[IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The Rockfall café is a bar on the edge of Longhampton, on the main route out to the city’s college and biggest industrial estate. It’s popular with the students and locals, with a ‘seasonal’ clientele based on the time of day; at this time of the morning it is mostly haunted by students and those on their way to work trying to grab some breakfast before starting their daily toil.

The smell of coffee and cooked breakfasts fills the air as you step into the café. Several students are sitting around discussing something from a TV show that was on the previous night. A couple of drivers are bemoaning their respective routes between mouthfuls of greasy fry-up. Further individuals, mostly on their own, are taking up about half of the seats in the café.

As you enter you observe that a table off to one side is not only nearly clear, but the tables around it are as well. A single man sits at the table and looks up as you enter, gesturing for you to come and join him. He already has a meal on the table in front of him, along with a book that he was reading from. A bag, similar to those carried by the college students, rests on the floor by his feet.

“Glad you could make it,” he says, indicating for you to sit. “Once we’re all here we can get down to business. Order yourself something whilst we wait; I’ve got the tab.”

[OOC: Everyone playing feel free to introduce your character, look around, make a few comments, ask a few questions, etc. Once everyone playing has turned up the explanations can begin. Anyone wanting to establish a speech colour for their character please do so now.]

[Character Specific: As she enters Gabrielle notices a very faint touch against her mind; the figure sitting alone is the source, clearly a telepath. He isn't doing anything invasive; it's just the telepathic equivilent of glancing at someone to see where they are.]

[Character Specific: Serena (Mark-315's Overwatch AI) notes the presense of an ECM field, subtle but powerful, that surrounds this lone figure and the table that he is sitting at.]

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

As far as Gabrielle is concerned, this is a strange business. She's managed for a while by keeping her head down. But caution is a wearing habit, and surely it can't hurt to play things straight just once...

Gabrielle is a tall woman in her mid-forties, cafe-au-lait skin and dark brown hair currently worn straight and above the shoulder. She could be pretty stunning if she held herself just a bit differently, but something about the way she moves whispers "don't notice me, look over there at that other person instead". She's wearing casual clothing, perhaps a little warm for the time of year, and carrying a small backpack with something else (maybe three feet long and two inches wide, in its own bag) sticking up from the top of it.

She orders coffee with too much sugar and cream - clearly not any sort of coffee snob, and apparently not too worried about her figure either - and joins the stranger at his table - sitting with her back to a wall, and scanning the room every few seconds.

"Thank you for the invitation - I suppose. I'll save my questions until after your introduction - but let me put you on notice that I have a lot of them."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas messes with the door for about ten seconds, trying to get in. He keeps pulling on the door that only pushes open, then he switches over to the door to its right, but that one's locked. He's not used to this kind of thing.

He can smell the coffee. That's the first thing he notices inside. Then he sees a plate with some sausage links and eggs. That's the thing that gets him about these other worlds. Not the technology, or all the noise everywhere, but the food. There's so much food. He once followed dog tracks for four days across the desert, hoping to eat that mutt. He never found it.

There's a man over there. Looks like he was waiting. Douglas goes over, pulls out a chair, then sits down. His duster is split in the back, so he can do just that.

Douglas is tall by his standards, average by most worlds's. His clothes are coated with gray dust that will never wash out. But that's okay. They're so old, so ragged, that they'd probably disintegrate if water touched them. He has a big black beard on his face. It's trimmed, but it still looks big. He has a little bit of hair around the side and back of his head, but that's it.

He takes off his sunglasses, closes the frames, and puts them into a crude protective leather pouch. "Howdy," he says, then leans over the table. "Is this the kind of place where someone comes over and takes your order? Or is it where you need to go up and talk to someone first?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The man nods in reply. "I'll try to answer those that I can. We've still got a few people to turn up though."

"If you sit here on your own long enough they might take an interest," the man replies. "Otherwise you need to order it yourself." He indicates a menu. "Just tell me what you want and I'll sort it out."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas picks up the menu. "Coffee, some of these pancakes, sausages. And hash browns."

He looks over at the woman sitting at the table. "My apologies, ma'am. The name's Douglas. Guess you're in on this too, huh?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The man nods and for a moment his gaze focuses somewhere off into the distance before returning to Douglas. "Done. It'll be here in a minute."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Pleasure to meet you. And no, I'm not from this area. Not exactly. And from my experience, home isn't all it's cracked up to be." He leans back in the chair. "Besides... nothing lasts forever."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Pausing before the door of the arranged meeting place Mark-315 once again sums up his options, and once again with no other recourse decides to enter, and is about to reach for the door handle when Serena humorously makes her presence felt.

Serena <Voice in his head>: “Please try to be nice this time okay? Your social skills still need a lot of work.”

Mark-315 <Aloud>: “No promises. Besides, last time they started it first.”

Upon entering, Mark-315 is a tall man, taller than the tallest person in the room; Caucasian and in his mid-twenties with short brown hair parted at the centre, with blue eyes hidden behind large sunglasses that seem to radiate the feeling that they serve some other purpose than simply shielding his eyes from the sun. He could be described as being unintentionally ruggedly handsome, except for the presence of a large decorative scar running across his right cheek, and a decorative scar running down from one corner of his left eyebrow and continuing down from below his left eye.

Along with his obvious height Mark-315 carries himself in such a way that marks him out as different from everybody, his movements strong yet smooth and confident, almost drilled and militaristic. What he’s wearing also points him out as different, with a large grey/brown overcoat, trying and obviously in a number of places, failing to hide the clearly full body hi-tech military black bodysuit covered in silver/grey modular armour, with what could amount to some futuristic armoured motorcycle helmet, made of the same materials as the armour, with a blue reflective full-face covering visor attached to his hip by some unknown means underneath his overcoat.

Quickly summing up the situation and spotting the trio at the table, and clearly not interested in any sort of food or drink, he strides over to their table and sits down opposite the unknown woman present with perhaps the same unconscious motives as she, dropping a large drawstring bag to the floor next to him as he does so, the chair audibly groaning with the weight of Mark-315 and his armour. Very quickly realising who’s in charge and perhaps who sent him the message he turns to the gentleman neither any of them know.

Mark-315: “Message received. You’ll forgive me for coming somewhat overdressed, but you can never be too careful. Besides, it kind of goes with what I am.”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The man looks the figure up and down, an eyebrow raised in something that might have been puzzlement. "Interesting... I wasn't expecting a Sentinel," he pauses as he looks closer at the chestplate armour where an 'IV' is stensilled, "Four..." He considers for a moment. "You lot were some of my best work in recent years... That armour though..." He sighs and seems to concentrate once again, his eyes closed.

For a second nothing happens, then the armour and greatcoat appear to shimmer and fade, being replaced by normal looking clothes in a style worn by the locals. Mark can still feel the armour, and still hear Serena's voice, but can't see it.

In his earpiece Serena jumps in before he can ask; "I don't know what he's done but... I think he's distorting the light around your armour somehow. My infra-red isn't affected, but I can't see anything by normal light. Even the Kreyt couldn't do that this well though..."

The man's face clears and he takes a shuddering breath and opens his eyes. "Okay... Don't make me do this again... I can keep it up as long as you're here, but it won't last if I lose concentration. Remember to change into civvies before I leave."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Remarkably unperturbed by the whole occurrence...

Mark-315 <Aloud>: “My apologies...” Looks at the man sharply. “Wait! You know what I am? We were your best? Who are you?” Leans forward, scrutinising the man sitting before him until a realisation suddenly hits him. “No, it can’t be!? But it is...”

Serena: <Voice in his head> “It is him, memory and data files match.”

Mark-315 suddenly bolts up straight, saluting sharply, armoured boots cracking together. “Sir! Mark-315, Lieutenant, Sentinel-IV, currently MIA, reporting as ordered sir!”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Hearing something about sentinels and lieutenants, Douglas scoots his chair forward. Enough he can move his right hand around to one of his big revolvers and not be seen. Quick movements make him jumpy.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Wincing, the man looks sharply around the cafe where a few people have turned their attention to the table in curiosity. Mostly in curiosity... A few of the people are looking a bit suspicious, and one of the students is watching the group very carefully.

"Sit. Down." the man says, his tone and pitch of voice twisted into unusual shapes and seeming to reach straight into Mark's nervous system without actually passing through his ears; his knees almost buckle and the seat creaks ominously as he sits down heavily on it, a startled expression on his face at his body betraying him so abruptly.

"Should have insisted on additional covert ops training," the man mutters. "Order something so that you don't look too conspicuous. More conspicuous," he corrects himself.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Suitably chastised and chooses to ignore the odd circumstances of his reprimand in lieu of meeting someone he recognises for the first time in years and adds more normally.

Mark-315 <Aloud>: “My apologies sir... It’s just that Serena and I have been MIA and lost for some time now, this is the first shred of a lead in getting home. I shall have a large hot chocolate with sugar, please.” After a moment he gets a questioning look, unusually concerned. “How goes the war sir?”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas jumps in here. "War?! What war?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Gabrielle is doing her usual social fade (i.e. being overlooked while there are more exciting things going on), but keeping her ears open.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The man rolls his eyes at the situation. "The one that the Sentinels were built for is what he means. In his home universe. And when I left it was mostly back to peace... The Sentinels did their part and when the Confederation made contact with the Debarin the war with the Kreyt got turned around almost totally. The Kreyt were down to a few colonies that the Debarin were maintaining as havens for them, much to the annoyance of the Confederation I'll add."

He paused for a moment. "It's mostly over now... The Sentinels were almost back to doing what they were designed for originally until I shut the program down and transfered the facilities to the Western Harbour..." He sighs wearily. "Go figure..."

The man glances at Gabrielle, as if reminded of something. "Your abilities... I haven't gotten around to reading these files fully yet," he thumps the bag down by his feet with his foot, "but I noticed that they're not natural. Did you volunteer to have them?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"So, he," motioning toward the sentinel, "was built for the war. Now, how do you build a person?

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Indigo Joe walks in noisily. He's a fairly tall, bearded man, dressed in dirty, tattered clothes, except for his boots and gloves, which are made of expensive-looking tooled leather. A battered felt trilby adorned by a small feather completes his rather incongurous appearance. As he enters he stamps his boots as if to knock off invisible mud. Seeing the table, he strides over.

"Hello, mates! What's the party about?"

He slumps into a seat. "How 'bout some ham and eggs over here?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The man shrugs. "Six to eight months of bitek enhancement, psychological engineering and training... Plus three months psych evaluation period for the Sentinel IVs prior to that to make sure that they were suitable for the work. Earlier versions of the program only went for genetic evaluation..."

"We've got one more to come, then we can get down to some proper introductions. The food should be over in a minute."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas smiles and nods through that. He understands something about months and training, so it must have been a metaphorical creation.

"Quite the group you got here already," Douglas says. He motions to the newcomer. "Nice hat."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

For his part, Mark-315 has remained remarkably silent throughout the explanation of his so-called metaphorical creation, obviously used to such things and having long since come to terms with it. But with his arms crossed across his chest and head lowered slightly, it’s obvious he’s deeply pondering the staggering ramifications of the answer to his last question.

The war is over, brought to a conclusion whilst he and Serena were lost in the multiverse, the Sentinel project shut down and transferred to some unknown place... What purpose does he serve now? What should he do? Where does this leave Serena and her limited lifespan of 7 years? And importantly, where is this Western Harbour?

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann pushes the door open and steps in. He stands there for a moment, carefully examining the room. He is just shy of six feet tall, and looks to be about twenty-eight years old. His hair is black, and tied back into a tight and thin pony tail. Clad in jeans and a grey turtleneck shirt, he has a mismatched pair of gloves, with the left one looking distinctly heavier and larger. He sports a pair of slim black sunglasses, and a watch on his right wrist. He's carrying a large duffel bag by a metallic looking disk in his right hand.

He takes a careful look at the isolated table of people. An odd group to be sure, but none of them look immediately dangerous, so he heads over and pulls up a chair, setting his bag down next to him. "I'm here, so what is this about?" (IQ roll on Heightened perceptual awareness: 10) Attention gained, and curiosity piqued, Seann takes an extra moment to carefully look over the normally dressed fellow.

(Mind Block is up: 8)

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann notes the fact that the big guy sitting quietly staring at the table is hidden by some kind of illusion in some way. The normally dressed guy doesn't immediately look out of place, except for a sense that he's decidedly out of place here; there isn't anythign specific about him, just him himself.

There's also a sense that something else, not at this table, is out of place in this cafe, but it's too vague to tell.

"Good to see you here," the man says. "Feel free to order something and we can get started."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

(That's who I was referring to anyway, but that works.)

Seann nods and picks up a menu. He leafs through it for a moment. "Quaint," he mutters. He looks back up, "I'll just have tea, thanks." He leans back in his chair, and takes another look at the room in hyperspectral.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Outside of the table that he is sitting at Seann can't see anything unusual in the room through hyperspectral. At the table is a different matter; the big guy's armour is visible to anything except normal vision. Beyond that nothing appears to be out of place.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

As everyone's meals are served the man puts his book away in the bag by his feet, then pulls the bag up onto his lap and begins going through it. "Okay, where did I leave them..."

After a few seconds of searching he pulls out some document wallets and puts them on the table in front of him. "Okay, I've got files on each of you," he raises a hand to forstall any comments. "I haven't read them properly yet, and you lot don't know me, so some introductions are in order."

"My name's..." He trails off as he thinks of something. "This is going to sound like a meeting at Alcoholics Anonymous," he considers aloud. "Anyway, my name's Ben Foreman. I'm a world-jumper like all of you. I have in common with you," he points at Gabrielle, "that I'm a psionic, though a more powerful one. I have in common with you," he points at Mark, "that I've been made into a soldier. I have in common with, I believe, none of you that the circumstances that made me different were not of my own devising or free will. That does sometimes offer consolations though..."

He pauses and looks around the table. "Who's next?"

[OOC: Feel free to continue the conversations and observations. Once everyone has posted their introduction we can move onto the explanations.]

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas raises his hand. "I'll go next. I don't understand most of what you're saying, though. Alcoholics... anonymous?" He shakes his head. "Whatever. Name's Douglas Trask. Pleasure to meet y'all. Anyway, I think I'm a psionic. That means some kind of brain magic does my little trick, isn't that right? And I didn't choose to be this way. I was looking around at some cans. I thought they were food. Turned out they were full of some kind of... green stuff. Well, I thought they were in a tunnel. Turned out to be a machine. Grabbed hold of me and drilled into my brain. Pretty sure it pumped me full of that green stuff. Now I can move around to different worlds when I think hard enough about it. Makes me feel like I'm about to fall over when I do it, though. Moral of the story: when I think something, it usually turns out to be wrong. Now, I think you understand a little bit more about this than I do. How's 'at turn out?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Point taken," Ben admits. "In my case though I have to say that it wasn't accidental; there was some cold-blooded deliberation that went into my creation..." He shrugs. "Like I said, there are consolations."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

His internal deliberation over with for the moment Mark-315 looks up again, glancing around the table at everyone in turn and makes his own introduction.

Mark-315 <Aloud>: “My name is Mark, and my designation is Mark-315 and I am a Sentinel-IV, part of the Sentinel Project to produce human super soldiers to combat terrorist and anti-Confederation rebel forces. However, that all changed when the Kreyt, humanities first encountered alien race began a war against humanity and started attacking and destroying our colonies. Already a career soldier I decided to volunteer for the Sentinel Project and underwent the arduous process of becoming a Sentinel-IV. I fought against the Kreyt for a number of years as a Sentinel-IV until on one mission I killed a Kreyt Commando team and obtained a piece of technology the Kreyt were using to bypass our defences. Unfortunately, subsequently cornered and surrounded behind enemy lines, I took the calculated risk of using the unknown technology and ended up transported to an alternate universe. I have been lost ever since, searching for a way home, travelling from universe to universe. And so, now here I am.”

Mark-315 pauses for a moment before adding, as if some unheard person is nagging at him over his shoulder. “My apologies, someone else wishes to make themselves known, and I guess now is as good a time as any.”

Mark-315 looks at the table for a moment, something obviously coming online in his visually concealed armour and unexpectedly a swirling column of purple/blue light appears, and out of it a human figure on a miniature scale appears, composed of said purple/blue light, with long straight hair, and obviously of the female gender and appearance.

Serena <Aloud>: “Greetings.”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann leans forward, his attention fixed on the shimmering figure across the table. "AI? Fascinating. Volitional?" He seems to be speaking directly to the AI instead of to Mark.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Serena looks back at Mark-315, obviously pleased, and then looks back at Seann.

Serena <Aloud>: “You know Mark, it’s nice to meet someone else who doesn’t automatically refer to me as an ‘It’ or ‘soulless imitation of life’ for a change etc. So, in answer to your question, yes, I do indeed have free will and am completely self-aware, and my name is Serena. In the Sentinel Project my fellow AI’s and I are called Overwatch AI’s, and we function as partners to each Sentinel. Our primary function is intelligence/counter-intelligence based, handling the tasks of route-finding, electronic warfare, and keeping track of objectives etc.”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

[I know we're still waiting for one introduction; I'm trying to keep things moving.]

[OOC: feel free to carry on the conversation. Explanations follow.]

"Okay, so now we've all been introduced, I owe all of you an explanation of what's going on to go with the meal," Ben declares. "Give me a chance to get the basic explanation out of the way, then you can begin the cross-examination...

"I've asked you to come here because something bad is happening. Something that needs dealing with and which I don't have the option of dealing with at the moment.

"There's a demon. It's called Chu'dam and it feeds on the power of its worshippers and right now it’s building up a cult in Longhampton. Sooner or later it’ll spread though, and I can’t be having that; the damned thing is a world-jumper like all of us, so it will eventually spread to other universes and set up there as well... I need you to stop it right now.

"Chu'dam has a couple of tricks, both of which are useful for cult-building. The first is that Chu'dam can trigger or heighten feelings of pleasure in people. That's the carrot, so to speak, because... Well, Chu'dam can make you feel absolutely wonderful any time he wants to. Normally he expects his followers to earn their reward somehow, but, he can hit people at random if he wants to.

"The stick... Or partly still the carrot actually... Anyway, Chu'dam can protect his followers from certain classes of diseases and infections, normally those transmitted by intimate physical contact. Given that we're dealing with a cult that is built on giving and receiving pleasure, that kind of stuff can spread quickly through them and in a low-tech culture that would have been the death of the cult within a few months. With Chu'dam's blessing though, the cultists can be protected from these problems.

"Or rather, the harmful effects of them. HIV is a favourite with them and a relatively easy example: if a cultist is HIV+ then they don't suffer for it and it won't show up on a blood test. But they still carry it in them, and can infect others. Which is cheap recruitment for the cult.

"Anyway, there's the basics. Any questions?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Yep," Douglas says. "Does this demon have any resistance to lead? And what are you paying me?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Chu'dam doesn't have a direct physical form; he can possess his followers, but that's all that I've ever seen. He's as subject to the laws regarding the existence of demons in the worlds he visits as you are to those regarding the existence of Humans though, so you may find that isn't the case here. I can't say for certain though; I've only been here a day or two myself."

"As for the payment," Ben continues. "Name your price. Whatever you, individually, feel is a suitable price for doing this, if it's within my power to grant and I think that you've earnt it, you can have."

He reaches down into his bag and pulled out an armoured gauntlet. It looks like it has come off a suit of medieval armour, but it also looks new and... Slightly wrong. "I asked some people to make this for me. I couldn't make it myself. It took me fifty years and I had to break laws, not just government or civil but physical and temporal ones as well, in order to pay their price. I can't say that I'll do the same for you, because... Well, I'm busy at the moment, and liable to be so for the next while and a bit. But I have resources.

"Additionally... I might be able to offer you some employment after this is over. I don't know whether you'd be interested or not, but there's a chance for you to settle down, learn some skills, that kind of thing. Deal with Chu'dam and I'll give you more details. My offer of payment stands regardless."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"That's an interesting ethical question. I'd say no, the people who did it would say yes. But my brain is still inside my skull and more or less works, which is a lot better than most of my fellow test subjects managed."

"Just one or two. How did you find us? And, with no disrespect intended, you're not doing a great job of selling Chu'dam as the bad guy here. It's easy to say 'demon', but I'm not cut out to be a mercenary, particularly not for someone I've never met before. Feelings of pleasure and resistance to disease... doesn't sound like a guy who Must Be Stopped. What makes you the good guy?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The last time Indigo Joe took a job with an employer who had ambiguous motives and who offered fabulous compensation for unusual services, it didn't go very well.

But he's not one to let experience hold him back...

"Where might this twistical being's followers be found?"

"Well, normally I'd do it for fun, but I do have some obligations... I daresay I could settle for $10,000 or equivalent sundries, plus expenses."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"What's a... dollar?" Douglas asks.

"Anyway, I'll need supplies. There have to be some smiths," he stops speaking for a moment and looks out the window, then shrugs, "around here somewhere. If I can find sufficient ammunition, I'd like to do a cartridge conversion. And I'll need a new rifle. My old one... it... well, I'll be needing a new one."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Heh," Ben laughs without humour. "I can understand that; there was a 60% mortality rating in the project that made me... That was once they got over the 100% mortality rating in the original version..."

"Fair questions," Ben admits. "I didn't find you; some guys who... They thought that they owed me. I mean life debt type of owing here... I didn't agree with how much they thought that they owed me but I managed to convince them that finding some people to deal with this situation would cover them.

"As for Chu'dam... A couple of points to consider: Chu'dam is a demon. It feeds on people's souls; sorry if I didn't mention that, I forget that some people don't have ten millenia of experience like I do... Remind me if I get ahead of myself like that again. It's also a world-jumper, as I mentioned. Now, obviously a world-jumper that can feed on souls will eventually get bored of ruling a single world and go looking for others. Sooner or later, Chu'dam would catch up with you, or your home, or people that you've met. I'm asking you to stop him whilst he's relatively powerless.

"Secondly, I need someone to stop Chu'dam because I can't be fighting a war on two fronts. Yes, I said war. I'm dealing with three major crisises right now, and a world-jumping demon is currently the least imperitive of them. Chu'dam will probably be stopped, if not by you then by the thing that I'm trying to deal with elsewhere. But if that happens it'll be because I've lost, which means that... Well, you probably won't survive either, no matter how far you run.

"As for me being the good guy..." He smiles. "I've given the last twenty years of my life to this war, trying to protect you all. You might not have known it, but there you are. All of us know how hard it can be to establish ourselves in a new world where our name carries no weight and all we have to build upon is our skills and our word; I'm asking you, as one to another who has gone through that, to give me a chance on this."

"Done." He pauses. "Sorry, were you expecting me to haggle? And should I mention that repairs, provisions and stuff are thrown in regardless? Honestly, I'm surprised that you asked for that little."

"Let me take a scan of the gun and tell me what you want doing with it. I have a rule that I try not to hand over tech that people aren't used to. It's not a repression thing, it is honestly that I have seen world-jumpers getting hold of things from more advanced societies and going absolutely mental with them. Plus I prefer giving people things that they can replace themselves when they need to.

"If you want some stuff like this before you begin then just tell me; it might take a couple of hours because we're limiting travel between here and the Western Harbour while Chu'dam is around, but I'll see what I can do."

[OOC: Anyone wanting kit upgraded (once you're sure you want to join in) just list it and it'll turn up within the next couple of game hours. The general rule is that stuff from a more advanced TL is out (so a black powder gun will still use black powder) but the material science can be anything to TL^ (so a black powder gun made from nano-steel or similar). Also, ammo, spare magazines, power packs, etc, can be replaced/ replenished/ added to in the same batch.]

"Good question. Honest answer: I don't know. There seem to be an unusual number of cultists amongst the students at the local college, but beyond that I'm stumped; like I said, I've only been here a day or two.

"Regarding that mercenary comment... I'm not actually asking you to fight. I wanted people who could protect themselves and were reasonably experienced, because this could be dangerous. But Chu'dam can't enhance his followers physically, and he hasn't been able to become physical himself when I've dealt with him before. I need you to follow up some leads, track down the cult, find out what needs doing to deal with it, and... If possible deal with it.

"The best advice I can give you at present is to track down how far the cult extends, what kind of history it has, and how to deal with Demons; it can vary depending on the universe you're in. For the last one... Father David Arad is the local priest. He has some interest in the occult, purely from a professional point of view. I haven't managed to speak to him yet, but he's probably you best bet unless the cult keeps some kind of library on demonology.

"For the others the college is a good bet. And as a starter on that... If you, without being obvious about it, take a look over at those students over there," he gestures vaguely in a manner that anyone not hearing the conversation would take to be random, "then you will see two important people." He glances at Gabrielle. "You might be able to help here; girl in the back corner trying not to be seen, and the guy sitting on the far left of that group closest to her. Can you get anything from either of them? Anyone see anything?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas looks over. He has a Per of 14, so maybe he'll pick up on something. He has Body Language at 13 too if that helps.








Douglas reaches into his duster and fiddles with the holster on his right (where he keeps his older revolver--the one he doesn't have Weapon Bond with). He hefts it around under the table, where he hopes nobody can see it. "They're both like that," he says. "I want a basic cartridge conversion. Easy enough. I could do it myself if I had the tools. And if you can, modify the cylinder to swing out, so I can reload it with a speedloader. I can draw out how to do it," he grabs up a napkin, "Anyone... anyone have a pencil? Only, I can't do it myself. Scared I might screw it up."

(It's my understanding that such a thing is possible, only it requires a master gunsmith to pull off. Those two things together, the cartridge conversion and the cylinder mod, would bring total reload time down to six seconds.)

"Rifle," he says. "Need a Sammy's Revolving Rifle. That's what we called 'em on my world anyway. With the best scope you can find me. And I'll need some cartridges."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"I'm Seann, nice to meet you too, Serena."


"Cover expenses and I should be fine, but... I'll keep that in mind." Seann looks carefully at the gauntlet before saying, "So... What is it?"

"Thanks, but I travel well prepared."

Seann's expression sours slightly at the mention of the priest, "Don't much care for priests," he mutters. Seann leans back in his chair, looking around the room discreetly as he does so. He takes a careful look out of the corner of his eye at the two students who'd been indicated (Per 14, effective vision 15, HPA, Hyperspectral, etc.).

Seann fishes a pen out of his pocket and hands it across the table, "Not a pencil, but it should work fine." (It's effectively a space pen.)

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

[Roll for Artist for the drawing and mechanic/ engineer to note the requirements. Accuracy of the final production (though not the quality) will depend on these.]

Ben considers for a moment. "I'll see what I can do on that one," he declares.

"Oh, it does all sorts of stuff... The main thing I had it for was reading a book; this gauntlet is the only safe way to touch the book. As for the other stuff..." He holds up the gauntlet, showing that it is a left handed gauntlet. He then puts it on his right hand. It's now right handed. "It can do all sorts of stuff. If you want to risk it you can borrow it; the only time I've managed to get physical with Chu'dam was using this to grab him when he became immanent in an area. Plus there's a whole load of other things like picking up on things... If you think that it'll help, and I can't say that it won't, then you can borrow it."

"Could be tricky there," Ben admits. "Like I said, the only other even semi-reliable source of information is probably going to be Chu'dam's followers. You want to ask them how to kill their demon?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas holds the pen and, taking his time (not knowing how long this could take, I don't know how much extra time he takes, but should be at least four times as long as normal for a +2 bonus), sketches out a drawing.

(I don't know what sort of difficulty modifier applies to this roll, so just rolling with his IQ-6 default and you can add that).

Artist 5 (3d6=9)

Hmm... he actually has machinist.

(Again, taking his time. And I don't know the difficulty on this.)

Machinist, 10 (3d6=12)

Edit: Might should have used the Armoury skill for that. I don't know. It says that's the one used for modifying weapons. And not only does he have that at one point higher skill level, but also at TL 7. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Serena smiles pleasantly and nods her head politely, even going so far as to curtsy.

Serena <Aloud>: “It’s nice to meet you too Seann.”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Having listened in silence, mulling over everyone’s words, and hiding a pleased quirky smile at seeing the interaction between Serena and Seann, Mark-315 finally puts voice to his questions.

Mark-315<Aloud>: “The war with the Kreyt is over and the Sentinel Project shut down and moved to this Western Harbour you speak of... It would appear that Serena and I no longer have a purpose in the universe we call home.”

*Looks at Ben* Mark-315<Aloud>: “I didn’t volunteer to become a Sentinel-IV for profit, more out of a duty to preserve humanity. However...” *Looks at the physical representation of Serena* “Having been a part of, and I assume still running the Sentinel Project, you know the fate of ‘smart’-AI’s in that universe, and that they have a limited lifespan... So I must ask, with these new revelations about you, is it within your power to save Serena from that fate. We have served together for so long, she is my partner... My friend.”

Mark-315<Aloud>: “As for me, even asking to go home to my home universe would be futile as there’s nothing left for me there now... So as the person in charge of the Sentinel Project at Western Harbour, you wouldn’t happen to be hiring errant Sentinel-IV’s would you?”

*Whilst waiting for Ben Foreman’s reply Mark-315 casually adjusts his sunglasses, which is actually a T.E.D. - Tactical Eye Display, using the move to covertly glance and observe the teenagers using not just his own vision but also is able to use the T.E.D. to use some of Serena’s own senses.*

(Mark-315 has a perception of 10 and is using the T.E.D.)
(Serena has a perception of 14 and infravision (granted to Mark-315 through the T.E.D.))

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"The volunteers weren't expecting any mortality rate at all. What can I say, we were young and stupid and idealistic - but I repeat myself."

"OK, now you're talking my language. Magical Nixon. Got it. As for rewards, I try not to carry too much stuff. But I could use a good map of the worlds. I've been to just a few of them, and a girl could get hurt not knowing what she was getting into..."

"I'll see what I can manage..."

[OOC: Gabrielle attempts Telereceive on each of them in turn: effective skill 14, but at -1 per yard, so she'll wander over in that direction - looking for some legitimate reason, maybe visiting the bathroom or stepping outside for a cigarette, and Telereceiving in passing from as close as she can get while not stepping out of the places people are walking. Rolls are 10 and 10, and this is a Quick Contest vs their Will to pick up surface thoughts. Once she's done, succeed or fail, she'll return to the others.]

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann raises his eyebrows slightly, "Must have been an awfully good book." After a moments thought he speaks up again, "Well, I'd certainly like to take a look at it."

("If you want to risk it." Cheery and encouraging.)

"Well, a soul devouring beastie has got to have made some enemies. And the enemy of my enemy, et cetera."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas thinks about that glove for a second, then looks up. "If that glove can hurt him, let's melt it down and make some bullets out of it. I'll make quick work of this fellow."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Ben considers with a faint smile. “I might... Ask me when we’re done here.”

Ben shrugs. “The 100% mortality rating was the volunteers. By the time they got to me they weren’t looking for willing victims, just willing parents.”

“Fair enough,” Ben declares. “We’ve got records covering quite a few local universes, plus I can give you some really easy pointers on places not to go. As in, don’t head in that direction at all. More on that later,” he declares.

“The book was a kind of universal cheat-sheet,” Ben declares as he tugs at the Gauntlet. It resists for a second before slipping off his hand. “And I mean universal. It had references for just about every permutation of the laws of physics that you could imagine, a complete reference for Block Transfer Computations... There was a lot of stuff in there.”

He hands over the Gauntlet. “I’ll want this back,” he says warningly. He then pulls out some sheets of paper from the bag. “This is... Well, it’s some notes that I made on how to use this thing. Or, at least some of what it’s capable of.”

“Those enemies would be the God-fearing faithful and me so far,” Ben declares. “Chu’dam was stuck in one universe until I ended up there, and then he started following me once he realised that he was able to.”

Ben pauses for a moment, looking at Douglas carefully before replying. “I’m trying to work out whether you’re joking or not...”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Definitely a good book." Seann carefully takes the Gauntlet, treating it the way he would a vial of nitroglycerin. He takes a brief look at the sheets, then slips off his left hand glove and sticks it in his pocket. Left hand now free, he gingerly slips on the Gauntlet.

"Damn. Priest it is then."

Seann looks appalled at this suggestion. "You have all the subtlety of an inebriated rhinoceros."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Indigo Joe and Mark both look over at the two students but see nothing unusual.

Douglas recognises that the girl is indeed trying not to be seen; she is avoiding everyone else’s gaze though there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her to look at. The guy is keeping his gaze roving and doesn’t seem to be paying full attention to the conversation that he is nominally part of at his table.

Serena and Seann both look over the pair; they both see what Douglas has seen, but also recognise that the young man is paying their group a lot more attention than he is the conversation at his table. Infravision reveals nothing unusual, but Seann’s enhanced vision picks up what looks like a tattoo on the young man’s chest.

Gabrielle tries to read the young man’s mind and fails; his mental strength is impressive, though there doesn’t appear to be anything beyond normal Human mental strength in him. The girl is much more open though; her name is Sara Reynard, she is a student at the local college, and most prominently in her mind at the moment are the results of a blood test indicating that she is HIV+. She knows that she wasn’t several weeks ago and that the only person she could have got it off was Guy Hanover (the young man), but his test for it came back negative. He claims to have a cure.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

As it is slipped on the Gauntlet not only changes, without actually seeming to change, back to being left-handed, but also seems to shift size slightly so that it will fit perfectly.

The Gauntlet feels odd to wear, like it isn't actually there at all. Touching the metalwork does indeed, as the notes suggested, leave the hand inside with the impression that it was being touched instead. There's also a feeling though of a warm desert breeze blowing across that hand; it's a constant breeze, unaffected by anything around it.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Returning his attention to what Ben is saying, Indigo picks up the notes and looks at them curiously. "Hmm... Lets you see things that aren't there... detect weirdness... Enhance natural abilities... Can this thing do anything ordinary Antifogmatic can't do?"

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Gabrielle's back at the table:

"OK, drawing a blank on the man, that's Guy. The woman's Sara, and she looks as if she's about to be recruited by him. That's one way of spreading, I guess: give people lethal diseases, then offer them a cure... oh, and if that's what's on the other side, I'm definitely in."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

*Nods* Mark-315<Aloud>: “Fair enough.”

*His primary concern dealt with for the moment Mark-315 then looks at and ponders over what he has heard and seen of the gauntlet so far.*

Mark-315<Aloud>: “Hmm... Fascinating, such power and potential in such a, relatively speaking, innocuous artefact and item of clothing, that race that you aided must have been incredibly powerful indeed... Just imagine what it could do in a Sentinel-IV’s hands, let alone any of us present, and you yourself?”

*Mark-315 remains silent for a moment before an odd thought suddenly occurs to him* Mark-315<Aloud>: “Excuse my ignorance on such matters but... Don’t items of clothing such as gauntlets and gloves, as well as shoes etc, come in pairs?”

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

[OOC: Antifogwhatic? I looked that up and ended up with an album by a group I've never heard of. In context..?]

"You might all want to try using it at some point," Ben replies. "It reacts to different people in different ways, so it might surprise you. As for coming in pairs... I only asked them to make me one, which was fine and all I was willing to pay them for, but it's entirely possible that they made one or more for themselves."

"I did mention that Chu'dam used the diseases as a recruitment tool," Ben comments. "Sara was infected by Guy deliberately as far as I can tell. Blood tests for that sort of thing are fast in this universe, but occasionally inaccurate; she's got to go back for a second test next week.

"She has two choices: take the test and have it confirm the first one, in which case because Guy came up clear she must, in the public consciousness, have been sleeping around and she gets flak for that; or sign up with the cult. Guy has a tatoo on his chest; that's the Sign of Chu'dam. Anyone carrying it is protected from these diseases, but has effectively signed their soul over to Chu'dam.

"The Sign doesn't actually remove the diseases though, it just stops the effects and hides the disease from tests. Useful for the cult because it means that they can still infect people.

"One of the reasons that I'm pointing Guy out to you is that he seems to be a major player in the cult," Ben explains. "I don't know how big, but he was definitely early on in their recruiting, possibly one of the first. He's definitely a lead that is worth following up."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"What kind of disease are we talking about here?" Douglas asks.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Gabrielle reponds, "Here it's only AIDS - not great but you can live with it. I'm thinking how much more effective they could be if they wanted to move faster - say with one of the hemorrhagic fevers... and thinking too that they probably shouldn't get the chance to think of that."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann stops playing with the Gauntlet for a moment, "Well, he seems to have noticed us." After a few more seconds of fiddling with the Gauntlet he pulls it off and offers it around the table.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas picks it up. "What does this thing do?" He slips it onto his left hand.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Seann slides the papers away from Indigo and reads them more thoroughly. "All sorts of stuff... Try making a circle with your fingers and looking through."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas holds up his hand, making the 'Okay' gesture, and looks through his fingers.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The gap that Douglas is looking through is tinted faintly blue. He can still see the cafe through it, but there are semi-transparent figures following every movement like echos in the air.

His hand is chilly inside the Gauntlet, as if it was caught in the middle of a blizzard. There is a rhythmic warm breeze blowing across the back of his hand though. As if something was breathing on it.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

The feeling of warm breath becomes heavier, and then stops and becomes a distinct feeling of Douglas' hand being sniffed.

"Yeah, I was afraid of that," Ben admits, casting a sideways glance at Mark. "We'll just have to make the best of it that we can." His gaze drifts off into the distance more a moment before returning. "Okay, they're due to leave any minute now. You," he indicates Mark, "the toliets are over there; go and get into some civvies." He considers everyone else. "If you're in then now is about the point to make your decision. I can't force you to remain, but... Trust me, you'll be doing a lot of people a favour if you go through with this, including yourselves.

"If you do stay then I can give you this much to work with." He pulls a document wallet from his bag and displays the contents. "Cash, about $4000. You should be able to live on that for a while without too much trouble. Map of Longhampton, two of; keep these handy because some of the streets around here are a maze. Reservation at a hotel just up the road; not the classiest place, and they only had four rooms available, but it should do. You're booked in there for a week at the moment. Mobile phone; it's on the Universal Roaming network, my office number is in the address book. If you need help, give me a call, if I can't answer it someone else will.

"Beyond that I can sumarise your options: firstly, you need information about demons in this universe; Father Arad is your best bet for that, and his address and so forth are in here," he tapped the document wallet. "Secondly, you need to actually find out what is going on with the cult and deal with them, or at least get enough information that I can call in the marines for a surgical strike. I'd suggest that your third option at this point is to track down whatever the cult is using as a base, because that will have information about demons, the cult, and similar."

Ben sits back and packs a couple of bits that he is taking with him into his bag. "It's your choice. If you have any final questions, now would be a good time for them."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Indi reaches for the gauntlet and slides it out of sight, trying not to be conspicuous.

[ooc] Filch-11 3d6=6 Success by 5. His main concern is to hide it from whats-his-name over at the other table, though he'd also like to have a try at wearing it himself. He will put it on his hand while keeping it under the table.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Douglas pulls off the gauntlet and drops it on the table. He frowns, then shakes his head. He doesn't like the thing.

Douglas says: "One question: is there some reason I don't follow him outside and have a little chat," he pats his jacket over where his revolver sits, "and get us some information. At the very least, it might draw out some of the higher ups. Eventually someone that knows something would have to show up. Besides, if you're the big-shot you're leading us to believe you are, they," he nods at the man at the booth, "are already well aware that you're here. And if they're not, then they will be once buddy boy over there goes and tells his story. So I'm not seeing much reason to keep from getting started right now."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Mark-315<Aloud>: “Understood.”

Mark-315 nods and in one smooth motion gets up, taking his large drawstring bag with him, and casually heads towards the toilets, Serena’s holographic self disappearing into thin air.

Mark-315 reappears out of the toilets in a relatively short amount of time, his large drawstring bag looking heavier than before, and sits back down at his original place at the table, still wearing his sunglasses, but now looking far less conspicuous.

Underneath his large grey/brown overcoat Mark-315 is still wearing his black body-suit, but it’s covered by a pair of worn blue denim jeans, belt, black fingerless leather gloves, and steel toe capped boots. But ever present is Mark-315’s Sentinel-IV silver/grey modular torso armour, which houses Serena herself, which is acceptably concealed by his overcoat.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

[OOC: I'm presuming that these were meant to happen this way around]

The Gauntlet resizes itself once again, fitting Indi perfectly. There's nothing immediately odd about the feeling of it aside from a feeling of space; it's hard to define, but there is a definite sensation of openness, akin to being in a large cavern (or the main chamber in an ancient temple).

Ben considers this for a moment. "To answer your questions... I don't think that they know that I'm here. Then again Chu'dam might have been keeping an eye out for me. But I'm the only one here; until you arrived this world was strictly a one-man operation. So it's possible that Chu'dam didn't know that I was here until now; we didn't notice his arrival until a few days ago, and he'd been here six months by then.

"As for going and talking to Guy... I'm leaving this in your collective hands; if you want to go and ask him some questions then feel free to do so. As I mentioned Chu'dam can't enhance his followers physically, so he wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. But I'd recommend two things here: find out more about Chu'dam and demons in general before doing anything rash; and consider the setting of this encounter.

"None of you have any official standing in this world; I haven't even been able to put together a driving license or any other proof of identity for any of you. The police can't look you up, but likewise the fact that they can't is going to be very awkward if you get into trouble. Someone might get suspicious, things might happen..." He sighed wearily. "Go with what you think is best. I just ask that you don't get each other into trouble that you aren't all willing to deal with.

"Anything else?"

[OOC: everyone effectively has the Zeroed advantage, but with the disadvantage attached that this isn't your world to begin with so you have only the starting resources that you carried with you (I'm counting it as 0-points for a plot related advantage)]

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Someone should follow them." Seann ponders the situation for a moment, then looks around. "Do you know if there would be an... Internet cafe I think? Is there something like that around here?"

(Anyone have shadowing or observation? Seann's defaults are 9 and 9 (with possible bonuses to observation.)

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Ben considers, then pulls the map back to him and unfolds it. "Hmm, internet cafe... There are a couple around Longhampton. I think that the hotel actually has an internet connection as well. Most of them are towards the city centre though; that's a half-hour walk if you don't feel like using public transport. I'm afraid that I couldn't sort out any transport for you to use, but there's a vehicle rental agency just up the road." He considers. "Thinking about it... The college does have some kind of internet cafe that they let the public use occasionally."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

OOC: Douglas has Observation at 13 and a Shadowing default of 9 (thanks, Distinctive Features!). Fast-Talk at 13 too, if he got himself into something sticky. Stealth is at 14, though, and that's what he'd use, I think; the Stealth skill says it's for following someone--Shadowing is for following someone through a crowd.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Shadowing is listed for following a person through a crowd without being noticed and lists Stealth as being for use in the wilderness. The Stealth skill also confirms this: "to follow someone through a crowd, use Shadowing". Shadowing defaults to Stealth at -4.

For these purposes, using Stealth in place of Shadowing, I'd have to say that it would be treated as Shadowing using the Stealth-4 default (with the -1 for Distinctive Features); you would be following through whatever crowds there are (shadowing) rather than hiding (stealth). Should the crowds thin enough then Stealth would become your principle option, but initially it will be Shadowing.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

OOC:The main issue I would have with following him, I think, would be that Douglas can't drive. Wouldn't take much to lose him.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Douglas has Motion Sickness, so this requires help from someone else.

Go outside and wait 'til dude goes out, then put a gun in his face and hijack his car (assuming he's driving). I've seen it done in movies about a thousand times. Should be easy for us to all get in the car at that point and make him take us where we can use some advanced interrogation techniques (did anyone take that skill?). 'Course, we'll need another person to point a gun at him. If things go wrong, we can just kill him. That's to our advantage anyway.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

On the assumption that this plan is mentioned aloud, Ben looks thoughtful. "I don't know whether Guy can even drive or not... I know that he'll probably be on the bus with at least some of the other students. Then again he was concentrating a lot on talking Sara into joining the cult yesterday, so he might just stick with her..."

[OOC: as for Drive (Automobile), Gabrielle has driving at TL8, Seann has driving at TL9, Mark has driving at TL10. So that's only one person who could technically drive a local car without some kind of issue about the controls.]

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

Indigo will follow Guy out when he leaves, and stay behind him. He hopes to track him for a while, then make up some excuse to engage him in conversation while hopefully not drawing immediate attention to the fact that he's with Ben.

[ooc] Shadowing default is 8. 3d6=9 So close. Well, that's what Luck is for. 3d6=17, 3d6=8 barely made it.

Also, before he goes, he'll pull down his hat, turn up his collar, etc. to make it harder for them to recognize him if they do spot him.

Disguise-11 (but a simple thing like this probably has bonuses) 3d6=13

Fail by two isn't phenomenal, but it's enough to force a contested Per roll if this fellow did bother to memorize the faces at the table.

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"I don't think it would matter," Douglas says. "What is she going to do if she finds us trailing her? I'll walk with you. Just the two of us out for a stroll. Shouldn't raise any suspicions. Not if we're out there before them. Won't look like we're following them that way."

Re: [IC] Worlds of Fire
 

"Can I make a suggestion that doesn't involve violence? Or is this the wrong crowd?"

"I... What? Seriously? At least try and TALK to her before you start rewriting her brain!" Seann shakes his head, "Look, just try not to kill anyone. I'm going to go find one of those internet cafes and then take a look at the campus later."

(Seann's going to the nearest internet cafe, and then following the pm I sent you, and also looking up demons while he's at it.)