[IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - From What You have Fallen

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Supernaturalist
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[IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - From What You have Fallen

Post by Supernaturalist »

A New Heaven and New Earth - Chapter 1: The Time is Near

It’s mid-summer in Atlanta, Georgia. Infrequent rains bring slight relief to the oppressive heat. For most people, modern comforts like air-conditioning insulate them from the sauna-like conditions outside. Hot summers in the South are normal; but a world with genetically altered humans is not. To be fair, it’s not normal anywhere.

The last year has been difficult for persons labeled “mutants”. A minority of their numbers have given painstaking effort to ease the ‘public mind’ of fear. Unfortunately, they are a miniscule fraction of the those demonstrating paranormal abilities. For mutants, every step forward for their collective-reputation is accompanied with two steps backwards.

It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the three of you are people. You still have wants and needs that other people do. You work, play, and live your lives as it pleases you. But as much as you wish to be accepted, you are reminded almost daily that you are not like most other people. For some mutants, the question of whether they are truly homo sapiens anymore regularly crosses thier mind.

Over the last three months, anti-mutant hysteria has risen sharply around the world. Mutants are now being blamed for a bewildering number of social and planetary ills: rising crime, global warming, terrorism, and even the gamma-ray burst of some two decades ago. It’s not fair, but then again life rarely is. A mutant could go crazy if all they did was watch the news or read newspapers. You can only control your own small part of the world. That’s what the three of you have decided to do.


Rebekah Yoder (now Arachne)

Life has had its ups and downs for you. For someone who is deeply concerned with blazing a path for the acceptance of mutants in the world, the road has been a tough one to hoe – so to speak. You are fortunate to have a small group of friends who deeply care for you. Your business (The Parlour?) has been remarkably successful even through the period of your manifestation. It seems those in your line if work have been less "put-off" by the recent metamorphosis.

Unfortunately, harassment is an ever-present specter given your mutation and your public persona. You receive anonymous threats weekly via e-mail, snail mail, and phone. You watch nervously as various political groups begin to congeal into forces that either desire to restrain mutants or outright incarcerate them.

But some have sought to aid you. Within the fashion industry itself, you have friends who are actively promoting you. Indeed, they are even providing you with a platform to make a highly publicized appearance. In late September, the city will host Atlanta Fashion Week, an enormous global fashion event for those in the industry. You have been asked by the organizers to be one of the mentors for their “Fashion Apprentice” program. It is specifically aimed at educating (and encouraging) young women about the “ins” and “outs” of the fashion world. As such you will be a guest speaker at the event as well.

But your life is not all business. You've recently received a phone call from a Ra'von "Ray" Jackson. Though you missed his call at the time, he left a message desiring to speak with you in person. According to his message, he wishes to speak with you about taking political action on behalf of the mutant community.


Robert Murray

Although crime in Atlanta has been on a slightly downward trend over the last couple of decades, the trajectory reversed about a year ago. For you that has meant job security. There is no shortage of work for a gifted detective. Honestly, you have had your pick of cases on which to work. Some have been more lucrative than others. Perhaps the most financially rewarding was a rich Atlanta business executive who suspected his wife of cheating. All he needed was the evidence. With a prenuptial agreement in place, you helped save the poor sod a huge portion of his personal assets.

Some of the work you’ve been offered has been on a darker side. Even though you are not a cop, you are “Well Informed” via friends and acquaintances with both the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and the local office of the FBI. Yesterday a high-level investigator with the APD was murdered in the Duluth/Norcross area of the city. Even though Atlanta averages between 1-2 murders every week, it’s still a big deal when cops get killed, especially high-ranking ones. His name is Joshua Ota, one of the few members of the police force of Japanese ancestry. The area in which he was murdered has a large Asian population albeit one of relatively small Japanese descent. You receive a phone-call invitation to Public Safety Headquarters in downtown Atlanta the very next morning.

Something must be worrying the top-brass at the APD if they’ve gone outside law-enforcement proper for help on this case.


Sahir al-Zamir

You are a busy man. It’s unlikely that there is a 21 year-old on the planet with more pressure on him than you. If you weren’t so darn smart, people probably wouldn’t give you the time of day. As it stands, your counsel is highly valued at the CDC within a small, 8-person group called the C.E.I.D. (pronounced “seed”). It stands for the Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases; it is the vanguard of U.S. society against pathogens of which the public is blissfully ignorant. Information and samples pour in 24/7 from around the country and even other parts of the world. Analysis is constantly going on deep in the bowels of the CDC’s labs. Your expertise is required to not only identify pathogens, but to provide advice to government on responses to outbreaks of infection. It’s stressful and time-consuming, but the pay and prestige of the job suit your rather haughty personality.

Tonight, however, is a rare break for you. You are not scheduled to work, nor are you one of the scientists-on-call in case of emergency this evening either. One of your colleagues, a Doctor Girard Lefort, is hosting a very high-class party for the local Atlanta intelligensia. It goes without saying that you are included in that group. The party is sure to have excellent food, outrageously expensive alcohol, and a bumper-crop of pretentious personalities.

Just in case all this bores you, there is an additional bright spot. You’ve had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a young psychology professor at Emory. An intelligent woman of Spanish descent, Mercedes Tomas was introduced to you about 4 months ago at a faculty social. Since that time, you’ve kept in contact on and off: Dinner once, coffee and dessert a couple of times, nothing too serious. She even agreed to come listen to one of your lectures at the University on genetically-engineered bacteriophages to fight drug-resistant pathogens. She humbly admits to not understanding the science, but is fascinated by the philosophical ramifications of the technology. If you didn’t know any better, you might actually suspect that she’s growing fond of you. You’re supposed to pick her up at 7:00 P.M.
Last edited by Supernaturalist on Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
mrdent12
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by mrdent12 »

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1


Work had been good. There was still the occasional divorce case, but he didn't need to do any repo work or worse security for some less than reputable diplomat coming through town. A few jobs even paid enough for him to take a vacation here and there. On top of that, life was quiet on the personal vendetta front. All of the people he helped put away or screwed with the evidence he found on something or other hadn't bugged him in a few months. If not for the rising anti mutant climate, which he could easily get swept up in if he wasn't careful, it would be paradise.

While he never advertised the fact he could heal rapidly and had an enhanced constitution, he never bothered to hide it either. Some of the people he pursued likely suspected something was up. When they shot him, beat him beyond what the human body was supposed to endure, or tried to drown him somehow he just kept coming. Most of the time, he covered it up as lucky. With people seeing mutants everywhere, they just might see him as one. So far, only the ones no one would ever believed accused him of being off some how. Hopefully, that wouldn't change.

Drinking at a local cop bar one night, a great place to get leads, Robert was trading war stories so to speak with an attractive detective when the call came over the radio of a cop shooting in the Duluth/Norcross area. Non cops getting shot were bad enough, but a cop was part of the team. Even if relatively a loner it was a cop and warranted a full court press with overtime auto approved. That night, he didn't hear much aside from a name, Joshua Ota. Robert had heard of the guy, so knew it would be even more urgent to solve given his high rank and political pull as one of the few Japanesse Americans. Ordinarily Robert would dig, but he had learned better.

The following day, Robert called the female detective he was chatting up sounded receptive to talking to him, but said she had to focus Ota's murder so it wasn't a good time. As excuses go, she was honest at least. Still, Robert stayed out of it because the murder of a cop usually resulted in gun fire, swat, and a lot of violence if the suspect wasn't cooperative. He didn't need that now. That was when the call came. He has to work with these people sometimes, so it wasn't like he could say no. Besides, he got it. A murder of one of your own meant pulling out all the stops.

Finding parking around Public Safety Headquarters wasn't always easy, but a cop murder made it even tougher. Whatever was going down, it must be serious if they called him. It was an in house matter and he figured they would want to handle it on their own unless it was truly bad or they suspected a fellow cop. If not some internal distrust, maybe there was something else amiss. Either way, Robert tread lightly when he came in for the meeting. Coming across as too cocky or too unconcerned would be bad. Upon arriving at the front desk, he took in the scene. "Somebody called me, names Robert Murray. Heard about one of your colleagues going down. You have my codolences.", said Robert.
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Sahir

Post by Camus »

The computer screen created a ghostly visage in the poorly lit room where Sahir was at. His face reflecting the flashing lights from the screen was concentrated. His hand alternated between holding the mouse and tapping on the keyboard at dazzling speed. His eyes darted from one corner of the screen to the other. After a few more moments of frantic activity, everything ended. Tired, he pulled himself off the desk, and let his head hang back on the chair that supported him. He placed his right arm over his forehead as he stared at the ceiling. His eyes had bags, and he could use a shave. He sighed. "I need to stop playing videogames like this..." he said.
.
.
.
.
.

Next thing he knew was his cellphone alarm ticking off. He shake from his sleep on the chair, and fell backwards in a display of clumsiness so impressive only a choreographer might have thought of. Pitifully picking himself up, he didnt even bother to lift the chair or turn off the computer, instead he rushed to the room, kicking the dining table by accident and cursing loudly in Arabic.

A few minutes later a much more elegantly dressed Sahir was driving a small, new-looking car, down the highway. Both hands on the wheel he snored open mouthed. Even dressed in silk, a money is still a monkey, his grandma used to say. Even though he had dressed in elegant clothes he was still tired and still didn't belong to this high class aristocratic ball of idiots. He frowned. Videogames were more entertaining. But at least there was Mercedes. She was cute, and really the first woman to take a liking on him. Usually he always ended up scaring people away. Sahir was not sure why, but his tendency to abstract himself in social situations and remaining silent as he stares into the horizon were clearly wierding out people. He started doing that when his mutation kicked off.

Next scene is Sahir-s car parking out next to a small building. Mercedes- house.
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Spectrum
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Spectrum »

Arachne

The work on the baptismal gown was nearly complete. It had taken the curious woman days to complete. It was not just a matter of design, nor of construction, but working in hopes and dreams, stories of what the tiny babe can become and blessings towards the future. But it was nearly complete. Well, as complete as any piece of art could be. There were always ways to make something better, but time was a constraint. Arache was particularly pleased on some of the finer details that few would ever notice. How many could take notice of the fine textures? The patterns that only those with an extended spectrum of sight could perceive?

Arachne had lost complete track of time. It was only through the loving dedication of her assistant, Judith Ross, that she even remembered to eat or sleep. Those things meant so little while she was in the midst of creation.

She counted herself blessed in so many ways. What had at first looked as if it were a sign of damnation had turned into the greatest opportunity that she could have never imagined. The skill to work in such fine detail. The time that allowed for it. An audience. How much she would have never known was even out there if this hadn't happened.

Speaking of which, she drifted out towards the front room and Judith's desk. Judith wasn't there. What time was it anyways? The skies were in a state of twilight. Dawn or dusk? A few notes, a few reminders left out for the artist. A few requests for patronage, a few requests for work, a reminder to start working on that mentorship program. Arachne was of several minds about it. It was a wonderful opportunity to share what she had learned. 'Step 1.. become a hideous mutant spider woman Step 3.. success!' What kind of lesson was that? She hid it well (easy when you no longer had human features), but it bothered her. She knew that she was likely being used as a social status symbol. But it troubled her more that the audience was young women and only young women. What of the young boys? What of those that no longer were either male nor female, whether from mutanthood or otherwise?

But even more curiously, a message that Ra'von had called. She searched her memory for anything of the man. Political action? What did that mean? Or rather, it could mean too many things. She would have to make some phone calls later, see if anyone had heard of the man.

But then, a flash of inspiration hit, and she drifted back into her work room, ready to move forwards with another work.

Oh yes, need to start making phone calls.. later.
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Supernaturalist »

Robert Murray

There is a short, slightly overweight black woman behind the security desk. She asks for your ID, checks it rather meticulously, and marks off your name on a clipboard. “Thank you, Mr. Murray. I hope you guys get whoever is responsible for this.” Her tone is serious with a trace of vindictiveness in her voice.

Security is a little tighter here than at the local police precincts. She requires you to place all your loose, metal items in a plastic bin which is then scanned. Standing right beside her is large, muscle-bound security guard of African-American decent. He eyes you as you walk through a metal detector and greets you on the other side. “Good mornin’, Mr. Murray, Deputy Chief Gibbs is waiting for you up in conference room 302.” Your personal items are then returned to you and you’re allowed to proceed to the elevator.

As you proceed though the building, everything here seems new. There’s even a fresh smell of paint in the air. As you come off the elevator on the 3rd floor, there’s a spread of food for anyone using a meeting room. Nothing too fancy, just coffee, bagels, and various flavors of cream cheese.

Room 302 is just a couple of doors down on the right. As you enter you see two uniformed APD officers, both noticeably decorated. The first is a middle-aged Caucasian female. The badge on her uniform says “Gibbs”’. The second officer is also middle-aged, Caucasian yet male. His badge reads “Glazier”. He’s noticeably the tallest person in the room, maybe over six-and-a-half feet tall.

The only other person in the room is yet another middle-aged male. He’s of Asian descent and wears a suit. The comb-over hair on his balding head partially obscures a nasty scar . Your eyes drift to his belt where you immediately see a badge you know all too well. It’s the badge of an F.B.I. agent.



Arachne

Your hours in the design workshop are almost always fruitful. It's also a way to forget about the insanity of the world for a little while and immerse yourself in the joy of creation. Indeed you lose track of time as you are raptured -so to speak - into your work.

Though you've lost track of time, it's obvious that a great deal of hours have passed. The door opens to the workshop and Judith walks in holding some mail and single package. She stops abruptly and gives you a strange look. "Did you go home last night?"
OOC: I'll assume that Judith is friend and has adjusted to your appearance after some initial shock. Just as a matter of fact, most people -even those not hostile - often display overt signs of discomfort when they first meet you. It's just something you've noticed since your manifestation.
She walks towards you and your project slowly with a slight smile. "Wow, that is so beautiful." She sets the mail down and strolls a complete circle around the baptismal gown. "I can't wait for you to put that on display. Is it finished?"

After some chat, she points to the mail on the table. "That letter and package are yours." She holds up a single letter in her hand as she heads back out towards her desk. "Water Bill! Woohoo for me!..."



Safir

Mercedes' town-home is just a few miles north of the Emory campus. It's modest place, yet expensive due to its location. You don't know for certain, but you'd guess her salary does not rival your own. Her field is a "soft science" so to speak and lacks the kind if high demand that your own field of expertise does. It's not arrogance on your part...just fact.

Still, she is obviously a very intelligent woman, made more so to you because she actually takes a legitimate interest in your field. It also doesn't hurt that she's "easy on the eyes".
OOC: You've had enough dates with her to know basic stuff about her background: Where she grew up, info on parents and siblings, as well as where she studied in college...stuff like that.
We she meets you at the door, she appears rushed. "Sorry..." she says adjusting one of her shoes, "...I had an argument with a student over an exam grade in my office. I got out of there 30 minutes later than expected. I thought I was going to have to call security he got so belligerent. Anyway..." She pauses looking over you from head to toe. "Don't we look nice?...Trying to impress someone? Is it me or Professor Lefort?"
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by mrdent12 »

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1


He knew the drill with coming to these police station or federal building meetings. It was never a pop in and say hi sort of thing when it was at an official location. There was metal detectors, cameras, and sometimes even 3d scan machines if it was a high enough security place. No matter the level though, he knew not to bring his gun. There was enough around already. Besides, it was mostly for show for him anyway. It wasn't like he was worried about being shot or taking on someone if something went down. All he had brought in was the keys to his '67 mustang that he got for cheap, wallet, and phone. So, getting through security was fairly easy.

In times like these with the murder rate spiking a cop killing still seemed to register as a big deal like he remembered. With mutants, social order having been tossed a grenade, and unrest on the rise a cop killing must have felt normal to most people. Something they could hold on to. They knew how to react and band together. Whole playbooks had been written on the subject since the founding of most of the law enforcement organizations.

Making his way through the halls, he couldn't help but notice how new it all felt. In some precincts, things were falling apart. Even the local FBI field office, when he came to collect on some invoices weren't this sparklingly new. The paint had barely even dried in some places yet. Unsurprisingly, there was the usual cop coffee and cheap bagels with spreads to hide the staler taste of the bagels. One of the perks of a private practice was better food.

Entering the room he had been told, Robert takes in those assembled. He felt a bit underdressed in jeans and a tshirt. Another perk of not having a badge is he didn't need to dress in monkey suits anymore. Coming in anything other than his normal clothes felt inauthentic. With the feds involved, something didn't feel right. Ota was a diversity person, so hate crimes could come into play, but this early felt off a little. "Sorry to hear about Joshua Ota guys.", says Robert looking at the two cops. "Bringing the feds and me too in on this though? Gotta wonder whats going on here.", inquires Robert.
Rolled 12 on well informed if he knows anything about the Public Safety Head Quarters and its association with the cops.
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Sahir

Post by Camus »

"Well I could be asking the same question, and would be rather upset if it was the good old professor you are after. Would mean I got a shower for nothing." he says, flashing a side grin. "I wouldn't get belligerent as your student, but it is hard to lose regardless. Our genes wont take it." he adds. Starting the engine, Sahir drove away and towards the party, unless Mercedes said something else.
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Spectrum »

Arachne
This wouldn't be the first time not the last time that she got lost in her work. Forgetting to eat or sleep for days at a time. So many people forget that about mutants, that somehow in the transformational process, basic human needs become less than they were before. Arachne seems to have it worse than others.

The room was uncomfortably hot, perhaps even painfully so, but the spider woman has failed to notice. Customers certainly would.

It takes a moment for Arachne to come back to the here and now. A sweet smile up towards her assistant and friend.

"What time is it?" a little more uncertain as she follows up, "What day is it? I've completely lost track of time." Her confidence begins to return. "Thank you. I've put a lot of.. time into it. I really wish that you could see it through my eyes and really hope that Mrs. Henderson finds it to her needs."

One of her hands reaches down to a small clicker, making the room darker in the normal visible spectrum but also turning on a UV light to highlight the extra layer of patterns that have been woven into the fabric. In particular, a pair of cherubic wings worked into the length of the back of the dress.
Mrs. Henderson being an influential member of the local business community. The piece being for her first granddaughter's baptism in the coming Sunday. A time to be seen at.
A moment's pause. "There was a message I glanced at. Someone trying to contact me about something political?" she sighs, "Do you know anything about it Judith? I didn't recognize the name. Should I have?"

Another glance at the mail, looking at it with the full width of her eyes. "Did that new machine come in yet? That scanner that the police officer was suggesting the other day? I can hardly remember the details."
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Supernaturalist »

Robert Murray
OOC: From your Well Informed roll, you know that the Public Safety building is not even ten years old. It’s also been recently renovated with new electronics equipment, security scanners, and a fresh coat of paint within the last year. The building is 5-stories tall and houses both police and fire department officials. It’s state of the art media equipment make it ideal for meetings and presentations.
The two Deputy Chiefs and lone F.B.I. agent are cordial. The man of obvious Asian descent introduces himself as “Special Agent Murang Pak”. “You can just call me Pak for short.”, he says with a smile. “I’ve given up on forcing people to pronounce my first name correctly.” He extends his hand and gives yours a hearty shake.

Deputy Chief Gibbs wastes little time in moving the meeting to the discussion of the crime. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard on the news, seen in the papers, or gleaned through conversations with your contacts Mr. Murray. But here are some images which you have not seen on Channel 2 news.” The last sentence is spoken with notable sarcasm.

Using a remote control, she activates a large Smartboard installed on the wall. On the screen there are four photographs – one in each quadrant. Each photo is taken from different angles with a couple taken at a close distance while the other two are farther away. At first glance the scene looks quite morbid. There are 6 bodies lying randomly within a radius of perhaps 15 feet. There is so much blood in that area that you can only assume that most of them have bled completely out. All of the bodies are of Asian males. Five of the bodies are very casually dressed with tattoos prominent on any part of their flesh not covered by clothing. The sixth body is of a man in a suit. Lying next to the body of this man is a standard issue 9mm police automatic.

Deputy Chief Glazier lays a thick file on the table in front of you. "You’ll find all the APD, GBI, and FBI photos of the scene in there along with all written reports. Every photo in the folder is also enhanced and available for you to view on the Smartboard."

Pak let’s out a sigh. “Ota was the lone Asian expert within the APD’s ‘Gang Task Force’.” In these photos he’s meeting with several important figures in the metro-areas burgeoning, Far East gang scene. Unfortunately, we don’t know how or why he came to attend such a meeting. I’d like you to take as much time as you need to look at the pictures and reports. There’s plenty of coffee and donuts for you, and you can break for lunch if need be. We’ll all have a meeting of the minds at 2:00 P.M. back here in this room. Is that ok with you?
OOC: You’ll need to give me an Investigation roll. It’s not an all or nothing roll. Degrees of success/failure will give/withhold degrees of info.

Arachne
OOC: Given your public identity and appearance, it would be reasonable to order a package/mail X-ray scanner for your business. They are expensive to buy and maintain, but we’ll assume that you have ordered one. Within a week, a representative will show up to train you (and your employees) on its use. For the time being, however, you do not have the device.
Judith has a pensive look on her face as she turns to address you. “It’s Wednesday morning…the 4th, I think. You do know we’re in September, right?” She adds with a smile. "The package X-ray scanner is scheduled for deliver next Wednesday. We have training for it then too.

She then picks up the letter and package, eyeing the return address info on both. “It says here that the letter is from a Mr. Ra’Von Jackson from here in Atlanta Georgia. The package comes from a North Georgia Textiles in Dalton, Georgia. Both of them are addressed to you personally.

Judith then walks over and lays a daily list of persons you are requested to contact as well as the nature of the request. A cursory glance of the list indicates that today should be a busy day for you.
OOC: Please make 2 rolls for me. The first will be Perception. The second will be from your Expertise: Fashion and Style.


Safir

You drive a few miles north from Mercedes townhome to the Buckhead area. The residential portions of this area are among the wealthiest suburbs in the entire metro-Atlanta area. Famous athletes, entertainers, and business elites make their homes here. Most homes here have wrought iron gates and personal security guards patrolling around the estate.

It’s not hyperbole to say that Professor Lefort’s home is a mansion. At nearly 60 years of age, he has a long prestigious career as a scientist and researcher; he has reaped the financial rewards for his service. It’s not out of the question that you might reach the same level of success someday given your own powerful intellect. He is one of your peers on C.E.I.D.; and is certainly the most formidable mind among the group with the exception of your own.

As you pull up, a security guard checks your ID from a position just outside the electronic gate. Driving through you are directed by yet another security guard to pull your vehicle over to the side of a large U-shaped driveway that arcs right in front of the mansion’s main entrance. You notice that some of the vehicles are more modest, while others are quite expensive. Should be an interesting mix of folks.

Mercedes reaches out and gently pulls on your arm, moving you closer so she can whisper in your ear as you approach the front-doors. “Some of the people here fancy themselves as intellects. You should treat them as such even if they don’t deserve it.” You get the sense that Mercedes doesn’t trust your social skills. “’If in doubt, be nice.” She says with a noticeable tone of concern in her voice. “Lastly, Dr. Lefort’s youngest son is suffering from a prolonged illness. It’s fairly well known that he’s sick, so at some point you should offer your condolences. Maybe not immediately, but at some point it would be nice.
OOC: Since Safir has Eidetic memory, you can ask to recall any information about anyone or anything that you have interacted with or read about. I’ll do my best to provide you with any pertinent information. I would like for you to give me a general perception roll please
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Camus
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Sahir

Post by Camus »

Sahir gulps. "Hey... If I didn't know you better I would think you do not trust my superb social abilities." he says, rather nervously. "He he... " he chuckles. "Well I cannot promise you anything, other than I will be myself."
At the mention of the ill son of Lefort he raises an eyebrow. "Is he? I forgot." he lied. "Is it something deadly?" he added

Perception 15
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mrdent12
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by mrdent12 »

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1->0


He wasn't expecting six bodies. Made sense why the FBI as brought in now. Whatever happen wasn't your run of the mill murder or gang hit from first blush. There was too much blood. It was a pity Ota didn't keep some notes or planner of some sort, but Robert knew from experience that keeping tracable notes on CI's aside from getting them paid was a bad practice. His day had started so well. Now he couldn't unsee the slaughter before him. Violence he had seen before in swat and human depravity in the one sex crimes case he helped on while an agent for a child trafficing ring. This was his first slaughter.
Pak let’s out a sigh. “Ota was the lone Asian expert within the APD’s ‘Gang Task Force’.” In these photos he’s meeting with several important figures in the metro-areas burgeoning, Far East gang scene. Unfortunately, we don’t know how or why he came to attend such a meeting. I’d like you to take as much time as you need to look at the pictures and reports. There’s plenty of coffee and donuts for you, and you can break for lunch if need be. We’ll all have a meeting of the minds at 2:00 P.M. back here in this room. Is that ok with you?”


Robert nodded. "I'll see what I can gather. Even with all the mutant growing paranoia, this seems a bit much. Thanks for the offer for food. Don't expect I'll be eating much though.", says Robert already picking out some reports.

Pulling up a seat, he loads up the pictures on the board and starts looking for any connections. Even the slightest hint of someone who might have inclinations of taking out prominent gang members would be enough to get started. His eyes were fresher than the other cops, so maybe he'll see something they missed.
Investigation 15, yeah rolz doesn't like me so spiting the dice gods
Investigation 25
Spectrum
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Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Spectrum »

Arachne
HP 1
Status: Have you ever danced with the spider in the..
Getting these out of the way: Perception: _: 1D20+10 = [13]+10 = 23 Expertise: Fashion and Style: _: 1D20+15 = [14]+15 = 29
Arachne's mandibles chitter as they touch before her lips, the closest thing that she comes to giggle these days. "Yes, of course I know that we're in.. September? Oh goodness, I have a thousand things that I need to start working on! How could you let me get so far beyond?" Is that a smile, yes, it must be a smile through her rather obscured feathers.

"Mr Ra'von Jackson sounds familiar. I think that you took a note the other day? Something about helping him with some political goings on? Is that anything that you're familiar with?" she sighchitters thoughtfully, "It's good to have friends. Having acquaintances that ask you to do things against your own best interest." she looks hopefully (?) up to Judith. "Do you know anything about him?" as she wracks her own memory for details. (Well-informed). Even worse, she's hoping that it's not another case of wolves dressed as sheep. Wouldn't be good to remind Judith about that though.

All six hands come together in a clap. "Goodness, goodness. It sounds like we'll be busy all day! Do I have time for a quick sand bath or do we need to get things started now?"
We rise from the ashes so that new legends can be born.
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Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Supernaturalist »

Robert Murray

The large manila envelope is packed with information. It’s almost too much. The difficulty is making the proper connections and having the correct insights.
OOC: The reroll will grant you a considerable amount of info and insight. I won’t be able to include all of it within this post, so more will come out later (especially if you ask me about certain details).
Aside from Ota’s body, the other five corpses belong to known gang-leaders and their lieutenants. More specifically, two gang-leaders and their three underbosses. One leader is of Japanese origin and is identified as a Yakuza crime-boss of the Inagawa family The other leader is of Korean origin, yet sports tattoos not-unlike those of the other Yakuza boss.

There is general information that you know about gangs of this origin. Over the last decade they have become less tolerated in countries like Japan due to their increased viciousness and lack of any sense of “’honor code”. Consequently, the Japanese legal system has come down hard not just on the street-level gang-bangers but have used legal means similar to the R.I.C.O statutes in the United States to target perceived gang-leadership. This has allowed them to make crippling arrests within the gang-hierarchy.

As for the crime scene itself, there are many more photos than the ones you just saw. As you peer at photo after photo, your mind begins to reconstruct the events. The bodies form a rough circle around a point in their midst. All the wounds on their bodies appear to be produced by some form of moderately-heavy slashing/stabbing weapon. It’s very likely that it was a sword of some kind. The fatal wound on every single body came from a slash or thrust to front-side of the neck. In fact, it appears that some of the victims tried to ward off these strikes and thus received wounds to the forearms and hands.

One last item of interest. Ota managed to draw his weapon and squeeze off three rounds. At least one of them apparently struck the attacker(s), wounding him(her?). There were a few drops of blood found away from the epicenter of the conflict that did not match any of the victims. The lab analysis on this blood should be finished tonight, but it is not yet available for the report.
OOC: I’ll let you start off the dialogue with the rest of the police officers. In your next post assume everyone has returned from lunch and you have spent all the hours between breakfast and lunch parsing through the report.


Arachne

Judith gives you a slight smile and adds, ”…You’re the boss. You can do whatever you want. I’m sure that a sand bath could be squeezed into your morning itinerary. Just don’t take too long.

Judith then picks up the letter and looks at the return address. “Ra’von Jackson…hmm? I’ve never heard of him. Sounds like an African-American name though. If I had to guess he’s probably a Democrat activist from one of the predominantly black counties in the Metro-Atlanta area. But to be honest…I really don’t’ know.”’

As for the letter and the package, nothing seems abnormal about either of them. The only thing of note is that you’ve never heard of North Georgia Textiles nor have you ever gotten a package from them. The package does say it was mailed in Dalton, Georgia which is one of the few remaining large textile centers in the U.S. Most other manufacturing has been outsourced to other countries due to cheaper labor.

All of the “to-do”’ items on your planner are otherwise routine: either contacting vendors for your products or the manufacturers of the specialized fabrics that you use. The last item that Judith lays on your work bench is a copy of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the cities largest newspaper. The headline reads, “’U.S. Congress to take up Mutant Registry Issue this Week”



Safir

Mercedes pauses as if in thought when you ask her about contagion. “I think it’s something called Mitochondrial Disease.”, she says with a wince, “…I’m not really sure so don’t’ quote me on that. I’ll be sure to ask someone discreetly at the party and find out.

The both of you are escorted through the foyer and down a beautiful, Rosewood hallway until you turn into the main living room area. The manor has a “French Country” decorating-motif; and it looks like something straight out of an old episode of Life Styles of the Rich and Famous.

You immediately see several people you with whom you work at the CDC. A couple of them are your peers on C.I.E.D. The general demeanor of the party-goers is jovial. You do manage to spot Dr. Lefort across the room engaged in a conversation with a couple of older ladies. You noticed that his facial expression seems to oscillate between polite smiles and something else…discomfort perhaps.

One of the servants approaches the both of you with a silver tray and offers champagne and hors-d’oeuvres. You’ve barely had time to help yourselves when an older woman, whom you’ve never met steps up to greet you. “Safir!..” ,she says exuberantly, “I’m Madame Lefort. Girard has spoken of you in the most glowing of terms. He’s made you out to be the next Einstein. I simply had to come meet you for myself.” She glances over at Mercedes. “And this lovely lady is?
OOC: You may carry on the conversation as you wish. Although you can hear several of the conversations going on nearby as certain groups of people are speaking quite loudly. All of them are talking about the latest Mutant Question, namely how (and if) mutants should monitored more than ordinary citizens.
mrdent12
Posts: 4215
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by mrdent12 »

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 0


To say it was your standard crime scene would be an understatement. Somehow Ota had managed to get two top leaders and some bosses for a meeting of some sort. No small feat. A gun, he could see as the standard weapon or even in Japan a sword maybe. In this day and age of mutants though, there was no discounting a mutant who fancied themselves a ninja with the ability to yield a sword like one. Vigilante mistaking Ota as a crooked cop maybe? Some rival family wanting to move in on the turf? Maybe just a hired sword?

It was the formation which struck him. Where they trying to pounce on him all at once? Were they just in a sort of circle talking? Ota got lucky, but the mobsters were too slow. So, whoever it was must have been fast. Not faster than a bullet though. In his short stint as swat, Quantico, and an investigator he thought he had seen everything. In this brave new world, it just kept surprising him.

Still pouring over the file for any mention of security cams around the area for any hint of a point of egress by the attacker, Robert almost didn't notice the agents and cops come back into the room. With his enhanced constitution he forgot to eat sometimes. The size of the file and pictures kept his attention to the point he didn't even bother leaving the room except for a cup of coffee.

"You guys did a good job on the file. I know I'm good, but have to admit this seems the work of someone making a play either a rival crime family or new vigilante in town. Guessing you guys canvased the clinics, hospitals, and what not for gun shot wound victims by now. Don't imagine whoever did this would go to a hospital though. You guys probably know all this already though.", starts Robert before looking back down at the report.

Popping his head up again, he asks the obvious. "Anything back on the blood work or any camera footage around the area? Would be too much to ask if a guy in black with a katana was captured on one near the area.", he inquires. This was serious. Robert had to bring some lightness to the mood though as all this mess was a bit much for him.
General questions if there is more info is can he connect activity he might have heard of mutants to this style of attack or powers that would facilitate it? Also, is there any mention of rival families or gangs? Does the pattern of the attack look like anything that might be known to him? Already asked the other two questions IC.
Spectrum
Posts: 3128
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:08 pm

Re: [IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - The Time is Near

Post by Spectrum »

Arachne

The topic of mutant registration was.. complicated. Some kinds of registration people did without any second thought, it was just part of being an American, or even just an American adult. There were other kinds that had been put into place across history that were too bone chilling to contemplate. In the middle, what of Selective Service, AFC or gun ownership?

But, this was a busy morning and she was already running behind schedule. Grabbing the box, the letter, a phone, she started out to her sand bath. It was rather an ingenious device, a shallow wide tray with a heating element under it to warm up the sand and keep it from chilling too much. Water just no longer worked very well with her chitinous skin, allowing her to use abrasion to remove any extra material she had collected over a day. It had been a good compromise.

And so with one hand she dialed Mr Jackson's number (to schedule a later appointment), another two worked at the letter that he had sent (to scan at least), and the other two began to work the heated sand across her form. Quick and efficient, getting ready for the day.

If nothing unexpected happen, she would also work on opening the package from North Georgia Texttiles, seeing what was oddly sent to her.
We rise from the ashes so that new legends can be born.
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