Searching for Clues at the Park (Ghoster & Logos)

~~Narration~~

It falls with a wet, dull thud.

Febreeze sure would be handy.

Bandages, too.

"Fricking things. We need a Moros for this crap. Don't do this stuff." He shakes his feet trying to get the gunk off. His hands dance through the rote mudra for Self healing, as if he was applying a bandage to his leg.

Spoiler:

Feeling most of the wounds heal up, he walks over to the fire escape. "You better still be in one piece" he mutters as he goes down the fire escape.

I can hide at the bottom of one of those half-pipes. Ghoster runs toward the skate park, flips the safety on the gun, puts it back in his pocket, and uses both hands to lower himself gently down the structure, diligent to keep as quiet as possible. When he reaches the bottom, he sits with his back to the wall and pulls out his phone.

First he turns the ringer off completely; he'll check it when he can. I wish I had that Guardian, Henry's, number now. He settles for text messaging Ollie, instead. "hes here now zombies Death send help to capture. wants my arms gross. think hes in twilight."

I hope Logos is alright. Shit, I hope I'm going to be alright. I'm burnin' dime too fast. I need help.

Ghoster looks at his gun with disapproval. This thing doesn't shoot far enough to snipe at them on it's own. I think I can improve it...

((posted text message in electronic communications, also))

...he creates an Imago intuitively as he places the Glock on the ground in front of him and kneels over it. In his minds eye, he fires the gun and watches a single bullet's flight, stetching away across the desert into forever. He speaks the ancient tongue of mages to empower his spell, then waves his cell phone over the weapon to mitigate the effects of the Abyss...

Spoiler:

He grins at his success as he picks the gun back up, flips the safety off, and prepares to advance on the zombies.

~~Narration~~

Thanks to his Nightsight, Logos is able to make out four figures shuffling towards the skate park.

~

Ghoster finishes texting and casts his spell. From the scrape of shoes on gravel, he realizes that he's lost much of the ground he gained while running. Peering around the half pipe, he sees four shadowy figures about 23M away.

Logos starts to run towards the skate park. Making sure not to run straight at the creatures he wants to run parallel to them.

(run speed 24)

Logos begins to close the distance; it looks like he'll reach the reach the park at roughly the same time.

(( Logos rolls Wits + Composure -3 ))

Ghoster's heart beats quick as he hears the scraping, shuffling walk of the living dead. Oh God, I think I can smell them already. He recalls his Spatial Map spell from before, unwilling to trust his nose with his pistol.

Spoiler:

~~Narration~~

The half-pipe seems to be the place to be tonight.

As Ghoster finishes his spell, he sees the dark figures get closer (15M). There's also a whisper of sharp, rapid footfalls on gravel, but he can't quite place it.

Logos runs parallel to the quad approaching the skate park, but notices something disturbing while running. With his Nightsight, he's able to make out three figures at the entrance to the park, slowly dragging a bleacher section over to bar the chain link entryway. He's not sure, but several more figures are also approaching the skate park from that direction.

Logos' nose tells him they aren't a caravan of lost Hooters' girls.

(( Logos and the quad will reach the skate park in two rounds. We are dipping back into Combat Turns.
Order of Initiative: Logos, Ghoster, yukkies ))

Logos continues to run towards the skate park. He yells as he runs. "There are more! We got to run!"

The relief Ghoster feels at hearing his friend alive is short-lived as the gravity of Logos' warning permeates his adrenaline-addled mind. His phone vibrates in his pocket, but there's no time to check it now. He's already got a zombie in his sights, and he'd rather fight the undead through this crazy maze of concrete structures, where their clumsiness will work against them. As Time guides another bullet into the same pitiable corpse that he shot earlier, Ghoster hopes that this one puts the damn thing down.

Spoiler:

"Logos! I can barely see out here, man, where the hell are you?"

~~Narration~~

Ghoster's bullet finds a new home in something's head, bursting it like a dropped watermelon. The mutilated figure drops like a sack of potatoes, but the others keep coming. They're close enough now that Ghoster can see dead, shriveled boutonnieres on somber tuxedos and suits.

Close enough they'll be on top of him, soon.

Light washes across the skatepark as a car approaches. It sounds like an oversized lawn mower though, and round lights bounce wildly off of the silver bleachers as it careens around a corner. It's about 25M away, outside the fence.

Logos will probably reach Ghoster at the same time; it's a party, apparently. Logos sees the late bleacher crew making their way over, umbras in the car lights.

(( Guy, Ollie, & Val need to roll Initiative. ))

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP goes the horn on the bug

Spoiler:

Logos runs to Ghoster. Despite having run full speed his breathing is normal.

Ollie cracks the glowsticks and eerie green light fills the car. As they're nearing the park Ollie sticks his head out the window and hollers, seeing if he can get an answer. "Ghoster! Logos!"

Spoiler:

Ghoster watches as one zombie falls on the ground and the impact forces an eyeball to exit its socket, which rolls toward Ghoster, stops against his shoe, and looks up at him dully. "That's right, bitch!" he exults at it, before the headlights attract his attention.

He turns his head slightly to see Logos running up beside him. "I think the cavalry just arrived," he says as the car's horn blares and he hears Ollie's voice.

"Over here!" he yells back.

Ghoster HOLDS ACTION.

((car too loud, you can't hear us for one or two turns))

((my bad))

((NP! it was in a PM to us, and West didn't mention it here))

((Actually, I more or less set you up for it on accident. So I'll share some of the goof))

((Ghoster still holds action, waiting for zombies to close to melee range))

~~Narration~~

Val sees the skate park, enclosed by a large chain link fence, with concrete barriers at intervals. There's a wide gate in the fence, but three suited figures seem to have drug a bleacher section in front of it. They're lurching toward the skate park, now.

Val might want to slow down, unless she's ramming the gate.

Ollie yells out of the windows, but the sound of the car and wind in his face drown his voice out. Val's honking doesn't help, either. Guy bounces around in the tiny back seat, face lit in green glow.

~

Logos reaches Ghoster, seconds before the crowd of figures descend upon them. It's amazing how bad Logos' foot smells to Ghoster.

(( Ghoster takes his Held Action or loses it; they're within Close Range ))

~

There's a soft pitter-patter, that is heard on the half pipe and roof of the car.

It's starting to rain.

~

(( Logos is up, then Guy. This first round, I'm dribbling out the Inits ))

Ghoster realizes he still has a little time before the creatures are upon him, and he feels a renewed sense of confidence now that he isn't fighting alone. He begins chanting in the Atlantean tongue.

Many, many years later, a Mystagogue researcher translates Ghoster's chant from High Speech-

"Zombies. I fucking hate zombies."

Logos puts his hand on Ghoster should as he chants. Forming an imago of a bright lit day in his mind he wills it to Ghoster.

Spoiler:

He feels the spell fail as it tries to transfer over. "Shit..."

Guy flicks on the flash light and waits for val to stop the car.

(( Val and Guy are up ))

~~Narration~~

As Val brings the car to squealing halt, Guy rabbit kicks the seat, following her out of the car.

Two sets of tuxedo'ed arms grab at Ghoster, but the beginning traces of rain keep them from getting a good grasp. Wet, shiny nails flash in the night like overgown fireflies.

(( Ghoster, then Ollie are up ))

(( umm my bad, they grabbed at Ghoster at the skate park, not Ollie in the car; edited to reflect correction ))

Ghoster's unseen senses stand up and dance as Logos tries to cast, then quickly fade away as the spell fails. Dead flesh reaches for him, but he pays it no mind; the Atlantean chanting has added momentum to his spell-casting, and he releases another Supernal radar signal.

Spoiler:

As they pulled into the lot Ollie had begun chanting in a language that sounded alien, but oddly familiar to Guy and Val, and he begins making arcane gestures with his hands. As the chanting increases the car fills with the feeling of destiny and motes of green and blue light flash randomly around him. His chanting reaches an apex, and his hands form a final gesture as he casts his spell. He absorbs the backlash of the spell, as he commands fate to bless him when he needed it to.

Spoiler:

When they pull up he grabs his skateboard and jumps out of the car.

(( Gonna have to ask for a re-roll on the spell, minus the High Speech. In the previous Turn, you declared that Ollie was yelling out of the car. Sorry man. ))

((No problem.

05-11 19:26:55 Ollie rolls 10 dice to re-roll SuperlativeLucK (used WP) 3 successes
3,9,8,7,6, 7,7,9,1,2))

~~Narration~~

As Valkyrie and Guy exit the car, they hear clanging coming from the bleachers -- it looks as if rocks are being thrown at them. It would be comical, if they didn't know they had comrades inside the fence.

Spoiler:

The scattered light is blocked out for Ollie and Ghoster, as bodies swarm them. Rank odors, yellow nails, and flailing arms fill their vision. In the crush of bodies, Ghoster is grabbed firmly by a pair of hands, and Logos is slashed across his face.

Spoiler:

The rain is coming down harder now, and although it isn't hard enough to impair sight or vision, the concrete is getting wet.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Logos manages to keep his footing and punches at the creature close enough to him.

Spoiler:

~~Narration~~

Logos makes contact, with a soft, wet thud. It's a good thing it's raining, or he'd be really disturbed by the squishy wet spot his hand sunk into.

Guy starts running towards the bleachers, but goes down in splash as he slips in the film of water covering the sidewalk.

Spoiler:

Val sprints at the bleachers, dropping into a twisty slide under the benches, her height working in her favor for once. She's partway through them, and in control for now.

Spoiler:

Logos(2L) | Guy(Prone) | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster | Yuk | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk

"Shit!" The damn thing's grip was strong; Ghoster wasn't. But he hated being held. Ghoster gritted his teeth and willed himself to turn his Glock on the rotten corpse, burning more Mana in the process.

Spoiler:

The Imago failed, taking his Mana with it. He refused to do the same.

Spoiler:

Logos(2L) | Guy(Prone) | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster | Yuk | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk(3L) | Yuk | Yuk | Yuk

Ollie climbs out of the car. Considering whether to go over the bleachers or under them.

Lightning flashes begin to illuminate the park, creating a montage of yellow eyes, reaching hands, and chipped teeth for Ghoster and Logos. Whispers of arms and legs can be heard over the muffled sounds of struggle and grunts.

Ghoster feels his arms yanked, hard, almost dislocating them (1B) -- he's pretty sure his dancing partner is on the arms team. Hands flail and slash at both of them, and another deep gash appears on Logos, near his clavicle (1L). Two more of their assailants go down with a splash. Either they're horribly clumsy, or have taken the arms and legs disagreement quite seriously.

Rocks ping off of the bleachers as they're thrown at Valkyrie. One of the flingers goes down in a wet thump as it tries to throw.

Logos(3L) | Guy(Prone) | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster(1B,Grappled) | Yuk(Prone) | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk(3L) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk

Logos starts to chant rhythmically in high speech.

(Is it just raining or is it stormy skies? I want to blast things with lightening if possible)

(( yep, you can get lighting... although you're in the middle of them O.o ))

(ya...thats what i'm worried about...and the ground is wet meaning energy would transfer...curse this mixing of reality and magic..so not sure probably just going to cast nightsight on ghoster)

Logos begins chanting, and Guys picks himself up off the ground, and begins to follow Valkyrie.

Logos(3L) | Guy(Prone) | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster(1B,Grappled) | Yuk(Prone) | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk(3L) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk

Val slips through the rest of the bleachers into the skate park and starts booking it to the nearest zombie

Spoiler:

Logos(3L) | Guy | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster(1B,Grappled) | Yuk(Prone) | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk(3L) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk

Another splash as a suited figure falls.

Logos(3L) | Guy | Valkyrie | Yuk | Ghoster(1B,Grappled) | Yuk(Prone) | Ollie | Yuk | Yuk(1B) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk(3L) | Yuk | Yuk(Prone) | Yuk