Dec 28 12:00:01 106 PA - Fade Town in full

• .*

Entering a meditative state Sage finds herself whisked from the dead of winter to an unknown village in the midst of a very dry dusty spring. Maintenance is very much behind, giving the impression of quite the rundown place. No one appears to be around at the moment.

As she finds herself in the middle of a seemingly abandon town, Sage looks around to get a sense of it. The rundown appearance is certainly odd. There seems little more to do than look for signs of what may have happened or anything strange about the village. As she tries to reach out with any senses she has available to her, she wanders about.

"Well this is unexpected. Clairvoyance?" A smooth cultured and mature male voice asks with a strong German accent. Turning will reveal a well groomed greying tall man who is very fit, but also only and apparition. "Didn't know my presence on the astral plane could listen in on such calls. I imagine it has much to do with my own possession of the ability as well as my presence on the astral plane. I am Viator by the way. I imagine you are looking into the fate of the one calling himself Alistair miss?"

The voice does attract Sage's attention indeed as she turns about to see who seems to be speaking towards her. Her gaze considers the appariion. She offers a faint smile since she seems to be visible to this person. "We're on an astral plane?" She asks softly, before glancing to the village and nodding faintly to herself as if this explains much. She looks back to the man, "And, I am Sage." She responds simply figuring a name won't harm things overly much. She considers the man briefly, "I suppose that's the only reason I would be here." She replies after a brief pause, "How did you all..." She gestures around her to the abandoned village.

"This is not the astral plane no, but that is where I reside. This is your vision of a probable future I imagine. Come, I don't imagine you have much time." He says, cutting off the open question as he leads ahead, walking deeper into the village.

When the apparition seems to offer to guide her, Sage decides against questioning. This sort of thing doesn't work as often as she'd like, and is forced to follow along into the village. She glances around a little, but she doesn't expect that there'll be any danger for her.

Deeper in the village evidence of a battle is apparent. Or more aptly a massacre. Weapons scorches, bodies and gore become abundant as they near the village center. "Looks like the resistance did not go well." Viator remarks to the dozens of dead on the streets as he leads to the door of a central hall.

That there is a battle isn't surprising to Sage, but the signs of a massacre are troubling and brings a frown to her features. Surely if this many people died in the effort, something went seriously wrong. Nervously playing with her hair, she follows along. She decides not to distract the apparition with questions for the time being. Perhaps she can gain something useful from just seeing.

Inside the hall the air is thick with incest as it is very apparent a ceremony is in process. Chants echo off the walls and on the stage four robed men surround a naked and bound Alistair. His bindings are web, cascading to the ceiling to reveal a massive spider with a skull on its thorax.

As Sage enters the hall, she gasps softly. "Alistair." She whispers softly, before taking in the sites around him. "Mages?" She asks as she looks at the chanting robed men, glancing to the spider and studying it for a bit to see if there's anything distinct she could describe about it. "Spider..." She comments, "Is this what they're going to do anyway?" She asks, feeling helpless. "Do we fail?" She can't take her eyes off the scene in front of her to look at the apparition.

"Do you come? In time? Not for me to say." Is Viator's reply as one of the magi steps up to Alistair with an ornate dagger and plunges it into his chest. "All that I can say is time is running out." And the vision dissolves, the hall Alistair and viator all gone as Sage's true eyes open again.

"Wait!" Sage pleads the vision begins to fade, but it all seems far to clear what will happen. There will be some ritual in which Alistair is sacrificed. Her eyes fly open as she takes in a sharp breath as she comes out of her trance. "No..." She says, "I can't let that happen..."

• .*

As the time approaches to head out on the quest to rescue Alistair, Sage comes along dressed in her own battle gear. She's clad in her gladiator armor. On one of her forearms there are hooked vibroblades that are currently retracted. She slings a shotgun over her shoulder, a laser pistol is strapped to her waist. In the bag that she carries, she has the fireglobes that her partner gave her among other supplies. She looks around to see if anyone else has begun to form yet.

Erica raises a gloved hand to wave at Sage. She lowers her hand for a moment before raising both of her hands up to take off her helmet. The cyclops helmet comes off her head and she has a warm smile on her lips. "Hello Sage. How are you doing? You prepared?" She asks while she looks through her utility belt to check that her gernades and securely attached.

The waving draws Sage's attention and she lets a small smile come to her lips. For the time being she carries her helmet on her hand to make sure that she isn't mistaken for someone else. "Hey Erica..." She replies as she approaches, "And well enough on both accounts, I suppose." She comments, before looking over the other woman. "And yourself?"

Erica shrugs her shoulders quickly before setting down her helmet. "I'm alright. A little bit nervous but other then that ok." She bites down on her lower lip and gnaws on it for a moment. "Do you have a radio? If so what frequency do you want to be on so I can set my internal radio to the same frequency."

Nodding faintly to the other woman's comment, Sage purses her lips. "Well, if you end up become afraid to the point where you can't handle it... just remember that my touch can make it go away." She comments, before nodding to the other comment. "Its built-in. I think we should coordinate that when everyone's here... but..." She glances at her helmet. "Channel 19.25 right now, though."

Erica flashes Sage another quick smile before picking up her rifle. "No I'm not that scared just nerves. Nothing wrong with a little nerves." She starts looking over her rifle checking it out before settling it across her shoulders. She bends down to pick up her cyclops helmet and move it under her arm while she talks to Sage. "Any last minute updates or info?"

"I didn't mean now." Sage replies, "Otherwise, I'd have to wonder about you." She teases lightly, before reaching out to touch the other woman's shoulder with her free hand briefly. She steps back when the other woman bends down to pick up the helmet. She purses her lips as she ocnsiders the question, "Nothing I've been told yet.. but we'll see."

Erica laughs softly in her little voice. She smiles encouragingly at Sage as the other woman touches her shoulder. She rotates the helmet around in her hands slowly. "I'm sure things will go well. We will just have to play it by ear." Looking over the other woman she nods her head slowly. "I love those claws of yours. They look like they can do some damage."

"We'll likely find a way to come out on top... but, don't forget my offer." She comments, before she glances towards the claws. "I wouldn't know.. this'll be my first time using them... and the person said they were good for defending myself as long as I can figure out how to use them properly." She chuckles a little to herself.

Erica looks over the claws for a moment and nods to herself. "If you ever need someone to show you how to use those a bit more effectively I could try to teach you." She shrugs her shoulders again as she unstraps her vibro knife form her hip and unsheaths it. "We can try to go through a couple parry exercises right now if you wish."

Celaeno approaches the Landing Strip with a fairly casual gait - something she's been doing a fair amount of, lately. Seeing the two women whom she'll be spending the better part of the next... unknown amount of time with, she approaches congenially, hooking one thumb around the hilt of a sword - just catching the talk of practice. Eyebrows go up behind her faceplate, "Might be a bit late for that," she says brightly.

A smile comes to her lips at the offer, as Sage nods to the offer. "I'd like that.. and we seem to see each other often enough that we could probably pull it off easily enough." She comments, before looking to the claws she has attached to her left forearm. The other one might be in her pack. She gets the blades to slide out before making sure the vibro portion isn't actived. Then Celaeno's voice comes, and she gives a soft sigh as she lets the blades retract. "Later then." She comments, before moving to put her helmet on and secure it into place.

"Alright fair enough." Erica says as she twirls her knife around and resheathes it. She straps it back down before turning to Celaeno and offering her a friendly smile. "Hello Cel. You pretty much ready to go?" She asks while taking the cyclops helemt out from under her arm and pulling it down over her head. She twists it around before making sure the armor is sealed tight.

"Alright fair enough." Erica says as she twirls her knife around and resheathes it. She straps it back down before turning to Celaeno and offering her a friendly smile. "Hello Cel. You pretty much ready to go?" She asks while taking the cyclops helemt out from under her arm and pulling it down over her head. She twists it around before making sure the armor is sealed tight.

"For the most part," Celaeno says rocking back and forth on her heels. "I could probably pick up one or two things really quick right before we take off. Though, I'm not sure I quite remember where the place is supposed to be, really." Her humming can just be heard between comments, slightly dissonant, "And what about you two? All ready?"

Erica taps her foot idly as she makes one last check of her equipment. "Well if everyone is ready. I guess we should head out. That guy who thinks he is spooky is going to meet us somewhere right? Well let us head to the meet up point." She says through the speaker in her armor. She stretches for a moment and then starts heading that way in a long loping gait assisted by the exo skeleton in the armor. She stops for a moment at the edge of the landing strip to wait for the other women to catch up.

Dawn. Near enough. The far horizon's a bright warm patch of grey on a nondescript concrete sky, listless flakes of snow drifting to the nondescript Earth below. The ley line towers in the distance, an arrow-straight band of blue thousands of feet tall, a wall of light casting eerie shadows in the stillness below. A stream's cut a furrow through the otherwise flat land, scrub trees an even twenty to thirty feet leading out to brush, and to the East plain. From above the slowly-filling tire tracks of Ahriman's six-wheeled monster are visible a mile behind him, drawing a path inexorably towards that blue horizon. Like a moth to the flame.

The trip is begun without much fanfare, Celaeno's turbocycle laden with equipment and humanity. Moving at a quick clip, she matches speed as best she can with Erica - notably keeping the lurching to a minimum. Every now and then her humming will crackle over the radio (be it intentional or not), but conversation will be kept to a minimum as the whitewashed landscape stretches indefinitely on in all directions. Ahriman's tracks are followed as best they can be once they're picked up, until finally the truck itself comes into view. A lazy spiral to the ground has her landing a dozen or so meters away, taking time to pick out a good spot. Once landed, she'll shift around, but ultimately not leave her 'cycle.

Virtually snuggled to Celaeno's back, Sage holds on as they progress towards the rendezous with the strange darkling creature. She is quiet for the most part as she tries to think through what might happen... but there are too many unknowns. "Let's hope this turns out as well as the homestead... without that grenade part." She comments, once they are are the location, she'll sit more relaxed but generally stay near Cel.

Erica hurries up to the truck Ahriman drives keeping her speed brisk despite the snow falling all around them. She comes to a stop a couple meters from the truck and stops to catch her breath. She relaxes for a few minutes as she looks around the whitewashed landscape around her. "Ok well that was a good little trip." She looks around using the optics of her cyclops armor to scan the area.

That rumbling voice speaks from the night, "I'm here. I have yet to see anything, but have not entered the line in case it is trapped." Ahriman steps out of thin air, clad in a neat pinstripe suit with loafers and all. "I have not crossed the line, in case it is trapped. Have you seen their camp from the air?" His head turns back, towards that glowing wall that's tall enough to seem to lean over them like a great energy wave ready to break. His skin drinks the blue light, reflecting none.

Celaeno replies with a clipped response, her faceplate following Ahriman, "Can't say I did. Just white, grey, and blue everywhere." Her thumb hooks once more around a hilt as she leans against her 'cycle. "Got any suggestions as to any specific way to go?" she asks, turning toward Sage, "Or do we just keep hoofing it 'till it magically appears in front of our eyes?" The tone of the question is somewhat bemused, but obviously not so much as might otherwise be expected.

"Well, as far as I could tell from what Cali passed along... this place won't be seen until we cross the threshold. I can only hope that they can't see out because of that can't leave part. But there must be a way to do so if they sent back his horse." Sage comments, as she keeps her hands on Celaeno's sides just in case. The snow isn't a worry for her at the moment. "The map said it'd be closer to the line... maybe a mile or so." She pauses, "So, I guess when someone disappears... we'll know they've found it. Comforting thought, right?"

Erica nods her helmet up and down. "Alright well lets head in that direction then." She says over the radio as she starts to walk through the deep snow heading towards the leyline. She takes her rifle from her shoulders and holds it in both hands as she makes her way easily through the snow. She keeps down low trying to make less of a profile as she moves ahead. "Well let us just keep good radio communication so we can know when one of us disappears I guess."

"Your aircraft," Ahriman rumbles. "They will raise an alarm, but that is unavoidable. We do not have time for a foot search." He steps out into the snow, apparently unaffected by the cold, and drops to his haunches to begin drawing in the snow. "You have radios, I assume? We will split into teams. Sage and Celaeno. Myself and Erica. Here is the ley line," He draws a line in the snow, extra-wide, "and us," a dot. "Erica will ride with me in the truck. The pair of you on the cycle. The first to stumble on the enemy will signal and try to stay hidden. A surprise may gain us one or two quick kills. A mage this close to a ley line is no laughing matter. The second team will set up for a longer-ranged strike. Celaeno, you brought a rifle?"

Celaeno watches the divergence for a few moments, eyes settling on Ahriman's oh-so-detailed map. Turning toward the leyline's ambient glow on the horizon, she considers the usefulness for a moment. "Might be better to keep it together, I'd think. I mean, if we're going to be stumbling about blind in any case; we don't even know if we'll be able to signal once we're in. If we can't do anything until we're in, we may's well split once we get there - and yeah, I've got a couple, but you might want me a bit closer'n far."

Nodding in agreement to Celaeno's words even if people can't see it, Sage looks at the map that Ahriman draws. "Yeah, we don't know if they'll be able to tell when we arrive... and split up may take the other team too long to arrive." She comments, "And, I may be more useful close up as well... but, I can shoot from afar if need be."

Erica stops moving as Ahriman starts drawing his map. She shakes her helmet and switches over to her speaker instead of her radio before speaking. "I'm not going to go in the truck I can keep up fine, and I would rather be ready then sitting in the bed of your truck Ahriman. I also agree we should not split up. Let us go together that way we can back each other up." She stands there in the snow waiting for the others to decide. She keeps her rifle ready and against her shoulder as she keeps a low stance.

"If half of us spring a trap," Ahriman notes dryly, "the other half will be alive. They know we're coming." He narrows his eyes at Celaeno, drawing a line circling north, running a wider arc along the line. "We will parallel you approximately two hundred meters away, making along the river line. Well within your rifle range, but outside the range of many of their spells. Perhaps one group will be able to lay down uncontested fire." He stands, head turning towards Erica, and points at the vehicle. His breath drops to a low, cool purr, a thread of slither touching his words. "You will be able to launch whenever you need. You will be in weapons, and likely visual range of your partners. Now get in the fucking truck, little human. You may throw your tantrum later." And with that, he strides off to his vehicle. Alone in the snow.

Celaeno gives a shrug at the situation, "While your throw yours now," she mutters. A deep breath, and she rallies, "Erica, it's not a bad plan to stay with him. He'll," she hesitates for a moment, "watch your front. He's got a fair share of experience with... Magic. We don't want to burst in at four different points." Stepping off her 'cycle, she moves back into the storage compartment, freeing up two rifles to sling over her shoulders. "Tell him we'll be on channel twelve. We'll keep you guys in visual from the air," she says, moving back into position on the 'cycle, and preparing to kick it into gear.

Since there is a time and place for everything, Sage decides not to turn this moment into an argument in defense of Erica's preference but it seems that Celaeno will take that over. They might not have the time for it. "They wont kill anyone with both average potential... since its a sacrifice and not a hostage situation." She comments, "If we could somehow deny them those normals they've collected, we might be able to delay their ritual... but, they may have already begun for all we know. Otherwise, I'm going to be following your lead, Cel."

Erica laughs softly over the radio as she approaches the trunk. "I'll stay near the truck but I'm not getting in it. I won't sacrifice my defense like that no matter what the asshole thinks. I'll stay close to the lunatic and keep an eye out which I won't be able to do in his truck." She laughs again and then waits for Ahriman to get into his truck and waits for him to start it up. "Sorry but I am just not sacrificing my defense to be stuck in a truck."

Ahriman reaches his truck and shifts into drive, staring a moment at the rear view mirror before loosing the brake. The large vehicle rolls forward, carving a furrow through the snow in a loose arch to roughly follow the river line, heading down towards the ley line. The gas engine purrs in the early morning air, though isn't quite so loud as a jet engine. Strange how that works.

Celaeno's head drops for a few moment as she kick-starts her 'cycle, launching straight up into the air as she so does - they can sort it out themselves. Taking her cue from the truck, she waits for it to get into position, "Once we get in, Sage, you might want to cut for cover opposite me, if need be. Just try to get a little distance, towards the outside. If it's quiet, we'll probably set down and go on foot," she says, beginning to get things moving.

"I'll be happy if we're in time and don't manage to start shooting at each other in the meantime." Sage mutters, "But, that's fine... maybe this'll work similar to the bandits... only they wont have to hold back on their hostages."

Erica activates her jet pack and moves along with the slow moving truck. She keeps turning her head using advanced optics to scan the surronding area. She keeps low to the ground following along beside the truck with her laser rifle held to her shoulder ready for whatever may happen.

And Ahriman and his truck are suddenly gone. He was no more than 20 feet closer to the line than Celaeno at the time..

The truck comes to a rolling stop, and with a blink Ahriman puts it in park to step out. His boost fall on the clear ground, and he turns his head skyward to utter, "That is quite a it more civil!" before quirking his head to listen for the sound of rocket jets. Perhaps he's alone? Perhaps not. A small frown touches his black lips, as he waits a long moment.

Celaeno breaks hard on her 'cycle, rocketing backwards for a moment in an overcompensation as the truck blinks into nowhereland. "So, do we follow, or do we set down?" comes the question, as she lowers herself slowly toward the ground, eyeing the area in front of her. "Don't suppose you're picking anything up off the area in front of us?" Turning, she moves to look over her shoulder, first at the area where Ahriman went, then at Sage. "I mean, it doesn't do us any good just sitting here if nothing's changing."

In the distance, someone can be seen running towards the truck - eventually Ali is recognizeable, waving a hand at the group. "Hiii!" he calls out, making his aproach quickly. He's certainly unarmed and unarmored as well. "I'm sorry I'm a little late" he pants, "I had to explain to someone that being impolite can cause problems in the future" he smiles, and looks at those who have come. "Where's Mr. Leo? Cali stayed behind too?"

Erica blinks as the truck that is beside her disappears. She quickly cuts her jetpack and lands down on the ground. "Well we should follow him through I think." She quickly moves to the tracks where the truck used to be and follows along its path, attempting to follow Ahriman to wherever he went. "We don't want to leave him too long by himself."

"You are unarmored," Ahriman speaks reproachfully. He doesn't know Alistair very well, save one encounter at his apartment complex. "Either there was a Rift of a kind I've never sensed, or this is an illusion. Including, perhaps, you. Tell me. How is it that we first met?" The darkling's eyes narrow as he stares at Alistair, those black orbs silvering as he really stares at the man, considering him. His mouth opens to emit a low hiss, like the sound of four tongues whispering over one another as he dares draw a little flicker of magic.

Celaeno nods, eyeing the invisible event horizon as she inches her 'cycle forward, preparing to kill the engine just after moving it across the barrier. "Remember, once we get through, get off the 'cycle and spread out. Get ready." And then they're through.

"Yeah, yeah, they used some nasty psi-stuff on me and took my stuff" Alistair frowns, and cocks his brows up. "It is not an illusion - didn't Cali tell you what this is? And we met in a bar, and then later you killed some guy and if it wasn't illegal I'd take your head off for it - but I'm over it now" he blurts out, and waves a hand. "Have you brought weapons for the villagers? I have ninety people ready to help, but they are no match for the opposition."

"He has no armor because we relieved him of it. As we will with you demonkin." A confident voice proclaims darwing attention to two robed men at the corner where Alistair came from, energy pistols drawn.

Shifting a little on the back of the hovercycle, Sage prepares for the plan. "Here goes nothing." She murmurs over the radio. She'll avoid grabbing her weapons in case there's a moment of disorientation upon entering.

Erica keeps her rifle to her shoulder ready to raise it and fire as she moves quickly through the horizon. She keeps low to the ground as she moves trying to keep a low profile and hidden. She gnaws on her lower lip inside her helmet as she readies herself.

"Of course," Ahriman speaks with a smile, staring at Alistair. Liar. His tongue never stops working, as his slow trickle of PPE flares a bit. That dark-suited figure smiles pleasantly, as if daring the pistol-bearing men to fire. A soap-bubble thin film surrounds the pair, the surface semi-opaque as Ahriman weaves the air into something more solid. "I came at my Little Sister's request," the dark being notes, frowning out at the men in the distance. "I was told you were taken by magi. Are any of them women, or more like this lot?" He waves at the pistol-wielding poorly-dressed thugs.

Celaeno watches Erica pop into nonexistence as she approaches the field, hesitating at what is - presumably - the area. "Remember, dismount and to the opposite side as me, if you can," and then she leans forward and gives it another soft rev, "And keep off the - " "radio..."

Alistair turns to look towards the voice. "Oh, yes - them. They magic carpeted me, and one of them has some powerful .. despair type psionic. And!" he pauses, "There are no women, but they're all made out of coward. As you can plainly see" he nods, "Oh, thank you" he adds. "Who's your Little Sister?"

That the other auburn-haired woman disappeared first isn't a surprise to Sage. She simply steels hereslf for whatever might happen within the strange place they're going. "K." is Sage's simple reply just before they enter.

The mages certainly know enough about magic not to waste their ammunition. Rather the first waves his hand with a chant to inspell the ground about the truck with a very sticky carpet.

Erica growls as she feels her feet get stuck to the ground. Trying for a moment to move her feat she quickly gives up, and rises up from her crouch and takes aim at the man who waved his hands to cast the spell. She makes sure she has a bead on him before pulling the trigger on her laser rifle.

Ahriman's frown deepens. "That was uncourteous," he rumbles quietly. Apparently calling him a demon's fair game! He reaches forward, gesturing idly with a hand, and looses a pair of spells into the mix. "A shame," Ahriman notes. "I was just beginning to like her." There's a note of real regret in the darkling's voice, and his head flickers sideways at Erica, briefly.

Upon moving through the field, Celaeno remains true to her word - killing the engine and hopping off and re-securing her things about her as she moves off to the side, taking in the scene. "So, that wasn't so bad," she calls over. She looks around for a few further moments, moving toward the disturbance, swinging around one of her rifles as she does, though she moves warily, not really wanting to get embroiled.

"Cowards" Alistair nods his head - at this point though, he can't do much to help. "And now mister 'I can screw you up with my mind'" he points, "Might try to do something" at this point, he is looking displeased, but also somewhat helpless. Not much one can easily do under the circumstances. "Got a rifle so I can plink at'em?"

"I would love to give you a weapon but you appear to be in a bubble of some sort. I don't think it would work well Alistair." Erica calls out before taking another shot at the same mage while trying to use the truck for cover as best she can since she can't move much.

Once inside, Sage takes her queue from Cel as to when to dismount. Her movements are smooth enough to slip off onto the other side from Cel. She begins to move slowly at first, and glances towards Cel to make sure they will end up going different directions. She allows her empathic senses to unfurl to get a sense of the mood in this village. Perhaps she'll even be able to figure out if the other villages are alive and their rough location.

The dark mage's lips curl, his chin ducking, and he nearly purrs, "So I see." His chin ducks, and with a little wiggle of his fingers he looks skyward, and the very air about them thickens. Around Ahriman it's chilly, breath-fogging, but further out a little trail of snowflakes form as frost runs along the earth. Little patches of ice form on the ground as a very localized winter sets in, and around the pair of magi a hard frost sets. The air draws shockingly, breath-stealingly cold. A thick layer of ice runs along their armor, covering helmets and crusting thick.

Celaeno eyes the riot for a few moments, not apparently distressed by what she sees. Moving to grab a fleeing civilian by the arm, the rifle comes up in one hand to point at any pursuers, "Calm down. We will help you. Do not run." She says, flatly, her bedside manner not especially soothing. "What's happening?"

"They're revolting!! Must have been the new comer, damn fool. The hosts will kill us all over this!" The frightened villager exclaims before jerking away to run down an alley. Though his pursuers went after easier prey with the rifle pointed at them.

"Wah!" Alistair blinks at the sudden cold, and and then at the magi down the road. "Ooooooh!" his brows hike up a touch, perhaps in admiration of the effect. He nods his approval, glancing at Erica for a moment, "Oh - ah well, thanks for the thought though."

Erica squeaks out on the radio as the surronding area gets covered in snow and ice. She keeps her aim on the mage who made her stuck in place and fires off another shot. "Anyway you can get rid of this sticky stuff?" She calls out to Ahriman

Clearly at a strategic disadvantage the mages back away slowly as the scrape the frost off their face plates before breaking into a full run down the street.

Sage doesn't stray far from Celaeno, and draws her pistol as she moves. "If you're willing to fight against the mages, we're here to help." She adds, but keeps wary as she isn't sure how far to trust her vision. She keeps herself spread from Cel to prevent them from being overwhelmed in one spot if the worst happens.

The villager didnt look to keen on the idea before her ran off.

"No," Ahriman speaks with a note of disapproval in his voice. "Though it is not permanent. You may use this moment to reflect upon your predicament with the knowledge that, had you been on my truck bed, you would be unencumbered." He peers aside at Alistair, that dark gaze meeting the man as his chin lowers to fan his mane behind his black head. "We've been lied to. This is a novel situation we're in. What is this place?"

Celaeno watches Sage for a moment as she calls after the villager, turning to walk down the middle of the roving gangs with her own shout, "Listen up!" she bleats, turning her rifle to the ground and letting off two quick ion-blasts to potentially get their attention. "You all want to smash things up? Fine! Good! We're here to help you do that! But this ain't the way you do it!"

"Who lied?" Alistair asks. "I told Cali everything as it is ... " he comments, frowning. "This is a fade town. It teleports often, but they hold it here. They lure people in and take their stuff, and kill people at their behest ... and so on an so forth" obvious dissaproval and contempt poured in the Magi's general direction - oh, if it could only do megadamage!

"I can reflect about how useless you are. That is it you threw snow at them? Good job on that shadow boy." Erica laughs softly to herself before trying out the radio. "Cel, or Sage are you there, copy?" She takes another laser rifle from across her shoulders and waits to hand it to Alistair. "Here why don't you take this Alistair."

Having directed her comment to the roving gang, Sage glances to Cel with a shrug as she quiets down. She'll wait to see if the other woman can take control of this mob and turn it around.

The crack of heavy weapons fire is met with shock and fear, causing any rioters in the road with Sage and Cel to flee back towards the center of the village. There the rioting goes on mostly undisturbed. That is until four robed men emerge from the central town hall with a similar thunderous boom, sending all the rioters fleeing to hide and cower. Leaving their victims and vandalism to recover on their own. The four men walk south down the road where the majority fled. Their arrival however brings with it a dramatic change for the village. The palid grey surrounding the village that may have been noticed had there been time to look is gone, instead is the normal grey of the lightening dawn of normal reality. With that change comes a strong rush of cold winter air as snow starts to fall throughout the village. South the rioters flee, some only to get caught up in a magic web around a black truck and two stangers with the newcomer Alistair. Much cursing much fear as the try to flee from the four that approach.

"I was told by Tirzah," Ahriman speaks in a low voice, "that you were to be sacrificed to some evil being by four magi. We'd come to extract you. Nothing more. This town is not our problem. Can we leave?" He appears unperturbed as the bubble fades from about them. The wind that blows through catches his hair, and Ahriman smirks in the wind. "It feels like we can leave. Get in the truck."

"Wha? Oh - so ... then ... " Alistair frowns faintly, "Nevermind that - okay, so actually, no, it is our problem. These people are evil" he points at the four that are aproaching. "And they keep everyone's stuff in their building. They just keep stealing and hoarding, as far as I can tell. Time to stop them."

Celaeno gives a shrug, turning to Sage, "Well, that didn't work out," she says, eyeing the people as they run. The further bursts lead her to turn around as she calls back over the radio, "We're here. Bunch of pissed off people heading... somewhere, though, looks like," she says. "Best guess would be to follow them, no?" she says, beginning to jog after the figures, rifle at the ready.

A faint chuckle comes from Sage, "At least we don't have to figure out what would have happened if I gave them my spare weapons." She replies, before glancing around. "I guess so." She concedes, "I guess the mages must be further into the village like in my vision." She moves to follow Cel with her pistol still at the ready.

"I don't care," Ahriman replies helpfully. "You're alive. That's the mission. Moreover, you have no armor and they're armed. Taking you in there will get you killed. So get in the fucking truck. I'm taking you home." He twitches, still not quite able to amble away. "Perhaps the others will succeed where you have failed."

"Yah looks like they are all headed our way or at least some of them Cel. What are all these people feeling from? Over." After handing the rifle over to Alistair Erica brings the rifle back up to her shoulder and scans the area for whatever the people are fleeing from. She glances down at her feet quickly hoping to be able to move them soon.

"It won't be a problem" Alistair takes the rifle from Erica, "Besides, I have to recover what they took from me - thank you!" the latter said to Erica. "Now please, unless you happen to be afraid of those scaremongers, can we slap them hard enough for the universe to forget they ever existed?" he inquires, aiming the rifle down-range.

As the four men are merely walking Sage and Celaeno catch up to them before the get too far down the road. They turn, considering the pair. "We'll handle these two, you go up ahead and get reacquainted Selexa." The leader decides.

Erica says, "Currently we are stuck here by shadow boys truck and will likely be stuck here for a bit longer. I'll head north as soon as I can. We have Alistair with us here. Over." Erica squeaks out happily as she can move again and she activates her jetpack right away. She moves up in the air and forward over the truck scanning the area with her optics to see what the people are fleeing from."

Celaeno calls back over the radio with a simple, "Probably us, really. Thought they'd be up for a bit of fun, but... Obviously not... Ah, gotta take care of something. Out," she finishes, calling to Sage, "Guess that's us!" before the ion-rifle comes up and ready, "You can put your hands behind your head and surrender!" she calls, though she doesn't hesitate to open fire - one shot at the one talking, one at the one next to him.

Alistair continues to aim down range, "They probably want to take your truck" he adds, waiting for the magi to make themselves available for the light show. Not having a radio, though, he doesn't hear what else is going on. "So, as soon as this thing wears off we should bolt and not be ... so close."

Before Alistair's group a truly giant hidious spider appears, covered with tentacles and slime and other grossness. It would make the strongest human stomach lurch and bowels empty at the sight. It appears to consider Alistair and Erica briefly before centering on Ahriman and releasing a deluges of hisses and whispers and wheezes. Some form of shadowy dialect perhaps. Speaking silhouette: Ahriman?! I thought you were dead! You've clearly been out of the game a while.. Why are you here with these fools? You! You're here to take my place you jealous fiend! Never! You always encroached on what was mine but you Have no back up now. YOu will die here vermin! You paged Ahriman with 'speaking silhouette: Ahriman?! I thought you were dead! You've clearly been out of the game a while.. Why are you here with these fools? You! You're here to take my place you jealous fiend! Never! You always encroached on what was mine but you Have no back up now. YOu will die here vermin!'

A chant and a gesture is made at Celaeno by one of the other mage's she didn't shoot at to no effect. which is met with a moments perplexion before the other three chant and gesture in unison, though still no apparent effect.

A few words hissed through his black lips, and Ahriman waves a hand over Alistair. The young man gets a disapproving frown, and the dark mage speaks quietly, "If you're a jumpy person, or prone to excitability, I suggest you turn and run. Better now, than when you see her. Your kind may well remember my old friend in some shared racial memory." He smiles peculiarly, tilting his head as he stares down the street. Making no real move for cover. "I suspect such a thing exists. You do, as a rule, have an overwhelming lack of fondness for spiders." His eyes widen as that creature lurches into view, and the dark being takes a step back, tripping to fall on the ground to stare ahead at the spider approaching. Those black eyes begin to shift, a deep blood red masking his gaze as he utters a name. "Selexa."

Given her luck lately, Sage is content to keep the pistol in play but she uses it more as a decoy than actually shooting it. She considers the mages until she settles on the one that chanted and pointed at Celaeno. Her mind whispering for despair to overrun the mage.

Celaeno smiles merrily under her helmet, "What do you think, fellows? Looking better all the time, no?" Another shot at the one she hit, "All you have to do," she says as she inches forward, squaring off, "Is give it up," and another Crack! rings out as she switches her aim back to the leader.

"Ah, so you have the decency to remember my name.. You've gorwn soft. Anyway, less chat more maiming. I will so enjoy it when they drain your blood for my reserves though." The Spider seems to taunt in a perfect sultry feminine English. Then it starts to chant, draw energy and waving its mandibles in a complex spell.

The first mage falls dead, his armor quite over come by the powerful rifle. The others quickly cast again and instantly there are over a dozen robed men before Cel and Sage.

When one mage goes down, Sage almost begins to feel the confidence that victory might not be as hard as it seems. Then, a frown comes as multiple images of the mages appear. She quickly glances for the closest thing on the ground with any real substance. She uses telekinesis to have the object make a couple passes trying to discount the ones that aren't real. "Shoot the one that's solid."

Erica squeals into the radio as she recovers from the giant spider appearing below her. "Big freaking spider here! Holy crap! Can you come and help?" Gnawing on her lower lip she hovers in place and takes a shot down at it hoping to distract it from its spellcasting.

Alistair isn't normally prone to jumping about and stuff, but when that spider appears, he definitely bounds back towards the truck, keeping his rifle pointed in the spider's general direction. Talk about ewww and ... well, spidery. A look at Erica confirms certain rumours about the fairer sex, and then a look to Ahriman, "You know this thing?" his voice raised slightly.

Ahriman murmurs at the sight of her and her minions. "She can't be," he mutters, still in the dirt. "She has to be dead by now." He looks up at Alistair, a slightly lost look on his face. "She must be twelve thousand years old," he utters in a quiet voice, utterly oblivious to the goings-on around him. He blinks up at Alistair, and frowns faintly. Memories playing across his face. Something unfriendly. A little lost. She got to him, once. Those red eyes blink again, and stare across the field at her, big as day. His mouth opens, and he yells, "The Acadians were mine! NOT yours, you bitch!" Reaching a hand towards her, a stream of hisses escape his lips, then again louder, chanting in a tongue unheard on this plane.

As the multiple mages pop into existence, Celaeno scowls, the shrieking in her ear going wholly unheeded for the moment - after all, she did say "out," previous. Following the flying stick, Celaeno does her best to pick out the corporeal, firing off one, then another shot - stupid nondescript robes.

"Well that's just like you, interrupting when no one asked for your opinion. I'll do this the old fashions way then.." The spider retorts as Ahriman apparently interupts her spell. Instead she shoots a stream of webbing at the darkling.

The one mage dodging the other mages point their energy pistols at Celaeno and fire. Then again at Sage, the third mage firing at Celaeno

Watching the stick intently, Sage can only hope that she manages to find a real one amongst the imaginary ones. The two passes are only so good, but it does seem to find the mark at least once. A dodge attempt by one, draws her attention and her mind whispers sweet despair once more. The other mage firing gives her another target to work her mind against whispering the same sweet despair. Hoping that she can end this fight quicker with her powers than her fighting prowess. She'll just have to grit her teeth against the weapon's effect.

Erica growls down at the spider as it spits webbing all over Ahriman. "Freaking spider and me without my giant boot." She growls out as she takes another shot with her energy rifle trying to overcome her hear and actually hit it this time.

Alistair pulls and holds down the trigger on his rifle when it comes to the spider as well now, since she has made her intentions clear - though seeing that Erica's fire doesn't seem to be having much effect, he doesn't hold too much hope here.

The dark mage grins as he spies that giant spider fumbling with her words. "That's a new one," he replies, a peculiar grin on his face. As if this little contest were some form of sport, and he and his eight-legged woman were the only participants that mattered. Bracing a hand behind him, he begins to rise as Selexa turns her back to him. "Really?" he yells, "Has it been that long?" The dark being scrambles then, a little late as strand after strand of sticky silk pours over him from afar in a series of powerful spurts.

Mumbled words escape the white gooey mess that used to be Ahriman and a bubble spring up about he dark mage. One arm was in the air, and his leg twitches, while the being settles on his ass with barely an eye free as the guck hardens. The shield about him is glimmering, pristine, and exactly twelve seconds too late.

Alistair remains by the truck, perhaps well phased by said spider now, staring at it. He puts his hands together, brows hiking up - perhaps he's hoping that it'll all go away or that angels will come down from the heavens and save everyone, his breathing slows somewhat and he moves back a little, making himself a touch scarcer now.

Mumbled words escape the white gooey mess that used to be Ahriman and a bubble spring up about he dark mage. One arm was in the air, and his leg twitches, while the being settles on his ass with barely an eye free as the guck hardens. The shield about him is glimmering, pristine, and exactly twelve seconds too late.

The mages all fire again, growing confident in their advantage the aim at Celaeno again.

As has already been indicated Selexa is currently saranwrapping a subdemon for prolonged freshness.

Erica calls out over her loud speaker so everyone can hear. "I'm going to go find Cel and Sage to bring them back to help." She powers up her jetpack and quickly heads to the north using her optics to scan for the two other women while she calls out over the radio. "Cel, Sage I'm looking for you where are you located? Over"

Celaeno begins running to the side, leaping out of the way of the first shot before combat rolling back the other way, throwing the second. As she looks up at the mages, she's hit with a jolt of electricity. "Fine," she mumbles through gritted teeth, rising to her feet, "If that's how we want to play it..." The next jolt simple leaves her standing there for another moment, staring down the Mages, unmoving. "Couldn't tell yah, first time here," Celaeno growls over the radio.

Sage grunts softly, "Mind games don't seem to be working too well right now..." She mutters over the radio, "Just look for the fire fight closer to the town hall." She advises Erica, before gathering herself. "One more try before we just shoot our way out of this..." She switches her little game. She picks two of the mages from the group and whispers fear instead.

Alistair takes a deep breath and continues, uh, praying? Might as well, right? The rifle is slung over his shoulder, remaining unused for the moment. He merely glances to the spider for a moment, his mouth opening to control his breathing. Ahriman wriggles, apparently stuck. He strains. And pushes. And tries for his knife! That dark mage isn't doing a great deal inside his bubble, fighting and pushing for release from his bonds. A bone-handled black blade comes from his belt, and Ahriman looses a slow breath from between black lips, before blinking his one free eye and beginning the slow sawing process with the couple of inches of slack he's got.

The mages aim and fire again twice, intent on bringing the deadly Celaeno down at all costs.

Erica uses the full power of her jetpack to quickly close range. Stopping at about 1500 feet over Sage, Cel and the mess of mages, she starts to hover. Erica quickly raises her rifle to her shoulder and takes aim at the mage that last took a shot at one of the ones that fired at Cel. Squeezing the trigger she trys to tag him with her laser rifle. "Well I'm here to help out." She calls out over the radio.

A soft growl comes from Sage, but she keeps the other's from hearing it. "You know what... screw this..." She decides, as she reaches for the poach where she is keeping the fire globes that Tirzah gave her. "Hope they know how to play catch..." She mutters to herself as she primes the grenade to toss at the Mages.

Celaeno's eyes close for a moment under the constant barrage of electricity, her armour beginning to smoke rather intensely. But it'll take more than that, or yes - her rifle goes up to her shoulder again, walking forward through the crackling smoke and the occasional static discharge across her armour, Crack! goes her rifle once, at one of the flunkies. "Crack!" it goes again, trying to drive her point home, "Should've listened!" she practically howls at them.

Yeah, Alistair is being brave, by the truck, possibly attempting not to freak out - which is the same as freaking out, perhaps? Who's to tell! He continues to stand there, leaned up against the vehicle, just breathing. Breathe in, breatheout ... wax on, wax off.

Ahriman's sawing! And now making any real progress whatsoever. Hardened obsidian just is perhaps the sharpest saw-like substance on earth, and it's not enough. His efforts slow, and the dark being's eyes narrow. Puckering his lips, Ahriman stares out at the battlefield and pants, a moment, before putting a few words to deliberate use.

One of the mages now on fire, another being shot at by Celaeno gives them pause. The one on fire keeps his wits, dropping to roll on the ground to smother the flames before they consume him. The other chants and gestures to renew his depleted armor. This leaves only 3 shots at the clearly pissed off mistress of death.

Erica swears loudly as she misses with her first shot. Steading herself over the combat she again looks down and takes aim at one of the mages that fired at Cel. She squeezes off two quick shots hoping that she can actually do damage to something.

Selexa hmphs at the well wrapped Ahriman, Turning to go find more morsels down the road. She pays no attention to the man cowering behind the truck.

With one final Crack! from her rifle at the poor bastard who'd tried to replenish his armour, Celaeno's rifle is instantly swung up onto her shoulder, producing two vibroswords as she gains momentum. Oh yes, it's playtime.

The explosion of the grenade brings a vicious little smile to Sage's lips as she seems to have found a trick that'll work just fine. With one of the mages down trying to get the flames off. She slips her hand in for another grenade. "Time to make a little flambee..." She muses, as she primes another fire globe. If she can only hit one, she'll go for the one that didn't pause to renew his armor to keep it away from Celaeno as the woman charges. "Add mage to fire, cook until desired crispness achieved... serve with a side of contempt" She murmurs to herself.

"Buzzing buzzing little fly.. DIE!" Taunst the giant spider as she weaves a quick but powerful spell to send an energy blast at Erica

Ahriman continues to twitch! But throws a spell at the spider anyhow, on the off chance it might actually work.

With the mages seeming to be getting whittled down, Sage decides she'll finally fire her first shot. One at each of the mages she's set on fire. "Add a little sizzle for style." She murmurs.

Erica squeaks loudly as the energy blast misses her she looks down at the spider and gnaws on her lower lip. Taking quick aim she takes a shot at the mage that was oh so recently on fire. Squeezing the trigger she takes the shot before going on the radio. "Big freeking spider incoming."

His two singed comrades falling beside him suddenly the last mage goes into evasive maneuvers to by him some mortal time on this plane

With her available choices suddenly providing a very clear choice - the spider still lying somewhere between the land of make believe and Around That Corner - Celaeno descends upon the remaining mage with swords dancing. Her two swords come in from above in a chop, before rebounding out and around in a pincer motion.

Summoning a brilliat sword empowered with power akin to some castle of sreygkull Alistair stands to charge. But seeing the spider trapped in a shield for the moment hew cuts Ahriman out instead.

All the mages dead is just Selexa in her little field, and she looks quint content writhing and chanting inside of it.

With Celaeno cutting down the last mage, Sage begins to move towards where Erica came from to get a better idea of what else they might face. "What's left and how do we kill it?" She calls over the radio.

Ahriman climbs free of his sticky bonds, reaching to clasp Alistair on an invisible shoulderplate, seemingly on the verge of saying ... what? The world may never know. Turning, he strides across the broken street with a sway in his step to trail a finger along the edge of Selexa's bubble cage. "My dear," he utters, leaning against the shield. "Whatever has become of you? Surrounded and alone, amongst the lesser beings." His smile falters, and he looks down. "Sad." He looks like he means the sentiment, even as he begins to work another spell.

"Well a giant spell casting spider that is pretty close, and it isn't effected by my laser rifle." Erica calls out over the radio. Quickly she calls out directions and the location of the spider on the radio while she slings her laser rifle over her shoulder. She draws out her vibro knife and switches it on. ooc it wont where off any time soon

Celaeno gives the dismembered corpse in front of her a kick, twitching slightly as she turns toward the corner. Walking now, she leaves the carrion to lay where it might - not even moving to search it. Headed further down the block, she listens to Erica and Sage's chatter, beginning to concentrate (Intuitive Combat), if only for the moment, as she approaches the beast.

Ahriman freed Alistiar considers the shield erected. "Um, how about letting the shield down so we can finish the job slick?" He asks the darkling.

Selexa continues chanting, oblivious to those gathering about her.

Hearing about the spider's resistance to laser weaponry, Sage slows her progress to stop to be able to tuck the laser pistol away. "Well, what about fire?" She asks, deciding to take a moment to take out another fire globe and her other hooked vibroblade forearm device. She'll secure it while it seems they have a moment. "Otherwise, I have a couple weapons I've never used before in the shotgun and these claws."

Ahriman leans against the bubble, pressing his hands against the outside as he leans his head against it, cooing down at Selexa. "No?" he asks. "Cat got your tongue?" He blinks slowly, ducking his chin. "You see, I have picked up some new human expressions." He turns and walks away, speaking a pair of words to erect a shield about himself with his back to the beast. His head drops, and without turning around so does the shield. Selexa is free. So shall she die.

"Well I don't know about fire worth a try for sure." Erica radios to Sage before She readies her vibro knife. Quickly she swoops down at great speed. Holding the knife tight in her hand she races down to try to cut the giant spider before working to regain some of her lost altitude.

One of the smaller slimy tentacles covering the spider is sliced of to evaporate beforeit hits the ground.

With the shield dropped, Celaeno hesitates for only a moment before moving herself to plunge her swords into the beast, concentration never wavering from its chanting. Up and down they go, doing their best to cut into it.

The tentacle armor cracks and breaks under Celaeno's furry of blades as Selexa casts. Making no move to defend herself or break her concentration.

Alistair then charges forth, hs psi sword shining brightly as he slices at her belly.

She apparently layered her armor though, but the slahs did mack for quite the array of blue sparks.

When she's about ready to try out the fire globe, Sage realizes its already too late and she's had all the 'fun' she's going to have with them. Her gaze shifts to the spider itself. It seems odd that it doesn't try to defend itself. She begins to advance once more, but she reaches out with her mind to try and plant the seeds of confusion to cripple whatever the spider is trying to do.

Finishing her chant Selexa starts chuckling evilly. "Really you fools should never take on an avatar of chaos.."

The Spell cast each member of the party except Celaeno vanish with Selexa into another dimension.. All are gone without a trace for a few minutes.

Alistair, Erica, Sage, and Ahriman find themselves transported to an alternate dimension for the next three minutes. Everyone's in the same vicinity, no barriers. And facing everyone is their most hated and/or feared rival. In the north we have Erica facing a decorated Coalition officer in full armor with a pistol leveled at her. In the east we must assume is Ahriman as he's not else where and that area is extremely dark. To the south is Alistair facing a cloaked female with two zombies at either side. And to the west is Sage, facing nothing apparently.. In the center is Selexa, starting another chant.

Alistair takes the initiative, rushing from the cloaked woman and her TWO zombies to attack Selexa with another shower of blue sparks before her magic armor breaks and she finishes her chant to disappear.. Elsewhere three lightning balls from in the air to be thrown to surround Sage but she nimbly flees that location. Sounds of scuffle come from the shadows where Ahriman is presumed to be, and the officer shoots at Erica to score her armor. Then the two zombies catch up to Alistair and he manages to parry one of their attack but the other is perfect and hits him very hard.

The next turn leads with Sage dodging another set of ball lightning the forms an electrical field about one of the zombies and Alistair. Ahriman is presumably still alive out there as an energy field is cast about the other zombie, trapping it for the moment. The officer made another shot to score Erica's armor a bit more. She returned fire but missed.

Alistair sees the thing coming, and looks like he might be keen to start running, but it's too late - other than the explosion lifting him and pushing him back some, though, he appears reasonably unhurt, and he stares at ... what might be empty space to some, breathing hard as he readies his sword.

Not knowing whether anyone else is able to see the spider, Sage had thought to move towards the center to aid in minimizing its advantage. It isn't until she realizes that the elemental seems intent on using area effect abilities. "Sorry Alistair!" She calls out, unsure of how much of a beating the man can take with his limitation. Without knowing what lies within the darkness, she begins to run towards where she spotted Erica earlier.

The elemental casts another trio of electric balls after Sage, this time catching on as it spread them out to cut off her current direction. Immediately after another energy field forms about the officer, trapping him like the Zombie. The remaining zombie pursues Alistair despite the good zap it got, attacking him.

Erica notices the energy field form around the officer and she breathes a quick sigh of relief. Turning her head and noticing the zombie attacking Alistair she turns to take a shot at the zombie to help support Alistair. She keeps a wary eye on on the Coalition Officer to make sure he doesn't try anything.

Alistair's sword flashes in a sweeping motion, smacking the attacking Xombie as if it was but an annoying bug keeping him from something much more important - he runs off to swing that thing again at something else nearby, looking pretty furious about it!