[Shaman_Yuri]

Now that my idea is gaining traction, I give it serious thought.  It could be dangerous.  Not only might Venom have a chance to strike at me before my team could engage him, but I am distinctive and if he's been involved in this plot against the Finnegans there is a reasonable chance he may know who I am.  I can't exactly hide my tail and there is no time to get another illusion from Strawberry.  Still, this is our best chance and even if he knows that it's likely a trap he might still leave with me to find out the who and why - and then it'll be up to us to be more clever than he is.  The danger to me in that event is even greater, but my special abilities are not known by any except a few in the Family.  Even if he knows who I am, I'm just a particularly gifted whore.  The fact I have a much more potent bite than is obvious would be just one surprise to the man regardless of what else he divines. 

"I should be able to come up with something," I purr as I stretch my body out luxuriously, my tail moving in a manner I'd gathered by watching snake trids - a technique I'd found particularly entrancing and likely to captivate even the most violent clients who had entered by bedroom.  I then become more serious and my tail is still.  "I don't even know what he looks like so you'll need to point him out for me.  Then leave it to me.  Don't interfere no matter what you see happen until we're out of the building and somewhere out of sight enough where you can strike.  Even if I look in danger, I probably have things under control.  Only if I screech like I did in the sewer, or if I'm knocked out, should you assume I've lost control of the situation.  Athos knows the drill, right onii?"

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell watches the young women in a trance-like state, visually enjoying her lithe movements.  When her words echo throughout his skull he snaps himself out of his self-intoxication.  With a more stern demeanor he says.  "I never got a good look at him so I can't tell you more than what I remember.  He's an ork with a cyber arm and a foul attitude.  The kind that shouts - I'm a giant rich violent asshole that has to buy people's respect and loyalty.  He probably also has some asian features but i'm not sure about that one."

[Shaman_Yuri]

"A big Ork with a cyber arm and that type of charisma can't be common in places like this.  I'm sure we'll be able to identify him when we get in the party."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos looks around.  "I guess we are in agreement, then.  Shall we get the show going?"

[Shaman_Yuri]

I nod, giving myself totally over to Minnie.  Only in a small corner of my mind, totally disconnected from my actions now, do I, Yulia, remain.  Aware of everything around me only if I want to be.  Ready to run away to the dark recesses of my mind where even I won't have to experience what my body is undergoing if I don't want to.

"I go in alone," I say with total control of the situation.  "Follow me only after two minutes and do not acknowledge me."  I am the mistress of my domain until the client arrives.  Above everyone except the one who, tonight, shall own me body and soul.

Minnie is an much a survival trait as she is my professional alter ego.  Minnie and I are, in more ways than not, two separate people.  In order for an eight year old to handle repeated rapes that continued year after year with no hope of an end, some fracturing of my personality was inevitable.  Minnie can handle with a smile a beating so severe that it fractures a rib...or with whatever response the client wants.  She can walk into a situation with all the right moves and no fear of danger to herself - totally accepting whatever might come of it.  She is a chameleon - becoming exactly what each client wants her to be.  Tonight, I am exactly the woman a violent, egotistical man who believes the world is his oyster would want.  To carry that metaphor further, I'm a pearl.

And I walk into the ballroom damn well knowing it.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos watches Minnie go and his heart goes with her.  He mutters under his breath, "Stay safe, my friend."  Looking at the others, he waits a couple of minutes then says,  "OK.  I go in after her to follow them outside into your waiting arms.  Let's try to make this quick and as quiet as possible."

With that, he leaves and follows Minnie into the hotel and to the fancy ballroom where they are holding the party.  Somewhere in the back of his mind a thought creeps out; something about an assassination of the Deputy Mayor or Mayor.

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell nods at their words.  "Works for me.  Gives me an opportunity to phone a friend."  He closes his eyes and opens up his psychic connection to his summoned servant.  "Goliath you are hereby released from my control.  You may return back to your home plane for I have no further need of you."

With his old spirit dismissed he will now need a new one to aid him.  Not a spirit of brute force but one of subtlety and terror.  Maxwell whispers out to the astral and tries to elicit the service of a spirit through the power of will and voice.  "Join me spirit of man.  I need your power of fear and thought worm."

Summoning Force 7 Spirit of Man: 11d6t5 3
Spirit Resist: 7d6t5 1
Drain Resist: 11d6t5 3
Force 7 Spirit of Man summoned with 2 Services.  No Drain.
Optional Powers.  Fear and Innate Spell - Stunbolt.
Let's call this guy Mortality

The spirit answered his call and tied itself to Maxwell.  Waiting in the astral until its summoner beckoned it forth.  Feeling proud and accomplished, Maxwell turned to Kynos and spoke to him.  "Now we play the waiting game.  Let's see if we can find a nice spot somewhere in the meantime."

[Jack_Spade]

"Sure." Kynos looked around.


Small Unit Tactics: Crossfire: 14d6t5 5
I need a Teamwork check from Maxwell for one additional success to get Crossfire to work.
If it works we get +3 to our initial attack check

Just roll INT -1 if you don't have the knowledge skill




"That service entry over there. I'll take position behind the dustbins and you go over there behind the rose bushes. When he comes out with Minnie we'll have the perfect field of fire - or we can charge him and dogpile him."

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell looks around at what Kynos is talking about.  Smiling he nods.  "We'll figure something out."

Comprehension: 4d6t5 1

Maxwell takes his partner's advice and creeps up behind the bushes.

Sneaking behind the Bushes: 7d6t5 1

[Jack_Spade]

Sneaking: 11d6t5 3
Teamwork Die: 1d6t5 0
Sorry, didn't work


Kynos leaned against the wall and had his commlink broadcast his invitation and showed that he had a call going on to dissuade any guard from questioning him.
The call - of course - went to the the rest of the team:
<<Ok, we have found a position close to the southern service entrance. I pretend to be in an important call, Sourvereign is now a connoisseur of Rosaceae. The garden is quite nice - I'm sure that Venom would enjoy a little tryst out here - Waidmanns Heil/good hunting Minnie. I'm leaving this connection open to keep my cover but won't talk so I won't distract you. Love Kynos.>>

[gilga]

OOC: When you are ready to go to the party please clearify what equipment if any are you trying to bring inside the party. Basically no weapons (legal or illegal, and no foci, reagents, drugs.)  I think I played the SIn checks and cleared all of you for that.

[Mercy Merchant]

The only weapon Athos has is himself and perhaps Cat.

[Mulcarn]

OOC: No weapons or reagents.  No foci or active spells.

[gilga]

As you approach concil island the security inspections are very serious, first KE before you board the island and then embassy security after you enter the island. The security includes multiple technological means, physical search, assensing and dogs to sniff explosives and the men on both sides seems very proficient at their job, with a skill that would not embarrass elite units. There are actually not many guests, few hundreds all included and the first thing that catches your eyes is the modesty of the hotel. It is a gorgeous piece of art, but it is a small non technological wooden structure crafted by hand. The gardens around it are spectacular and they are lit by some awakened bacteria that makes the trees and glass glow with a pale white. The flowers have their own magical augmentation that make their colors much stronger and glowing the lilies are incredible and they present a fascinating collection of Orchids.

When you arrive in the garden you are offered a place to take your coat. The warm air surrounds calms and relaxes your body. There is also some woman clearly spirit that is playing the harp while refusing to acknowledge the rules of gravity. She is as beautiful as a greek statue and seems to be in her own little world. You do not recognise most patrons and Venom especially is nowhere to be found at the moment but you do recognise IT that is talking to some very eccentric patrons. Probably from the middle east due to their body language. She is the only one seating down.

The refreshments are mainly non processed fresh fruits and other finger food that is very nicely presented. You can also spot Mr. Andu along with a much younger lady of eastern features, the two seems to be talking with nothing but minute facial expressions and unlike the rest that are smittened by the ambiance and the two seems to be all business. If they are really like that or it is a culture shock you’d never know. Obviously still missing are the politicians from the city, the council, KE and many senior corporate suits. They are still inside discussing the special task force with exterritorial privileges to bring the Barrens and the rest of Seattle into order. That meeting must have gotten a bit longer.

The security savvy people of you will notice that some of the patrons are actually security. These do not drink and seem better aware to their surrounding. The others seems very relaxed, some of them already deep into the temptation of party drugs that are freely offered. The vast garden is decorated with many places to crush, and enjoy and it has many grooves that can offer privacy to these desiring it.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos is careful to not appear to be threatening as he walks out after giving Minnie a bit of a head start.  His clothes fit the occasion and he is not concerned that the SIN will fail.  He is a bit surprised to see Mr. Andu and wonders who the woman near him is.  He is trying to look among the crowd to see if any of the Finigans are at the party, indeed if any of the other Families are represented.   He keeps his ear bud in and listens for Minnie, trying to gauge where she has gone.