CM:  White light erupts around you, wiping out details in a wash of actinic radiance... Those of you who are running, make PCN rolls
Riker rolled 1d100 for a total of 31 [31]
Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 12 [12]
Benny rolled 1d100 for a total of 43 [43]
Private message from CM to Francis:  More by luck than anything, you were already turned away when light began to pour from Jophiel, so you still have a good idea of where the door is.
CM:  Riker and Benny have their vision washed away by a tide of light...only the faintest of images are visible through the roaring whiteness.

Riker throws his arms up in a feeble attempt to avoid having his glasies burned out...

Francis:  "Alan!  Benny!  This way!"

Benny just takes in what he can without any attempts at protection.

CM:  The shriek of reality stretched to breaking point and beyond rattles in your ears, underscored by the anguished scream of Jophiel....

Benny follows Francis' voice while fighting the urge to just drop and let it all go.

CM:  Luck rolls all

Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 87 [87]
Benny rolled 1d100 for a total of 5 [5]
Riker rolled 1d100 for a total of 72 [72]
CM:  As you scramble for the door, there's a dull thump as both Riker and Francis's clothes ignite.

Francis drops and rolls immediately (hopefully away from the flames).

CM:  What are the rest of you doing?

Riker:  "YAAAH!  FUCK!  FUCK!"  He tries to shrug off the rapidly carbonizing leather jacket.  "FRANCIS!  GET UP! MOVE!"

Benny drops to the floor and starts dragging the rolling Francis.

CM:  Behind you a voice screams, "NO TIME! GET OUT!"

Benny:  "C'MON FRANCIS!" Benny screams  "GET UP!!"

CM:  A dark shape stumbles past you and slams through the doorway. "This way! MOVE!"

Riker stops, spinning on his heels, skin tightening in the killing white heat, and reaches for Francis.  "COME ON!"

Francis scrambles to his feet as best he can.

Riker:  "MOVE IT!"  Riker yanks his pals along as best he can, while the jacket 'he killed Kennedy in' flash fries, along with the gum soles of his shoes.  Go for the door?  Damn right he's going for the door.

CM:  The dark shape holds the door opens as you dive through, then slams it shut behind you. The door vibrates as thoough pounded by tiny fists. "Hold it shut!"

Riker leans his blistered back against the door, hoping his weight will keep the thing closed.

CM:  Out here, you can see, though your vision is clogged by swirling blobs of negative light. Radiance leaks through the gaps in the door like spears.

Riker screams, incoherently. "YAAAAHHHH!!!!

CM:  The dark shape resolves itself into Smile, steam leaching from his scorched suit. He gestures in a pattern at the door even as it begins to smolder, muttering beneath his breath....and the pounding stops.

Riker:  "Can I step away, now?  My ass is grilled medium rare."

Smile:  "We need to move, fast. That won't hold for long."

Benny:  "He's in there alive still?"

Smile nods.

Benny:  "Let's scramble then..."

Riker peels himself off the door.  "Truck."

Francis:  "It appears you've upset our friend Jophiel, Mr. Smile."

Benny:  "As we have also, I'm afraid"

Riker:  "I don't think he liked my holy water trick.  I was kinda hoping...hell with it.  Let's go."

Smile grunts and moves swiftly down the corridor, managing to run while still appearing to stroll. "You got wheels Riker?"

Riker:  "I'm gonna have that cheap fuck's head on a spike for what he did to Mulcahey.  Naw, I don't have wheels...I fuckin' flew here..."  He fishes his keys out of one pocket, tossing them from hand to hand.  "Riker Limousine, right this way."

Smile is perspiring heavily. "Can we leave please?"

Benny:  "The list of people dying around us keeps growing.  Not a good sign."

Smile: "It's going to go up by four if we don't get out of here."

Riker:  "Get in th' truck."

Francis:  "Jophiel needs to be stopped - can you help us, Mr. Smile?"

Smile:  "Right now I'm trying to stop him killing us..." Smile mutters through gritted teeth. He hauls himself in beside Benny.

Francis:  "If you can, and will - no strings - you can come with us.  Otherwise I'm sure you can find a cab."

Smile:  "Just...hit...the...fucking...gas..."

Riker starts the 4x4 and stomps the accelerator, hard.  Away from the hospital.

CM:  As the speedo climbs to sixty, Smile sags...

Riker:  "More people to bury. Shit."

CM:  For a brief moment, the street sounds seem to cease...

Benny:  "Oh. No."

Riker ducks his head, and turns up the radio.  "Cover yer eyes."

CM:  The world holds it's breath for the tiniest of pauses. And then...

 BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!

CM:  Driving roll Mr Riker

Riker rolled 1d100 for a total of 28 [28]
Benny just closes his eyes and wonders why he isn't covering terrorism in Lybia or something safe like that.

CM:  Massachusetts General Hospital swells like a balloon, and bursts. White light spills outwards and upwards, a beacon of destruction visible from space...

Benny stares dumbfounded.

CM:  Hundred of souls are consumed in seconds as the plasma eats everything in its path...

Riker drums his fists helplessly on the wheel.  Screams drowned out by the firestorm and explosions and the sounds of more people dying.

Francis:  "Dear god... all of those innocent people."

Riker:  "Fucking Apocalypse..."

Benny:  "Why...?"

CM:  The car bucks as the road coils like a snake, but Riker's grim determination keeps it upright and moving, scant feet ahead of the wavefront...

Riker:  "Because he's fucking nuts.  He's as bad as Varniae.  Hell, maybe we oughta let the leech eat his ass."  Riker screams again, pain rage, guilt boiling up, bitter as bile, in the sound of it.

CM:  Chunks of masonry slam into the road around you. An unlucky bystander cathes a cornice the size of a truck and vanishes in a cloud of crimson. Luck rolls

Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 93 [93]
Riker rolled 1d100 for a total of 68 [68]
Benny rolled 1d100 for a total of 23 [23]
CM rolled 1d10 for a total of 6 [6]
CM rolled 1d10 for a total of 7 [7]
CM:  Francis takes seven wounds from glass as debris smashes the window. Riker takes six.

Benny:  "He's going to get it;  I just hope I'm right there to watch it..."

Riker grimaces, but doesn't flinch.  He simply screams himself raw.

Francis gasps as the debris hits, but says nothing.

CM:  As the truck roars away, the sphere of light suddenly contracts, leaving behind it a crater, rapidly filling with water from the Charles River. Where a twelve story hospital once stood, now there is nothing. And the Bronco accelerates into the night... Where are you going?

Riker:  Office.

Benny:  "Carla...we have to try that place."

Smile:  "Who's Carla?"

Benny:  "She's my friend.  She disappeared, too."

Riker:  "Awwww, shit, Benny..."  He coughs.  "Which way?"

Benny:  "What do you know of the modern day monsters that inhabit Salem Mr...? What is your name anyway?"

Smile: "Everyone calls me Smile. No idea why." He flashes you a gleaming white grin. "Salem? No one goes near it, except on Halloween. How do you know she's still alive?"

Riker steers the Bronco outtta town, towards Salem.

Benny:  "I know.  I felt her a while ago."

Smile turns to Riker, "Hold on there Tex, we're in no shape to go anywhere. We need to regroup." He turns back to Benny, frowning, "If Cabot has her, how come she's still alive?"

Benny:  "Lure, maybe.  I don't know. I just know she's alive and it's the only lead I can think of... Hey Riker, you might want to put something on those blisters on your back.  They don't look so good."

Francis stares silently out the window, a sick look on his face.

Riker mutters, "Psychic voodoo bullshit..."

Smile:  "Unless you guys are real special, I can't see why he'd want to lure you. It must be something about her..."

Benny:  "Something like what.  I know she had some powers too."

Smile: "Powers, huh? Anything else?"

Riker:  "She's a preacher."

Benny:  "A metalic knee and a sweet demeanor..."

Smile's eyes go wide. "Crap, that's it. She's a preacher? You sure?"

Benny:  "Yep. Look guys.  I understand perfectly if you guys want to rest.  Hell you really need it, but I have to look for her."

Riker:  "Where the fuck's the cup, huh?  Cabot's gotta have it, and he's gonna try and turn it over to his boss.  Kee-rist."  Once away from the mayhem, Riker pulls over.  "I am so sick'a this shit, man.  I knew Mulcahey since I was six."

Francis:  "Perhaps we need to give our fallen angel some directions... if he wants Varinae and Cabot, perhaps we should help him find them.  Before more innocents die."

Benny:  "Francis, I know this is tough but that isn't a good idea.  You don't give psychopaths what they want.  They just ask for more."

Riker:  "Benny, man...Jophiel's gonna wipe out the Eastern Seaboard first, then trigger a nuclear fucking war. He's a tad beyond your average psychopath."  He glares at Smile.  "Yeah, she was a genuine preacher.  Leemme guess...they need a true holy person to use the Grail, right?"

Smile nods. "Uh huh. And that means there's only one reason why she's not dead yet..."

Riker:  "They don't have the Grail."

Smiles grins. "They don't have it...yet."

Francis turns to smile, fire in his eyes. "You know who does?  Then TELL US."

Benny:  "Carla, just hold on for a little while more.  We are coming."

Smile:  "Man, I wish I knew. Tell me about the cup. Where it got lifted from. Anything you can remember."

Riker:  "Museum.  Only holy ground around that isn't a church."

Smile:  "Holy ground? How the Hell did he pull that off? He must have had help."

Francis sighs, a sound like a leaking tire.

Riker:  "Wow, Smiley, you're wasted as a demon.  You should'a been a detective."

Smile:  "Funny man, Riker. Very funny."

Francis:  "The manner of the guards death suggested the thief was exceptionally strong and fast."

Riker:  "I'm a barrel'a laughs.  Yeah, he' ripped the bars off the windows."

Smile snarls. "Fucking Rivera. Sneaky little sonofaBITCH!"

Benny:  "Who?"

Riker starts up the Bronco again.  Blessed air conditioning.

Smile:  "Louis Rivera. Skinny little punk lives down in Chinatown.Thinks he's a bigshot magician since his poppa taught him to raise the dead."

Riker:  "Zombie!  Bonnng!  Where's he hang out?"

Benny:  "I guess we have to pay him a visit."

Smile:  "Little weasel makes his money selling tainted dope to the chinks. Has a sideline in reanimating the ones that OD and selling them on as cheap labor to the sweatshops."

Francis:  "Charming."

Riker:  "Chinatown it is." Riker heads the Bronco towards Chinatown.

Smile:  "He used to hang around my club sometimes until I caught him trying to slip his crap to one of my girls. Got his address somewhere..."

Riker:  "Dig it out.  I'm gonna open a big can of whup-ass on him."

Benny:  "We better hurry.  Critters on our tail"

Riker:  "My therapist says I've got a lot of unresolved rage to deal with, see."

Smile:  "I can dig it, Riker. Got some issues with my own father figure..."

Riker mutters, driving.  "Big can of whup-ass. Industrial strength..."

Smile pulls a slim notebook out and reads out an address. It's on the edge of Chinatown, in the rundown area that used to be known as the Combat Zone.

Benny:  "Combat Zone, how fitting."

Riker:  "You got no idea, Benny.  Bad shit goes down there every day."

Benny:  "Well, looks like today won't be an exception."

Francis huddles in his corner, arms tightly folded, staring out the window.

Riker:  "We'll see."  He floors it.

Benny:  "We'll see it alright.  Front row..."

CM:  The cracked and pitted streets of the Combat Zone appear less deserted than abandoned in panic. The shabby, sagging building exude a brooding menace...

Riker mutters, "Never did like this fuggin' place...Awright...let's shake this punk down.  He normally got any protection, Smiley?"

Smile:  "Never seen him with any, but that don't mean nothin'. If he's in there, he's in his place of power."

Benny:  "Which means what?  Zombies?  Spells?"

Riker:  "Anybody that hangs with him?"

CM:  The buildings, the tallest ten stories high, seem to stoop over the streets like old men. Windows are carelessly boarded over, the panes long since shattered, and doorways stand buried beneath piles of refuse and debris.

Benny:  "How quaint"

Riker:  "Just tell me where his rathole is."

Smile:  "He's got some magic, not sure how big. No friends to speak of, and no gang either."

Riker:  "Apartment building or what?"

CM:  The silence fills the air like bees. The area seems to be holding its breath. This isn't a place anyone sane would eneter willingly.

Benny's sanity is a thing of the past so he has no qualms about this.

Smile:  "He's supposed to have one of the buildings to himself. That one I think." He points at a sturdy looking three storey brownstone.

Riker:  "Goody.  Any junkies crash there?"

Smile:  "Only ones there should be him and the dead."

Riker:  "Okay.  Benny, Francis...get the gas cans outta the back."

Francis gives Riker an uncomprehending look.

Benny:  "I sure hope this works, Riker."

Smile:  "What, you're going to burn him out?"

Benny:  "I thought he was planning for the zombies."

Riker:  "Fuck going in there.  We're gonna burn the place down.  It's a brownstone, so the fire won't spread.  But it'll take the dead and the dope out.  And cops ain't gonna come down here."  He looks at Smiley.  "You got a better idea?"

Benny:  "What about the cup?"

Smile:  "We need to know if he's got it."

Benny:  "It probably isn't there, but it could be."

Riker:  "Always finding fault, Benny...shit, if it burns up, Varniae doesn't get to be immortal."  He frowns.  "Huh.  Awright, let's go.  We'll toast the living dead, an' stick guns in his face."

Francis:  "I don't think this is a good idea, Mr. Riker."

Benny:  "That's me, the reporter.  Always bitching, never anything constructive."

Riker:  "Okay, Francis...what d'you suggest we do, man?"

Francis shrugs helplessly.

Benny:  "I'll go take a look and then I'll signal when I'm in deep shit so that you can come and rescue me. Whadda ya say?"

Francis:  "I'm a researcher and an analyst, Mr. Riker - not a combatant.  But I just have a, well, hunch, that burning him out won't work."

Riker:  "Okay, you're pretty good at guessing that shit...then it's going in."

Francis:  "I'll come with you, Benny."

Benny:  "Stay here. Someone needs to look after Riker and Smile."

Francis:  "And someone needs to watch your back."

Benny lifts the side if his coat and hugs his flashlight. "You guys will, from here." Benny starts looking for a way up, hopefully a fire exit.

Smile:  "Fuck that. I'm coming with you. This got personal as soon as Varinae was mentioned."

Francis:  "Why don't we all go?"

Benny:  "Oh well, then I guess we all are and fuck stealth. That sounds about right. But let's go already."

Smile heads across the street with you towards to brownstone. Just before you reach the structure he signals you to stop, and approaches the building alone, his left hand held out before him...

Benny fumbles nervously with the unlit flashlight.

Riker unsnaps the holster for his piistol.  "Get the shotgun, Benny."

CM:  Then Smile stops again, and gestures with his left hand. A brief nimbus of light surrounds his hand, and is answered by a similar glow from the recesses of the nearest door. He curses in Enochian, and the words dance in the air like brief candle flames.

Riker:  "Ooh, magical wards.  Imagine that.  Merlin Security system."

Benny hefts the shotgun, even if he has little faith in it's power to save them. "Any other way up?  Perhaps a fire stair."

Smile:  "Smart, for a human, Mr Riker. Yeah Benny, we'll have to find another way up."

Riker:  "I'd say th' basement, but it's prolly full'a dead guys.  Hey, Smiley, these dudes eat flesh?"  He blinks.  "Shit!  Francis, still got the rock salt?"

Francis:  "Right here, Mr Riker," he says, patting the bag in his pocket.

Smiles grins widely. "Mr Riker! You begin to impress me."

Riker:  "My ex partner usedta talk about this weird shit, is all.  An' I read a lot.  This punk's got blowfish toxin, datura, chrissknows what else.  Hey, we got any holy water left?"

Benny:  "You can explain the logic while we look for a way to storm the zombieman's abode."

Francis checks his pockets and holds up a bottle.

Benny digs a bottle out of his coat.

Riker grins.  "Things might just turn our way, boys.  Bring it all, Francis."

Smile winces as if in the grip of a bad headache. "Just be careful where you throw that stuff."

Riker turns his grin on Smiley.  "Sure you don't want a swig?"

Francis:  "I'm sure we have enough to share with you."

Smiley bares his (very sharp) teeth and spits a small gout of flame at the asphalt. "I'll pass."

Benny:  "Gentlemen,  let's get on with this."

Riker:  "Whoo, bad breath.  Okay, Smiley...what's he got up?"

Smile:  "The doors are sealed and there's a psychic alarm. It'll take explosives to open them, and he'll know as soon as we touch them."

Riker:  "Roof access?"

Benny:  "Window access? Maybe we can get up the building next to it and peek inside."

Smile:  "Can't Tell from here. I know the spell he's using though. If there's a door or access he doesn't know about, it won't be protected."

Riker mutters, "Great...zombie crackhouse, an' me without my tank.  We've gotta get him to come out." He  rubs his chin.  "Stay hidden, an' gimme fifteen minutes."

Benny:  "Hm, do these old building have doors to the sewers or something sneaky like that? Don't go making trouble without us Riker."

Smile:  "Depends how old it is. It might have something like a coal cellar."

Private message from Riker to CM:  Gonna make the rounds, carefully, and see if there's any old basement access, maybe blocked by trash, city maintenance, etc.
Private message from CM to Riker:  Stealth roll
Private die roll from Riker:  1d100Total 52 [52]
Private message from CM to Riker:  PCN roll
Private die roll from Riker:  1d100Total 95 [95]
Riker makes his way around the building, quickly disappearing into the shadows.

Benny:  "I hope Riker hurries up so we can circle the building and look for some hole to crawl inside."

CM:  The minutes tick by slowly

Francis begins to pace, watching the building uneasilly.

Private message from Benny to CM:  What time is it?
Private message from CM to Benny:  About 9 PM
Private message from CM to Riker:  On the first pass you see no way in. Make another roll
Private die roll from Riker:  1d100Total 41 [41]
Private message from CM to Riker:  On the second pass you see them.The first is a fire escape which seems to run to the top of the building. the ladder looks rusted and less than safe though. The second is a door at the back of a fenced in yard, half buried by refuse sacks, it looks like it hasn't been opened in years...
Riker re-emerges.  "Bingo," he hisses.  "C'mon.  Around back."

Francis gives a nervous start, then follows.

Benny:  "About time too."

Riker:  "Shit, man...this detective stuff takes time."

Benny:  "Ok, lead on detective man."

CM:  Around the back is a refuse choked alleyway, curiously devoid of vermin.

Benny:  "Wonder why?" he says, sarcasm heavy in the air along with the stench.

Riker:  "Hey, bite me, Benny.  But first, help me move this shit outta the way."

Benny:  "You are always asking me to bite you Riker.  I know I'm attractive but get a grip..."

CM:  Shit is actually an apt description, as it appears that someone has used this spot as a toilet for some time.

Francis:  "Gentlemen, please..."

Riker:  "Yeah, yeah.  Help me out here."

Benny starts to clear the way with old newspapers (hopefully).

Francis pitches in and helps, nose wrinkled in distaste.

CM:  The alleyway opens to a small fenced-in yard, choked with aging bags of trash, behind which you can see a door, half obscured by ancient bill posters.

Benny:  "Phew!  Reminds me of... never mind."

CM:  The doorway looks like it hasn't been opened for years...

Benny:  "That looks promising."

Riker pulls out a small jackknife, and carefully slices the poster edges away, giving the frame an experimental pry.  "Shit.  Uhm...hm.  Crowbar.  WD40."

Smile leans over Benny's shoulder and gestures, muttering. You can feel the power flow, and the small hairs on your neck stir...

Benny:  "Detecto magic... courtesy of our very friendly neighborhood demon."

CM:  There is no answering glow...

Smile:  "Nice work, Mr Riker."

Benny:  "Woo hoo. Yeah, nice work."

Riker:  "That's why they pay me the big bucks.  You got Satan's Electric Axehandle in there somewhere, or do we haveta go get some tools?  Me, I'm all for just taking the door off'a the hinges."

Smile:  "What, do I look like Tim Taylor? Take the damn hinge pins out."

Benny:  "Tim Taylor?!  Smile! I figured you had better taste."

Smile grins. "Hey, Home Improvement is some of our finest work"

Benny:  "Oh... well ..."

Riker gives the door an experimental tug.

CM:  The door is firmly stuck. Possibly locked, most likely rusted.

Francis heads back to the car for the prybar and toolkit

Riker:  "Well, shit on me."  He helps Francis out with the tools, returning in short time with a manhole prybar and a can of WD40.  The toolbox gets left with Francis.

CM:  Strength roll please Mr Riker

Private die roll from Riker:  1d100Total 51 [51]
CM:  Riker struggles mightily with the hinge pins, but fails.
Private die roll from Francis:  1d100Total 7 [7]
CM:  Francis takes a turn, and somehow, slides the pins from the hinges with relative ease...

Benny:  "Oh well

Francis smiles.

Smiles looks from Francis to the hinges and back. "How'd you do that?"

Francis:  "I have the strength of ten, for my heart is pure, something you will never comprehend, Mr. Smile."

Smile:  "Oh, please." Smile rolls his eyes. "Spare me."

Riker:  "I have a .45, an' it beats four aces.  C'mon, help me with the door."

CM:  Strength rolls please

Benny rolled 1d100 for a total of 77 [77]
Francis rolled 1d100 for a total of 79 [79]
Smile watches Francis and Benny struggling with amusement

Benny:  "Yeah, very funny."

Francis:  "If you find this so amusing, perhaps you can lend a hand."

Smile reaches across, sinks his fingers through the metal of the door, and pulls. It comes away in his hands. "Where do you want me to put it," he asks sweetly.

Francis gapes, then says quietly, "Wherever you like."

Smile lowers the door on the trash bags. The open doorway gapes like a wound in the building. Inside, it is utterly dark. A cold breeze blows from somewhere within, and it carries the stench of death...
 

Session ends
 


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