<Storyteller> The intruders seem not to notice you as you watch them astonished from
the shadows of the back alley. The risen reaches for the door.
* Hans slowly grabs for his pistol.
* Angelo grabs his gladius, and looks at Remy.
* Daniel silently draws the midnight-bladed Nocturne from its ornate sheath
* William slowly draws his broadsword, keeping the large blade hidden inside his
cloak as best he can
* IronJohn has his guns out
<Storyteller> Remy pulls his pistol and aims
* IronJohn shoots at one of the spectres
<Storyteller> The shot hits the spectre and wheels him around
* Hans aims, and fires at (he hopes) the lead spectre.
<Storyteller> The spectre takes the shot in the back
* William charges in, sword raised, at an angle, over his head, and swings it around
in a waist high slash through the nearest spectre
<Storyteller> The sword slices neatly in the spectre
* Daniel dashes out, running at an angle to the spectres and charging them from the
flank, sword held at mid-height as he presents a low profile to the spectres. He
moves in and appears to "flick" his blade with a skilled strike at the spectre's
arm.
* Angelo charges forward, straight at the Risen, and merges with her form,
disappearing.
<Storyteller> As this all begins to happen, the Risen reaches out and touches the
doorknob
<Storyteller> There is a startling blue flash in the Shadowlands as a ring of blue
flame vomits from the door
<Storyteller> The spectres reel back, three of them, fall to their knees and begin to
fade away into nothingness
<Storyteller> The blue flame passes harmlessly by each of you
<Storyteller> The risen is sent sprawling to the ground
* Daniel takes a moment to look around, wondering what just happened
<Storyteller> Sloan emerges from the open door and seeing the risen on the ground, he
pulls his weapon
* William goes for the next spectre
* Remy goes for the spectres too, then
* Hans attacks any remaining spectres.
<Storyteller> The risen begins to shamble away from Sloan, towards you unnoticing you
* IronJohn summons up his anger and punches at it's possessed body
<Storyteller> The remaining spectre turns towards you and leaps, it's claws
outstretched
<Storyteller> The risen trips, avoiding Ironjohn's punch
* William continues through with his slash, using the momentum to swing the sword up
over his head a nd bring it down through the spectre
<Storyteller> The sword slices thro the spectre and it begins to fade, even before it
hits the ground
<Storyteller> Sloan, hearing the sound of the fight fires several shots at the risen
<Storyteller> The bullet hits and the risen is still rising
* IronJohn begins to mutter something in latin, as he makes a tearing motion and then
a gripping motion with his hands
<Storyteller> Suddenly there is the sound of shredding as the soul of the risen is
ripped from it's body. The corpse falls in a lifeless heap
<Storyteller> You can see the spectre appear within Ironjohn's grasp, and just as she
appeared she is gone, as is Ironjohns hands
<Storyteller> Angelo emerges from the body quickly
* Angelo reels.
<Angelo> "I feel like I'm going to fucking puke."
<IronJohn> "Sorry about that son."
<Storyteller> Sloan walks over to the body and kicks it over
<Storyteller> The body begins to rapidly decompose
<Angelo> "Eh, don't sweat it. Dead guy equivalent of jetlag."
* Angelo shakes his head rapidly.
* IronJohn has a look for anger on his face as he trys to pull his hands and the
wraith back from the tempest
* Daniel looks around, checking to see if anyone...or anything...else is around,
before sheathing Nocturne with a steely rasp
* Angelo straightens, looking at the rapidly decomposing corpse.
<Angelo> "Though it looks like it's a good thing I got out when I did."
<Storyteller> The spectre emerges from thin air, in the grasp of Ironjohn
* Hans looks around for any other spectres, then puts his pistol away.
* William crosses himself, and says a few words of thanks before sheathing his sword
* Daniel blinks...and watches John's struggle, drawing his sword quickly as the
spectre appears again
<IronJohn> "Do what ya gotta do lads and lass, I can only hold this beastie for
s'long!"
<Storyteller> The spectre struggles
* William draws again
* Hans pulls his pistol out again.
* Daniel lunges forward, trying to impale the spectre on his sword
* William focuses for a moment, holding the blade, harnessing his faith to make it
blaze, then drives it into the body of the spectre
<Spectre> "You'll all die!"
<Spectre> "He'll come for you-"
<Storyteller> She screams as the swords plunge into her corpus
* Hans aims his pistol at the spectre, but doesn't shoot, waiting for his friends to
get out of the way.
<Storyteller> She falls to her knees nearly taking Ironjohn down as well
* Angelo holds back.
* IronJohn strengthens himself
<Spectre> "You..can..never...win..." and she simply fades
* Daniel smiles
* IronJohn reels backwards a bit, he looks a little weak
<William> "We can, we have, and we will." William says as he lifts his blade
<Daniel> "That's what you think."
* Angelo helps IronJohn stay on his feet.
* Daniel smirks at the disappearing spectre and sheathes his sword
* Hans puts the pistol away, again.
<IronJohn> "Thank ye lad, it has been a long time since I have tried that little
trick."
<Storyteller> Sloan watches the thing dissapate and looks back to you
<Storyteller> "That was, interesting."
<Storyteller> Brianna walks out of the bookstore
<William> "We were expected."
<Brianna> "Remy's upstairs with Emily."
<Angelo> "You're telling me. I feel like taking a fucking shower now to boot."
* IronJohn looks weakened as he looks around
* Daniel lets his gaze wander the streets once again, saying nothing
<William> "The 'Risen' brought allies. It must have suspected we were after it."
<Angelo> "Well, she did leave a message taunting us at the dorm..."
<Brianna> "I think he wanted to see us."
* IronJohn looks a little strengthened
<IronJohn> "Damn blasted spectres...." he says
* Brianna heads upstairs
<Angelo> "So's the kid okay?"
<William> "Then why not bring more spectres? It must have known there were more if
us."
<Brianna> "Yes, she is."
* Angelo shrugs. "Maybe she didn't know about that blue flame ward thing. Made our
jobs easier."
<Storyteller> Sloan smiles, and says over his shoulder, "Now aren't you glad I warned
you?"
* Daniel takes one last look around, then heads towards the store, keeping his eyes
peeled for anything that doesn't seem right
<Storyteller> You head up the stairs to see Remy and Emily talking, Tom is in the
hallway
<Angelo> "Hey Tommy boy," he says with a really wide grin.
<Storyteller> "Yeah ahh hello."
* Brianna stands in the hallway as well
<Brianna> "We should see Ahuru, let him know everything has been taken care of."
<Angelo> "Yeah..."
<IronJohn> "Aie."
<Angelo> "Why do I keep having this feeling like I'm waiting for the other shoe to
drop?"
<Brianna> "Yeah, things have been quiet."
* Daniel looks at the others
* Remy hesitantly leaves emily and rejoins the others
* Brianna puts her arm around Remy
<Daniel> "If anyone says 'Yeah, too quiet', I WON'T be impressed."
<Brianna> "Everything ok?"
* Remy nods
* Angelo chuckles.
<Remy> "Yeah. She's a strong girl."
<Storyteller> Tom walks over to Remy, "I'll keep an eye out for her."
<Storyteller> He then walks back into the guest room
* Remy nods to Tom. "Thank you, son. An' Tom?"
<Storyteller> "Yeah?" he says turning back
<Remy> "If you're thinkin' of courtin' my daughter, you'd best treat her well, or
I'll haunt you."
* Remy winks
<Storyteller> Tom grins, "Good thing she didn't hear that," he whispers to you
* Remy grins and nods. "Take care, Tom."
* Remy turns back to the others. ""So, what are our plans? I for one wanna know how
some zombie fucker of a spectre came to the conclusion that fucking with me an'
mine was a good idea."
<Brianna> "Ahuru would be a good place to start."
<Angelo> "Sounds like a plan."
<Storyteller> You make your way over to the MET, passing by several patrols
<Storyteller> Finally, you reach the MET, and are once again struck by it's beauty
* Daniel gazes at it with a pleasant smile on his face, remembering back to when he
was alive...
<Storyteller> You enter, and head straight for the Egyptian exhibit
* Ahuru is siting in the middle of the floor, eyes closed
<Ahuru> "Welcome," he says
* Ahuru stands and faces you
* Daniel smiles and bows. "Greetings."
* Ahuru waits for someone to speak
<Angelo> "Always a pleasure."
* Angelo looks at Remy.
* Remynods respectfully for Ahuru
<Remy "Good day, Honoured one."
<Remy "I wanted to personally thank you for your concern and assistance in dis
matter with my daughter. All ended well, thanks to your help."
<Ahuru> "The web has been rewoven," he says as he manipulates the strands hung about
his fingers
<Angelo> "That's good, right?"
<Ahuru> "Her future is within."
<Remy "Is it a favourable reweaving?"
<Ahuru> "You wish to know her future?"
* Remypauses, then nods. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble."
<Ahuru> "What you ask....there is a price to pay."
<Remy> "De price of knowledge, or a favour?"
<Ahuru> "I wish...to meet her."
<Ahuru> "That is the price."
* Remy tries not to show his surprise. "You want to meet her? Well, I guess that
could be arranged."
<Ahuru> "I wish to meet her this night."
<Ahuru> "Take me to her, and I shall tell you all."
<Angelo> "Hmm... if Sloan didn't put his wards back up. Was Emily going to stay
there?"
* Ahuru smiles
* Remy looks down, and then looks up at Ahuru. "I'm sorry...it's just that all this
Malfean cloak and dagger stuff is gettin' me paranoid."
<Ahuru> "There is no danger, Remy. I would not hurt your daughter."
<Remy> "I don't doubt that. I just had to be sure that you *are* you. Of course you
can meet her. You're able to pierce the Shroud?"
* Ahuru walks into the back and opens a soulforged ornate box
* Ahuru pulls out a cloak and clothes his naked body, he then grabs his staff and
nods to you, "Yes, I can."
* Remy nods. "I'll lead de way, then."
* Ahuru walks over to you
<Ahuru> "I am ready."
* Remy leads Ahuru to Tom's place
<Storyteller> You walk through the streets, past the hustling quick
<Storyteller> You finally reach Tom's and head up the stairs
<Storyteller> You can hear the two of them talking
<Remy> "Tom, I've come with a visitor to see Emily.
<Storyteller> "Gahhh!" he says as you startle him
<Storyteller> "A visitor? Who?"
<Storyteller> "Is dad here?" Emily asks
<Angelo> "You really oughta consider decaf, Tommy."
<Storyteller> "Yeah, he's back."
* Remy whispers through the shroud to Emily. "Yeah, love. I'm here." He chuckles.
"Sorry to invade your privacy, but a good friend of mine wished to speak to you.
He's a wise man, an oracle."
<Storyteller> "Oh ok," she says looking at Tom
* Ahuru walks into the room and stops looking at Emily
<Storyteller> A sad look crosses his face
<Ahuru> "She reminds me of my own daughter..."
* Ahuru reaches into his pocket and brings out the web
* Ahuru looks deeply within the web and then turns to Remy
<Remy> "I'm sorry, Ahuru..."
<Ahuru> "She will live a long life. She will marry, she will have a child, a boy.
Matthew."
<Storyteller> Tom blanches at this
<Storyteller> "Jesus, can you really see all that?"
* Ahuru turns to Tom, "Yes,"
* Ahuru continues to look at Remy
<Angelo> "Just don't ask him for lottery numbers."
<Ahuru> "Is there more you wish to know?"
* Remy smiles
<Remy> "Who's she gonna marry, if you can say."
* Ahuru smiles, "That is a question, you have an answer to before you..."
* Remy grins and nods. "Somehow, I sensed that one. Maybe I'm gettin' a hang of this
fate stuff."
<Storyteller> Emily looks at Tom, "What's going on?"
<Storyteller> "Nothin'" says Tom
<Remy> "One last question?"
<Ahuru> "Yes?"
<Remy> "Will...will uh...will I be around to see her grow old? And can you tell if
she'll get stuck in the shadowlands? I guess that's two questions", he finishes
sheepishly
<Ahuru> "I cannot answer for your death, Remy. That is yet to be decided. As for
her..." he concentrates, and gets a relieved look upon his face.
<Ahuru> "No, she is to be reborn."
<Ahuru> "If that is all?" he asks
* Remy nods
<Remy> "Ahuru...thank you very much. I owe you."
<Ahuru> "Thomas, I will appear before you, a warning would be...advised."
<Storyteller> "Ahh yeah," he turns to Emily
<Storyteller> "This visitor is about to show himself, and well he's ahhh...he's ahh..."
<Storyteller> "Very tall,"
<Storyteller> "Who is he?" Emily asks
<Angelo> "Thank you, Captain Understatement."
<Storyteller> "I think he's like a mentor to your dad," he states
* Ahuru crosses the Shroud,
<Storyteller> Emily looks surprised, but not frightened
<Remy> "Not officially. He's a mentor to my good friend Brianna. He's a highly
respected member of the underworld. He's an ambassador."
<Ahuru> A sad look passes over his face and he walks towards the two
* Ahuru reaching them, he kneels and hands Emily an amulet
<Ahuru> "Anutep, aban, Maat-a...apenti."
<Storyteller> The two look strangely upon this, as Emily accepts the amulet
<Storyteller> "It's beautiful."
* Ahuru whispers something you can't quite hear, but Emily looks strangely shocked
and the nods
<Ahuru> "Remember, Matthew." he says as he fade from their view
* Ahuru turns to you
<Ahuru> "It is time to leave, they have much to discuss."
* Remy nods. "Thank you, Ahuru."
* Remy says goodbye to Tom and Emily
* Daniel nods. "Indeed."
* Ahuru walks out of the apartment and cloaks his face
* Angelo follows wordlessly, brooding.
<Storyteller> Tho you are sure you saw a hint of tears in his eyes
* Remy follows behind.
* Daniel follows, staying quiet
<Remy> "Are...you alright?"
* IronJohn follows
<Ahuru> "Yes, I am...comforted."
<Ahuru> "When the time comes, we shall speak and I shall tell you what needs to be
told."
<Ahuru> "Do you understand?"
* Remy nods
<Remy> "Such is the way of fate."
<Ahuru> "I will teach you these ways, both of you."
<Ahuru> "Any of you."
* Remy smiles. "I think I'd like to learn."
* Ahuru walks towards home
<Ahuru> "Come, we must prepare for our voyage."
<Angelo> "Voyage?"
* IronJohn smiles at the mention of a voyage
<Ahuru> "To Swar, we must convince the kingdom to aid us once more."
<Ahuru> "We must leave in a week, and then I shall teach you along the way..." <Storyteller> to be continued
