Cat Scratch Fever

[Cat Scratch Fever]

Nathan had set his traps in the three locations. Renegade's quickly deteriorating apartment, the hallway just outside, and the rooftop where the cat had previously vanished to. Not to mention where it had come from in the first place. The First two were busts. He'd come back to simply find a funny smell in the hall, and an even worse smell in the apartment, which had since lost its wide open feel and become something cramped and stuffy. On the roof, however, he meets the jackpot. Seven cats. Seven slumbering felines surrounding a can of Feline Cuisine. Seven lolling tongues. Seven slowly rising and falling furred chests.

[Nathan Spriggs]

As he found the drugged felines, the Cultist slowed his pace down to a near halt, slowly creeping towards the place to avoid any waking up. His eyes darted from cat to cat, trying to search out for the correct one. He knew how it looked from the visions, now he just had to make sure it was one of the group.

[Cat Scratch Fever]

And what do you know, there it is. Nathan would recognize that specific pattern of orange and yellow anywhere. The way one of its ears sat crooked on its head. And of course the claws that lay hidden, sheathed under those paws.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Carefully side-stepping the other cats, Nathan homed in on his target and slowly but carefully picked it up, grabbing it in a way that if it woke up it couldn't get away or scratch at him. Then, he headed back downstairs, he'd brought a cage to put it in for now.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP] The first check was simple enough, Nathan concentrated on the cat, like he would when checking his surroundings. He was trying to sense something out of other, a hint of resonance or the supernatural, down to the faintest trace. [Perc + Aware]

[Cat Scratch Fever]

Here was a cat. But. He wasn't a very good cat. Not a very cuddly cat at all. The more Nathan looked, the more it seemed like a dirty stray. And an old cat at that. It even had the feel of being worn out. Run down. Its claws were probably chipped. Its teeth were probably dulled. Even now, as it lays there zonked out of its mind it seems to be falling apart right in front of him. Too slowly to really see. But surely, some part of it must be eroding away into eventual nothingness.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 3) Nathan's mind went to work, memories were refreshed and connections were once again made. He remember how to describe it now, what he'd felt on the neuro-whatever thingy. It was time to call Jon, but first to double check and be certain of his 'educated' guess before he pitched it in. He concentrated on the lifeline of reality, the veins that pumped Quintessence through everything and making them clear. [Prime 1 coincidental; prime-o-vision, diff 4 (-1 Rote)]

[Cat Scratch Fever]

Nathan's perception of the flow of reality may have been intended for the cat, but it isn't reserved to just the cat. He can see the other things in the room. How they were becoming...less. They'd been as bright and vibrant as anything else, but since then...since the loss of their creator, all the inventions and contraptions in the apartment had somehow lost their gleam. The cat hadn't lost its gleam, of course. It remained vibrant and bright and real as anythin g else. As real as Nathan himself was. Aside from that, however, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly spectacular about it.

[Administrator]

snail's stick, welcome to General Chicago (Now)

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 6, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) His eyes homed in on the cat, carefully considering what this meant, there were other tests he wanted to run but doing so would prevent Jon from getting a look at the cat. So for now he settled for things that wouldn't bring any harm. His first action was to examine the fur for any rough patches or scars, or at least as best as he could without taking it out. Maybe something had been implanted or put into it and he'd notice. If that failed, he had a back up plan. [Perc + Investigation]

[Cat Scratch Fever]

Cats were covered in fur. Everyone knew this. Except, perhaps, for the pads of its feet and the its eyes and the...well, lets not mention those parts, there was a steady pattern of yellow and white fur ringing the cat. But...at certain spots the patterns weren't as perfect as others. At certain spots, along the underside of its legs for instance, there were lines of fur that went against the grain. Scars. Too perfect to be from fights over breeding rights with some abby.

[Cat Scratch Fever]

Also, as Nathan watches the slumbering kitty, the tip of its tail begins to twitch.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 4 (Success x 1 at target 3) Nathan smiled to himself, now came the real investigation, it'd have happened even if he found nothing just to be safe but he wanted to double-checked. It took a moment for him to calm down, a deep breath as he concentrated and remembered the sensation. This was the first time he'd done this since he learned how, he concentrated on the Patterns of reality, the wall, the metal on the cage, the material his clothes were made of. Everything around him that wasn't organic, and the shadow they left if you looked at them. He was trying to make out anything that shouldn't be there inside or around the cat, excluding the cage of course. [Matter 1; matter-o-vision, diff 4 (-1 Resonance)

[Nathan Spriggs]

((Since Dre reminded me I've totally forgotten. Foci for these effects so far has been in the form of runes carved into point on the cage's floor before hand.))

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 6, 10 (Success x 2 at target 3) [Matter 1; matter-o-vision, diff 4 (-1 Resonance)] extended

March Meeting of The Society of the Nameless Crow

[Ashley]

Ashley listens to Gregor's response. Considers it, tries to piece together what he is trying to say. "She probably can do it. My opinion of her...is really fucking low. Prone to doing stupid shit and then shucking responsibility. She's a complete follower and she's weak Willed and a coward, which makes me not really trust her to do -anything- important without close supervision." A sigh, a glance toward Gregor, and then a frown. "But if she can do it, let her do it. I wouldn't suggest any of us work with her without backup, though."

[Wharil Choc]

"I'm inclined to agree. With both of you. I think she's too erratic, and possibly psychotic. She..she jumps off the handle at the slightest provocation, is prone to wild mood swings, and lets not forget her very public promise. "But...if she can actually do this. And if she's offering...It would be irresponsible of us not to at least follow it up. Warding and spiking the shallows are only a temporary solution, we all know that. "I honestly don't know what to do here. But if need be I'd supervise her. We can choose one that poses the least risk. Somewhere public, perhaps, where she's less likely to try and twist the situation to her own ends. As a test maybe?"

[Gregor]

"No." Gregor turns to Ashley and Wharil and that something flashes through brightly. Anger. There is a solidifying in the Dreamspeaker's features, gaze stretching from one of narrowed confusion to even handed strength. "Power is not a measure of competence." His gaze leaves Wharil and pins on Ashley, as if to remind her of that fact, the image of a young Etherite practically playing across his eyes. "We have yet to explore all the possible options ourselves and if we can avoid putting the responsibility, effort and necessity-" Stress on that word, in his tone "-on shoulders that could, for all we know, buckle for any of the reasons you've listed, then we're left playing clean up again. Possibly worse." A pause. Sucking in a breath. "Let me try the Still touch. They can close the shallows in the city, easily enough and if the one out in the woods is still an issue then we can find Kaya and have her take care of it. At least it will only be one and we can keep an eye on what she does and how she does it." Trial. Test. Comfort. In reverse.

[Gregor]

"...If I can't? If it doesn't work? Then we haven't lost the opportunity with her offer. Nothing sacrificed."

[Ashley]

"Except time," Ashley says quietly, looking over at Gregor. She didn't miss the look he gave her. It seems to sober her, though, where it would have once evoked anger. "The more time we lose running through options that may not work, the more risk we run of something coming through, and we might not get lucky enough to have the summoner fuck up his ritual next time. If those Shallowings stay open for long we might as well roll out a welcome mat for Nephandi." She rests her jaw against her knees, head inclined slightly forward while she thinks. "I don't like her. But there's no sense in allowing a resource to remain untapped."

[Wharil Choc]

He's quiet as the two of them speak, as Gregor asserts himself and Ashley counters. He touches the corner of the notebook to his lips as he glances between them one more time, and finally says: "Should we bring it to a vote?"

[Gregor]

"Still touch claims the city. Glass eyes in buildings, fingertips in concrete. Multiple openings, simultaneously covered." He's already dusting crumbs from his lap, looking as if he's willing to try with them in the room, though obviously something more practical would be needed. The Dreamspeaker is not desperate, he's addressing his role in all this or at least... What he believes it to be. Whether it's truthful or not... "Vote." A nod, firm.

[Ashley]

"Yeah, let's vote," Ashley agrees, with only a slight sigh to her voice. One might imagine that she's not quite used to such an approach. "I'm in favor."

[Gregor]

"Opposed."

[Wharil Choc]

He takes a breath, looking between the two of them. The deciding vote was down to him. Ironically, the dancing curiousity in his eyes and his noticeable hesitation suggests that the one who suggested the vote in the first place wasn't quite sure where he stood. "I'm for it." Until now.

[Gregor]

...And Gregor's features fall. He can't help it, the crush of that furrowed brow settling into place. Quick enough though, resignation finds it's home and niche and the furrows smooth enough to breathe a low exhale out and nod with straighter shoulders. "...I'll begin negotiations with the Others to see which ones I can get closed in the meantime. At least ensure they can't get any bigger and anything looking to come through will have a hard time of it until she gets there to close them." A pause, gaze flicking between the pair of them, mouth slightly agape. "I don't like this." As if it was a required statement. "...But I'm not sure about it either. So Let's hope it works."

[Ashley]

Ashley nods. "That leaves the question of where we're going to have her try this. She'll have to be supervised. Preferably by all three of us if we can arrange it. If not, Wharil, you should have at least one of us with you." Gregor's features fall, and Ashley gives him a sidelong look, a twist of the mouth and a shrug. A quiet passes while she absorbs the idea of what they're going to try to do; she still knows very little of the spirit world. "There was something I wanted to bring up too, when we're finished. What do you guys think of the idea of setting up a telepathic connection between the three of us so we can reach each other in a hurry? What you communicate through it is entirely voluntary," she adds, quickly, pre-empting what she thinks would probably be the first objection to such a thing.

[Wharil Choc]

Wharil nods to Gregor. There. That was settled. To Ashley, his eyebrows rise slowly. "That sounds a little complicated. Especially considering I tend to keep my mind guarded as a habit. How exactly would you be able to do that kind of thing for all of us?"

[Gregor]

Gregor's own measure creeps out just behind Wharil's: "...Could anyone with your level of power get to us through it?" Paranoia. Discomfort. Gregor was hesitant. "More over, were you compromised, could you affect us through it?" There is no shame or bashful in those questions, nor consideration for Ashley's feelings. They were not hurtful, simply blunt and without premise of guile or coaching of words. The direct threats of such a thing, not viewed from Ashley the Cabalmate (Trust) but the potential for it to go wrong outside of her influence.

[Ashley]

Ashley doesn't sound offended by Gregor's question, but she locks eyes with him in response. Stares. "I won't be compromised. And I should be able to keep a connection like that guarded and closed to everyone else." A look to Wharil. "Basically it would involve the use of the Ars...er, of Mind and Correspondence. Sympathetic links from the two of you - hair, possessions, whatever - would assist in establishing it, but I don't need them. Once in place, you could project a thought to anyone that's connected, but you'd have to voluntarily choose to do it...so I don't think keeping the rest of your thoughts guarded would be a problem. It'd let us keep each other updated quickly, call for help if we needed it, communicate in big meetings like that without being obvious...there are a lot of advantages to doing it." One would suspect that she, too, tends to keep her own thoughts and feelings heavily warded, by the glance she gives him. It's reassuring, almost. "It is complicated, and it would take a while to set up, but it's well within my abilities to do."

[Wharil Choc]

"Hm." Is all he says for a while, still touching the book corner to his lips. "Could we maybe...try it out first? Ease our way into it and decide if its comfortable or not."

[Gregor]

Gregor remains in vague discomfort, turning to cast a glance at Wharil as he offers a suggestion, then back to Ashley for confirmation. This was not his forte, despite a crude understanding of the Mind's abilities beyond human standard. He waited...

[Ashley]

Ashley gives Wharil a nod. "Of course. It's mostly just supposed to be a tool. I mean, I like my privacy as much as you guys do, so I'm going to avoid setting up anything that could get invasive," she says, finally unwinding herself from her corner of the couch.

[Wharil Choc]

"Lets do that then. Try it out." And finally he looks into the notebook again, flipping through it and smiling softly. "Well, I think that's all for us. Unless one of you had something else to offer?"

[Ashley]

Ashley frowns, looks as though she might say something for a few moments, and then shakes her head. "No, not for right now. Other than that I wanted to suggest that you guys keep an eye out. A couple of...odd things have happened recently. I mean, nothing that I'm overly -concerned- about, but just sort of...felt odd. So."

A Questionable Lead (Tortura)

[A questionable lead]

Nathan missed the actual call. Not surprising considering the week he'd been having,and the fact that he wasn't expecting another call in the first place. He might have figured his contacts had given him all the information he was going to get, but at least one guy called back with a little more to offer. "Spriggs, its me." The voicemail begins. With contacts like his, it was rare enough for those in Nathan's circles to leave a recording behind. Don't expect anyone to leave their names as well. "Listen, I may have something for you on that stuff you were looking for earlier. Now I still think you're fucking crazy for even wanting to get involved with these folks, but I know that kinda talk won't keep the likes of you away. So I found somebody just as crazy as you. He calls himself Renegade. That's Renegade with a three. One of them nerdy computer types. "He's managed to stick his nose in a few places were folks shouldn't though, and luckily he's in your area. Maybe you can get more info from him. Here's his address." The message ends soon after giving an appartment address and number in Chinatown.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Nathan found the recording shortly after it came, it was the advantages of being home bound due to injuries and other outside factors. Now, if this had been any normal call, he'd have ignored it. But whoever had called either knew things he didn't want known or was in contact with Rikter or Vidal, either way he had to check it out. Experience had not been kind to him, but he had learned all it had to teach, so under his brand-new trench coat (his old one was cut up), now a light brown color instead of the original dirty brown from aging, he was wearing his new Intercept body armor with E-SAPI plates which he could feel weighing him down. [Armor 2 for rule purposes, -2 but +3 soak] And hidden in the trench coat's right pocket was a Glock 29 with a full extended magazine, his FN Five-SeveN holstered next to his chest, he was more than just slightly paranoid these days when it came to danger. It took him a little less than 30 minutes to grab a ride to Chinatown and track down the address, and now there he was, standing outside the building and looking for signs of danger or an ambush before he stepped inside. [Perc + Alert; looking for anything off]

[A questionable lead]

The apartments in these places aren't very big on security. As Nathan approaches he gives a sweep of the street and apartment exterior and sees...Old people. Old women shuffling along sidewalks. Old men taking each step one by one. And for the sake of utility and accessibility, there were gaping holes in security. There was no one watching the few fruit stalls along the sidewalk, and the door to the apartment he was heading toward was propped open by a brick while an elderly lady dragged a shopping cart toward it, clanging as she struggled to bring it up each step

[Administrator]

Theron Locke, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Administrator]

Theron Locke has switched to Chinatown (Southside) (Day)

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

With a nod to himself on the seemingly secure area so far, Nathan stepped inside, a curt nod towards the old lady as she did in a polite manner. He was good at making impressions, and besides, if he treated people well, there was a 1% chance that they might actually help him if things went awry. Which was better than it would be otherwise in any case. It didn't take long to find a staircase to take him up, old and battered as the building was, he didn't expect elevators to work. Even if they did, stairs were safer. He stepped calmly, pacing himself to keep his footsteps relatively silent but cover a good bit of distance still, he didn't feel like creeping around in public until he found good reason for it. Floor by floor, he counted the room numbers, memorizing each floor's layout as he passed, taking his time to arrive as no actual meeting time had been decided. It wasn't until about ten minutes in that he finally decided to get to the top and start searching for the room number he'd been given.

[A questionable lead]

Each floor is relatively similar. Relatively simple. The stairway formed a column on one edge of the building, and aside from a from a window facing the street, every other wall was lined with doors. At least three per floor. From the other side of each door there was always the sound of Chinatown. There's either slow, low chinese music, or high-pitched, fervent Chinese arguing. Except when he comes to apartment 403, where his supposed appointment was supposed to be. The surface of the door was lined with stickers from rock concerts and odd, obscure logos with no real indication of what they could mean. One of them looks like a leftover from Holloween, a black cat with its hackles raised, snarling out. And behind the door the sound of Heavy Metal blared away. Heavy Metal...played with classical instruments. Weird computer types, just as he'd been warned.

[Nathan Spriggs]

He stopped near the door but not in front of it, sticking his back against the wall left of it and paying attention to the music. A normal person would assume it was just some annoying guy playing music at frustratingly high volumes, but not him. His first thought was that maybe someone had gotten there, and the music was just covering up any sounds of a fight or cries for help inside. Still, Nathan wasn't going to turn around on a mere guess, he extended his hand towards the door and knocked thrice, hoping it'd be heard over the blaring music. If there was indeed someone just listening to music in there.

[A questionable lead]

"Who is it?" The voice sounds softly compared to music. Muffled, or perhaps far away.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan heard the voice and his right hand dug into the pocket where the Glock was, taking the grip and preparing in case things went FUBAR. "Nathan."

[A questionable lead]

"Just a minute!." Comes the same voice. He sounds young, and there's the mildest hint of an Asian accent. A minute passes. Minutes, in fact. No one comes to the door.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 7 (Success x 1 at target 3) Nathan waited the minutes, getting more and more restless as time passed, he continued to wait without taking action however, his left hand digging into his pockets and taking out an ancient watch. He opened the hatch and looked at the hands and glass carefully, seeing his own reflection slightly in it. He was concentrating on the ticking hands, the slight vibrations the watch made as they moved, the time that flowed in the moments it took for each little hand to move. But part of his concentration was also on his surrounding, he was searching for what had happened in the time since the call had been made. [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci)]

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 3) [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci) extending]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 6 (Success x 2 at target 3) [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci) extending again]

[A questionable lead]

The music inside thrums. Its surprising how well the classical instruments match the driving metal rhythm. It reveals a steady structure, an artistry to this musical genre that most people overlook and discredit. Nathan can hear it clearly now. The definite patterns of the base line. The swimming, swirling arcs that the violins make. The strength. The Fervor. The perfect symmetry of the music as a song comes to an end.... ...And starts all over again. Only the hallway is brighter. The sun is still up, though its setting quickly, just at the edge of night and day. The music inside blares as usual, but this time there's the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. Not coming up, but coming down from the roof. Nathan had noticed to door at the end of the hall, but it had been locked before, a shiny new padlock adorning it. Now there was a young man walking through it. He was reading from a magazine, folded so that the pages turned up at him and the cover was obscured. So engrossed in what he was doing, he didn't even seem to notice the cat that dashed through the door just as he was closing it behind him, and very nearly clipped its tail.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan looked around, searching for sign of something else in the dreamscape of past times he found himself. When he saw no one else or anyone obvious anyhow, he moved to follow the young man, making sure not to get too close but not too far behind either. He was close enough not to miss any new actions taken by him but not close enough he might feel followed, after all even if it was all in his mind and in the past, Nathan's instincts still felt he might be noticed if he tailed him too close since it seemed so real.

[A questionable lead]

He stood for a moment, rifling through his pockets until he finally brought out a padlock with the key still inside it. He fastened it on the door and headed to his own front door, using the same key to open it. "Who is it?" came a voice from inside, only this time with the door open Nathan could see a living room littered with electronic equipment, mostly in parts. What sounded like a stereo before was, perhaps once, just that. Only the housing for most of it, especially the CD player, had all been stripped away. A red laser danced about the room while wire frames pulled at plastic drum skins, thumped at by piston arms, and levers and wheels ground strings and bows of varying lengths to make violins and cellos. The speakers themselves were mounted just by the door, and when the young man announces "Its your mama!" The speakers hum back "Just a minute!" He steps in and to the right, just long enough to let the magazine fall on a sideboard by the door, and snatch up a sticker. He removes it from its backing and slaps the new addition to the front door. And just as he's about to close it, a phone rings somewhere in the apartment. The door is left open a crack while he rushes off to answer the call.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan followed the man quietly, taking in the vision and the details of the room for future references (literally), he slid through the crack of the door. He looked down to see what the magazine was about and then turned to the room, walking across the room and examining the content before returning to where the man had headed off to.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 5, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 8) Nathan followed the man quietly, taking in the vision and the details of the room he could see through the door for future references (literally), he slid through the crack of the door. Or at least he would have if it hadn't felt like an invisible door smacked him in the face upon trying. Still, he had a slight view of the going-ons inside as he tried to get a good view inside. His ears trying to pick out the phone conversation through the music.

[A questionable lead]

"Speak to me!" The young man calls over the music from somewhere unseen. He goes on muttering for a while, calling the occasional "Yeah, I hear you." In the meantime the cat wanders in. It hops up onto a coffee table, stepping gingerly around machine parts and watching the anamatronic orchestra as if it were a mouse, or something equally satisfying to bat about and kill. Then...it licks itself. Perhaps for a good 30 seconds. "Nathan? That's it? What kind of lame ass name is Nathan? When are you gonna stop sending these Clueless Newbs to me, Huh? I'm a professional, I don't need this shit." The cat hops off the coffee table and onto the side table. Nathan can hear it purring, see its tail swishing in undulating curves as it stared nose down at the magazine. "Y'know, I'm only doing this shit cuz your info payed off. Yeah. Yeah, I found it. Just like you said, Just had to follow the power. Hardly anything worth writing home about. The guy's a hack. Leaves a nice calling card though. I added it to my collection." The cat hops down. It takes a few tentative steps toward the young man on the phone, and then seems to change its mind and heads elsewhere. "Alright, I'll look out for your guy. Yeah. Alright, stay frosty."

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan had learned several facts now, one of them was that apparently some people considered his name lame, others were much more important. Like the fact someone had indeed directed him to call, too bad he hadn't gotten a name on the man since he hadn't recognized him either when he saw him. The facts were slowly falling into place, with any luck he'd be able to make things out by the end of the vision, but still he waited, using the slightly widened opening thanks to the cat to increase his line of sight. He looked for signs of weapons that might be laying around as he waited for the man's return.

[A questionable lead]

There are no weapons. Its your average small, affordable apartment. The only thing out of the ordinary are the strange home made gadgets. They're everywhere, and most barely resemble anything useful. Nathan can see the cat from this angle. Its walking close to a wall, rubbing itself up on it. He can see its tail as it rounds the curve of a doorway. A desk sits across from the doorway. Several computer screens are arranged around it. Just then, the young man walks by, headed for the same doorway. He's almost there when he stops, spins on his heels, and turns to head back toward Nathan. Three long steps take him to the door, and then it gets slammed in the Cultist's face. The last thing he hears is the turning of locks. ...And then the song starts again.

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan gave up on trying to find out any more from this particular area, so he got away from the door. The loud music made it hard to hear anything going on inside without pressing up close which he apparently couldn't do. Instead, he started to look around, pacing around the hall and looking down from where he could to see what was happening downstairs or at least if anyone was trying to come up.

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

After seeing that nothing was coming, Nathan cancelled the effect out, he remembered something and wanted to check it out in real time. As soon as he was yanked back to reality, he looked around feeling a bit stunned, he never got used to this kind of thing. It took him a second to get his bearings back and then he was off to check the padlock out, maybe he could find a way of lockpicking it or something. He realized something suddenly, there had been someone else inside, though he couldn't figure out if it was actually someone or a TV in the background. Still, the guy kept him waiting and waiting, and no sign of opening so far. Would he remain or walk away? His vision had indicated no preparations for an ambush so far, so maybe the guy was just an enormous asshole. In which case, an idea popped into his head as he neared the padlocked door, he'd put it into play if the door wasn't opened at some point in the next minute.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6) [Streetwise + Perc]

[A questionable lead]

The lock is heavy. Solid. Its one of those layered steal numbers where trying to smash it only serves to lock the mechanisms inside and make it locked permanently. Besides that, it seems to have been tampered with. The groves on the keyhole have all been smothed and filed.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 10 (Failure at target 3) Nathan scowled, it was time to plan B. And he liked plan B more anyway, it was fast, sort of efficient in a way and it helped him with all his currently pent up frustration. He turned around, one last glance at the door and giving the man a few more seconds to open up before he resorted to it. In the meantime, he grasped the clock again in his hand, this time not looking at it but trying to synchronize it and himself with the flow of time in reality. [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 7 (Failure at target 4) [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci + 1 reroll); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 3, 4, 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 5) The seconds passed and no one came outside, shaking his head but smiling slightly, Nathan set off downstairs as he hid the gun again. He sped down the stairs and headed outside to the streets of Chinatown. First on his agenda he searched for the nearest person with a hoodie, mangled and dirty as it might be. Once he did find someone, he gave them two hundred dollars in cash and bought it off them, he carried it with him instead of putting it on due to the trench coat, but he'd solve that soon enough. Next was finding a convenience store, which was insanely easy, once he found one, he bought a 2L bottle of coke and headed off again. Now came the hard part as he opened the bottle and drank gulps once in a while, no way was he gonna finish it by himself but it'd be a waste not to try. He had to search for a fireworks vendor, which while not hard in Chinatown, it wasn't easy either. [Streetwise + Contacts]

[A questionable lead]

It was supposed to be a medicine shop. Dried lizards and crab shells hung in the windows. Questionable smells and even more questionable steam hung about in the air. The old man behind the counter gives him a curious look. "You want sea-weed?" He asks. "I got that. You want make love like buffalo. I got that too. You want fireworks? I no got that. Fireworks illegal. You people come in here all the time asking for fireworks. Try to get me arrested. I run legitimate business! Plus. You smell like police!"

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1 Nathan stared at the man, obviously not believing the words and how the hell did he smell like a cop? Either way, he knew arguing was going to get them nowhere. He nodded slightly at his words and looked around the shop for a bit before returning. "I know you sell fireworks, I used to be friends with Mr. Fung before his... untimely passing. I know his successor too, so please make this easier for both you and me. Just sell me the loudest stuff you have, with at least a 20 second fuse." With that, Nathan took out a small stack of money, about three hundred dollars in cash, he always had a lot of cash on hand. "You see this? It's yours if you get me what I need." [Manip + Sub]

[A questionable lead]

The old man starts at the mention of that name. There's an audible gasp of air and he peers through the store windows cautiously. "Lock the door." He says. And by the time Nathan walks to turn the deadbolt on the front door and back, the man has already made space on his counter among the whole tea leaves and bundled spider webs to lay out a small red chest. When he opens it, there are tiers attached to the inside, each hold pockets and compartments, and each of those hold firecrackers of various shapes and sizes. "This is last in this stock after New Year." The old man says, and with both hands he holds out a large red m80. "Guaranteed to chase away your bad luck spirits for at least a year. Careful though. Also guaranteed to remove entire limbs if used wrong."

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 7 (Success x 2 at target 3) Nathan nodded with an appreciative look at the man, then stared at the explosives, he took another hundred dollars out of his pocket and set it on the counter with the last three hundred before taking the fireworks. "Too bad you don't sell fireworks. I guess I never found what I was looking for, eh?" With those words and a smile, he turned to leave, he walked down the streets headed close to the apartment complex but still a few blocks down. He was focusing again on the clock like before, this time with all his concentration, it was the most important part of the plan. [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

He felt it work, felt himself synchronized to the watch in his pocket which in turn was connected to reality itself. Felt the ticking of the hands in his brain, counting down to the milliseconds, knew exactly how long it took him to reach his destination. Buying another 2L bottle of coke on the way there and changing into the hoodie, the bottles wrapped up in the trench coat which he held under his armpit so it would fall. He hid in an alley, placing one of the explosives, one he'd measured had the exact same length as another which was what he needed. After setting it down and taking his lighter out, a few steps back first just in case of faulty fuses and then he lit it, bolting the other way of the alley and headed for the apartment complex again. He counted down the moments in his mind, the calculations so accurate it almost scared him. If he hadn't been enjoying all this so much anyway, the look on the man's face at the mention of Fung's name was refreshing. Now he knew that still pulled weight around here. 10...9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... Boom So much for 20 second fuses, but still, at least he knew the exact time it took now down to the milliseconds and even lower if he bothered calculating it. His plan needed preparations, timing was essential, mistakes couldn't be afforded. He was back at the apartment complex, first the entrance hall, then the second floor, third where he hid the coat in the corner after taking everything out and putting it in his pockets, and then he was there. He counted down how long the run took between floors, making sure everything was set. Then he went down to the alley opposite of the building and he stopped there, emptying the bottles into a nearby trash can. Waiting and hearing the sirens all over outside, the people in chaos, the fireworks had made it happen. But he didn't have time to waste, maybe the guy would check it out too. Instead, he set the last of the fireworks down and lit it up, counting again. Then he lit another, and his count synchronized to perfect for the action. Next he bolted back upstairs, he only had moments to get the timing on all of it right by his count, a five second window between actions. He reached the top, not bothering to slow down, the Five-SeveN in his right and an empty bottle in his left, with the second being held under his armpit. First he waited for a moment, then he put the bottle's mouth to the barrel and fired into the padlock, the gunshot was swallowed by the first explosion, the bottle aiding in making it silent enough for that. Without missing a beat, he turned around, 5 second window started now, he took his place in time in front of the door, and then a second gunshot angled down to hit the floor of the apartment and take out the door's lock on the way in. Again, another explosion muffled the gunshot, and in amazing synchronicity, he kicked the now-unlocked door open. Careful not to let his guard down in case the guy did own a gun. He knew the layout well enough now, and he had the element of surprise.

[A questionable lead]

Not only had Nathan managed to time it out perfectly, but in calculating the times he'd managed to instill a sence of apathy throughout the residents. When his gun reports once, then twice, at the exact same time as the exploding (deafening) fire crackers, Most people only sucked their teeth in a 'that again?' sort of way. No one comes peeking out of the fourth floor apartments, and the hallway fills with swirling gunsmoke just as one door swings open lazily, and then another. The previously padlocked door reveals and enclosed staircase leading up to the roof. The other reveals the apartment just as he'd seen it earlier. The cat meows loud and frightened, dashing outside past Nathan and up the staircase toward the roof.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Now, he had a choice, but common sense aided his choice considerably. You see, the thing is, with buildings like these, there's usually fire escapes, and fire escapes can either lead him to the roof or they can lead him to the ground. That meant there was a 33% chance of finding him if he went up to the roof, whereas there was another 33% if he investigated the room. And an additional 33% if he went through the fire escape after checking the room. The last 1% lost to infinity, so it didn't really matter. Nathan moved swiftly, looking around the floor, the desks, everything to make sure he wasn't hidden behind one. After that, he leaned against the wall leading to the hall and angled in to make sure no one was waiting. If there wasn't, he'd move in closer and do the same for every room until he hit the fire escape. Where he would then check for anyone running down through the alley and then head upstairs through there, the guy would expect him through the other stairs if he saw the cat come in through. If he had to rely on worst case scenario, though, he had a few plans, the hoodie covering most of his head and the weird effect he had around people would probably keep him safe if the guy escaped.

[A questionable lead]

Nathan doesn't need to go very far to find the man inside. The apartment wasn't that big and other than the room on the other side (A narrow kitchen with a wall phone) there's not much he hasn't seen already. He already peered in and saw the cat creeping into what he now sees is a bedroom, but with most of the space taken up for a computer desk with several screens. He'd seen the desk too. And the computer screens. He hadn't seen the man sitting at the desk though. And while the decal on the shirt suggests that this was indeed R3n3gade, the last time Nathan saw him he wasn't this...smoldery. Not this charcoaly. Not so electrocuted and burnt to a crisp. The body sits in the swivel chair, back arced and arms twisted. His hair is as good as dust. His skin is blackened and charred, and his flesh has been pulled tight around his teeth. The smell of burning flesh fills the room, and the only thing untouched by the heat are the decals on his clothes, oddly, and a what looks like a plastic crown, wired and attached to the computer. So much for getting tips from Renegade. Maybe one of his conspiracy theories turned out to be true.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 6, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6) Nathan's gun lowered the gun slightly, looking around the room for another sign of life. Whoever had done this had either been one of their own and used the computer, or was still nearby. Chances were he would have been long gone by then. So much for this R3n3gade guy, though he at least deserved better. Nathan wasn't one to give up easily as this whole affair had proven however, he quickly went to work trying to find any clues or details he missed earlier, that could help him with his information and maybe why the guy had died. [Perc + Investigation]

[A questionable lead]

It was like looking for a flibberty-gibbet in a doo-dad shop. Its hard to know what's out of place here when everything around you seems so foreign. Renegades coffee maker probably separated atoms. His toaster? A mini nuclear power generator. Most of the things around the apartment were all in pieces and back again. Had all been tampered with in some way to have them function beyond their previous function. Perhaps if he knew someone with a bit more tech savvy they could tell which one of these spinning diodes was actually a smoking gun. The only thing in the apartment that seemed normal were the folded magazine on the sideboard, and the scrap of wax-paper backing left near it.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6) Nathan looked around, trying to make sense of this was not going to be easy especially not with the state of things and he didn't dare move much around. It took a few seconds but he decided he had a few alternatives still and something was nagging at him. Was this guy also involved with the Awakened, could he be one by any chance even if he didn't feel like it? Nathan closed his eyes and concentrated on his surrounding, trying to feel anything out of place in the air or atmosphere. A telltale sign of magic or something of supernatural nature. [Perc + Aware]

[A questionable lead]

There's the chattering sound of a chinatown apartmentas Nathan closed his eyes. There's the coolness of an apartment where the tenant hadn't turned up the heat for the night. There's the smell of burning flesh, of singed hair. But those weren't the senses he was aiming. Nathan's mind moved beyond those. Beyond the physical. He felt outward at the emotional. At the other. The apartment was tight, roomy, even though it was small. It was expansive and open. Open to spaces beyond the walls. It felt ragged, as if the entire place had been slapped together at the last minute just for Nathan's amusement. And all around him was the impossible. The improbable. No, the just-can't-be. There was no sense to these things. Anamatronic orchestras didn't exist. And yet, there it was. Where did the line stop, really? Where did one move from the realm of questionable technology, and into what he knew as magic? There's something else in the room as well though. Something that didn't belong, that clung to just the corner near the dead body and not the entire apartment like the rest. Its something worn, ground down from long use. Ground down and yet...still eroding.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan's concentration held on, even as he opened his eyes, he maintained his focus. He was used to it, he could handle it. He stepped over slowly, following the feeling that was most prevalent in it all, most powerful. He looked around, as though seeing the room with different appreciation now, but still his focus remained on tracking the object and finding out the location as he stepped around, searching for it with his physical sight as well as in the atmosphere around him.

[A questionable lead]

Warmer... Warmer... Cold... Warm... Cold... Warm... Hot... Blazing! Nathan followed all six of his senses toward the odd item in the room, the one thing that was not like the others. Only when he finally finds it, he might not like it. Its the crown, you see. The oddly shaped halo of plastic and wires fixed to the fried Renegades crispy skull. And now that he looked at it...it fit. This was the odd thing in the room. This was the thing in one piece. Made nicely and crafted carefully, unlike everything else in the apartment.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 6, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6) He stopped to stare, a slight look of disbelief crossing his face for a moment, what the hell had the guy been doing? In any case, he didn't dare touch the crown, it was too dangerous. There was Etherites and Virtual Adepts in town for this kind of thing. He'd give them a call once he figured out something and had a better look around the apartment. Chuck was probably the man to call, after he contacted Wharil and Ashley on the situation of course. But first things first, he closed his eyes again for a moment. He was focusing on the crown now, ignoring the surroundings and taking only it in. [Aware + Perc]

[A questionable lead]

Some things... Most things carried a certain element of what they were. What they were used for. Emotions and sensations were like oil on the skin, transferring off of and onto everything it touched. And in this case the oil smacked of: Conflict.

What'd I say this time?

[A questionable lead]

Nathan missed the actual call. Not surprising considering the week he'd been having,and the fact that he wasn't expecting another call in the first place. He might have figured his contacts had given him all the information he was going to get, but at least one guy called back with a little more to offer. "Spriggs, its me." The voicemail begins. With contacts like his, it was rare enough for those in Nathan's circles to leave a recording behind. Don't expect anyone to leave their names as well. "Listen, I may have something for you on that stuff you were looking for earlier. Now I still think you're fucking crazy for even wanting to get involved with these folks, but I know that kinda talk won't keep the likes of you away. So I found somebody just as crazy as you. He calls himself Renegade. That's Renegade with a three. One of them nerdy computer types. "He's managed to stick his nose in a few places were folks shouldn't though, and luckily he's in your area. Maybe you can get more info from him. Here's his address." The message ends soon after giving an appartment address and number in Chinatown.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Nathan found the recording shortly after it came, it was the advantages of being home bound due to injuries and other outside factors. Now, if this had been any normal call, he'd have ignored it. But whoever had called either knew things he didn't want known or was in contact with Rikter or Vidal, either way he had to check it out. Experience had not been kind to him, but he had learned all it had to teach, so under his brand-new trench coat (his old one was cut up), now a light brown color instead of the original dirty brown from aging, he was wearing his new Intercept body armor with E-SAPI plates which he could feel weighing him down. [Armor 2 for rule purposes, -2 but +3 soak] And hidden in the trench coat's right pocket was a Glock 29 with a full extended magazine, his FN Five-SeveN holstered next to his chest, he was more than just slightly paranoid these days when it came to danger. It took him a little less than 30 minutes to grab a ride to Chinatown and track down the address, and now there he was, standing outside the building and looking for signs of danger or an ambush before he stepped inside. [Perc + Alert; looking for anything off]

[A questionable lead]

The apartments in these places aren't very big on security. As Nathan approaches he gives a sweep of the street and apartment exterior and sees...Old people. Old women shuffling along sidewalks. Old men taking each step one by one. And for the sake of utility and accessibility, there were gaping holes in security. There was no one watching the few fruit stalls along the sidewalk, and the door to the apartment he was heading toward was propped open by a brick while an elderly lady dragged a shopping cart toward it, clanging as she struggled to bring it up each step

[Nathan Spriggs]

With a nod to himself on the seemingly secure area so far, Nathan stepped inside, a curt nod towards the old lady as she did in a polite manner. He was good at making impressions, and besides, if he treated people well, there was a 1% chance that they might actually help him if things went awry. Which was better than it would be otherwise in any case. It didn't take long to find a staircase to take him up, old and battered as the building was, he didn't expect elevators to work. Even if they did, stairs were safer. He stepped calmly, pacing himself to keep his footsteps relatively silent but cover a good bit of distance still, he didn't feel like creeping around in public until he found good reason for it. Floor by floor, he counted the room numbers, memorizing each floor's layout as he passed, taking his time to arrive as no actual meeting time had been decided. It wasn't until about ten minutes in that he finally decided to get to the top and start searching for the room number he'd been given.

[A questionable lead]

Each floor is relatively similar. Relatively simple. The stairway formed a column on one edge of the building, and aside from a from a window facing the street, every other wall was lined with doors. At least three per floor. From the other side of each door there was always the sound of Chinatown. There's either slow, low chinese music, or high-pitched, fervent Chinese arguing. Except when he comes to apartment 403, where his supposed appointment was supposed to be. The surface of the door was lined with stickers from rock concerts and odd, obscure logos with no real indication of what they could mean. One of them looks like a leftover from Holloween, a black cat with its hackles raised, snarling out. And behind the door the sound of Heavy Metal blared away. Heavy Metal...played with classical instruments. Weird computer types, just as he'd been warned.

[Nathan Spriggs]

He stopped near the door but not in front of it, sticking his back against the wall left of it and paying attention to the music. A normal person would assume it was just some annoying guy playing music at frustratingly high volumes, but not him. His first thought was that maybe someone had gotten there, and the music was just covering up any sounds of a fight or cries for help inside. Still, Nathan wasn't going to turn around on a mere guess, he extended his hand towards the door and knocked thrice, hoping it'd be heard over the blaring music. If there was indeed someone just listening to music in there.

[A questionable lead]

"Who is it?" The voice sounds softly compared to music. Muffled, or perhaps far away.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan heard the voice and his right hand dug into the pocket where the Glock was, taking the grip and preparing in case things went FUBAR. "Nathan."

[A questionable lead]

"Just a minute!." Comes the same voice. He sounds young, and there's the mildest hint of an Asian accent. A minute passes. Minutes, in fact. No one comes to the door.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 7 (Success x 1 at target 3) Nathan waited the minutes, getting more and more restless as time passed, he continued to wait without taking action however, his left hand digging into his pockets and taking out an ancient watch. He opened the hatch and looked at the hands and glass carefully, seeing his own reflection slightly in it. He was concentrating on the ticking hands, the slight vibrations the watch made as they moved, the time that flowed in the moments it took for each little hand to move. But part of his concentration was also on his surrounding, he was searching for what had happened in the time since the call had been made. [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci)]

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 3) [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci) extending]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 6 (Success x 2 at target 3) [Time 2 coincidental, diff 3 (base 5 -1 rote, -1 unique foci) extending again]

[A questionable lead]

The music inside thrums. Its surprising how well the classical instruments match the driving metal rhythm. It reveals a steady structure, an artistry to this musical genre that most people overlook and discredit. Nathan can hear it clearly now. The definite patterns of the base line. The swimming, swirling arcs that the violins make. The strength. The Fervor. The perfect symmetry of the music as a song comes to an end.... ...And starts all over again. Only the hallway is brighter. The sun is still up, though its setting quickly, just at the edge of night and day. The music inside blares as usual, but this time there's the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. Not coming up, but coming down from the roof. Nathan had noticed to door at the end of the hall, but it had been locked before, a shiny new padlock adorning it. Now there was a young man walking through it. He was reading from a magazine, folded so that the pages turned up at him and the cover was obscured. So engrossed in what he was doing, he didn't even seem to notice the cat that dashed through the door just as he was closing it behind him, and very nearly clipped its tail.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan looked around, searching for sign of something else in the dreamscape of past times he found himself. When he saw no one else or anyone obvious anyhow, he moved to follow the young man, making sure not to get too close but not too far behind either. He was close enough not to miss any new actions taken by him but not close enough he might feel followed, after all even if it was all in his mind and in the past, Nathan's instincts still felt he might be noticed if he tailed him too close since it seemed so real.

[A questionable lead]

He stood for a moment, rifling through his pockets until he finally brought out a padlock with the key still inside it. He fastened it on the door and headed to his own front door, using the same key to open it. "Who is it?" came a voice from inside, only this time with the door open Nathan could see a living room littered with electronic equipment, mostly in parts. What sounded like a stereo before was, perhaps once, just that. Only the housing for most of it, especially the CD player, had all been stripped away. A red laser danced about the room while wire frames pulled at plastic drum skins, thumped at by piston arms, and levers and wheels ground strings and bows of varying lengths to make violins and cellos. The speakers themselves were mounted just by the door, and when the young man announces "Its your mama!" The speakers hum back "Just a minute!" He steps in and to the right, just long enough to let the magazine fall on a sideboard by the door, and snatch up a sticker. He removes it from its backing and slaps the new addition to the front door. And just as he's about to close it, a phone rings somewhere in the apartment. The door is left open a crack while he rushes off to answer the call.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan followed the man quietly, taking in the vision and the details of the room for future references (literally), he slid through the crack of the door. He looked down to see what the magazine was about and then turned to the room, walking across the room and examining the content before returning to where the man had headed off to.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 5, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 8) Nathan followed the man quietly, taking in the vision and the details of the room he could see through the door for future references (literally), he slid through the crack of the door. Or at least he would have if it hadn't felt like an invisible door smacked him in the face upon trying. Still, he had a slight view of the going-ons inside as he tried to get a good view inside. His ears trying to pick out the phone conversation through the music.

[A questionable lead]

"Speak to me!" The young man calls over the music from somewhere unseen. He goes on muttering for a while, calling the occasional "Yeah, I hear you." In the meantime the cat wanders in. It hops up onto a coffee table, stepping gingerly around machine parts and watching the anamatronic orchestra as if it were a mouse, or something equally satisfying to bat about and kill. Then...it licks itself. Perhaps for a good 30 seconds. "Nathan? That's it? What kind of lame ass name is Nathan? When are you gonna stop sending these Clueless Newbs to me, Huh? I'm a professional, I don't need this shit." The cat hops off the coffee table and onto the side table. Nathan can hear it purring, see its tail swishing in undulating curves as it stared nose down at the magazine. "Y'know, I'm only doing this shit cuz your info payed off. Yeah. Yeah, I found it. Just like you said, Just had to follow the power. Hardly anything worth writing home about. The guy's a hack. Leaves a nice calling card though. I added it to my collection." The cat hops down. It takes a few tentative steps toward the young man on the phone, and then seems to change its mind and heads elsewhere. "Alright, I'll look out for your guy. Yeah. Alright, stay frosty."

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan had learned several facts now, one of them was that apparently some people considered his name lame, others were much more important. Like the fact someone had indeed directed him to call, too bad he hadn't gotten a name on the man since he hadn't recognized him either when he saw him. The facts were slowly falling into place, with any luck he'd be able to make things out by the end of the vision, but still he waited, using the slightly widened opening thanks to the cat to increase his line of sight. He looked for signs of weapons that might be laying around as he waited for the man's return.

[A questionable lead]

There are no weapons. Its your average small, affordable apartment. The only thing out of the ordinary are the strange home made gadgets. They're everywhere, and most barely resemble anything useful. Nathan can see the cat from this angle. Its walking close to a wall, rubbing itself up on it. He can see its tail as it rounds the curve of a doorway. A desk sits across from the doorway. Several computer screens are arranged around it. Just then, the young man walks by, headed for the same doorway. He's almost there when he stops, spins on his heels, and turns to head back toward Nathan. Three long steps take him to the door, and then it gets slammed in the Cultist's face. The last thing he hears is the turning of locks. ...And then the song starts again.

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan gave up on trying to find out any more from this particular area, so he got away from the door. The loud music made it hard to hear anything going on inside without pressing up close which he apparently couldn't do. Instead, he started to look around, pacing around the hall and looking down from where he could to see what was happening downstairs or at least if anyone was trying to come up.

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

After seeing that nothing was coming, Nathan cancelled the effect out, he remembered something and wanted to check it out in real time. As soon as he was yanked back to reality, he looked around feeling a bit stunned, he never got used to this kind of thing. It took him a second to get his bearings back and then he was off to check the padlock out, maybe he could find a way of lockpicking it or something. He realized something suddenly, there had been someone else inside, though he couldn't figure out if it was actually someone or a TV in the background. Still, the guy kept him waiting and waiting, and no sign of opening so far. Would he remain or walk away? His vision had indicated no preparations for an ambush so far, so maybe the guy was just an enormous asshole. In which case, an idea popped into his head as he neared the padlocked door, he'd put it into play if the door wasn't opened at some point in the next minute.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6) [Streetwise + Perc]

[A questionable lead]

The lock is heavy. Solid. Its one of those layered steal numbers where trying to smash it only serves to lock the mechanisms inside and make it locked permanently. Besides that, it seems to have been tampered with. The groves on the keyhole have all been smothed and filed.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 10 (Failure at target 3) Nathan scowled, it was time to plan B. And he liked plan B more anyway, it was fast, sort of efficient in a way and it helped him with all his currently pent up frustration. He turned around, one last glance at the door and giving the man a few more seconds to open up before he resorted to it. In the meantime, he grasped the clock again in his hand, this time not looking at it but trying to synchronize it and himself with the flow of time in reality. [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 7 (Failure at target 4) [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci + 1 reroll); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 3, 4, 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 5) The seconds passed and no one came outside, shaking his head but smiling slightly, Nathan set off downstairs as he hid the gun again. He sped down the stairs and headed outside to the streets of Chinatown. First on his agenda he searched for the nearest person with a hoodie, mangled and dirty as it might be. Once he did find someone, he gave them two hundred dollars in cash and bought it off them, he carried it with him instead of putting it on due to the trench coat, but he'd solve that soon enough. Next was finding a convenience store, which was insanely easy, once he found one, he bought a 2L bottle of coke and headed off again. Now came the hard part as he opened the bottle and drank gulps once in a while, no way was he gonna finish it by himself but it'd be a waste not to try. He had to search for a fireworks vendor, which while not hard in Chinatown, it wasn't easy either. [Streetwise + Contacts]

[A questionable lead]

It was supposed to be a medicine shop. Dried lizards and crab shells hung in the windows. Questionable smells and even more questionable steam hung about in the air. The old man behind the counter gives him a curious look. "You want sea-weed?" He asks. "I got that. You want make love like buffalo. I got that too. You want fireworks? I no got that. Fireworks illegal. You people come in here all the time asking for fireworks. Try to get me arrested. I run legitimate business! Plus. You smell like police!"

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1 Nathan stared at the man, obviously not believing the words and how the hell did he smell like a cop? Either way, he knew arguing was going to get them nowhere. He nodded slightly at his words and looked around the shop for a bit before returning. "I know you sell fireworks, I used to be friends with Mr. Fung before his... untimely passing. I know his successor too, so please make this easier for both you and me. Just sell me the loudest stuff you have, with at least a 20 second fuse." With that, Nathan took out a small stack of money, about three hundred dollars in cash, he always had a lot of cash on hand. "You see this? It's yours if you get me what I need." [Manip + Sub]

[A questionable lead]

The old man starts at the mention of that name. There's an audible gasp of air and he peers through the store windows cautiously. "Lock the door." He says. And by the time Nathan walks to turn the deadbolt on the front door and back, the man has already made space on his counter among the whole tea leaves and bundled spider webs to lay out a small red chest. When he opens it, there are tiers attached to the inside, each hold pockets and compartments, and each of those hold firecrackers of various shapes and sizes. "This is last in this stock after New Year." The old man says, and with both hands he holds out a large red m80. "Guaranteed to chase away your bad luck spirits for at least a year. Careful though. Also guaranteed to remove entire limbs if used wrong."

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 7 (Success x 2 at target 3) Nathan nodded with an appreciative look at the man, then stared at the explosives, he took another hundred dollars out of his pocket and set it on the counter with the last three hundred before taking the fireworks. "Too bad you don't sell fireworks. I guess I never found what I was looking for, eh?" With those words and a smile, he turned to leave, he walked down the streets headed close to the apartment complex but still a few blocks down. He was focusing again on the clock like before, this time with all his concentration, it was the most important part of the plan. [Time 1 coincidental, base diff 5 (-1 rote, -1 unique foci); Time sense (knowing precise time perfectly)]

[Administrator]

Nathan Spriggs, welcome to Chinatown (Southside) (Night)

[Nathan Spriggs]

He felt it work, felt himself synchronized to the watch in his pocket which in turn was connected to reality itself. Felt the ticking of the hands in his brain, counting down to the milliseconds, knew exactly how long it took him to reach his destination. Buying another 2L bottle of coke on the way there and changing into the hoodie, the bottles wrapped up in the trench coat which he held under his armpit so it would fall. He hid in an alley, placing one of the explosives, one he'd measured had the exact same length as another which was what he needed. After setting it down and taking his lighter out, a few steps back first just in case of faulty fuses and then he lit it, bolting the other way of the alley and headed for the apartment complex again. He counted down the moments in his mind, the calculations so accurate it almost scared him. If he hadn't been enjoying all this so much anyway, the look on the man's face at the mention of Fung's name was refreshing. Now he knew that still pulled weight around here. 10...9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... Boom So much for 20 second fuses, but still, at least he knew the exact time it took now down to the milliseconds and even lower if he bothered calculating it. His plan needed preparations, timing was essential, mistakes couldn't be afforded. He was back at the apartment complex, first the entrance hall, then the second floor, third where he hid the coat in the corner after taking everything out and putting it in his pockets, and then he was there. He counted down how long the run took between floors, making sure everything was set. Then he went down to the alley opposite of the building and he stopped there, emptying the bottles into a nearby trash can. Waiting and hearing the sirens all over outside, the people in chaos, the fireworks had made it happen. But he didn't have time to waste, maybe the guy would check it out too. Instead, he set the last of the fireworks down and lit it up, counting again. Then he lit another, and his count synchronized to perfect for the action. Next he bolted back upstairs, he only had moments to get the timing on all of it right by his count, a five second window between actions. He reached the top, not bothering to slow down, the Five-SeveN in his right and an empty bottle in his left, with the second being held under his armpit. First he waited for a moment, then he put the bottle's mouth to the barrel and fired into the padlock, the gunshot was swallowed by the first explosion, the bottle aiding in making it silent enough for that. Without missing a beat, he turned around, 5 second window started now, he took his place in time in front of the door, and then a second gunshot angled down to hit the floor of the apartment and take out the door's lock on the way in. Again, another explosion muffled the gunshot, and in amazing synchronicity, he kicked the now-unlocked door open. Careful not to let his guard down in case the guy did own a gun. He knew the layout well enough now, and he had the element of surprise.

[A questionable lead]

Not only had Nathan managed to time it out perfectly, but in calculating the times he'd managed to instill a sence of apathy throughout the residents. When his gun reports once, then twice, at the exact same time as the exploding (deafening) fire crackers, Most people only sucked their teeth in a 'that again?' sort of way. No one comes peeking out of the fourth floor apartments, and the hallway fills with swirling gunsmoke just as one door swings open lazily, and then another. The previously padlocked door reveals and enclosed staircase leading up to the roof. The other reveals the apartment just as he'd seen it earlier. The cat meows loud and frightened, dashing outside past Nathan and up the staircase toward the roof.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Now, he had a choice, but common sense aided his choice considerably. You see, the thing is, with buildings like these, there's usually fire escapes, and fire escapes can either lead him to the roof or they can lead him to the ground. That meant there was a 33% chance of finding him if he went up to the roof, whereas there was another 33% if he investigated the room. And an additional 33% if he went through the fire escape after checking the room. The last 1% lost to infinity, so it didn't really matter. Nathan moved swiftly, looking around the floor, the desks, everything to make sure he wasn't hidden behind one. After that, he leaned against the wall leading to the hall and angled in to make sure no one was waiting. If there wasn't, he'd move in closer and do the same for every room until he hit the fire escape. Where he would then check for anyone running down through the alley and then head upstairs through there, the guy would expect him through the other stairs if he saw the cat come in through. If he had to rely on worst case scenario, though, he had a few plans, the hoodie covering most of his head and the weird effect he had around people would probably keep him safe if the guy escaped.

[A questionable lead]

Nathan doesn't need to go very far to find the man inside. The apartment wasn't that big and other than the room on the other side (A narrow kitchen with a wall phone) there's not much he hasn't seen already. He already peered in and saw the cat creeping into what he now sees is a bedroom, but with most of the space taken up for a computer desk with several screens. He'd seen the desk too. And the computer screens. He hadn't seen the man sitting at the desk though. And while the decal on the shirt suggests that this was indeed R3n3gade, the last time Nathan saw him he wasn't this...smoldery. Not this charcoaly. Not so electrocuted and burnt to a crisp. The body sits in the swivel chair, back arced and arms twisted. His hair is as good as dust. His skin is blackened and charred, and his flesh has been pulled tight around his teeth. The smell of burning flesh fills the room, and the only thing untouched by the heat are the decals on his clothes, oddly, and a what looks like a plastic crown, wired and attached to the computer. So much for getting tips from Renegade. Maybe one of his conspiracy theories turned out to be true.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 6, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6) Nathan's gun lowered the gun slightly, looking around the room for another sign of life. Whoever had done this had either been one of their own and used the computer, or was still nearby. Chances were he would have been long gone by then. So much for this R3n3gade guy, though he at least deserved better. Nathan wasn't one to give up easily as this whole affair had proven however, he quickly went to work trying to find any clues or details he missed earlier, that could help him with his information and maybe why the guy had died. [Perc + Investigation]

[A questionable lead]

It was like looking for a flibberty-gibbet in a doo-dad shop. Its hard to know what's out of place here when everything around you seems so foreign. Renegades coffee maker probably separated atoms. His toaster? A mini nuclear power generator. Most of the things around the apartment were all in pieces and back again. Had all been tampered with in some way to have them function beyond their previous function. Perhaps if he knew someone with a bit more tech savvy they could tell which one of these spinning diodes was actually a smoking gun. The only thing in the apartment that seemed normal were the folded magazine on the sideboard, and the scrap of wax-paper backing left near it.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6) Nathan looked around, trying to make sense of this was not going to be easy especially not with the state of things and he didn't dare move much around. It took a few seconds but he decided he had a few alternatives still and something was nagging at him. Was this guy also involved with the Awakened, could he be one by any chance even if he didn't feel like it? Nathan closed his eyes and concentrated on his surrounding, trying to feel anything out of place in the air or atmosphere. A telltale sign of magic or something of supernatural nature. [Perc + Aware]

[A questionable lead]

There's the chattering sound of a chinatown apartmentas Nathan closed his eyes. There's the coolness of an apartment where the tenant hadn't turned up the heat for the night. There's the smell of burning flesh, of singed hair. But those weren't the senses he was aiming. Nathan's mind moved beyond those. Beyond the physical. He felt outward at the emotional. At the other. The apartment was tight, roomy, even though it was small. It was expansive and open. Open to spaces beyond the walls. It felt ragged, as if the entire place had been slapped together at the last minute just for Nathan's amusement. And all around him was the impossible. The improbable. No, the just-can't-be. There was no sense to these things. Anamatronic orchestras didn't exist. And yet, there it was. Where did the line stop, really? Where did one move from the realm of questionable technology, and into what he knew as magic? There's something else in the room as well though. Something that didn't belong, that clung to just the corner near the dead body and not the entire apartment like the rest. Its something worn, ground down from long use. Ground down and yet...still eroding.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Nathan's concentration held on, even as he opened his eyes, he maintained his focus. He was used to it, he could handle it. He stepped over slowly, following the feeling that was most prevalent in it all, most powerful. He looked around, as though seeing the room with different appreciation now, but still his focus remained on tracking the object and finding out the location as he stepped around, searching for it with his physical sight as well as in the atmosphere around him.

[A questionable lead]

Warmer... Warmer... Cold... Warm... Cold... Warm... Hot... Blazing! Nathan followed all six of his senses toward the odd item in the room, the one thing that was not like the others. Only when he finally finds it, he might not like it. Its the crown, you see. The oddly shaped halo of plastic and wires fixed to the fried Renegades crispy skull. And now that he looked at it...it fit. This was the odd thing in the room. This was the thing in one piece. Made nicely and crafted carefully, unlike everything else in the apartment.

[Nathan Spriggs]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 5, 6, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6) He stopped to stare, a slight look of disbelief crossing his face for a moment, what the hell had the guy been doing? In any case, he didn't dare touch the crown, it was too dangerous. There was Etherites and Virtual Adepts in town for this kind of thing. He'd give them a call once he figured out something and had a better look around the apartment. Chuck was probably the man to call, after he contacted Wharil and Ashley on the situation of course. But first things first, he closed his eyes again for a moment. He was focusing on the crown now, ignoring the surroundings and taking only it in. [Aware + Perc]

[A questionable lead]

Some things... Most things carried a certain element of what they were. What they were used for. Emotions and sensations were like oil on the skin, transferring off of and onto everything it touched. And in this case the oil smacked of: Conflict.