UE Issue #6: Infernal Convergence

[gurusql]

Agent McGinley

"I will start the calls, but it is possible that he could beat me through the process. McGinley out."

[gurusql]

Newberry Library Second Floor
Building next to Willoughby Tower
5:25 PM Local Time – Sunday, December 6th, 1987

Wind Dragon: DEX 20, DEF 20, END 46/46, STUN 38/38
Eclipse: DEX 20, DEF 21/25, END 46/46, STUN 29/29
Azir: DEX 18, DEF 27, END 56/56, STUN 56/56
Warlock: DEX 18, DEF 22/24, END 40/40, STUN 40/40

Warlock begins to take the young girl up to the roof, his feet leaving the ground with a soft, almost imperceptible shift. For a moment, they hover in the center of the vast space—the towering shelves of ancient tomes lining the walls like silent witnesses to this unusual spectacle. The soft hum of Warlock’s magic thrums in the air, and the weightlessness of flight seems almost natural to him, but for the girl, it is another matter entirely.

Her eyes grow as large as saucers, her face a mixture of shock and awe, and before Warlock can even finish adjusting his position, she has latched onto him with all the force her tiny body can muster. Her arms wrap tightly around his torso, while her legs instinctively wind around his waist, as though she’s trying to anchor herself to him like a vine on a tree. Her breath is quick, almost panicked, and her heart races in her chest as if the whole world is spinning out of control.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, the other three heroes are still gathered, their attention momentarily drawn to the pair ascending. They stand ready to continue their descent into the depths of the library, the weight of their task pressing on their shoulders. A quiet murmur passes between them, the quiet rustling of parchment the only sound. There is no time to waste, no time to spare for distractions.

Actions?

[Rex]

Azir

"Lets go, we have work to do, and we are running out of time."

She leads the way.

[shaidar]

Eclipse

Eclipse follows Azir, keeping his force-field off to be a unnoticeable as possible.

[MrKinister]

Warlock

Warlock's arrival at the station was accompanied by the usual surprised stares and remarks. He walked to the closest duty officer behind a desk, and said,

"Greetings. My name is Warlock and I am member of GOSH. I have a situation at the Newberry library and I need to make sure this child is safe. Me and the Crusaders are looking into it, and we'll contact you if more help is needed. In the meanwhile, please make sure Safiya here is well taken-care of. I'll be back when the situation concludes to reunite her with her parents."

He handed Safiya off the the officer and told her,

"Safiya, I'll be back once we have solved the problem at the library. I'll also look around for your homework. No need to worry then. This fine officer will keep you company and make sure you are safe."

He patted her playfully on the head, then stood up and nodded to the officers around him. Without any further words, he opened a portal to the library's rooftop to return to the team as soon as possible. As he stepped through the portal, he looked at Safiya one last time, smiled, winked at her, and said,

"I'll be back soon. Be a good girl now."

[gurusql]

Clearing out the Newberry Library
Building next to Willoughby Tower
5:26 PM Local Time – Sunday, December 6th, 1987

Wind Dragon: DEX 20, DEF 20, END 46/46, STUN 38/38
Eclipse: DEX 20, DEF 21/25, END 46/46, STUN 29/29
Azir: DEX 18, DEF 27, END 56/56, STUN 56/56
Warlock: DEX 18, DEF 22/24, END 40/40, STUN 40/40

Warlock’s magic is a seamless blur of motion, a flicker of energy that distorts the space around them for a fraction of a second. In the next, Warlock and Safiya stand outside the police station, the world coming back into focus. The air is brisk, and the towering walls of the station seem to loom a little more imposing than usual, as though waiting for the arrival of something - or someone - that will change the course of events. Warlock leads Safiya inside, where the officers, though initially caught off guard by the sudden appearance, quickly regain their composure. Their greeting is polite, cordial, but the surprise is clear on their faces. They weren’t expecting a young girl to be delivered out of nowhere, but they are professionals, trained to handle the unexpected.

The officers take custody of Safiya with a sense of practiced efficiency. She looks small and vulnerable in their presence, but there is a quiet strength in her eyes, as though she has already weathered many storms. Warlock lingers just long enough to ensure that Safiya will be in capable hands, then turns, the weight of their responsibilities settling back onto their shoulders. Without a word, Warlock invokes his magic once more, this time returning to the library where he had left his comrades.

Meanwhile, Wind Dragon, Eclipse, and Azir are finishing their task of sweeping the second and first floors of the library. The air within is thick with tension, each step a careful progression through what had once been a safe haven, now turned battlefield. The second floor is quiet, cleared, but they move on to the first with the same vigilance. The first floor, however, holds a different reality - hidden amongst the shelves and alcoves are a number of library employees and a few scattered patrons, all sheltering from the chaos that had unfolded. They have taken refuge, and with the team’s efforts, they remain safe for now. There are no hostile groups to be found. The library is clear, the dangers have been neutralized at least for now.

The four of them stand together in the quiet aftermath, the tension of the mission starting to dissipate. They’ve done their job, their immediate task is complete, but the question that lingers in the air is an uncomfortable one: what’s next?

Actions?

[Rex]

Azir

"Is everyone who was in here accounted for? That seems to be what we need to start with."

[shaidar]

Eclipse

Eclipse asks each person they find what happened.

[MrKinister]

Warlock

Having delivered Safiya safely into police care, Warlock returned to the library as quickly as his fingers were able to draw the sigils and his voice is able to intone the proper ensorcelling words. Once back on the rooftop, he resumed his quiet flight down the stairs, down to the third floor, then the second floor, and more cautiously, to the first floor, where he did not run into any difficulties or confrontations. His face took on a puzzled expression, and his thoughts began to race, as he attempted to find an explanation as to what may have happened here, or whether or not they arrived too late to stop the goals of the Circle of the Scarlet moon. There was one element of lightness that was evident to him, though: the demon was not here, or at least not apparently present. He may have escaped his reach... for the moment. But that still left the very idea of Ohzar still trying to accomplish something, or someone trying to reach to the creature.

The first floor proved to be more populated than the rest of the library, with patrons hiding in corners and niches. It seemed that Azir and Eclipse had the situation already handled.

"Is everyone alright? What happened? Did they get away?"

But Warlock was not feeling satisfied with how the events had unfolded at the moment. He explored the possibilities in his mind, and started formulating the pattern of a spell he'd used many times before, although only on a casual basis: something to help him root out magic essence.

[ Hey GM, I would like to power stunt a "sense spell" for magic. I will put the idea into the OOC thread in a moment. ]

[MrKinister]

Warlock

Warlock began to draw a series of sigil attempts in the air, waving his hands to clear a combination he was not satisfied with several times. As he worked, he commented,

"Fellas, please give me a moment to ...", he wiped another set of sigils out of the air and started again for a third time, "... see if we can discover any traces of magical essence that may have been left behind by the members..."

His voice trailed off as his attention was almost entirely consumed by the complex designs before him.

Attempting to formulate a "Sense Magic" spell: 15- [_3d6]=(5+6+2)=13

With a sharp exhalation of tension, he completed the formula successfully, although it did seem to take him a good number of tries and several minutes. The spell he had created gave his eyes a supernatural glow of a faint violet nature. With it, he began to scan the area around him.

"For clarity, I have reconstituted a spell that can help me locate traces of magical energy in the environment. It is not a guarantee we will find anything, if whoever was here acted in a careful and orchestrated way, but they may have slipped in some way, and perhaps we can obtain more information on what they were doing, or where they have gone."

Warlock's eyes then began to systematically explore his immediate location, and if nothing found there, the adjoining rooms, for any traces of magic left behind.

[Perception Check? Not sure if it applies here, but I suppose it can't hurt.
Perception Check? 13- [_3d6]=(1+4+6)=11]

[gurusql]

Researching the library
Building next to Willoughby Tower
5:30 PM Local Time – Sunday, December 6th, 1987

Wind Dragon: DEX 20, DEF 20, END 46/46, STUN 38/38
Eclipse: DEX 20, DEF 21/25, END 46/46, STUN 29/29
Azir: DEX 18, DEF 27, END 56/56, STUN 56/56
Warlock: DEX 18, DEF 22/24, END 40/40, STUN 40/40

After ensuring that all civilians had safely evacuated the library, Eclipse and Azir turned their attention to the shaken patrons and staff. The once-grand hall, filled with shelves of knowledge, was now eerily silent except for the hushed voices of those recounting what had just transpired. Fear lingered in their eyes as they described the chaos.

From the various eyewitness accounts, it became clear that a single woman had been abducted by a group of five hooded figures. Eclipse is unable to find anything to suggest this is not his sister. The five men's cloaks were either black or a deep, blood-red shade, blending into the unnatural darkness that had filled the library. Most people had not managed to get a good look at the attackers - their movements had been precise, their arrival swift, and the moment they entered, the library's lights had been extinguished. Shadows had expanded unnaturally, engulfing entire sections of the building, rendering vision useless for all but the kidnappers.

Among them, there had been a clear leader—identifiable by the glowing wand he held aloft as he moved through the darkness with purpose. Witnesses described him as someone who knew exactly where he was going, as though he had been inside the library before or had another means of locating his target. His confidence suggested prior knowledge or magical guidance, making it evident this was not a random act of violence but a carefully planned operation.

The attackers had made their escape through the rear exit, vanishing into the night before authorities or defenders could arrive. During the attack, two of the five had remained on the ground floor, ensuring no one interfered. Their presence had served as both an enforcer and a deterrent—forcing people to flee out the front or driving them into hiding through fear and magic.

Meanwhile, Warlock and Wind Dragon moved through the now-empty library, scanning the scene for any traces of the assailants' magic. Warlock’s keen senses detected multiple spots where recent magical energy had been expended. Many of these locations aligned with where witnesses had described unnatural darkness forming.

Near each of these sites, the two discovered small, cheesecloth-like bags, each filled with a fine, dark soot. Warlock recognized them as crude but effective material components—possibly used in the casting of Darkness spells. The placement of these bags suggested an intentional effort to maintain a widespread field of blindness throughout the library, ensuring their victim could not be easily rescued.

However, there was another anomaly. On the ground floor—where the two enforcers had stood their ground—Warlock detected lingering traces of another kind of energy. This wasn’t the same elemental void left behind by the darkness spells. Instead, it pulsed with an entirely different kind of mystical energy, one that felt more raw, like unfocused mystical energy.

With these findings in hand, the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to take shape. The attackers had been methodical, their magic carefully chosen, and their escape flawless. The next question lingered in the air: Who were they, and why did they want this woman?

I would ask for an INT Roll for all characters with their next post.

Actions?

[shaidar]

Eclipse

INT (13-) : [_3d6]=(6+2+6)=14

Azir notes that Eclipse's questions get shorter and less frequent as it becomes clear that his sister is the kidnapped woman, and she can hear hints of stress in his voice.

Once the questions are over Eclipse states in a clipped tone "I'm going up to the roof and check we're not being watched from the surrounding streets."

Not waiting for Azir to respond he heads up to the roof. He spends a few moments taking deep breathes to try and calm himself before using any cover on the roof to peer down and check the streets around them.

[Rex]

Azir

"Go ahead Eclipse. Take what time you need, but be careful."

Azir will follow Eclipse up to the roof, to make sure he is safe.

Int check [_3d6]=(1+3+6)=10

[MrKinister]

Warlock

Yes, there was magic all around him. Spell components, expended spells, even an area of raw unfocused essence was left behind. Warlock could not quite place what that magic was, and he tried his best to recall if his previous experiences or training led him to anything he could use to explain what that magic could be. At the same time, he struggled to keep his composure, as he imagined what sort of treatment awaited her. His budding temper began to make itself known within him. He had to take a few moments to steady himself against sudden rushes of anger twice.

[ OOC: Is any of this magical fallout familiar to Warlock? He's got a good number of magic related knowledge skill. Let me know. ]

And after the interviews concluded, it seemed clear that Eclipse's sister may have been taken. Warlock watched as the hero proceeded to the rooftop and out of sight. Only then did it occur to him to ask questions about her. This sort of knowledge was not easily come by. It was certainly out there, cloaked in layers of subterfuge and deception, intended to be worked for in order to be acquired. His sister had been clever and insightful in making discoveries, but it would have taken a determined mind to follow through with all the details to begin to gather a larger picture of what was involved. Was Eclipse's sister a budding sorcerer? Or was she just curious and following an intellectual query?

Warlock's thoughts came and went. He knew he would get no answers by simply speculating, so he asked.

"Wind Dragon, what do we know about Eclipse's sister? This sort of knowledge is not easily come by, and a person must usually spend a large amount of time digging through old tomes and rare books to even begin to approach the layers of truth hidden behind the many obstacles intended to protect and hide them. She must be a very determined individual, or maybe got lucky and picked up by happenstance. Still, if they came in specifically for her, she must have given her intentions and activities away somehow. Which means, someone is watching."

Warlock mulled that possibility in his head for a few moments, then proceeded to return to the rooftop to reunite with Eclipse and Azir.

INT roll: 13- [_3d6]=(5+1+6)=12

[gurusql]

A moment of realization
Building next to Willoughby Tower
5:31 PM Local Time – Sunday, December 6th, 1987

Wind Dragon: DEX 20, DEF 20, END 46/46, STUN 38/38
Eclipse: DEX 20, DEF 21/25, END 46/46, STUN 29/29
Azir: DEX 18, DEF 27, END 56/56, STUN 56/56
Warlock: DEX 18, DEF 22/24, END 40/40, STUN 40/40

Eclipse finishes his interview questions, his mind racing with the last details he needed to wrap up. The moment the questions were done, he feels the familiar tug of the wind against his skin. Without hesitation, he rises, lifting his body from the ground, his glow illuminating the area around him like a small beacon. The soft shimmer of light cascades over the streets below, casting long shadows against the buildings. His ascension is smooth, effortless, as he rises toward the sky, heading for the fourth-story rooftop.

Meanwhile, Azir stands below, watching Eclipse ascend. Her eyes narrow with determination as she calculates the leap. She knows she can make it - four stories, yes - but five would be a stretch. Without a second thought, she runs toward the building’s base, her legs propelling her upward with an almost graceful force. Her body sails through the air, clearing the gap between the second and third floors before landing lightly on the rooftop. Together, they stand on the rooftop, their silhouettes bathed in the soft light of his glow. The city sprawls beneath them, a sea of lights and life, yet the two of them remain silent, taking in the quiet beauty of the world from their vantage point.

Inside the building, the conversation takes a different turn. Warlock glances toward Wind Dragon. "What do we know about Eclipse’s sister?" he asks, his tone quiet but curious.

Wind Dragon looks up, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Not much, honestly," he replies. "I’m not sure if we have not yet been working together long enough or if I’m just naturally a private person, but today was the first time I learned for sure that Eclipse even had a sister. I’d always had a hunch, but nothing more than that. And then… I recognized her name. I think she is a reporter. Well, it looks like some pieces are starting to come together, in ways we didn’t expect. Let’s see where this leads."

Actions?

[Rex]

Azir

"Eclipse, I have been thinking. This seems like it could be the work of DEMON. It is a group I had a run in with before I joined the Crusaders."

[shaidar]

Eclipse

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Eclipse was using the stairs so he didn't bring attention to himself from anyone who might be watching, and he was worried about using his powers while his emotions were not under control. No worries.

Eclipse takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly

"I've not heard of them, so nothing to do with that demon thing in South America we dealt with? Didn't we bump into them once before in some warehouse?...I lose track sometimes." he sighs "I need a few minutes to get my emotions in check, I have some moves for that."

He starts some tai-chi exercises.

[Rex]

Azir

"Our second and fourth adventures involved DEMON in some way."

Edited to fix it.

[gurusql]

The Crusaders battled a Demon summoned by DEMON with a few agents in Issue #2
DEMON was mentioned in the intro piece in issue #3, but they were not encountered in play
DEMON agents (and a giant whirlwind creature) were battled in issue #4

[MrKinister]

Warlock

"... I think she is a reporter. Well, it looks like some pieces are starting to come together, in ways we didn’t expect. Let’s see where this leads."

Warlock sat with that information for a moment. A reporter.

"Ok, let's talk to Eclipse and Azir. If she is a reporter, and she works for a newspaper, she probably has some notes somewhere, perhaps on a work or personal computer. If we can get to those notes, it might lead us to more information as to where they might have taken her. Or perhaps someone with more knowledge of this situation than us at the moment."

Surely there had to be a clue left behind somewhere. A deep investigation didn't happen without intermediate notes and records. If she was a good one, she might even have kept copies of her notes... just in case she knew how dangerous her inquiries were.

Warlock nodded to Wind Dragon and headed up to the rooftop to share his ideas with the rest of the team.