Nazareth Awakened - Chapter 02: Wives of Solomon

[Shayuri]

Chance starts to protest about having the vampire at least clean its fangs first, but she sees Harper getting pale and realizes that there's no time for being a smartass. They either needed to dust this thing...and abort the mission not to mention kill someone or something...or switch things out.

"I sure hope it doesn't need more than we ken give," she mutters. "And I'll be frank and just say straight up I'm pretty close to bein' done with Penrose and all this stupid crap."

She worked her head a bit to crack her neck, then went over to Harper, steeled herself, and tried to shove him out of the grasp of the vampire so she could take his place. "That's enough!"

 

[TillForPie]

[sblock=Pulling the vampire off Harper]Roll #1: Strength 1 vs Strength = Failure with 0 successes
Roll #2: Strength 1 vs Strength = Success with 1 success[/sblock]Harper takes 1 more point of lethal damage from blood loss, for a total of 4. He has 4 empty health boxes remaining - still not enough for wound penalties but he's definitely feeling it now.

Chance grabs a hold of the vampire by the arm and shoulder, giving several firm tugs. The creature makes a gurgling snarl as it resists, refusing to stop feeding. Frustrated, Chance gives another hard yank. The vampire is ripped free from its meal and Harper drops to a knee with a shudder, very pale now. The bloodsucking creature turns on the spot and locks its furious eyes on Chance.

The monster is gone and in its place is a short - only about 5' tall - Hispanic woman who appears to be in her mid-to-late 20s. Blood is smeared across her mouth and cheeks and her eyes are dark with fury, but even in spite of all that she is incredibly beautiful. It's difficult to believe that this person was just moments ago an ashen husk bent on violence but to Chance the eyes, now a mere foot from her own, give her away as the very same creature.

She seems ready to attack again, but she notices the others in her peripheral: Agnasci on one side, Law - clutching a stake - on the other. The vampire takes a step back, suspicious eyes slipping from one mage to the next. "What's going on?"

 

[Mosier]

Agnasci is relieved that the creature is finally talking.

"A mage named Magellan sent us for you," he says. "A favor for a favor. Now please, stop eating my friends..."

 

[Rubberneck]

"Magellan sent us to get you, but if you come at us again I'll put you back in that f****n hole. Jesus, we were told you'd need blood but you damn near killed us. I suggest you calm down."

Law keeps his right hand in his jacket, clutching his new gun, his left hand tightening on the stake, waiting to see what happens next.

(OOC :: Damn that vampire eats fast.)

 

[GlassEye]

Harper, Thyrsus mage

[section]

Harper, released from the ecstasy of the vampire's embrace, stumbles and slumps down onto his knees. He stares wide-eyed at the vampire.

"Holy s***." His voice trembles. He holds up his hands and there is a definite tremor in them as well. "I dropped my knife." He begins feeling around on the ground for the knife but keeps his eyes on the vampire.

"You're a friend of Magellan's."

​

[/section]

 

[Shayuri]

Chance just watches the vampire warily, all festooned in garlic and various religious iconography, with a pair of stakes at her waist where a gunslinger's shootin' rods should be. There's something missing from the conversation so far though, and it's bred into her DNA to be the one who provides it.

She offers the vampire a hand.

"You ken call me Chance. Welcome back to the world of the living, and thanks for not killing Harper there."

 

[TillForPie]

The vampire looks from one person to the next, taking them each in. This creature is clearly a predator and it's an uneasy thing to be under the gaze of such a being. Everyone gets the distinct feeling they're being sized up. "Last thing I remember is getting shot and staked," she says, her tone guarded, "so maybe cut me a break." She looks at Chance's hand, her eyes then trailing their way to the face. The corner of her mouth tugs upward in a quick smirk as she accepts the handshake. The vampire's skin is cold to the touch. "Sorry," she offers Harper after releasing Chance's hand.

"Magellan," she repeats back at the group, considering. "Not the Prince? What year is it?"

Everyone feels the pulse of something supernatural, somewhat similar to when they detect another mage cast a spell. Harper feels something close to this when Crow uses a supernatural ability. The vampire is doing something, they're all sure of it. It could have been a sensory power, as nothing visible happens.

Maybe this vampire isn't so bad after all. Nobody could be expected to behave rationally just after being dug up from a grave. In fact, it's easy to feel a little guilty about putting her through this. She can't help being what she is and she seems perfectly personable now that the group has her talking. Having her in Nazareth might turn out all right.

Agnasci, Chance, and Law are all affected by a power used by the vampire. This isn't mind control and the actions of those characters are still their own, but their opinions are being toyed with. To quote the rules: "Whatever the vampire says, people are likely to lend serious credence to his position and views, and even the staunchest opponents gladly hear him out. ... Those subjected to the creature's stature likely remember how good they felt around him, and tailor future reactions accordingly." The exact way this manifests in your characters I leave to you.

Harper's high Composure protects him and he is the only person unaffected.

 

[Rubberneck]

Law drops his guard and deposits the stake into his back pocket.

"It's 2014. No Prince around here that I know of. Just a batty old mage named Magellan. He sent us to get you and put you up in the town we live in called Nazareth. I'm not sure how long you've been in the shallow grave but you're in Arizona."

 

[Shayuri]

Chance relaxed a bit as well, when the vampire shook her hand. And she had a point, Chance had to admit. It'd been a rough night for everyone.

"Sounds like we could all use a bit of a break," she says with a nod. "But we should get movin' before we start the hobbing of nob. As appropriate as our currunt ambience might be, that bit of commotion might've attracted attention."

She gestured with the currently switched-off flashlight. "We got a way out over here."

 

[GlassEye]

Harper, Thyrsus mage

[section]

Harper's fingers close on the pocket knife and he picks it up, wipes its blade on his pants and shoves it back into his pocket. He stands up and pauses a moment with his hands on his knees as the edges of his vision go black. It clears and he straightens.

"Forgiven. So. I'm Harper. Magellan said things were still a bit hot for you so we need to get you out of town."

He steps back opening a path in the direction that Chance motioned. He isn't sure what the vampire did but he doesn't exactly want to turn his back on her. And he wants to see if something else mystical happens so he quickly imagines the effect he wants and casts Second Sight. He also isn't sure if his healing spell will work on blood loss or vampire bites but this seems the perfect opportunity to try. He forms an imago of himself at peak health and casts Self Healing.

​

[/section]

[sblock=OOC]Both spells are improvised and if he fails his first try at Self Healing he won't give it another shot.

Also, I hope I'm not misremembering that bit about Magellan.[/sblock]