AgujaCabra (12:23 AM): Nodding sharply, Antor returns Ryan's glare for an instant, before relaxing again himself. A stiff breeze whistles through the heavy fabric of the carnival tent, and the music from the various attractions begins to wind down as the rides close for the night. There are still some lingering park-goers, looking for a final go on the Ferris wheel, or itching to catch the last shows. Antor starts to reply to Ryan, just as the noise of a commotion starts up from the other side of the tent. Men and women can be
AgujaCabra (12:23 AM): heard screaming, and there are also sounds of fleeing feet, trampling down the grass.
NerwenGreen (12:25 AM): Thomas, who had been about to interject a comment, instead quickly gets to his feet and moves to look around the side of the tent, carefully placing the necklace into a pocket. Ryan also gets up, shoving his empty box back into its pocket and joins Thomas.
AgujaCabra (12:31 AM): Antor jogs quickly to the side of the tent, stepping out a bit further than Thomas to look at what is causing the uproar. Abbie looks as though she might bolt at any moment, but very cautiously peeks around to see what's going on also. . Scrambling out of one of the sideshow attractions, and stepping over one another in their blind terror, a dozen or so people are running at top-speed away from the assorted wooden trailers. They are disorganized and obviously terrified, although the initial screams have
AgujaCabra (12:31 AM): stopped.
NerwenGreen (12:32 AM): Are there signs describing the sideshow attraction?
AgujaCabra (12:32 AM): They are leaving the 'Rat-Man' attraction.
NerwenGreen (12:32 AM): [uh oh..]
AgujaCabra (12:32 AM): [::eyeroll::]
NerwenGreen (12:33 AM): Thomas and Ryan both glance at Antor. "What's going on over there?" Ryan asks.
AgujaCabra (12:38 AM): Antor scowls, answering abruptly "Hell if I know, " before starting to jog towards the attraction to get a better look. Before he ventures far from the tent, a mangy figure, shorter than a man but having some of its features, and covered in a patchy, brown and blonde fur, crashes through one wall of the trailer... It's lifeless body falls limply to the earth; convulsing with the electricity from tazers attached to its body, before lying completely still.
AgujaCabra (12:38 AM): [bah! what they hey am I doing... ? ]
NerwenGreen (12:39 AM): Thomas moves quickly over to the fallen figure to see if it could use any medical help. Ryan follows him after a second, pulling out his tricorder to scan when he gets closer.
AgujaCabra (12:40 AM): [aaah. I need to get my dice ]
AgujaCabra (12:45 AM): As Thomas nears the figure, he can tell that it bears blended features of man and rat, and would stand slightly over 4 feet in height, were it on its hind legs. It continues to breathe, but weakly, and there are 4 dangerous looking tazers embedded under its skin.

Crossing over to the body himself, Antor hisses in pain as a tazer slams into his back, and knocks him momentarily off balance.. Stumbling, he looks wildly around of the source of the blast.
NerwenGreen (12:47 AM): Thomas tries to look both for the source of the tazers and how or whether they can be removed. Ryan stays a little farther away, scanning the area for anything anomalous.
AgujaCabra (12:52 AM): The tazers can be pulled out of the body once their charge is expended. In fact, Antor reaches to remove the one from his back, just as a second whizzes by his shoulder; narrowly missing him. Thomas cannot see the source of the shots, however, he can estimate a general direction based on the firing pattern-- there is most likely someone standing 3 to 4 meters away, outside one of the other sideshow attractions.
AgujaCabra (12:52 AM): Ryan can tell that there is still someone inside the 'Rat-Man' attraction.
NerwenGreen (12:52 AM): Can Ryan find the one who is firing?
AgujaCabra (12:53 AM): No. :/
NerwenGreen (12:54 AM): Is the someone still inside the attraction armed with a tazer gun or any other weapon?
AgujaCabra (12:56 AM): There are a number of weapons on this person. One is a tazer gun, and there are also two guns under his jacket, and a knife fastened to his wrist under the jacket sleeve. He does not have a weapon drawn at this moment. There is an electrical disturbance of some sort around his face as well.
NerwenGreen (12:57 AM): What is the position of this person? standing? sprawled? crouched?
AgujaCabra (12:57 AM): Standing.
NerwenGreen (12:58 AM): facing toward or away from the rat guy?
NerwenGreen (12:58 AM): basically I want to know whether this guy is an immediate threat to the rat guy, Thomas, or Antor right now
AgujaCabra (12:59 AM): He isn't directly facing the rat guy... he could become a threat very quickly however, if that is his intention.
NerwenGreen (12:59 AM): is he alive or otherwise?
AgujaCabra (12:59 AM): This guy is alive, also. He is not a vampire.
NerwenGreen (12:59 AM): okay
NerwenGreen (1:00 AM): tazers are electric, right?
AgujaCabra (1:01 AM): [yeah... the way these work, it is a gun that fires 'bullets' charged with a battery. The charge doesn't last long, but it is relatively strong. I'm not sure how real ones funtion. :p ]
AgujaCabra (1:02 AM): [the 'bullets' have a different shape, of course. they aren't very aerodynamic, and they're large.. designed to hit the skin and stick, but not rip through]
NerwenGreen (1:03 AM): Ryan quickly throws the strap of his tricorder around his neck with one hand as he pulls out another gadget. He wants to "short circuit" all electrical items in the area by removing all electricity in the vicinity.
AgujaCabra (1:04 AM): he loves his vulgar magic, don't he ^^ ?
AgujaCabra (1:04 AM): roll for it, please.
NerwenGreen (1:04 AM): is it vulgar then?
AgujaCabra (1:04 AM): if it were just the power lines going out, no. If he's short-circuiting electrical things like the guy's face-mask, or the guns.... that couldn't happen without outside interference.
AgujaCabra (1:05 AM): tell me if I'm off base?
NerwenGreen (1:06 AM): well, you're the ST. To me it *could* be a massive, highly improbable, but still possible coincidence.
NerwenGreen (1:07 AM): I got 7, 7, 5, 2. That's 2 successes if it's vulgar, and 3 if it's not.
AgujaCabra (1:07 AM): does it just turn off the electricity, or would it cause any sparks?
AgujaCabra (1:08 AM): say it's coincidental... I don't want to worry about paradox right now ^^

[Later we decided that this was vulgar after all.]

NerwenGreen (1:08 AM): It would remove all electricity from the vicinity. Cause it to no longer exist.
NerwenGreen (1:08 AM): okay
NerwenGreen (1:08 AM): paradox would just be 1 point for this effect - giving Ryan a grand total of 2 so far.
AgujaCabra (1:09 AM): [you have witnesses :P ]
NerwenGreen (1:09 AM): [yeah, but it's still 1 point. It's a ton if he botches, but he didn't]
AgujaCabra (1:11 AM): All the surrounding lights flicker briefly and then wink out in unison; plunging the carnival into a darkness only punctuated by starlight and the moon overhead. [how would you like to do turns this time around. Now people are going to do something, so I think inits are in order.]
NerwenGreen (1:11 AM): whoa ... I guess with 3 successes he could've taken out the whole carnival.
NerwenGreen (1:11 AM): Thomas meanwhile had been moving in the general direction of where he thinks the tazers were being fired from.
NerwenGreen (1:12 AM): inits: Thomas 10, Ryan 16
AgujaCabra (1:13 AM): Is Ryan paying any attention to the man inside the trailer?
NerwenGreen (1:14 AM): the guy with all the weapons on him? yeah, that was the primary focus of his attention
AgujaCabra (1:15 AM): That man is reaching for the guns strapped to his back.
NerwenGreen (1:16 AM): were these regular guns or tazer guns?
AgujaCabra (1:16 AM): regular guns.
NerwenGreen (1:16 AM): Ryan is going to pull out a different gadget, then, and he wants to turn any bullets in the guns into blanks.
AgujaCabra (1:16 AM): um. . that's multiple turns.
NerwenGreen (1:17 AM): yeah, just thought I'd tell you what he's planning though
AgujaCabra (1:17 AM): okay ^^
NerwenGreen (1:17 AM): oh, he's going to look for cover too :p
AgujaCabra (1:18 AM): ack ack. what's he doing this turn :p ?
NerwenGreen (1:18 AM): pulling out another gadget while running for cover?
AgujaCabra (1:19 AM): okay. The man inside the trailer has pulled one gun from behind his back, and begins to move to a position where he can see what's going on outside.
AgujaCabra (1:20 AM): could you also roll Ryan's perception + alertness for me?
NerwenGreen (1:20 AM): 9, 7, 6, 6, 4
AgujaCabra (1:22 AM): There is another man partially hidden behind the trailer. He has on a face-mask spider-webbed with electrical wires, and is holding a silver-bladed knife in one hand.
NerwenGreen (1:23 AM): is this the guy that Thomas was heading for? or another one?
AgujaCabra (1:23 AM): another one. Different location entirelly. The other person is out in front of the trailers, a distance away.
NerwenGreen (1:24 AM): Assuming Ryan spots this guy in time, he's going to try and find some cover from both of them.
AgujaCabra (1:25 AM): oh my god.. doing combat between 6 characters is impossible!
NerwenGreen (1:25 AM): hehe ... yesterday I had to draw everything out
NerwenGreen (1:25 AM): for Water, who was being attacked by 4 guys
AgujaCabra (1:26 AM): well.. at least there was only one pc in that case :p
NerwenGreen (1:26 AM): as the ST you can also fudge your rolls if you think it would help
NerwenGreen (1:26 AM): hmm
NerwenGreen (1:27 AM): drawing the schematics helped a lot :p
AgujaCabra (1:28 AM): Ryan could seek cover between two trailers, or duck behind a staircase. There are also some small food stands he could get behind.
AgujaCabra (1:29 AM): [I might end up drawing it out :p]
NerwenGreen (1:29 AM): he picks the nearest spot with an alternate exit where he can still do stuff with his gadgets while avoiding drawing anyone's attention
AgujaCabra (1:32 AM): The safest bet would be a food stand. The man behind the trailer has noticed Ryan, however. As Ryan comes into sight, he begins to run towards him.
NerwenGreen (1:34 AM): Ryan ducks for the food stands and attempts to trip the guy by shifting gravity directly under him for a split second (?)
AgujaCabra (1:34 AM): please roll ?
NerwenGreen (1:35 AM): 9,6,3,2 = 2 successes if that's coincidental, 1 if vulgar.
AgujaCabra (1:35 AM): okay. um. should I do a dex + athletics to see if he avoids being tripped?
AgujaCabra (1:35 AM): it's coincidental.
NerwenGreen (1:36 AM): okay .. up to you
AgujaCabra (1:37 AM): The man stumbles forward slightly, but manages to keep his balance. [3 turns running distance away from Ryan]
AgujaCabra (1:37 AM): okay. what's Thomas up to? He and Antor would have turns of their own ^^
NerwenGreen (1:37 AM): okay .. are we going to continue with these two or catch up the rest of them
NerwenGreen (1:37 AM): hehe
NerwenGreen (1:38 AM): Thomas was heading for the location of where the tazer shots were coming from
NerwenGreen (1:38 AM): he's going to sprout claws while he's going there
NerwenGreen (1:40 AM): [Thomas is going to be really annoyed if he has to spend tons of blood tonight :p]
AgujaCabra (1:42 AM): The man inside the trailer has stepped up to the doorway by this time. He is a Caucasian male in his mid-50s, with short grey hair lightly combed back underneath a mask that has been pulled away from his face [after becoming ineffectual]. He has on a thick black with brown trim-leather vest and coat, over a dark grey shirt and pants. His black boots are kleated, and his hard grey eyes are fixed on Thomas. He lifts his weapon to aim.
NerwenGreen (1:43 AM): Is Thomas facing him or does he have his back to him?
AgujaCabra (1:44 AM): [The man running at Ryan is in his early 30s, with short brown hair and light sideburns. He has on a polyester black shirt, kleated boots, canvas pants, and a short canvas jacket with a silver star on the back. His face is difficult to see completely because of the mask]
NerwenGreen (1:44 AM): ok
AgujaCabra (1:45 AM): Thomas would have been walking away from the man, but he could still see him. Roll perception + alert.
NerwenGreen (1:45 AM): botch :p
NerwenGreen (1:45 AM): bah
AgujaCabra (1:46 AM): I think.. he's gonna get a shot off, then.
NerwenGreen (1:46 AM): hehe
NerwenGreen (1:46 AM): that would be next round though I assume?
AgujaCabra (1:47 AM): well. we do need to roll inits again. Thomas can't do too much if he can't see him : /
NerwenGreen (1:47 AM): yeah
NerwenGreen (1:47 AM): what was antor up to?
AgujaCabra (1:47 AM): maybe Antor sees the punk..
NerwenGreen (1:47 AM): okay .. so inits again?
NerwenGreen (1:48 AM): bah! Thomas = 8, Ryan = 9
AgujaCabra (1:50 AM): aah. sorry. had to find Antor's sheet again. rolling evil things.
NerwenGreen (1:50 AM): heh, ok
AgujaCabra (1:51 AM): oh gee. please tell me what both look like they're planning to do.
NerwenGreen (1:53 AM): okay umm .. Ryan is now safely out of sight behind the food stands, right?
NerwenGreen (1:53 AM): not "safely" - but out of sight of the guy after him?
AgujaCabra (1:53 AM): heh. yeah. okay.
NerwenGreen (1:54 AM): guess I should start with Thomas, since he got a lower roll. He's going to continue heading for where he thought the original tazer shooter was located.
NerwenGreen (1:56 AM): Ryan is going to duck under somewhere, drop his arcane, and .. the mage book explicitly lists "cloak himself in shadows" as an example of what can be done with forces 2 - can I say that's like obfuscate 1?
AgujaCabra (1:56 AM): Antor notices the man in the trailer doorway, and turns in his direction.. just as a bullet pierces him in the side [the bullet is coming from the same direction as the tazer blasts].
AgujaCabra (1:56 AM): yes, you may. ^^
NerwenGreen (1:56 AM): yay .. that's what Ryan is going to do then.
NerwenGreen (1:57 AM): [ okay the actual line is "wrap himself in shadows" if that makes any diff]
AgujaCabra (1:57 AM): [I think you could even use it as obfuscate 2]
NerwenGreen (1:58 AM): [okay .. hmm. That opens up some possibilities for Ryan then. ]
AgujaCabra (1:59 AM): Two shots have been fired at Thomas. please see if he can dodge ^^ He needs 2 successes.
NerwenGreen (1:59 AM): he botched his percept/alert - he can still dodge?
AgujaCabra (1:59 AM): yeah. he can hear the gunshot, so he can dodge. make it diff 7, though.
NerwenGreen (2:00 AM): reroll 10s only once or keep rolling
AgujaCabra (2:00 AM): only once!
AgujaCabra (2:00 AM): :P
NerwenGreen (2:00 AM): heh .. 10, 10, 10, 9, 6, 3, 3, 2
NerwenGreen (2:00 AM): [2 10s rolled the first time]
AgujaCabra (2:01 AM): wow. Two bullets go whizzing by, striking any embedding themselves in a food stand several meters away.
AgujaCabra (2:01 AM): [*and]
NerwenGreen (2:02 AM): okay
AgujaCabra (2:03 AM): okay. Ryan has cloaked himself?
NerwenGreen (2:03 AM): yes, 2 successes
AgujaCabra (2:04 AM): The man running towards him advances in a quick blur of motion, that slows down again when he is a single turn away from where Ryan had been hiding.
NerwenGreen (2:05 AM): Ryan is going to keep quiet in his hiding place and begin aiming his gadgets at gunmen from now on.
NerwenGreen (2:06 AM): or wait .. you said he can move around and still be cloaked?
AgujaCabra (2:06 AM): yes.
NerwenGreen (2:06 AM): okay
NerwenGreen (2:07 AM): are we on the next turn?
AgujaCabra (2:07 AM): okay. I need to not try to make the log during a combat scene..
AgujaCabra (2:08 AM): yes. next turn.
NerwenGreen (2:08 AM): hehe
NerwenGreen (2:08 AM): I guess for combat, we should do all of it, and then write a summary afterwards.
NerwenGreen (2:08 AM): Inits: Ryan=9, Thomas=10
AgujaCabra (2:09 AM): what's Thomas look like he wants to do? :p
NerwenGreen (2:10 AM): Which target is he closer to? The one who shot at him or the one who shot at Antor?
AgujaCabra (2:11 AM): he can't see the one who shot at Antor, but he's slightly closer to that area.
NerwenGreen (2:11 AM): stupid obfuscate :p ... he's going to track down someone with Auspex after all this :p
AgujaCabra (2:12 AM): shoot. they just wanted a nice clean kill of the ratkin...
AgujaCabra (2:12 AM): ^.^
NerwenGreen (2:12 AM): argh ... what the heck *can* you do to someone with obfuscate
AgujaCabra (2:13 AM): well, technically the obfuscate cloak would have worn off when the shots were fired. However, this is not exactly obfuscate, so ..
NerwenGreen (2:14 AM): is it something that can be seen through with Auspex?
AgujaCabra (2:14 AM): yes
NerwenGreen (2:15 AM): if they only wanted to kill the rat guy, why did they start shooting everyone else :p
NerwenGreen (2:15 AM): okay. Anyways. Thomas is going to head back toward the guy he can see.
AgujaCabra (2:15 AM): they're hunters ^^ they knew Antor was a vampire already, and they figured out what Thomas and Ryan are pretty quick.
NerwenGreen (2:16 AM): yeah, I figured that
AgujaCabra (2:16 AM): hehe. they might leave pretty soon anyway, if people let them go :p
NerwenGreen (2:16 AM): and why are they using regular bullets then :p
NerwenGreen (2:16 AM): okay
AgujaCabra (2:16 AM): what? they're silver bullets.. they also have iron bullets.
NerwenGreen (2:17 AM): oh
NerwenGreen (2:17 AM): makes sense
AgujaCabra (2:17 AM): hmm.. I wonder if you can make a bullet filled with holy water..
NerwenGreen (2:17 AM): well, Ryan is trying to turn the bullets into blanks, and Thomas is going to see if he can attack the guy that shot at him.
AgujaCabra (2:19 AM): okay. The guy who shot at Thomas is going to fire again. However, the bullets miss him easily.
AgujaCabra (2:19 AM): Thomas needs to dodge some other bullets, though.
AgujaCabra (2:20 AM): um. I guess he can't, if he's doing other stuff.. and their inits is higher..
NerwenGreen (2:20 AM): was he in range for an attack at anyone, or is still just going back and forth
AgujaCabra (2:21 AM): He's 2 turns from the guy shooting, and about 1 and a half turns away from the other shooter.
NerwenGreen (2:21 AM): but he can't see the closer guy so it doesn't matter
AgujaCabra (2:22 AM): I know. ::frowns:: okay. no more combat.
NerwenGreen (2:22 AM): I think I'm never going to try playing a PC without auspex again :p
AgujaCabra (2:22 AM): hahah :p
AgujaCabra (2:25 AM): I am so confused with combat. . He was going for the guy on the stair? As the bullets from this man's gun fly by, another two bullets hit Thomas from behind. [Soak 4 bashing damage, then round down]
NerwenGreen (2:25 AM): 10, 6, 4, 4, 2
NerwenGreen (2:26 AM): he was going for whoever shot at him
NerwenGreen (2:26 AM): there's stairs?
AgujaCabra (2:26 AM): [he takes 1 damage, then]
NerwenGreen (2:26 AM): ok
NerwenGreen (2:26 AM): it's bashing?
AgujaCabra (2:27 AM): sorry. The guy at the trailer is kind of up on a shelf of 3 stairs, that lead up into the attraction.
AgujaCabra (2:27 AM): bullets are bashing, right?
NerwenGreen (2:27 AM): no, lethal
AgujaCabra (2:27 AM): er. okay.
NerwenGreen (2:27 AM): he takes 2 then I take it
AgujaCabra (2:28 AM): give him 1, because I'm being nice.
NerwenGreen (2:28 AM): hehe .. you don't have to coddle him
AgujaCabra (2:29 AM): beh. 2 then.
NerwenGreen (2:29 AM): :p
AgujaCabra (2:29 AM): there. no coddling. I was just saying 1 because I've always done bullets bashing... :p
NerwenGreen (2:29 AM): oh
AgujaCabra (2:30 AM): actually, this book says bullets=lethal. so.. okay.
NerwenGreen (2:30 AM): hehe
AgujaCabra (2:31 AM): Antor is approaching the man on the stair as well. His claws are out, and he moves at a fast jog.
AgujaCabra (2:32 AM): at the trailer. not on the stair.
NerwenGreen (2:32 AM): uh
NerwenGreen (2:32 AM): the one that they can see? or the one that can't be seen
NerwenGreen (2:32 AM): or can Antor see the other guy?
AgujaCabra (2:32 AM): the one that can be seen.
NerwenGreen (2:32 AM): ok
AgujaCabra (2:32 AM): sorry. I'm gonna stop being a moron soon. Is there any way to counteract what Ryan did with the electricity?
NerwenGreen (2:33 AM): well .. hmm. I was thinking it was just an instant effect that would drain all electricity in the area, but any new electricity that comes in shouldn't be affected
AgujaCabra (2:34 AM): so, the lights should be coming back on about now?
AgujaCabra (2:34 AM): I guess the tazers are still messed up, and the masks.
NerwenGreen (2:35 AM): the overhead lights probably wouldn't've stayed dark very long ... but you could fudge it and say that with 3 successes the drain effect lasted a little longer
AgujaCabra (2:35 AM): okay. So the carnival lights slowly flicker back on, casting a sickly glow over the battle scene.
NerwenGreen (2:35 AM): okay
AgujaCabra (2:36 AM): I need the stupid ratkin book.
NerwenGreen (2:36 AM): hehe .. I don't have that one
NerwenGreen (2:36 AM): if they were trying to kill him, why didn't they just shoot him with silver bullets to begin with? why bother with tazers?
AgujaCabra (2:39 AM): they weren't really planning to kill him at first. they figured out what he was during a show, ripped off the curtain so that the audience could also see [inducing delerium... how nice]. the tazer gun was set up so it wouldn't take a full turn to grab it and fire.
NerwenGreen (2:39 AM): ah _
AgujaCabra (2:41 AM): okay. new turn. .. or, we pretend I was never dumb enough to have this happen ^^
NerwenGreen (2:41 AM): heh
NerwenGreen (2:42 AM): inits: Thomas = 16, Ryan = 12
AgujaCabra (2:44 AM): The man at the trailer hesitates, but his gun is still pointed at Thomas. It looks like he might be ready to get the hell out of there.

The man who'd been after Ryan also pauses, and might turn his attention to Thomas.

Antor looks like he's still going to attack the guy at the trailer.
NerwenGreen (2:45 AM): can Thomas attack something yet?
AgujaCabra (2:46 AM): he's a turn away from the trailer guy. so.. he can get within striking distance.
NerwenGreen (2:46 AM): Thomas is going to start carrying a bleeping gun around :p
NerwenGreen (2:47 AM): okay ... Ryan is going to turn the guy's bullets into blanks. The guy who is aiming at Thomas. Thomas is going to continue charging toward the guy aiming at him.
NerwenGreen (2:47 AM): Ryan has 1 success
AgujaCabra (2:49 AM): The guy at the trailer jumps off the side of the stair, issuing a sharp command to his team-members to 'get out,' in a gravely voice.
AgujaCabra (2:50 AM): The man running at Ryan turns to begin dashing in another direction-- towards the back fence.
NerwenGreen (2:51 AM): Thomas has no plans to chase them down. When it looks like they're clearly leaving, he goes over to look after the health of the rat guy.
NerwenGreen (2:51 AM): Ryan comes out of hiding after the bad guys go away.
AgujaCabra (2:52 AM): how far would Ryan's elecrical thing reach? Once they get out of range, their weapons will begin working, right?
NerwenGreen (2:52 AM): well .. it's not an effect that stayed around after it was cast. Their weapons were drained, and they would still be drained.
AgujaCabra (2:53 AM): so.. they need new batteries?
NerwenGreen (2:53 AM): yeah
AgujaCabra (2:53 AM): what if the weapons have a recharger :p ?
NerwenGreen (2:54 AM): the rechargers are recharging how ?
AgujaCabra (2:54 AM): blah.
NerwenGreen (2:54 AM): you could say they have fresh battery packs just outside the fence if you want :p
AgujaCabra (2:55 AM): no. they would have brought other weapons if they were really planning on a fight.
NerwenGreen (2:55 AM): okay
AgujaCabra (2:55 AM): oh well.. so much for my cool hunter guys.
NerwenGreen (2:55 AM): uh huh
AgujaCabra (2:56 AM): Antor is going to pursue them.
NerwenGreen (2:56 AM): oh?
NerwenGreen (2:56 AM): hmm ... if that's the case, then Ryan might follow him, remaining cloaked.
AgujaCabra (2:56 AM): yes. he's a punk. He'll sneak around the side of the trailer, and try to follow them out at a distance.
NerwenGreen (2:56 AM): Thomas will still stop to check on the rat guy first, and if he's in stable condition he'll go join them too
AgujaCabra (2:58 AM): As the two men near the fence, there is a slight rippling of shadow and light, where Thomas and Ryan can vaguely make out another figure, huddled under an invisible piece of material. Wrapping this around the other two, all three vanish.
NerwenGreen (2:58 AM): Thomas goes back to tend the patient.
NerwenGreen (2:59 AM): Ryan watches to see what Antor is going to do.
AgujaCabra (3:01 AM): Antor scowls at the spot where the three hunters vanished, but turns around to walk after Thomas, and come to a crouch beside the injured ratkin.
NerwenGreen (3:01 AM): Ryan follows Antor. How's the rat guy?
AgujaCabra (3:02 AM): The rat guy is unconscious, and is in the process of reverting to his human form. He has had a shock to the system, but will most likely be all right once he recovers himself.

[Jan. 19, 2003]

AgujaCabra (7:00 PM): The tiny carnival music begins to fade out as the last of the carnival patrons exit through the front gates; hotdog and cotton candy vendors close their respective booths, and the bumper cars sizzle to a nightly halt-- the spray of blue electricity still hot on the cooling late-night air. As Antor comes to a restless crouch beside the fallen ratkin, he lowers his head in a pensive gesture; casting a critical eye over his colleague's wounds.
AgujaCabra (7:00 PM): [I'd say... me?]
NerwenGreen (7:00 PM): [hehe okay ;)]
AgujaCabra (7:00 PM): [ack!! typo in the first entry... tiny = tinny]
NerwenGreen (7:03 PM): Thomas, who was already crouched beside the ratkin as Ryan and Antor approached, glances up as Antor joins him. "He will be all right," he comments. "Do you know who would wish to harm him?"
AgujaCabra (7:09 PM): Glancing up sharply at Thomas' question, Antor cracks a wry smile, answering with a dry levity "The men firing at us, I'd wager... I don't know who they are, though. " A slow frown creeps across his face, as he continues thoughtfully "I wouldn't have thought anyone would want to hurt Patches, but I don't know who Nightshade is running with these days either-- I don't usually make the boss' business my own. "
AgujaCabra (7:09 PM): Offering a slight, self-admonishing snort, he pushes the Ratkin's shoulder roughly, and then steps closer to pull him smoothly up into a steady grip when there is little response. "... I'll take him over to his trailer. You said he'll be all right?"
NerwenGreen (7:11 PM): "Once he regains consciousness, he should make a full recovery," Thomas replies. He moves to help Antor move Patches if he looks like he needs it. Ryan follows the two of them, frowning thoughtfully. "Maybe I should ask him about that tomorrow," he says.
AgujaCabra (7:16 PM): Antor is able to heft the weight onto his shoulder without much difficulty, but won't stop Thomas from helping-- as the body is slightly unwieldy. Casting a look back at Ryan as he begins to walk towards a set of dusty metal trailers near the back of the park, he raises an eyebrow inquisitively "If you want to talk to Nightshade, we can set that to rest tonight--- I'm sure he's still awake, and probably aware that his attraction here got into a fire fight already."
NerwenGreen (7:19 PM): Thomas walks alongside, helping keep the body balanced on Antor's shoulder. Ryan walks beside Antor on his other side. He looks over toward the other man and says "Well, if he doesn't already know, we should probably go tell him, then."
AgujaCabra (7:24 PM): Shrugging a little even as he nods, Antor shoots another probing glance over to Ryan, as he makes his way around the wooden, side-show attraction trailers; careful not to catch Patches on any of the protrusions or occasional rope. Flashing a slightly crooked smile, he asks "So.. what other tricks do you have up your sleeves? I thought you were the new engineer-- not a new magician. " He adjusts his grip on the Ratkin, turning away from Ryan as he continues to walk.
NerwenGreen (7:29 PM): Ryan breaks into a cautious smile as he continues walking, looking slightly downward rather than at Antor. "You've seen my best tricks already," he says hesitantly. "And I am the new engineer. That's what I was hired for." He shrugs after a moment's consideration. "Tonight was just unusual, I hope."
AgujaCabra (7:37 PM): Chuckling thoughtfully to himself, Antor readjusts Patches again, and rustles through one of the man's jean pockets for a sparsely decorated keychain, bearing a small metal add for the circus and only a few grungey keys. As he approaches one of the trailers, he flips through the keys to find one with a square head, and quickly unlocks the battered metal door. "Well. That trick with the necklace was an interesting one ,"
AgujaCabra (7:37 PM): he shoots back to Ryan as he steps inside the trailer briefly, to set Patches on a sloppily- made cot. Coming back out, he adds .. "If anything like that shows up again, I'd definitely like to see it."
NerwenGreen (7:44 PM): Ryan stands outside the trailer in silence while Antor puts the ratkin into the trailer, looking at the ground. Thomas follows them into the trailer so he can make a final check on the unconscious man's condition. When Antor comes back out, Ryan looks over at him slowly, slightly irritated at the other man's demeanor, and says "I'll keep that in mind."
AgujaCabra (7:51 PM): Antor returns his look steadily, and offers a solid nod in response... moving down quickly from the trailer steps, and standing opposite Ryan as he waits for Thomas to join them again. "I'll mention the necklace to some people who knew Foster, if you don't mind," he says while scanning the next trailer over, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a pause, he looks between Thomas and Ryan, "... Is Abbie still over behind the tent? I didn't see her run out with us."
NerwenGreen (7:54 PM): Ryan looks startled, then begins looking around, taking a few steps back toward the scene of the attack. "I'd forgotten about her," he mutters sheepishly. Distractedly, he adds "by all means, go ahead and ask around about the necklace - I'd like to know too." Thomas emerges from the trailer a moment later, shutting the door behind him and coming to stand beside Antor.

AgujaCabra (8:02 PM): Dusting his hands off distractedly on the sides of his pants, Antor steps away from the trailer and begins to walk back towards the large tent. He pockets Patches' set of keys for the moment, and lapses into a moody silence ... the keys rattle slightly at each step, and a few other carnival personnel can be seen between the trailers, closing up shop.
NerwenGreen (8:05 PM): Thomas follows Antor quietly, looking toward where they last saw Abbie as they approach the large tent. Ryan, upon seeing that the other two are coming over, begins walking more quickly over in that direction.
AgujaCabra (8:09 PM): As Ryan approaches the back of the tent, he can see Abbie sitting tentatively where she had been left. Looking moodily at the ground, she twists a blade of grass around her finger a few times.. splitting it down the center finally, and letting the separate halves drift back lazily to the ground. She glances in Ryan's direction as she hears him approach-- jumping nervously at the sound, but relaxing again after she sees the familiar face.
NerwenGreen (8:12 PM): Ryan gives her a friendly smile as he approaches. "Sorry about all that," he says casually, coming to stand beside her. "Are you all right?"
AgujaCabra (8:15 PM): She shrugs absently, casting her gaze back to the ground, and kicking her foot lightly into the surrounding soil. "Yeah. I'm fine..," she returns easily after a pause, looking back up at him with a slight air of trepidation.. "Is everyone else okay? The lights went out for a minute... And I saw that rat guy on the ground."
NerwenGreen (8:18 PM): "Yeah, we're all okay," Ryan replies. "The rat guy, too. We took him over to his trailer. Thomas says he'll be fine." He checks the time and frowns. "We should probably be going, actually - it's getting kind of late..." He trails off to mumble to himself about having to get up in the morning for work.
AgujaCabra (8:21 PM): Abbie pushes herself lightly to her feet, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets and giving the ground another soft kick for good measure, before stepping away from the stool she'd been sitting on. As Antor rounds the corner of the tent, she lifts her hand in a half-wave, and then returns it immediately to her pocket. "So...," she turns her attention to Ryan again, ".. are you and Thomas escorting me to the hostel tonight?"
NerwenGreen (8:26 PM): Ryan gives Thomas a questioning look. Thomas raises an eyebrow at him and returns a slight nod. Ryan turns back to Abbie and gives her a charming grin, offering his arm to her. "If it pleases you, mi'lady," he replies with a slight chuckle. Thomas looks at him with amusement.
AgujaCabra (8:32 PM): Abbie grins happily, looping her arm readily through Ryan's and sidling up to him with a playful bounce. "Thanks," she beams; a measure of her tenseness departing as she realizes that she won't be left alone in an unknown part of town.
AgujaCabra (8:32 PM): Antor smiles drily at this exchange, and steps over towards Diamond's cage to grab a heavy leash fastened to the underside of the enclosure. "I'll make sure that Nightshade knows about the attack tonight, Ryan... anything else you want to bring up with him tomorrow is fine."
NerwenGreen (8:35 PM): Ryan looks over at Antor and nods with some relief. "Okay," he responds. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow evening then." After a moment, Thomas adds quietly, "It was good to meet you, Antor."
AgujaCabra (8:39 PM): Antor nods once, responding to both Thomas and Ryan, as he begins to unlock Diamond's cage. The large cat steps lazily to her feet, pressing her head up against the door demandingly, as Antor attempts to push her back. "Yeah.. It's good to see Shepard has a clan again, actually," he looks to Thomas with a wry smile, nodding once again after a slight pause, "Good night."
AgujaCabra (8:41 PM): [hey... I'm not sure there is a shadowrun larp, actually :P ]
NerwenGreen (8:43 PM): Thomas offers a small smile in return, a hint of relief in his eyes when Shepard is mentioned. "Good night," he answers quietly with a return nod, as Ryan waves slightly, grinning. The three of them begin moving toward the exit.
NerwenGreen (8:43 PM): [why not?]
AgujaCabra (8:44 PM): [they guy who wrote the comic comments "I love shadowrun, but the idea of a shadowrun larp scares the shit out of me" :P It might have just been a totally made up scenerio ]
NerwenGreen (8:44 PM): [hehehe .. okay]
AgujaCabra (8:52 PM): Abbie slips her arm sheepishly out from Ryan's as they begin to walk away, and puts the hand back into her pocket as she looks up at the clear night sky. Somewhere near the game booths, a boombox drums a steady beat; elsewhere; the distinctive twang of an old country song competes with the overwhelming bass... and both barely mingle together in the cluster of rides and food stands, through with the three
AgujaCabra (8:52 PM): companions navigate. Abbie pipes up after a pause, "So.. when do you think the Prince would want to see me? ," she directs a glance to Thomas, and then looks back to the ground.
NerwenGreen (8:55 PM): Ryan grins mischievously as Abbie withdraws her hand, with another quiet chuckle. He glances around the closing carnival idly as they continue to walk. Thomas considers her question thoughtfully for a moment. "I will contact him tomorrow evening," he answers.
AgujaCabra (9:00 PM): "Okay," she responds after a moment of thought, continuing to walk along quietly beside Ryan and Thomas towards the carnival gate. As they pass beneath the wooden entryway onto the sidewalk beyond, a woman at the counter exchanges a polite "have a nice night. please come back again," before closing her window, and
AgujaCabra (9:00 PM): stepping out the small back door of the cubicle into the closing park. The streets are predominantly empty at this hour-- a few stragglers limp past from a nearby, street-corner bar, and there are only occasional headlights on the dark road.
NerwenGreen (9:01 PM): [umm .. is the trolley still running?]
NerwenGreen (9:02 PM): [it's 4 am ... though I think about an hour of stuff has gone by in the last 10 minutes :p]
AgujaCabra (9:03 PM): [whoah :p really? ]
NerwenGreen (9:03 PM): [is the trolley still running?]
AgujaCabra (9:03 PM): [what's goin' on? 4AM.... hm. the trolley is still running, yep]
NerwenGreen (9:03 PM): [hehe yay ;)]
NerwenGreen (9:04 PM): Ryan leads them to the trolley stop. Thomas looks over at him and asks, "Do you know where a suitable hostel is located?"
NerwenGreen (9:05 PM): [umm .. do we really need to play her getting checked in to the youth hostel? or can we fast forward through some of it?]
AgujaCabra (9:06 PM): [uh. we can fast-forward :p ]
NerwenGreen (9:06 PM): [yay ;)]
NerwenGreen (9:06 PM): Thomas makes sure he has contact info for where she's staying.
AgujaCabra (9:09 PM): Abbie is happily checked into a clean little hostel located a few blocks away from city hall. She thanks Thomas and Ryan for their help, waving to both before heading upstairs to her temporary room.
AgujaCabra (9:09 PM): Thomas can get the address, and a phone number for the building. Abbie does not have a private phone.
NerwenGreen (9:10 PM): Ryan cheerfully waves back and Thomas gives her a farewell nod. Pocketing the contact information, they walk back to Ryan's bus.