Mage the Ascension: Rule of Shade

[frigidmagi]

"Alright, James you could get into the university computers and find out the addresses right? Should be in the residential archives. When finds that Jason it'll be your turn. If one of them is living on a off campus apartment will that change anything for you?" Boxer asked.

[B4UTRUST]

"On a sliding scale of difficulty, one to ten, it's undoubtedly easier than ghosting through the law enforcement systems. So many more users, so many unsecured ports to allow Johnny Numbnuts to plug his 'puter in, security has to lacking to a certain extent. Housing records will have some resistance, but nothing that can't be dealt with I would think.

"Also depends on what type of security the dorms have. Some places are switching to electronic locks from the older physical keys. More 'secure' supposedly. Also got to worry about the possibility of cameras monitoring hallways and areas of the campus. Those door locks I can deal with, if needed, and if we need to hurry I'll trigger the emergency fire code to unlock every door in the place followed by the locks disabling themselves. Easier for the firefighters to get through when they don't have to pause to swipe a key card every twenty yards.

"Off campus, we'll worry about if it's needed. We may have to pause and rework the plan to deal with that scenario. We'd need to find out if their stuff has been collected yet or not, if family has shown up, etc. Always get Rus there to possibly pass as one of the girls' father or one of us as a relative.

"I'm trying to work this plan with as little reality manipulation as possible unless needed. The less we do, the less likely someone will notice and come after us. If we get anything useful we'll come back here before trying to do the pattern co-location."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I can probably fool any person there provided I have some basic info on the relative. What they look like, a few personal records in case they check ID or have seen said relative before. I can use either thought projection or illusion depending"

[Charon]

Jason looked over at James. "I can probably break my way into any room easily enough, including if it's off-campus. Fixing the damage if I have to really break it might be a small problem though. Any cameras, I can probably deal with as well. All assuming they actually have all this high-tech shit." Jason shrugged. "Mind you, I'll have to pull a few magical tricks to do it but nothing blatant."

[frigidmagi]

"Alright then, that's what we do. Let's get started on that." Boxer said firmly getting up and heading out of the room. He did need to talk to the elders about what they found, if it was an older member of the chantry doing this... He would need bigger guns.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"When you go into the rooms, if you cannot disguise your entrance... do be careful not to leave forensic evidence. Otherwise someone else could do what we are attempting to track us...and that would be bad."

[LadyTevar]

"So, are you going now, or waiting?" Supiyaw asked.

[B4UTRUST]

"Between Jason and I, we can handle door security and I'll cover organic evidence. There won't be a usable trace for anything when we leave. I'll see to that."

James started back towards the stairs then glanced back over his shoulder.
"Let me grab my laptop and phone and we'll be set to go."

He returned a few moments later with gear in hand.

[LadyTevar]

Supiyaw looked to where Boxer vanished, then to the other Mages. "I suppose I will stay here, since you seem to have all the players you need."

[SirNitram]

"Never underestimate the need for backup, Supiyaw." Stark pointed out. "Besides, loitering in a limo can be amusing. Just wish I could've brought one of the nice, present model ones. Oh well.. I suppose I had to go norm-tech eventually."

[Charon]

"And we'll all feel a hell of a lot less awkward around you for it Stark." Jason chimed in. He didn't need to go anywhere since everything he needed was still on his person. "Oh, and James, if you want I can show you the spot where the bodies were found. Maybe between the two of us we can figure something out."

[B4UTRUST]

"Sure, works for me. I'll set up some scanning 'ware on my laptop and see if I can't do some trace work if we get anything."

James headed for the door and motioned for Arkady and Jason to follow.
"Don't care who's driving, but I call shotgun."

[frigidmagi]

Boxer unlike some did not intend to go rushing about the entire house searching for people able to teleport and turn invisible. He would make them come to him. It was perhaps arrogant, but the situation called for it.

It took Boxer awhile to get the meeting room, the large double wooden doors were closed. He walked up and pushed them open with a grunt, the oak doors were a tad heavy.

The room was overdone for his taste, gilded wood with silver and gold trimming around a massive wooden table. Large windows stood open to let in natural light, likely a concession to Rowan, Boxer supposed. It was only the second time he had been in the room. Pictures were on the walls between the windows, some he recognized some he didn't. The history of the chantry was not something he spent alot of time on.

He walked around the table, his footsteps echoed, weirdly Boxer thought but it could have just him projecting. He approached the bell and picked up the small obsidian hammer and weighed it in his hands. For some reason he was hesitant, a crooked smile broke out on his face as he realized how utterly ridiculous his nerviousness was.

"What's the worse they could do? Strike me with lightening?" He muttered and struck the bell.

[Dark Silver]

It took several minutes of the bell sounding , before Boxer got his answer, in the voice of Gren, appearing in what would be his customary seat on the far end of the rounded table.

"Boxer," the man spoke in his even tone, "Your the last person I expected to use the bell. Rowin's meditating, and I assume that since you used it...Steele and Zoom are otherwise AFK..."

Being a VA, Gren utilized what would, in years to come, be common language on the internet, "Your lucky I wasn't doing much beyond oogle my meditating wife...wha's the happy hap?"

Gren smiled broadly, the tanned face with the creases shwoing he spent a good deal of time in the sun, as much at least as he spent behind a Trinary computer.

[frigidmagi]

Boxer took a breath, this was going to take awhile to explain. At least it wasn't Darek, he felt rather awkward around the arch mage who had somehow become his patron.

"I'm likely telling you much you already know but, there have been three murders, all of them ritualized. Occult ritualized with were-creatures symbols used. A number of us went to check out the site of the most recent murder, Russel, Supiyaw, Jason and Arkady. They found a node owned by someone in the chantry and a dragon on it as it's guardian. The node is on the college campus, pretty much in the quad. I would like the owner to come with me and help me question the dragon. The others say it might be a bit... off. To make things more complicated, Arkady and Stark think there might be technocrat agents covering this up and sniffing around as well. I think we had better find out what's happening before it bites us on the ass." Boxer reported.

[Dark Silver]

"A Node in the Quad of Darkmuth? That would be the our primary juice-box. It's what keeps our Horizon Realm running. Murders around it? I had heard of some murders in town, but nothing out of the ordinary....but if it's around our node.. The Guardian is called Trangfalgulf, Darek and Rowin summoned him.....a couple decades before I joined it. "

Gren seemed oddly calm, considering he was just told there were multiple murders commited around the node, "I'll go with you, Trang knows all the Elders....we'll be able to figure out what's going on there. If we got Ivory Tower sniffing around in town, that's never good....I was under the impression Steele and them had a understanding..."

"Let me get my coat," Gren said, before a old brown duster appeared in his hand, like he reached for it, even as he stood up. "I'll leave Rowin a hardcopy of where we'll be, incase she wakes up from communing witht he forest nymphs. Shall we?"

[frigidmagi]

"Yes Sir. Anyone else you would like to bring?" Boxer asked.

[Dark Silver]

"Grab Arkady and Stark, maybe Sipuyaw also. Stark and Sipuyaw both have Etherial experience, just in case we gotta go Spirit-mode. Arkady's got some combat experience, and your a decent detective. May want to let Jason and the others know where we'll be."

Gren was already walking towards the door, "Meet me in the garage, I'll warm up Bob."

[frigidmagi]

"I'll meet you there." Boxer said and wheeled around and walked out of the meeting room, he headed towards the kitchen where he left the others.

[LadyTevar]

Supiyaw looked up as Boxer strode intot he room. "Did you find them?"

[frigidmagi]

"Gren wants you, Arkady, Stark and myself to come with him to take another look at the node and ask your friend the Dragon some questions." Boxer said.

[LadyTevar]

One did not argue with the Elders. "I'll get Arkady before he leaves," Supiyaw answered, hurrying to stop James, Jason and Arkady to tell them what Gren wanted.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Ought I tag along? If things go particularly bad, my spells will be of use" Russell said, hoping he would be left here all by his lonesome

[Cynical Cat]

[Russian] "Stay here Tasha. If we go out and get into trouble, you'll be safe."[/Russian]

[Russian] "Alright," she replied to her master. "Be careful Arkady." She put her paw on his face. "Don't die." [/Russian]

[Russian] "I'll be careful," he replied. [/Russian]

[LadyTevar]

"Russell, you can go with James and Jason," Supiyaw suggested, allowing Tasha and Arkady their moment of privacy. She did not understand what they said to each other, but Tasha's body language could be read easily.