Dark*Matter: Discovery, The Chicago Ripper

[Friadoc]

"I think ya'd best ask the lady with the pointy thing," says Cade with a wry chuckle. "But, what'a I know, I'm just a joker..."

"...a smoker..."

"...a midnighttoker..."

Cade then does perhaps the most surreal thing since you've known him, he softly sings an acapella version of 'The Joker' by the Steve Miller Band, all while performing controlled vehicular chaos barreling towards cultists bent on summong up a demonic demigod.

OOC

The world cannot end if there is Steve Miller on the radio...don't look at me like that, I'm serious...it's the 11th Commandment, or something.

 

[Shayuri]

Meri manages a wan smile. "Do I look like Wesley Snipes to you? Though I guess I could use the cool shades."

The heat of combat past, she was back to her normal self again; a little pale and shaky for the ride so far.

"So what's the plan, guys? What's the best way to stop this thing?" She doesn't quite ask who to kill first...but the question hangs in the air nonetheless.

 

[Friadoc]

"We stop them from finishing the ritual," says Cade, his tone much more somber than it was mere moments before. "By any means necessary." With a slight shake of his head, he adds, "We screwed up with the Murdergaunt. It did it's job and distracted us from finishing off the cultist."

"Once they finish the ritual, all they need is A," says Cade as he drives. "We should have split out focus between the gaunt and the cultist..."

"...it'll be hard, but those cultists are monsters, too," states Cade. "Worse then the Murdergaunt, since at least it's acting to it's nature."

"What'a you think, Doc?" Cade asks of Nick. "Any idea on who we should hit first, at least importance to the ritual-wise?"

 

[iwatt]

"Well, I was packing an explosive round. If I'd taken a shot at the cultist I'd have taken the girl out as well." With a shake of his head, he adds, "I could have done a better job of taunting* him, though. Given you time to take him out."

"We have an advantage though. If it's true about Z, they'll really really want her to be the sacrifice. That might make them hesitate a while before they start offing themselves."

Larry had hummed to Cade's impromptu singing performance. When he was done, he adds, "Not bad. But I think you could have chosen something more appropriate for the times. AC-DC's Highway to Hell comes to mind. Or even Iron Maiden's Come and Play with Madness." Although he didn't look like it, it was clear that Larry was a closet fan of Classic rock. "Come to think of it, do you think Iron Maiden's Eddy was a real zombie. All this time I thought they were just some wicked cool posters, but after this last month, who knows." Larry's motormouth commentary clearly is a way for him to bleed off nervous energy.


* I completely forgot about my Dazzle talent. Sorry guys

 

[industrygothica]

"What'a you think, Doc?" Cade asks of Nick. "Any idea on who we should hit first, at least importance to the ritual-wise?"

DM: Does Nick have an idea of how the ritual will work? ie. who will play what part, which parts are more essential than the others, etc. The more information he can feed Cade, the better he can help form a plan. And, just out of curiosity, if Z dies before the ritual is complete, what would happen?

 

[Falkus]

OOC: The ritual can be completed by just one person, as long as he has a copy of the ritual text. It does require a two hour recitation, however, which can be split up among multiple people.

If Z were to die before the completion of the ritual, presumably Cade would feed a shotgun round to whoever did it. On the matter of the ritual, unless they had another being of power handy, it would fail.

IC:
It was a race against time. Or rather, a race against a black helicopter loaded with well meaning but trigger happy commandos. Cade tore across the city, and made it to the intersection within fifteen minutes. An acolyte working at the Institute was already waiting for them. He approached the agents vehicle, and pointed at a church at the intersection.

"They're in there. I can feel them. It's not pleasant. I suppose they consider it ironic to finish this ritual in a holy place. I'm going to heal you up, then take the girl someplace safe. Godspeed," he said somberly. He did his chanting, and quickly healed the team back up to full health, including Quinn. Given the events of the last twenty minutes, she was barely phased by a healer.

The acolyte then took the still panicky girl into his car, and drove off, heading out of the city.

 

[Friadoc]

"Heavy supressive fire that covers a snatch and grab," suggests Cade. "Use chaos against the bastards, down as many of them as we can, and get 'Z' out of their hands, then mop them up."

"Drawback, though, is if it gets too chaotic, we could lose control of the situation, not see the ritual has completed and 'Z' gets killed," frowns Cade. "Which means us and all of Chicago dies, too."

"We've only got a couple of minutes before the helicopter gunboat gets here," says Cade. "While dropping 'Z' might do the job, I've got a feeling they'd have to have a back-up idea on a person of power. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if one of us counted as one."

"So, I'm open to ideas," says Cade, who then adds with a half-smirk, "Quick ideas."

 

[iwatt]

Turning to Quinn after his wound miraculously heals, Larry grins. "We aren't in Kansas anymore. Damn, no matter how many times it happens, it's still cool." Possibly the availability of wondrous healing is one of the reasons for Larry's devil may care attitude. "Seems you're coming with us anyways. Stick to shooting the cultists, you're bullets ought to do the job."

"So, I'm open to ideas," says Cade, who then adds with a half-smirk, "Quick ideas."

"Well, I say we let the UN guys do their job. They'll blow the church to itty bits anyway, unless the bad guys shoot them down before. We ain't stopping them, not in time. I say we go max carnage, straight down the line. Grab Z, and get the hell out of dodge. Then we improvise. Basically what you said, but with style."

 

[industrygothica]

"I'm an archaeologist," says Nick. "Not a tactician. I just know that we have to get her out. Will that new gadget of your tell us their position, Cade? Maybe there are different entry points so we can surround them."

 

[kinem]

Diego has been fairly quiet during the ride, seeming even more troubled than usual.

"When we see what's going on in there, we'll know what our choices are" he says.