and knows The Corps is coming, and is concerned that
they’ll be less cautious than they should. He also suggests reaching
Gavin Russo directly rather than going through his ex-wife, and Rina-el reveals
that she has acquired his address. Aaron wants to rule out that angels
and not demons have caused this disturbance, and the entire Mile Higher Club
converges on the only Heavenly tether in
Eli’s tether, a soul
food restaurant in the heart of
After
Between posts #215 and
#216: chat session “The Dogs of War”
Nain talks with Aaronebat, and Shenmachel is occupied in a back room. They are all greeted by Elias, a Mercurian and the Seneschal of this tether. He has been through it tonight, his restaurant having served as a makeshift community hospital and counseling center during the All Soul’s Night fight. From what the witnesses have told him, a group of young black men opened fire for no apparent reason, and others returned fire. That those men are not known in the community is his best comfort, for despite their gang insignia identifying them as ‘Crips’ the community might simply see them as outsiders. The description of the blanco loco is similar to Gavin Russo except that he is described as ‘skinny’. They discuss going to the cemetery to see the scene of the crime, but decide to stay where The Corps is most likely to land first. Nain joins the discussion on which demons might be responsible for this mess.
Mitchim goes to the back room to find out what Elias knows, and The Corps arrives. A fearsome group, Corat nonetheless addresses one of them, Kyle, by his name, and Kyle greets him formally but also by name. He asks Corat for a quick rundown of what they know, while Ulysses—clearly their commander—eyes Nain and Rina-el, and asks him who they are. Kyle shakes Rina-el’s hand but pulls back at Nain’s. Corat introduces three of the five in The Corps as Ulysses a Seraph of War, Kyle a Cherub of Stone, and Guadalupe an Ofan of the Sword, all in service to Michael. He also tells Rina-el to drop her protest at how they treat Nain.
Lupe, the team’s interrogator, leads the discussion. She asks what happened and how this “Dark Man” and gang war concerns them. Rina-el notes Gavin’s attempt to summon angels at Bat’s Day, something that piques Kyle’s interest. Ulysses keeps The Corps focused on the more immediate matter, the shooters and the crazy white man at the cemetery. A fourth Corpsman, sensing his commander’s unease, approaches Nain and whispers something in her ear. When he gets the response he wants, he nods to Ulysses who relaxes a bit. The others follow his lead, seeming more at ease with whatever the fourth angel has found.
The conversation flows more freely between Kyle and the ladies, focusing on Gavin Russo and what he did at Bat’s Day, and whether it was he at the cemetery. The fourth angel—Atticus—whispers something to Ulysses that makes him stare at Corat, even as Nain notes the presence of Ryuki Watari at Bat’s Day. Ulysses folds his arms across his chest and asks the ladies about Ryuki, and their answer is flattering, bordering on girlish. Ulysses is not impressed, and Kyle seems to be having suspicions about Corat. Rina-el makes tea for everyone, but The Corps does not accept. Nain and Rina-el propose the theory that Saminga is behind the madness, a demon leading a sorceror leading demons.
Ulysses, having heard what he needed, says he’s going to find Gavin…and then Ryuki. Nain and Rina-el argue the point, suggesting that a visit from The Corps might alienate a neutral party who is possibly an ally. Ulysses seems offended at being told what he should and should not pursue, and instructs his men (and woman) to take Corat with them, escorting him out even as his team protests.
An apartment complex
in
After
From http://maroon-ed.livejournal.com/88687.html
And spanning entries
#217 to 219
The Corps takes a nervous Corat away to their van, where his former fellow recruit Kyle socks him in the arm to let him know he’s not in any serious trouble. It seems that The Corps, while being a fearsome force, is also a tight little group of soldiers who found the whole encounter rather funny. Atticus notes that the party has a prominent interest in Ryuki. Sure enough, Ryuki calls Corat to ask if he’s okay, signaling to them all that one of the Club has let him in on recent events. The van pulling up to Gavin Russo’s apartment cuts their banter short.
The Corps walked brazenly with Corat into
the apartment complex, and Watts being
The Dark Man chose that moment to possess Gavin, to sneak up behind the war angels and declare that he could never die. Lupe reacted—Wheel of the Sword living up to her nature well—taking off his head with her sword. The angels cringe as the sound of a human’s death echoes across the Symphony and around the small room.
The Corps gets back into their van and heads towards the Breckenridge house, to deal with Pepito. On the way Ulysses receives a call from a superior officer with orders that Corat is to have no contact with Pepito, cutting short their mission to eliminate Pepito. Irritated, he gives Corat one week to get his team to finish off the Impudite.
#216 to #220
Rina-el steps out to make a phone call,
telling the others to meet at her place in two or three hours. Shenmachel
also seems to have a phone call to make once he gets to Rina-el’s place.
It is now approximately 4 a.m. in
(pg 23)
Rina-el listens quietly to the Symphony,
letting the silence of Saturday morning in
Approximately
7 am Pacific Time, November 3rd 2007
From http://maroon-ed.livejournal.com/88687.html
Ulysses, being a Seraph, feels the need to make good on his promise to check on Ryuki. However since he does not see him as a threat, he simply asks Corat where he is with a smile, and sends a Kyriotate friend to confirm it. Instead of being comforted by the light touch, Ulysses sees his old recruit coming near a meltdown and realizes that it is simply because his legs are blocking the door. Disturbed by the Ofan’s oversensitivity, Ulysses tells Kyle to have a long talk with him, and then sends him on an errand to the high desert to pick him some sage—putting him out of the city long enough to soothe his resonance.
November
3rd, 2007 morning
(pg 24)
Shenmachel greets the arriving Nain and awkwardly offers her tea. He attempts to call Corat but gets only his voice mail.
(flashback—Aaron remembers) Aaron has found that hanging around the Tradewinds is a pleasant diversion and seems to be connecting with Mitch in that way. The guy pawning the dagger had recognized Aaron and talked his ear off, but left the angels unsatisfied with the information he gave. A quick check into the dagger’s history came up blank.
Nain conveys to Shenmachel what Yves had told her—that Corat was being dragged to his fate by Pepito, and that Shenmachel’s restraint or failure of could be pivotal in this. Pepito has him concerned as well. Jasmine overheard this while preparing the dining table for their meeting—she’s aware that Pepito is Corat’s “chew toy” but wonders now if there’s something more to that. Shenmachel suggests sitting by rank, and holding the topic until the others arrive.
(pg. 25)
A small disturbance ripples across
While waiting for the others, Nain asks Rina-el how she manages to keep calm amongst the violence of Los Angeles, and she answers with an anecdote about a kid who was saved by rescuing a nest of falcons…one light in a larger darkness. Mitch and Aaron arrive, and Rina-el spares them any unwanted hugs before returning to her conversation with Nain. There she notes that Yves has promised to talk to Michael about finding their errant Windy.
(pg 26)
The Club sits at Rina-el’s dining room table in rank order, colored pens ready for a formal meeting. Nain nominates Mitchim for recordkeeping and tells what she knows: the shooting that took place the night before, Gavin Russo’s history and lack of Destiny, Corat being dragged to fate by Pepito, Yves’ words on restraint, and Yves granting her a new Distinction allowing her to emulate an Ofanite, his promise to talk to Michael about bringing Corat back and assurance that he would come back. Rina-el congratulates her but wants the others to say their piece before she speaks.
(OOC post #254 contains
an approximate timeline of the events of in-game November 2nd to 3rd)
Mitchim opens the discussion with some
questions, and Shenmachel takes the floor. His
Rina-el is clearly bothered by the prospect of violence and worried of its impact on Corat, but she cannot see another way. Citing his friendship with Corat, she suggests involving Ryuki.
(pg 27)
Shenmachel states that he does not believe they’ll need a sorceror on this. He explains how Pepito replaced the boy Chris Breckenridge after an apparently fatal auto accident, and how Chris has a brother Glen whose whereabouts are unknown. He also tells Rina-el that he has clear orders: kill Russo and Pepito.
Corat calls Rina-el to get their location and to tell them he’s on the way.
Mitchim looks down at the paper he’s been writing on and finds a chart there, a cryptic message from his archangel. He shows it to the others, and expresses reservations about involving Ryuki, fearing the young wizard would sell them out.
Rina-el cannot make sense of the chart, perhaps preoccupied with the notion of anyone having no destiny at all. She feels contacting Glen Breckenridge would help them deal with his mother and ‘brother’, and wonders what Gavin Russo is. Shenmachel makes some sense of the chart but disagrees with some of what it says, though he agrees with the others that staging a fatal accident for Pepito might be their best option.
(pg 28)
Rina-el suggests they hold Ryuki as a trump card, that she and Nain handle him with charm not available to the Seraphim.
Corat arrives seeming glad to be back with the Club, giving Rina-el a warm and lingering hug. On finding out that Mitchim’s chart is from Marc, he shakes his hand. He confesses that he has been in service to Michael, and that building this team was part of his mission. Now the Club is working for Michael in pursuit of this Dark Man.
Corat also tells them that Lupe of The Corps had killed Gavin Russo, something which clearly distresses him. Gavin, while giving up his demon associates, told The Corps nearly nothing about the Dark Man, who he plainly worshipped. Corat placed a photograph of Gavin’s altar on the table, hoping that it would lead them to the Dark Man’s identity.
(pg 29)
Shenmachel notes that Corat is not used to violence and that he got no information leading directly to the Dark Man, and Corat becomes defensive and somewhat hostile. Rina-el is discreetly supportive as the three of them attempt to hash out a plan to deal with Pepito without damning his role’s mother. Shenmachel also asks Nain whether Gideon might make a good Soldier. Nain promises to check on Gideon, and agrees with the initial plan to exorcise Pepito and kill his vessel in his absence.
(pg 30)
Mitchim agrees, and answers Shenmachel’s other concern about the Habbalite who pawned an SS dagger at his shop.
Shenmachel is still strident, asking whether anyone else feels Corat is ‘forcing’ Ryuki onto the party and whether a Demon Prince’s word (drugs) is an appropriate tool for a party of angels. He also reminds them that while he welcomes a fight with a demon he may not be armed for one.
Rina-el stands solemnly and summarizes their position. Gavin Russo is dead, but left a clue behind in the form of an altar he built to the Dark Man. Pepito is connected to both. Ryuki’s capable of helping but won’t work cheaply. A Habbalite pawned an SS knife to Mitch which may not be coincidence. In the course of summarizing she discovers the connections that may lead to Ryuki being a target of the Dark Man, possibly as a recruit.
Corat, seeing Shenmachel’s discomfort and realizing Jen Breckenridge might share it, decides Ryuki is the wrong man for the exorcism and asks Shenmachel to call on his connections. As far as the altar goes he says Ryuki is ‘the best’ and that they might provide him an alibi in exchange for his services. He lays a holy pistol on the table, telling the others that it was a loan from Atticus to whoever he felt was the coolest head in the party. He suggests Mitch. Mitch is flattered by the offer. Mitch also identifies the altar as one to a Loa.
Shenmachel reveals that he knows a priest/exorcist in service to Laurence and strongly suggests using him to banish Pepito instead of Ryuki., a Father Michael Lombardi. He suggests arranging a bathing accident, and finds alcohol slightly more acceptable than drugs to kill Pepito’s vessel.
(pg 31)
Rina-el would seek Pepito’s own salvation if that were possible. Corat seems to think that the Loa were on Heaven’s side in the war. Shenmachel suggests Corat, who cannot have direct contact with Pepito, be the one to get Jen Breckenridge safely out of the way. Rina-el seems to understand that even this involvement is too close for him, but more to the point she has taken exception to the Swordsman’s attitudes towards her sunny and peaceful ways, and walks out of the room angrily.
Corat smugly tells Shenmachel "Leading's not as easy as it looks, is it?", and attacks him with a hug for calling him Wheel, again. The tension is high, and Mitchim agrees with the idea that they all need a break. Once the two Seraphim are gone, however, it’s clear to the angels remaining that Corat’s confidence is low—after all, he had to pull Distinction rank to get Shenmachel’s attention.
Shenmachel follows Rina-el to try to get her back in the meeting, in vain. Mitchim counsels calm and cooperation.
(pg 32)
Corat tells Shenmachel that if he has questions about him that he needs to ask them sooner rather than later, and in the presence of the others. Shenmachel tells him it must wait a little while longer, but seems comfortable to have a title to call him by. Corat’s eager to clear the air, but he can’t do that with Nain and Rina-el in the far room, so he offers to bring them back inside. Nain, comforting Rina-el, reminds her that Yves spoke of this dynamic, suggesting that Shenmachel and Corat are locked in a Fate-al feedback loop over Pepito that must be broken. When Corat finds them he tries to be distant and authoritative, but he can’t resist her tears. He sits her down in a chair and offers her tissues, and talks about what fun it will be to ‘whack’ an Impudite. He then whispers something in her ear.
Nain gets a phone call from a fellow Bright Lilim named Zahira, who is in service to Khalid.
(pg 33)
Shenmachel calls the angel who minds Father
Lombardi and arranges for him to assist the team. Rina-el is distracted
and unfocused, but she manages to ask Nain whether she might impose on her to
use her choir’s gifts to better understand Shenmachel. More understanding
might be a way to reopen communication among the members of this motley
team. Mitch certainly wants that to happen, though he has to be wondering
what the Habbalite with the SS dagger has to do with any of this. Still
he has the best focus in the room and brings the team back to their immediate
problem: how best to kill Pepito. He asks who his
(pg 34)
Nain agrees to read Shenmachel’s Needs for Rina-el in the interest of their harmony. Mitchim and Shenmachel marvel at humans’ capacity to do good in a demon town. Shenmachel even compliments Corat on his homeschooling victory, and while he doesn’t seem to acknowledge it he does let the ‘Wheel’ title slide this time. It is technically correct after all, whatever his feelings about it. He still wants Shenmachel to address his doubts and ask his pointed questions immediately, but he is thwarted again by the arrival of Zahira, Bright Lilim of Faith. Rina-el greets her with her usual warmth, insight, and good food. Corat keeps his wisecracks to himself, and Shenmachel greets her formally.
(pg 35)
The good behavior doesn’t hold long, unfortunately. Corat lays out Mitchim’s chart and points out that they are in the middle of an angelic political situation. Rina-el is even blunter, referring to Shenmachel as ‘Mr. Pointy’. Mitchim pulls them back on task and Zahira worries about Pepito’s mom in their demon-slaying adventure.
(pg 36)
Still wavering between being polite and antagonizing each other, Rina-el and Shenmachel present their perspectives on the situation and suggestions on how to deal with it. He expresses trust in Khalid’s judgment of Zahira, and agrees with Rina-el that her recent experience on Hell’s side of the War will be an asset. Zahira notes the messy business of disposing of the body and the possibility that Pepito will abandon it for celestial escape. Corat notes that the latter won’t be a problem, as Pepito is vessel-bound. He does get uncomfortable at having to deceive Jen Breckenridge about the death of her ‘son’. He calls Jen for information on Pepito’s whereabouts, warning the Seraphim not to listen too closely. Mitch misconstrues the warning and puts up his resonance, getting treated to the off-notes of necessary lies. Jen tells ‘John Wyatt’ that Pepito is staying over at his new girlfriend’s house, a Goth girl named Eliza.
(pg 37)
Shenmachel notes that the exorcist Father
Lombardi will be able to keep Pepito’s celestial form trapped, though he may
not be able to keep his vessel from dematerializing. Zahira wonders aloud
if Eliza is a demon, and Rina-el recognizes her as
Rina-el notes that Eliza’s father is often gone on Friday nights, meaning that Pepito and Eliza are likely to be alone at the house then. She also plans to look into Glen, the older Breckenridge brother who’s been out of touch for awhile.
(pg 38)
Corat sits down to breakfast, deciding that they’ve gotten done as much as they’re going to. He’s annoyed that he and Shenmachel haven’t hashed out their issues, but assures Zahira that the arguments among angels are ‘details’. He offers the use of his apartment for another meeting Tuesday, and then again Friday as a base of operations while he’s out maintaining his role…and maintaining his distance from Pepito.
Shenmachel notes the private words between Rina-el and Corat with some disappointment, but keeps it to himself. It has not helped his suspicions in the least.
Monday, he leaves Mitchim a message to remember to follow up on the SS dagger.
Corat’s apartment,
It’s a comfortable little bachelor pad in
an immigrant part of the town. There’s a cabinet with some knickknacks on
it and a piece of paper sticking out between its doors, no doubt something
posted on the inside that isn’t quite tacked down. Zahira arrives early,
having taken a public bus, and Rina-el comes on time bearing her usual
feast. Zahira offers to help him clean the place sometime, and he offers
her a ride on the back of the charging death machine motorcycle he keeps
out back anytime she needs to get around the area. Corat extends Ryuki’s
gratitude—and flirtation—for warning him about The Corps the weekend before.
Shenmachel enters the apartment but stands quietly by a window. Corat tries to sympathize with his apparent distress, and tells him by way of apology that his apparent hostility in the end is not about Shenmachel himself. (backdated pg 40). Shenmachel answers that given the Word tension, rudeness from an angel of the Wind was to be expected.
A new angel arrives.
(pg 39)
When Dr. Glen Norton introduces himself as being with the Orchestra, Corat assures him that (with his Distinction) he knows for certain they’re not being overheard, and to speak freely. Glen Norton introduces himself as Da’at, sent here by Yves. Rina and Zahira introduce themselves, and Corat introduces Shenmachel as their ‘strategist’ and ‘a classic Swordsman’.
On the drive home from the meeting (after chat in OOC sequence), Da’at expresses surprise that such a diverse, multi-Word team can work together at all. They both note that Corat has been a bit emotional.
Eliza’s dad’s house,
Riverside
November
9th, 2007 evening
(‘Homicide, Genocide,
Rivercide’ chat session)
Tuesday the Club meets at Corat’s apartment to plan. Mitch brings Ashbel, a Cherub of Fire, on to the team where he is warmly welcomed. Shenmachel is called away on Interpol business and Rina-el (who has put out her usual feast, complaining about C’s kitchen habits as she does so) breathes a little easier. Da’at however has information that Pepito has been relieved of his bound-to-vessel discord, and Corat reacts with a fit. He practically stomps out of his own home to do something at the shed out back. Zahira follows, allowing Rina-el to lead the Club. Corat leaves out a copy of the photograph of Gavin’s altar and the chart that Marc had channeled to Mitch.
The Club’s concerned about Corat’s troubles but don’t let it detract from planning how to take out a destructive Impudite in a well-constructed role. They decide to drug him at Friday’s party, using “Jasmine”’s connection to Eliza to get invited to that party. Mitch, Ash and Da’at would arrange to be in the waiting ambulance to ‘rescue’ the overdosed Pepito. Corat returns from what was apparently a brief workout and grows impatient with Rina-el’s caution about hurting the people Pepito has surrounded himself with. Still, the plan is solid, and Corat invites the Club to use his apartment as a base of operations, even though he himself will be out handling his Air Marshall role. This conveniently gets him away from any potential contact with Pepito in addition to maintaining a valuable role. He gives a copy of the keys to Rina-el, and asks them not to disturb his neighbors.
**
Early Friday evening, Rina-el aka Jasmine
goes to Eliza’s dad’s house in the
Glen arrives with seven friends and several beer kegs and they take over the house, mocking the Gothic décor. They settle in to a party, pouring their beers in the red goblets that Pepito has provided. Eliza is mortified, and Jasmine takes the opportunity to point out the evils of alcohol. Pepito laughs this off, though he does make himself a rum-and-coke instead of having the beer. He also puts on some thumpy music, which the partygoers turn back off, and offers a box of cigars Jasmine snatches away. He’s up to something, but it’s not working.
The drugs he put in the beers however are working, and Glen’s friends are slowly passing out. Pepito gets some eyeliner out of the bathroom and draws on his unfortunate victims. He then takes Glen’s camera out of his bag and tapes the scene. His attempts to upload the footage are thwarted by Jasmine who pulls the cable out of the wall. Furious, Pepito resorts to a Prank, creating a gazing eye out of the webcam. Eliza panics. Jasmine tries to play it off as a magic trick. Pepito tries to slip Jasmine some drugged milk but she’s not buying it. Glen, with long practice of keeping track of his own drink, is quite awake but discovers that his friend Justin is more than simply passed out, and asks Jasmine to call for medical aid. She calls the other angels. Pepito calls for Kobal.
The three “
Sauntering up the driveway is Vato, Baron of Hysteria and Captain of Repartee, and Pepito backs into Mitch’s waiting arms trying to get away from him. Vato is unruffled, and follows them all inside. It seems that he is less than pleased with the shoddy rite that brought him here, and even less pleased with the rum and cigars clearly meant for another being. He reaches into the trash and retrieves a cigar, holding the damning evidence in one hand and swinging his watch chain menacingly with the other. Pepito says, “Hi boss, glad to see you!” and nobody is fooled.
The interrogation begins, with Eliza having run away in panic but Glen being shuttled between the kitchen and the main room. Vato watches impassively as Pepito reveals that he has been working for Baron Samedi. Pepito claims he was trying to arrange a deal between Vato and Samedi, but the Seraph Mitch quickly called him on the lie. Pepito confessed that Samedi had told him how to bring down Corat, in addition to helping arrange the All Soul’s massacre. Samedi it appears has contacts within Saminga’s organization as well as within a public high school. Vato asks for more details on how he’d planned on bringing down a Distinguished angel when he asks the angels to bring him Glen. Da’at brings Glen into the room but Vato doesn’t seem to notice. Instead he swings the chain at Pepito (who is being held by Mitch and Ash) and cuts a gash into his shirt. Ash demands he answer’s Glen’s question, and Pepito tells him with some relish that he had replaced Chris Breckenridge when he died in the hospital, putting the real Chris’ body in the soup.
Vato makes a pithy (and wholly cynical) remark to Glen, tells the angels he’s no longer interested in his two-timing underling, and saunters out much like he came in Pepito sings a big cartoon tear, and gets Ash to promise on behalf of the Club that, in exchange for his cooperation, they’ll only kill his vessel. He tells them what Corat’s weakness was, what Samedi wants, and what he put in the drinks. The angels carry him to the ambulance because, all melodrama, he asked them to.
Ash and Mitch drive the ambulance to Corat’s apartment, while Rina-el and Da’at remain behind to comfort Eliza and inform the real ambulance of the GHB and its source
Corat’s apartment,
November
9th, 2007 night
(pg 39, continued)
Mitch and Ash carry Pepito into the apartment where the exorcist and his handler wait, Ash promising again that they’ll only kill the vessel if Pepito cooperates. He hasn’t seen the big binding construct, the priest and the two Swords in the next room yet.
Because while most of the Mile Higher Club was dealing with the demon directly, Shenmachel and Zahira were helping Father Lombardi and Salla create the binding ward. It is a solemn and disciplined affair, holding a certain pristine beauty. Not that the demon about to be trapped in it appreciates that…
Mitch and Ash frog walk Pepito into the apartment where Zahira takes a moment to look at him.
(pg 40)
Shenmachel does not recognize Ash and it puts him on edge a moment until Zahira reassures him. Pepito makes a light remark towards Zahira and seems lackadaisical until he sees that binding. Then he panics, putting his full demonic strength into an attempt to back out of the whole situation. Shenmachel has him firmly by the throat as Mitch and Ash have him by the arms, and the three of them force him writhing and screaming into the binding circle. Mitch reminds them that they are only to kill Pepito’s vessel, running contrary to what Shenmachel understands.
(pg 41)
Shenmachel hears the sounds of the circle’s magic, the sacred tones of Gregorian chant. Pepito hears it too and is horrified, screaming to have it shut off to no avail. He wails to the priest that “angels lie”, and Salla his assistant calmly explains the mechanics of the circle to those assembled. Both she and the priest ignore his protestations, but Zahira answers, reaffirming the promise to only kill his vessel. Rina-el calls to get information about where the rest of the drugs are stashed, and Pepito claims to recognize ‘John Wyatt’’s jacket in the room. He’s throwing out whatever provocation he can, with little success. And while there’s some miscommunication about Pepito’s eventual end, the Mile Higher Club stands unified.
Eliza’s dad’s house and adjoining
orange groves,
November
9th, 2007 night
(pg 41 continued)
Rina-el and Da’at collaborate on a plan, and Rina-el calls Eliza’s friend Jordan to ask him to come over. He needs no persuading, for while they’re not a couple at the moment they are friends, and he knew Pepito for trouble. Rina-el then looks for Eliza in the groves, and when finding her reveals her celestial form. If magic and wonder will lead Eliza to her destiny, it is likely to be a comfort to her in this time of crisis.
(pg 42)
Da’at finishes cleaning the house and dealing with most of the rescue personnel, and then heads to Corat’s apartment.
Corat’s apartment,
November
9th, 2007 night
(pg 42 continued)
Zahira, with encouragement from Shenmachel, helps fortify the circle against Pepito’s battering. Ash keeps his thoughts to himself about Shenmachel’s manners.
Pepito rambles on about the location of the drugs, how he’d planned to set up Jordan, how awful the music is, how ‘adults’ have lousy taste in music, how he wants a drink and a seamstress, and some bandages for the cut Vato inflicted, and…and…and…
Mitch, Ash, and Shenmachel use the opportunity to compare notes about whether to kill Pepito, and consider it might actually be a mercy given Kobal’s opinion of him right about now.
(pg 43)
Zahira joins the conversation, noting that as angels they should keep their word. Pepito is amused and makes a crack at her expense, perhaps alienating the one person in the room who could do him any good. He asks them to steal his heart from Kobal, which of course they don’t even consider.
Shenmachel tells Pepito to stop rambling
and answer a direct question about the Dark Man, namely how to find him and how
he has evaded Uriel’s ban up until now.
Pepito answers that he found out about Samedi through the Goth kids, who
learned of him through the gangs in
(pg 44)
The humor falls flat. Shenmachel notes to his fellow angels that they’ll need a body for Jen Breckenridge to mourn over and that this is what the priest was called for. He’s also offended that Pepito called Uriel’s ban “a joke” and demands to know how to find Samedi’s corporeal lair. Pepito makes light of it, rambles on in insulting and blasphemous language how Samedi keeps his lair inside of people and that this makes him smarter than your average ethereal, how ethereals are thumbing their collective noses at the Ban, how sorcerors didn’t work out well for Samedi, how if demons and ethereals united they could end the War…and keeps trying to call Samedi, reminding him that he’s a demon and thus more powerful than the mortals he’s worked with so far. Samedi does not seem to be listening.
Zahira asks Pepito for the names and addresses of his contacts and he pulls out his cell phone, dangling it by two fingers, telling her to come to him and get it.
Eliza’s dad’s house and adjoining
orange groves,
November
9th, 2007 night
(pg 44 continued)
Rina-el in her beatific celestial form finds Eliza in the orange groves and speaks words of comfort to her, lighthearted and conversational despite her glorified appearance. After she tells Eliza to head back to the house she has to hurry to get there before her to be ‘Jasmine’ again. There Eliza finds Jordan who’d been worried about her, and tells him that she’s seen an angel and a demon, and how beautiful was the angel.
Corat’s apartment,
November
9th, 2007 night
(pg 45)
Rina-el arrives and pauses briefly to look at Corat’s knickknacks, taking some comfort there. She then asks what the Impudite has told them, which Zahira describes as ‘nothing horrendously useful’. Da’at arrives and lays Pepito’s options out in stark poetry: a demon entered this room, but a demon will not come out of it. Shenmachel is calmed, but Rina-el is shocked, and confers with Zahira whether there is any hope for the demon. Hope yes, but at what cost? At least in soul death he will not have to face Kobal’s cruel wrath.
(pg 46)
Pepito tells them more of what he knows, what Samedi’s habits and likes are, how he draws energy from certain passions and which passions he believes those are. He reiterates that if the ethereals and demons were to align that they could win the war, and that he himself was to be the keystone of that unity. He believes that Samedi will next go for renegades and other marginal demons, being a god of (among other things) the dispossessed.
Zahira offers him a beer and a word of
hope—it is possible to be redeemed.
Shenmachel asks for the PIN to the phone and time to list the gangsters
involved. Da’at retrieves the phone. Rina-el, struggling between mercy and anger,
asks what Samedi’s interest in sorcerors is.
Pepito addresses Rina-el’s question first, bragging about how he’d
swindled Ryuki Watari into lending his name, presence, and credibility to
Gavin’s magic rite, effectively “summoning angels” by tricking their most
notorious fan into being there.
Sorcerors have the power to manipulate the Symphony, and can be
manipulated and possessed. He then
rambles on about the gangsters he’s met, though he knows more nicknames than
real names. It seems the demons of
Factions and Death have populated
(pg 47)
Seeing as Pepito has run out of information with which to buy more time, the angels argue amongst themselves about his demise. They’d promised him only vessel death if he’d cooperate, but Laurence apparently gave orders to Shenmachel for total destruction. Rina-el does not want blood on her hands, even Pepito’s. Zahira understands mercy but also sees tactics, and tries to balance the two. Pepito shatters the balance by throwing the glass beer mug at the priest, hitting him solidly in the head, removing the last of Rina-el’s doubts. She leaves the room, uncomfortable with the violence she knows must follow.
The priest begins the exorcism, Zahira assisting with her own Essence.
(pg 48)
Pepito engages in the will war with relish, taunting the priest with “Don't you want a piece of angel...woman flesh?" Salla tells them to break the demon’s focus and Da’at assists with Light, dazzling Pepito into submission. Shenmachel demands the demon fight with honor, reminding him of his treachery towards his demon Prince. Ash switches to his Celestial form, a cherubic dalmation, to await the demon’s arrival.
(pg 49)
Pepito replies to Shenmachel with “honor my ass!” but the retort costs him the last bit of focus and he is thrown out of his vessel. The battle goes to celestial forms, with only Zahira remaining behind to assist the priest, and Rina-el outside in the garden. Pepito is outnumbered and outpowered, pinned by the Cherub’s celestial jaws and lashed at by the two serpentine Seraphim.
(pg 50)
Da’at arrives in celestial form causing Pepito to attempt to flee back to his vessel. He arrives successfully only to find the vessel uninhabitable, the exorcist’s own soul magnified by the rite crushing the demon’s soul out of the body. He howls in pain and is forced back to his celestial attackers, curled up in fear and futility. The noise brings Rina-el back inside. Shenmachel presses the attack, hoping to give the fearful creature the mercy of a quick death. Zahira watches Pepito intently, holding out some strange hope.
(pg 51)
Rina-el offers to heal the priest’s head wound, but Salla asks her to wait until the ordeal is over. Still the gesture is appreciated.
With a cry for pity Pepito’s soul forces are torn apart, and what’s left of him flies back to his vessel unobstructed by the exorcist’s art. Zahira, acting on a resonance vision, gently escorts the remnant out of the room.
(pg 52)
Da’at returns to his corporeal form and wonders aloud whether to kill or spare the remnant, earning him a cold glare from Zahira. Mitchim rejoins the corporeal and seems to agree with Rina-el that it might be feasible to let the remnant live out Chris Breckenridge’s life. Salla, the exorcist’s handler, seems uncomfortable with this turn of events but accepts Rina-el’s offer to heal the priest’s head wound, which she does. Shenmachel returns to his vessel and lays out their options calmly, though he does also note that he has orders to kill. Like Da’at, he’s worried about Baron Samedi using a will-less vessel to his advantage. Zahira calls inside on her phone so she can participate in the discussion without Pepito hearing what’s going on.
While those inside discuss the emotional impact of letting the remnant survive, Zahira calls in a bombshell: He can be saved, as long as he doesn’t find out what he used to be. Rina-el latches onto that hope. Shenmachel tries to steer the conversation back to Glen Breckenridge but the hope is too potent. Rina-el believes she can redeem the remnant and create a positive influence on Glen, even believing she can blunt and even reverse the damage to Corat in the process. Shenmachel believes the gain is not worth the cost, and old Word tensions resurface.
(pg 54)
Salla is thoroughly irritated, forgoing the usual procedures of cleaning and purifying after the exorcism, and Father Lombardi knows better than to cross his Malakite handler. Pepito meanwhile has the attention span—and penchant for destruction—of a two-year old child. Rina-el makes a phone call to get more information on remnants, and Ash shrugs that his job is done.
(pg 55)
Shenmachel asks Salla what is troubling her, and she tells him with as much dignity as she can muster which, given how angry she is, still amounts to a chewing out. Da’at agrees that this is a mere remnant left, that Chris Breckenridge has moved on. Rina-el asks Salla and Father to stay a moment longer and asks Da’at to repeat himself to Zahira on the phone. Zahira notes his very childlike behavior to those inside. Shenmachel thanks Salla for reminding him of his orders and gets the Rohypnol out of the bathroom. Salla remains, content enough to begin cleaning, and Father Lombardi goes to wash up.
(pg 56)
Rina-el sees the drug and blocks the door so Shenmachel cannot get it to Pepito. He’s furious and gives her an earful, reminding her among other things that this was simply the plan they’d agreed to. Insults and ultimatums fly, and Ash marvels at how much damage one dumb demon can do. The conversation has gotten loud enough that Pepito can hear voices from the lawn outside, though he apparently does not understand them. Despite the insults they seem to have seen the problem, a likely false belief that a remnant can be redeemed.
(pg 57)
Ash argues that they should stick to the plan and to the Commander’s orders. Shenmachel wants a duel with Rina-el but seeing as that’s impossible with the pacifist Choir settles for putting his fist into the wall. Rina-el finally agrees, heading outside to inform Zahira. Shenmachel tells Ash they should watch her to make sure she doesn’t try to abscond with the remnant. Ash calls an EMT friend of his to find out how to administer the drug. Rina-el takes her celestial form to talk with—and hug—Zahira. Once they’ve made peace with things as they are, Rina-el opens up her corporeal form in her car, considers driving away, but goes back inside.
(pg 58)
Mitchim accepts what has to be done and sets to work on the details, noting that finding Pepito in “John Wyatt”’s apartment could create serious problems. Zahira leads Pepito inside, and Lombardi sequesters himself in the bathroom. Ash decides to use a flat tire as an alibi for why Pepito is late to the hospital, and why he is DOA. Pepito hears “hospital” and thinks it’s just a wonderful lark to get to ride in an ambulance.
(pg 59)
Rina-el realizes that the wrong drug might just be as suspicious as some other cause, to say nothing of Vato’s gash across his chest. She hands them the leftover GHB from the party, and Mitchim, Shenmachel, and Ashbel take Pepito into the ambulance for his last ride. Rina-el remains behind with Zahira, who asks Shenmachel to come back and talk with her soon.
Pepito goes on the ambulance ride and takes the spiked beer gleefully from Shenmachel (after fiddling with the instruments inside), falling into a peaceful and permanent sleep. Ashbel then stops the ambulance and changes the tire before finishing the trip to the hospital.
Rina-el stays behind and cleans Corat’s apartment better than he ever did, dusting the furniture and stocking the pantry. She lets herself out, and is uncommunicative for at least a day after that.
Zahira calls Shenmachel the next evening.
Various locations,
November 10th through 16th, 2007. Saturday
(pg 60)
Shenmachel is uneasy about how things went down, and seeks peace in a local church. Later he would call Mitchim to discuss Gideon (the Goth with the sword fixation) and the Habbalite owner of the dagger. He accepts Zahira’s offer to talk, at his own hotel room. It’s a polite and productive talk on how Shenmachel might make harmony with Rina-el, and getting combat lessons for Zahira and some of the kids she deals with—which would also give Shenmachel more exposure to human dynamics.
Mitchim dives into his work, sending a note to Marc along with his report for advice on keeping everybody talking. He is answered, privately, by his direct superior. Meanwhile Tuesday of that week the Habbalite returns to reclaim his dagger and confesses that it was never about the money, that pawning the dagger around is an attempt to reach an ‘old friend’ who would find it familiar.
Ash invites Rina-el to dinner.
(pg 61)
Corat sets up a meeting at LAX for the 18th
to 19th on ‘Redeye’ tether, Janus’ tether onboard the 767 from
Rina-el and Ash meet up. They compare notes on the good they’re doing in their roles, and they deconstruct the dynamics of their little group.
Shenmachel and Zahira continue their discussion. He tells her why he finds discipline and order so comforting, and asks her how her Catholic nun role works with the notoriously Muslim Archangel Khalid. She explains that she was redeemed by a Catholic priest, and that Khalid understands that all Abrahamic faiths are of the Lord.
Shenmachel receives Corat’s voice mail and responds that his own superior wants to discuss things with him, and that the two of them will drive up to San Francisco and time their drive to arrive in time for the plane’s arrival, understanding that the party will be getting on in Los Angeles and off in San Francisco.
November 18th to 19th, 2007 wee hours Sunday night/Monday morning
Chat session “Angels’
Flight”
When they arrive at the concourse at LAX, Zahira and Da’at see Corat sitting at the airport lounge with a pair of pilots, who he introduces as Steve and Marty. They make small talk, and while they’re clearly unaware that Zahira and Da’at are angels, Marty at least seems to understand that John Wyatt the air marshall likes to use the back of the plane as a meeting place that he refers to as ‘the boardroom’. Apparently he’s known Marty for a long time or at least flown the same routes. As Marty and Steve head for the plane Corat starts to talk about Marty, but Da’at steers the conversation to Corat himself, and the ‘Pepito’ Breckenridge funeral. He understates his feelings badly and obviously, but shifts the conversation to the exorcism itself and gets Zahira sidetracked on the dynamics between Shenmachel and Rina-el. It works, briefly, but Da’at is persistent and doesn’t let Corat dismiss the death of his Kobalite rival as nothing. “There’s nothing I can do about it now,” insists Corat, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. Zahira lays out the family issues, how Corat is forced to lie to them, and Da’at insists that he needs to talk through the burdens he bears. He mistakes Glen Breckenridge’s flippantness at his brother being a demon as due to some power of Pepito’s, and this irritates him. He’s bothered that he had been ordered away when Pepito was finished off, and Da’at insists he speculate on why he got such orders. He’s delving hesitantly into what the demon and his death meant to him when Rina-el and Mitchim arrive.
Rina-el is curiously hard with her old friend Windy. Noting Mitchim, Corat has to pull back on a polite lie and makes light of it. Da’at tells Corat that he needs to accept things as they are, and after checking to make sure they’re not overheard Corat tells them he has a Discord, one he was previously unaware of and one he needs to change. Da’at seems pleased at the admission, the honesty with self and others. Rina-el is upset that he hadn’t mentioned it before, and the others are worried as well. Corat doesn’t seem to be taking all this concern well, being a little too proud for his own good.
Da’at and Rina-el tell him what Pepito
said, that he’d been told about the Discord and tutored on how to spin it, how
to exploit the anger he’d redirected towards the Impudite. This too upsets him, and with a Power in the
room there’s no hiding it. Da’at calls
him on it, and Rina-el puts it into words, “What made you so angry?” Mitchim suggests that a confession to Janus
might relieve him of the Discord, but Corat tells them that’s pointless—Janus
already knows. He asks where Shenmachel
is, so he can hear what he’s about to say.
Shenmachel’s meeting them at
“I got stuck in an argument between Michael and Dominic, and I lost….The argument,” he begins, and Rina-el is upset that he’s kept this from her all these years. I kept it from you, he says, because I needed you to help me forget. He tells them he used to be one of the pilgrimage angels, celestial guides to the holy sites of the world, and had a shot at being the Angel of Pilgrimage. At one point he chose to lead people to Yasukuni Shrine, and that one of Dominic’s triads took exception and took him to trial for it. Rina-el is scandalized and says to Zahira that “things really aren’t that much better on this side.” Even as he tells the story Corat seems to be confused on the details, what he allegedly did wrong, what he’d actually done wrong, and where that line was drawn. He speaks of a hung Triad, an undecided Seraph, and while Da’at fall silent it is Mitchim who pulls out the details. The Seraph of the Sword, the executioner of the Triad, was approached by someone from Michael’s camp and took offense, voting guilty on the basis of attempted tampering or so it seemed. He did not appeal, he said, because he’d done what they said he’d done.
The Mile Higher Club simply isn’t taking that for an answer. After turning the matter over a bit, arguing the details, they make it very clear to Corat that he needs to appeal and that they will back him in it. He lets slip that he first introduced himself to Ryuki on orders from his boss, and that the Yasukuni experience made him wonder what she was thinking when she gave that order. It was because of this incident that he serves Michael—the trial had left him crushed and Janus insisted that Michael fix what he had broken. The prescription was a tour with The Corps, 24/7 supervision with a side of military discipline. While it pulled him out of an emotional tailspin, it apparently did nothing to sort out the underlying issues—the source of the Discord. He simply doesn’t feel entitled to being angry at Dominic, and yet he is. He’s not willing to lead Heaven into another feud over his affairs, but he can’t dissuade the party from trying to solve the problem.
Janus’ tether, a commercial airliner, on the tarmac at
November
19th, 2007 in the wee hours
Corat leads most of the party onto the plane to meet with Velga, a fairly blunt redirection of the topic. He says that Shenmachel will make a good sounding board for their arguments as he suspects that Laurence sent him to this team on Dominic’s behalf. Rina-el catches the misdirection and is visibly upset about it, watching the Windy derail again, but she’s powerless to stop him this time. On the plane they pass a number of redeye flight passengers in various stages of sleep. They head to the back where the hear a Disturbance, Velga coming through the tether.
Velga introduces herself in song, and offers each of the party a relic in a tiny velvet box. The relic is a pocketknife with the traditional portrayal on Michael on the handle, and allows each to speak Celestial on the corporeal plane by activating it. Rina-el is not impressed at a War relic and an old friend who’d kept a secret so long, and when Velga in her fabulous tact states that the relic can be replaced with something more suitable, Rina-el walks out, apparently believing Velga meant that she could be replaced. She walks off the plane.
(pg 61 continued)
Corat seems mildly annoyed at his boss as he watches Rina-el leave and Zahira wonder whether she should follow. Velga asks those remaining what War can do for their team.
In and around
November
19th, 2007 in the wee hours
(pg 62)
Corat appraises the group and decides to
follow Rina-el off the plane, saying he would meet them back on board or in
Velga does not appear to know who Ash is. Zahira gets off the plane to find him and discuss things with him. Ash picks her up at the airport, comforting her by telling her among other things that the demon propaganda she’s heard is half-true, lending it the disturbing credence she’s been struggling with. She recaps Corat’s confessions to Ash, as well as Rina-el’s strong reactions to them.
Mitchim deplanes to contact Shenmachel.
(pg 63)
After he gets on the jetway and out of sight of the front passengers, Corat pockets his vessel and goes celestial to look for Rina-el. He catches up to her, a six foot tall whirlwind thankfully visible only to celestial eyes. Mitch finds them both, the lady and the whirlwind, and she doesn’t want to talk. (partially PM scene) He won’t accept ‘leave me alone’ for an answer, and seeing Mitch Corat whirls into the men’s room to re-emerge in human form.
Continuation of
discussion from pg. 61, Shenmachel and Zahira
Shenmachel admits that he’s humor impaired J making it difficult for him to relate to Rina-el on that level. He lists his law enforcement credentials in his current and previous roles, in response to her suggestion that he teach swordsmanship and other martial arts to at-risk kids.
(pg 64)
Rina-el hangs up the phone, the pretext she
was using to talk to the then-invisible Corat, and asks again to be left
alone. She leaves the airport, and Corat
and Mitchim let her go. Corat thanks
Mitch—and by extension the others—for his vote of confidence on the Yasukuni
matter, and Mitch thanks him for opening up about it, saying “it explains many
things”. He then calls Shenmachel, who
is en route to
About an hour later Zahira and Ash meet
with Mitch at the soul food Creation tether in Watts, to use it as a jump point
to
November
19th, 2007, early ㅡMonday
morning
(pg 65)
(A
set of PM scenes conferring with superiors and other NPC’s) Gate 16,
(pg 66)
Ryuki starts to push his way out of the coffeehouse but the big guy—his bodyguard apparently—signals to him to stay put. He manages to get the words “Let me pass” out to Shenmachel through gritted teeth. Zahira comes around the corner and Ash invites her over to his side, slightly away from the commotion. Shenmachel gets in a last word and then steps aside, leaving Ryuki a clear path out. The bodyguard reaches out his arm to Ryuki and leads him out, ignoring his stare at Shenmachel as they leave and nodding acknowledgement to Mitch. On the way out Ryuki shies away momentarily from Ash and Zahira. He sits down across the way with his bodyguard who soothes him, apparently asking him what happened.
Mitch asks Shenmachel what happened, and notes that Ryuki and his bodyguard appear receptive to him, and openly hostile to Shenmachel.
(pg 67)
Shenmachel says they were having a
discussion on various topics when Ryuki became hostile, possibly at the mention
of studying the Bible. He observes that
Ryuki seeks knowledge where perhaps he’d be better off with faith, in a nod to
Zahira. He clearly considers Ryuki to be
spoiled and selfish, and suggests they discuss details “in a more quiet
place.” Ash asks where, and whether they
should keep an eye on Ryuki and the bodyguard.
Shenmachel
is definitely behind keeping an eye on him, and Zahira notes that while being
of a certain religion will not get you damnation, being spoiled and selfish likely will.
The
bodyguard walks up and, in coded language, asks if the party are members of law
enforcement, and introduces himself as Scott Green, SFPD off duty and the
Watari family’s personal security. He
asks to know the party’s version of what happened. Meanwhile something’s bugging Ash.
(pg 68)
Trying
to divert the conversation without actually lying, Shenmachel assures Mr. Green
that he won’t press charges. Green takes
this for a brush-off but leaves them alone.
Da’at arrives back at the scene.
(pg 69)
Mitchim
finds them a quiet place to talk, and while they’re gathering there Corat calls
him on the phone. It seems that as a
Windy he’s not allowed to use any tethers until Laurence’s men can inspect
them, and is waiting for that clearance from inside Michael’s camp. He asks the party to tell Shenmachel what
he’d told them about Yasukuni, and Zahira gives him a very short version. Corat
then asks if Da’at is there and whether he can shed any light on the tether
breach—he apparently witnessed it. Da’at
confers briefly with Mr. Green, then returns to the conversation. When Corat mentions Velga he remembers their
conversation fondly as a “Power struggle”.
He notes that Valefor had gotten on the plane and stolen the relic
intended for Rina-el, and that Ryuki had witnessed it and was probably shaken
up by it.
(pg 70)
Da’at
also states that the wizard is under his protection because of Destiny’s
interest in him. Mitchim accepts this, and Ryuki accepts it but is extremely
careful in how he phrases that acceptance.
Mitch also notes that the Habbalite returned for his dagger, showing an
interest in anyone who could appraise it.
Zahira notes Ryuki’s caution and concludes that he’s had a run-in with a
Lilim, and thus might possibly still be geased.
Shenmachel addresses everyone’s questions briefly but says he should
wait for a more private area to reveal what he’d gotten from Ryuki. He asks Ash what is wrong but Ash only
answers “later”. Mitch wants to know
more about the Habbalite.
(pg 71)
Shenmachel
explains in detail his history with the Habbalite M’ranoch Atel, currently
going by the name Gregor Saroyan. It
seems they’d been circling each other through several decades and roles,
culminating in a duel in the shadow
of the Jesuitenkirche. The demon cheated by
bringing in two accomplices, but lost his vessel in the subsequent
bombing. ‘Gerhard Reuter’, Interpol
agent, is hunting M’ranoch now who is a professional assassin. Corat hears the story over the speakerphone
and notes that he’s still stuck in Michael’s camp waiting for the General’s
Guard aka Laurence’s Malakim squad. Over
the phone the party hears them arrive, and it’s clear that Corat has hidden the
phone from them but left it on for the party to eavesdrop.
Corat’s boss tries to cover his own name with a cough but is
largely unsuccessful, revealing Nisro---.
He sacrifices Velga to their questioning in order to get Corat back on
the ground, and instructs her to tell them everything they want to know about the
knife-relics. Boss also covers the
microphone of the phone, passing some private instruction to Corat before
helping him get through the Fire tether. He tells Da’at that the Guard will
come to question him after they’re done “looking under rocks” and his Boss
chides him for his lack of respect.
((post #710, description of
Gabriel’s tether, The Palace Hotel, San Francisco California
November
19th, 2007
(pg 72)
The
party reconvenes at the tether of Fire in the Palace Hotel, in a room with a
blazing gas fireplace. Zahira wonders aloud whether all their issues may be
related to each other, and Mitch and Ash toss around this idea. With her knowledge of infernal politics she notes
that would involve some very strange bedfellows, so that the demons involved
are probably doing so without their Superiors’ knowledge. Shenmachel’s concerned that they may not be
related at all, effectively leaving them with three or four problems instead of
just one big one. Mitch asks him what
Ryuki had said at the airport.
(pg 73)
Shenmachel
tells him that Ryuki was approached by the pilot Marty for some advice on an
herbal tea and a pagan ritual. Ryuki had
told Marty to pray to the Virgin Mary for his desire—to have children with his
wife—but likely did so because he had an angel standing next to him. Marty had showed him a holy card of an
obscure saint, and after Marty had left Ryuki was able to connect the picture
of the saint to a picture of Gavin Russo.
However, Shenmachel says, when he mentioned cooperation to Ryuki he’d
lost his temper, and thus Shenmachel believes he cannot be saved.
Rina-el
arrives, hands Shenmachel the keys to his new apartment and car, and asks what
he’d said to set Ryuki off…and what’s up with the tether breach, and where’s
C? “C” arrives at that moment,
smelling of cigarettes even though he isn’t known to smoke.
Shenmachel
notes that Ryuki first got provoked when he’d asked him where he and Corat had
been on All Soul’s Night, and then asks Corat directly where he’d been. He also noted that he’d told Ryuki exactly
how he felt about the sorcery he practiced, and that the man had gotten
particularly upset when he’d told him to study the Bible. Corat apparently thinks Shenmachel is a bit
of an idiot, as he reminds him that he was with them that night, and that
telling a guy that you despise his profession is not going to make him friendly
towards you. He also fills in that Ryuki
has a degree in theology, making the admonition to study the Bible an
unintended insult. Corat’s more worried
about the pilot though who, besides simply being a commercial airline pilot,
was responsible for creating the Wind tether on that plane. Corat then starts delegating tasks, subtly
lowballing his team to see who steps up for something more.
Mitchim
agrees that as a Tradesman that he can better relate to Ryuki, who is an
investment banker in addition to being a sorceror. He tells the party what he knows about the
Wataris’ bank, including the fact that they may have mob ties. Corat minimizes this, saying that what he
knows suggests they’re working against the Japanese mob rather than with
them. His worry is that the Watari
patriarch’s apparent murder could leave them vulnerable to demonic influence…or
loa influence. Zahira feels that the loa
should be their first priority.
(pg 74)
Ash
rises to Corat’s bait about needing an ethereal expert, which seems to please
Corat. He asks Ash to use his Dream
connections to set up a meeting with the loa to try to resolve the matter
peacefully. He’s going to use his own
connections to get into Marty’s place to have a look around. He also delegates,
or tries to, who will meet with Marty and who will brainstorm about the
Habbalite. Mitchim asks Zahira about the
Lilim ‘Ruby’, who seems to be an organizing force among the demons of
(pg 75)
Zahira
notes that Ruby is young and has built up a network fast, and so is not someone
you want to negotiate with.
Corat
is apparently looking forward to a good clean fight with that Habbalite and
offers what resources he can to bringing the demon down. He asks Ash to arrange a meeting in the
(pg 76)
Ash
feels that twitchy feeling again, the one that tells him someone cruel must be
punished, and realizes he must confront Shenmachel, as soon as possible. While Shenmachel is otherwise occupied he
meets with the Dreamers Ennis and Paloma.
Paloma is a quiet and peculiar angel in grey who plays with the steam in
her coffee. Ennis is an experienced
Mercurian and her mentor. He suggests
meeting with the whole family of loa, to let them put pressure on their wayward
brother.
During
that day a news story comes on. A
storefront psychic was found beheaded in a suburb of
Ash
receives a phone call from Sunae, a soldier of Fire who had been approached by
an awkward angel who didn’t give his name.
Corat
arrives at the tether early and greets folks as they arrive.
(pg 77)
That
day Shenmachel was researching the murder of Dolores Aguilar, the storefront
psychic. He wasn’t able to connect her
murder to the curandera Marty had consulted, in large part because he didn’t
have the latter’s name. He hoped Zahira
had found it, as he was unwilling to trade the exorcist’s name to Ryuki to get
it from him. He is, however, fairly certain
that Dolores’ killer was their Habbalite.
Ash
instructs Sunae on where to meet the rest of them that afternoon.
Mitchim
has been busy too tracking down the history of the dagger the Habbalite has
been pawning. It seems there is more
than one, a genuine one and a forgery, and that he has pawned one or both in
several major cities. Corat offers his
theory on why he’s doing that.
(pg 78)
Corat
believes that the dagger is an attempt to get Shenmachel’s attention, and the
murder an attempt to compel that attention.
This leads him to believe that M’ranoch is prepared and attempting to
goad Shenmachel into an unwise confrontation.
Zahira thinks the choice of a fortuneteller is odd, given Shen’s views
on occultists. Corat chalks this up to
Habbalite thinking i.e. the self-delusion of being on Heaven’s side.
Sunae
arrives, a woman of Japanese descent wearing tattoos that are almost covered by
her sleeves. She enters and bows to
those present, and Corat sings his celestial name by way of introduction.
(pg 79)
She
describes her contact in terms that Corat recognizes as his own boss Nisroc,
and the two Seraphim compare notes and decide she’s being truthful with
them. Nonetheless Corat has reservations
about her. She is apparently the latest
in a long line of demon hunters, under Gabriel.
Mitchim
asks him why he figures that the person who killed Dolores was a Habbalite, and
Corat answers that Habbalim consider themselves angels and so his target of a fortuneteller
might be helping Heaven in his mind. He
also believes that the Habbalite is stalking Shenmachel, trying to draw him
into battle on his entrenched grounds.
Ashbel
has some Dreamers arranging a meeting with the Loa.
(pg 80)
Corat
describes their situation to Sunae, adding a note about Marty being potentially
reached by the Baron Samedi. He
introduces himself as Air Marshall John Wyatt, eliciting concern from her about
her immigration status.
The
group as a whole compares what they know about the Baron, what he’s done, and
his possible motives for going rogue.
Paloma,
a Menunite of Blandine, pokes her head in the room and tells them that the Loa
will them at the foot of Gabriel’s volcano.
(pg 81)
Most
of the party decides to go together.. Shenmachel
hesitates, and while he doesn’t come out and say it it’s clear to Corat that he
wants to go pursue the Habbalite…alone.
(pg 82)
Paloma
presents a bag of dream dust for Sunae to make the journey to the
(pg 83)
Irritated
by Shenmachel’s slippery answer, Corat gives him a clear order—in Celestial—not
to pursue the Habbalite without the team.
After a word of encouragement to Zahira, Corat steps through the
fireplace tether. Shenmachel calls his superior officer for further
instructions, sending the urgency through the chain of command.
Gabriel’s volcano, on “The Ladder” pathway near the crater
November
19th, 2007
An
officer in white Napoleonic dress, clearly a Swordsman, calls Shenmachel over
to him.
(pg 84)
Back
at the hotel, Ash instructs Sunae on how to use the powder and attunes himself
to her in case she gets lost. The others step through and into the other realm.
Shenmachel
glides over to the officer, his immediate superior Hamael, Malakite of the
Sword and (though he doesn’t say as much) the word of Dignity. His orders
consist simply of a reminder of unity, to treat the Loa as a unit that must
rein in their own.
(pg 85)
Asked
if there was anything else to keep in mind, Hamael tells Shenmachel to remember who he represents. Corat spots him and, in a
centaur-like ethereal form, asks Hamael to keep an eye open for Rina-el, on the
futile hope that she will join them there.
He then leads the party down the mountain, meeting up with a guide from
Fire partway down. Further down the mountain the party encounters a beaten
demon, a monkey-Djinn, crawling her way up.
Corat holds the guide back and Ash moves to the front to confront the
demon. He demands to know her business but her answer is a dry croak. Zahira offers her water which at first she
distrusts and then drinks greedily.
(pg 86)
Zahira
asks her why she is here, and the demon says she may not make Heaven but she’s
trusting Gabriel’s traditional promise not to send a refugee back to Hell. The angels don’t know whether to help her
climb the mountain or whether that is her test for redemption, but Ashbel calls
for his
(pg 87)
The
two Seraphim watch cautiously. Gabriel
apparently pushes the mountain to erupt, sending a flow of lava down the path,
and most of the celestials above into the air.
The demoness waits in resignation for the lava to flow down to her,
where it burns her alive. Corat,
curiously, fans the flames. Soon after,
an angelic swan rises from the liquid that had devoured the monkey-demon and
takes unsteady wingbeats, trying to fly.
(pg 88)
Ashbel
and Mitchim welcome the new Cherub and even Shenmachel can’t help but smile,
though he’s still looking for Hamael for further advice. The party decides to let Mitchim lead
negotiations to help present a unified front.
Standing stones at the foot of Gabriel’s volcano,
November
19th, 2007
(pg 89)
Shenmachel
confers with Hamael about reporting the redemption they’d witnessed. The Loa
start to appear: Papa Legba, Obatala,
and Babaluyu.
(pg 90)
Babaluyu
addresses Mitchim politely while Papa Legba fusses, trying to hide the fact
that the Baron is late. Erzulie and
Yemaya stand quietly among their family, and the angels and soldier give their
input to Mitchim.
(pg 91)
Corat
hangs back but makes his anger clear, stage-whispering his thoughts to
Mitchim. The party continues to clarify
their position while waiting for the rest of the Loa.
(pg 92)
The
Baron arrives, all insolence and sweat.
Papa Legba returns, and Chango arrives.
The party lays out the charges, and the Baron claims he was simply doing
what he was created to do, laying the fault for Gavin’s death firmly on Lupe.
(pg 93)
Corat
and Shenmachel both nearly rise to the Baron’s baiting but manage to just keep
their cool with the help of the ladies and each other. The Baron yields to Legba’s authority and
consents to avoiding contact with Hell, but still maintains
that that angels and not he are responsible for Gavin Russo’s death.
(pg 94)
The
Baron returns to his insolent demeanor, commenting on religion, sex and other
earthy subjects he knows will upset the angels.
Mitchim alludes to Shenmachel as enforcing their agreement, allowing his
tension to work in their favor. The
other Loa cut into the Baron’s speech, saying that they have an agreement and
should end negotiations.
(pg 95)
The
Baron is unbowed, mocking Gavin’s weight loss and the angels’ hang-ups about
sorcery. The place is ripe for a fight,
and Shenmachel calls the Baron a liar.
Legba and Chango declare the meeting over and exit. The Baron flirts with the two ladies and
dances into mist, out from the stones and gone.
Shenmachel calls to them that the matter of the Baron’s punishment has
not been settled.
(pg 96)
Zahira
repeats her assertion that Gavin was trying to back out of the deal when he was
killed. Corat gently explains to
Babaluyu why they require punishment, and the Loa replies that he will send a
message on their decision, and asks for their input on it. The two seraphim suggest the same thing—that
the Baron accept supervision and that he promote Heaven’s cause to his next
devotees.
After
the Loa are gone, Corat smacks Sunae lightheartedly over the head, telling her
to stop acting subservient. He invites
her to tell him about her grandfather.
(pg 97)
Sunae
describes her grandfather Lu Shang as the man who raised her after her mother
went down fighting a demon. Her remote
ancestor began the family tradition avenging the destruction of his village and
defended a stricken angel, which got the attention of Gabriel. Corat’s a little annoyed that a demon killing
a village was left alone by celestials on either side.
(pg 98)
Corat
explains to Sunae that that was likely his boss who’d talked to her, and
rambles on a bit about him without actually saying his name. (offscreen links)
The party decides that the Habbalite is next on their agenda.
Flatlands
at the foot of Gabriel’s volcano,
November
19th, 2007
(pg 99)
In
the flatlands of the marches Corat spots the Dylan brothers, who in their dream
look like extras from the cartoon “Yellow Submarine”. He and the other angels help send them back
into the
Gabriel’s
tether at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, afternoon,
November
19th, 2007
(pg 100)
The
party discusses what they know about the Habbalite and returns to the
tether. Shenmachel mentions his
appointment with Ryuki, much to Corat’s and Mitchim’s surprise. Zahira and Corat have plans to visit the
pilot Marty.
(pg 101)
Sunae
has heard of Ryuki and wonders why these angels would want to speak to “that
princess”, and Zahira helps her find a balance between
honest and polite. Sunae offers to join
him at his meeting.
Tradewinds
Pawn Shop,
Marty Lehri’s home, Castro District,
Pacific World Bank, 5th-6th
floor, financial district,
Afternoon, November 19th, 2007
(pg 102)
Mitchim
returns to his shop in
(pg 103)
Mitchim’s
customer’s name is Dennis O’Shea, and he left a phone number from a local cheap
motel.
Corat
introduces Zahira as a nun and expresses concern about the murder of the
fortuneteller. Zahira says she would
love to offer them help in their dilemma and hear the story of how Marty landed
a jet in a firestorm.
The
bank secretary Nicole buzzes the three of them in and directs them upstairs to
Ryuki’s office. Sunae enters first, and
Shenmachel braces for sorcerous impact.
(pg 104)
Mitchim
calls the number for Dennis and reaches the sounds of a chain-smoker.
Marty
tells the story of the time he’d landed a commercial airliner in southern California
during a bad fire season with only one engine to spare, unaware that what hs is
describing is the creation of a Wind tether.
Zahira tells him he must have had angels watching over him, and when
he’s not looking Corat tells Zahira that, at least, he wasn’t the angel in
question.
Rumpled
and with his shoes off, Ryuki nearly doesn’t get up to greet his guests until
he realizes they’re a chair short, and goes to a closet to unfold a third
one. Sunae stands at back instead of
using the chair, irritating Ryuki.
(pg 105)
Zahira
asks Marty what kind of divine help they’re seeking, and Marty tells her that
he and his wife would like to have a child.
There’s a complication though, he tells her, and shows her an old
photograph of himself as a girl. They’ve tried a number of ways both medical
and metaphysical to overcome this obstacle, and their doctors won’t say it’s
impossible, only that it’s bad odds. And
Marty has never let odds get in the way, as illustrated by the story of landing
the plane in a firestorm. There is a
holy card of St. Gerard in the wastebasket.
Shenmachel
starts with small talk, a terrific effort.
Ryuki responds to the effort and asks what the Disturbance was on the
plane that morning. Shenmachel only
confirms that it was a ‘denizen of Hell’ and gets to his point: somehow he’d upset Ryuki that morning and he
wants to know what trust he broke.
Ryuki’s wary, asks for names and addresses Sunae in Japanese. She
answers him in kind.
(pg 106)
Mitchim
asks the demon to meet somewhere public to discuss a ‘mutual acquaintance’ and
asks why he’s doing business with a reputed angel. Dennis answers that he’d heard he was an
honest pawn broker, nothing to sneeze at in this town, and offers to meet at a
7/11 near the motel, and asks in coded terms whether he’s celestial.
Zahira
worries about Marty’s safety and his soul and offers her order’s prayers. Marty
is touched, but Corat is anxious. Marty
accepts her advice to avoid fortunetellers (and the killer that is stalking
them) and accepts her prayers. Zahira
attempts her Faith attunement to
Sunae’s
answer definitely surprises him, and he asks something incredulously, but still
in Japanese. Her answer seems to puzzle
him even more, but he lets it go. He
asks Shenmachel why he should admit to what bothered him.
Bus stop
outside a convenience store,
Marty Lehri’s home, Castro District,
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district,
Afternoon, November 19th, 2007
(pg 107)
Mitchim
admits, also in coded terms, that he is celestial. He meets with Dennis who is clearly craving
any kind of heat he can get in contact with.
Mitchim offers a promised cup of (hot) coffee, and Dennis offers a
handshake. He asks for Mitchim’s
assurance that meeting him hasn’t gotten “her” into any trouble.
Marty
thanks Zahira for the blessing, though no one knows yet whether Khalid
intervened.
Shenmachel
shuts off the phone and looks for any cameras that might be observing
them. Ryuki watches this but doesn’t
attempt to stop him—in fact signals to Nicole through the hidden camera to give
them five minutes of privacy. Shenmachel
then explains that the joy he takes in killing the enemies of Heaven isn’t
personal and that he’d rather see Ryuki redeemed than dead. Ryuki explains what the problem was—not that
Shenmachel liked to kill evil, but that he received a gift ungratefully. He also tells him that he’s been hearing the
Symphony for as long as he can remember. He then asks as though to himself,
“Unus? Una?”
Bus stop
outside a convenience store,
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district,
Afternoon, November 19th, 2007
(pg 108)
Mitchim
ducks the handshake, and asks for the name of Dennis’ contact. Misunderstanding, he gives him Jasmine and
swears he’s going to forewarn her as soon as their conversation is ended.
Shenmachel
still sees the issue as a matter of Truth, and then refers Ryuki to Sunae’s
example of one who fights Hell head-on.
Ryuki’s ready to cry with frustration, and asks “someone” to please
explain “fair trade” to the angel. Sunae
frames the issue as something he simply cannot understand and must accept on faith,
faith that his fatigue is putting out of his reach. She then reiterates their Japanese
conversation in English—that she is a demon hunter and it is her place to serve
the angels and
(pg 109)
Dennis
realizes that Jasmine is not the mutual acquaintance Mitch was talking about,
and curses.
Shenmachel
understands, and asks Ryuki to tell him the truth fearlessly. Ryuki jokes that the wrong truth to the
Seraph would get him killed and make him the laughingstock of Hell when he got
there. He compares his position to
living on a battlefield, the enemy’s weapon (sorcery) in his hand for no good
reason, but not on the side of the enemy.
While he wants to know about the demon on the plane, he offers the
option of delivering a donation to the priest who exorcised Pepito
instead. Shenmachel explains that he’s
not just holding a weapon, he’s firing it.
He accepts the donation idea, and offers information on the demon in
exchange for aiming his weapon in the right direction. Sunae offers him some loose tea which he
finds terrifically funny, explaining that the whole matter got started when he
‘read’ the tea Marty had purchased.
(pg 110)
Mitchim
describes the Habbalite, and sure enough Dennis has heard of him and knows who
sold him a rusty machete.
Shenmachel
calls Ryuki on the ‘guy’ comment he’d made about Marty even though he’d made it
to Sunae, and he’s in wonder that the angel had Heard
it. He says something apparently
truthful to Sunae in Japanese and looks for Shenmachel’s reaction. Sunae is glad she came, and sees that he’s
not as bad as his reputation. He
comments on this in Latin, though he is clearly tired and his Latin suffers
because of it. He shows them out.
Bus stop
outside a convenience store,
En route to the Palace Hotel tether,
Ryuki’s office, Pacific World Bank 6th
floor, financial district,
Afternoon, November 19th, 2007
(pg 111)
Dennis
uses his attuned to shake down the blade seller, who gives them an address for
the buyer—right across from where Dolores was killed. It is also in Samingan turf, and in mortal
gang turf.
Shenmachel
reminds Ryuki to sign the donation envelope, and Sunae offers him hope that he
isn’t necessarily damned just because he’s a sorcerer.
Bus stop
outside a convenience store,
En route to the Palace Hotel tether,
Afternoon, November 19th, 2007
(pg 112)
Mitch
asks Dennis why he chose his pawnshop, and he answers that if Jasmine did
business with Tradewinds it was likely an honest shop, and possibly an angelic
one. The latter would only be a problem
if the owner were unwise enough to leave a paper trail. Jasmine could have set him up with a checking
account but on the chance he’d have to slide back into Belial’s service that
documented treachery would get them both killed.
Corat
is clearly pleased with how things went with Marty. Once in sight he hails the others, asking if
Mitch is around.
Shenmachel
explains to Sunae why they were there—to spare Ash dissonance. She tells him what it was she’d said to
Ryuki, and he gently disapproves. The
odds of a sorcerer—by definition someone with a powerful selfishness—attaining
unselfish Destiny without fundamental change are
extremely low. She emphasizes that
without hope of even those small odds that he has no reason to try to escape
his Fate. She was happily surprised to
find he wasn’t the typical spoiled rich boy type she was used to.
(pg 113)
Mitch
asks whether Dennis still works for Belial and he answers that like much of
Zahira
is grateful for Faith.
Shenmachel
notes that Ryuki likes to experiment with his resonance. Sunae stops back at her old home to pick up
her things.
Corat
greets Shenmachel, asking him half in jest whether Ryuki is maimed, kidnapped,
or dead. Shenmachel answers without
humor that maiming is pointless, and says he finds their close relationship
“interesting”.
His cell phone rings, and it’s Mitchim bearing
good news.