Session 20

← Session 19 | Session 21 →

Sundry meetings are attended, and Kuno adopts a spooky grandson.

## Characters

* The Party
* Fiorella Fells
* 0-771534
* Legacy Byrnes
* Zaida Loch
* Na'arisiel
* Harriet Sikes
* Ethan Brink
* Neera Guinn
* Catalina Adams
* Nate

## Rumors

Sam doesn't trust Asa, and receives a rumor about Mortality: Ethan Brink, of the Children of the Lion, is trying to track him down for murdering Anthony Wilson.

Nyx doesn't trust Sam, and receives a rumor about Power: she meets Neera Guinn, of the Children of the Lion.

Asa doesn't trust Sam, and receives a rumor about Power: Zaida follows him to Ollie's apartment.

Colby doesn't trust Asa, and receives a rumor about Wild: Fells has finally found him a TV deal.

Kuno doesn't trust Asa, and receives a rumor about Wild: he finds the source of bad vibes block.

## Summary

#### **Colby Reed Superstar**

##### **Saturday, January 30th, 543:**

Fiorella Fells, after having talked about television in very general terms for a while, calls Colby to a meeting in her office. She reveals that she has pulled some strings, and ended up with a TV deal. Fells has the whole thing planned out, and only needs Colby to sign off on it. Colby is reluctant, saying he's happy with just the church, but Fells is insistent. Eventually, Colby agrees to her starting plan of a single season, with Fells promising that if she can do anything to make it worthwhile she will.

#### **Ollie Needs a Restraining Order**

Asa drops by Ollie's apartment, where he hopes to find the revolutionaries. Ollie answers the door, and lets him in. Legacy just got back from a supply run, and while he looks very tired the two of them are unpacking and doing inventory. Asa joins them, and they have been working whilst making small talk for some time when there is a knock on the door. Once again, Ollie opens the door, and immediately closes it once everyone notices Zaida on the other side. On the other side of the door, Zaida is distraught. Ollie opens the door again, and Zaida says someone is looking for him but that she wanted to find him first. When she doesn't take Ollie's advice and leave, Legacy joins him in the doorway. Zaida recognizes Legacy from the Gala, and is even more distraught. With this, Ollie reluctantly lets her into the apartment. Zaida continues to plead with him to return, which Ollie continues to refuse. He has no pity for Zaida, who reportedly betrayed him, and doesn't care that things have been rough since he left.

Zaida accuses him of being selfish, to which Ollie fires back that he had intended to cut all ties. When Zaida accuses him of working with terrorists, he expresses his disdain for that being her only knowledge of the situation. Legacy is having none of this, and threatens that if Zaida isn't willing to walk away they can keep her zip-tied to a chair. Zaida breaks down, which no one present has any sympathy for. She eventually leaves, though not without saying she doesn't plan to let any of this stand. Legacy closes the door on her, before saying that while he respects Ollie's privacy he has a few questions. Ollie explains that she is a former coworker, and even though she has likely lost her job she is still loyal to their previous employer. He also doesn't think she is a threat, before asking Asa to be more careful with the fact that he could get followed. Asa returns a few days later with doughnuts as an apology for being followed.

#### **A Lad at the Hole in the Universe**

Kuno has been attempting to look into the Sculptor, with little success. This pastime results in him out fairly late one evening, in a sketchy part of town. When he checks his phone at one point, the clock display is spinning through random digits. Kuno recognizes this from Colby's reported experience, and starts trying to find the source of the effect. He ends up on a side street, where a trash can is flipping through various states of existence. Passersby don't seem to notice this odd occurrence, nor does the obviously homeless man sitting next to the trash can. The glitches in reality are strongest here, which Kuno is made viscerally aware of when he tosses his flashlight into the air and is caught in the effect.

The man sitting next to the trash can is wrapped in a blanket and wearing sunglasses, muttering to himself. These mutterings are mostly strings of numbers, interspersed with the occasional phrase or sentence. He doesn't respond when Kuno addresses him, though does react when Kuno places a hand on his shoulder. On closer observation, Kuno notices a film of opalescent pearl-like droplets suspended in the air around the man. Curious, Kuno collects some of these droplets. Some of the mumbling grabs Kuno's attention: a date, about a month ago, and the phrase "attack at the Gala". With this, Kuno realizes the mumbling always follows that format, and starts writing down everything he hears. Most of the phrases are nonsensical, and the dates vary from things that happened a very long time ago to ones that haven't happened yet.

Kuno texts the group chat, relaying the basic situation and providing a location. Nyx finds her way to the side street fairly quickly, and promptly tries to read the man's mind. She is immediately overwhelmed, receiving far too much information for her to handle at once. Kuno drags her back, and she gets some conclusions when she has time to process what she saw: the man is in a constant state of seeing everything that has, will, and could happen. This overwhelming amount of information is underscored by a vague sadness, with no discernible source. Having spent a decent amount of time here now, Kuno realizes that the man is also obviously ill, likely due to being out in the January cold.

Sam tries to visit the side street as well, but only manages to get within two blocks before he almost blacks out from the overwhelming nausea and battery soul-taste that is signature to bad vibes block. He relays this, and receives a picture of the homeless man and a basic explanation from Nyx.

#### **Kuno Adopts a Child**

Nyx and Kuno are able to guide the homeless man to Kuno's apartment. Kuno sets him up on the sofa, and provides cold medicine. The man will take things handed to him, and is able to drink, but still doesn't demonstrate any real awareness of his surroundings. Kuno gives the notebook of scribbled dates and events to Nyx, who goes through it. Kuno also writes a note addressed to Walz to leave the homeless man alone, saying he isn't involved in anything, which he leaves on a table.

#### **Nyx Joins Some Rather Nice People who do Murder in their Basement**

##### **Sunday, January 31st, 543:**

The next morning, Nyx attends a service at the building that used to host the Church of Saint Anthony. The congregation is tight-knit, and she stands out as a new face. An older man appears suspicious of her, but he is warded off by a woman who introduces herself as Harriet and more or less takes Nyx under her wing. Nyx gives her name as Amaranth. She also has a short conversation with the older man, who is Ethan Brink, and informs her that the former priest was killed by a suspicious young man recently. From Brink, Nyx learns the new priest has been a member of the congregation for a solid few months, and was the obvious choice.

With basic pleasantries over, the sermon starts. Neera Guinn, the new priest, remarks on the new face before launching into an impressive sermon about the Children of the Lion. On the surface, the sermon is fairly reasonable, but she makes mention of the Parousia and the fact that their Lion will protect those who devote themselves. After the sermon, Nyx asks Harriet about the Lion, playing it off as wanting to know more about the Children's lore. Harriet directs Nyx to Neera, and the two have a short conversation. Neera welcomes Nyx to the parish. Through a handshake, Nyx reads Neera's mind, finding that she is protecting herself and serving as a liaison between the Children and someone who cares about them. When Nyx asks about the Lion, whom Neera has also referred to as the Benevolent Guide, Neera explains that they're technically a demon. However, Neera knows the concept of demons comes with societal connotations, as does that of a demon-worshiping cult. Nyx is invited to a study group at the church, if she's interested in learning more about the Lion and their general lore. Neera also says they have a food pantry, to help Children affected by the recent unrest and food shortage, which Nyx appreciates and makes use of.

Nyx texts the group an update with everything she learned from visiting the Children, and tells them she plans to attend the study group in hopes of getting more information.

#### **Can we Murder your Sister Please?**

##### **Monday, February 1st, 543:**

Having texted ahead and set up an appointment, Kuno and Asa visit Catalina Adams. They are shown into the back room where she holds court, and exchange pleasantries. Asa asks for a large amount of ammunition, overestimating the amount the wolves will need. Cat says she's going to need some time, and to be paid, but that she can set that up. Asa brings up that he heard recently, via Kuno, that Cat used to be a mercenary, and has a sister she's never mentioned. Cat makes it clear she intends to leave that all behind, having parted ways with Morena. Asa suggests that they know someone who wants Morena dead, wondering if Cat knows her whereabouts. Cat doesn't recommend getting involved with people who want Morena dead, since she has the resources to just kill her opposition. However, Cat isn't the most fond of Morena's involvement with the wolves, and has a possible location. Cat says Asa will owe her for the information, and she gives directions to a bunker that ended up in Morena's care after they split.

#### **Don't Drink the Time Juice**

Nyx, having been left in Kuno's apartment, is spending time with the man Kuno met at the center of bad vibes block. She is confused by all the opalescent liquid in his general vicinity, but has no good way of telling what it is. Eventually, she removes the man's sunglasses, to reveal his lack of eyes. Rather, his eye sockets are full of the same opalescent liquid, which spills out into the air around him. He goes completely still when the glasses are removed. Nyx replaces them, and the man returns to his original state.

Sam texts Colby, wondering if Hollis would know anything about the homeless man Kuno found. Colby doesn't know if visiting him is the best idea, and while Sam doesn't either he says they might as well try. Sam makes more brownies at Colby's apartment, and the two go to visit Hollis's apartment. They've visited enough times that they're fairly certain he will be home, but there is no response. With no way of leaving a message, the two leave empty-handed, and Colby ends up with the brownies.

Kuno has a short email conversation with Ollie, and asks if he can do materials analysis. Ollie responds that he has none of the necessary equipment.

Nyx brings some of the opalescent liquid with her on a visit to Kitty. However, Kitty is in the middle of a seance, so while Nyx exchanges pleasantries with Silas she doesn't stick around.

#### **Is Murder Good, Actually?**

Kuno finds some success in his investigation into the Sculptor by digging through news and police reports. There is no obvious pattern to the victims, but the majority were not good people: they had been misusing their position, they had questionable taste in hobbies, etc. The victims also are exclusively employees of the corporations that run the City, particularly the more science-oriented ones. Kuno digs up a vague map of where bodies have been found, which covers a lot of ground but gives him a general area to continue his search. The other main piece of information Kuno finds is the fact that while no more details have been released about the Sculptor's identity, he has reportedly been tried, convicted, and is currently awaiting execution.

#### **Oh Boy I Hope Nobody has Ulterior Motives**

With the recent revelation of Fells's television plans, Colby decides to visit Nate, bringing the brownies Sam made. Nate looks the worse for wear, and while happy to see Colby is more dysfunctional than usual. Colby brings up the fact that he was in the tabloids. The fact that Fells published things about Colby without his knowledge doesn't sit right with Nate, a feeling that is only exacerbated by Colby bringing up Fells's television plan. Nate wants to know what Colby thinks the end goal of all this is, especially since the Second Coming is the apocalypse, as well as the fact that the original Jesus was killed. Colby doesn't have any answers, but says it's likely Fells is just trying to use his status to convert people. The two spend some awkward time together after that, and eventually get takeout.

## Quotes

**Ollie:** "What is so hard to believe? That I would step up and help when people are in trouble?"

**James:** "Doing crime grandpa things."

**Kellen:** "Can we not consume unknown liquids just *once* in this campaign?"

**Asa:** "Please stop harassing old men in the street."

**Kellen:** "Mortality squared, that’s Kuno."

**Abby:** "I wanna drink the time juice."

**James:** "I just want this man to be okay." | **Kellen:** "I’ve given Kuno a child."

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