los angeles ♔ just somebody's unholy hoax

[eldritchweaver]

♬ dear god - lawless, sydney wayser

WHO || Katniss, Toby, David, Jeanne, Kenzi, Paige
WHAT || A team of Knights is tasked to infiltrate the Dead Zone in Los Angeles and try to gather intelligence
WHERE || LA
WHEN || November 21st, 2017, just after midnight of the 20th [ 5 days after the Incident ]
HOW || Actionspam

[ The strike team has limited time to prepare before they are asked to report to the dragon's fire wing. Hasmed has one of the castle's valued greater teleport scrolls ready to go, explaining to them that they will be dropped at an office building that is outside the LA zone. It is currently in an evacuated sector that is under limited military scrutiny, and still has power and internet access. They are to use that location as a jump point for evacuation when ready to leave, using an instant connectivity spell with Sir Zero to return.

Having studied the area carefully via scrying, Sir Hasmed's spell functions perfectly, and the group finds themselves in the large lobby area of an office building that feels strangely quiet, and is dark around them aside from some gently humming electronics. the crackling energy of the spell fades from them, gusting a few papers off the top of the receptionist's desk. ]

Comments

[arretez]

[ welp jeanne also got a nat 20 bluff, but she literally... has dressed like a male soldier before. this is her actual historical niche. ]

[sololoquy]

[A large figure stands at the end of the rank and file line towering over several of the soldiers, most easily spotted by the chrome frown on his otherworldly helmet. It is difficult to tell, but Kylo Ren almost does not appear to be paying attention to the pack he is leading, nor the pack that has come to meet him at the conversion point.

He raises one arm sharply, encased in carbon weave and a black leather glove, to halt the regiment. There is a pregnant pause before he addresses the pack that's gathered around him.

The voice that comes out of the helmet doesn't sound human.]

Search the area. No stone unturned.

[He directs soldiers in groups of 10 in different directions.]

If I am unsatisfied with the efforts you provide, you will answer to me. Personally.

[somepagesturn]

[THIS

DID NOT

HAPPEN

IN WAR MACHINE.]

[generaldavideus]

[Yeah David is super unsure about this too, but he just gestures for the group to stay close as he activates the anti-psionic ring.

You know, just in case.

But after that, he nods off in the direction of the group who's heading furthest away from the creepy black-knight-esque commander so that they can get going and get started.]

[errantdetective]

[Yeah this seems fine.

As they walk away, Toby quietly cast detect magic on tall-dark-and-spooky, trying to see if she can pick up anything about this jerk cause he sure doesn't look like a normal soldier.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ she senses ... something but it can't be categorized by any magic she is familiar with. it leaves her unsettled however, and four soldiers are assigned to follow the group of them, peeling off after them, assault weapons in arms. david will have to make a sleight of hand check vs kylo's spot to activate that ring. ]

[errantdetective]

[She frowns. The part of her that's always categorizing different magics itches to go explore further, but she knows this isn't remotely the time. She just files the sensation away and makes a note to mention it once they're away.

Or if they're caught and need to fight this guy. Whichever.]

[generaldavideus]

[Four dudes they can handle, probably, so ... that's probably not bad. Probably. But he's actually fairly discreet for David, let's hope Kylo Ren doesn't have an eagle eye (sleight of hand 21).]

[arretez]

[ jeanne is gonna cast detect evil because... it feels relevant. ]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige is just gonna wait until they get far enough away so she can use a Hold Person or something and get more information, possibly, because THIS IS NOT OKAY. WHY DOES TRUMP'S AMERICA HAVE GUYS IN MASKS??]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ wow that is some ... serious evil goin' on. dark side is intense shit. ]

[anthophobia]

[Meanwhile, Katniss has no idea if this is out of the ordinary for American military, though she does think that outfit is a little over the top.

Which also seems appropriate, for some unknown reason that she can't put her finger on.]

[sololoquy]

[The helmet swivels slowly toward David and co (20, just short of a natural) as they retreat, but they are left undisturbed. For now.]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige shifts up through the ranks so she can touch David's shoulder and lean in, whispering:] Something isn't right. They're looking for something, and-and generals don't behave like that. Not in the American military.

[arretez]

[ as they continue on, jeanne can't help the sharp intake of breath as the feeling of evil washes over her, feeling her skin crawl, eyes saucer wide as she looks over at katniss. she whispers, with some fervency, ] Evil.

[generaldavideus]

[He glances back over at Paige for a moment, before swallowing hard and nodding. He knows this isn't normal for the American military. But they need to get some distance between them and the supreme leader before they'll really be able to act freely.

He glances back to the four men assigned with them and raises his voice.]

Keep moving. The sooner we get this covered the sooner we can get out of here.

[somepagesturn]

[She nods.] Once we're a bit further, I'll cast silence, so we can take care of them. It'll give us fifteen minutes to put some quiet distance between us and the others.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ two of the men glance at each other, and then up at them, and it's hard to say exactly why, but it creates a sense of unease. the other two, a freckled ginger and a young african american man point their weapons up at buildings and down alleys as they travel. ]

Stay sharp. [ the young guy warns quietly. ] Could be anywhere.

[anthophobia]

[Well this is a freaking nightmare already. Great.

Her shoulders are tense as she feigns looking for...whatever they're supposed to be looking for as American soldiers. It works, considering she's looking for threats or a good place to break off from these other guys in general (spot nat 20, 34 total).]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ as they walk past an alleyway, katniss notices something... well and truly bizarre. the wall of the building bordering the alley seems to be bubbling, almost roiling, darkening to black and purple. ]

[anthophobia]

[Her eyes go a little wide and she looks over at Jeanne before gesturing toward the insanity she's witnessing.

She whispers:]

What the heck is that?

[arretez]

[ jeanne's expression clouds further, eyebrows knitting together. (arcane lore 27) ] It looks like... a portal? [ she seems to hear herself and looks at katniss like "oh balls". ]

[somepagesturn]

[Paige's eyes turn to the men she was just suggesting they knock out, realizing how that might actually be a horrible idea with everything that might be here.]

But did something just come through or did it just leave...? [She tries to listen for anything shifty, herself, but her listen was a 6. She tried.]

[generaldavideus]

[David immediately reaches for his Excalibur, because either way that's not a good sign, and he begins to scan the area for other signs of trouble (spot 14, listen 14), but he's also ... not doing great there.]

Let's not take a chance either way and keep moving. Everyone keep an eye out for anything else weird.

[morethanasidekick]

[ Meanwhile Kenzi is making up for my lack of computer access with a Nat 20 Spot check. At least if something tries to eat her again, she'll see it first?! ]

Yeah, I don't know if you've noticed... but weird seems to be the norm in Los Apocolypse...

[And shocking nobody, her earlier Bluff was a 44. Slipping it in here for the record.]