Chapter 2c: A Ritual at Midnight

[Muskrat]

OOC

I thought I had read through the whole backlog of posts from when I was away, but I must have missed the part dealing with Danielle or not registered it due to information overload. It would have been interesting to RP out, but I can see the need to move on.

Pilgrim listens respectfully to Mr. Han's prayers, silently adding his own, thanking God for his help. As they head back to the apartment complex, Pilgrim says to the others, "Man, I'm tired--I can only imagine how wiped out you wizards must be. Let's hope we get a chance to rest before more trouble comes our way."

[Muskrat]

OOC

The only thing I see on Danielle and the other imprisoned members of La Mancha is:

Old Man Fowler handles Jack's and Pilgrim's arrival as one would expect, grumpily. His eyes show otherwise however, glinting with the hint of admiration and gladness as the heroes safe return. He also appears to be a tad bit nervous, though does not let on why. In turn, he too nods approvingly and begins to make several phone calls, trying his best to set up a visitation with D.Q. and the other members of La Mancha. In time, his efforts prove fruitful and the chance to speak with them about a possible release procured.

There's no word about whether or not Pilgrim and Jack decided that they should be released. We don't have to RP it out, but it might be good to know the outcome, for future reference. It will surely affect the group's relationship with Esmeralda and La Mancha.

[Eanwulf]

OOC

Those that went to see Retro and D.Q.?
The affair went as one would expect. D.Q. showed great hostility towards the males and refused to cooperate at first. Upon hearing that Lady Esmeralda was all-but-fed up with the woman's actions, her mood curbed greatly. Apparently, D.Q. is a lesbian and has the major hots for her leader. As such, she kicks into submissive/cooperative mode really quick and agrees to help everyone out. Retro is another story and takes some major convincing before he finally relents to join the cause. He is typical Latino, cocky and full of machismo. He seems to go along with D.Q. out of the arrogant notion that he might actually one day bring D.Q. over to the dark side (i.e. heterosexual) and make her his woman.

[Eanwulf]

With their task now completed, the group heads back to the Excelsior Arms where they promptly pass out and enjoy some much needed rest. Meanwhile, the two villains Kongo and Ghede are transported to Hudson County Correctional Facility and await further prosecution that should ultimately lead to the pair of vile criminals being placed somewhere inside of Northern State Prison.

For the time being however, the two powerless ruffians are kept in the same facility (though quite separate from) as their brother, Tough Luck.

The night spent asleep is a trying one and not without its share of difficulty; the lingering effects of Mr. Han's ritual somehow taking their toll upon our heroes. Several of the group's members suffer from nightmares, horrid affairs in the form of the dead rising up from their graves to devour the living. Others in the group dream about Kongo and Ghede regaining their powers and once more raising an unholy hell upon the Excelsior. A few even dream about a large, shapeless form that looks down upon both of the previous dreams' images combined and chortles fiendishly as the images beneath it wage their own private war against humanity.

Ultimately, in the end, the group awakens the next day to find their bodies still feeling somewhat haggard and their minds left with an unnervingly 'lasting' sensation that there is most assuredly something 'out there' in Hoboken that is just not right!

OOC

Here ends our baby ritual. Post wrap up stuff as desired. Otherwise I'll begin our next Chapter as able.

Job well done!

[veritas]

Remnant awakens in Jack's bed, covered in sweat and breathing rapidly. His hellfire shrouded eyes scan the cheap apartment, looking for the cause of his sleep's disturbance. The part of his mind that is Jack knows that this is not caused by Malphas, for the demon too is disturbed. Something is very wrong with the world.

Eventually he calms down, Jack more in control, and attempts to go back to sleep. The rest of the night is not peaceful, though. In the back of Jack's mind, Malphas is restless, for there is work to be done.

[Chanur]

Luke is close to being completely terrified by the ritual. Dealing with spirits and the dead is no place for the living as far as he is concerned. Thankfully the ritual ends and Luke considers turning into Cobalt and just killing the two of them right there once and for all but decides it would not be right in cold bold.

Luke spends the night having dreams about Ghede and Kongo and wakes silently wishing he had finished them off then and there. He worries that despite the two being "merely" human they could still cause much death and destruction. Dragging himself out of bed he showers and eats a quick bagel on the way to work for a quick shift.

[ardh05]

Ookami finds himself dreaming once again of the loss of his mate, but this time she is consumed by the formless darkness, when quickly rushes to envelop him. He bolts awake right as the shadow tries to pull him into its grasp. After taking a few minutes to convince himself that it was simply a dream, he goes to drink some water and spend time with the rottweilers.

OOC

Figured I'd have a little fun with the nightmare thing, as his nightmares would take a different form than the others.

[Muskrat]

Pilgrim wakes up in a cold sweat from the nightmares. He breaths deeply, then gets of bed and kneels on the floor praying, which eventually calms him enough that he can go back to bed. He is still uneasy, wondering if the dreams were one of the prophetic visions that God sometimes sent him. They don't feel prophetic--just like ordinary nightmares--but he can't be sure.

OOC

Wulf, don't forget I have the precognition power, which kicks in at your discretion.

[Trogdor]

Nikolai wakes after a series of disturbing dreams. Visions of the ritual they had just performed, and all the things that might have gone wrong fill his sleeping mind. These nightmares haven't frightened him - he has protections in place against that possibility - but they do give him a great deal to think about.

Upon rising, he retreats to the library where he engages in an hour of meditation followed by some simple research to try and discover if these were normal nightmares, the product of his subconscious trying to tell him something, a message from beyond, or perhaps something worse ...

Anyone who looks for him will find him in the library, cross-legged, four feet above the ground, with a book hovering opened in front of him.

OOC

Let's hear it for the Fearless ability!