A Night of Courage
It was a strange night, especially when Cult of Ecstasy Mages pop into the air right next to you. It was Marcus who received a phone call as we were discussing some common rotes and magical theory. The Exer appeared right next to us and I should have reported him directly to Professor Drake but I was so impressed by the entrance that it slipped my mind… the Ass chewing for that was severe. The Cult never garnered much trust from my old Chantry, and as such I didn’t know what to think about him, besides the typical attitude that they are a bunch of undisciplined drug addicts and freaks… it’s true, you learn so much in college beyond just the classes.
Ok, why do ALL the others think I have a stick up my butt, I'm not that bad, really, I party I have a good time… well I tried, but we will come to that later. Even the new arrivals that seem to respond well with the supernatural….
Someone fell into the null zone by the library, I'm sure it was a vampire, fangs kind of give that away, so I wanted to move him out of the null Zone to try and let him heal, and maybe try a little healing myself on him, however I still feel that it is beyond my scope as of yet, but one must try to improve and I am Determined to do so. After some bickering among the other witnesses to the fall, I and another drug him out of the zone while Marcus called 911, against my advice. The Vamp vanished and we fled the scene oddly the police and the paramedics never showed up…
So Professor Drake grabbed me on my way to McDonalds, literally grabbed my shoulder freaked me out, and ordered me to gather EVERYONE, the entire Council. As I did that I managed to grab a quick double cheese burger and fries and got to the Masonic Temple as fast as Marcus could drive, legally of course.
Apparently the Dagger gifted to the Council is his and he has demanded it back. Of course the Sleepers refused to return the blade and Drake Stormed out in a fit of Rage. He was muttering darkly to himself the entire drive back, as he stormed up the steps of the library, all the way to Lazlo with three somewhat frightened mages in tow. His fury was calmed by a simple gesture by Lazlo. They exchanged a few words and determined that tonight they would test us. Test our worth so to speak, to see if we were fit to join the Chantry.
We were led to the roof, or rather above the roof, about 50 feet to be exact. Lazlo Drew three perfect circles on the ground and asked that we stand in them. We were told that if we were to leave the circle we would fail. Then my body began to itch, and burn I tried to stand straight but the sensation was too overpowering, I attempted to cast a pain killing rote, but the sight that I placed the rune on itched even more furiously. Then I saw Marcus die, and despite my discomfort I could feel the shiver in my spine feel pain, he is perhaps my closest friend in this place, after the marauder merged us together. Then they asked us “what is your weakness”, I hade no idea at the time, but I thought it was my lack of trust in my fellow mages, apparently this satisfied Lazlo. Then to just me “what gives you the Right”…. I never have been asked that question before, never contemplated it, apparently my training and knowledge weren’t enough, and now I know they are not enough. I was told that I should step out of the circle to prove my worth… I was foolish enough to do so, that in my discomfort I had forgotten that by removing myself from the Circle I would fail…
Then there was a loud crash, the ladder down to the library was ruined in a ball of flame and a small hovercraft landed on the surface which we were on. Drake yelled “MOVE” as his head was shot off by the Cyborgs I fled the Scene, trusting in my Magick to save me from the fall….
Then I was back in the circle, disoriented. Drake pulled a Lugar out of his bag and pointed it at me
“Defend yourself”
I reached for my charm and before I could speak the Word to activate the Spell I scribed on it I felt the Bullet crash through my skull, the pain, the blackness……
Then the circle again, I stood up, Marcus was bleeding from his shoulder and the Exer was sprawled within his circle bleeding from a massive head wound, chunks of skull and blood splattered in a long line behind him, his legs crossed under him, as if he had been sitting Indian style.
“Save your friend and you will pass” stated Lazlo, they departed.
I immediately removed him from Lazlo’s Circle and began preparing a spirit binding, normally this wont work for me, but if the spirit is willing it just might… besides it was our only hope…
Then there was Marjiki, Glorious being of power, springing into our vision as the Ritual was completed, cradling the soul of our friend in her powerful claws. I beseeched her to help us, and as our requests were being heard, Asher arrived.
He calmly demanded the Spirit that Marjiki was protecting in her claws, claming that it was his now, that we were all his, Marcus tried to talk with him but the Marauder struck him down. I went with the only course left after diplomacy fails, Violence. My first weapons, the pencils I had prepared to combat the Vampires, blew through his head at super high velocity, but he barely seemed to take notice as he scooped them out of his now empty eye sockets. He reached forth his hand and a black bolt of power connected him to the node, causing Marjiki great pain. Cursing my week props, I Called to the Heavens, invoking the names of the Archangels in there native tongue asking, pleading for the powers to bend to my will, I could feel the Quintessence flow from the Dragon Spirit into me as I finished the most ambitious spell I had ever attempted, “Dame Paradox” was all I could think as the electricity from the library’s power Shattered the building beneath us and coursed into Asher…
But to no avail…
Asher reached toward me and I felt his fingers claw through me, I felt my body fall beneath me and I felt Asher’s power as he attempted to draw my spirit into himself. I could see my Avatar, sitting, watching me; she motioned with her hand that I should get up. I did and I fled to join the Exer within Marjiki’s powerful spirit as Marcus’s spirit followed behind me.
Time was running out, the Dragon was weakening and we were running out of ideas, The Claws Clapped together… time stood still… and we tried as hard as our mortal minds could to find a way to defeat him, but it was the Dragon’s wisdom, and willingness to act is what gave us a chance. By throwing ourselves into the nearby null zone we would obliterate Asher, as well as remove ourselves from the wheel, never to be born again and destroy one of the greatest nodes ever discovered. But the price was deemed fair, for one Marauder. Marjiki leapt toward the plaza….
“Congratulations, you passed” said Lazlo as I looked for a place to sit down, not really sure what to believe just happened.
Marcus and I were sitting around outside the library, him smoking, me just gazing up at the sky…
Then the most Disturbing, Vile, Black, Evil thing I have witnessed happened. A man, mortally wounded stumbled up the stairs near us and collapsed next to the fountain. He vomited fourth an Abomination which attacked Ania, who furiously attempted to beat it off of her; I tried to help with my Shock Rote but the spell misfired the whole scene was …unspeakable the flesh, melting, sticking together pealing away… then POP… it was over the tentacles gone, the damage undone. The Hunter Plunged his dagger into the man’s back and Ania Beat him back into the corner of some concrete. Marcus and I decided that the man was still a viable Threat and decided to take matters into our own hands. Preparing a spontaneous combustion, Flambeou’s Wrath but with some non hermetic effects.
The man stood hoped into the fountain and stepped out. POP
He was healed
And he started walking towards us; we backed away and then froze as he threatened us. He strode off, walking towards the temple.
Drake’s voice boomed into the night “GET UP HERE!”
It was the worst beating of my life, and a great lesson in paradox avoidance.
Ok, why do ALL the others think I have a stick up my butt, I'm not that bad, really, I party I have a good time… well I tried, but we will come to that later. Even the new arrivals that seem to respond well with the supernatural….
Someone fell into the null zone by the library, I'm sure it was a vampire, fangs kind of give that away, so I wanted to move him out of the null Zone to try and let him heal, and maybe try a little healing myself on him, however I still feel that it is beyond my scope as of yet, but one must try to improve and I am Determined to do so. After some bickering among the other witnesses to the fall, I and another drug him out of the zone while Marcus called 911, against my advice. The Vamp vanished and we fled the scene oddly the police and the paramedics never showed up…
So Professor Drake grabbed me on my way to McDonalds, literally grabbed my shoulder freaked me out, and ordered me to gather EVERYONE, the entire Council. As I did that I managed to grab a quick double cheese burger and fries and got to the Masonic Temple as fast as Marcus could drive, legally of course.
Apparently the Dagger gifted to the Council is his and he has demanded it back. Of course the Sleepers refused to return the blade and Drake Stormed out in a fit of Rage. He was muttering darkly to himself the entire drive back, as he stormed up the steps of the library, all the way to Lazlo with three somewhat frightened mages in tow. His fury was calmed by a simple gesture by Lazlo. They exchanged a few words and determined that tonight they would test us. Test our worth so to speak, to see if we were fit to join the Chantry.
We were led to the roof, or rather above the roof, about 50 feet to be exact. Lazlo Drew three perfect circles on the ground and asked that we stand in them. We were told that if we were to leave the circle we would fail. Then my body began to itch, and burn I tried to stand straight but the sensation was too overpowering, I attempted to cast a pain killing rote, but the sight that I placed the rune on itched even more furiously. Then I saw Marcus die, and despite my discomfort I could feel the shiver in my spine feel pain, he is perhaps my closest friend in this place, after the marauder merged us together. Then they asked us “what is your weakness”, I hade no idea at the time, but I thought it was my lack of trust in my fellow mages, apparently this satisfied Lazlo. Then to just me “what gives you the Right”…. I never have been asked that question before, never contemplated it, apparently my training and knowledge weren’t enough, and now I know they are not enough. I was told that I should step out of the circle to prove my worth… I was foolish enough to do so, that in my discomfort I had forgotten that by removing myself from the Circle I would fail…
Then there was a loud crash, the ladder down to the library was ruined in a ball of flame and a small hovercraft landed on the surface which we were on. Drake yelled “MOVE” as his head was shot off by the Cyborgs I fled the Scene, trusting in my Magick to save me from the fall….
Then I was back in the circle, disoriented. Drake pulled a Lugar out of his bag and pointed it at me
“Defend yourself”
I reached for my charm and before I could speak the Word to activate the Spell I scribed on it I felt the Bullet crash through my skull, the pain, the blackness……
Then the circle again, I stood up, Marcus was bleeding from his shoulder and the Exer was sprawled within his circle bleeding from a massive head wound, chunks of skull and blood splattered in a long line behind him, his legs crossed under him, as if he had been sitting Indian style.
“Save your friend and you will pass” stated Lazlo, they departed.
I immediately removed him from Lazlo’s Circle and began preparing a spirit binding, normally this wont work for me, but if the spirit is willing it just might… besides it was our only hope…
Then there was Marjiki, Glorious being of power, springing into our vision as the Ritual was completed, cradling the soul of our friend in her powerful claws. I beseeched her to help us, and as our requests were being heard, Asher arrived.
He calmly demanded the Spirit that Marjiki was protecting in her claws, claming that it was his now, that we were all his, Marcus tried to talk with him but the Marauder struck him down. I went with the only course left after diplomacy fails, Violence. My first weapons, the pencils I had prepared to combat the Vampires, blew through his head at super high velocity, but he barely seemed to take notice as he scooped them out of his now empty eye sockets. He reached forth his hand and a black bolt of power connected him to the node, causing Marjiki great pain. Cursing my week props, I Called to the Heavens, invoking the names of the Archangels in there native tongue asking, pleading for the powers to bend to my will, I could feel the Quintessence flow from the Dragon Spirit into me as I finished the most ambitious spell I had ever attempted, “Dame Paradox” was all I could think as the electricity from the library’s power Shattered the building beneath us and coursed into Asher…
But to no avail…
Asher reached toward me and I felt his fingers claw through me, I felt my body fall beneath me and I felt Asher’s power as he attempted to draw my spirit into himself. I could see my Avatar, sitting, watching me; she motioned with her hand that I should get up. I did and I fled to join the Exer within Marjiki’s powerful spirit as Marcus’s spirit followed behind me.
Time was running out, the Dragon was weakening and we were running out of ideas, The Claws Clapped together… time stood still… and we tried as hard as our mortal minds could to find a way to defeat him, but it was the Dragon’s wisdom, and willingness to act is what gave us a chance. By throwing ourselves into the nearby null zone we would obliterate Asher, as well as remove ourselves from the wheel, never to be born again and destroy one of the greatest nodes ever discovered. But the price was deemed fair, for one Marauder. Marjiki leapt toward the plaza….
“Congratulations, you passed” said Lazlo as I looked for a place to sit down, not really sure what to believe just happened.
Marcus and I were sitting around outside the library, him smoking, me just gazing up at the sky…
Then the most Disturbing, Vile, Black, Evil thing I have witnessed happened. A man, mortally wounded stumbled up the stairs near us and collapsed next to the fountain. He vomited fourth an Abomination which attacked Ania, who furiously attempted to beat it off of her; I tried to help with my Shock Rote but the spell misfired the whole scene was …unspeakable the flesh, melting, sticking together pealing away… then POP… it was over the tentacles gone, the damage undone. The Hunter Plunged his dagger into the man’s back and Ania Beat him back into the corner of some concrete. Marcus and I decided that the man was still a viable Threat and decided to take matters into our own hands. Preparing a spontaneous combustion, Flambeou’s Wrath but with some non hermetic effects.
The man stood hoped into the fountain and stepped out. POP
He was healed
And he started walking towards us; we backed away and then froze as he threatened us. He strode off, walking towards the temple.
Drake’s voice boomed into the night “GET UP HERE!”
It was the worst beating of my life, and a great lesson in paradox avoidance.