Who Is Like God?

OOC Discussion

	ST Last time! The dream team slammed Alvaro with ALL THE REVELATIONS! And then coffee was had.
	ST I think we wanted to skip forward to Day 3, to Johanna’s science-y stuff?
	Dovile That sounds reasonable!
	Sanura Sounds about right yes
	ST Okay. Before we do that… 1. Foreboding. Who did you want to tag? And when?
	Sanura Uhhhmn all the kids Jeff Abel Lisa.. er I guess now ish?
	ST Okay. That costs 1L + 1W. Each.
	Sanura Crap that’s a hit to the WP pool
	ST If my calculations are correct, you have 7WP left and 20 LP
	Dovile Maybe just start with Lisa?
	Sanura Lisa and Abel and Jeff, since Abel and Jeff are being put out in the field ? that seems a bit more better I think
	Dovile Sounds reasonable!
	ST Okay. Go ahead and make your rolls.
	Sanura okies
	Sanura Lisa Abel Jeff 13 18 10
	ST Okay, next!
	ST Do you guys want to take any extra measures with the bunker or are you happy with where it’s at?
	Sanura Uh where was that again? just a hole in da ground?
	ST Your shop. :P
	Dovile I like we have fortified shop OVER a rather well hidden and spacious hole in the ground right now.
	Sanura well yeah but I mean like.. umn under it is basement and tha’s it right?
	ST It seems so!
	Sanura I’d like more under it but I think Sofia is tapped out
	Dovile Sofia proibably has 18 like the rest of us right now. Do we want to have her spend it makeing our bunker a little more bunker-d? She could add dfenses and make the hole nicer?
	Dovile Oh, do we need to talk about the bus mel?
	Sanura well seems if we want transformer bus we might has to start over
	Sanura but as fer the bunker we probably can’t do much more to it yet .. Sofia needs her resources
	Dovile Well alright then. A fortified shop with a nice hole in the ground is good for me!
	Dovile And okay Mel. How about we hold off on starting over on the bus for now?
	Sanura yeah probably best maybe just let Sanura fix it as it is.. I want the bus faster but Sanura doesn’t have the legend or time to invest atm :(
	ST Okay, so that’s no further changes, then.
	ST Local event, on Day 2, the day before the science-y thingy!
	ST Not too far into the afternoon, Sanura was called back from working on the bus by Benji. It turns out a large group of children and their parents were waiting for her just outside the shop: these were the children that Sanura helped teach, each with some kind of drawing/craft of their favorite myth that Sanura had taught them, along with “THANK YOU MS. MINMATER - FROM BILLY” and a number of variations written on the backs of said pictures and crafts. The parents each thereafter expressed their own gratitude with various, more mature gifts—perfumes, bottles of wine, and jewelry, to name a few examples. They also expressed their support: as far as they’re concerned, the Disciples can’t have Sanura and co.
	Sanura Demigods can’t get mushy and cry.. no that’s totally sand in her eye. Sanura would obviously express grattitude to the kido’s and their parents. Also checking if they have gotten into some decent shelters if not directing them to such.
	ST Okay! Next item!
	ST The Pack! Interested in hearing how that’s going?
	Sanura aye!
	Dovile Yus please!
	ST The first couple of days have been quite eventful. Lance and Carmen have had to go back to the Ox’s home base to further solidify their new position. Among the things that have occurred are… 1. Lance is suddenly married to five more women. According to the law the Ox had established, Lance inherited all his wives and children. Carmen reports (with no small measure of amusement) that Lance broke a little. 2. Carmen and Lance did a complete, dramatic restructuring of the Stampede hierarchy. Those who were enslaved (men and women alike) were given the option to cut their ties and either become official members of the Pack or seek refuge with the Templars. Those who had been Stampede Brothers are to work alongside the formerly enslaved now. Carmen, however, has taken the ex-wives brave enough to stay with the Pack under her protection and care. 3. Over a dozen men stepped up to challenge Lance’s authority in just the past 24 hours. All those who complained about having their wives taken from them, however, Carmen challenged herself. Now there are a number of former Stampede members who bear a variety of crippling infections from their stab wounds. Whoops.
	Sanura That’s awesome
	ST New map
	Sanura Gods I love Carmen
	ST As you can see, the Pack hold most of what was once the ENZ. But MaMa holds much more territory. About as much, if not more than the Templars do
	Sanura In that territory how many are opressed/neutral and how many are loyal members ..
	Dovile In Mama’s territory as a whole, or just in the part that used to be the ENZ?
	Sanura I think we need to know as a whole?
	Sanura Cause I mean territory is just land to me.. it’s more forces we need to worry about right?
	ST You guys don’t really have the time or resources to find out what those numbers are.
	ST That would require some pretty in-depth infiltration.
	Sanura fair enough
	ST Speaking of MaMa!
	ST Aida’s reports that MaMa’s been sitting tight. Even as night fell, she hasn’t made any moves, nor discussed her plans with anyone. A number of MaMa’s Boys have become restless—but any who outright complain are quickly made into an example by MaMa herself. Her Favorites haven’t questioned her, though it does seem like one of them is beginning to grow restless himself.
	Sanura weak point or carefully placed lure
	Dovile Hmm, if it is a lure, Aida’s in big trouble. Since that would imply they know she’s there.
	Dovile Lets pretend it’s not a lure.
	Dovile Do we want to do something about it?
	Dovile The restless guy, I mean?
	Dovile We could follow him until he does something we don’t like and then shoot him.
	Sanura dunno.. then again restless doesn’t mean willing to turn
	Dovile He’s probalby restless because he wants to do more then sit around.
	Dovile maybe if we offered to help him set up a new territory.
	Dovile But I think we shouldn’t do that.
	Sanura yeah doesn’t sound like a wise use of energy
	Dovile Megs, how many people are under this letuenant? Like, who follow his orders normally?
	ST Well, the problem with MaMa’s Boys is that they aren’t really organized. The Favorites just kind of patrol wherever they please and make sure the Boys aren’t violating the very few rules that MaMa has. Whenever there’s an offensive, MaMa kind of just divides up the Boys and distributes them to the Favorites to control. The Favorites can also request certain people to be on their team.
	Dovile Okay. So, if he gets enough guys who are also bored they might be able to come cause us trouble, but they might get introuble for doing that.
	ST A lot of trouble.
	ST MaMa’s not particularly forgiving.
	Dovile My vote is we let all ‘our people’ know to keep there eyes open for MaMa’s boys and then ignore it.
	Dovile And hope for civil war.
	Sanura that and get that intel from Joanna so we have a better idea [hopefully] of what she’s hopped up on
	ST You guys gave Johanna the tranqs, not the stuff that MaMa’s taken.
	Sanura oh dang it
	Sanura why was I confuzzled on that bit bluh
	Dovile Alright. Megs, we pass a warning on to Moe and Carmen and Lance, make sure our runners are runable so we can get to them to help if the need it and pass time?
	ST Alrighty!
	Sanura hmmn ok so we get sciences now?
	ST Yes!
	ST It seems this time the meeting will be at the shop: Lena showed up at the doorstep, delivering news that Johanna and Alvaro would be coming to talk about the contents of the vial. It was Alvaro’s insistence, in fact—he also requested that Angela ready her generator, hard drive, and chalkboard. (( Who do you guys want to be here for this meeting? Carmen, Lance, Aida, and Moe will be busy still; Jeff and Abel were claimed by Moe; someone’s got to watch the boys, whether it’s Lisa or someone else. ))
	Dovile Benji should watch the boys, since Lisa will want to hear this and he won’t.
	Sanura good idea
	Dovile I assume Susan is busy too, as always.
	Dovile So, Angela, Bren, Sofia, Sasha, Sanura?
	Dovile And Dovile, but she’s watching on the roof.
	Dovile She can hear, it’s okay.
	Dovile I’m teasing. Sort of.
	Sanura Lena or do we send her to play with the boys since she’s heard it already?
	Dovile How about we let her choose?
	Sanura sure
	Dovile Okay. And do you care if Dovile is actually there? She can hear from the roof and tell Sasha if she thinks of anything? Or does Sanura care? I just kina want someone standing watch, just in case.
	Sanura if she wants to keep watch on the roof that’s her perogi
	Dovile :P
	Sanura xD
	Dovile Okay, thanks!
	Sanura Sanura teases Sasha about being a ventriloquist puppet though. :p

The Meeting

	ST After sending all the workers home early… again… and rearranging the room for a conference… again… and setting up the generator and hard drive… again… Johanna and Alvaro arrive. Purpose is written in Johanna’s sharp, decisive movements, and unease is etched into Alvaro’s brow. Lena has opted to stay—she has a duty as a Templar, after all, and just because she’s 10 doesn’t mean that she should shirk that duty. With a quick, sharp look, Johanna takes in the surroundings, rapid-fire calculations ticking off in her mind. Without a word, she greets the people gathered around and seats herself, eyeing the generator. Angela gives her a nod of greeting in return. Without preamble, Johanna says, “The substance you gave to me contains the same chemicals as Rapture.” She looks around at each of the people gathered there. “But there’s more—it also contains the chemicals found in,” she reaches into her pouch and pulls out one of the pills, pinning it between her thumb and forefinger, “this. I trust Sasha has already told you about this.” This last sentence contains faint traces of wryness, but she quickly moves on. “My first thought was that somehow MaMa, or—more likely—the Disciples who supplied her, got a hold of one of these, and managed to synthesize more of its like.” She looks to Alvaro. “But Alvaro has informed me—and Lena has confirmed—that you have recently uncovered something important that may provide an alternative explanation. And that it was best heard—and seen—from you.” She falls silent, before leaning back in her chair. “So. Please.” She motions to the table before her.
	Sanura Sanura grimaces and then nods her head slightly. “I’ll let Angie present the information, it’s a bit unconventional but it’s the best we have.” That said she’d step back and give Angie the floor to show Joanna the information she’d gleaned trusting the Templar to be swift enough to pick up on the situation once it’s laid out.
	ST With the confirmation of the others Angela proceeds to give her umpteenth rundown, drawing and erasing and re-drawing, explaining all the while about the Order of Divine Glory and their history with them, holding back nothing but only keeping to the relevant information. Johanna’s eyes flick over the chalkboard and over Angela in turn, her face stony as she takes in all the information. When Angela finally erases all the cities (with a bit of a dramatic flare), a grim silence falls. Johanna looks pointedly to Lena, who gazes back at her. Then Johanna looks over Angela assessingly, and the others. It’s not until then that her mouth sets in a thin line. “I see. And there appears to be no reason to disbelieve you. As… improbable as all this seems,” she says, frankly. Then she looks at Alvaro. “We need to tell Derrick. Now.”
	Sanura While Sanura is relieved that they won’t need to convince Joanna she is a bit unsure “Do you think he can handle that just yet?” [was Morpheus able to do anything has Derrik shown any signs of improvement?]
	ST (( According to Morpheus, Derrick has not slept, so he has been unable to access his dreams. ))
	Sanura [ah fuu he’s gonna go on the crazy train for reals]
	Dovile (( D: That’s what I’m scared of…))
	Sanura “Has he even had a nights sleep in the last week.. he was already under so much stress and then that Tengu arrived.” she pauses “I know he is very very strong.. but every man has a breaking point. He is your leader so I trust you to know his.. but I feel I have to caution you before you put more on his mind..”
	ST Alvaro nods in agreement. Johanna narrows her eyes. “And you think us hiding this paradigm-shifting information from him is going to make him feel better?” She rises from her seat, looking to Alvaro and then to Lena. “We are abusing his trust by not telling him about this right away, both as a leader and as a friend. Period.” “Johanna, Derrick won’t even let me talk to him,” Alvaro says, rising as well. “He’s facing a large struggle, by himself, and he’s utterly refusing any kind of help. If you want to talk about trust, it’s clear that he doesn’t trust any of us to help.” He glances at Sofia, then his eyes drop thoughtfully. “Or, rather, doesn’t trust himself enough to let us help.” “So that makes it okay, then, to conceal extremely important information from him?” Johanna crosses her arms. “To what end? How long are we going to keep quiet about this? Even setting aside the fact that he is our leader and friend, what happens when he continues to relay information to the Council? If this siege is broken, one of the first things Derrick will do is inform them. And then the next measure this… Order of Divine Glory will take—if they are indeed in as much control as they seem—will no doubt be more severe. And, knowing that he unwittingly orchestrated our downfall will certainly help him even less.” She pauses and lifts her chin, uncrossing her arms. “Frankly, I’m a little disappointed in your short-sightedness, Alvaro. He needs_ to know. And now.” She turns and starts heading toward the door.
	Sanura Sanura grimaces softly and sighs “Johanna do you want us to come with you.. do you want Angie to show him?” she questions.. before her lips purse and she looks to Angie applogetically.
	ST Johanna glances over her shoulder at Sanura. “Yes. I do.” Lena bites her lip, a torn expression crossing her face. Angela nods resignedly to herself. “Should we invite the rest of Bakersfield while we’re at it?” she grumbles. “I’m pretty sure I inhaled more chalk dust than cigarette smoke in the past couple of weeks.” Sasha rubs the back of his neck as he speaks up. “Doviluze says she thinks we shouldn’t be around for this.” Johanna stops and turns slightly. “I will not try to persuade you. But if you wish to collaborate with us on this issue, it would be best done now, in person.” She pauses. “Ms. Swift should come along, regardless.”
	Sanura Sanura considers this "I have a compromise.. we will come with you.. you can break this news to him, if he’s receptive -then- we will show him all we know.. otherwise there is no use presenting it to him and putting Angie through all that.. " she looks to Johanna “Is that acceptable to you?”
	ST She takes a deep breath, considering, then nods, sharply.
	Dovile Dovile is up on the roof, watching the street and listening to this coversation. When Sasha convey’s Johanna’s nod, Dovile jumps off the back and starts heading for Templar territory to find a good hiding spot.
	Sanura Sanura nods softly “We’ll follow after in a few minutes, don’t worry we won’t be far behind you” she murmurs, she wanted a moment with her people.
	ST “Very well,” Johanna says, exiting. Alvaro sighs, running a hand through his hair, before holding out his other hand to Lena and offering her a reassuring smile. Lena hesitantly takes it, and they follow Johanna.
	Sanura Sanura smiles breifly to Alvaro and Lena before turning to the others. “Angie.. I’m sorry to ask you to go through this again but I hope you’re up to it.. as to the rest of you, our safety for this is a little questionalbe if you don’t want to go then I won’t think less of you” she murmurs, clearly concerned about how Derrik will take this revelation.

Some Discussion and Time Later…

	ST In short order, everyone’s readied for a second apocalypse. It seems like an eternity of preparation, tension rising to greater heights. And, in what seems like an instant, Angela conveys Sanura and Sasha to Regency Hall, to the Templars’ quarters. Johanna, once ensuring that they’re comfortable and prepared, leaves to go speak to him. Alvaro stays behind, sighing softly before giving the increasingly terrified Lena another reassuring smile and ruffling her hair a little. In short order, the door opens again. It’s difficult to mistake it—even without looking, Derrick’s sheer presence almost fills the room like the burning rays of the summer sun. His full height seems even taller than it did before. Perhaps it’s because of the shadows casting sharp angles in the planes of his form, narrowing and lengthening him. Perhaps it’s because Sasha, who’s typically taller than him, is currently seated. Johanna enters not long after, almost like a shadow. His sharp gaze slices to Angela after he enters. “Show me,” he says, his voice tensely level, his words gathering silence about them so quickly and thoroughly that it seems like the world itself is stopping so that he might speak. Despite herself, Angela swallows almost audibly and casts a brief, uneasy look to Sanura and the others, before beginning.
	Sanura Sanura nods softly “It’s alright Angie, he needs to see it” she smiles to the other woman trying to be reasuring, with a calm tone and placid expression. “Derrik is too wise to shoot the messenger.. isn’t that right?” she questions him with a slight frown, moving with Angie to offer support and possible protection, such as it might be.
	ST Angela once more sets up her hard drive and generator and chalk board. The scene unfolds itself, starting with the older, past information. Derrick’s keen eyes focus on the chalkboard so sharply it’s reminiscent of a magnifying glass burning an ant. But he says nothing as the progression moves through to the future, past Bakersfield. Until finally Angela erases each of the cities, one-by-one. When it’s done. His eyes home in on Angela, as if his gaze alone could burn through her. “They’re lying,” he states, with utter certainty. He straightens. Alvaro rises too, shaking his head. “They aren’t.” Johanna hesitates. “I detected no lie, Derrick. And if they were themselves lied to, it was a very elaborate, entirely mundane setup. Lena reports nothing in their minds that suggests otherwise.” “No. They’ve deceived you. All of you.” His eyes begin to glow as if with golden fire. Sasha slowly stands. “Derrick… please, consider this carefully.” His gaze burns into Sasha, who does not shy from it. “Silence.”
	Sanura Sanura straightens her spine and her jaw clenches “Believe as you will, we have shared what we learned.. if you change your mind then you know where to find us” Her tone is cool and she hides the sting of his insult well. She’d gesture for Angie to pack up her things. “We have important things to see to if you will excuse us..” She looks to Johanna with a mixture of sorrow and ‘I told you so’. She’d gesture for Sasha to proceed from the room. She pauses “I understand not trusting us .. we’re strangers to you..” Her gaze moves once more to his team and she frowns before shaking her head softly and turning to take her leave. She hopes she has not angered him but perhaps called his questioning of his own people to the rug.
	ST As Angela gathers up the hard drive, Derrick’s gauntleted fist slams down on it. Angela, already on edge, gets her fingers out of the way in time, but the hard drive—and the table underneath it—crumbles under the blow. He turns to Johanna, then to Alvaro, then Lena. “Clearly I have waited too long. It’s long past time to purge Bakersfield of temptation, of deception, of evil.” It seems as if light is beginning to grow from beneath his skin. The air is certainly quickly growing hotter. He turns back to Sanura, Angela, and Sasha, stepping before the door to block their exit. “Derrick, no, don’t do this—” Alvaro begins. He doesn’t look away. “Convenient, that they rescued the very children we were seeking just before we found them—to gain our trust. Convenient, that they arrived just a couple of months before the Disciples—just long enough to unbalance Bakersfield from within. Convenient, that they came across this information just after the siege was announced—to cast us into doubt, to divide us. You’ve been blinded, Alvaro, blinded by your… infatuation.” The last word is spat like fire. Johanna places a hand on Derrick’s shoulder. “Derrick, they’ve proven their desire to protect Bakersfield and the people within it. They’ve undone the Stampede with minimal casualties, and garnered the citizens’ support against the Disciples. They’ve routed the Disciples of Lust and Envy, who were supplying the Ox and MaMa with tools to subdue us.” “Convenient,” Derrick states, once more, his eyes flicking to Johanna. “Do you not see that they have turned you against me? Against the Knights Templar? Against the only thing that has been actively fighting evil since the end of the world?” “They’re not evil!” Lena cries. “They’re trying to put the world back right-side up!” Derrick’s eyes widen and snap to Lena. She tries her hardest not to shrink from him, but fails. He faces Angela, Sasha, and Sanura again, with his sunlike, falcon-like eyes. Over the course of an instant, Derrick grows from man to figure wreathed in terrible, divine glory: two lush, glorious, golden feathered wings spread from his back and his gauntlets, which had been resting on the nearby altar, disappear in a rush of wind as if they’d been made merely of sand, to whirl around him and spread steadily over his body until he’s covered in a vaguely Roman legionnaire-style silver-and-gold breastplate and pauldrons—so thoroughly polished that light seems to flow like liquid over its surface—and comes complete with an elaborately embroidered cape that drapes between his wings, a skirt of mail and cloth. Brilliant light fills the theater as if the roof had been lifted wholesale to expose the room to the desert sun. A circlet that seems to be made of a single sunray bent into shape frames his head and a sudden, unbearable heat makes the air swim around him. His eyes bear no pupil nor white—they seem to be made of little more than a harsh white light, dulled only by the set of his dark brow. They are turned on Sanura, and just the gaze seems to threaten to sear flesh. In even less time, his powerful legs bunch as he squares himself, wings folding behind him, and his gauntleted fists clench with a tink and grind of metal on metal. Right as he springs forth, Sasha interposes himself between Derrick and Sanura, squaring himself, arms spread and hands open. “Well, you’re no bear, but I suppose you’ll do!” In a golden streak and loud crash, Sasha and Derrick disappear, leaving a massive gaping hole in Regency Hall. (( Real quick OOC stuff: Derrick rolled 31 to clinch, and is using Divine Wrath… Sasha used Unconquerable Challenge, channeled Loyalty and flared, making it past Derrick’s MDV, successfully redirecting his attack. Derrick got 12 overflow, dealt 34 Agg damage, Sasha converted ot Lethal, ended up taking 7 Le. ))
	Sanura Sanura has an ’ohshiti’mdead’ moment before there’s a Sasha in the way. Her heart sinks but she realizes full well he’s much more capable of withstanding the incoming assault. She manages a muffled garbled sound that’s probably an agreement before looking at the others. “To the ruins.. we’ve got to get him away from innocents. Once we get there.. we can try and calm him down.. dear Gods.. we need you now.” she’s pale under her usually warm complexion. Looking to Angie. “Give me a lift to the runs, hon? I’ve got a feeling Derrik will be looking for me in a second.” Trying not to seem like she’s terrified.
	ST Johanna nods sharply, her eyes on the new entrance to Regency Hall. Electricity begins to arc and crackle over her armor. “Alvaro, Lena. Get ready.” She looks to Sanura. “We’ll get a head start, see if we can get him headed in the right direction.” Alvaro nods, and his expression sets. “We talked him down once before. We can do it again.” It’s not an ‘if.’ His conviction is complete: it’s not even a hope, it’s a fact. He offers Sanura a grim but firm smile. “I’m glad you’ll be helping. Maybe this time we can avoid too much damage. Here.” He reaches out to rest his open palm on Sanura’s forehead—as he draws closer the light, flowery fragrance of roses wafts over her, bringing with it a strengthened sense of vitality. Once finished, he offers the same to Angela. (( Bolster. Rolling… ))
	ST (( 23 and 24 respectively +8 Health boxes to the two of you. ))
	Sanura Sanura is unbelievalby grateful, not only for Johanna’s decicive agreement to move out but for Alvaro’s firm conviction and faith. She smiles and murmurs a swift thanks to him. “We’ll all get this done, if some work on distraction, non violent as possible and others work on reasoning with him.. we’ll be alright. Let’s not leave Sasha out in the cold ladies and gentlemen.” she makes a gesture like ‘move out’.
	ST (( Hokay! Gonna make some rolls here. Meanwhile, I’d like the two of you to come up with a list of actions you’ll take in preparation. Assume that you have enough time to do anything that won’t take hours, and assume that you’ll finish everything just in time. For example, if you use Fury of War, the 20-tick countdown won’t start until battle begins. ))
	Sanura [So Aurora and Axis activation rolls?]
	ST (( Yeah. ))
	Dovile (1L) Eagle Eye (1L)Instant assessment (1L)Fight with head (10 ticks to cast) (5L) Animal Aspect for 25 ticks (5 ticks to cast)
	Dovile ((21 on animal aspect.))
	Sanura [17 to Axis of the Heavens]
	Dovile ((22 total to Animal Aspect.))
	Sanura [Drive Seku costing 1L]
	Dovile ((I believe I am prepared.))
	Dovile ((Well…. for a given value of prepared.))
	Sanura [I want to do more things but I cannot think of any more to do sooo I guess it’s a go XD]
	ST (( All right! ))
	ST Goal: Talk Derrick down or knock him out/kill him, whichever comes first Time Limit: Until you all die horrible, painful deaths Roll Interval: 5 ticks Total Cumulative Difficulty: 90 Initial Difficulty: 60 Conviction Extremity: +11 Mind-Messed: +10 Willpower: +9 Minimum Roll: 8. This is to overcome Derrick’s temporary Willpower. Only threshold successes will count towards the difficulty. The more Willpower he spends, the lower this minimum will get. Suggested Rolls: * Cha + Pre: According to Riastrad, this is the only way Derrick can be talked down. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND * Warrior Ideal (Derrick): -9 successes to attack rolls vs. Derrick for 70 ticks * Divine Brilliance (Derrick): -7 dice to Per + Awa rolls for Stars Boons for 65 yards around Derrick * Prismatic Presence (Lance): Can spend Lance’s Legend instead of WP * Prismatic Presence (Lena): Can spend Lena’s Legend instead of WP (35 to spend) * Warrior Ideal (Lance): -7 successes to attack rolls vs. Lance for 40 ticks * Art of War (Brendan): 8 dice to spend; can only give you up to his dots of Epic Int or your normal Int, whichever’s smaller * Art of War (Johanna): 18 dice to spend; can only give you up to her dots of Epic Int or your normal Int, whichever’s smaller * Warp the Weft (Lena): Everyone can reroll twice and do Defensive Do-Over twice * Calm the Savage: Isn’t going to calm him down completely, because he’s too far gone. However… if it beats Derrick’s MDV (26), provides one free Charisma + Presence roll.. * Intoxicate: Gives Derrick a dice penalty based on difference between attacker’s activation roll and defender’s Sta + For roll.
	Dovile ((Dovile: 12)) ((Sasha: 13 Brendan: 7 Sofia:15 Lance: 17 ))
	ST (( Thank you! ))
	Sanura Sanura :13 Aida:9 Angie: 21 Moe: 9 Carmen: 17
	ST (( And thank you! ))
	ST A veritable army of divine children awaits: Sofia and Lance at the forefront—with Sofia appearing to be a living stone statue of herself, covered in warped scrap metal armor, every step that she takes slightly cracking the dry ground beneath her feet; and Lance bearing his spear and horsehair helm, standing tall but squared, his stance wide, the very image of a bold Spartan warrior, with the faint light of a rainbow misting around his head at certain angles and sharp gusts of wind whipping up the desert dirt around him. Johanna is among them as well, electricity crackling and arcing over her armor. Brendan and Aida as backup—each covered in the thin, flexible armor of ichor, Brendan’s wavering and rippling slightly, Aida’s with a distinct silvery sheen to it. Alvaro waits among them as well, smelling of roses and bark. Angela, Moe, and Carmen hanging back—Angela with her phantom bow nocked with flaming arrows, her eyes sharp and focused; both Angela and Moe are wreathed in fire, twin flames burning bright; Carmen merely stands there, her shoulders and jaw set and her black knife ready. Lena skirts this group, whistling sharply and clearly as she moves, attracting a sparrow that appears to be made of naught but cloud and wind to her side; a breeze constantly accompanies her, and her head, like Lance’s, is framed by a faint rainbow. Prayers are quietly spoken, hands squeezed, assurances given, affections shared.
	Dovile Dovile is lying above and to the left. The crumbled sky scrapers and scrap cement gives her easy cover, as if the ruins resent the coming of their creator. The metal of her rifle is cool under her hands, bullet already chambered. It won’t be for long. The distress and confusion of the last few days has gone. Dovile waits.
	Sanura Sanura looks around her and takes a breath.. what a group. She herself seemingly ornamentally augmented by stars that sparkle even in the bright light of day, resting where jewels might and dusting her black hair. She calls out the others. “Remember he’s not our enemy we want him to calm down not fall .. If you have a way with words do your best to remind him that he is the protector of this city and people.” she frowns “if you’re not the best at expression then do what you can to keep him from smiting the rest of us. Everyone be careful and safe and we’ll get through this”
	ST A great roar of effort echoes over Bakersfield, over the ruins. Suddenly, streaking from the sky, is Derrick, who smashes through several buildings and slams into the ground, sending cracks spiderwebbing from his impact. Sasha follows shortly thereafter, landing in a crouch that sends of a slight puff of dirt, both his hands on Devchuska, who burns with fury. He straightens, rising to a full height of just above 8 feet tall, and spits a gobbet of blood to the side. More blood runs from a fist-sized wound in his side, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
	ST Instant Assessment: Derrick Epic Strength: 5 Soak: 35B/33L/9A DV: 35
	Dovile ((I will do Fight with your Head to his DV please…))
	ST (( Okay. That’s a -4 to his DV for just Dovile. ))
	ST (( I’ll assume that’ll happen on your turn—Fight With Your Head is reflexive, so it won’t take up any actions. ))
	ST (( All right! Tick 0! ))
	ST (( Angela and Derrick go first—while I figure out Derrick’s action do you guys mind figuring out what Ange should do? ))
	ST (( Delaying her turn is perfectly reasonable ))
	Sanura [Angie could take aim this turn? something not vital but would slow him down..]
	Dovile ((Aim for three ticks and then fire with her flaming arrows?))
	Sanura [yeah that’d work imo then her next turn would be a gtfo turn]
	ST Derrick quickly rises and streaks right for Sasha, fist first. Sasha flies back, trailing blood, crashing into another building. It collapses atop him but he rises from the rubble with hardly a concern. Fresh blood quickly stains his Superman shirt from another fist-sized wound in his stomach. (( Okay. That’s 27 for Derrick’s Disfiguring Attack to Sasha, and 36 Agg damage, of which 9 was dealt after conversion to Lethal. Sasha also uses Unbreakable at 4L to soak 4 more damage. He’s down to 12/23 health now. ))
	Dovile ((Angie got 37 to hit.))
	ST (( 4 overflow ))
	Dovile ((17 damage!))
	ST (( Soaked! ))
	ST Angela lets fly one of her arrows. With expert aim, it clangs off the back of Derrick’s head. He turns quickly, his gaze burning into her.
	ST (( Tick 4! Carmen and Lance! ))
	Dovile ((Carmen Calm the Savage and Lance protect her?))
	Sanura [sounds damn good]
	Dovile ((Carmen 30!))
	Dovile ((13 and 14. So 6 and 7?))
	ST (( Almost! Since it’s by threshold successes, you add one for hitting. ))
	ST (( So 7 and 8 ))
	ST (( 15/90 ))
	ST Carmen steps in Derrick’s perceived next path, an aura of calm quickly spreading from her, going so far as to even settle the dust of dirt and rubble. For a moment, Derrick relaxes a little, his shoulders dropping—and he gazes at her intently but quiet, waiting. She does not shy from his intensity, and speaks in calm, even, soothing tones. Little by little he begins to tense again and his breath comes quicker and quicker. His face tightens in cold fury and his fists clench. The aura of calm lifts. Lance, meanwhile, sets himself up next to his wife, ready to do whatever it might take to protect her.
	ST (( Tick 5: Derrick ))
	ST With complete and utter certainty and the intense focus of sunlight streamed through a lens, Derrick launches forward for Carmen. Lance, well-prepared for this, moves to intercept him midway. With each moment, Derrick’s gauntlets glow with increasing light, the edges flickering as if they were small suns themselves. The blood rushes from Alvaro’s face. It was either a mother and child that would die, or a father. He books it forward, his voice ringing clear. “DERRICK! HERE! IT’S ME YOU WANT!” (( Unconquerable Challenge… at 21 dice… reroll 20… reroll 22… none of which beats a 26. )) Unerringly, Derrick shoves past him and drives his shining fist right through Lance with a sickening crack. For an eternity of a moment, the two are still, Derrick holding Lance aloft; Lance impaled on Derrick’s arm, a look of shock on his face. And then Derrick sets Lance down and withdraws his fist with a jerk and another sharp crack. Lance stands for a moment, looking at the gaping hole in his torso. Then he looks over his shoulder at Carmen, eyelids already beginning to droop and knees already beginning to falter. He offers her a wan smile, the rainbow flickering around his head. And then it disappears. He collapses. (( Full overflow because Lance is taking the hit for someone else at DV 0, Disfiguring Attack, total of 50 Agg damage. Lance converts for 5 Legend, soaks 14 Lethal, has 10 Legend left to Unbreakable it… leaving him taking a total of 26 Lethal damage. He’s got 17 health boxes and 9 dying boxes… putting him at exactly 26 boxes, all of which are filled to the brim. Dead. ))
	ST (( Everyone but Angela, Brendan, and Derrick go on this tick. ))
	Dovile ((Delay Dovile three ticks, she’s aiming.))
	Sanura Sanura groans softly in distress as Sasha takes another hit. She can’t let him fall, they need him. “Someone get in on this will ya?” she gestures with one manicured hand, a single star glistening on her middle finger. She hikes up her skirt before her own swift steps take her nearer the action, having no trouble navigating the rubble. She was not going to just let Derrik, the mad saint, pummel Sasha to an early grave. Sasha had taken those hits for her, and yes he was physically stronger than she but her will was iron. Angie seems to be on it, firing a few arrows that might not scratch the surface but they do give that slight distraction Sanura was looking for. Carmen takes the initiative and steps up to speak, seeming to make some progress in the waves of fury coming off him only to be drawn into the undertow, Lance there to do all he can to protect his family. Sanura’s sure steps don’t give hint to the tense tremors of her stomach or the cold sweat trickling down between her shoulder blades. She was brave but she was not a fool. Derrik had thrown her last attempts to help him into her face and sent her from his presence with his very aura and will. Fear of a repeat performance while felt, was ignored in favor of the needed action. Even as Derrik drives forward her graceful steps stop and she straightens her spine. She wanted to know Carmen and Lance were safe but she couldn’t look.. not yet, her gaze staying on the enraged face of Derrik. Sanura, a beacon of glimmering lights, lifts and waves her hands to the draw the glowing embers that are Derrik’s eyes, and then puts them up in a gesture of one placating. “Derrik what are you doing? This goes against everything you want for this place. Don’t destroy those who would help you defend against the truly wicked! Look around you, we all want the same thing. To keep the city safe, to help the people here thrive! That hasn’t changed! Please remember what we’ve all done for this city, what we can still do against the real threat that’s heading our way! We can all stand together.. that hasn’t changed that will not change so long as we can keep in mind where our hearts truly lie.. with the innocent and good people of this city!” Her voice calm and pleading wanting him to see reason, praying that he can be mollified before he has more regrets, greater weight on his heart. [CtS Flair costs 8L] [Char+Pres stunt? Channel Conviction ]
	Dovile ((I vote yes stunt.))
	Dovile ((Aida to use Phase Cloak. (in prep to sneak up and use Tital Interfearance) Bren to use art of War Sasha to talk Moe to talk (AFTER Sasha.) Sofia to defend Moe! Probbly with the sheild, so that Derrick has to break it.))
	Ken [[I like the stunt! nice speech]]
	ST (( Okay. 3 dice for stunt. ))
	Dovile ((Sasha 30, so 23?))
	Dovile ((Moe: 19 Cha+Pres, so 11?))
	Dovile ((Moe spent a Lena WP there, if that’s okay?))
	ST (( Yes ))
	ST (( Actually 13 ))
	ST (( Yeah, Derrick’s at 7 WP now, which means you only have to beat a 7 ))
	ST (( 42/90 ))
	Dovile ((Sofia 33 on unseen sheild. used her own WP for valor.))
	Sanura [17 from the first one I think]
	Sanura [14 succs so 7 hits I think]
	Dovile ((Yes, plus one for hitting. So, 14 which means 8.))
	Sanura [ah so then 18 from the first]
	ST (( 68/90 ))
	Dovile ((Sofia’s Sheild: 24 yards. Soak is 16 health: 33))
	ST Once more Derrick seems to calm, regarding Sanura directly, hearing her out. But, again, the rage burns through the serenity and the savage comes back to light. He squares himself to launch straight for Sanura, before another speaks to him. He whirls on Sasha, and then Moe, after Sofia raises her invisible shield over her. Aida passes behind some rubble before disappearing, entirely, unseen even when she should have long ago passed the fallen chunk of concrete. Brendan, meanwhile, swallows back his rage and pushes Lance to the back of his mind, churning the gears in his mind at a desperate speed as he calculates and recalculates Derrick’s weak spots. Johanna springs forward, her spear wreathed in lightning, intending to stun him. However, she does not strike true, and the electricity is discharged harmlessly into the ground. (( Storm Augmentation, rolled a 30, still missed )) Small arcs of electricity begin to crackle and jump along Lena along her bare skin: from finger to finger, from hand to hand. And then she disappears. (( Charged Blood + Phase Cloak )) Alvaro, on the other hand, steps forward, his face taut with pain. “Derrick, please. Come back to us, before you do more things you’re going to regret. There’s still time to lay aside the sword.” Another rush of serenity, another moment of the calm before the storm. It, too, is fleeting—but Alvaro takes the opportunity to spread his hands, flinging seeds around him, and summons forth lush growth from the dry, cracked desert soil. With a few more motions, vines and saplings begin to reach for and wrap around Derrick from foot to neck, binding him in place, tightly but not painfully. Fragrant smoke already begins to rise from the vines. (( Calm the Savage: 30; Cha + Pre: 23 for 16 total, putting us at 84/90; Accelerate Growth, a whole century’s worth at 5L: 24; Twist Plants: 21… Derrick’s turn will be delayed for 3 ticks before his Burn takes care of the vines. ))
	ST (( Tick 8: Angela’s turn. ))
	ST In an eyeblink, Angela’s phantom bow disappears and Ignis is drawn, liquid firelight running along its highly polished blade. In the next, she’s right up in Derrick’s face, the blade pressed against his throat. She hardly seems to mind the blistering heat—then again, the vines around her wither and blacken as they’re burned up by her own inferno. Her face is contorted in rage, her teeth bared like some kind of animal. She leans in bit by bit, throwing her weight into the edge pressed against his neck, and speaks. “How DARE you call yourself good? How DARE you call yourself just? You just slaughtered a man for defending his wife and unborn child! Defending them from you!” With each word she presses harder and harder, sparks flying from its contact with him, her flame licking against him, the air swimming around them both. A thin line of blood appears on his neck, trickling down a little before bubbling and steaming away. “You’re just one step away from the worst criminal I know, who murdered children in cold blood.” Her voice is a low growl. (( 21 to hit, full overflow; 36 L damage, just barely passes his DC’d soak for 1 Bashing; rolled 28 for Guilt of the Damned, successfully beating his MDV and reducing his Conviction by 1. She takes 7 Lethal from his Burn, but she just barely soaks it. ))
	ST (( Tick 9: Dovile and Carmen ))
	Sanura Sanura hears her fear confirmed and feels as if her breath is knocked from her. She stiffens after a slight bow over drawing a shakey breath. Gods was she a liar now could they still work with a man who’d killed one of their own?
	Dovile There is no memory in this place. No past or future, no fear. Just heart beats. Heart beats and the desert wind. Fifteen, including her own. Slow, fast, deep, high. The angel’s tears through the earth. (Artillery fire, rocking the world. A bombing run, just on the horizon.) The goddess’ runs, beating high and light. The brush of a bird’s wings, caught in between closed palms. (The whirring of helicopter blades, approaching just fast enough.) Her own, too fast, slowing down. Fifteen heartbeats, all in place. One falters, slows. Steady breath turning into broken flow. Beats blurring into a murmur, a whisper. (The slow wail of the call to prayer.) Derrick screams. The furious roar of a wrathful angel. (The echoing cough of deep guns.) Dovile opens her eyes, pupils tiny shadows in a field of wheat. Fire, rolling in waves off of Angela, licking up Sasha’s blood from the edges of Devchuska. Hardly visible in Derrick’s blinding glow, wrapped as it is in green life. Wood, still cool against her cheek. Metal, growing warm under her fingers. Dovile breathes out.
	Dovile ((I’d like to stunt, and will be paying 1L for Shot to the ‘Heart’))
	Dovile ((And would also like to use Lena’s Legend to channel Duty.))
	Sanura [very nice (y) ]
	Victor (y)
	Ken ((yes vote from me))
	ST Thump. At the same moment Lance’s body hits the ground, Carmen’s heart stops. The life that pulsed through his veins gradually stills and dissipates before her eyes, like a time-lapse video of a river drying up. For an eternity, her breath is lost, as if her hand, raised to her open mouth, blocked all air, and her mind is flat—all the world around her nothing but the empty roar of the sea. In half a daze, half an instinctive frenzy, she rushes forward, drops by Lance’s side, and drags him by the shoulders back to the safety of Sofia’s shield, spreading him out for treatment. As if what she’d witnessed weren’t testament enough, the gaping hole under her questing, trembling hand, through which spill his remaining innards, her inability to re-weave the frayed threads of health and flesh—no, their inability to be re-woven, their… unresponsiveness, their stillness—sends a single thought rippling through her still-water mind. Dead. Thump-thump. Her heartbeat returns to her, underscored by La Muchacha’s smaller, faster heartbeat. Then her breath follows. It comes in sudden and harsh, rasping against her throat, small and quick and panicked at first as she draws his head into her lap. And then, after a more sudden, deep, sharp intake in of air, it goes out even harsher, a pure, horrible cry of shock, of horror, of loss. (( Out of commission for an action. ))
	Dovile ((39. And AAAAAHHHHH CARMEN!!! D: ))
	ST (( Full overflow ))
	Dovile ((56 armour ignoring damage.))
	ST (( Damage Conversion’d to Bashing… 30 soaked. That leaves 26 Bashing damage… fills up his health boxes to Incap, overlaps to 9 Lethal on top of the 1 Lethal Ange dealt… he ain’t dead, and he’ll pass out… once he calms down from Riastrad. ))
	Dovile An explosion of plant fiber. A tearing thunk, thick and dark. Blood, oozing toward the dry ground. It leaks from his neck, pooling under his armor.
	ST (( Okay! Tick 11: Everyone but Dovile, Angela, Brendan, Carmen, and Derrick. I’ll let Sanura go first. ))
	ST (( We’re at 84/90 ))
	Sanura Sanura continues trying to talk him down, her heart isn’t in it but she can’t stop when even more might be harmed. [six..no seven]
	ST (( It’s at six. 12-7=5 + 1 threshold, which is 6. That hits exactly 90. ))
	Sanura Despite her distraction she presses on reminding him of why he doesn’t want to do this. Why he needs to control himself.. and how he’s just left a child without a father.. a wife without her husband.. and taken a brother from a family.. walking towards Carmen as she speaks. When the last words fall from her lips she too drops.. silent tears running down her cheeks as she settles at the young womans side.. there to comfort if needed.
	ST The glow in his eyes fade, returning to their normal golden hue, and his armor and wings are slowly scattered by the calming winds in a flurry of sand and feathers. Once more he is a man… and then the strength drains from him all at once. He sags forward as he lapses into unconsciousness, only just held standing by the brittle, scorched, smoking vines.
	Sanura Sanura looks to Alvero and Johanna.. “You should .. tend to him” a frown turning her lips as she rubs her hand down her face, more tears only replacing those wiped away. She would wait and let Carmen be for a time before even trying to do something about Lance.
	ST (( Also… Legend 6, for Sanura and Dovile. ))
	Dovile -We need to get back into the city.- Dovile sends the thought, still cold with adreniline, to the weeping Sanura. -Before something else comes.-
	Sanura Her gaze would turn to the others and she takes a shuddering breath. “Is anyone else hurt .. do we need to get anyone to the hospital?” She points to Sasha as if to say ‘besides you’. Rising she nods her head to Dovile’s words, sure that the action can be seen. “Bren, can you bring Lance please?” Looking to Carmen and repeating Dovile’s warning. “We need to get to safety.” Offering the young woman her hands to help her rise.
	Dovile Dovile is down from her tower in a moment. Vines shade the area, and she moves gladly into them, heading toward her brother. The smell of his blood guides her through the jungle, even as her senses fade. Dry earth, still hot from the sun, shifts and slides under her feet, pushed out of the way by new roots.
	ST Johanna steps forward, cutting Derrick free. Alvaro looks over to Carmen, hesitant, pain written all over his face. Sofia squeezes his shoulder. “You tend to your family. I’ll tend to mine.” Her voice is low, husky, to hide the shake that waits there. He looks at her, wrestling a little with himself, then nods and turns to Derrick, as Sofia turns back to Carmen, and those who were gathering around her. Moe is already beside Carmen, tears streaming from her own eyes. “C’mon, hermana… let’s… let’s get going, okay?” she says, fighting to keep her voice even, to keep her own emotions in check, at least for now. Without a word or a moment of hesitation, Brendan steps forth as bid. He stoops to Carmen and murmurs, “Is it all right if I take him?” She doesn’t respond for a long moment, numb to the comforting words, numb to Moe’s hands on her shoulders, offering support. Then she sniffles and nods, softly. Brendan lifts him and Carmen watches as he takes him away, hesitantly letting her husband’s hand slip from her fingers. It isn’t until her own hands are empty that she sees Sanura’s offered in the spirit of help. Wordlessly she takes them. As she rises, however, liquid streams down her leg, making a dark stain in the dry earth beneath her. She stops, then closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. Her expression twists as the barbed spear of realization that her husband won’t be there for their daughter’s birth drives through her heart and twists, but she pushes that aside, lets out her breath, and opens her eyes, though she can’t quite bring herself to look any higher than the ground before her. “Double time,” she says quietly but firmly. Sasha’s eyes widen and he steps forward urgently, still ignoring his leaking blood, Devchuska still flaming and still brought to bear. “Get back to the city, quickly—I’ll cover you,” he says. Aida reappears right beside Angela, shimmering back into view. “Ange, go tell Susan. Quick.” With one last backwards glare to Derrick, Angela departs in a blast of hot air.
	Dovile Dovile comes up behind the group, steps up behind her monsturously huge brother and lays a hand on his elbow. Her eyes scan over the group, and her mouth turns into a tight line. She takes a deep, shuddering breath—but there is no time. She breathes out smoothly, and tightens her grip on her brother’s elbow, almost out of her reach now. The earth was dry. The only thing to wet it with was blood, forbidden by law. There is always a blessing. Dovile feels her smile almost twitch. Damp earth, and the fifteenth heart beat, growing stronger. “Lady Mother, let your earth nourish him.” Dovile says in quiet Russian, drawing the remains of the moisture in her soul up with tired roots. ((Heal, Lena’s paying 2 Legend))
	Dovile ((23))
	ST (( All of his Lethal converted to Bashing! ))
	Sanura Sanura smiles gently before her eyes widen and her jaw drops. "For the love of.. " she finishes helping Carmen to her feet and then tucks one hand into her arm. “Good thing walking is suggested in the early stages.. hell.. this is still early right?” looking to anyone else that’s more informed here. “Dovile can you help Sasha and make sure he gets to the bunker for treatment.. Susan will hopefully have time..” she mumbles before squeezing Carmens hand lightly. “Well we’d better get moving Momma” And pretty much they’re off and moving unless something tries to stop them.. better not..
	Dovile Dovile takes another look at Carmen, inspecting her, then nods to Sanura. -Of course.-
	ST The bloody holes close, leaving behind purple-and-black welts and dark stains on his Superman shirt as memories of his wounds.
	ST In well-practiced hustle, the survivors manage to make their way back to the city, with the Templars not far behind.
	Sanura Sanura is not cut out for midwifery clearly but she does anything she can think of to help.. pillows.. hot water… towels.. more pillows.. can I get anything else? Water? Vodka?!
	Dovile A few hours later, Team Bogovi, Lena in Sasha’s arms and Dovile on his shoulders, arrives, looking tired, bloody and a bit blank.

Campaign of the Month: February 2017

God-Touched

In which the dream team faces an avenging angel

OOC Discussion

The Meeting

Some Discussion and Time Later…

Comments

Dovile's Day Off In which Dovile learns that emotions suck

April 2026

Coffee Break In which the dream team allows themselves a distraction

Defusing the Bomb In which the dream team deals with the biggest threats in Bakersfield

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