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Jonathan shakes his head as the Mother defends her minion, before getting drenched by the water of the lagoon. He stands his ground and surprisingly looks amazing in his clinging water-logged clothes. The vampire evaporates into mist and surges forward to the successor of his friend. When he gets within melee, he solidifies and attacks the amphibian.
Jonathan grins at the hubris. "Brothers and sisters? To serve your Mother? Would she give us fancy titles, too?" He pauses before continuing, "I am already lord of everything I care for and can already put ridiculous mortals under my heel whenever I want. Your Mother has nothing to offer me."
Jonathan disguises his concern for his friend and anger to put this monster in his place. The vampire replies, "then please, introduce yourself to potential servants, because the names of immortals do serve their purpose."
"Logan Fitzroy, I presume?" Jonathan, a British gentleman, dryly asks the creature. "What happened to your predecessor?"
"Gill? Is that you? What's going on?" Jonathan asks like a concerned brother wondering if he has evolved or if it someone else entirely. If it is someone else, could they be recruited into the Regiment?
Jonathan reforms from mist near one of the jaguars and reaches out to grab it.
In a calm, British tone, the vampire offers, "their infection appears fresh. Maybe healing them, could return the cats to theeir normal prey."
Mist-Jonathan floats over to the dropped jaguar to inspect the infection. He doesn't feel like getting his outfit damaged yet. The gentlemen needs to look good for his introduction to the Mother of Monsters.
Jonathan in mist form returns to battle that has revealed three infected jaguars. All ironically attacking Sekhmet. He keeps watch and wonders how quickly they will deal with this normal threat.
Did Jonathan see anything beyond the jaguar(s)?
Harker still has Quan under control with his gaze. I think what DQ means is are you releasing her now that her circumstances have changed. No. He doesn’t think his control is a bad thing.
Jonathan follows his companions into the jungle. Seeing the jaguar and hearing Ms Hyde's warning, the vampire thinks about summoning the equivalent of wolves here to fight on their behalf but notices plant-like growth encircling the jaguars. His wolves would be similarly infected, so he forgets that idea. Not wanting to fight an animal, he becomes mist leaving the cats to Hyde, Sekhmet, and Helen. He floats past the jaguar to see what they are protecting.
Is Harker still controlling Quan? No. His gaze is not permanent. His bite is permanent. ST didn't say that he needed to bite her, in order to continue his control. But, maybe he did. ST?
Is Harker still controlling Quan?
Jonathan feels the lake and forest draw breath in anticipation of the fight. Obviously, there would be many spectators and few potential allies. The British gentleman takes off his jacket setting it aside in a relatively safe place and begins to roll up his sleeves. "I guess we've arrived at the home of the big bad. Get yourselves ready."
"Yes. It makes sense, young lady. One of these days, the experience might make you appreciate being human more."
When Dr. Quan and Helen appear free of the virus, Jonathan nods and offers, "oh, well done. Much better than my choice of immortality." "Dr. Quan, how do you feel? Now that you are free of your infection, do you have anything new to help us prevent someone else from being infected?" The vampire watches Dr. Quan with a touch of envy, who actually recovers from her monstrous infliction.
"I've never been a gardener. I could always give Dr. Quan a choice of immortality or living with that infection. But, I would hope there is a better choice than that." The vampire could kill her. The infection, probably doesn't feast on the dead.
Don’t think it has a will per se. it just wants to survive.
Jonathan notes the vines grabbing the boat and offers in a very nonplussed tone, "do you think those vines can damage the boat? Damage to the boat could distract us from the mission." Other than ripping the vines away by hand, the vampire does not see how he could intervene at this moment.
"Thank you, Dr. Quan. You've been extremely helpful." Jonathan concludes and then looks to his teammates. "Time to face the music at that lagoon, right?" He signals that he is ready to finish this. If he could sweat, he might complain about the heat.
Jonathan leans against the counter in the galley giving Dr. Quan space and looking very British gentlemanly. "So, nothing that you heard from Cassie or the others could have been some change in stasis?" The last phrase is obviously a repetition from Dr. Quan, probably indicating that it may be the first time that he has ever used those words in that order. But, he is trying to speak her language.
Jonathan nods to Dr. Quan to acknowledge the benefits of his control. "If the virus remains forever dormant, then we need cleaners in the lab, the apartments, and potentially wherever that packing material could lay dormant. Hathaway, can you make that happen?" The kettle sings with boiling water to shadow the tension. The vampire removes the kettle and pours a tea for Dr. Quan. Setting the kettle down, he serves her the mug, which is the nicest cup on the boat. "So to summarize, we have a self described mother of all monsters in a lagoon which hosts underwater plants which can transform humans into monstrous minions. What did I miss which changed the recent dynamics? Presumably, she could have extended her reach centuries ago, right?" "So, we've got to motivate this mother to return to her position as a large fish in a small pond? Dr. Quan, would you have any suggestions?"
Sorry for the delay to answer. I don’t know what expertise that we’re missing, primarily because I’m too lazy to check everyone’s sheets. But, I was actually thinking about a power to tap into human knowledge. Wasn’t there an Egyptian god of knowledge Thoth? So that with a bit of time based on the number of humans or the amount of time that humans knew something, Thoth could let you know. So if only person knew something, it would be super hard. But if one person discovered something that a whole civilization knew for centuries, it would be easier. So maybe some of the recent expertises of Hyde and Hathaway would be much harder for a Thoth character to tap. Anyone. A spitball. Cheers
During Dr. Quan's reply, Jonathan puts a kettle on the burner to prepare tea, which she obviously needs. The vampire has never been a scientist, but he has faced bio threats before. So, he asks, "how long does the virus live on dead plants? We found some in a box in Boston. How long would it be a threat?"
Below deck, Jonathan hears the approach of Dr. Quan. He puts down his book and exits his cabin to join her in the galley. "Dr. Quan, so good to see your form at birth. I'm sure we can find some clothes which fit better." "I missed your transformation. How are you? Now that you can speak clearer, what can you tell us about your transformation?" "You look hungry. It's been decades since I prepared a proper meal. But I've seen people eat these bicuits." He retrieves some cookies from a cabinet and hands them to her.
Back to DQ's questioning of role... I was going to suggest the whole sand thing for Helen's physical powers from the Mummy movies, too. In addition, I would suggest that our group could use an extra smart and knowledgeable person. I think Hyde has her bio expertise. And Hathaway has some expertise, but I think there is plenty of other areas where you could spend points. My two cents. Cheers
I’ve a way to participate? Umbrella? Radio? Seriously, I’ve been reading and waiting.
Jonathan rests in his blacked out cabin while his solar nemesis rules the sky. He alternates between napping to dream and rereading Conrad's Heart of Darkness.
Jonathan obviously avoids dirtying his clothes with the spray of serpent guts. He carefully steps or misty step to the bow of the ship to get upwind of the slaughter. "It did not smell this bad on the outside," he remarks to no one in particular, as he continues to commit the sights of the Amazon jungle to memory.
While Jonathan holds the creature's gaze, he offers in an very gentlemenly British tone, "would you two please take care of the snake."
Jonathan steadies himself on the tossing ship. "Hyde?! Sehkmet!? Can't you kill this thing?" He looks for the monster and readies to attempt another gaze into its eyes.
Finding a reflection of his own predator soul within the serpent's eyes, Jonathan began to stare. For decades, his condition had robbed him of his physical reflection in mirrors. But, now he saw his soul reflected. What a monster.
Jonathan watches the enormous serpent rise up and attack Sehkmet. Not wanting to get wet on purpose, he tries to catch the eye of the snake.
On deck, Jonathan enjoyed the jungle sights, sounds, and scents... until a fierce musky odor coming from the water disrupts his contentment. Some animal is nearby. Then, he notices a massive log-like shape moves through the water. A constrictor snake of incredible size, at least 60 feet long. "Regiment! Assemble! We've a large visitor which could threat the boat!" The vampire calls out to his companions.
"Excellent, Captain. Carry on." Jonathan replies and pays attention to the surroundings.
Reaching the ship, Jonathan asks, "Captain, please be on the lookout for a fuel barge, Estrella del Norte. It transported people that we are chasing." After his acknowledgement, the vampire lounges on deck enjoying the sights and feeling of the jungle. Near sunrise, he retires below deck within his sunless cabin to rest and read. When his solar nemesis escapes the horizon, Jonathan returns to the deck dressed as a proper British gentleman on safari in white and khaki linen. He gets an update from the captain and his companions for what happened on deck while he has been below deck before returning to developing memories of the riverboat trip into the Amazon.
Jonathan nods to Hathaway and the merchant and asks, "When were they last here? And, how far is this underwater city?" After the answers, he thanks the merchant with a couple of twenty dollar bills and heads to corral the others and brief them on what he had discovered.
Jonathan smiles broadly at his control of merchant revealing enlarged canines. "Please describe the americano who you last sold the idol to." "And please, tell me what you know about the idol and what it represents."
Jonathan stalks over to the squat, indigo-tattooed vendor. "Good evening. Speak English? Please tell me about that idol there." He points to fish man idol while gazing into his eyes.
Seeing the battle well in hand, he heads back to the market looking for the sculpture and herbs that they found in Boston.
Jonathan cocks an ear at the roar of Sekhmet. He evaporates into mist and flies toward the raging goddess. He passes a fleeing man and finds an appropriate place to reform near the melee. He surveys the battle and wonders if Sekhmet wants him to intervene in her play time.
Jonathan tours the market enjoying the experience. He has always loved traveling meeting different people living different lives, even after his first big trip to Transylvania changed his life forever. He surveys the scents of the market hoping to catch a hint of any associated with this case.
Jonathan tops up his thirst with Hathaway's generosity. "Hathaway, do we need a guide?" Jonathan asks rhetorically. The vampire tours the market with the confidence of an apex predator.
Jonathan finds himself up on deck when the captain announces the arrival at the Mercados Nocturnos, well dressed in his khaki gentlemen's suit. He offers, "I don't need anything but could enjoy a bite." His broad smile at his joke reveals his enlarged canine teeth.
What’s the captain’s reaction to Quan? Were we able to hide it?I answered this in Gameplay. Let me know what you think. Perfect. So, the captain is Controlled by Harker's Gaze.
Jonathan enjoys the cruise as a good gentlemen relaxing on deck during sundown, tasting the smells on the air, and randomly testing his connection to local bats and canines. During the daytime, he hides below deck in a completely blacked out cabin. He reads Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness to get himself in the mood. He ensures Quan stays near the ship, even it wants to swim. And attempts to learn whether it wants to stay reborn or return to its old self.
What’s the captain’s reaction to Quan? Were we able to hide it?
Jonathan ensures Quan remains calm during the trip and any blood work. "Blood Orchid? How appropriate." The vampire chuckles to himself. As a gentlemen, he is dressed in his beige, jungle suit, complete with silk scarf and straw fedora. He thought about investigating Cassie and Doyle's arrival, but the local language is Portuguese. So, he shrugs and lets the story bloom like an orchid.
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