[Jack_Spade]

Once there, he managed to set up a trade: His Blue Defender in exchange for the change of ownership from the late mercenaries link.

Four hours later he was able to make a few calls:
<<Alfred, what's the status at your base? My supplies are running low and I have a serious job lined up.>>

<<Athos, long time no see. You might be interested to learn that Venom ceased to exist. Therefore I am available again. Are you still interested in expanding your territory around that collapsed warehouse of yours? Give me a call if you are up for business.

Also, have you heard anything of Sovereign? The last think I know is that the Ginger Elf has captured him and has him tortured. I intend to change that.>>

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell sits upright, his hands clasp his face.  It hurt just to move and he was having a hard time remembering what happened to him.  He looks at her through the veil of his fingers asking.  "How'd I get here?  Why am I in a clinic?  Is anyone else hurt?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos smiles as he sends a message off to Yulia.  >>Hey, Minnie.  Got that tail up?  Just checking in since I have not heard from you in a couple of days.  Can we meet?  Miss you lots.<<

[gilga]

@Kynos DemoX tells you "Thanks, you are a real friend. I never actually plan to gamble it just happens."

A bit later Alfred replies. >> Kynos Hi, it is good to hear from you actually, can we meet in person I do not trust the matrix these days. I have some updates you might want to hear.

@Athos Minnie sent you a message >>Miss you too brother. Come visit me I stay with Nagisa now in her new apartment. Heads up she is a bit odd these days.

@Maxwell Charlie say " You were poisoned, brought here by a giant flying skeletal man, got everyone here quite upset, when did you leave? How did you leave? We were hoping you could explain to us what happened."

[Mulcarn]

After several long minutes he was able to recall what had happened.  Memories of his abysmal jaunt through the sewers returns.  Things were fine until suddenly he felt nauseous and dizzy, then he began to cough up blood and... lost consciousness.  The last thing he remembers, or thinks he remembers, was Rigor Mortis making a wise crack at his misfortune.  It looks to be that skeletal spirit stuck around long enough to perform the task he was given and saved Maxwell from death.  It's rare for spirits to stick around after their summoner falls unconscious or dead, rare but not unheard of.

His hands fall beside as he turns to Charlie.  She looked concerned, worried, upset and almost afraid.  Maxwell tries to clear his throat, but it quickly turns into a hacking cough.  Once the phlegm was out of his lungs he says hoarsely.  "I don't mind telling you.  It's just I don't want that information to be used against me or you.  So before I can or will, I need to ask you.  Are you trustworthy?  Are you willing to accept the truth as I say it or have you already made up your mind?" 

[gilga]

@Maxwell Charlie said "What truth is that? That I am happy that you are alive or that that vampire now employs evil spirits as well to keep us confined in here? This very odd... just tell me how it happened. I will believe you. "

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos replied to Alfred's request: <<Alright, but not at the base. I'll see you at noon in the little Asia noodle shop. Love Kynos>>

That done he composed another message, this time for Officer Max: <<I'm back in the country. How is the status of your little vampire hunt? I'm still interested in collecting the bounty if you can give me any hints on his location. Also, can you tell me what happened to Winter? Love Kynos>>

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell nods and complies with her inquiry.  "For starters, i'm an awakened magician, a mage.  After our earlier conversation when you left to bathe and work, I awoke a slumbering spectral lord and summoned him into servitude.  I needed the spirit's help to evade the drones outside and leave unnoticed.  I was coming back, I kinda wanted to pick up some of my equipment from my old apartment and stash it here in case I needed it."

"There's a sewer tunnel that leads to the compound from the outside.  It's how I got here in the first place.  With a bit of magic I left unseen and back into the sewer.  I came across a pack of devil rats on my way through.  They weren't really a problem, they largely ignored me.  Everything was going fine and then... I started having trouble breathing.  I fell to the ground and began coughing up a lot of blood.  I commanded my spirit to bodyguard me earlier.  I guess he did just that and he must have carried out of the sewer back here.  What kind of idiot uses poison to clear out a nest of devil rats?"

[gilga]

@Maxwell Charlie takes a deep breath and say "
So you can come and leave as you want? Yet, you left us here to die? Grail can come at any moment and he is eating us! We cannot resist him, we do not have magic and evil spirits like you. We cannot even protest to his manipulations. He robbed us from every bit dignity and turned us into toys. Are you really so vain break out to get a toothbrush and leave the rest of us to die in here?  To act as if you share the same fate as us and just watch us wither?"


@Kynos Max answers ">>Be careful of the KE. Winter abandoned ship like a cowered went to the Tir. I am no longer an officer, yesterday I was just terminated, no explanation or message. It is the same for most KE, it is safe to say that somebody disbanded almost every officer in the KE. Whomever got to keep their job will not even talk to me. I am completely locked out, no friends, no computer access as if I never existed. I am still trying to restore order with whomever agreed to stick with me without pay.  Given limited resources I am definitely not at city scale, I just feel like I am too stubborn to yield. Whomever is playing this city, has already won, it is overwhelming. Speaking of too stupid to skip town  - it is good to know that you are not dead yet and I hope you catch that vampire."

Alfred confirms the meeting.

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell sighs, her words wounded him more than the poisonous gas.  She must of felt betrayed and abandoned.  That tearful look in her eyes and that pained angry expression only made him feel worse.  Defensively he says.  "You're not listening!  I was coming back!  I'm not so callous or conceited that i'd leave for something as trivial as that.  Some of my magical supplies and field gear was left at my other place.  Those items would have proven useful in case he returned.  They would have allowed me to stand a better chance of fighting and killing him."

He was out of breath again.  Maxwell tries to inhale some air to soothe his burning lungs, but it was to no avail.  While out of breath he interjects in a depressed sympathetic manner.  "I saw your aura.  I saw what remained of your soul as he leisurely drained your essence.  I don't want you to go hollow and not be able to feel anything."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos is not sure how best to respond to Kynos' question, but realizes he cannot leave the guy hanging.  >>Kynos.  Venom is dead?  That would be a story to hear.  Did you have a hand in it?  Yes, I am planning on expanding some territory about the warehouse area.  Already building a new place here and looking at a couple more buildings close by, and probably something a bit farther out.  I am trying to gather some of the refugees in to give them a home and some work.  Starting small delivering food from Strawberry to various customers, but can see this expanding.  But not many people want to listen to me and it is frustrating.  Do you want to meet somewhere?<<

After sending the message he goes looking for Nagisa and Minnie.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos replied to Athos: <<Yeah, a meeting is in order. I'm actually setting something up with a contact of mine, after that we can talk - meet me at the noodle restaurant at 1300h. And be discreet - Strawberry mustn't learn about this.>>

With that, he was off, pedaling with his duffel bag over the shoulder to the restaurant. Once there, he entered the junk yard and took position on the tin roof.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Quartermaster Alfred Schwarz, but neither was he convinced that the man hadn't been made during the investigation. If he had a tail he wanted to know.


Perception check w/Vision enhancement: 9d6t5 1 [9d6t5=3, 4, 1, 5, 1, 4, 1, 2, 2]

[gilga]

@Maxwell Charlie looks at you "But you can get out - it means that so can we. You want to kill Grail - I do want vengeance but it will not solve anything for me. It will just change the identity of the vampire that drains me. I wanted vengeance - but I was naive, I did not understand how powerful vampires are... in the movies you stick a wooden pole in their heart and they just vanish.

In reality, once I see him he triggers this euphoria in me and I cannot hurt him. I want to live, I want all of us to live and to do that we need to leave now before Grail returns. Amy does not yet know how to do these mind tricks. She is a baby vamp, just use what daylight we have and escape this place this is the sensible thing to do. Please, even if you kill Grail, Amy will eat us all... You've seen her she is one of them now, she was my only friend in here. She can fight her thirst for a while, but she will eat us eventually."

@ Athos the first thing that strikes you is how odd Nagisa is. She seem to have embraced Strawberry's fashion sense and it means very little and provocative clothes, but there is sadness in her eyes. You can feel that something is odd with her behavior although she was never this nice to you.

The second thing that happens is that Yulia gets up from the chair and hugs you. "Athos! we were just having dinner... I am not sure there is enough but do join us."  Nagisa then say "I am sure we'll find some way to satisfy him... have a seat." She smiles suggestively as she begins to empty her refrigerator for some troll size portion.

@Kynos Alfred arrives and seems a bit nervous, you can see that he is watching his back, scanning for exits and escape routes he seems to have the place figured out and seem hyper aware. He seats alone in a nearby table and talks to you with sub-vocal while he appear to be submerged in some trid.  His giveaway is that you identify the scanning pattern as he constantly observes the people that enter the place. "Kynos... hi" he said.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos replied the same way: "Hi Alfred, what's the situation - someone after you?"

[gilga]

@Kynos Alfred say "It is insane, I haven't seen anything like that. We received a surprise inspection and shortly after our warriors have all begun to act strange. They stopped recognizing us and seemed to be hearing voices that none of us did. It was like they were not there even there. Since all the warriors are augmented - a rumor with the survivors said head cases.  Whomever could locked themselves in ammo bunkers.

The only reason I am free is because I sell this APDS to people like you, so I know how to discreetly enter and leave that base. The warriors did not let anyone leave - they shot on sight anyone who tried. So yes I am paranoid. I am back in business but supply is a bit spotty as it is difficult to access these bunkers now."