Occult Tales (IC): Chapter 3

[flynnarrel]

Halla

She recognized a spell when she saw it cast. The incongruity of it coming from a construction foreman shocked her from her stun.

"Wait, we can question it. We need answers. It's not some random spirit it was set as a trap."

[Arthur Eld]

"The snake is with Ms. DeCroix, I believe. So don't shoot it." Graham was not pleased to see KR, but he hid it well. "There's something else, it was attacking Chuck. The snake has it bound in its coils." He wondered if his abilities would work on this creature. He also made a note of who could apparently see it, and who couldn't.

"Your reptile does have the monkey bound, Halla. If you want to question it, go right ahead. But can it even talk, or do you have some other way of gaining information?"

He walked closer to the snake and monkey, focusing on the monkey. He wasn't sure what it was-a spirit, or just a very elaborate spell. If so, did the spell create it, or call it up?

Graham doubted his natural abilities would be of any use, but he gave it a shot. His eyes began to drain of their color, and he tossed Halla a glance. He thought about having her underneath him, screaming in fear. It was a wonderful little day dream, but he put it aside and focused on the power fear gave him.

"Tell us what you know about the murder. Now." He put just a little of his built-up energy into it. He was a predator, and the world was his prey. This thing was no exception.

Graham will close to melee range and use his Weaken Awareness effect, AOA and PA for +2/-2 1d20+6=13 Since the monkey is Defenseless, that hits (Defenseless gives you a defense of 0, or a DC of 10.) Since I bothered to roll and hit, without making a routine check, its an automatic critical hit. So let's take the Increased Effect benefit, and that gives a final DC of 25. Assuming of course, the monkey can be affected by Will/fear effects.

[RedBstrd]

GM Post:

The monkey, at least to those who can see the spirit, looks helpless in the grip of the serpent. It apparently isn't under orders to attack spirits, yet it can't reach anything else while dumballah constricts around it.

Chuck's attack doesn't connect with the monkey.

Graham's touch connects with something in the space between the coils of the snake. The spirit monkey is cold and unnatural, uncomfortable even for inhuman beings to come into contact with. It shrieks its rattling speech when the White Court invades into its form with a weakening touch.

[flynnarrel]

Halla
hp 2 lp0

The young black woman steps forward.

"Spiteful little thing aint you? You may have been Compelled to wait here and attack but you did so with malicious glee. I am Halla, Vodoun Mambo of the Old Ways and I'll have no trouble tearing your essence asunder and feeding it to my companion. Or, we could break the Binding, leave you free with your given word to leave this city with all haste. Tell me the nature of the person or persons who Geased you to lay in wait. I want descriptions, both what their auras tasted like and their appearance to mortal eyes. Do this and my leniency will be great."

Persuation (1d20+8=18) hrm... since this is our only lead so far... hp reroll.
reroll (1d20+8=13) is 23

[Mr.United]

Kr

Kr nodded to Graham as he then walks past the snake being as cautious as ever, before passing Graham. He eyes him with great interest as he passes, his right hand hidden in his coat. Something about him seemed familiar to what he hunted and slayed with no pity or hesitation.

His eyes then trace to Halla. A whole new light shined on her. She was of magic, no doubt now. Still her spirit didn't seemed corrupted by the power it brought to her. He still found her caring and comforting to be around.

He didn't see Chuck's little trick, but he did notice his pain. Kr extends his hand down to the kneeled Chuck, "Come on big guy, even The Thing had some battles that injuried him. But I doubt there are few things to keep you down." He says with a smile. It seemed his hyper nature was left in the club.

[RedBstrd]

GM Post:

Softened up by Graham's touch, the monkey listens to Halla. "Obo listens. Obo talks." His chattering stills sounds like the rattling of dice or bones inside of a cup, but his meaning shines through directly into Halla's mind. "Obo called over by man, knows the ways too. Big man, bigger than vodoun girl. Obo sees a scar down his face. Obo thinks maybe it was claws made it. Obo sees scars on the soul. Claws not made. Obo done?" It taps on the head of the snake as if the snake should let it go now and just isn't paying attention.

[flynnarrel]

Halla
hp2lp0

"The spirit, OBO, describes the man who bound it - bigger than myself, a scar of some claws down his face, a practitioner. He describes a scarred sould too, but that can be anything from trauma to dark magic." She translates for her friends before addressing the creature again. "This man, was he as big as the dark-skinned man you tried to strangle? And what was the shade of the scarred-man's skin?"

"And other questions?" she asks her companions that last.

[RedBstrd]

GM Post:

The monkey spirit looks at Chuck. "Big as that man, yes." He doesn't seem to understand the question about the shade of the scarred man's skin until he translates it into monkey-think. "Man is a black-fur too."

"Obo" means "monkey" in Yoruba, by the way. Halla probably knows the word from all of the West African influence on Haitian and Louisiana voodoo.

[Gazman]

Chuck
HP: 3 Condition: Fine

Chuck is standing up but leaning slightly against Kevin. He coughs and nods his thanks at the other man's support. The engineer stands straight up and moves closer to the floating snake. "Wish I could see what you lot are talkin' bout. But a scarred soul does fit with what we know bout the killer. A blood mage with anger issues is what we thinkin' even back at the duke's. Does this "Obo" know if our guy was with anybody or which way he went?"

[flynnarrel]

Halla
hp2lp0

"Obo, you described the man who bound you, as asked, thank you. Describe any people around him, arriving with him, and leaving with him." Halla says.

[Arthur Eld]

"What did this man sound like? What words did he say, specifically?" Although the mere fact that their foe could use magic narrowed their search considerably, finding a black man in New Orleans was not exactly an easy task.

"People often have specific idioms and phrases they use. Knowing even one of our killer's could help point us in the right direction."

[flynnarrel]

Halla

Halla looks incredulously at the Investigator, still uncertain of the man.
"That's asking a lot from a simple-minded African spirit. I doubt it can recall word-for-word the conversation or binding."

[RedBstrd]

GM Post:

Obo laughs at the question in a way that is eerily human. "Obo sees no friends with man. Man has none. Has only hate." The monkey spirit doesn't laugh at the other question, though. "Obo hears voices with trouble. Obo no can help." It taps on the snake's coils, indicating that it's tiring of being held. "Man knows you hunt. He sees the first sorcerer come here. Decides to play smart, set trap. He not so smart. Reckless with Obo is bad idea." Obo extends a paw to Halla. "Obo deals, free Obo. Look for man with scars on face, big man, knows the Old Ways."

[flynnarrel]

Halla

"He had no one with him. And Obo felt enough hate off him that the spirit doubts the man has friends. And this spirit gets meanings more than actual words, so no good help there. And the man knows we are after him." Sho reports to the others.
"Wait, Obo, you said the man saw saw the 'first sorcerer come here'. Explain please. Did you mean Kevin, here, or was there someone else who came to examine the scene before we got here? and when exactly were you bound? A few days? A few hours?"

Did we know of another investigator sent by the Duke?

[RedBstrd]

Halla

"He had no one with him. And Obo felt enough hate off him that the spirit doubts the man has friends. And this spirit gets meanings more than actual words, so no good help there. And the man knows we are after him." Sho reports to the others.
"Wait, Obo, you said the man saw saw the 'first sorcerer come here'. Explain please. Did you mean Kevin, here, or was there someone else who came to examine the scene before we got here? and when exactly were you bound? A few days? A few hours?"

Did we know of another investigator sent by the Duke?

Obo nods. "Man set up wards here. Angry but careful. He said sorcerer tripped them. Man is paranoid, thought he left no traces. Decided to make sure. Sent Obo tonight. Summoned Obo up and sent me over."

The Duke mentioned that he did have a non-Black Council magus working for the Red Court. Silvia confirmed that a mage came around before you guys did, which Kevin made a big deal about.