You put on the ring.
§
You take off the ring.
You're surrounded by carnage. Fresh, dead bodies and blood are everywhere. You are in an alley, bodies are hanging from the fire escape, over the edges of the dumpsters, and laying in heaps on the ground. There are easily a hundred dead here, most of which have been sliced in more than twain; you easily recognize Ishmael's handiwork. The sun is shining brightly, warming your face, and the chirps of birds can be heard over the gutter, gargling noisily with all the blood flowing into it.
The alley ends behind you at the street, and in front of you ends in a brick wall, cracked in places from the force which seems to have been caused by several bodies, now dead, thrown against it.
You are alone, but you feel several scriff vectors.
§
(your name, we know it.)
AKA Kaiser Sozei, to many in early worlds as well as Miralla and Bob
AKA John Pharaoh, to many in later worlds and most other associates
(I miss any?)
Persuasion 3@1
Charisma 3@4
Animal Magnetism 2@10
Strength 3@6
Stamina 3@5
Agility 3@6
Resistance 2@10
Flexibility 2@5
Density 2@4
Hand/Eye 3@3
Intellect 3@2
Education Level 2@6
Intuition 3@7
Will Power 3@8
RSV 3@5
MSV 3@6
TV 3@2
DV 3@2
Appearance: Six feet tall, two hundred thirty pounds, all lean muscle. Metallic silver colored hair and eyes.
Weaknesses: (That bloody ring)
Skills are too numerous for me to list at this time, let me know when you remember more that you have.
I recall at least 3@10 skill in use sword as a tech skill, memory says you have several martial arts you've gotten there, and several smithing skills at 3@10 as well. There is probably also a lot of psionics; I recall you got that multiple body part rend to full expert as well.
Equipment
Also too numerous to list, but let me know when you remember something... what's it been, FFFOOOUUURRR years since we played in earnest? There's your building, of course, and your magic sword, naturally.
Magic longsword, Fatal +DC +20 SM.
And at least several tee shirts, denim jeans, suits of various armor, sunglasses, and hats.
That wraps it up for now.
"Ugh! Must have been one hell of a party Ishmael threw."
I'll scan the bodies quickly, but from the desciption of my surroundings I assume they are human. I'm hoping none of them are my people. I will attempt to psionically contact my people individually. Dawn, Lilith, Miralla, Braun, Ringo and the rest in non specific order. If I cannot contact them, I will just have to rely on good old fashioned scriff-sense. If I recall correctly, Dawn and I have a special bond that will allow me to find her individually as compared to the usual vague feeling. I will slowly make my way to the street end of the alley, and carefully peer out to my new surroundings. I got a bad feeling ole Ish made a shitty first impression here, so chances are my popularity is at an all-time low. If the coast is clear, I'll start making my way towards my people and possessions and hopefully someplace I can wash most of the carnage I assume I am wearing off. Knowing the ring is a last resort, it must have been pretty bad where I had been. But no time to think about that now. My people will surely tell fill me in when I find them. If they're still speaking to me that is. Well, I know Dawn will. At least I hope so.
Pharaoh
You feel the familiar sensation of Dawn in a seperate direction than the sensation for your equipment. Walking from the alley, you see the human carnage does not end here; rather, it extends in both directions down the street. You follow the scriff sense of Dawn, and it brings you to a hospital; it is sterile in here, completely devoid of any bodies or people, quiet as a sensory deprivation tank. Following the sense further leads to the basement, but she still seems to be below you; some searching turns up a staircase leading down further, and you find yourself once again among Ishmael's carnage. As you walk, the setting looks familiar; it reminds you of the facility where Dawn was made in the world you met her. Picking up the pace in concern, you do find her; she's next to an examination table, handcuffed to it. She looks at you, her perfect albino little poker face, pink eyes with the dissassociative look of a sociopath, and doesn't say a word.
I'll look around to see if there are any other people or things alive in here. Also I will check for surveillance cameras as I take in the layout of this room. I will attempt to read Dawn's mind to get a feel for her frame of mind. I know she sometimes lapses into a state which can be very bad for those around her, well, except me usually. If I feel it's safe, I will approach her and gently caress her cheek.
"Dawny? It's me. You ok babe? Guess we arrived with an impression, once again. What say we get you out of there?"
Doh! I forgot Dawn rarely speaks but communicates with her mind to me. But She should be used to me speaking aloud to her.
I will look for the keys to the cuffs. If they are nowhere to be found, I will attempt to pick the lock on them.(As a blacksmith, Ringo tough me lockpicking, And I do usually carry pockpics) If that doesn't work, I will either break the table to free her or as a last resort, I will hack the cuffs with the sword. That's the end attached to the table and not her wrist. Lol.
Once I free her, I will look for lab journals, either written or computer. I want to know why they had her here. If sufficiently angry, I may have slipped that ring on to teach these people a lesson.
"Anything you can fill me in on, blossom? Such as what happened, where we are or anything like that?"
After searching this facility thoroughly, we will begin to make my way toward my equipment. Hopefully we can collect our people along the way if they are in this world and alive.
Pharaoh
When you stroke her cheek, she smiles and stands, the cuff breaking off her wrist as if it were made of taffy. She hugs you. Telepathically, she transmits a set of ideas to you: "Ishmael made it his mission to try to make me cry. He tried several other things before this. When bringing me here didn't work, he handcuffed me and told me to stay here. Then he started killing everyone. He must have been frustrated that he couldn't get an emotion out of me.
"Don't you remember? The five hundred dragons, the town who said there were ten, you telling them you could take them without breaking a sweat?
"Let's go home. I don't like it here." She squeezes you slightly harder at the last.
Ugh. The dragons. Not good time. Got to remember NOT to be so damn confident.
"Yeah. Let's go home. We just have to look for my equipment and the others on the way. I'm sorry Ishmael was here again."
I'll take her hand and we'll leave the building. We'll head in the direction of my gear.
"When we get home and settled, we'll take in a nice sunrise together. I know how much you like them"
Pharaoh
She hugs your arm and squeezes it gently in response to the statement regarding the sunrise. "That would be nice," she says aloud.
The two of you pick your way through the carnage, back to the hospital proper. There are showers here, so clearly, you take the opportunity presented to clean yourself. Then, you head on out from the hospital.
§
Your equipment sense is easy enough to follow, and after several hours quiet walk you arrive outside your building. You find Domodred leaning against the wall next to your building, his green bo staff in one hand. He nods to you in acknowledgement, and says, "Ishmael. Back so soon?"
"Ish is stowed safely where he belongs, old friend. Looks like he had enough excitement for everyone. How fare you? Any of the others turn up?"
I'll head into the building, change into clean gear, check and service my weapons, have a bite to eat, and wait in my office.
Pharaoh
Domodred answers you, "Good to have you back, Pharaoh. I've seen Lily about, but we haven't been here very long."
Dawn services several guns, and puts them on her person with the businesslike speed she normally uses.
§
Domodred interrupts your quiet afternoon. "The police are outside. They say they want to talk to you."
Yep. Been expecting that one, hence waiting in the office.
"Please have Dawn and Lily come to the office in gear. Then please inform the police that I will speak with only one of them, and that it's in their best interest if they come unarmed. If they refuse, by all means allow them to retain their firearms, and show them in, my friend."
I will in the meantime, don my gear (swords, pistols, armor, ect.)
I will position Dawn in the right corner opsite of me, Lily in the left. I will wait for whomever Dom brings to the office. I will have Dom position himself at the door once it closes. Once they reach the center of the room, I will hold up a hand in a halting gesture.
"Good day. My name is Pharaoh. How may I be of service?"
Pharaoh
Lily isn't here; Domodred has seen her several times around the world, but she hasn't approached him.
The police officer comes in without his weapon; Dawn is ready to blow him away by your leave.
"Hi, I'm Detective Justa Guy. There was a massacre in the city not too far from here, and we were wondering if you knew anything about that."
(LOVE THE NAME!!!!!)
I will telepathically tell Dawn to hold off. He is, after all, unarmed. Hmm. Lie? Tell the truth? Such choices. Well, let's not tip our hand too early, shall we?
"A massacre, eh? Please have a seat and tell me more?"
Pharaoh
He responds, "No, thanks, rather stand. There isn't much to tell; hundreds dead, blood everywhere. We've got some pictures, if you'd like to come down to the station and take a look at them."
"I don't suppose that's a request to go look at these pictures, now is it?"
Pharaoh
"Well, right now it's more of an offer. Can you account for your whereabouts for the last twelve hours?"
"Hmmm. Very good then. I will be down at the station shortly. Until then, detective. Dom, please show our guest out. By the way detective, those aren't requests. You have my word I will arrive at the station, and I will arrive alone and unarmed. Good day."
I will wait until Dom escorts the detective out and returns to my office.
"Here's the situation. Ish made a bloody fine mess of things once more, and I feel this time there may be repercussions. I will honor my word to Detective Guy, and go to the station. If I am detained, call the station and see what, if any, bail they are asking. I'm sure we have sufficient funds here to cover it. Conver what you need to, if such is the case. If they deny me bail, you are to do nothing. Make no attempts at rescue unless you receive word from me. I know this goes against both of your natures, but please for now, just indulge me. Dom, if you can round up the others in the meantime and have them wait here. Monitor the local news carefully. If there are any news alerts of what looks like Ish's handywork starting again, move the building to a safe location. I don't want any of you hurt in whatever carnage may insue. Thanks, Dom. Now if you would excuse us, I wish to have a word with Dawn alone, please."
Once Dom leaves, I will go to Dawn, take both her hands in mine and lean my forehead to hers.
"I know you get upset when I leave you, Dawny. But it can't be helped right now. If I don't go, they will come here, assault the building, and more deaths will come of it. I think Ive had my fill of that for just now. I promised you a sunrise, and I will make good on that promise. In the meantime, you all keep each other safe until I can return."
I will change into street clothes, and have a good meal with my companions. I will head back towards the town with nothing but the ring in my pocket. I will locate the station, and walk inside.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Pharaoh. I believe you requested my presence?"
Pharaoh
((Street clothes... does that involve sunglasses... and a hat?))
Domodred returns to the room and says, "Time to leave, officer." Guy sees his welcome is worn out and allows himself to be escorted from the room. Before leaving, Dom asks in sign language if he's to kill the man on the way out, and seems disappointed by the negative response.
Dawn is upset enough to see you go that she doesn't seem upset. "If they had evidence to arrest you, they would have, wouldn't they?"
§
The police station isn't terribly difficult to find. You walk in and announce yourself, and soon find yourself in an interrogation room. Detective Guy comes into the room with another officer, presumably his partner, wearing sunglasses indoors with a goatee. "You remember me," Guy tells you. "This is my partner, Detective Officer Dave. We'd like you to look at a few pictures," and he starts putting down pictures on the table in front of you. They're clearly intended to evince some sort of emotional response from you, as many of them are of women and children, but it's all pretty much more of the same.
Yes, of course sunglasses and a Tophat. Both of which I will remove while in the interrogation room.
I will look at the pictures.
"Positively grisley. I assume you have questions, do you not? If so, then I suggest you get to asking them. If I wanted to see scary pictures, I'd take out the wedding album from my first marrige. And Officer Dave, is it? Please remove your sunglasses when addressing me inside. It's not only rude, but makes you look completely rediculous."
Pharaoh
Detective Officer Dave doesn't respond to your statement other than grating his teeth audibly.
Detective Guy takes the pictures from the table, and says, "Mr. Pharaoh. Can you account for your whereabouts between midnight last night and today when I came to call?"
"Should I have to? Do you suspect me of some skullduggery? Perhaps you think that "I" am responsible for this outbreak of dead bodies? Truth be told I cannot. And unless you're going to outright accuse me of, or charge me with anything, I see no reason why I should do so in the first place. Now, I've come here and looked at you little horror story pictures. Will there be anything else? And officer Dave, I believe I politely asked you to remove those dimestore glasses, as I removed my own. Has common mannaers escaped you, or did your mother intentionally rear such a rude bastard?"
Before he can react I will try end telekinectically remove his glasses from his face and drop them at his feet.
Pharaoh
You connect, but the sunglasses appear to be attached to his face. He says to you, "Alright, that's enough! Don't make me use my magic nightstick!" He holds up a nightstick bathed in an eerie luminescence that keeps changing colors.
"Could you leave us, Officer?" Guy motions Dave out of the room, and he does leave.
"Look.. Mr. Pharaoh. It would be best if you cooperate with us. We have concrete visual evidence that you perpetrated this assault; did you think there weren't any cameras on your fifteen block killing spree? You're definitely going down for that.
"Right now we really want to know who in the hell you are. That building wasn't there a week ago, and you dodged bullets like it was nothing. We know that you did it; what we want to know is, why did you do it?"
"If you had concrete evidence, you would charge me. Or perhaps you realize that if that was me, there's no way you could possibly hold me? Immaterial either way, I suppose. If you're not going to charge me, I'll be taking my leave. As to who I am, I am a private citizen who keeps his affairs private. That' really all you need to know. Now, shall we play cat and mouse any longer, or shall I go back home? You tell me. I mean no disrespect, but I 'm weary, and I'm expecting friends back at the building soon. Plus, I owe a certain young lady a sunrise."
Pharaoh
The detective shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Pharaoh, but you're under arrest for the murders of all these people. You have the rights to silence, the presence of an attorney, and trial by fire. Should you choose to invoke any of these rights, the state will do its best to oblige you."
"Explain trial by fire, if you would detective."
Pharaoh
He explains, "We douse you in first oil, then gasoline, then set you on fire. If you die, your innocence is proven without a court of law. If you survive, you are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court."
"Well, option C is right the hell out you lunatic. Option A is looky pretty slim as I've never really been good at keeping silent. Option B seems likely "for now", so why don't you get me a mouthpiece, or lawyer if you prefer. Until then, we're through talking. This discussion is over. You're dismissed, detective."
Guess I'll wait it out for now. Can't wait to see what kind of shiester they provide for me.
Pharaoh
He leaves you alone in the room for observation.
§
GE roll... 28!!!
§
They leave you alone for several hours, and finally another officer comes in with a guy wearing glasses with tape on them, the shirt of his cheap suit half tucked in, his hair a mess, muddy shoes, and three days of beard growth on his face. He clearly suffers from severe exzema, is overweight, and smells like moldy cabbage. The officer leaves you in the room with the guy, who walks over to the table, but his briefcase pops open and the papers fall on the floor; you see coffee and jelly stains on the papers. The man says to you, as he's struggling to gather the papers, "I'm Joe Merann. I'm your state-appointed attorney." He rises with some difficulty, smiles good-naturedly, and reaches out a calloused, peeling hand to shake yours.
Beautiful.
"You'll forgive me if I don't shake hands. I believe I get a phone call, do I not?"
I'll reach with my mind to dawn and Dom. "I don't think I wish to be here any longer." See if I get a response.
Pharaoh
Looks like BRA for Psi is 38, the Psi bias level of the world is definitely lower, and telepathy is 3@5 (you can add that to your copy of your character sheet), +20 for familiarity with Dawny. Let's go ahead and roll... 45.
§
Dawn's cool, relaxed thought comes back. "You don't need to tell me twice."
Moments later, you hear gunshots start ringing out from inside the police station.
Joe jumps under the table and starts simpering.
Five minutes later, the shooting has ceased. Dawn opens the door to the interrogation room, walks in, and hands you your sword, then pops her clip and replaces it.
"There might be a couple still around."
"My sweet Dawn!", I'll say as I get up and strap on my sword. I'll go to her and kiss her gently. "Perhaps we'll make that sunrise after all. Let's go and see if we make sure these officers know how we feel about their legal system."
We'll sweep through the station and finish off any stragglers.
Pharaoh
Hahaha. Dag. So much for the police force.
§
Your initial search turns up mostly dead, a few bleeding to death with all the fight out of them, Detective Guy holding a bullet wound in his neck with both hands to try to keep from bleeding out. You don't see Officer Dave among them.
You come across a closed door, and Dawn conveys to you in telepathic thought, "There may be a few in there, particularly the police chief, waiting in ambush. Should we go in guns blazing, or should we open the door and stand to the side, and make them wait for it?"
"Let's make them wait for it, blossom. After all, they kept me waiting. Watch for officer Dave. There's something odd about the man, and he may be more dangerous than we think."
They know we're out here so the element of surprise is out. I will crouch down on one side of the door, Dawn on the other. I'll give her a nod and open the door and let it swing slowly open.
Doing my best Jack Nicholson fron The Shining impression, I'll say, "Little pig, little pig let me in! What's that you say? Not by the hair of your chinny chin chin? Then I'll huff. And I'll puff. And I'll blow your house in!!!"
And the wait begins.
Pharaoh
As the door swings inwards, shots start ringing out and it is quickly blown to pieces. Then, silence, broken by your monologue. Your ears pick up frantic whispering inside.
Ten minutes of ecstasy at the feeling later, a tear gas grenade bounces out; Dawn shoots it back in with a couple very well-placed shots.
There's a great deal of screaming and coughing, and men begin running out the door.
The first one goes down with a hack from your sword cleaving the top half of his head from his body, the next three hit the ground writhing from Dawn's shooting them, kidneys, throat, behind the ear.
The next man trips over the bodies, and you take great pleasure impaling the police chief into the ground by his genitalia with your sword.
There are several guns here, now, if you'd like to grab one; automatic rifles, handguns, and a shotgun.
No sign of officer Dave? That leaves me with an uneasy feeling. We'll scoop up the guns (just more for the arsenal), and cautiously make our way back to the building.
Pharaoh
Oh, no, combat isn't over; I was just seeing if you wanted to grab a gun, since your sword is presently through the gonads of an individual pinning them to the floor.
Gotcha. 2 pistol, and automatic rifle if I have time to get them all.
Pharaoh
You grab three guns???!!1!xq1?!wtf?! and start firing them all into the room, at the same time as Dawn dives onto the floor in front of you firing with a handgun in each hand.
In half a minute, all there is is *click click click click* instead of bangs, and some people are starting to realize that they're dead.
Dawn changes her clips and rises to her feet, then says, "Better make sure we got them all."
I said if I had the time.
"Damn girl. I owe you a sunrise on the beach somewhere."
Scan the room for survivors, and any possible hiding places anyone may have hidden. If there's time, grab a fresh gun, check the payload, return the clip and move on. Use sweeping motions to try and keep as much of the area in sight while moving.
Pharaoh
It was less a matter of having the time and more a matter of your expertise, being able to hold and accurately utilize three firearms at one time.
When you step into the room, Officer Dave begins unloading his submachine gun at you. Most of the shots miss, a couple hit you and fail to leave a bruise; they fall to the floor harmlessly.
Dawn waggles a finger at him and tsks when his gun jams.
"Ok. Everyone just hold it a minute!" I will shout. If Dave ceases hostil actions, he may walk out of here.
"Ok, Dave, here's the deal. You can either answer some questions, and live to be glad of it,or my sweetheart heart here can put so much lead in you, you could use your penis as a pencil. Your choice. What's it gonna be?"
Pharaoh