Darkened Thresholds - Artifact

Game Master JonGarrett

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Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○
Carlos Luis Garcia wrote:
Carlos barely has time to register Jessica existing near him and Jerry. He quickly runs over to the fallen receptionist, "Um. You know what? I'll just walk and meet you there." He grabs her and starts toward the main lobby, "Where is it Jessica?"

"In the hallway near the restaurant," she says. She checks on the receptionist who passed out briefly, then goes to follow Carlos as he heads to the stairs.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

Kavax's movements don't find any traps, but he does find what appears to be an unused section of attic. Given how large the area is it looks like it might have been servants quarters back when this was being used as a home.

He also finds a metal section of pipe, kicking it with an impressive ringing sound that echoes through the hotel. A moment later there's a yell downstairs as someone from the staff finds the shattered entry way.

-----

Carlos and Jessica find the passage up blocked by two confused looking waiters who are clearly trying to work out why there is now a large hole in the wall and why there's a stair case behind it.


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

I'm back. Sorry, and thanks for your patience.

Having hung back to make sure the fainted receptionist was okay and resting comfortably, Jerry catches up a few moments after Jessica and Carlos.

"What happened?" he asks the waiters. No matter their answers or how they react, he'll say "Let's check it out," to Carlos and Jessica and step in to follow Kavax.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

"No idea," the first one says, but the other moves to block Jerry as he attempts to move up the stairs. "Sir, we don't know what happened, but none of this looks safe."


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

"No, I'll be fine."

Jerry will step around the man and go in.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The guy isn't willing to stop Jerry, but keeps yelling up after him. After a moment he gives up, unwilling to follow behind the mad people going up the rickety stairs.


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Hey, if Kavax didn't break the stairs, they're probably totally safe! At least for people who weigh less than Kavax.

Kavax looks around the old abandoned room.

"Alright, I'm not very good at investigating, but if this room was hidden there's probably something to it. Maybe I'll need to wait for some of the others to get back over here."


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

There were rooms in the attic to both the east and north, and suggestions that both went some distance. On the other hand, it didn't sound like you would have time to do both before the staff stormed upstairs.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

Jessica hustles back, bringing Mr. Garcia with her. "You didn't explore it without me?!?" she shouts.


Human Level 4 Expert - Harm 0/7 - Luck 6/7 - Exp 5/5 - Charm: -1 - Cool: +1 - Sharp: +3 - Tough: 0 - Weird: +2 - Holds: None

"I wouldn't be that foolish." Before he has a chance to get some kind of joke out he is whisked away with Jessica again. "I'm never going to get used to that."


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

1d2 ⇒ 1

The group takes a look to the North. It is clear, even before the refurbishment, that this section had not seen any use. Other than patches to the roof it's clear no one has been here for any prolonged time, and even the patches look rushed.

It's not hard to notice why. There was a feeling of...wrongness. It was something you'd felt before, in the various haunted and possessed locations you'd been to. The sensation that the world's natural laws were being twisted into something terrible.

Most of the rooms were hollow, nothing but wall frames and support beams. At the far end there is a door and a wall. This one has been nailed shut. Significantly nailed shut. A dozen thick boards were nailed in place, the handle had been removed, and there were at least two dust-covered padlocks beneath the boards.

It was about a clear 'stay out' as could be managed without neon lights and a loud speaker.


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

Jerry puts his ear next to the padlocked door and listens. If he doesn't hear anything, he'll give a short rap on the door and listen again.

IaM: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4

Adding 1 xp. I should really make the time to level up.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The door and the room beyond is silent, but Jerry feels nauseous just leaning against the door.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

Jessica can't help but tremble despite being an angel of vengeance. "W-- what do you think's behind that? Is it what we already fought and killed us all? Or could it be something worse? If it's worse, then I say we nope the hell out of here. Maybe I can try flying through the blizzard or something."


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax eyes the door.

"Blegh. Feels nasty.... Probably important somehow though. And getting rid of nasty things is part of my job description."

He considered the feeling, trying to dig through hazy memories for anything that felt the same... and what to do about it.
Though given his job and proclivities, the answer would probably be 'kill it with fire'.

One more try at Investigating before smashing?: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (5, 3) - 1 = 7
Hey, Kavax actually succeeds at investigating something! For now, he'll ask what can hurt whatever is beyond the door, as that is his wheelhouse.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

Kavax manages to sense past the feeling of disgust to what is the likely cause. Magic. Fueled by pain, by blood and by fear.


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax's gaze at the door narrows. "Yeah, that's bad magic in there. Blood and Death kind of bad. Probably needs to be wrecked some way or another if we want to stop whatever it's doing, and whatever it's doing probably isn't good. Well, time to grit teeth and barge through."

Kavax then proceeds to grit his teeth, and charge straight at the door, destructive instincts overpowering mere disgust and distaste.

Tough: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 6) + 3 = 14
It takes more than a boarded up door and a little dark magic to stop Kavax, it seems. Now to find out if this was a bad idea or not!


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The door ceased to exist as Kavax smashed through - along with the curse upon the door that never had a chance to trigger. Inside was what looked like a small, simple bedroom. Old styles of sheets covered the bed now layered with thick dust. A wardrobe, a bedside table and a rug on the floor were all the furnishings visible and equally dust-caked, the single window sealed up and blocked off completely.

The wave of malice emanating from the room was almost physical.


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

"Something tragic happened here," Jerry softly mentions, mostly to acknowledge the malicious emanation in the room, hoping to calm it somewhat.

Jerry checks the bedside table, then the wardrobe, and then under the rug for anything that might indicate the story behind this room.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

Investigate: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 1 = 11

Jessica steps inside as well, going through the objects and decorations of the room.

Cool! Spending a hold for, "what happened here?" -- though I'm sure the answer is, "nothing good."


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

Nothing obvious happened as the hunters stepped inside, although a senstion of being watched, that was someone was just behind you, breathing ever so slightly on the back of your neck, was present.

The bedside table contains a small book bound with string and a long dried ink well. The wardrobe has outfits suitable for two serving girls from a while back. And under the rug is a ritual circle, carved into the hardwood in deep, deep gouges.


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

"All this seems... relevant."

Jerry picks up the book and starts to flip through it.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The pages are filled with neatly cribbed writing. What it is not full of is English.

Does Jerry, or anyone else, read German?


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax doesn't know any German. Some Chinese, some proto-anglo-saxon, and a fair number of dead or progenitor languages, but no modern German

Kavax looked at the ritual circle.

"Well that can't be good. Don't know right off if it's the kind that gets better or worse if you break the circle, though. Anybody got ideas, or should we just break it and hope we reset if it explodes violently?"


Human Level 4 Expert - Harm 0/7 - Luck 6/7 - Exp 5/5 - Charm: -1 - Cool: +1 - Sharp: +3 - Tough: 0 - Weird: +2 - Holds: None

Going to try one last time to get back in.

Let me know if I can make that Ritual Roll for Kavax, seems too convenient for me to just show back up.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

Go for it! It's fine, I've been flaky the last few weeks anyway thanks to work, heat and sickness.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

While Carlos gets started on his ritual, Jessica checks her phone to see if Google Translate requires connection to the internet. When she confirms that it does, she grumbles a moment in frustration. Then she gets an idea.

"Hang on. I'm going to check the guests."

She moves back to the main lobby of the hotel and starts asking the various guests and staff if anyone can read German.


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax can almost certainly think up a ritual to destroy the circle (destruction is his job), but is concerned about collateral damage unless some other people want to help contain it.


Human Level 4 Expert - Harm 0/7 - Luck 6/7 - Exp 5/5 - Charm: -1 - Cool: +1 - Sharp: +3 - Tough: 0 - Weird: +2 - Holds: None

Sharp: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

"Nothing I haven't seen before"

He knew enough about the basics of the circle, but as to what the final result would be... "The problem is what 'better' and 'worse' is depends on your point of view."

Carlos hardly felt the need to specify that to the avatar of destruction, but it was worth mentioning.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The circle is a calling ritual. That much is simple enough to understand. It is *what* it is trying to call that becomes more difficult. Rather than a being or a named creature, it seemed to be trying to call upon a concept. End.

The voices from the staff searching the attic was starting to get closer.

----

Jessica jumps back into the hotel, thankfully not in front of anyone likely to faint, and heads to the bar. She locates one of the other guests stuck in the loop who speaks fluent German, Lukas.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

"Great," Jessica says when she learns that Lukas speaks German. "Stay here; I'll be right back." She moves.

Back in the creeptastic secret room, Jessica returns in a blink. "I found someone who can read German. You want me to bring him here, or take the book to him?" She shudders when she again feels the malice in the room.

"Maybe I'll take it to him. You figure anything out, Mr. Garcia?"


Human Level 4 Expert - Harm 0/7 - Luck 6/7 - Exp 5/5 - Charm: -1 - Cool: +1 - Sharp: +3 - Tough: 0 - Weird: +2 - Holds: None

"A circle that tries to call the end?" He raises an eyebrow at Kavax, "This has nothing to do with you I'm sure... right?"

He puts his hands in the air and shakes his head, "Not much other than that." Carlos cleans his glasses on his shirt and after breathing on them continues, "Yeah do it Jessica, otherwise we might be stuck here forever."


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax snorted.

"Eh, maybe someone was trying for me? If so, they're doing it pretty wrong. I don't see any great dark sorcerers here incanting the proper rituals, and that circle isn't anywhere near big enough."

Kavax contemplated the circle some more.

"Does mean I could probably short-circuit it, though. Give it what it wants, but not in the way it wants it. I'd want a couple others to help channel things. Del-Gan over there would probably be a good help, he knows this sort of stuff. But neither of us are really that good at the part where it doesn't violently explode or summon angry demons or whatever. Though I suppose another option would be to try to modify it to call up some Draklings instead, and lean on me and the other two to keep them in line. Might drain the energy out of any other rituals this one is connected to that way.

Kavax has a couple ideas. Anybody have opinions on them?


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

Kavax is familiar enough with his own rituals to know this wasn't aiming for him. It was more...conceptual. The idea of Endings, rather than a being in the traditional sense.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

With Mr. Garcia's approval, Jessica disappears again, this time with the journal. She appears in front of Lukas with the book. "Here you go!" She offers it for him to start translating. She stays close, watching him to both protect him and to show the urgency of the job.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The man looked at the book. "Oh, wow, this is heavy stuff. It's all about a girl who was...well, into girls, and that went as well as you would expect in ye bullcrap times. Says she wants to summon...uh...the end? Not like a briner of the end, but the end itself."


Human Level 4 Expert - Harm 0/7 - Luck 6/7 - Exp 5/5 - Charm: -1 - Cool: +1 - Sharp: +3 - Tough: 0 - Weird: +2 - Holds: None

"Okay so love and hate seems to be a part of this spell. Great, just great."

Carlos taps his finger on his chin, "Do we know anything about her? Is there anything in this book to give us some information on her? If not, I can do something a little more extreme."


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

"I think we should go for any extreme option available to us. We reset each day, but the sooner we figure this out, the less chance we'll survive each reset. Go for it."


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The room doesn't give many hints as to the occupant's problems. They were clearly hiding things, strange circles non-withstanding.


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax raised an eyeridge. A think trail of smoke trickled from one nostril, before he nodded and gave a toothy grin.

"Extreme, eh? Well, alright, let's see what we can do. Hey, Del-Gan, <Menacing Growl>, <Incomprehensible Hissing>, let's see if we can hijack this circle and turn it into a proper Chaos Rift. Can't have anyone calling up the End without a horde of draklings to make a welcoming party after all. Anyone else who wants to help can too."

Kavax is going to attempt some Big Magic, in order to sabotage the ritual and have it summon Dark Draklings instead. Keeper can list requirements/complications, or other people can offer their expertise or opinions now, at least if I'm understanding it right.

Probably complications/solutions I can guess at right now; Kavax already has 3 helpers but might need more. They know how to do a rift-opening ritual, but might need more study to get it to work off this circle. He may need to do a Use Magic check to keep the draklings in line after summoning them, instead of them just rampaging. It might need to be precisely timed to a particular moment in the loop.


Sharp +1 | Tough +2 | Luck 5/7 | Exp. 9/5 | Harm 7/7 | Unstable? N

Jerry knows enough about magic rituals to know that he doesn't know much at all. He knows that sometimes having a person standing in the right place saying the right things can be helpful, and he's willing to do that if needed. What he sees as his primary role, however, is to stand at the ready to beat back anything hostile or unexpected with his nightstick or to grab onto anyone who's being sucked through any sudden portals that may appear.

You know, really useful stuff.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

Jessica twirls her sword nervously, not sure how she could help except to get ready to fight whatever it is that the ritual will summon.


GM of all he Surveys - Still sick, but in a different way

The big magic will require a lot of power. Between the people here, that was accessible. It would leave the Hunters who did it drained and weak, however.

Second, the circle would need to be redrawn.

And third, it would take at least one minute. During that time the thing that had been called would know. It may well turn up to investigate.


Ratings: Charm +0 Cool +1 Sharp -1 Tough +3 Weird +2 |Harm 0/7 Unstable? No | Luck 6/7 | Experience 2/5

Kavax examined the situation.

"...Yeah, we can work with that. Problem is that it'd be draining for us all, and whatever made this would catch on and be rather unhappy about the messing. Still, we don't have much better options yet, do we? So unless anyone wants to propose something else, might as well give it a go."

If no one protests, Kavax will gather his crew and start modifying the circle, carving into the wood with draconic talons.


Charm 0 Cool +2 Sharp +1 Tough +2 Weird +1 Harm ○○○|○○○○ Unstable ○

No objections from Jessica.

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