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[Fniff]

You could say Maddy was too trusting, too naive, too stupid to notice the strange situation unfolding around her. But even her unsuspecting nature had limits. For now, the doubts remained at the back of her head quietly bothering her like a child kicking the back seat.

"I think I did, yes," she said. "Excuse me a moment, dear."

She hobbled over to Agris and Diane, though she thought of it as striding over. She said nothing, only analyzed Agris's body language and pallor. Why was he pale? Was he sick? No... Maddy remembered one of her fellow truckers, some burnout from the summer of love, having an acid flashback. For some reason, the memory of him ripping off his clothes and screaming Lead Zeppelin lyrics came back up when she looked into the cripple's eyes.

That look you get when logic fails you.
Try to figure out what's bugging Agris. Is he sick? What with? Is he freaking out? What about?

[Dwarmin]

More...? Shit, she was conscious of time... and any noise of a fight would be sure to draw the attention of the thing she'd just left behind.

As she headed downwards, away from the voices, she checked the revolver. Fully loaded. The back of the bullet casings gleamed with promise, but they would be too loud. If she could wind them, keep them shouting out, if it came down to a fight...

Head down the stairs a floor, slip through the fire door, shut it silently if possible, follow the same plan as last time.

Alice crept downwards, quiet as a rat. An apt term, I think.

[Dex+Stealth (2-1)=1+1 (Darkness)+2 (Enemies unaware of intruder)=4

9, 3, 3, 3

(Noise Generated: +4=6)

"...bad are things, do think?"
"Bad enough we've chosen to do it this way. We're going to need many vessels, and quickly. So many have already faded..."
"How do you know? They never tell us anything."
"It's not our place to ask. You live to serve her. I live to serve mine. That is why we were given the gift. Still, I listen. You can know many things, and still keep love in your heart for her."
"...Do you think she tires of me, yet?"
"You are young, and strong. Her eye does not wander. Be true to your oath, and what let what will be, be."
"What will be...how do you stand it? You lost your first mate-what, six hundred years ag...?"

At that point, Alice slipped through the fire door, cutting off all conversation. She found herself in a long, empty room-like a theater of some sort, with a stage, and rows of seats. She strained her ears and could hear nothing...but, a distant clacking of a keyboard, somewhere above her. Sticking to the shadows, she looked out and saw a small office at the other end of the room-where she supposed someone might put a movie projector. A seemingly normal woman was busy at a computer, it's dense blue glow illuminating her youthful face.

"I need... I will be fine," Agris explains, giving Diane a glance. "One moment."

He was going to be the one. He will be the one who saw it all, and then failed to convince the next in line that anything was wrong. Or will he?

Wheel myself over to Diane at a much quicker pace (well, the area right next to her), try to get my back up against a wall. Give Diane as meaningful a look as I can manage, a convincing visage of truth realized. And if that does not work, mouth the words "run for your life, warn the others" at her insistently. Decline any aid from 'courteous' employees.

If captured, inform onlookers with as much resoluteness and utmost composure as possible that things are not as they appear.

"He's harmless, I think. I met him on the elevator, and he seemed nice enough."

You could say Maddy was too trusting, too naive, too stupid to notice the strange situation unfolding around her. But even her unsuspecting nature had limits. For now, the doubts remained at the back of her head quietly bothering her like a child kicking the back seat.

"I think I did, yes," she said. "Excuse me a moment, dear."

She hobbled over to Agris and Diane, though she thought of it as striding over. She said nothing, only analyzed Agris's body language and pallor. Why was he pale? Was he sick? No... Maddy remembered one of her fellow truckers, some burnout from the summer of love, having an acid flashback. For some reason, the memory of him ripping off his clothes and screaming Lead Zeppelin lyrics came back up when she looked into the cripple's eyes.

That look you get when logic fails you.
Try to figure out what's bugging Agris. Is he sick? What with? Is he freaking out? What about?

Agris desperately tried to make some sense to Diane-she was close to understanding as well...she just needed a little push.

Manipulation+Presence=3-1 (Pressure)=2

4, 6

Diane could only stop and stare at the frightened man, who seemed to be trying to talk, but wasn't able to do much but sputter. The young man beside her leaned forward.

"Sir. You're making a scene." He said politely, as the not-men came to take Agris away, moving with a bit of a stumble motion, their arms and legs far too crooked. He could see one of them was missing an eye, a hollow bit of bone gleaming from the inside. Agris could see all the way into the not-mans head.

Agris at that moment, felt insane laughter bubbling up from somewhere deep inside him. This was really all quite amusing.

~

Wits+Empathy=5-1 (Glamored)=4

4, 7, 4, 3

Maddy couldn't figure out anything wrong with the man either, at least from a glance. She could tell he was terrified of something-scared out of his wits, his face pale as a ghost-but, she had no idea what. Something alien ticked and hummed in the back of her head thoughtfully, but she didn't hear it. No doubt the man needed some medical attention. Maybe he lost his legs in the war, and he was suffering from PTSD...Maddy had heard that some soldiers...suffering...from shellshock...they called it shellshock, anyway, in WW2...nowadays...

Her mind wandered in strange directions.

...

One of the 'courteous' employees laid a hand on Agris's shoulder, to lead him away. Agris was the only one to feel that pallid corpse flesh, to see the ghastly stitchwork and industrial staples in the beings knuckles-as if it's fingers had rotted or been damaged somehow, and hastily repaired. He shrugged away from it, but how could he resist these beings in a wheelchair?

""Bezverkhy, Agris, please come with us..."

They began to take a hold of his wheelchair to drive him away, toward the door, and he had only a moment or two to speak... (Player action)

[Harry Baldman]

Agris knew he had to explain this somehow. He was in the trap, and so was everyone else. And now they had grabbed the wheelchair. It was time to let it loose. This farce must come to an end.

Action: Agris raises himself on his arms, propelling himself out of the wheelchair straight at the idiot talking about scenes as if this was some kind of theater performance. That done, he shall scream the truth into his face, letting his filth (and the idiot's filth as well, hopefully) become apparent.

He was losing words, and he was a doomed man, one way or another. And if these fools will not listen, they will get them too!

Addendum: Agris is in quite an excitable state, and it is at this point that the English language entirely escapes him, the ancient fear and the language of the Old Country mixed with the foulest Russian expletive constructions known to mankind spilling from his mouth as he tries to drill the hot, naked truth into the idiot's mind. It is unlikely that the idiot in question understands anything, of course. But then, what do words count for when your eyes deceive you?

[Twinwolf]

Diana looks at the men who came to take Agris away. Anything about them that would be making him panic like this? Anything around the room? Can she make out anything that Agris is saying.

[GiglameshDespair]

No-one just working in this place was going to be normal. And even if this woman was just a woman, she was working with monsters.

Made Alice sick to think of a... species traitor like her. Still, maybe this was a chance to get some info.

Sneak up, try to see what is on the screen without being seen.

[Fniff]

Right before Agris leaped out of the wheelchair and everything went crazy, Maddy stepped in front of the definitely-men.

"Are you sure you should take him for an interview in this condition?" she said. "The poor man is obviously ill! He needs a hospital, not a job interview. Stop pushing him at once!"

Try to make the definitely-not-monsters-nope-totally-ordinary-dudes see reason and let Agris take a sickie.

[Dwarmin]

Diana looks at the men who came to take Agris away. Anything about them that would be making him panic like this? Anything around the room? Can she make out anything that Agris is saying.

Wits+Empathy=4-1 (Glamored)=3

3, 8, 1

(Clues Gathered by Diane: 8/10)


Just on the cusp of revelation, Diane looked closely at the men...the room...Agris...

The men seemed to her...like men...a bit stiff in bearing, surely...their faces strangely devoid of emotion...their voices (the ones coming to take Agris have not spoken) a bit monotone...for some reason Agris seemed to be panicking more and the closer they got, as if their very touch was something abhorrent to him...

Right before Agris leaped out of the wheelchair and everything went crazy, Maddy stepped in front of the definitely-men.

"Are you sure you should take him for an interview in this condition?" she said. "The poor man is obviously ill! He needs a hospital, not a job interview. Stop pushing him at once!"

Try to make the definitely-not-monsters-nope-totally-ordinary-dudes see reason and let Agris take a sickie.

The totally-a-man turned his cool, disconnected glaze on Maddie and spoke quietly.

"We're...escorting him away...from the room. So he doesn't upset the...applicants. We'll call a doctor once he is under control." The maybe-not-a-man tilted his head oddly to one side. "Are you a relation? Would you like to...accompany him?" He said, with a smile as thin as a razor blade.

Unfortunately, before she could answer...

Agris knew he had to explain this somehow. He was in the trap, and so was everyone else. And now they had grabbed the wheelchair. It was time to let it loose. This farce must come to an end.

Action: Agris raises himself on his arms, propelling himself out of the wheelchair straight at the idiot talking about scenes as if this was some kind of theater performance. That done, he shall scream the truth into his face, letting his filth (and the idiot's filth as well, hopefully) become apparent.

He was losing words, and he was a doomed man, one way or another. And if these fools will not listen, they will get them too!

Addendum: Agris is in quite an excitable state, and it is at this point that the English language entirely escapes him, the ancient fear and the language of the Old Country mixed with the foulest Russian expletive constructions known to mankind spilling from his mouth as he tries to drill the hot, naked truth into the idiot's mind. It is unlikely that the idiot in question understands anything, of course. But then, what do words count for when your eyes deceive you?

Agris prepared himself to go berzerk, but Maddie interrupted him, stealing his thunder. He used the momentary distraction to slip out of his wheelchair, screaming madness in a foreign tongue.


=Servants=
Servant1

Strength+Brawl:4-2 (Agris Defense)

10!, 7
2

Servant2

Strength+Brawl:4-2 (Agris Defense)

5,5

Agris is grappled!

=Agris=
Strength+Brawl:6-2 (Attackers strength)-1 (Crit)

3, 8, 5,

Agris breaks free!

Agris feels a heavy, cold hand slither slip under his armpit, and after that all conscious thought ceased. As the other came around to grab his other arm, Agris angled his elbow into the other not-mans groin on reflex...surprisingly effective, the being staggered back, showing that whatever these things were they could feel pain. This brings him some clarity, and he began fighting like an animal, squirming and struggling-he realizes with growing confidence he's stronger than these things, whatever they are. He managed to pry his other arm free with a few moments of desperate wrenching, and was free to scream. Which he did. Loudly. It seemed to be working. The rest of the crowd was starting to wake up...Diane in particular seemed on the very edge of understanding everything.

(Clues Gathered by Diane: 9/10)
(Clues Gathered by Maddy: 6/10)

But here they were, coming for him again-the third man joining this time, an obvious look of impatience on his face. And yet, it was an emotion-compared to the complacent arrogance of his previous look, this was much better. Something primal in him celebrated this small victory.

No-one just working in this place was going to be normal. And even if this woman was just a woman, she was working with monsters.

Made Alice sick to think of a... species traitor like her. Still, maybe this was a chance to get some info.

Sneak up, try to see what is on the screen without being seen.

=Alice=
Dexterity+Stealth=1
2

vs

=Stranger=
Wits+Composure=5-1 (Distracted)-1 (Not alarmed)+1 (Alice Untrained Stealth)=4
1, 4, 6, 2


Alice is lucky the woman was so invested in her computer program she didn't spot the uncoordinated dark blob that creeped up the lane between the rows of seats, angling for a side door. Alice had managed to avoid being detected for now...she made her way to the adjoining hallway (Elevator down the hall, yep) and then backtracked-crawling low across the floor, then spying on the womans booth from behind-poking her head slightly through the door, which had been left slightly ajar. She was still busy typing away.

Alice could tell the woman was doing something...mathematical, anyway. She was running dozens of programs with varying icons, and long strings of numbers that rolled down the screen like that doofy movie wiith Keanu Reeves, about the people who were living in computers. Alice didn't know what the numbers meant, of course. Still, she watched closely and noted aside from the numbers, the woman was calculating dates-she could see several months, exact times, and specific days being analyzed-often with side programs that seemed to indicate the moon, tides, weather, on those days-and who knows what.

She wasn't quite sure what to make of this. But, here's what she did next... (Player action)

[Harry Baldman]

If this was to be his sole contribution to the betterment of mankind, then so be it. The legacies of some men are humbler than others.

Action: Agris continues screaming, hoping to reveal this farce for what it is! The awakening must proceed! He shall defend from their predation as well as he can, biting and punching and trying to fend them off for however many precious seconds he can obtain.

[Twinwolf]

After the men said they were taking Agris to a doctor, Diane had said the following: "I'm a doctor..." but then Agris had been grabbed, and Diane saw the fight break out. Something... didn't seem right. Is there anything wrong with how any of them are moving? Something... inhuman?

[GiglameshDespair]

Alice decided to do a bit of questioning. She stepped behind the woman and cocked the pistol, the steel mechanisms making a satisfying ka-click.
"Hands up. Slowly. Don't say shit, or I'll paint that fucking monitor with your brains. Whether you're a fucking monster or not, you need those, I'm reckoning.

[Fniff]

"Oh for the love of God," said Maddy, surprised at her anger. "What is wrong with you people?"

That question had an answer that would make her wish she didn't ask anything in the first place. Nevertheless, She stood between the not-men and Agris and tried to calm things down.

[Dwarmin]

If this was to be his sole contribution to the betterment of mankind, then so be it. The legacies of some men are humbler than others.

Action: Agris continues screaming, hoping to reveal this farce for what it is! The awakening must proceed! He shall defend from their predation as well as he can, biting and punching and trying to fend them off for however many precious seconds he can obtain.

"Get a hold of him, please." The flunky said.

The thugs seemed to shed some restraint at that moment...Agris watched as a prenatural green glow seemed to seep out of the eye sockets...they grip him with hideous strength...inhuman strength. He watched with a detached sense of horror as their muscles bulged in their shirts like tumors.

=Servants=
Servant1

Strength+Brawl:7-2 (Agris Defense)

5, 3, 8, 4, 9

Servant2

Strength+Brawl:7-2 (Agris Defense)

4, 6, 10!, 9, 10!
9, 7

Flunky
Strength+Brawl:8-2 (Agris Defense)

9, 6, 6, 5, 2, 2
""
Agris is grappled! Alot!

=Agris=
Strength+Brawl:6-5 (Attackers strength)=1

5

Agris is grappled!


Where before Agris had something of a chance, now they picked him up like a ragdoll-two notmen were holding his arms and the flunky was holding the stumps of his legs. They began to carry him away...

"Oh for the love of God," said Maddy, surprised at her anger. "What is wrong with you people?"

That question had an answer that would make her wish she didn't ask anything in the first place. Nevertheless, She stood between the not-men and Agris and tried to calm things down.

(Clues Gathered by Maddy: 7/10)

Maddy stood against them, however, blocking their progress. This felt right...

The flunky (who seemed a bit perturbed at the moment) spoke quietly.

"We're taking him to the doctor. He's clearly...troubled. Please step aside."

After the men said they were taking Agris to a doctor, Diane had said the following: "I'm a doctor..." but then Agris had been grabbed, and Diane saw the fight break out. Something... didn't seem right. Is there anything wrong with how any of them are moving? Something... inhuman?

(Clues Gathered by Diane: 10/10)

The web dropped from Diane's eyes with shocking suddenness.

[Resolve+Composure=5+1(Integrity)-2 (Witnessing Supernatural consciously for the first time)=4

2, 4, 8, 4

Success!
Diane gains Spooked Condition

Diane was able to see the dark edges of the the...things...that were grabbing Agris. Their inhuman gaits. Their pale, cadaver like skin. Her medical eye tried to step in, make sense of it-her rational mind teetered wildly. She wants to scream, but doesn't. Part of her is forcing her jaw shut, because is she screams they'll know...Diane keeps watching, as if she is no more a zombie than the rest of the people in this room. They look like badly stitched corpses someone animated to walk, is her first thought. Medical stitches applied by a lazy hand, or perhaps by their own hands-ears and fingers attacked by black thread or staples. They seem to be missing their eyes-only dull, hazy green glows from whatever is inside of them.

Memories begin to filter back to her, as watches. Sitting in her small apartment, not taking calls, not moving from bed. Her cell phone rings again and again, but she never answers it. Doesn't even hear it. She keeps reading the advertisement from Twinhall over and over, glances at the clock, then repeats this. She sees her medical work (a dissertation on the long-term effects of stress on paramedics) laying forlorn and forgotten. This brings her back...she had worked hard on that...was going to finish it...and then...these...'people'...stole her time...betrayed her...did something she couldn't understand...but, another memory comes back...

...

The pale man with the blue tie. He had his hands around the pretty ladies neck. She thought they were kissing. The woman was smiling. The mans face was curiously blank. Then, the red. It started pouring out of the ladies neck, like a faucet. The man was drinking it. His face never changed. The woman kept smiling...even as...

...

A lifetime of doubting what she saw that day was dispelled in a single, bleak moment. She knew what she saw. She always knew.

Diane returns to herself, wondering how long all this has been hidden right under her nose. How much she thought she knew. Her worldview...shattered, in an instant...and now she's right in the middle of it. A cold hand creeps up her shoulder, and she almost screams (almost)-but it's only Will, his eyes still clouded and calm. He doesn't know the truth. Doesn't see.

"Are you alright? You look a bit pale." He asks gently, as if everything is the same. As if anything will ever be the same again.

Alice decided to do a bit of questioning. She stepped behind the woman and cocked the pistol, the steel mechanisms making a satisfying ka-click.
"Hands up. Slowly. Don't say shit, or I'll paint that fucking monitor with your brains. Whether you're a fucking monster or not, you need those, I'm reckoning.

The woman seemed alarmed, but collected herself quickly. She raised her hands to the sky. Alice noted her looks a bit closer now. A face she supposed was called Mediterranean. Pretty girl. Delicate features. Sensuous, wide lips-the kind that can tilt into an inviting smile. She has soft looking, dark almond colored eyes-like her skin, smooth and chocolate colored. Not like Alice. Her own build more suitable to loading boxes. Skin pale and sickly. Never gets a second look, unless she's trying hard. Alice's nose that will never see a plastic surgeon. The familiar sour, metallic tang of rage in the back of Alice's throat. A part of her would love to see Ms. Pretty's brains dribbling all over the computer screen like oatmeal. See how pretty she is then.

"..."

(Player Action)

[Harry Baldman]

Action: Agris continues to scream wildly, trying to get free to the best of his ability. It is all that he can do at this point.

[GiglameshDespair]

"Stand up, face the wall. Keep your hands above your head.

What's all this date shit? I know you're monsters... I saw your fucking head thing. If you tell me what's going on, now, you might be able to crawl out of here."

She gestured with the gun, a quick twitch, to usher the woman away fro mthe computer towards a wall. She'd get a copy of whatever it was and then smash it or delete it or something... she didn't want to actually fire the gun for the noise, since there was that monster floating around somewhere.

[Dwarmin]

"Stand up, face the wall. Keep your hands above your head.

What's all this date shit? I know you're monsters... I saw your fucking head thing. If you tell me what's going on, now, you might be able to crawl out of here."

She gestured with the gun, a quick twitch, to usher the woman away fro mthe computer towards a wall. She'd get a copy of whatever it was and then smash it or delete it or something... she didn't want to actually fire the gun for the noise, since there was that monster floating around somewhere.

The woman seems to calm herself, speaking with a slight European accent. She moves away from the computer, but doesn't face the wall-she faces you directly, hands dropped to her sides.

"Well, I won't argue we have done monstrous things are done in the name of the greater good. But, that's neither here nor there.

As for the dates. Certain things only align every now and again. We need to very precise with our calculations. It's the only time all this can happen.  We have already calculated tonight's event perfectly, but I was doing some last minute checks. I'm what you'd call a perfectionist." She says lightly.