It was down for me as well.
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Eric had some luck, it seems, as he managed to track down the place where the rifle was held. He originally thought it'd be in a pawn shop or in a cult's church held as a holy artifact, but the truth was a strange combination of both. He stopped next to the squat, stained building that apparently held the holy gun. He looked around at the wasteland that surrounded the area, filled with trash and abandoned buildings half-lit in the pale moonlight. Apparently, some parts of town were filled with supernatural creatures, which were tracked using a chip implanted in their arms to prevent any problems with them running off or trying to eat people,which had varying effects on the surrounding area. Sometimes it was kinda obvious, other times it was pretty subtle. This area seemed like one of the more wild areas, where humans were only 10% of the populace, with the rest being assorted nasty creatures that fed on the humans. Obviously, thousands of mysterious deaths tend to make all but the most stubborn leave the area, meaning that this whole area of town was left to rot while the supernatural creatures turned on each other as they are inclined to do if there aren't any humans.
He opened the metal door to the inside, and looked around. The inside was filled with various weapons, artifacts and trinkets: he noted an awful lot of flags for various rebel/terrorist movements, and a lot of gasmasks. With all the supplies he saw, it would be enough for a decisive victory for a guerrilla force against a small island nation. The room was not very well lit, and large, which didn't go well together. At the end of the room a man was leaning against the wall next to a torch lit with blue fire.
The man was in a hooded trenchcoat, and wearing a purple scarf as a mask, leaving only his eyes which glowed an odd orange in the darkness. He was obviously supernatural, but what kind was up in the air. He seemed to be currently talking with a young man in a white hoodie and jeans, which Eric could only see the back of. The conversation seemed jovial enough.
The young man suddenly turned around, and Eric realized that he knew that young man. His name was Jordan Svenson, one of the most infamous Aesir Initiative assassin, and probably one of the best. He only read one account of Svenson's misadventures, but apparently he once flayed, hung and quartered a soldier under the command of a despot, then threw his corpse over the wall of the palace, repeatedly doing this to the soldiers inside until they finally surrendered. Apparently they thought he was the devil up until then.
Jordan grinned at Eric, and Eric felt a chill in his spine. That was not a smile. That was an attempt at smiling that ticked all the checkboxes but missed the mark completely. Jordan nodded at the hooded man and left the room, brushing past Eric without saying anything. He never could have believed that a human could fall straight into the uncanny valley without being supernatural at all, but now Eric knew.
The man nodded at the rather terrified hunter of the supernatural (And not fucking Jordan Svenson, thank Christ) and chuckled. "Well, hello, stranger..." He said, in a thick cockney accent. "I suppose you could call me a merchant, if you wish. Now, what would you like to buy?"
"I was looking for an artifact."A glint of a thought passed through the Merchant's eyes. He nodded. "Would you perhaps like my latest purchase? The Angel's Fire, can of octane oil, multiversal horror blessed it and it will purge any heretic you care to mention! Hehe..."
"... The Angel... I'm looking for something else, but about that. The Angel is a demon?""Oh, far from it. It's a thing that... Nevermind, what were you looking for?"
Eric raised an eyebrow, but he supposed he had better things to do, and it seemed like the Merchant was brushing it off as unimportant rather then actually important.
"I was wondering if you would have a semi-automatic rifle that has parts that are magical in nature." "Oh, the Rifle of Our Lord? Perfect choice, used by a little old hunter who only used it to hunt werewolves on Sunday!" The Merchant walked to a safe, keyed in a combination on the electronic keypad and stepped back as it opened automatically, then took out a hunting rifle. He then moved in front of Eric and presented to him. "It's a Marlin Model 25N .22 LR, scope and strap included. Faith has been put into this weapon's parts, my friend. Look, it's even got an engraving."
The Merchant flipped the rifle over and showed the stock to Eric. It had a rather beautiful engraving of a woman with long flowing hair in a dress. "Used to belong to a vampire named Gerald Sperns, nice fellow, wanted to get rid of it cos this lady here just wanted him to settle down. She's a witch, one of those new ones, reformed you see. Now, the effect is that the bullet is corrosive to 'Unholy' creatures such as vampires, demons, things like that. It'll melt at temperatures that equal the sun, and may beam with light, meaning their arm is going to go at least. However, here's the problem: it's a bit old, and the magical parts that work are unreliable, shall we say. You gotta soak the magical parts in holy water for at least a week if you use it often, so if you happen to get attacked by monsters on your day off it's not going to be handy. Price is
$150 quid."
Eric put on a confused expression.
"What's the catch?""... Alright, you got me. It need a real repair of the non magical parts too, which may cost you a bit. Honestly, top to bottom, this is a catch but it's going to require maintaining. Like a woman." The Merchant chuckled at his own joke, as he seemed to do a lot. Eric politely joined in, which seemed to throw the trader off a bit, as an awkward silence ensued.
"... Right, uh." He put the rifle against his soldier, aiming it to the ceiling. "What do you say?"
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Note, going to shops will take a day out of your 7 days of freedom, while training will take up the entire week. However, you will be allowed to take your friends out to dinner before you go training. Going to train is always free.
Utkin Military Surplus and Soviet Antiques
Masha Utkin offers unparalleled quality in Warsaw Pact (And others!) weapons, armor and science experiments! Come for the E99 and fear toxin, stay for the booby traps and AKMs!
Spirit Charming Goods and other Magical Talismans
Please knock three times on the door then whisper "I am of the shadow" before opening the door if you are coming in for the first time, as the shop uses teleport magic to prevent any undesirables from breaching it's secrecy. Want a true defense for your home, supplies for summoning a spirit or a amulet to make you truly beautiful? This shop will be what you seek.
Cybernetics & Genetic Enhancement Clinic
Run by Dr F. Aelis, this is your one stop clinic for surgical/genetic enhancements. Become stronger, faster, and smarter today! Ask about our transhuman supplements if you are into that sort of thing as well!
Trader's Pawn Shop
Sometimes we might have enough firearms to start a war with. Other times we might have an artifact that could save or destroy the world for under a tenner. All the time you will have good service, reasonable prices and options for delivery. Roll the dice and get over here.
Semper Jergen Pharmacy
Semper Jergen: Advancing The Future. The world's best medicine company is offering Aesir Initiative operatives extremely excellent pills, liquids and other medical supplies. Want some Ryoxide, the ground breaking new drug that will dampen pain without disoreintating you, Garlanium which will give you a temporary reprieve from the mental illness of your choice, or Xombium that will use a passive, perfectly safe magic to actively heal you? It's all here.
Mental Capacities, Resistance and Indoctrination Training
A training exercise that, with a choice of increasing your resistance (-1 to efforts to undermine sanity with magic or horrific sights), Capacities (A photographic memory!) and Indoctrination (Ability to convert enemies to your side using effective methods, with one reroll
Firearms Training
Training in a specific type of firearm, such as pistols, shotguns, assault rifles or machine guns. You can either choose tactical planning (Allows automatic rerolls of dud rolls, allowing more and more rerolls as this is trained up) or military training (+1 to the firearm, but no further upgrades can be made)
Mage Training
First, tests on basic magic. Then, a choice of three types of Aesir Initiative approved magic: Witch Magic (Specific, ritualized spells that require ingredients), Spirit Magic (Magic that binds you to a certain element, animal or object, then allows you to use freeform spells you think up yourself. However, you will get overtired if you create too many spells in quick succession) and Mixer Magic (Magic that allows you to take the four elements of the Earth [Fire, which allows you to spray fire out of your hands, Water, which allows you to create ice and water around you, Earth, which allows you to manipulate the area around you, and Air, which allows you to manipulate the air itself, allowing you to fly and knock enemies back], then allow you to mix and match as you wish).
St. George's Hospital
If you are injured, you will rest at this hospital for free for a week, with the best of magical and scientific medical techniques to heal you, if you are heavily injured. If lightly (Yellow), then you should go to the Pharmacy for that. (Will raise your health to green)
St. Dymphna Psychology College/Sanitarium for Supernaturally Affiliated or Supernatural Creatures
Feeling depressed? Can't sleep at night because of what nightmares that might bring? Attempting to control your darker side? Trying to get used to not being fully human? We can help. (Will raise your sanity to green)
[spoiler=Eric Lowe]
$500, chill in spine
$500, slightly scratched throat
$500, Strange Amulet (Seems to keep the Angel at bay, but barely)
Author
Topic: Roll To Occult: Art Bell Would Be Proud [4/4] (Read 9884 times)