RB 1-8: The Bella Santiana

Mission Report

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 ((June 17, 2018))
Team: Lyndi Fletcher (Aslene), Jane Irwin (Cael), Chuck Nielson (Ari), Edward Chase (Aunne), Ryu (Dargen)

Morning Briefing

• Max present in person
• Nails joins remotely
• Team is officially RaPT3R Blue Squad (Rapid Paranormal Tactical Response/Rescue/Research); those on temporary contracts moved to permanent contracts
• Joe has been temporarily loaned to another R3M team that needed his particular expertise
• Ed reports on NeoCyclic rebuilding and reinforcing the Iowa site
• Discussion of Joslin coming to the Fort
• Jane shares about her induction into the Order of One Terra, and the incoming prophecy
  • Nails: The Order of One Terra is not a signatory to the Threshold Alliance. R3M is, as well as many of our allies.
  • Prophecy relates to Chicago
  • Nails has heard chatter about a prophecy
  • Ditto Ajami
• Some discussion of Ryu's temple and his reasons for being on the team
  • Temple of the Four Dragon Paths
  • Temple seemed to foresee the formation of the team and contacted Nails to suggest Ryu's participation
• Ajami
  • Troubled by seeing the battle at Quarenzend, happened 9 years ago
  • It's clear now that Lyndi, Chuck, and Draco carry soul shadows; heroes you saw were likely yourselves: an elf paladin, a half-orc barbarian, and a dragonborn cleric
  • Joslin's soul shadow is an orc
  • Jane's soul shadow is a tiefling druid, and her provenance remains mysterious
  • Jane shares her name and Order of the Silver Comet
  • My allies believe that the metabiotic crystals are created using a variation of a powerful necromantic spell; the spell is Soul Cage; at the time of death, imprison a soul and use it to power magical effects
  • The crystals make it possible to transfer the soul into another being, conferring the metahuman attributes, professional training, and paranormal powers
  • Need to travel off world to learn more about the battle at Quarenzend, will return as soon as I can
• Max reports that allies are continuing to report the disappearance of Unbound, worldwide
• Metabiotic Crystals
  • Nails: we still aren't certain that NeoCyclic was using Assemblers or another kind of nanite; if Assemblers, that's huge
  • Surveillance of the Iowa compound, from Ed
• Demonic activity
  • Recruited a solo Unbound, calls herself Query; she's training to be a marshal
  • Oct 15: Reports of missing pets in Pilsen area; found abandoned warehouse, lizards, lizard mouse , traces of a portal
  • Oct 17: Train worker of being attacked by a giant beetle, utility tunnels, beetles tainted with demonic power, manes , ritual site, fresh portal, type called a breach, closed it
  • Nails (looks at Ed): This may be a greater threat than anything you've faced so far; demons are creatures of chaos and evil; they have no kindness in them, no mercy; they exist to corrupt and destroy, to bring destruction for the sake of destruction, and always to grow and grow in power
  • Some discussion of how to permanently kill a demon
  • Ajami: Much depends on how the demon came to be here. The demon may not hold a grudge, but its summoner may. ...assuming there was a summoner...
• Bella Santiana Theater
  • Max pulled plans and history
  • Jane and Ed try to visit Walter posing as architecture students, find Sophia, learn about Raph, get his business card, Raph is on Geek Squad at Best Buy, Ed leaves a voicemail
  • Chuck and Ryu scouted Theater
• Magic items assigned and attuned; Lyndi
• Ryu approves Draco getting a commercial drone and modifying it as a learning project

Best Buy

• 1000 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
• Ed and Jane talk with Michael Paulson, Assistant Manager
• Michael concerned about Raph, covering for Raph
• Raph yelled at Michael's boss, said something like, "You don't know what I'm capable of."
• Michael wonders whether it's drugs? A girl? Raph has potential, could become a pro gamer, or at least get a university scholarship
• Draco mines Raph's social media, finds closest associates are other seniors at his high school: Draco: Colby Diseth, best friend, lacrosse player; Lisette Carrell, dance team captain, possible romantic relationship; Javier "Javi" Denote, automotive mechanic; Francis "Frankie" Regan, Catholic, has apps in at seminaries

The Bella Santiana

• Overcast day
• Negative aura on building
• Team sneaks into alley, then theater (Ed did extraordinarily well picking both locks (nat 20s))
• Theater
• Smells rancid
• Bone mobiles hanging from the ceiling (made from past meals)
• Bone Terror hiding in the mobile, swoops silently down and attacks
• Silver tube appears near Ed
• Heroes dispatch Bone Terror, which wheezes and explodes
• Lyndi detects a huge pentagram, occupying much of the theater
• Silver tube contains a note about Ed being called to a hearing about Vulc@n's death

To: Arthur Kelly, Regional Commander, Rogue Raptor Risk Management (R3M)
Fr: The Council of RA, Louisiana Chapter
Re: Untimely death of Lester "Vulc@n" Carrington
Date: November 8, 2017

The Council calls upon Dr. Kelly to produce Edward Chase and his associates for questioning, regarding the untimely death of Lester "Vulc@n" Carrington on November 3 at the Stayawhile Inn. Mr. Carrington was Unbound. His death may represent a preventable loss of Earth's strategic strength.
This matter has been brought to the Council's attention by Braxton Hilberk, on behalf of Council member Primex Consolidated Technologies Management.
The preliminary hearing shall take place on Friday, November, 10, 2017, in the private dining room of the Chrome Anubis Club, Chicago, IL, USA.
The Council anticipates that you will personally advocate for Mr. Chase. However, should you wish to name a different advocate or request an advocate, the Council will oblige.
Suspected Malefactor: Edward Chase (alias)
Suspected Associates: Lyndi Fletcher, Jane Irwin, Arthur Kelly, Chuck Nielsen, Maxine Witkey, Unnamed Unbound Man, Unnamed Unbound Woman