[Nexus] MURDER I: Causing Fear Since About Five Minutes Ago.

[LOTRfan]

Originally Posted by Dark Apprentice

[The Front]

Most of the patrons ignore the noise and sudden appearance. They've gotten used to weird things happening, after all. The bartender, meanwhile, remains his bartending self, occasionally serving a drink or two.

As the stranger walks closer to the bar, he tries to probe the bartender's mind in an attempt to learn how to gain access to the complex below. he can't really think of any other way of submitting a request to have a personal enemy of his captured, anyway.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Front]

In that case, the man will learn that he has to order A Drink, and that's about it.

[LOTRfan]

[The Front]
Wow, the stranger is actually quite surprised that its that easy.

He'll order a drink, then...

[Rotting Baron]

[The Front]

The stranger gets his drink, and the bartender leads him to the elevator in the back, which leads to the Main Room.

[LOTRfan]

[Main Room]

Upon entering the Main Room, he'll go straight to the secretary's desk. Surely she must know who to talk to in order to negotiate a contract on someone. Once he asks her, he'll await a reply.

[Rotting Baron]

[Main Room]

Jane Doe looks up from her papers, directly at the stranger. "Contract buyers head in that room." She points to the Operative's office.

How resistant is the stranger to psionics? The Operative's going to try and extract the man's true name.

[LOTRfan]

[The Operative's Office]

The man isn't resistant to psionics at all. In fact, it is quite easy to determine that he is a demon from the very depths of the Abyss, a minor Dybbuk named Cresil. He goes by the name Gus when around humans, though.

Gus mutters a nonchalant "Thanks" before heading into the office. He waltzes straight in, takes a seat, and says "I assume you are the guy in charge around here?"

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

The Operative only gets true names, so he won't know of the demon's alias.

The ghost at the other side of the desk nods, lenses meeting Gus's eyes. "Tell me your name. You wanted a contract, correct?"

[LOTRfan]

[The Operative's Office]

The possessed man looks at the Operative, and says "My name is Gus. And yes, I do want a contract. Specifically, on a flower that owes me something he can't give me."

He reaches into his pocket, and slams the contents on the desk; two papers, written in an unholy language using animal blood. "Before I bother explaining anymore, I have one question; as far as payment goes, do two free Abyssal Pacts suffice?"

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

The masked ghost twitches a little at the word "Gus." Oh, dear, the demon is a liar, at least in the Operative's point of view. That was the fastest way to get him to dislike someone. As such, he completely ignores any further words.

"I expect a mutual trust between myself and contract buyers, Cresil. If you lie to me about your name, how do I know you're telling the truth about anything else?" Besides, you know, his psionics.

[LOTRfan]

[The Operative's Office]

The demon just sits there a moment, flabbergasted. Within a few seconds afterward, though, he regains his ability to speak.

"That is not my name anymore." He also contemplates invading the Operative's mind as well, but he has recently invaded the mind of a telepath far more powerful than himself. It was not pleasant. "And how can I trust you when you invade my thoughts, and I cannot decipher yours?"

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

"I am not a liar." The answer is simple, truthful, and very cold. The Operative remains staring at the possessed man's eyes, though all he'll be able to see is a gas mask. "As it is, though, you came here for a contract. Please explain the terms with a little more specificity."

[LOTRfan]

Gus merely sighs.

"The flower's name is Stu, and the bastard owes me a soul, which he does not have. I want him alive. He has pink petals and uses a power-suit for movement."

He hastily sketches a picture of him on a piece of paper he takes out of his pocket.



"As I said, I want him alive. No disintegration, no destroying his mind, no nothing. If need be, you can destroy that damned power suit. But I need him alive and well."

He once again asks if the Abyss Pacts will suffice as payment.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

No lies this time. That was much better, for the Operative, and his new, slightly less stiff posture reflects that. He studies the picture of Stu. "Disabling his power suit should prove simple enough, and he shouldn't be hard to spot."

He tilts his head a little at the mention of Abyssal Pacts. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the concept. Could you explain them to me?"

[LOTRfan]

"See, I am not your average Dybbuk. I am a Fiend of Corruption. I have the power to create powerful miracles (well, anti-miracles). Unfortunately, I can only use such powers when making a deal with a non-demon. These deals are called Abyssal Pacts. Usually, I charge a person their eternal souls for one such Abyssal Pact. I'll give whoever captures Stu two, no soul-charge involved."

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

The Operative considers this. Two miracles for one flower? That was a fairly decent deal.

"This payment is fair. I request that you let me keep those pieces of paper you brought out earlier. I will let you know who completes the contract when it is completed."

[LOTRfan]

[The Operative's Office]

"Okay. When however fulfills the contract wants to cash in on their miracle, tell them to burn one of the papers and I shall appear. Thank you very much."

Unless the Operative says something, he'll blink away to where he came from now.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Operative's Office]

The Operative nods as Gus teleports away. He looks at the two pieces of paper, deciding to store them in the vaults later.

[Everywhere]

Every member receives the following telepathic message:

Attention members, we have a new contract available; kidnapping. If you are interested, report to the briefing room for further information.

[BladeofOblivion]

[Rec Room]

Hearing the message, Sarah grins and sprints off.


Operative's Office

He might notice a knock on the door. If he opens it, or invites the knocker in, he'll notice Sarah with an evil grin on her face.

"Doesn't sound too difficult."

[Rotting Baron]

[Main Room]

Nobody answers. That's weird, normally the Operative is always in that room.

"Briefing room's over there, Sarah." Jane points the proper way to go.

[C'nor]

[Rec Room -> Briefing Room]

Rael will also dash off, more to get away from Fade than anything else.

With his vampiric abilities, further enhanced by magic, he may arrive there before Sarah. Or not. Up to you.

[Zefir]

[Rec Room -> Briefing Room]

Fade will walk over as well. He is bored and in worst he just knows what the contract is about exactly. On the other hand Fade has the strange ability to annoy people just by beeing in the same room. After all Fade seems very familiar with the building and heads to the briefing room directly.

[Rotting Baron]

[Briefing Room]

The Operative, who's standing at the head of the table, gives a glance to each of the three arrivals, then looks at a clock above the door they entered. "We'll wait five more minutes for any other members, then I'll explain the terms of the contract."

[TechnoScrabble]

A Philbot floats into the bar and straight up to the bartender.

"Hello, I'd like a nice tall glass of contract to have someone dealt qith please."

Oh look, it has a sense of humor.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Front]

John looks straight at the Philbot. "Don't know what you're talking about," he says. It's a lie, of course, but it's a very good one.

[TechnoScrabble]

The front

"Lying might work if i wasn't a robot capable of interpreting the electrical signals in your brain."

Of course, the robot didn't do that because that would be godmodding. It's just calling the bluff.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Front]

John sighs. "People come here to get drunk, not find someone for their dirty work." He actually just wants someone to go in the normal way.

[TechnoScrabble]

The front

"Urgh. Just point me in the direction of whatever door leads to where I can get a contract."

[C'nor]

[Briefing Room]

Rael, at least, waits quietly for the time to pass.

[Rotting Baron]

[The Front]

John's about to send the bot away when he gets a telepathic message from the Operative. The bartender sighs once more. "Just head in the back. Boss is keen on seeing you."