2020-03-28 Antinomian Praxis

Summary
Insert Summary Here

Log
{{dialogue

Lionsgate Apartments, 17th floor, Apartment 17C - 1:32 AM
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Malcolm was up late, as usual, hitting the occult books, bashing his head against metaphorical walls as he tried to comprehend how the Hermetics of old made their spells, trying to make sense of them so he could duplicate them at some point future. But he was having no luck tonight, and set aside the Alchemical primer yet again, not understanding the transubstantian effects still.

Deciding what he needed was a break, and maybe to pick the minds of more and perhaps less experienced Alchemists, he picked up his phone and typed out a few text messages.

To Albina, he wrote:

Haven't heard from you or from Shiloh in awhile. Having some conceptual struggles with your favored Art form still, perhaps you could enlighten me? Streets are empty enough I might chance a trip out to RKR. Let me know if you're up and willing to receive a guest. - Malcolm

To Shiloh, he wrote:

Hey Shiloh, haven't heard from you in awhile, everything going alright? If you're up, I could continue our conversation. I would love some company. Let me know - Malcolm

Not really expecting any replies given the hour, he picked up the book and got back to work on the problem.

@Shiloh Young. @Janothar

He's hit with a text back a few minutes later.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Hey dude! Just been doing lot of thinking. And studying. And cleaning. A break sounds great, I'll swing on over."

And some time later, Shiloh would come strolling up to his door, knocking eagerly.

By now she's such a regular that the doorman just lets her in with a knowing smile and Malcolm answered the door, obviously pleased to see her.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Shiloh, good to see you. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. I put the kettle on if you're in the mood for anything. I thought perhaps actually changing some states of matter might help me conceptualize how to do it by other means, but so far, no luck."

The apartment looked as spotless as ever. Some books shifted around, some new old books out by his preferred chair as well as the ones there previously, but even the bookshelves had been dusted off recently.

"This quarantine isolation getting to you? Have they begun drafting Nursing students to the front lines of the fight against the Plague yet? I hope not, for your sake, but the news gets scarier every day. I haven't left here for a week myself and I never knew quite how much I missed doing so."

"What can I get you?"

Shiloh kicks off her shoes - sneakers - and heads off to curl up on her customary spot. "Anything, and I can't stand being cooped up like this, even if I know it's for the best." His nurse question gets a head shake. "Not yet, or at least, not me. Kinda wish they would."
 * Shiloh Young|

"I did, uh, learn some not-mundane things last week, though." That bring out the sheepishness. "How have things been on your end?"

Malcolm raised an eyebrow at the not - mundane comment
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Really? I hadn't heard from Albina, Nicholas, Micheal or you, so I didn't know there was plans to pursue your education by other means. I have been meaning to fulfill my promise to Albina to get you to the Chantry, but what with the quarantine and all . . ."

He trailed off, looking out the window towards the park, then switched back to her.

"So what did you learn, and who from? The world is a school for the Hermetic Magus, and enlightenment can come from anywhere. And I've just been here, eager for news of the world outside. So do tell me what you've been up to?"

(And I was waiting for @Janothar to actually roleplay the journey to the Chantry for the first time anyway, if he pops on we might go ahead with it, if not, we stay here.)

"Oh, no, no, I still haven't really been to your Chantry yet. I meant more that I, uh, met with one of them. The Technocracy folks." She draws two crumbled pieces of paper from her pocket, holding them out to him with a hard look. "To cut it short, Nathan blames me for everything. Doesn't want to see me. And they're offering to pay off my loans and tuition if I come work for them. They'd want me to live on site."
 * Shiloh Young|

A worried look comes across Malcolm's brow. He takes the pieces of paper, unfurls them, puts them together, and reads the contents.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"You are sure this is your friend's handwriting?"

"I mean, it looks like his writing. I don't think she was lying, she seemed genuinely surprised by my reaction..."
 * Shiloh Young|

(sorry, just got back. Do you prefer to head to the Covenant or go after the alchemical equipment?)
 * Janothar|

"I ask simply because she herself may not have participated directly in this deception, if it is a deception, and therefore wouldn't have any knowledge of it."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"I would consider the possibility that this may not have been written by Nathan at all, but may indeed have been written by someone else trying to mimic his hand to emotionally manipulate you. I find it very difficult to believe whatever happened to you two down there was enough to so thoroughly sour your relationship like this, though I could be wrong in that assessment. I would pay careful attention to his choice of wording - they made him write this, for example. Though it does strike me as strange that he would use this as a means of pushing you away, while another hand within the Union reaches out for you. The right hand not knowing what the left is doing, or a coordinated attempt to manipulate you using both hands? Because reading this might make you want to see him again, just to make it up to him, make amends, apologize - which you can only do through their auspices. Which brings us back to the second part of your encounter."

"Their expected attempt to recruit you. As I have said to you before, not many Sleepers ever Awaken, so each one that does is a precious and rare resource. I never attempted to pretend I was not trying to make a place for you in our Order, they are seeking from you the same. I would hope you didn't join us under false pretenses, and if you are considering attempting to join them under false pretenses, know you are playing a very, very dangerous game."

(At this moment, @Janothar I'm analyzing the letter written by Nathan Triggs - what would I roll to detect emotional manipulation in written form?)

(Perception + Empathy...though I'm not sure what you mean, do you mean whether he's been manipulated, or whether he's doing the manipulation?)
 * Janothar|

(In this case, doing, but I would also like to know if there was evidence of coercion, too, and if they are two separate rolls, I'll make both, just let me know difficulties.)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(they are definitely two separate rolls, the first is a Perception + Empathy, the second is not something Malcolm is really capable of due to not knowing Nathan Triggs)
 * Janothar|

(Okay, at what difficulty?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

6
 * Janothar|

/r 5d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

@K. Malcolm Lawson: 5d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 4  6  2  8  4, 2 successes) \&61; 2
 * SidekickBOT|

(I'll try too)
 * Shiloh Young|

(Shiloh would be able to try both rolls, knowing Nathan well.)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

/r 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; (9 6 9  2, 3 successes) \&61; 3
 * SidekickBOT|

(the second roll is Perception + Empathy diff 6)
 * Janothar|

/r 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; (10  2  8 7, 3 successes) \&61; 3
 * SidekickBOT|

He doesn't seem to be being coerced, based on what Shiloh knows about him. And though he IS being emotionally manipulative, it does seem to be pointing in the "GO AWAY" direction as his goal. The whole thing seems genuine.
 * Janothar|

(And what, if anything, does Malcolm glean from that?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(That Nathan wants Shiloh to never speak to him again)
 * Janothar|

She shrugs and frowns. "Like I said, it seems genuine. I think you're being a little paranoid."
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm nods
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"It's possible that it is exactly what it seems, and that your friend is a lost cause, as having fallen into the hands of the Technocratic Union, he has lost any choice in how he will be trained as a Magus. We will be vigilant, though, perhaps at some point future your paths will cross again and maybe you will be able to make amends or sway him away from their perspective. But if we are to believe his letter is genuine, that is all there is to that."

"So, what do you think of the Union's offer? And have you considered its risks and costs?"

(As for the future direction of the scene, I would see it as a natural continuation of things to bring Shiloh to the Chantry, and show her to Albina's and Nicholas's laboratory spaces if nothing else. I would love a brief conversation with Albina about the properties of the Ars Materia as understood and applied by the Solificati, and I have a plan for how to bring her to the Chantry if you're up for it, @Janothar)

(I am, though remember, Albina asked for that glassware, and also for you to teach her about the Houses)
 * Janothar|

For his words on Nathan, Shiloh could only brood and nod, fidgeting with the edges of her shirt.
 * Shiloh Young|

His question causes her to look away. "I mean, I'm not gonna lie. A full ride through Columbia, with room and board included and a stipend on top of it all? That's hard to say no to, especially when she made it sound like I was gonna be helping people with the plague. I just told her I'd think about it. Didn't tell them I was running with you guys."

(I hadn't forgotten about that, nor about the education on the Hermetic Houses.)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Probably for the best, as that would have resulted in them rescinding the offer. I understand the temptation. Offering to wipe out your debt accumulated studying here is certainly a temptation that would be hard to resist, but you wouldn't have accepted the offer to study here if you weren't certain that you'd be able to pay that debt back once you graduated - they are simply offering the reward early, and sweetening it with further education at no cost. It's a bribe, pure and simple. And the cost is hidden. No one gives away anything for free, Shiloh. What do they get out of it, and what are the costs to you?"

"Eh, yeah, sure..." she trails, "I know you lawyer types get paid a ton, but that's not the case for most of us. I'm looking at like, decades of paying that back." The mere thought of it makes her squint her eyes and scratch her forehead.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Y'know, I could ask the same from your organization. At least they would pay me for cleaning."

"Oh, not as much as you might think, and the sort of law I want to do is not the sort of law that pays well. As one of my professors pointed out, 'You can make a lot of money, or you can make a big difference, but very rarely can you do both.' I will like as not be paying down the balance of my own loans for the next two decades of my life too, because I want to make a difference."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"We have been up front about what we want from you, Shiloh. We want you as one of us, as a friend and ally. And we are offering you knowledge, training in mystical arts stretching back a thousand years, and membership in a proud Tradition when you prove yourself worthy, which I suspect will not take you as long as you think. And we give you a freedom they never will - the ability to leave. Though, obviously, we hope you will not choose to exercise that freedom. Still, it is a choice the Technocracy does not allow its membership."

"There will be a hard road either way, Shiloh. The Arts are demanding, the work to master them grueling, and the tutelage extensive and rigorous in either discipline. But our road and theirs are fundamentally incompatible. You must choose one, and only one."

"I thought that we had settled this question last time we were here, and that you had chosen to stand with us, accepting Mater Albina as your Master, and that you would walk the path of an Apprentice of the Order of Hermes. I though matter was settled, and that you elected to stand with us as one of us. Or have you changed your mind?"

There's a long pause, followed by a sigh and sunken shoulders. "No, no. I haven't changed my mind. I just wanted to explain what happened, the things she offered. I'm trying to be, like, honest, here."
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm nods
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"I appreciate your candor, Shiloh, and I have no reason to doubt you. I would rather you tell me the truth about disturbing things than keep them to yourself. I can't help you with problems I don't know about, after all."

"It sounds like I can't help you with your problem with Nathan, nor with the Union. I would politely but firmly decline this Technocrat's offer and hope that is the end of the matter, personally, but how you handle it is up to you. Just bear in mind that you can't walk two paths at once - not without significant achievement in the Ars Conligationis, anyway."

"So, what can I help you with next? Mater Albina wanted me to give you the run down on the Houses of Hermes, if only to make sure you are entering the right one, which I believe you are, and to show you the path to the Chantry, which I can also do. There's also the matter of that Alchemical Equipment in the old house that you need to progress in the Arts, though I haven't an idea how we obtain it without some significant Antinomian Praxis on my part at least. I really wish Nicholas had found some way to get us in and out of there legally, but I haven't heard anything from him all week either."

There's another, another shake of the head as she hauls herself up on two feet. "It's over with. I'm not gonna chase after him anymore if he doesn't want to see me, I don't wanna be a creep. And I can't imagine working their with him hating me like that."
 * Shiloh Young|

"Why don't you explain these 'Houses' while we run and pick up the equipment? Two birds, one stone, etc, - mhm, maybe I can keep some of it for myself..."

Malcolm shook his head
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Because I generally don't want to discuss Order business where just anyone can hear us. Same reason I've been preferring to host you here, as opposed to us meeting somewhere else, like that last time where everyone somehow found us in the Study Hall."

"Besides, from what you've told me, that's a lot of large, fragile glassware to get out of there. What's your plan for getting it out, making sure we aren't seen coming or going, getting those big pieces out, and transporting them somewhere safe?"

She huffs. "C'mon, there's like nobody out on the streets, and that place was totally abandoned anyway. We just need to, uh..." she trails, "Find a mode of transport. You drive?"
 * Shiloh Young|

"Have you considered physical security? Electronic surveillance? Maybe you got lucky last time, but maybe they've tightened security since. While it is the dead of night and with the quarantine, we are very unlikely to be seen, we should still be careful to leave no evidence nor attract the attention of witnesses."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"I can drive, but I have never owned a vehicle, though - no point in this City, where I can and do walk or take the Metro everywhere."

And now a snort. "C'mon! We got, like, magic senses now, man. We can at least swing by and see if they've beefed things up, but I super doubt it, the place was completely neglected."
 * Shiloh Young|

The lack of car gives her pause. "Maybe we could rent a truck, or something. Or ask someone in the Order if we can borrow their car? It's for important work."

"No harm in taking a walk by the place, I suppose, and we could perform some magic to sharpen our senses before we go to 'case the joint', so to speak."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"As for renting a truck, not at this hour of night. Asking to borrow a car might be a problem too, I don't know who drives besides Nicholas. Maybe Albina. Doubt we'd get either to part with their cars, though. And they'd be at the Chantry anyway, so we'd have to go there to ask. Unless you have a better idea of where to get a vehicle at this hour of night."

"She wanted to get that equipment, so she's gotta be more willing to help, right? And if not - I mean, we could always borrow one off the street. Temporarily."
 * Shiloh Young|

That definitely merits an eyebrow raise
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Compounding Breaking and Entering and Burglary with Grand Theft Auto? How many Felonies do you want to rack up in pursuit of this equipment, exactly?"

He says it only half jokingly

"If you're up for doing all that, and willing to take all those risks . . ."

"Yes, yes, and yes. It's worth it, it's not like they're gonna be missing that equipment and we'd give back the car anyway. So, c'mon!" Shiloh rushes over by the door, throwing a look back at him.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Alright, but before we go, I'm going to work a little magic to help me see effects that might be ongoing here, especially if any have been added since last you left. Now that you are a part of the Order, this is a spell I can teach you, someday."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Closing his eyes and clearing his mind, Malcolm intones the ritual words to open the Third Eye

(Rolling for a Rote Spell, Highest Sphere 1, Difficulty 4, 1 Speciality)

/r 5d10\&gt;\&61;4f1

@K. Malcolm Lawson: 5d10\&gt;\&61;4f1  \&61; ( 2  9 8 5 6, 4 successes) \&61; 4
 * SidekickBOT|

(You can definitely roll Awareness to watch what he does this time, especially as I've more or less told you what I'm up to.)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

/r 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 1   3   5  10 10  1, 0 successes) \&61; 0
 * SidekickBOT|

Shiloh gives him a thousand yard stare, oblivious. (Have I mentioned how much I hate the 1's subtracting successes rule?)
 * Shiloh Young|

Reopening his eyes, they now scan the room around him, seeing and taking in more than humanly possible.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"I am ready. Let's go"

Though the night is not chilly, Malcolm grabs a trenchcoat, hat, and scarf as well as his keys and empty messenger bag. Throwing the trenchcoat over his frame, pulling gloves on over his hands, and wrapping his face in the scarf. As they leave, Malcolm turns to her and says.

"So, how's your Latin?"

(Scene shift to Downtown)

\&61;\&61;\&61; new scene \&61;\&61;\&61;
 * Shiloh Young|

"I got a good handle on it," she quips, huddling into her hoodie as they walked into the cold night air. "Why? Need some tutoring with Latin, too?" ( @Janothar you about for some possible grand theft auto + alchemical burglary shenanigans? )

(I'm here, how's your Streetwise?)
 * Janothar|

( 1! :D )
 * Shiloh Young|

Switching entirely to Latin and speaking just loud enough for Shiloh to hear, Malcolm continues
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "If after seven semesters of Latin, I should need more tutoring, I am in dire trouble. I merely suggest this language because so few others bother with it. It's considered dead for a reason. It will keep our conversation private, for the most part."

Walking down the streets away from Morningside Heights towards Downtown, Malcolm is constantly scanning their environment, looking for any sign of human activity or magical effect in the area.

Latin speech from now on. "Oh! Yeah, that's a good idea. So, how about those Houses?" she stalks alongside himself, herself eagerly glancing this way and that for any trouble or things of interest. "Maybe we should, uh, call Albina before going full," she pauses as she struggles to find the words for it, "Grand Theft Auto here?"
 * Shiloh Young|

(Do I need to make any Perception + Alertness or Perception + Awareness checks, and if so, at what difficulty?, @Janothar)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(I'll let you know)
 * Janothar|

Malcolm nods at the suggestion of calling Albina
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "Indeed, I would be cautious about doing anything without speaking to Mater Albina first. I wrote to her earlier, but I can attempt to call her if you wish. She is unlikely to be awake at this hour."

Satisfied for the moment that they are unobserved, Malcolm continues

Latin - "The Order is divided into many separate Houses, many of which originated in the practices of a single Magus and their students. At present, there are Nine Great Houses within the Order, and their names are Bonisagus, Flambeau, Fortunae, Quaesitor, Shaea, Solificati, Tytalus, Veriditius, and Ex Miscellania. I will describe each of them in turn."

"Well, it's for something important. Wake her up. If she's mad, we can deal with that later,"
 * Shiloh Young|

When announces their names, Shiloh can only whistle and grin, and he'd be able to tell she was holding back from some spicy comment. "What house are you in?"

Malcolm pulls out his cell phone and dials her number. While it rings, Malcolm answers Shiloh's question.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "As an Apprentice, none, neither are you. We join a House on achieving the fourth rank. I am third, and once I demonstrate my mastery of the Art, I will be able to petition to join a House and pass whatever tests they put before me."

That draws an inquisitive look. "...What sort of tests do they make you do? I mean, I guess it would be different for each of them, huh?" A pause. "And what exactly do I have to do to 'rank' up?"
 * Shiloh Young|

Latin - "Indeed. Each House has its own initiation, not discussed with the others."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"As for you: Learn, practice, perfect your arts. Demonstrate ambition and capability. Master the material put before you and ask for more. The Order is a Meritocracy, achievement is rewarded."

( @Janothar - Any response?)

(Nope, no answer, Albina does not pick up the phone)
 * Janothar|

After the voicemail comes up a second time, Malcolm closes the phone.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "I believe that is our answer. I think we are better served by making this a fact - seeking mission than a task of acquisition given our resources at this time, but that's not entirely my choice to make. Have a plan in mind before you act, though."

"Mhm. Well, let's just case the place first, and see just how much we're gonna be transporting."
 * Shiloh Young|

Shiloh heads off to the building in question, but does not approach it just yet. She'll hold off, scan around.

A raised eyebrow
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "That will involve at least an entrance by force to see the equipment again, unless you have the means to see through walls."

Malcolm continues sweeping the scene with his eyes, looking for anything out of place, either mundane or mystical.

Once they're at the building, they can roll Per+Alert diff 8
 * Janothar|

(Is this a visual test?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(yes)
 * Janothar|

(Then Acute Sense of Sight would apply, yes?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(yes)
 * Janothar|

/r 5d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

@K. Malcolm Lawson: 5d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 4   2  6 8  4, 2 successes) \&61; 2
 * SidekickBOT|

/r 6d10\&gt;\&61;8f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 6d10\&gt;\&61;8f1  \&61; (8  2   3   6  10  1, 1 success) \&61; 1
 * SidekickBOT|

Malcolm spots it first, but Shiloh isn't too far behind him. There's new surveillance cameras across the street, and they can definitely see the place.
 * Janothar|

Making sure they are not in its field of vision by steering away from it, Malcolm will point out the new security equipment
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "That was not there last time."

"...I bet it's from Nathan's New friends. They better not have taken our shit!"
 * Shiloh Young|

She fumes.

From an occluded alleyway, Malcolm watches to see if the cameras move, to see if he can determine their angle of view
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "Can they see every approach, I wonder?"

(Can they, @Janothar?)

While they don't move, they do seem to cover every angle.
 * Janothar|

Shiloh pulls her hood forward, doing her best to obscure her face.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Can you check for, like, magical guards? Wards or whatever?" (Could Shi?)

Watching for a long moment, Malcolm does the math in his mind.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "It would seem so. We cannot approach further without risk of being seen."

"I have already performed an effect which should make it possible, but it is not infallible. Let me see."

Malcolm swept the grounds, looking more closely with his open Third Eye.

(That would be Perception+Awareness to detect any ongoing wards, barriers, or other magical effects, yes? At what base difficulty, which the Rote would lower by up to -3? @Janothar ?)

"I don't care if they see me. If there's wards or whatever, I'm going in and getting my shit."
 * Shiloh Young|

Base would be 6
 * Janothar|

Malcolm shakes his head
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"We do not know who is watching, only that someone is watching. If they identify you and see you make off with the equipment, well, they have plenty of evidence against you. That is a situation that would be difficult to extricate you from, I would advise against it until we know who is watching this place, and what they want."

/r 5d10\&gt;\&61;3f1

@K. Malcolm Lawson: 5d10\&gt;\&61;3f1  \&61; ( 1  6 4  1  8, 1 success) \&61; 1
 * SidekickBOT|

He doesn't detect any wards in the area.
 * Janothar|

/r 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 1   3  8 6 6 10, 3 successes) \&61; 3
 * SidekickBOT|

Latin - "I see no magic at work myself, but that does not mean there is none."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(Shi would have no idea at this point how to look for wards, either through Awareness nor with magick)
 * Janothar|

Looking at the cameras themselves, Malcolm looks to spot identifiable logos on them.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

There are none
 * Janothar|

Latin - "Hm. I see no identifying marks on the cameras either, no means to tell us who put them up or why."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"I don't care." She starts off to the apartment, head ducked low. (Stop her if you gotta sleep and we can wrap up the scene)
 * Shiloh Young|

(OOC: Apartment? Or the Old House?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(Old house)
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm stays in the shadows, knowing the risk for himself is too great, but admiring the audacity of the young woman nonetheless.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Pulling out his phone, he quickly texts her.

I will keep a lookout, and alert you of trouble coming your way. Good luck!

\&61;\&61;\&61;PAUSE\&61;\&61;\&61;
 * Janothar|

Shiloh continues her approach to the house, head down to avoid revealing her face.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm watches from the shadows, staying out of any camera's field of view and keeping himself out of sight, continuing to scan the environment for anything unusual.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Shiloh, roll Dexterity + Stealth, diff 8.
 * Janothar|

/r 6d10\&gt;\&61;8f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 6d10\&gt;\&61;8f1  \&61; ( 4   1  9  4  10  5, 1 success) \&61; 1
 * SidekickBOT|

Shiloh walks across to the house, doing her best to hide her face. She makes it across the street without anyone stopping her, and is now in front of the old house
 * Janothar|

She tries for the front door, and, on failing that, will make for the same window she entered through last time - although she'll have to climb without a boost.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm watches her go around the side of the house to the window she entered last time, which he remembers leaving unlocked, just as he found it. Hopefully Shiloh will find it that way again
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

The front door definitely doesn't work, roll Dex+Athletics, diff 6 to climb up to the window
 * Janothar|

/r 7d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 7d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 2   3   5  6  4  9 9, 3 successes) \&61; 3
 * SidekickBOT|

She gets right up to the window and...it's locked.
 * Janothar|

(Don't suppose she can try to unlock it with her streetwise?)
 * Shiloh Young|

(That goes for the door, too)

(Failing that, she's just going to try and break the window)

She can try. Dex + Streetwise, diff 7
 * Janothar|

(Spending a willpower)
 * Shiloh Young|

/r 5d10\&gt;\&61;8f1

@Shiloh Young: 5d10\&gt;\&61;8f1  \&61; ( 6   7  9  2   2, 1 success) \&61; 1
 * SidekickBOT|

She manages to open up the window.
 * Janothar|

(Where is the window on the house, and can I see her open it?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

She hauls herself through with a grunt, and blinks as her eyes adjust other darkness. It wasn't long after that when she made for the secret passage down, keeping a lookout for anything shifty along the way.
 * Shiloh Young|

It's on the side, you can see it. You can also tell that the cameras can see it.
 * Janothar|

The place has been cleaned since Shiloh was last there. That explains the locked window. Everything is set right where it was when she broke in the first time.

(Are there any sheets or cloth/etc she can pick up?)
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm notes that Shiloh made it in successfully, but is sure that she has been seen by the camera's eyes. The question is if anyone is watching those feeds, a question Malcolm could not answer. He continues scanning the streets with his eyes, looking for anything to change, staying in the shadows, out of the cameras' field of vision.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

There are not. The place is clean and looks like it's ready for use, things aren't covered up.
 * Janothar|

She grits her teeth, and attempt to force her way through the little passage, hurrying down as fast as she could manage.
 * Shiloh Young|

Oh, when she goes to the little passage, the place she remembers it being is behind a bunch of dishes. She'll have to move all of them first.
 * Janothar|

She will straight up grab the bunch of them and dump them over to the nearest counter. (Roll to avoid dropping? xD)
 * Shiloh Young|

If you like, roll straight Dexterity, diff 6, if she's in that much of a hurry.
 * Janothar|

/r 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 4d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 2   3  8  3, 1 success) \&61; 1
 * SidekickBOT|

She doesn't break any dishes. When she gets to the back of there, she finds that the path she took seems to be sealed up.
 * Janothar|

She hisses, hands balling to fists, and runs off to the basement door.
 * Shiloh Young|

It's still there. Still closed and locked from the other side.
 * Janothar|

Malcolm keeps time of how long she has been in there since her break - in by infrequently checking his analogue watch.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

And up back she runs to the sealed passage, skin flushing red from the anger. She tries to punch, kick, and force her way past the seal.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm - a black sedan turns onto the street several blocks away
 * Janothar|

@Shiloh Young roll Strength, diff 8.

[Willpowering that :P]
 * Shiloh Young|

/r 2d10\&gt;\&61;8f1

@Shiloh Young: 2d10\&gt;\&61;8f1  \&61; ( 3   3, 0 successes) \&61; 0
 * SidekickBOT|

Malcolm turns to have his body block any light from the phone and quickly texts Shiloh, In Latin
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - Black Vehicle spotted several blocks down, heading this way.

She doesn't look at her cell as it buzzes, continuing her wild flailing to break through.
 * Shiloh Young|

The door gives a little bit, but she's nowhere near breaking it open.
 * Janothar|

She throws one final punch, panting, shaking, before she pulls out her phone and swears again at what she read. There was no way she was getting in there in time.
 * Shiloh Young|

Trembling, seeing, she threw up the middle finger at the nearest camera before running off for the exit.

Is she trying to hide her face from teh cameras inside?
 * Janothar|

She'll try to, despite throwing up the finger.
 * Shiloh Young|

Dex + Stealth, then
 * Janothar|

diff 6

/r 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1
 * Shiloh Young|

@Shiloh Young: 6d10\&gt;\&61;6f1  \&61; ( 2   3   4   1   2   2, -1 success) \&61; -1
 * SidekickBOT|

(Is that the first Botch of the Game?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(Is that a beautiful botch I see)
 * Shiloh Young|

(:popcorn:)
 * LewCid|

(it is not, the first botch was how Tati got the first point of Paradox)
 * Janothar|

(Snickers That's right, Have fun with that, Shiloh!)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

So, Shiloh heads back to the window to climb out?
 * Janothar|

(She does. Imagining her hood flying up as she gives them the finger.)
 * Shiloh Young|

(Oh, nothing happens that she's aware of :-D)
 * Janothar|

Shiloh gets to the window, and can jump out no problem

Malcolm sees the sedan turn off down a different street, coming nowhere near the house

Malcolm notes where the Sedan turned, and blocks the phone again, texting Shiloh quickly in Latin
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - Vehicle turned two blocks down and to the right. Go to the left alley out of sight of the watching eyes and make for the Metro station, stay off main streets. Meet you there.

She with a huff, hastily texting back an affirmative in Latin before she breaks off in a jog away from Malcolm, following his direction and gradually making her way to the station.
 * Shiloh Young|

Having directed Shiloh away from the Sedan and its occupants, Malcolm calmly turns to walk back the way he came, keeping eyes out for anything or anyone moving, slowly making his way towards the Metro station at a steady walking pace.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

No one bothers either of you as you go to the station
 * Janothar|

At the station, Malcolm waits for Shiloh to appear, checking the schedule for the next run in the direction of Brooklyn.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Shiloh's still fuming when she runs up to the metro, brows all in a knot and her face twisted into a nasty sneer. She slows as she finds her way to Malcolm.
 * Shiloh Young|

"They stole it. That bastard stole it from me!"

Malcolm replies in Latin
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "The equipment was gone?"

(There is a train going to Brooklyn at some point future, yes, @Janothar? Last I hear, the Metro's running as usual, so there should be one reasonably soon.)

(yep, there's no problem catching a train)
 * Janothar|

"No, they blocked everything. It was like someone moved in. Bastard."
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm leads her through the turnstyles, swiping his prepaid fare card, and doing it again if she didn't have one to hand. Calmly continuing in Latin, Malcolm replied.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "It is possible someone indeed has. That would explain the new eyes on the house. Did you notice anything else inside?"

Malcolm leads her to a platform where a train to Brooklyn is coming. Moments later, they are aboard, in an empty car.

Latin - "We should not assume we are alone, and continue speaking as though we are observed."

She stalks alongside him as they talk, and she indeed didn't have card at hand. "Nothing but the passage being sealed up and new plates put in. Oh, they had cams in there, too. They 100% jacked my stuff and I'm about to punch someone, I swear to god," she was anything but calm as they moved.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm waits until they are on the train to reply, letting Shiloh fume and sharing her frustration, to a degree. She went to a lot of trouble for nothing, after all, and was almost certainly seen.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "Eyes inside as well? Interesting. I am sure you were seen, but I hope you kept your hood down and gloves on so as not to be identified."

Latin - "The passage being sealed up does suggest someone knew it was there. It is likely that they found whatever was underneath of that basement, though we have yet to learn who found it, as I cannot verify the building's current ownership."

"C'mon, dude, it's obvious. It has to be Nathan blathering about it to his new buddies. I swear, the next time I see him I'm gonna personally kick his ass. Blaming me for everything, and then going off and doing this?" her arms fold across her chest as they travel.
 * Shiloh Young|

"What now? If your mystery sedan or whoever was in is still tracking us - where do we go?"

Latin - "I am taking you somewhere where even if we are being followed, they will never find us. But I doubt that we are being followed, I did not see the vehicle again after it turned away. It could have been unrelated, but I wasn't about to let you get trapped in there if it wasn't."
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

( @Janothar - We can shift the Scene to Red King's Revenge whenever we cross into Brooklyn. Malcolm will choose a stop reasonably close, but with several blocks to walk just in case we are being followed, we can lose the trail before bringing her to where we are going.

In fact, given what time it is where I am, it might be a good place to pause for tonight, and pick it up around midnight tomorrow.)

\&61;\&61; Continued from Downtown \&61;\&61;
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Brooklyn Metro Station, Sunday, 3:18 AM

Malcolm has the two of them get off at a station in Brooklyn, near one of the older neighborhoods in the borough. Walking briskly off the train, Malcolm's eyes dart this way and that, scanning the nearly empty station, taking in the scene with both his mundane and magical senses.

(I would assume @Janothar would inform me if I had to make any rolls, and @Shiloh Young can see and respond now as we make our way out of the station.)

Shiloh's quiet as she tags along, but she's raging on the side and this fact is visible on face face. She follows wordlessly.
 * Shiloh Young|

Satisfied that they were alone and unobserved, Malcolm proceeds up and out of the station, taking to the streets above, still scanning his environment carefully, looking for anything unusual. The Metro station he chose is not the one he normally would use, as that station is closer but a little beyond his destination, and a bit of a circuitous route is part of the plan to ensure they are not being observed or followed.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Shiloh, for her part, also keeps an eye out for anything suspicious or for anyone tracking them as they walked.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm continued with a brisk, determined pace of someone who knew exactly where he was going. The streets, strangely empty from fears of the growing plague stalking the city streets, were eerily quiet, as the City that Never Sleeps held its collective breath for fear of catching its death.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Shiloh simply keeps moving with him, though the more they walked in the empty streets, the more unnerved she became.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm had never seen the old borough so quiet as this, but so much the better, as it would make it much easier to spot any individuals or vehicles following them. Malcolm infrequently looked around and behind himself, not at Shiloh, but beyond and all around her, looking to see if anyone was tailing them.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Malcolm turns left at the end of the block, and takes them deeper into the old quarter.

Shiloh hurries after him. (She's just going keep tailing him and keeping quiet until they arrive or something happens.)
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm takes them on a circuitous route along old city streets, down alleys, and through historic neighborhoods. He makes turns at random - Shiloh swears they are walking in circles at several points, and indeed they are, until Malcolm is satisfied they are alone, unobserved, and not being actively followed.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(Unless @Janothar has any checks that he would like us to make on the way, I will bring us to the Chantry with the next post.)

(Nope, you're good)
 * Janothar|

"Is all this really necessary?" she hisses under her breath the third go around they take in the same place.
 * Shiloh Young|

In Latin, Malcolm replied.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "I have my reasons for choosing this route."

Malcolm also smirked internally, as this was the seventh circle they'd made of the neighborhood, increasingly closer and closer to the Chantry, until at last, Malcolm stopped in front of a dilapidated old mansion standing in stark opposition to the well - maintained historic buildings all around.

Latin - "We have arrived."

Malcolm turned to face the old building, and allowed Shiloh a moment to take it all in for the first time.

She gawks at the run down display. "That's it? This is where you're all crashing? In this abandoned..." she trails, refraining from saying something worse.
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm smiled like the cat that got the canary
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

Latin - "One of the first lessons of an Order Magus - Never assume that anything is as it seems to be."

"Follow me inside. If we meet with anyone, let me do the talking."

Malcolm walked up to the big double doors, grasped them by the old style Lion's head knockers, and pulled the rings towards himself, causing the doors to swing open. He then headed inside, knowing what to expect but turning to see Shiloh's reaction once the truth is revealed.

She swoops on after him, ducking through the doors and stopping dead once she got that first good look.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Oh."

The moment that Shiloh crosses the threshold, the appearance of the dilapidated manor is clearly put there on purpose. The inside looks is spectacular, almost lavish in the wealth on display. The place seems somehow both challenging and comforting at the same time, and is currently decorated in reds, oranges and yellows, giving the impression of flame and fire across the whole thing.
 * Janothar|

Spreading his arms wide, Malcolm gestured to all around him.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Welcome, Neophyte Young, to the Red King's Revenge."

She openly gawks, with whatever snide comment she was about to drop cut short, until a grin breaks out on her lips. "I get it, now. I dig it."
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm nods.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Remember well that lesson next time you choose to judge the proverbial book by its cover."

Expecting no one to be about at this hour, Malcolm heads for the stairwell downwards, hoping to find one of the unoccupied laboratory facilities for a quiet conversation with Shiloh.

And along she goes with him, her grin drawing back into a brief frown at that little jab. She had no comeback, and so she chose silence instead, eying up the place.
 * Shiloh Young|

( @Janothar - will I have any trouble finding an unoccupied room that I know is presently claimed or in use?)
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

(nope, there are labs that no one "owns")
 * Janothar|

Malcolm takes Shiloh downstairs into a finished basement, stopping at a landing and opening a door leading to a hallway that divides into several rooms. As this is one of the more modern additions to the Chantry, they are done in a more modern style, though the architecture is still several decades out of date, perhaps as late as the middle of the last century.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"This is the laboratory space. The third door to the right is Albina's laboratory, the second from the left is Nicholas's. Many members of the Chantry have workspaces down here, but there are a few rooms no one is presently making use of, so we will for a bit, so we can continue our conversation in private."

Finding one such room, Malcolm opened the door, flipped on the light switch, then looked about inside for any hidden objects or dangers, and then showed Shiloh in, closing the door behind them.

"Sweet. How do I get my own?" Shiloh seems all into it, eagerly snooping through whatever was to be found in this lab, her anger from earlier gradually dissipating as curiosity took over. "...shouldn't we tell someone about what happened?"
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm is giving the place a very thorough going over, checking for anything out of place with his mundane and mystical senses. Though he knew Scrying was specifically and explicitly forbidden by the Code of Hermes, he also did not put it past anyone to have such measures in place, and was thorough in his inspection nonetheless.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Apprentices do not have such privileges, but on your achieving the rank of Initiate and becoming a full member of the Chantry, you can requisition such space be assigned to you."

Satisfied that his paranoia was in this situation unjustified, Malcolm turned to Shiloh, locking her in a stare that could freeze a cobra in place.

"Oh, we will, starting right now. I'd like to know what exactly you were thinking rushing in there, assuming, of course, you were thinking at all. We had discussed simply walking by and evaluating the situation at old house, and while you repeatedly suggested that criminal intent was on your mind, I did not take you literally until you ran in front of the cameras to do a bit of breaking and entering. If anyone was watching those cameras - and whoever put those cameras up certainly has the money to have someone watching them - they saw the whole thing, and have videotaped evidence of you committing at least two misdemeanors and a felony. So I would Really like to know what the hell you were thinking going in there like that!?"

\&61;\&61;\&61; scene paused \&61;\&61;\&61;
 * Shiloh Young|


 * Shiloh Young|

restart
She twitches once, growing very still for a moment before spinning about to face him, face aflush and sneering. "I was trying to get my stuff that they stole from me! He - they - had no right to it! Assholes." She slaps a hand down on the table. "And who cares? Just wiggle your fingers and wizard the law away. It's corrupt and broken anyways."
 * Shiloh Young|

Malcolm flashed a cringe at the suggestion of simply 'wizarding the law away', but kept pacing, kept his tone cold and even, and replied slowly and deliberately.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"No, Shiloh, that's where you are wrong, on both counts."

"The ruined Alchemical setup in that old brownstone was never yours to begin with, and therefore it could never be stolen from you. Indeed, had you succeeded in getting back into that sub basement and smuggling out several large pieces of glassware and somehow evaded detection and found a place to store the setup once you had stolen it, it still wouldn't be yours, as stolen property, under the law, is never truly yours to begin with, you can never get good title to it. That Alchemy set belongs to whoever owns that old house, and unless Nicholas can find out who owns it and find the money to buy them out, furnishings and all, it will never belong to any of us to give it to you so it could be legally yours."

Malcolm shrugged his shoulders before continuing.

"Not that it matters in any case, since it is clear moneyed interests, likely affiliated with the Technocracy, have clearly acquired an interest in the property. Where do you think all that new security hardware came from? None of that was there last time we saw the place. And do you really think that ruined alchemy set is down there gathering dust now that the Technocrats, thanks to your friend Nathan, know where it is? And could easily have swooped in and spirited it away in the weeks between your last visit and now? It's almost certainly gone, Shiloh, and that house was rigged up to be a trap for you, and one you walked right into, flipping off the cameras the whole way!"

Malcolm shook his head ruefully.

"Whoever had the money to put up those cameras certainly has the money to keep an eye on them, for exactly what you just did. They saw you, no doubt, and you left plenty of forensics for them to find. And they have the money to find the forensics, you be sure of it."

Malcolm continued, his tone still cold and even, deliberately trying to suppress the anger he felt, but it was still there, boiling just under the surface.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"And unfortunately for you, I cannot just 'wizard' away the consequences of your actions. If whoever is watching those cameras decides to come after you legally, they have plenty of evidence to press charges. Criminal Tresspassing. Breaking and Entering. Attempted Burglary. Plenty enough to ruin any chance of you having a future worth experiencing, Columbia degree or not, and unfortunately, all the Ars Mentis in the world cannot make criminal charges just vanish into thin air. The best I could do would be to set you up with the best free legal counsel I know of, and even then the best they'd be able to do is strike a good plea bargain. The criminal justice system doesn't work that way, and if mages could get out of every consequence of breaking sleeper laws with magic, it would still have the net result of making the whole damn system even more corrupt than it already is!"

Seeing the reaction on her face, Malcolm arches an eyebrow and continues

"Oh, come on, Shiloh, I've been studying the law for the last three years, I know more about how corrupt it is and isn't than you could possibly imagine. It's a flawed system run by human beings that gets things right sometimes, but not always, and no matter how a case is decided the other side will always scream that it's a miscarriage of justice. Never in the four millennia in which written law codes have existed has any outcome of any case ever pleased both sides. That's just not possible. And there's plenty of real assholes involved in it, exploiting it this way or that for their own gain. But the law is still a good and necessary thing for society to exist, and like or not, Awakened or not, we are still both part of society with the sleepers, and bound by their laws. That hasn't changed, so you need to act accordingly."

As he lectures on, she drops an audible groan, throwing up her arms and turning away, hands planting on her hips as she begins to slowly pace back and forth, gaze dragging along the ground. When he was through, she drew in a long breath, and faced him again.
 * Shiloh Young|

"Lemme make one thing clear: I do not give a flying fuck about your precious laws. At all. Pointing to history isn't gonna change my mind, 'cause I can easily point to terrible things that your law was A-okay with back then and today.

But I get it. Our great old Order can't deal with a few lawyers. I can be more careful, so you guys don't get hurt by what I do, but that equipment does belong to me, and I'm gonna get it back with or without your help. Maybe not soon, but some day, I'm gonna make them technocrats fork over what they stole."

She sighs, slumping in place.

Malcolm grimaces, wondering how they could be in such vehement agreement and yet so at odds about it.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Again, I don't disagree with you about that. Our laws have done some terrible things, and there are plenty of terrible things going on right now that are still perfectly legal, and that doesn't mean they aren't wrong. That's precisely why I got into the practice of law in the first place, Shiloh! I want to use the law to do good, to right wrongs, and to make people's lives better. It's why I'm spending my lockdown learning Spanish, so I can speak to immigrants without documentation, currently unlawfully detained in concentration camps on American soil, who don't speak English, but do speak Spanish, to tell me what I need to know so that I can help my supervising attorneys fill out the petitions to legally force their English - speaking captors to release them. It's why I learn all the precedents of international human rights laws we have signed onto to write amicus briefs to courts dealing with these cases to remind them of our obligations. And our senators and congressmen are sick of reading my letters telling them how I want them to represent me in the writing of these laws so it gets done right the first time, and I don't have to win a court case later to fix it! It's a broken system, Shiloh, God knows that, but it's the best that we've got, and we can't make it better without engaging with it in the first place. That's what I believe, and if you don't, that's fine, but I can't save you from it without fail either."

"And I'm not going to say the Order can't deal with a few lawyers - we have a whole House full of them - but rather that they won't deal with them for an apprentice committing petty larceny without purpose or plan. Does the Order require that it's magi abide by the law? No, it does not, but nor does it shield you from consequences of breaking it. The only law the Order cares about is the Judicum Hermes. Break those at your peril."

Malcolm paused for a moment before continuing.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"While I don't condone lawbreaking as a general practice, and have to be personally extremely careful about not doing so myself, I can understand how you feel about that setup. It would be a great boon to your studies to have it, and those Technocrats probably did swoop in and swipe it while we were just getting to a point of being able to talk to each other. Again, Nathan likely told them exactly where to find it, and so they did. They beat us to the punch, round one, but maybe the opportunity will arise to take it again. And when it does, if you have a plan and you account for the physical, magical, and legal obstacles between you and what you're after, I will help you get it."

"What I objected to less than the decision to break the laws was the decision to do so without a plan. We had agreed to just walk by the place and do a bit of reconnaissance. If nothing had changed since the last time we saw the place, and we could counter for its lacking security systems, and could figure out how to smuggle all that glassware in and out without being seen, I might have gone for it. But you didn't communicate any such plan, and I thought you were joking about charging in there again. Now I know to take you at your word when you say you're going to break some laws. But you didn't have a plan for how to get in or get out, much less how to get the glassware, without being seen. It's kind of like opening a book of Ars Spirituum, not bothering laying out a warding circle, and summoning a Demon Prince. Not likely to go very well for you."

"Now, if you and I figured out how to disable the cameras, shut down any security system, and do it all without setting off any silent alarms, approached the building with gloves and the appropriate tools, and had a van waiting nearby to take the proceeds to a quiet storage facility rented under a false name? That would have been entirely different."

"You got a good heart, man," and she can only shake her head after that, too tired to keep locking horns over their disagreements about the law. The comment about the Order not sticking up for their (albeit brash) apprentices still drew a disapproving look.
 * Shiloh Young|

"But sometimes you gotta just jump in, seize the moment, you know? ..mhm, though I gotta admit I might jumped in too deep back there. It pissed me off when I realized what he had done and I just sorta... Reacted. I guess I can promise not to jump in blindly next time without thinking through a better plan, yeah? No summoning demons without protection, and all that."

Malcolm smiles a bit at that.
 * K. Malcolm Lawson|

"Exactly. Nothing is impossible for a Magus who prepares properly, but a Magus who goes in without a plan ends up dead one way or another. I don't want that for you, Shiloh."

"We're new to the Arts, and entering a dangerous world, and we have enough problems without having to run from the law, and the Technocrats that can easily turn the police against us. Our Order has wealth, power, and connections as well, and it will use them to protect us when and as it can, but best not to draw on those resources unless we truly need them."

Malcolm sighed, the weight of the last hours coming crashing down on him at last.

"Now we are going to have to tell Albina what happened tonight, probably in the morning. And in the short term, we are going to have to find or make you some equipment of your own because we can't get hands on that alchemist's lab just yet. But it is late, and these are all problems that can wait for tomorrow. There are guest rooms above we can make use of, and deal with the rest in the morning, unless you're up for the rest of the lesson on the Houses of Hermes?" }}