The events in week 7 of the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity (#DPLCTY), between 09/15/2019 to 09/21/2019.

Clay Hellstrom, Sitri Lovelace & Jonas Carter (Continuing scene from Week 6)

Mage Storyteller:

Kai face is twisted into a grimace of confusion, “This shits getting too weird for me man, I’m about ready to fuck the hell out of here.” Sitri, Clay, you see this odd newcomer approaching the group of feather-gatherers.  Do you interfere?

Sitri Lovelace:

[Ive jumped down from my perch and am huddled close to kai.] “Look It’s been nice talking to you but with All this going on and Harry Potter showing up I think it’s time for us all to split”.

Mage Storyteller:

Allison, who has began to shake slightly from anxiety, pipes up and says “Clay, I think I agree with the stoners. Let’s get out of here.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Yeah… look I’m going to stick around. Could you maybe wait for Des, point him this way? He’s kind of familiar with weird shit and can help. He ought to be coming in here the way we did. If not, I’ll catch up with you later. Cheap dinner, my pull.”

Mage Storyteller:

 [@LovelaceSitri] As you move away from the scene of chaos behind you, Kai & Allison are visibly less tense. After a few moments of silence Allison says “Hobbyists, Am I right? People will obsess over anything”, to which Kai emphatically agrees. The shock and confusion is fading.

Sitri Lovelace:

“Y..ya hobbyist…hey Is your friend going to be ok?”

Clay Hellstrom:

To Sitri: Yeah, see you around.

To the newcomer: Hey! Hey! Trust me here you do not want to get near those. They’re… um…

… psychoactive… I’ve got… a…containment guy on the way.”

Jonas Carter:

I walk closer to clay and give him a good look up an down “Psychoactive? And how did you reach that conclusion” as I say that I subtlety start moving my fingers around to cast a spell to read surface thoughts [Mind 2]

Clay Hellstrom:

“Look at how the people around this bird have been acting. You have another more acceptable explanation?” [I would extend my senses periodically].

Jonas Carter:

“More acceptable? I suppose not. More True? Now that depends.” I look Clay in the eyes, trying to read his response to my next words. “One could see this as a more supernatural, more magickal, phenomena. Hypothetically of course.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Yes… if one were so inclinded. Few are, so caution is needed.”

Jonas Carter:

“Too true, one must be careful when discussing such alternative, though one could say they are the more Traditional explanations.”

Clay Hellstrom:

 [I’m wary now] “Yeah one could, if one were a subscriber to Tradition.”

Jonas Carter:

“Ah I see.” I lower my voice, trying to keep my words between the two of us. “Let us drop pretenses, shall we. I don’t care if you want to remain independent, so long as you aren’t with the Union we can work together, and there is no time to lose.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“As long as you aren’t Euthanitos we might get along. Clay Hellstrom, unaffiliated, freelance newbie.”

Jonas Carter:

I chuckle. “Hardly, I am Jonas Carter Hermetic Mage of the 6th Degree. The issue before us Clay, is that this is not just some simple effect that attacks the mind, it also is doing something to the soul of those afflicted.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Jesus.”  [I double check to ensure Allison has gone to meet Des]

Jonas Carter:

“Exactly. So look, we need to get those sleepers away from whatever the source of this effect is. Then we can work to neutralize the source. Unfortunately I’m not well versed in the Ars Potentiae or Ars Spirtuum. But there may be something we can do.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“So far, I can only sense magic and not do magic. Dealing with them will be touchy, they’re driven by a sort of mania. I only just resisted it. First to simply obsessively observe, it exploded, now to possess a feather. And not just any feather, but THE perfect one.”

“I called a guy who understands about this sort thing, he ought to be underway here too. Three heads might be better than JUST one experienced head and one amatuer one.”

“Hermes, huh? You aren’t tight with anyone from Baltimore are you?”

Jonas Carter:

“Hmm, that makes this more tricky. If they are that obsessed they could easily hurt us or each other. Maybe some kind of distraction…Not particularly, no. Is there someone up there you’re looking to get in contact with?”

Clay Hellstrom:

“No, more like stay out of touch with. Long story. But I had the same concerns. I have a medical background and have know the mindset these people are in is dangerous to them and anyone else around. Another reason I didn’t call this in to EMS. Done wrong… eeesh.”

Jonas Carter:

“Agreed, but I worry about the spiritual damage they may suffer if we do nothing. There is an effect I could do, but it worry that it might mix with the aura of compulsion in unintended ways.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“That’s why I made a call to someone more experienced… too bad that artist guy left. We could have used him to run a distraction: a bigger better woodpecker… over there…” .

Jonas Carter:

@MageStoryteller “I might be able to nudge the obsession into something else, but I’m not sure what that might cause…” [Is there anything else nearby that I might be able to use Mind 2 to channel their obsession onto?]

Mage Storyteller:

As the two of you are having this conversation the folks continue to root around, growing more feverish. You see also, a small coalescence — the creature, reforming. You could try to divert them to some of the other, less exciting birds in the area but it won’t be easy.

Clay Hellstrom:

[I take off my shirt to throw it over top]

Jonas Carter:

[I’m going to use my wand and begin an extended cast to try and channel the compulsion onto the other birds] “If this works, as soon as they’re away cover it up as subtly as possible, even if this works it will be tenuous.”

Clay Hellstrom:

[I stand back a bit to observe. Also put my shirt back on].

Mage Storyteller:

[To clarify your plan, Jonas you are going to try to use a mind effect to redirect their compulsion to a mundane bird and if/when that succeeds Clay you are going to try to cover up the reforming creature. Is that correct?]

Clay Hellstrom:

[Not if covering it with my shirt interferes with his mojo] “Hey, will me covering that thing with my shirt interfere?”

Jonas Carter:

“Not at all, just try to avoid them noticing.” [yes that is my plan]

Clay Hellstrom:

[Starts re-removing shirt]

[starts remembering I actually have some talent in misdirection. Hands shirt to Jonas to cover the thing up, and I will I try to misdirect the crowd into following me to and *even* better woodpecker]

Mage Storyteller:

[Great the two of you will be working in conjunction, first Jonas will try to peel them off of their obsession long enough for Clay to get them clear.] Jonas, you reach out and feel their passions gripped in this things talons. How do you approach freeing them?

Jonas Carter:

 [I am envisioning this compulsion as a chain pulling the victims towards the source, I am moving my want as I mutter an incantation to redirect where the chain is pulling them towards a bird in another tree]

Mage Storyteller:

[The effect is vulgar but the sleepers cannot currently witness anything else. There’s also that small complication — that bit of this effect outside the purview of the mind sphere. Roll Arete difficult 7.]

Jonas Carter:

[I will spend a point of willpower]

(3d10 Rolled: 8, 7 and 7. My work here is done.) [4 successes with the willpower]

Mage Storyteller:

A resounding success. Is there any physical manifestation of this effect or how does it take hold?

Jonas Carter:

[As I finish the spell there is a small flash at the end of my wand and a crack in the air like a whip as the victims attention turns to the new target of their obsession]

Mage Storyteller:

As their attention whips around the woodpecker finishes forming and screeches in rage. The strength of your will keeps the people from being torn away from you but you feel the entity fighting for control. @HellstromMta what do you do?

Clay Hellstrom:

[Crap. Bird? People? Bird? People? I signal to “bag the bird” then turn] “Hey! Look at that one over there! I’ve never seen one so amazing! I’m going to get the perfect feather before anyone else can!” [start running away from the area to another area with woods to keep the lking

“Oh my god, there it is again! What is it? No it’s fying that way, we have to get to it!” [run harder]

Mage Storyteller:

[Roll Manipulation + Misdirection, difficulty 7 as they’re in a state of magickal confusion]

Clay Hellstrom:

[Spend a willpower, or two, or three as needed] (6d10 Rolled: 4, 7, 3, 10, 6 and 1.)

Tobias Washington  (Continuing scene from Week 6)

Mage Storyteller:

The music is soothing and naive, some sort of folk music for a new generation. It’s good enough to be slightly distracting from your book, not able to fully hold your attention. What sort of book of is it?

Tobias Washington:

It’s an older printing of 1984.

Mage Storyteller:

You’re reading the passage with the great “Freedom is slavery” quote, which you unfortunately saw tattoos on one of your students bodies a few weeks ago, when the letters on the page begin to rearrange themselves. You blink, uncertain, but sure enough the passage is now…

interrupted by the short phrase “Hello Tobias. It’s nice to see you getting to relax.”

Alesky (Continuing scene from Week 6)

Mage Storyteller:

What does your studying environment look like? What vice is Aleksy prone to when in the throws of research?

The events in week 6 of the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity (#DPLCTY), between 09/08/2019 to 09/14/2019.

Tobias Washington

Mage Storyteller:

[@TobiasNgoma1] It’s a good day for Tobias. Class is done and for once you’re caught up on grades. It’s a rare day to be sure. How does Tobias spend a rare afternoon?

Tobias Washington:

[Tobias smiles at the unexpected afternoon off] “Guess I’d better try to keep body and soul together” he says to himself and heads to one of his favorite cafes near the University.

Mage Storyteller:

You head over to Roast Duck, a coffee shop on the edge of campus. The sign features a mosaic style duck with a beret sipping a cup of coffee. The crowd is young; there seems to be an acoustic folk singer doing a background concert.

Tobias Washington:

[Tobias takes his coffee and sandwich to a corner table, shaking his head at the thought that he had ever been as young as the other patrons. He takes a seat and opens the book he’s currently reading, letting the sounds of life pass over and through him.]

Alesky

Mage Storyteller:

[@zenantiomer] Aleksy has been cooped up in his room for a week and half working on a major project, completely consumed by his studies. What is it that you’re working on?

Alesky:

I am scouring the existing literature and planning a new series of experiments on neurotransmitters. I can’t believe no one has tried looking systematically at the effects of neurotransmitter chirality.

I am practically salivating at the prospect of genuinely novel knowledge.

Paul Chambers (Continuing scene from Week 5)

Mage Storyteller:

Your tracks covered and some kind of lead in hand, you head off to bed. [I say we call the scene there. 2 exp points. Next scene starts with however Paul wants to move forward I think.]

Jonas Carter (Continuing scene from Week 5)

Mage Storyteller:

You see a group of bird watchers, binoculars around their necks, scrounging on the ground looking at feathers. You also see a group of four to one side, looking concerned. But your mind snaps back to those feathers. [Make a willpower roll].

Jonas Carter:

7d10 Rolled: 9, 1, 2, 9, 3, 10 and 6. Better roll again.

Clay Hellstrom, Sitri Lovelace & Jonas Carter (Continuing scene from Week 5)

Mage Storyteller:

Des responds, concerned. “No way that thing is natural Clay. Any chance you can get those people out of there? I wouldn’t want anything to do with those feathers.”

Clay Hellstrom:

 [Exhales, low and slow] “I’ll see what I can do. What do I do with them, just leave them? Aren’t they kind of like obsession fuelled landmines just lying around?”

Mage Storyteller:

“If you can keep people away from them, maybe I can get away from here after lunch. Figure out what you can and I’ll be along as soon as possible.”

[Sitri roll Wits + Awareness + Prime dif 9]

Sitri Lovelace:

7d10 Rolled: 10, 2, 7, 6, 5, 3 and 7.

Clay Hellstrom:

“Thanks, Des.” [Puts phone away, pause a second turns to Sitri.] “Hey man, I’m Clay. Wanna help me do something about all this?”

Sitri Lovelace:

“Sitri, what did you have in mind?”

Mage Storyteller:

Right as you say that Sitri you glance over and you see, for the first time, real power. It’s all over the ground by the feathers. [How does it manifest?] You only can hold if for an instant before your mind bends under the pressure of knowing.

Sitri Lovelace:

[It looks like pure liquid color was splashed on the ground. But there was something in the color. My mind bent before I could see anymore.]

Mage Storyteller:

You know only one thing as your senses return. That thing is not of this world.

Mage Storyteller:

Clay right after Sitri is finished speaking you see his eyes go wide, he stumbles back and sits down hard.

Clay Hellstrom:

“One of two things, we… hey? Hey man! You okay?”  [move toward him]

Sitri Lovelace:

“I..I’m ffine.”[ shaking my head I lean back and try to pull a smile together] “Sorry.. that hit me harder than I expected”

Mage Storyteller:

[We’re now in visual range of @JonasCarterOoH. Let’s pause for his response and then all four of us will close out the scene.]

Mage Storyteller:

[@JonasCarterOoH moving everything to this thread.] Jonas, you reel back from a sudden compulsion to join the group scrounging for feathers but your will pushes back equally and you resist. Sitri, Clay, you see this newcomer walking up. Jonas, describe yourself.

Jonas Carter:

[Jonas is just under 6ft, heavy set, in his mid 30s dressed in a dark suit with short brown hair and thick glasses, just looking at him he is forgettable and hard to remember (arcane 2).]

Mage Storyteller:

[How do you respond to the situation in front of you?]

Jonas Carter:

I step back, shocked at the mental compulsion and pull out an intricately carved wand of Ebony and move it around like a Harry Potter nerd, though like I know what I’m doing. [Using Mind to shield myself from whatever the hell that was]

Mage Storyteller:

[Gonna call this coincidental since the actual magick is hidden. Fairly straightforward, roll Arete difficulty 5]

Jonas Carter:

[I’ll also spend a point of willpower]

3d10 Rolled: 7, 5 and 1. Uh-oh

[2 successes with the willpower]

Mage Storyteller:

You’re able to successfully isolate and suppress the effect pulling at your mind — which suddenly reveals to you a deeper, more insidious effect underlying the mental one. Something picking at your very soul. It’s not strong with the mind effect nullified though.

.@LovelaceSitri & @HellstromMta you see this new arrival and his strange wand ritual, seemingly with no effect. It’s been a bizarre few minutes no doubt. How do you respond?

Sitri Lovelace:

“Ok today has just gone from weird to super weird. I mean you saw that right? Magic wand and shit?”[ I start laughing a little in shock. I turn and look at @HellstromMta and then to kai] “im not crazy right?”

Jonas Carter:

My face goes from shocked to scared but determined as I carefully make my way closer to the source of the assault on my mind.

Clay Hellstrom:

“Hey, Allison, Des will be headed over in a bitto look at this. Could you meet him at the entrance?”

The events in week 5 of the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity (#DPLCTY), between 09/01/2019 to 09/07/2019.

Jonas Carter (Continuing scene from Week 4)

Mage Storyteller:

You find a strange looking device sticking into Mark’s grave, while it’s purpose is unclear you can sense some sort of energy pulsing through it at regular intervals. It shimmers in the daylight upon each pulse. You don’t sense anything obviously malicious or dangerous.

Jonas Carter:

I look over the device for any identifying marks, and then draw a circle destruction to shut it down [Entropy 3 Slay Machine].

Mage Storyteller:

[Make an Intelligence + Investigation check, none of your specialties apply. Difficulty 8]

Jonas Carter:

 [no successes]

Mage Storyteller:

[The dice bot said you got a 10 & an 8 yeah?]

Jonas Carter:

[but two 1s]

Mage Storyteller:

[Getting my d10 dice pool systems mixed up.] You can’t figure out the devices origin, something about the device nags at the back of your mind though.  You are able to deactivate the device which crumples & implodes, retracting a 6′ cable into itself as it does so.

Jonas Carter:

I stand, dust off my pants and look around, seeing if anyone noticed the device’s destruction.

Mage Storyteller:

There doesn’t seem to be anyone around you and there is a peacefulness only interrupted by some far off commotion, a group of people in a copse of trees.

Jonas Carter:

I walk over in that direction, in case they have found another of these devices.

Clay Hellstrom & Sitri Lovelace (Continuing scene from Week 4)

Mage Storyteller:

The creature is emitting a compelling if heavy handed zone of attraction. Feeling the energies moving around you you discover it is highly localized & most effective with there’s a line of sight between victim & creature. You’re unsure as to its purpose or intelligence.

Clay Hellstrom:

[Is there a colour to its aura? Using Prime 1, can I sense anything to do with quintessence in the vicinity? A trail?]  “Allison, just trust me, do not look at the woodpecker. *Trust me*.”

Mage Storyteller:

It’s incontrovertibly the red and yellow of the fruit of the Arbutus tree, the strawberry tree. You arn’t quite sure where or how you know that. The thing has no trail, seemingly to be entirely self contained.  “Allison looks at you quizzically and takes a few steps back.

Clay Hellstrom:

[1/2 What texture is its aura? I think about what Des taught me about seeing auras. I also look around the area to see if anyone else is eyeballing this, or standing out. Also for any stones that might fit in my hand, or branches]

[2/2 Clay is dressed pretty PNW: hiking runners, longish, olive drab canvas shorts , a black t-shirt with the Cascadia flag, and a dark grey bucket hat — assuming the weather is to be fine all day]

Mage Storyteller:

The aura puckers and ripples out from the bird, drawing the eye in hypnotic patterns. [Intelligence + Esoterica for what your remember. Difficulty 7.] Behind you as you look around you see @LovelaceSitri with a pair of binoculars. [Describe yourself Sitri.]

Clay Hellstrom:

[I do not have Esoterica, so I cannot make the check. I look over toward Sitri] “This sounds nuts, but you really don’t want check out that woodpecker.” [Sitri sees someone who looks like they are dressed for ligh summer hiking].

[I’m torn between chasing the bird off and leaving it be. Is it actually all that harmful or deliberately malevolent? But the obsessiveness it creates can’t possibly be all that benevolent.]

Sitri Lovelace:

[ Sitri is 6’1 with gray eyes and bright pink hair. He’s dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt covered in paint. He has many piercings and some tattoos can be seen on his arms. All in all he looks like a punk. He’s also smoking something while looking at @HellstromMta]

Clay Hellstrom:

[I notice the binoculars – and I stand at about 5’10”. Dark hair, green eyes, clean shaven, looks fit.] “Hey man, can I use those for a moment? Are you seeing any of this?”

Sitri Lovelace:

 [I look back at kai since they are his.] “I don’t mind just make sure they get back to me.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Thanks. Are you seeing any of this? These people? That bird? It’s bizarre.” [takes binoculars, avoids looking directly at the bird, but watches the people, their behaviour, and scans the area looking for anything else that might explain what’s going on]

Sitri Lovelace:

 “Ya it’s kinda weird. I haven’t seen the bird yet though. Don’t really see any point in looking out for a bird” [I stay on top of the mausoleum but I scoot closer to the edge nearest @HellstromMta]

Clay Hellstrom:

“Best not to look at it, it’s… well, it’s hard to believe.” [I scan the area still]

Sitri Lovelace:

 “A lot of things are hard to believe… try me”[I take a deep draw from my joint and lean back waiting to see what he has to say]

Clay Hellstrom:

[I describe what I saw with the woodpecker, how you fight to not become obsessed with it. I don’t get specific with magical senses, but it seems mind altering, and note that the behaviour of the on-lookers is unusual].

Sitri Lovelace:

 “Are you high?” [im asking in a joking way but you can tell that there’s something there.] “It’s just some dumb bird nothing supernatural about it”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Glass houses. And no. Forget it, you’d never believe it. I still don’t entirely believe it.” [Still scanning] “You’re either an artist, or a house painter?”

Sitri Lovelace:

[smirking] “Artist good guess. How about you? Why are you interested in the bird? If it messes with the mind and your looking for it then aren’t you just doing what it wants?”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Res… paramedic. As for the bird, I dunno. I felt an urge to follow it, obsess over it, but managed to pull away. And the way all these people are obsessing over it. It’s weird, not normal.”

Mage Storyteller:

In that moment theres a popping noise, an explosion of feathers raining down from the trees. The people watching, shocked and dismayed, rush forward to start grabbing the feathers. [Each of you make a willpower check.]

Clay Hellstrom:

8d10 Rolled: 9, 9, 5, 1, 5, 1, 6 and 6. *whistles*

Sitri Lovelace:

8d10 Rolled: 3, 2, 9, 8, 8, 7, 9 and 10. Better get new dice.

Mage Storyteller:

You’re each able to resist the sudden overwhelming desire to have one of those feathers, to own it. To possess it, always and defend it from all that would take it from you. Certainly the group in front of you is getting rowdy, though within yourselves the feeling passes.

Sitri Lovelace:

[lookjng around and glancing at kai I start shifting to leave] “ I think it may be time to go ”

Clay Hellstrom:

“I might have to stick around, if this gets violent they may need help.” [pulls out phone to call dispatch if things get out of hand.]

Sitri Lovelace:

“If your calling cops then I’m definitely out of here”

Clay Hellstrom:

“Allison will call the Ambulance, but they’ll bring the cops if it gets violent. I got a guy who might know what the fuck this was about.”

Mage Storyteller:

Kai shakes his head, clearing it. “What the fuck. I was about ready to jump into that mess.” He shakes his head again. “Shit, I must be too high.”

Clay Hellstrom:

“It’s not that, I’m completely sober and  that’s twice that thing pulled at my brain.” Looks at Allison, “Keep your phone handy to call this in, try not look at it directly, I need to make a call. Excuse me.” [I step away to consult with Des if he answers].

Sitri Lovelace:

[I look over too kai worried and curious] “Are you ok man? You look kinda messed up. Do we need to go?”

Mage Storyteller:

Allison and Kai both look very out of it. Allison kind of nods her head at you Clay & Kai is just sitting on the ground shaking his head. The people are crawling around on the ground, not hoarding feathers but they seem to be searching for the perfect. So far no violence.

Des answers. “What’s up? I’m middle of the lunch rush right now, man!”

Clay Hellstrom:

[I explain to Des in point form what’s happened and happening, how it affected me and the others] “Basically, I’m alarmed Des. No way this isn’t a bit of the hocus pocus in action. Who else am I going to call?”

Paul Chambers (Continuing scene from Week 4)

Mage Storyteller:

As you get closer a noise begins to overwhelm your senses  but you can’t make out what its trying to say. Its all you can do to stay standing, walking towards it. As about ten feet away the anomaly becomes unstable and implodes.

Paul Chambers:

Paul turns around and leaps to the ground. “Everybody get down!!”

Mage Storyteller:

In that moment you can make out exactly one intelligible word, your own name. It’s spoken softly except the sound has been magnified thousand fold. You see a glimpse, a flash of a moon. And then the pressure stops, your mind clears and whatever it was is gone.

Paul Chambers:

Paul is laying on the ground as of a grenade was incoming. He’s likely made a scene.

Mage Storyteller:

You look up, dazed. You see Marquis standing there looking concerned. Behind him a dozen bewildered parents and children are staring. The asphalt is hot beneath you, your own name echoing in your ears. Your daughter approaches “Dad, are you ok?”

Paul Chambers:

*Paul is honest about mental health with his kids.* He looks up, eyes wide, shakes his head. “No hunny, I think I just had a flashback,” he’s clearly frazzled. Stands up and says, “Sorry folks, it’s been a bad day. Don’t forget to take your meds”.  He looks at Marquis

“Sorry, bud. Bit of a moment… it’s been a rough day.”

Mage Storyteller:

You daughter hugs you & says “That’s ok Dad”. Marquis, while still concerned, also looks relieved that there’s something he can connect this behavior to. “Come back in Paul, can I get you some water?”

Paul Chambers:

 “Yeah, that would be good. Do you have any Tylenol? Helps to take the edge off, something about blood flow or some such the doc says.” Paul hugs his daughter in return and tells her to go swim, “You’re the best for checking on me,” he says to her.

Mage Storyteller:

She gives you a big grin and walks quickly, just slow enough to not attract the life guard’s ire, back to the pool. Marquis goes off to get you Tylenol but as you sit there you can’t shake the fact that that image was not our moon.

Paul Chambers:

Paul makes a note of it on his phone. He needs to call someone, or report this, even if it’s just to a therapist, he knows something is off, but can’t decide if he should say anything or not. He givers over the send button on an email to a top line for deviancy.

Mage Storyteller:

 [Has Paul reported deviant activity before? Assuming yes when/what was the last time and how did he feel about doing it?]

Paul Chambers:

Over two years ago. That was a cut and dry incident for him, as it was a Vampire he’d noticed feeding. DC seemed full of them.

Mage Storyteller:

Certainly the last vampire you’ve seen. Do you alert the hotline?

Paul Chambers:

He decides not to. He holds it as a draft in his email.

Mage Storyteller:

The rest of your visit to the pool passes uneventfully. Is there anything else you’d like to do on the way home or once you get home?

Paul Chambers:

Paul brings the kids home and let’s his wife know he had an incident at the pool. He head’s off to do some research on the types of events he has seen today. He makes sure he’s using a double VPN to protect his search.

Mage Storyteller:

[Roll Int + Investigation]

Paul Chambers:

3 successes

Mage Storyteller:

You find very little on conventional channels. Once you delve into some archived Void Engineer research, you find a reference to an aborted project on inter-dimensional communication through rifts describing a visual phenomenon similar to what you saw.

Paul Chambers:

I print a hard copy. That sort of thing isn’t good to keep digitally, even with failsafes and masks to cover my tracks.  I have some skill with the transmission element of the research (Correspondence 2) but maybe not with any needed DS.  Better to keep it close for now

The events in week four of the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity (#DPLCTY), between 08/25/2019 to 08/31/2019.

Jonas Carter (Continuing scene from Week 3)

Mage Storyteller:

As you fortify the flowers, they straighten a bit. You feel strength come back to you in your words, & a wry thought of how Mark would deal with the difficulties you’ve faced enters your mind. Then, hidden among the flowers, now visible, you spy a glint of silvery metal.

Jonas Carter:

I reach down to examine the metal, magickal senses open for danger.

Paul Chambers (Continuing scene from Week 3)

Mage Storyteller:

You hear Marquis protest as you walk away from him and towards this anomaly, fixated. You’re having trouble focusing on your phone, the camera app is open but the screen is blurry in your sight. A headache is mounting. [Roll Int + Occult + Spirit dif. 7]

Paul Chambers:

@RollDiceBot  5d10 = 1 success

Clay Hellstrom (Continuing scene from Week 3)

Mage Storyteller:

“This is the red cockaded woodpecker, it’s got this beautiful red plumage on it’s chest. One hasn’t been seen in this area in quite some time.” Sure enough you spot it, flitting among the trees. [Roll willpower dif. 7]

Clay Hellstrom:

5 successes…

Mage Storyteller:

You feel an overwhelming pull, an infatuation with this bird. You want to follow it, to obsess over it. However, realizing that this is a compulsion, somehow, you’re able to pull back and shake it off. [Describe your physical reaction for @LovelaceSitri]

Clay Hellstrom:

 (I feel a fluttering in my chest, a chemical rush to my brain, deep breaths, tingly limbs, almost light and airy. But a recess in my mind pulls me back and something like a nipping animal in my brain snaps my out of it. I pull away, shake my head) “Whoa… what the?”

Mage Storyteller:

 [@LovelaceSitri you witness these events] As you look around Clay, somewhat stunned, you see Elise snatch the binoculars back from you. “You’ve had long enough, quit hogging the binoculars!” they say, lifting them to their eyes, returning to the bird.

Clay Hellstrom:

 (I extend my senses again, Mind even Prime, to try and sense the people – like Elise – and the bird again) “Hypno-bird.”

Sitri Lovelace

Mage Storyteller:

[You’ll witness what happens next with @HellstromMta]

Sitri Lovelace:

[I’m focused on the newcomer trying to figure out what just happened and why they seem shaken.I scoot myself closer to the group but stay on top of the mausoleum]”Somethings happening with the new guy. He was looking around and then idk he looks shaken”

The events in the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity ( #DPLCTY), between 08/17/2019 to 08/24/2019.

Mage Storyteller

[Open 24 hr] A beautiful & somewhat rare red cockaded woodpecker has appeared in prospect hill cemetery. The bird seems content to hang out, flitting about the trees seemingly always able to avoid having its picture taken in any quality.

Sitri Lovelace

Sitri Lovelace:

 [I woke up to a text from kai telling me to get to the cemetery. After some complaining I grab my bag and head out. I meet up with him right outside the gates] “ok so why exactly are we going to this cemetery again? Cause I had some stuff I was gonna research.”

Mage Storyteller:

You find Kai crouching behind a mausoleum, the Vogt family, you idly notice. He shushes you a little, more out of preoccupation than rudeness. He’s watching a group of people a ways away through a pair of binoculars, a small mob of photographers creeping around a copse.

“They’re here after some bird” he says, his voice rapt, “Though they seem quite baffled by whatever the fuck its doing. I mean, this bird is seriously pissing off all these bird watching types.”

Sitri Lovelace:

 [I grab the binoculars and hop on top of the mausoleum for a better look. I’m Trying to act cool and not let them see my still ink stained fingers.] “let me see if I can get a better angle…hey um I don’t know how to explain it but last night was pretty weird”

Mage Storyteller:

The stone of the mausoleum is warm beneath your hands, comforting as you crawl atop it. Seven or eight people are gathered in the copse and you start suddenly, seeing one of them wrapped in layers of cloth — then relax. The woman is dressed in loose fitting linens.

Just a trick of the light. Kai looks up at you, concern in his eyes. [What color are Kai’s eyes?]

Sitri Lovelace:

 [His eyes are gray like mine that’s part of how we bonded] “All these people for some bird. People have way to much time on their hands.”

Sitri Lovelace:

 [ After looking around and seeing the cloth I take a minute and give back the binoculars. I pull out one of my joints from a pack of cardsthat I use to carry them around in] “Hey um…if..if I tell you something promise you won’t think I’m crazy.

Mage Storyteller:

Kai smiles. “No more crazy than you already are. Shoot, what’s on your mind? And pass that shit.”

Sitri Lovelace:

 [I pass it over to him and give a weak smile but it quickly falls away. I’m not looking at him I’m just staring out towards the group of people.] “I had a dream last night. It was bizarre I was floating and then flying towards a tower and it was covered in rags.”

Mage Storyteller:

He gives you a quizzical look through the smoke drifting from his mouth. “Sorry Sitri, I didn’t realize you were shook up? Sounds kind of freaky. What was in the tower?”

Sitri Lovelace:

 “Like it was covered in rags but I think it was just old canvas and paintings. I think the tower was coated in them and when I touched it. It looked like a painting of a man  I started a long time ago”

Mage Storyteller:

Kai frowns slightly “You’ve been under a lot of stress lately to finish pieces. I’m worried you’re putting too much on yourself Sitri. You gotta take it easy on your brain.”

Sitri Lovelace:

my hands are shaking slightly] “ But that’s the thing. I don’t think it’s was all in my brain. I still have ink stains on my hands from touching it.”[ I finally turn to look at him. I’m scared]

Mage Storyteller:

He takes your hands and scratches at the ink. “Jesus, what is that shit? I mean, are you sure you weren’t sleepwalking or just like, stoned or something?”

Sitri Lovelace:

 “ I mean maybe? Idk. It just.. something felt .. Idk I just felt something.[I turn back toward the group. What are they doing?]

Mage Storyteller:

He steps next to you, hand on your shoulder. “Hey, sorry I didn’t mean to just dismiss you. That’s some freaky shit and I’m sure there’s something there. And the ink thing is you know, freaky.” [The people have stopped and seem to be talking to a newcomer.]

Sitri Lovelace:

 [ I just shake my head smile and take the joint from him] “it’s fine dude just another weird day. anyway it looks like something’s happening over in that group. Simone just joined them.”

Clay Hellstrom

Clay Hellstrom:

[I head out with Allison. She’s of the opinion I need to see more of the area than just Des’ bar, my neighbourhood, Des’ neighbourhood, the library, and the hospitals]

“So… the graveyard. This is your idea of seeing the sites, huh?”

Mage Storyteller:

Her eyes twinkle, “Well it is a site. Not to mention it’s… peaceful. It’s one of the only places where that’s not just swarming with people. I swear, the air even smells a little more fresh. How’ve you been Clay?”

Clay Hellstrom:

 “Okay, for the most part. Lots of practice. Des is teaching me a few new tricks, encouraging me to do a few performances. I have to contact the city, find out if I need a license to perform on the street.”

Mage Storyteller:

“That’s so excellent — you’ll have to let me know where you’re performing! I’ll happen to pass by and happen to cheer very loudly.” She looks around suddenly as a group of people emerge from the trees snapping pictures after something higher. “Oh what the fuck.”

Clay Hellstrom:

Huh?” (Look up at whatever is passing by, extend my spherical senses as need be)

Mage Storyteller:

 [The group seems harmless enough, though extending your magickal senses there’s a frenetic energy to them and a bloated sense of energy and vitality. More than you’d expect from a regular group of bird watching enthusiasts.]

Clay Hellstrom:

 (Turn to aallison, nod my head toward the crowd and walk toward them) “Hey guys, what’s the rumpus? What’s got you all so excited?”

Mage Storyteller:

One of them breaks off from the group and approaches, hushing you. It’s very odd seeing a group of people clearly as excited as they are desperately trying to maintain silent. “Don’t you know? It is a Red Cockaded Woodpecker! It’s been years since one was seen in D.C.!

Clay Hellstrom:

 “So you are ornithologists?”

Mage Storyteller:

They sniff. “Most of us are hobbyists. But very dedicated. I’m Elise.” They hold up those binoculars. “Would you like to see?”

Clay Hellstrom:

 “Yeah, I’m always up for a rare sighting.” (I turn to Allison to see her reaction)

Mage Storyteller:

She watches, amused, a small smile on her face. [Do you look for the bird?]

Clay Hellstrom:

(Hell yes) “So what am I looking for? The only woodpeckers I recall seeing back home were Northern Flickers. Kinda dull looking.”

Jonas Carter

Jonas Carter:

I wake up, tired from a log night, and look at the calendar and give a heavy sigh as I realize today is the day, and head to Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Mage Storyteller:

Outside in contrast to your own heavy heart you hear the sound of children playing. A memory consumes you. We see you and Mark shortly after initiation – sacred patterns. He looks over at you, the next words very clear in your memory. What sort of person was Mark?

Jonas Carter:

 [Mark was a perpetual optimist; he always saw the upside of any situation, some path we could take to get out of trouble. He didn’t believe in no win scenarios.]

Mage Storyteller:

“Let’s do it”, comes his voice, “You’ve been eyeing that ritual since you got that book. Yeah, maybe it’s a little out there but-“, he playfully slams a fist on the table, “We are young and tenacious and indestructible!” He laughs then, “Or something like it at least.”

Jonas Carter:

 “Have you lost your mind Mark? The proctor made it quite clear that this kind of spell work is far beyond my knowledge? Do you have any idea what would happen if we screw this up?”

Mage Storyteller:

He leans back, grinning. “Do you have any idea what will happen if I have to watch you drool over it any longer? Listen, we’ll do it right. We’ll have all the failsafes in place & if it looks like it’s getting hairy we’ll bail out before we invoke the sign. We got this.”

Jonas Carter:

 “I admit that I love the idea of being able to do all the equations in my head is too good to pass up…fine. Tonight.”

Mage Storyteller:

Mark grins in victory. “This is excellent. I’m ready to do the damn thing! Look, I know we have to be careful, I know the masters have our best interests at heart. I’m just ready to… ready to dip a toe in the water. Start feeling… prepared.”

Jonas Carter:

A tear comes to my eye and a smile to my lips at the memory as I stare down at a grave:

Mark Wills

Hodie Aut Numquam

Mage Storyteller:

 [A silvery fern has sprouted from his grave near the headstone, its leaves fanning out over the gravestone. Someone has left flowers there recently as well.]

Jonas Carter:

I get down on one knee, brush the leaves back and trace a small circle on the ground to ward off decay from the flowers [Entropy 3] “Hi Mark, sorry I’m a little later then usual, I got lost in my work…not that that surprises you.”

“I’m keeping up the fight Mark. Maybe not exactly like you would have, but I’m doing my best. Fighting the good fight and making sure those technocratic bastards pay for every drop of blood they’ve spilt.”

Paul Chambers (Continuing scene from Week 2)

Mage Storyteller:

Your therapist, somewhere, nods approvingly. In front of the pool is a local church group bake sale, a treasure trove of pastries for sale, blueberry muffins, apple fritters, jamdrop cookies & more. Your kids eyes turn up to you, pleading before the words even come out.

Paul Chambers:

I smile at them. Sure, we’ll buy them now and you can eat them *after* you swim for a bit. It’s not good to eat right before swimming. Paul lets them pick out two things to indulge them. “You’re only young once, kids.”

Mage Storyteller:

Your kids nearly burst out running to the pool, remembering at the last moment that that is unacceptable behavior and instead speed walking ahead of you into the facility. [I think you see another parent at the pool with kids in your grade. Who is that parent?]

Paul Chambers:

It’s Marquis. He’s a Navy veteran, and someone Paul admires. He’s got twin girls. He’s also a bit esoteric, which always amuses Paul. He likes to talk about “The Dawn of Time” and things like that.

Mage Storyteller:

“Paul!”, Marquis exclaims, your own children already joining in his children’s game of marco polo. “Good breeze & a lovely sky out, hows this day treating you! Shame you couldn’t make it to the barbecue the other day, Elise and I missed you there.”

Paul Chambers:

 “Hey, bud. Sorry about that, there was an emergency at work. Why don’t we have one at my house soon?” Paul smiles, but dies a little inside because he hates barbecues, but knows he’s socially trapped.

Mage Storyteller:

“Excellent” says Marquis, “I have a couple new books I’d like to show you. A friend of mine got them while traveling in Sri Lanka…” looking past him as he explains, through the chain link fence you see the air seeming to squirm eight feet or so off the ground.

Paul Chambers:

Paul locks his eyes on ‘whatever’ it is. He’s just nodding along with Marquis, zoning out what he’s saying.

Mage Storyteller:

The thing pulses in and out of existence seemingly. With each pulse you catch a scent hits your at the same time — welded metal, sweat and gasoline.

Paul Chambers:

Paul tried to shake himself out of it. Grabs his phone, and walks over to where the thing is. He wants to try and photograph it, and probably call in some tech support. At this point, with everything happening today he suspects reality deviants.

The events in the Mage: the Ascension chronicle ‘Duplicity’ (#DPLCTY), between 08/09/2019 to 08/17/ 2019.

Jones Carter (Continuing scene from Week 1)

Jonas Carter:

“Huh, now that is odd…” I will print out the papers and then begin laying them out in my work room to try and truly grasp what is in these papers [Using Mind and Entropy to try and sort through all of this & try and find the truth behind them]

Mage Storyteller:

[Are you simply relying on your heightened sphere 1 senses or are you trying to formulate a deeper magickal analysis?]

Jonas Carter:

[I’m using Entropy 1 and Mind 1 to sort through the information and sort it into coherence over 2 or 3 hours]

Mage Storyteller:

[Roll Int + Finance dif. 7.]

Jonas Carter:

[Do either my Book Learning (int) or Warning Signs (Finance) specialties apply?]

Mage Storyteller:

[Lets say warning signs, yes.]

Jonas Carter:

[5 successes on the dicebot]

Mage Storyteller:

You sit down to go over the numbers and as you begin to process the familiar patterns it invigorates your mental circuits. Despite the long day you’re as alert as ever. As the data pours in your learn a few things for sure:

This plan is incredibly poorly thought out. Their rationale for launching this product is based on outdated models from the late 90s. The tech is incredibly sophisticated but the plan is not.

You don’t sense any maliciousness towards you, you don’t get the sense that you’re being set up or anything like that. However this event going forward gives you a sense of foreboding that you can tangibly feel, a splinter of dread in the back of your brain.

Finally there’s a name — the name of the engineer behind the software. His name is Aidric Gatz and while he is not the source of your sudden sense of dread, his name is grating to your psyche. A quick google search yields nothing.

Finally, you’re finished, exhausted. You send the files off Alex and head to bed. A mess though, something to sort out in the morning.

[/Scene]

Paul Chambers

Mage Storyteller:

I think the first time we see Paul he’s at home with his family. It’s the weekend, a weekend you’ve set aside to focus on a few household projects & spending time with family. What is Paul doing on this quiet Saturday?

Paul Chambers:

Paul starts the day mowing the lawn. It’s something he loves because it’s so basic, rhythmic. Around Noon he’s supposed to take the kids to the community pool. He’s a little worried though, something about the day doesn’t feel quite right.

Mage Storyteller:

You’re mowing the lawn, lost in thought. Recently a family of blue birds moved into your family birdhouse– when there’s a horrible clunk from underneath the mower & it powers off. You move it, to reveal an ancient rusted sickle protruding from the grass of your yard.

Paul Chambers:

“Huh, I say aloud. That’s unusual, I’ve been through this yard… 1000 times and never seen this before.” I pick it up and look it over.

Mage Storyteller:

It is entirely rusted over, the handle sticking in the ground with the blade protruding. It sports a large dent from the mower blade slamming into it though it did not snap. As you pick it up a faint sensation falls over your mood. Melancholy, almost.

Before you have time to examine it further you hear a door slam, your daughter Marilyn running out of the house into the yard. She’s fully equipped with her swimming gear, including snorkel. “Daddy!” She shouts, “It’s almost swim time!”

Paul Chambers:

“Yeah hunny, I’ll be right there.” I set the blade on the mower and leave it. I stare at it a moment and then take a big sigh. retrofitted. His wife is staying home to do some work. Paul enjoys getting time with the kids alone. He leaves the radio off as he’s thinking about the way smell connects to memory and the kids argue about who’s better swimmer

Mage Storyteller:

The rust on the scythe flashes crimson red, the color of a rich fall apple, you can almost smell it. Then your son comes out, eager to get to the pool.

Paul Chambers:

I stop, stare and shake my head. “Better head to the pool before it gets crowded.” Paul takes out his phone and makes a note of the scythe, it’s location, and what he saw. He’s worried.

Mage Storyteller:

The scent of apples lingers behind you as you load the kids into the car. [What car does Paul drive & is your wife coming with?]

Paul Chambers:

Paul’s taking the van, an ancient dodge minivan he’s “Sorry, everyone. We’ve got a whittle wabbit problem.” Paul takes a long look at the rabbit, and then taps on the horn to see if it’ll move.

Mage Storyteller:

You’re forced to throw on the brakes suddenly as a shape darts out of the ditch suddenly. The kids, ok but alarmed, peer up to see out the fresh window. You managed to stop in time but sitting still and unharmed in front of the vehicle is a large brown rabbit.

Paul Chambers:

“Sorry, everyone. We’ve got a whittle wabbit problem.” Paul takes a long look at the rabbit, and then taps on the horn to see if it’ll move.

Mage Storyteller:

Your children laugh at your voice and seem to relax, though as you tap your horn the rabbit’s head swivels and its eyes lock onto yours and it takes a hop closer. [Roll Perception + Awareness, add 1 for one of your sphere dots.]

Paul Chambers:

4 dice, 1 success.

Mage Storyteller:

The rabbit seems to nearly squint it’s eyes at you, then dives underneath your still stopped car, and out from underneath into the brush alongside of the road. The cars behind you begin laying on their horns.

Paul Chambers:

I casually flip the cars off behind me. “Better to externalize the rage and let it go, or so the post-deployment therapist used to say.” Paul drives the kids to the pool, and lets them out. He takes note of the rabbit on his phone. *Maybe research rabbit omens?* He shakes head

City Mood

Mage Storyteller:

[Mood] The week has been tense in the social areas this week, people prone to frustration and malaise. The tide is turning however, that restless energy turning productive.