Episode 28 "The masks we wear"

<Storyteller> You walk out of the ramshckle Hall, and into the street. It's bustling with Hierarchs, and civillians who have been ousted from the Haunts and Halls. The legionnaires are keeping order as best they can, and the mood here is relativly tense. A legionnaire stops you and asks you to follow him to an alley.
<Storyteller> IronJohn looks to each of you as the legionnaire begins to walk towards the alley. "Be on guard." he says
* Hans follows Ironjohn, his hand to one of his pistols.
* Edward shuffles along, rolling his eyes at John's comment, but keeping his eyes and ears peeled nonetheless.
<Storyteller> You follow the legionnaire into the alley, he looks to see if no one has followed you.
* Legionnaire pulls out several masks, one for each of you
<Legionnaire> "Special orders from Anaceron Ambrose, she wants you all to wear these untill your mission is over."
* Legionnaire hands you each a mask
* William follows
* William frowns
* Edward eyes the Legioinnair warily for a moment, wary due to all the Spectres, studying him for that inky blackness that lies beneath the surface.
<William> "What is it?"
* Hans examines the mask given to him.
<Legionnaire> "It's a mask that indentifies you only as a hierarch, not who you are."
<William> "No."
<Storyteller> The mask is a simple face mask with only a mark that is the banner of the Hierarchy
* William doesn't even touch it.
<Legionnaire> "What?"
* Legionnaire looks at you incedulously
<William> "I said no. I will not wear it."
<Storyteller> IronJohn, Remy and Brianna put theirs on
* Edward nods slightly, turning the mask over a bit and shrugging. He is, after all, just a solider in this war and not one to defy legitamate orders. His thoughts are disrupted by William, however, and he looks towards him. "What's wrong with it, son?"
* Legionnaire gets closer to William
<William> "I will not use something forged from the soul of another."
<Legionnaire> "Listen, this isn't some dumbass order."
<Legionnaire> "Have you heard the story of how they attacked the Hall of Oracles?"
<William> "And I am with this legion by CHOICE. Because they need my skills, especially in this mission."
* Hans continues to examine the mask, as if in a trance or something.
* Legionnaire shakes his head
<William> "Besides. What keeps spectres from stealing the masks of the fallin?"
<Legionnaire> "When they attacked, it wasn't...normal..."
<William> "What is normal in war?"
* Hans shakes his head, then puts on the mask.
* Edward sighs slightly and slides the mask on.
<Hans> "It's human nature to have war."
<Legionnaire> "It was as if they were looking for something....or someone. Anaceron Ambrose guesses it was your Cohort. You don't wear that mask and they'll recognize you."
<Legionnaire> "They'll send every available spectre in New York after you. You want that?"
<William> "If they were looking for them, then I do not have to worry about being seen."
* Legionnaire his head
<Legionnaire> "if they were looking for them, they were looking for you as well."
<Edward> "Son, we all got troubles, but wearin a soul-mask ain't that bad a crime, if yer life's on the line. Think about this: If you don't wear that, a whole lot more than one soul might be in trouble. Lesser of two evils, maybe."
<William> "They were looking for their cohort. I was not with them when they met the dark one who now makes war upon this city."
<Legionnaire> "How sure are you?"
<Edward> "Neither was I. But we're with 'em now, an that can mean trouble. Them Shadow-eaten aren't none too particular on who they choose to eat, I've seen."
* Edward , in typical elderly fashion, butts in and drops senile advice.
<William> "It matters not. Find me a relic mask, and I will wear it."
* Legionnaire sighs and takes off his mask and gives it to you.
<Legionnaire> "This is a relic mask, it should conceal you."
<Storyteller> He hands you a theater mask<crying>
* William bows. "I thank you. I shall see that it is returned."
<Legionnaire> "You be careful with that Mask," he leans into William's ear, "It's part of me, you understand?"
* William nods.
<William> "You have my word."
<Legionnaire> "Alright, good luck."
* Legionnaire looks around again and walks out of the alley
* Edward shakes his head and watches him go.
<Storyteller> He leaves you all standing in the alley
<Hans> "You realize William, Ambrose won't be very happy when he finds out you didn't take the mask."
* William dons the mask
* Brianna looks herelf up and down
<William> "You realize I don't need to take her orders?"
<Brianna> "It doesn't mask my clothes, I'll have to change..."
<Hans> "I know that as well, but just be prepared for whatever will come from her."
<Edward> "Might I ask why that is, son?"
* Brianna takes off her headdres, and suddenly, her Egyptian garb is replaced by her normal uniform.
* Edward 's voice tinges with curiosity at mention of William not needing to take her orders.
* IronJohn looks at you all
<IronJohn> "It's time we went to the Jadian Domain, you all ready?"
<William> "Because I travel with this cohort of my own free will. I was asked to travel with them to protect them from the darkness within."
<Hans> "Ready and waiting to begin."
* IronJohn nods
* Edward gives a dusty chuckle. "Certainly, sir."
<Edward> "I see."
* William nods to IronJohn.
<IronJohn> "Let's go, and try not to shoot at any spectres unless we have to, I want to sneak in and back out."
* William hesitates, but then nods slowly.
* IronJohn heads out of the alley and heads towards the gates
* Edward shuffles after.
* Hans follows Ironjohn
* William follows IronJohn
<Storyteller> You reach the gates and the legionnaires open them, they nod to you as you walk out into the night
* William pulls his hood up. In his chainmail, with the cloak, tabbard, and mask, he looks odd indeed.
<Storyteller> The streets are busy tonight, and the quick walk by you, going on with their lives, not realizing the chaos that surrounds them
* Edward eyes William for a moment, then gives voice to the question he's thought about since seeing the gauntlets. "Was your death quite a time ago, son?"
* William smiles behind his mask. "No. I am not that old. I simply dress this way because....it is appropriate."
<Storyteller> You walk cautiously through the streets watching for spectres. After about an hour of stealthly avoiding any problems, you begin to hear voices, chatters, mumbles and screams.
* IronJohn stops and looks back
<Edward> "I see. You are a knight of some kind, or were? What cause did you fight for, may I ask?"
<IronJohn> "Be careful."
* Hans draws his pistol, in case of an attack by Spectres.
* IronJohn draws his pistol
* Hans shushes William and Edward.
* IronJohn opens up the map and checks your position
* Edward holds back aways, for those who are armed to remain forward, giving a brief glance at Hans for the shushing and looking vaugely perturbed, then falling silent.
<IronJohn> "The Domain is six blocks that way," points towards the voices. "If we are silent, we can go around them."
* IronJohn folds up the map and begins to walk through to an alley way
* Hans looks to Edward as if to confirm the need for silence.
* Hans follows Ironjohn quietly.
* William looks at IronJohn and whispers, "What is it?"
* Edward , understanding the need for silence sometimes, makes not a single sound. Old people. Odd ducks, sometimes. Then he slips after them as quietly as possible.
<Storyteller> You follow IronJohn into the alley and past a few buildings, soon you can see barrows fire between the buildings
* IronJohn stops
* IronJohn puts his finger to his lips
<IronJohn> "Listen...." he whispers
* Edward tilts his head and strains to hear.
<Storyteller> You quiet down and listen, for a time all you can hear are cars, and buses go by, and people walking and talking, but soon there is a break.
<Storyteller> Strange voices begin to fill the night,
<Storyteller> "Soon they shall break, and all this will be ours."
* Edward frowns deeply, his wrinkles seeming to get worse as he does so.
<Storyteller> "Yes," says a strangely familiar voice
* William scowls, hand resting on his sword.
<Storyteller> "They shall break, and nothing will stop us. More souls for Markova."
<Storyteller> The conversation continues in this vein, and soon they die down
* IronJohn motions for you all
<IronJohn> "Let's go."
* IronJohn heads off to the Jadian Domain
* Hans follows
<Storyteller> The rest of your trek is relatively quiet and quick, and soon you are within sight of Chinatown
* IronJohn continues to stealthly make his way to the gates of Jade
* Edward spends the trip trying to think of who Markova might be, wether a local entity or a bit of legend, or both.
* William covers the rear, constantly looking back in the direction of the spectres.
<Storyteller> There in the middle of the street is a large twelve foot gate made of Jade. Within those gates are several guards and one offical looking man
* Edward looks up towards the top of the gate, his reverie broken.
<Storyteller> As you approach they begin to gather their weapons and aim them in your general direction
<Gateman> "Halt! In the name of the Emperor, identify yourselves!"
<Storyteller> IronJohn identifies himself, as does Remy, and Brianna
* Edward halts and puts his hands up slowly. "Edward Stevens of the Iron Legion, sir."
* William stops. he doesn't draw his sword, but beneath his cloak, his hand is near it.
* Hans identifies himself.
<William> "William O'Connor."
* Gateman looks at you and says something to the guards.
<Storyteller> The gates open, but the guards continue hold their weapons on you
<Gateman> "Enter, and throw down your weapons."
* Edward frowns deeply, somewhat suspicious, but not having a weapon to throw down.
* William remains outside the gate, arms crossed.
<Gateman> "If you do not throw them down, we will open fire."
* Hans drops his weapons.
<William> "If I must throw down my sword to enter then I shall simply remain out here."
<Storyteller> IronJohn throws down his weapon, and Remy throws his down
<Gateman> "If you are shown to be who you say you are, your weapons will be returned to you."
<Gateman> "You have my word of honor."
<William> "And if I am who I say I am then you do not need to worry about me attacking you."
<William> "And you have mine."
<Storyteller> IronJohn looks at you
<Storyteller> "Throw it down, William. We would do the same if strangers came to us."
<Storyteller> One of the guards comes out and collects the weapons, carefully. He stops as William
<Gateman> "I ask you once more."
<William> "If they value honor, then my word is as good as theirs." He touches the crucifix around his neck. "I swear that I will not draw my blade against you as long as I am within your territory."
* Edward watches William, admiring his resolve somewhat.
<Storyteller> A man walks from out of a building, and says something to the gate man.
* Gateman motions you in
<Gateman> "If you draw your blade, this man," points to a fierce looking guard
<Gateman> "Will be forced to defend the good people of this protectorate Is this acceptable?"
* Edward watches the show quietly and with interest.
<William> "I gave you my word."
<Storyteller> The gates open, and you are all let in.
<Storyteller> The stranger walks up to your Cohort and bows
<Kasagami> "I offer my humble apologies, I am Kasagami. I will be your guide here. Please come with me."
<Storyteller> You all walk in and they close the gate behind you
<Kasagami> "I regret that I must test you each, but the days being what they are. I must."
* Edward steps in and returns the bow, remembering vaugely his etiqutte from his fighting days.
* William bows back
* Hans walks in and bows.
* Kasagami walks up to IronJohn and touches his forehead with a strange instrument. He smiles.
<Kasagami> "Ah welcome." follows suit with each of you, and finally when you are all done.
* Edward eyes the strange instrument with interest the whole time it's visible, looking like he's just DYING to find out what it is.
<Kasagami> "I humbly beg your pardon. Please, follow me and we will talk about why you are here."
<Storyteller> to be continued