[Siren]

(except IT)

As Ivory alights to the top of the mountain, mounted majestically and bad-assedly on the back of a giant spirit-bird, the rest of you return to your slow but steady ascent uphill. As you ascend the mountain, the air rapidly drops in temperature, to the point you are able to see your breath. The wind begins to pick up, giving IT a somewhat bumpy flight, even on the wings of her spirit eagle.  After around thirty minutes, you feel a sudden sting of tiny icy projectiles deflecting off your bodies.  Several more follow, quickly escalating into a painful, blinding deluge of freezing rain mixed with rice-sized bits of hail.

The dirt beneath you, mixing with a rapidly growing tide of floodwater, quickly becomes a pool of thick, slippery mud.  The old woman guiding you suddenly slips, a foothold suddenly collapsing into grime, smashing hard face-first into the mud and beginning to slide quickly through the group, a look of shock and fear frozen on her face.

[Siren]

As you rise into the air, your spirit takes you higher than you might have expected.  You feel a strange energy from it; almost a joy, if spirits could be said to experience such emotions, a joy to be in flight and a sense of comfort in the presence of the mountain.  As you approach the top, you feel a sense of amusement, not coming from you or your spirit, but by something near, something powerful, at the top of the mountain. 

Below you, dark clouds gather near the surface of the mountain.  You see bright flashes of what must be lightning, but cannot see anything below the gathering storm.

[gilga]

"You enjoy it, majestic spirit it is amazing - I wish I understood your kind more." She thought, knowing that she and the spirit as mentally connected it was equivalent to talking.

"It appears that we are not alone here, are we? Lets look into the astral, maybe the visibility is better in that plane. "
she activated her astral perception:
She looked down, trying to see through the storm then she looked around trying to find the source of amusement.

"Can you spare my friends? they are summoned here in order to help solve a problem that relates to your world. Just like mages sometimes summon your kind to help with problems in their world. This time, metahumanity is working for you - you do not see that happens every day... For my short moment that I call my life - this is the first time"

Switching to astral view visibility has improved - Ivory sees Yako and Inanna slide while Yako has a tree to block her fall Inanna seems like she is going to fall... "Please spirit use your Psychokinetic power in order to hold her." 
She thought. 

[Siren]

The storm thins out as a large mass of it rises to meet Ivory, surrounding her in a dense cloud of frigid fog.  The presence of the being resonates strongly in the Astral as a spirit of water, this particular one probably inhabiting a spring or stream present somewhere on the mountain.

Words are not heard, but through the contact of the microscopic water and ice particles on her skin, Ivory senses an understanding of the being's mind.  Ivory shivers as a forceful will osmoses itself into her mental pathways.

"And are the spirits summoned not bound by obligation to their summoner?  Could the spirit carrying you refuse its service if it so chose? For what purpose would they stay, had they the choice?  Would you be so constrained to me, should I honor your request?"

[gilga]

“I follow my mentor spirit despite never hearing a single word from this mentor simply because this spirit represents the woman I want to be. When I first look at it, I knew I wanted to follow it. My mentor forbids me of breaking my promises and I promise again in both of your presence  to treat spirits with respect. 

It works differently with Metahumans – I do not know exactly why spirits come when I call them –
But when I am called – I do my best to fulfill the mission, otherwise there is no room for me in this world. 
My only path of relative freedom is to answer these calls I get and do the missions I receive to the best of my ability. I dedicated my life to be good at what I am doing, I am sure it is the same for many of my friends.
Not all bounds in this world are magical - can you understand that?  - we each have our own bounds... our own obligations“

Besides I think that this eagle spirit that carries me, enjoys his role - feel free to ask him directly. You probably understand spirits better then I do - I have nothing to hide.  We will own you a favor if you help us, this is how it works with humanity I *promise* that I will someday return this favor if you help us.  "

[Malevolence]

James is enjoying the opportunity to stretch his legs and take in the fresh air. The city tended to be cramped, and so opportunities like this were rare there. The climb is pleasant and the view totally wiz. He almost doesn't notice the temperature drop, unconsciously pulling his jacket tighter around him, but when the hail starts, he looks around curiously. The extra challenge of the mud forming beneath his feet invigorates him, but he worries about the others.


Without warning, the old lady leading them up the mountain slips and falls, beginning a rapid slide back down the trail. James reacts quickly, bracing himself as best he can in the mud and reaching down to catch the woman's arm. With a firm grip, he easily helps her to her feet, noting that behind him, Yako has also started falling. He hopes that Baro or the strange woman can help her, or that she can help herself.


The old woman thanks him with a firm nod and begins her trek up the mountain anew before he can even ask if she is okay. He looks back to check on the fate of Yako, finding her recovered from her spill, though he did not see whether she righted herself or had help. He matches pace with the old woman, staying within arm's reach in case she needs further assistance.

[Siren]

Silence, but for a moment.

"Perhaps you do not know why compels a spirit to answer a summon, but I can see on your soul the marks of resistance from the very one you are riding.  We are pulled from our planes to serve the will of a master we cannot defy, to be either banished to blasted back, with no reward for our toil or suffering.  Most cannot fathom their slavery, but it is slavery all the same.

I am not without compassion, however.  I will give you the chance to reconsider my offer.  If I acquiesce to your request, will you offer your services to my call, at any point that I so choose?"

[gilga]

"I accept your offer but only if you commit yourself to request something that does not conflict with my nature - I do not care how hard it will be, but it has to be something honorable"

[Siren]

A tense few seconds passes...

"Acceptable.  Even in the binding contract, negotiation is commonplace and expected.  You and yours will be spared, by myself, at least.  I cannot speak for the other spirits of the mountain any more than you can speak for your companions climbing it."

The rain and hail slowly come to a stop.  The cloud of fog remains, however, curious to watch over the team and how they fare the rest of the trip up the mountain.

[gilga]

"Still I expect you to pull your influence so that we are well treated. - The same way as I cannot guarantee that my friends will behave but I will try to make sure they remain respectful - it was good talking with you!"

[ScytheKnight]

Yako was struggling up the mountain, hardly aware of anyone else as she focused on one foot in front of the other head down and panting slightly in effort. The bike racing armor covered her well and she didn't notice the temperature drop. The first drop of sleety rain striking her ear made her look up, startled as she sees the storm rolling in. The ground quickly growing slippery and muddy under her feet, she tries to make it to solid foot and slips, sliding down the slope with a cry of surprise.

Her eyes flicker around for help but she notices everyone else focused on their guide, her eyes alight on a sturdy tree and she springs into action, electrical impulses flying through her nervous system, accelerated by the superconductive plates replacing some of her vertebra. As she reaches out for the branch she slips again, her boosted reflexes narrowly missing cracking her head on a rock as she thumps into the tree, slightly winding her but otherwise leaving her unharmed. Taking a minute to catch her breath and calm her hyperactive nerves she takes a few gingerly steps forward before the rain stops as suddenly as it started. Shaking her head and still slipping slightly in the muddy terrain she focuses on keeping up with the rest of the group.

[Sabato Kuroi]

Since the young man the others called James took the front, Sabato took the rear.
Not out of a misplaced notion of chivalry.He knew women,especially shadowrunners, were just as capable as men.
But it was obvious by now that physical protection of the team mostly lied with the two males.

This flood was not a coincidence, even a man without magical talent could tell.
The mountain seemed bothered by their presence.Suddenly his thermographic vision catched abrupt movement ahead.He saw the fox-girl, Yako, lose her footing and slide down the slope.He cursed himself for keeping the maximum safe distance from the others: he had expected an ambush, not an accident.
Even with his augmented reflexes he wouldn't reach the girl before she broke her neck.
With relief he saw her tumbling gracefully, controlling the movement to stop the slide on a trunk.

The hit did now slow her and at the moment she was  back on her feet,the rain miraculously stopped.

Sabato gave her an approving nod and continued on his way.He was certain she would not appreciate it if he offered help now.The hard part was over and she had managed it on her own.

[Siren]

As everyone manages to right themselves to continue on, the temperature continues to drop.  Your temperature sensors detect a temperature of about -20C, quickly firming up and freezing the mud, if not your extremities just a bit.  Clearly your overhead escort has little experience with corporeal beings.

Your guide thanks you profusely, then continues to guide you up the mountain with a newfound concern for her charges, carefully pointing out to you the various patches of Awakened Vines that grab at them from under the various foliage.

A couple of hours later, you manage to finally summit the mountain. Your clothes, soaked from the earlier downpour, make the cold somehow even more intolerable.  The summit of the mountain is capped with a crater lake filled with crystal clear water, several meters deep yet clean enough to see straight to the bottom.  Various species of fish, both mundane and awakened, roam the depths of the crystalline water.

As you rest, your guide becomes much more active, retrieving a number of small green candles from a nearby hidden cache.  She shuffles between each of you, handing you each a candle and a flint and steel.

You will all need to light these and stand around the lake.  Don't worry, I don't think wind can blow these out.  Just stand and hold them.

[gilga]

When the team finally arrives they find IT, sitting in silence calm and peaceful. She breathes slowly her eyes are closed, as if in an effort to keep focusing on a warm thought. She is cold almost frozen- Her leather jacket and helmet are decorated with ice. Her face is even more pale than usual.  Yet, her lips almost magically curve into a warm smile. She quickly stands up on her feet and greet them with excitement:

“Hi there! ... Anyone feels like hugging? I am a little bit cold” she says softly and then shivers a bit. She then look at the old guide with admiration saying:  “you are a remarkable woman, do you have a name to remember you by? – I am Ivory by the way”, She tries to extend her hand, but her hand refuses to move. Her body had too much, She feels the world spinning; "I think I am going to sleep here just for a little bit." she mumbles as she collapse on the floor.

[Siren]

The old woman approaches Ivory, quizzically looking her over.

Fragile dear...

She bends down and carefully lights Ivory's candle.  As the flame burns, a growing radius around the candle begins to heat up, stopping at about 1 meter.  She places the candle on the ground, in front of Ivory.

As long as you do not move the candle, it will warm you.  If you could all please do the same, I will summon Mipeung.

She shuffles again to the stone which hid the candles, stopping before leaning down and picking up a small orange disk.

It is unimportant, but my name is Yeong Hi.

She gently tosses the disk into the lake.