We received several questions from a listener regarding Settings in Mage for techno magi. Adam answered the question during the Tomes of Magick: Tradition Book: Akashic Brotherhood episode. We were so delighted with the question that we included it on our blog.
The events in week 7 of the Mage: the Ascension chronicle: Duplicity (#DPLCTY), between 09/15/2019 to 09/21/2019.
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.)
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.”
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.
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.]
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.
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.]
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.
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.
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.
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?”
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.
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.
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
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.”
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.
[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:
[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:
[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:
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.”
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.
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]
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
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.
Mage Storyteller:
Heat lightning flashed across the D.C. sky, the weather matching a city silent today. Mr. Hill gazed over the city, appreciating a silence hard fought for and well earned. “As you were” he murmured to the city, turning back to his passion, his daily business.
Hyejin Keun breathed in, relaxing in the calm of the arboretum. 4 days before her story broke. In this moment she indulged her doubt.
It made her shudder and receded, lurking out of sight in the back of her brain. At least one thing that she knew for sure where it was.
Far away & impossibly high, Clara sat in the cradle of the storm, each stroke of lightning slithering around her. Already she had been up for too long, a pressure building behind her eyes. A magnificent distance ahead of her & at its end, a terrible undertaking.
Crouching out back of the liquor store, Omer poked at the pile of clothing. They certainly belonged to the victim, though as the why they were halfway again across town from the scene of the crime made no sense. He got back in his car—time to talk to the chief.
Ayoze stopped up short, staring at the autoshop in consternation. He could have sworn that there was a great divey tapas place but now… no sign of it? He sighed, can’t seem to keep anything straight recently. Turning, he started to look elsewhere for lunch.
The stirring in the black waters mirrored the shiver in the trees. Far from the lights of the city, the lighthouse watched the night move, invisible currents wheeling about and raising hairs on the necks of sleepers in gas stations, rest stops and train stations.
Mage Storyteller:
You’ve managed to sit the man up and distract him from the broken arm—a nasty open fracture, his ulna by the look of it. Your one real day off this week and this guy falls down the stairs on your walk to Des’s bar.
He’s blabbering now and you can smell the booze on his breath. “My wallet” He mutters. “I can’t go anywhere without my wallet.” What does Clay do?
Clay Hellstrom:
“Ok, where is your wallet? Where do you keep it?”
Set him down gently, look around the area, look up the stairs “Ok, Stay put, I’ll take a look around. Do you live upstairs? Do want me to call you an ambulance or a cab?”
Mage Storyteller:
“Right here” he mutters, flailing his hand at his empty pants pocket. “Now its gone—Fuck this hurts, man!” You found him at the bottom of the stairs next to you, illuminated with security lights. You haven’t moved him at this point, & you don’t see any sign of the wallet.
Through the pain and the drink he does his best to support his arm. He looks up at you, frowning. “I can’t afford an ambulance…” as you go through the routine. Assured that he was only drunk and hurt you stand up, looking up the stairs.
You find his wallet sitting next to the culprit—a damaged stair, the metal step bent and sloped down. His wallet is intact except oddly there’s no I.D. of any sort inside.
“It happened real fast. Suddenly I was just tumbling down. I tried to catch myself…” He trails off, and while you’re fairly sure he doesn’t have a concussion, he seems confused thinking about his fall.
Extending your sense, while the man is hurt, you don’t detect anything that you hadn’t already guessed. The arm is broken and he is intoxicated. However as your sense expand an acrid taste fills your mouth—malice. Not from the man but lingering in the air.
The cabbie pulls up. As you help the injured man over, the cabbie sees his condition. “No no no, oh hell no. Do I look like a damn ambulance? You know an ambulance doesn’t lose business when someone bleeds in their car, but I sure as hell do!”
You lean into your charm & he gives in. “Goddamnit, goddamnit.” Reaching into the glove compartment he throws a golf towel into the back seat. “I’m holding you all that.” As you get into the car you can’t quite shake that malicious taste at the back of your mouth.
You note 1433 Belmont St. The cabby grimaces, looking in the rear view. “Alright Clay just don’t let nobody pass out in my cab.”
The man next to you stirs, groans. “My names Tim… thanks Clay.” And he gives you address.
As you probe his mind, his thoughts are conflicted. Scrambled even, he can’t seem to hold onto any one emotion or thought. He’s even struggling to focus on the pain. Every cohesive thread of thought is disrupted and so more than anything is an undercurrent of fear.
You’re able to keep him talking and alert, which also helps to calm down the Cabbie. Tim’s eye openings respond fine, though his verbal & motor responses are slowed some, 4’s both.
You sense nothing following you, but a lingering taint sticks to Tim, a caustic sap.
Clay Hellstrom:
Proceed as my training would dictate on the way to the hospital, checking in with the cabbie how he’s doing.
Mage Storyteller:
One of the nurses is a man you know well, Holten Meyer. A jocular if crass man a little older than yourself. After Tim is taken into a room to have his arm set, Holten says “Ah, Clay, didn’t know you moonlighted as a mugger. Didn’t know you had it in you” and winks at you.
Clay Hellstrom:
“Ha-ha. (Points finger) Not funny, Holton. I have to get going. Give the cops the info I wrote down, and please tell themto call me on my cell. I have to be somewhere. Don’t forget to try and get him CT. His fuzziness is more than just booze.”
Mage Storyteller:
“Ah, you’re alright Clay. Sounds good, I’ll keep an eye on him. It’s a fucked up world out there, be safe. Hey, like,” he leans in conspiratorially, “You remember old Dr. Lowell, the asshole that got you kicked out of your residency? He’s back in town from his sabbatical.”
“He’s in Baltimore but he’s been doing some specialist work over at George Washington U. Rumor is they’re trying to bring him over full time.”
Holten grimaces. “So I hear. Well, from you. Vaguely. In any case, wanted to give you a heads up in case you ran into him. You know him. Goddamn social butterfly.”
Clay Hellstrom:
“Thanks, Holton, appreciate it. Gotta run, thanks for the wipes.” Head out to the cab, put on the gloves, wipe up the back seat all over, hold the wipes in one gloved hand, pull the glove over them, take off the other, and tell the Cabbie to head to Des’s.
Mage Storyteller:
The cabbie says wryly “Well, you ain’t the first and I’m sure you won’t be the last. Whole thing is fucked. Any case, glad you came back.” Car cleaned & on your way, you relax your senses. There’s an energy in the air, a potency in the night air…
You touched the cabbie with your actions tonight. He feels affirmed in his own path and the world around him, as fleeting as that might be. But all around you is the tension of power in the air…
The Cabbie pulls up in front of Des’s place. It’s a busy night, a mix of political staffers and hipsters smoking cigarettes in front of the bar. The cab is… more than you wished it was. That meter was on for some time.
Clay Hellstrom:
Pay the man, with gulp tip, get his card for future reference, tell not to be a stranger. Close the door. Look around out front see if I know anyone. If not, head inside and talk to Des.
Mage Storyteller:
No one you know outside. Recently Des’s bar got listed on a “top 20 D.C. bars listicle” and the number of randos has really picked up since then. You head inside where you see Des behind the bar. What’s his bar tending style like?
As you walk in Des notices you almost immediately and he waves you over to the bar. One stool remains putting you next to a woman in a business suit drinking a whiskey sour. Des grins and says “Thought you’d be by earlier, Clay. Starting the night kind of late, eh?”
His grin falters with immediate concern. Waving one of the other bartenders over he leads you into the backroom, boxes of liquor lining the wall. “What’s up Clay?”
Clay Hellstrom:
Give him the details of the guy’s accident, the acrid taste, sense of malice. Also the news about Dr. Lowell. “Just something about the situation doesn’t feel right.”
Mage Storyteller:
His frown deepens. “That is very concerning. Do you know who this Tim was. Any reason why he might have been targeted?”
“A hex or a curse could certainly do it. It may also be something lingering from a magickal backlash. Perhaps he witnessed something he wasn’t able to comprehend. In any case, this man was either targeted or unlucky to the extreme. There’s gotta be something more here.”
Clay Hellstrom:
“Maybe I ought to follow up, I have his home address. Any suggestions how to approach this? Not like I can actually do much. And hey, just homw many magical magick types are there in this city?”
Mage Storyteller:
“Cautiously. You have no idea if he is watched or part of something bigger. But he owes you a debt of compassion. Continue with that good will and he may open up to you or inadvertently lead you to the source of this malice…”
“It’s hard to say these days. The more magical types you know, the greater potential for them to know you. I would say though D.C. seems to have more interlopers than I initially would’ve thought. Few residents, many transients.”
He laughs at that. “I think you’ll find, my friend, that they are not so different. Come, relax tonight. The world will be just as dangerous tomorrow. You have done what you can. Approach this problem as a human, not a mage. You’re just following up on a patient.
Clay Hellstom:
“Yeah you’re right, Des. Hit me with your best drink.”
Mage Storyteller:
You spend the rest of the night in Des’s company, for the most part managing to relax, each drink chipping away at the malicious aftertaste. At least Tim isn’t still sitting undiscovered at the bottom of a stairwell and for tonight that will have to be enough.
Mage Storyteller:
Sitting at your desk overlooking the city, your mind begins to wander. It’s a nice day, shame you got called in on a Saturday. A notification pop on your screen. An email from an unknown account, its subject line reading 3rdQ Availability.
The email reads:
bhmorgan@hhc.net
Dear Jonas,
Got your contact info from a mutual friend. Heard you’re top of the line—I have some freelance consulting I need done. Need you to look over some numbers. Do you do outside work? It would pay well.
-BHMorgan
Jonas Carter:
The reply reads:
Mr. Morgan,
I may be willing to do that work, though I would need some details to make sure that there will be no conflicts of interest with the PFA. Can you confirm who gave you my name and the nature of the work?
Jonas Carter, CPA
Mage Storyteller:
The reply is not fast, but after half an hour comes:
Mr. Carter,
A mutual friend, Robert Aston recommended you. We’re looking to start up a private tech-promotion firm here in D.C., we need someone familiar with the financial layout of the area.
Yours,
BHMorgan
You recognize the name—an old boss, you worked for them before you graduated. Before you met Alexander Sawyer.
Jonas Carter:
I reply within a half hour:
Thank you for your timely reply. This sounds like something I can help with. Please let me know when would be a good time for a meeting to work out specifics. I look forward to doing business with you.
Jonas Carter, CPA
Mage Storyteller:
Your workday is close to being over before you get the reply.
Jonas,
We don’t have a physical presence in D.C. yet. Perhaps we could meet over audio video conference?
-BMorgan
Jonas Carter:
I’ll shoot out a quick reply as I head out the door.
Morgan,
That’s fine. You can reach me at insert a Skype ID this evening after 7 pm if it’s pressing, otherwise Monday evening.
Jonas Carter, CPA
Mage Storyteller:
You immediately get an out of office automated message tha t reads: “BHMorgan is out of office until 8AM UTC. Thank you for your patience.”
What is Jonas’ after work routine?
Jonas Carter:
On a weekday he usually heads home, does some magickal work and reading, when he has to work on the weekend it’s out to a show at the Kennedy or National Shakespeare, or some other form of public arts. Wolf trap maybe every other month.
If none of those are available he’ll take a trip to the national gallery of art, or some other art gallery to peruse and shop.
Mage Storyteller:
You’re taking in a summer performance of Love’s Labor Lost at a smaller theater, one less established than the National. You know one of the actors personally, though not well. The performance is… underwhelming when you get an incoming video call to your phone.
As you walk out of the theater you attract a glare from the usher. On the screen of your phone pops up a low resolution image of a man sitting at a desk. With the poor quality of the image, it’s hard to make out more than his outline. “Jonas Carter? It’s BHMorgan.”
Through the split screen on your phone you let the numbers fall into the patterns you can identify. They indicate Morgan is not actively malicious though there’s something unpleasant about it that you’re having trouble pinning down.
BHMorgan’s voice comes through a little static with a reedy quality.
“Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. I’m very interested in your work and would love to offer you a little project to see if you would be compatible to our work.”
“I’m sending over a packet now. It’s a low risk tech instillation, a pop up event so to speak to help with our branding. Knowing D.C. as you do, I was hoping you’d see if our costs seem reasonable and your analysis on how the financial and social landscape might respond.”
Jonas Carter:
“I’ll take a look at this and give you my input by Monday morning. You can make out the payment you mentioned in your email to The PFA.”
Mage Storyteller:
His voice comes back halting and the static worsens. “We were hoping t— for a proj–t of this size w- might be a-le to hire yo–rivately, direc–y. For mark-t purposes.”
Jonas Carter:
“Mr Morgan, while I am willing to consult, possibly long term, I have no interest in leaving the PFA. If that is unacceptable perhaps I can direct you to someone who is open to such an opportunity.”
Mage Storyteller:
The connection continues to degrade. “I’- so-r- Jo-as, -y c-nne-cti– s–ms to -e fa-l-ng. R-vi-ew t-e pa—t I s-nt, I wi– b- in tou– –on.” And the call ends.
Jonas Carter:
Disquieted I head to the metro to catch a train to Georgetown then walk the rest of the way home. Once there I make myself a cup of strong tea and begin looking through the packet, trying to pin down what unpleasantness this is tied to.
Mage Storyteller:
You sit down after a long strange day and open the attachment. Rather than any sort of compression the files are all individual .txt documents. Each file contains spreadsheets, meticulous but bizarrely formatted.
They crunch the numbers for a pop up event that would roll out a specialty piece of hardware, an external processor for your phone that when plugged in, upgrades the device’s intelligence capabilities.
This allows the user greater handsfree convenience & advice bordering on artificial intelligence. The popup event itself is a semistaged series of problem solving examples with real people, all free and filmed.
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.
Intriguing…I will send a synopsis of this to my old friend Alexander Sawyer, see if he finds it as intriguing/troubling as I do and then head to bed.
Mage Storyteller:
The indistinct chatter of the world all around you is suddenly brought into sharp focus, pain sprouting in the side of your ribs. You’d zoned out sitting on a park bench, now you see the baseball rolling away that had smashed into you.
Catching your breath you turn to see a young boy as he runs up, flustered. “Sorry sir, we were just playing, sorry, Uh, are you ok? Can I have it back?” he says, words coming a mile a minute. Finally your breath returns to you, the pain subsiding slightly.
Sitri Lovelace:
It takes me a minute to refocus on the world around me. I grab the ball and toss it to the kid. “Don’t call me sir I’m not that old. Just watch where you throw it next time.” I pull out my phone and check if I’ve had any missed messages.
Mage Storyteller:
“You’re older than me sir!” The kid barks as he runs off. No messages, but a notification from an online message bored where you halfheartedly posted some pieces you had for sale. A hit. User: nhpk14 says “Love this piece, would love to see it in person.”
Sitri Lovelace:
“Shity kid” I mumble while I stare at my phone. I send nhpk14 a quick message.
“Hi.
Saw you were interested in my work. If your wanting to view the piece where and when is a good time for you.”
Mage Storyteller:
The reply comes back fast. “I’m free the afternoon if you want to bring it by my coffee shop—we’re on Hawking’s road off Constitution Ave. Or I could come to you after I close the place, usually around 1 A.M.”
The reply comes back “Sure! Bring them along!”
As you enter your house it’s empty, Kai must be out and about somewhere. A note on the fridge reads “Raspberry Chocolate stout in the fridge is a must-try, it’s gonna blow your mind. -K” Which pieces do you grab?
Sitri Lovelace:
I have three that are part of a series the first is of a tall figure silhouetted by a long flowing cloak made of stars he stands peaking over the edge of a cliff.
The second is of a city with spires that reach towards the heavens which are dark with the promise of a storm.
Third is of a young man who hangs by his feet from a great golden tree. He stares at the viewer unblinking and unafraid Sitri stares at the three of them side by side lost in his thoughts for a moment before pulling himself out of it and wrapping them up for travel.
Mage Storyteller:
These are good, you know they are. And finally someone is interested in them. Safe for travel you head off. It’s a nice walk, and uneventful. The place is off a side street you don’t recognize. Approaching it, you realize calling it a coffee shop is a little charitable.
It’s clearly a dive bar with a coffee menu, probably one put up to extend its hours. Inside there’s a few customers but it being midday it’s fairly empty. Behind the counter a man stands cleaning an espresso machine.
He looks up and smiles. “I am! You can call me Ned. Thanks for coming by I really love your work that you posted. Really neat!”
It’s clean… enough and you lay the piece out. “Wow,” he says loudly, “You clearly have a lot of talent. The line work and the coloring, just fantastic.” He looks up too quickly for your taste, however. “I’d love to see those other ones!”
He performatively coos over the other pieces as well, though your gut reaction is telling you this guy lacks a certain sincerity you’d like in customers. He looks up at you. “Man if I had the wall space, I’d buy all three.”
“But you know, I just don’t right now. However, I’d really like to put some of your work on display here! You know, it could be for sale, we’d take a little gallery cut and you’d get the rest—not to mention the exposure here I think would be great for someone like you.”
Sitri Lovelace:
I give him my best smile. “That’s a shame I really like this venue too but i get it not enough space.” I start gathering up my stuff. “I’ll keep this place in mind I have another person who was interested in some of my work, but I’ll try and get back to you sometime”
Mage Storyteller:
His smile falters somewhat and he leans forward. “Oh come on, don’t be like that. I’m trying to help you out, young artist like you, a good space with an open wall here. I’m doing you a favor—I didn’t see any other comments on your site you know.”
Sitri Lovelace:
My smile drops completely, I finish grabbing my things “Thanks but no thanks.”
I turn around and head for the door.
“But I’ll be sure to tell everyone I know about this place. It’ll be great getting some attention to such an” I look around }up n coming bar sorry coffee shop.”
After walking out of the bar I send a quick message to Kai.
“Another bust at some shit dive bar. Kill me now.”
Mage Storyteller:
As you walk out he jeers after you “No one gives a shit what some punk artist thinks!”
Kai messages back quickly. “Those places are mostly designed to prey on young women and alcoholics anyway.”
What does Sitri do and how is he feeling?
Sitri Lovelace:
Sitri is upset its been hard recently no one has been showing any interest in his new stuff. He makes sure he has everything and starts his walk home. I text Kai back “Dude was a creep anyway. I’m just gonna work tonight so sorry if I don’t see you. Thanks for the drink.”
Mage Storyteller:
Kai messages back “I’ll be home late tonight but I can’t wait to hear all about this douchebag.”
As you’re walking your vision blurs. The buildings around you shoot up to the sky, disappearing into their own enormity. You blink, staggering, & your vision clears.
Sitri Lovelace:
As I walk back I try to reorient myself after that weird moment. But at the same time im trying to remember what it felt like and what the world looked like in that moment. When I get home I put my paintings away get the stout out and go find my bong.
Mage Storyteller:
You dream tonight. In your dream chunks of rotting stars fall into an inky ocean all around you. You’re drifting through the maelstrom towards a spire, impossibly tall, piercing both the sky & the sea. The spire is wrapped in miles of overlapping cloth.
Sitri Lovelace:
I give in to the maelstrom and try to memorize what I see for my paintings when I wake.
Mage Storyteller:
As you drift aimlessly, you see interrupting the cloth are dozens of apertures, burnt scars on the undyed cloth. As you watch another slab of fading star slams into it, ripping another hole into the spire’s facade.
Sitri Lovelace:
Can I try and move closer to the spire?
Mage Storyteller:
As you will yourself forward you are propelled through the air. This act of will attracts the attention of the putrid rocks falling. Two come careening towards you. Roll wits + awareness diff. 7.
Sitri Lovelace:
5D10.
Mage Storyteller:
As you rush forward you’re much faster than you expected. While dodging out of the way of the 1st slab you slam into the 2nd, sending you in a tailspin. Your will falters & you find yourself dropping into the murky drink at the base of the tower. Take one temp. will dmg.
Sitri Lovelace:
I’m panicking as I fall my stomach feels like it’s in my throat. I’m scared of falling and the pain that I know will come with it and when I do land I just lie there for a moment.
Mage Storyteller:
Your breathing slows. Your intent that propelled you through the air has left you, the glowing stones losing their interest in you. You float on the sea watching the lights flash over you. The cloth on the spire smells musky, reminding you of something. What is that?
Sitri Lovelace:
I think it smells like old paintings. Something old and mildewed. Like canvas that hasn’t been protected and taken care of. Old and forgotten.
Mage Storyteller:
As you lie there a fold of fabric is dislodged by one of the falling chunks and drifts down next to you. It’s folds are worn down by the ages. As it hits the water the saltwater begins to corrode the flap. On its surface you see memories of paintings long forgotten.
Sitri Lovelace:
I try reaching for it but as it corrodes away I look up towards the spire and begin to reach for it. “The whole thing must be covered in paintings.”
Mage Storyteller:
It crumbles in your hand, the unrealized painting dissolving into the water. As you look up you see the faint lines, echoes of painted texture. But they fade from your mind as your eyes move over the cloth.
Sitri Lovelace:
I try and stand up and move closer to the tower. I want to try and pull some of the cloth off.
Mage Storyteller:
As you approach the cloth a great sense of calm washes over you. The cloth is rough in your hands as your grasp it and pull. It begins to come down in massive coils falling all around you revealing the glossy back surface of the spire itself.
Sitri Lovelace:
I’m calm as I pull on the cloths but as they fall away to reveal the spire I think I’m filled with a sense of awe. Like seeing something so breathtaking that your feel drawn to it. I let go of the cloth and reach out to the tower.
Mage Storyteller:
As you touch the surface your fingers sink into the tower facade. It is smooth and warm, parting with ease. You’ve felt this before, a long time ago. An oil pigment you’ve felt once before. A project you’d abandoned. What was that project?
Sitri Lovelace:
It was my first real painting. It was of a tall man who’s features I couldn’t get right. He stood at the banks of a Black Sea.
No matter how many times I tried to paint him it never looked right it never felt right.
Mage Storyteller:
The tower transforms into the man, impossibly tall, his neck extending into the clouds. You fall back into the cloth & plunge into the Sea. You wake up, short of breath. Sitting up in bed you look down to see the slick black pigment still staining your fingers.
This month we launched Duplicity, a Mage chronicle on Twitter with Ira Grace as the Storyteller. If you’re interested, follow the hashtag #DPLCTY to see how the story unfolds. If you’d like to hear the backstory of the chronicle you can listen to Terry Robinson’s interview with Ira.
