nextgen_parent (nextgen_parent) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2012-02-13 01:14:00

Entry tags:

antaeus, iron dragon, jenny woolverton, nicholas salem, perenawska, plot-"a study in stealing", team - champions

Unexpected Visitor
Lucius Antonius Aquilla rarely ventured out of the city of Nova Roma deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, but his mission was quite urgent and had brought him New Orleans. His grandson Cornelius lived here with his teammates and Lucius needed their help.

With little difficulty he made his way through the city and eventually came to the headquarters of the Champions. He double checked the address and satisfied that he was at the right place he knocked on the door.

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	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-10 04:09 am UTC (link)
	"Do you think you can find who's responsible?" Lucius asked. "There were a few witnesses if you need to speak to them." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-10 08:12 am UTC (link)

"Witnesses won't help. I'm not a detective. I'm a bit of a mystic, which is what I'm working with now - but the real trick is going to be when and if we decide to let the Rider loose. If so, I'll home in on the greatest source of sin in the area, whether its the knife or not - and regardless if its the thieves, or a native, I won't be able to stop, be reasoned with, or anything else. So I'm trying every finders trick I know before getting to that - then I'll let you decide if you want to take the risk."

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	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-10 03:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Anything else weird being going on, Grandfather?" Corey asks. Maybe they'll have to resort to talking to witnesses in a normal way, but it's hard to track anything through that route. But they /definitely/ don't want to do the rider thing if there's been any trouble at home that could...distract him. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-10 08:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Perhaps I could be of more use here?" She offers a slim smile. "I am not as experienced in these matters as I would like to be but I do know how to question people. I am more of a.... warrior than a detective though so my questions may lack the depth we need." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-11 12:58 am UTC (link)
	"Nothing that I can think of," he said to Corey. He looked at Nick warily. "I think maybe as a last resort, Mr. Salem. We are only human and even though we have different gods, we are not free of sin." He smiled at Rose. "Maybe it would be best that you and my grandson talk to the witnesses." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-11 01:26 pm UTC (link)

Nick nods firmly. "That's what I was trying to warn people about in New Orleans. Those two will put people off less than I do. Is there somewhere I can have a couple drinks and read up everything you have on the knife, so I can try working on the low-level mysticism research route a little while they go the diplomatic route?"

Because, well, A) it might work, even if probably not, and B) he could really use a drink.

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	Re: Nova Roma sandcastlegod 2012-03-11 05:11 pm UTC (link)
	"You can go to our place. I know Mom keeps some extra raisinwine around. Strongest stuff in Nova Roma. Can't stand it myself." He smiles at Rose. "Okay. I don't know anything about detectiving, but I do know everybody, and I can help you with the latin." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma irondragon 2012-03-11 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	She gives Corey a half bow. "Thank you. I will need you to translate as best you can. I do not want to probe deeper than I must. But it is logic and reasoning I must tap into so that we may find out as much as we can... and you may think of questions I would not." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-11 10:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Raisinwine, huh? Ok, I'll take you up on that. If you guys want to get me what books you can that deal with this, I'll work on the mystic angle a bit, and stay out of your way otherwise." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-11 11:27 pm UTC (link)
	"While you eat and have a drink, I will get what information we have on Lucretia's knife," Lucius said as he led Nick out. "We will leave Cornelius and the lovely lady to their work." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-12 01:43 am UTC (link)
	"Sounds good. What magic I know is mostly minor ritual. After researching, I may need a couple things. Nothing too big - we'll see what I find. Do you still have anything that might have a sympathetic connection to the knife? The cloth it rested on, something associated with its legend, that sort of thing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-13 08:36 pm UTC (link)
	"The place where it rested is this way. If you'll follow me?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-13 11:16 pm UTC (link)
	Nick nods his agreement and moves to follow. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-13 11:43 pm UTC (link)
	Lucius showed Nick a small pedestal where the knife rested. It was a simple block of marble that had two small supports that held the knife when it rested there. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-14 12:15 am UTC (link)
	Nick frowns as he studies this. "Was it ever cleaned, sharpened or oiled? Maybe some type of whetstone or cleaning cloth is around that has an association with it?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-14 01:49 am UTC (link)
	Lucius shook his head. "No. It was more ceremonial than anything. No one dared use it or really touch it because of it's power." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-14 02:28 am UTC (link)
	"Damn, of course. So I'll have to work in here. The pedestal might have something. If you have it, I'll need some chalk, some water, a normal, if very sharp knife, and some of that wine." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-14 02:48 am UTC (link)
	Lucius nodded. "I will return shortly with the requested items." It took a few moments, but he did return with the requested items. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-14 02:52 am UTC (link)

Nick begins setting up his ritual space. For the most part, he knows more about magic than actually knowing magic, but his own mystical ties and knowledge give him a few insights. He's pretty sure some people would usually object to a demon possessed individual drawing pentagrams in their sacred reliquary - but they really want the knife back, and he's careful not to invoke anything truly demonic - just a bit of trying to see sympathetic ties.

He draws the lines in a mix of chalk and just a few drops of his own blood, giving it some added energy and mystical tie, and a link to him as the caster. Then he lays out a bowl of water at the center.

The wine? That's for him, as he works.

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	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_misc 2012-03-16 11:22 pm UTC (link)
	Nick will get a sense of a few people entering and near the pedestal. One is clearly the leader and a strong sense of a high intelligence comes from him. Power comes from the dagger itself, but Nick will be able to tell it's far away. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-16 11:27 pm UTC (link)

Now the dangerous part. Nick channels his power through the pentagrams carved into his hands, igniting the chalk outlines with balefire for a few moments, trying to get a feel for these people - the intelligence is fine, but does the Rider want them?

And the dagger... is their intent for it something the Rider wants? He tries to link himself into the ritual through the blood tie, trying to commune with the Rider without summoning him, a dangerous balance.

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	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_misc 2012-03-17 01:58 am UTC (link)
	The sin on the individuals is quite clear, though more strongly on some than others. There is even the feeling of a demonic presence to one of the individuals. Nick will be able to sense an evil intent surrounding the knife. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Nova Roma

vicious_cycle
2012-03-17 02:11 am UTC (link)

At the presence of a demon, Nick's hands shake a little, and the fire begins to spread even as the flesh begins to wither away, stretching and thinning across the bone. His eyes become more hollow, flames dancing in them.

He fights off the transformation, but can still feel that echo of the knife in his mind.

In a voice somewhere between his own, and that of the Rider, without looking back to see who might be about, he intones, "I believe... I can find them."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma nextgen_parent 2012-03-17 10:57 pm UTC (link)
	"That is good to hear," Lucius said. "Very good news. Come now, son, the others are waiting for you and after a meal you can start your hunt." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Nova Roma vicious_cycle 2012-03-18 07:04 pm UTC (link)
	He's about to comment that food is not what he's hungry for, but he forces the demon back down. Not the place or the time. "Good plan." he agrees instead, rubbing absently at his hands, still sparking with balefire around the cutscars. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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