briefing ♔ but i wake when these dreams collide

[wynn]

♬ Dreams Collide - Colbie Caillat

WHO || Wynn, Gar, Kat, Dumage, Mark, Martha, Buffy, Spike, Sven, and Myri [Closed]
WHAT || Chicago Mission Briefing
WHERE || Knights HQ, the Round Table room
WHEN || Tues, Feb 21st, shortly before 5pm.
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

Just as before, accessing the secret room where the Round Table is housed requires using the Knight's access card to open the glass class beside the mural of the War in Heaven, located across from the ballroom entrance. Using the fire extinguisher as a lever to activate the "door" mechanism reveals the long torch-lit hall plastered in artworks depicting the Knight's history. The tenants of the Knighthood hang large and foreboding over the doors at the end of the hall, which stand open to reveal the brightly lit Round Table, and the majestic crystalline dragon statue presiding over it.

Come in, find a seat, meet your teammates if you haven't already.  Wynn will be with you all shortly.

Comments

[bigbad]

I can see this mission'll be a smashing success. [Buffy's sniping at him, Dumage thinks he's shagging Buffy, and Sven can't even make it to the meeting without handholding. Yay.]

[slays]

This mission just keeps getting better, and it hasn't even started yet. [ A beat. She looks to Wynn, trying to force down the lemony expression. ] What is the mission exactly, anyway?

[wynn]

[Wynn doesn't respond for a moment, as if deciding whether to give Sven more time or not, but finally steps forward and drops a piece of paper onto the table in front of Buffy, for her to look at and pass down. It shows only an etching of this image which seems to have writing on it in an unrecognizable alphabet.]

We've received intelligence from America that an organization called the Hoffman Institute is newly seeking a powerful magical artifact known as the Lazarus Talisman. What you're looking at is the engraving known to exist on the Talisman, whose actual location has been debated for half a century.

[He turns away, linking his hands behind him as he walks along the side of the table where no one is seated] The legend of the talisman has been long linked to the existence of an object known as the Eternal Jade, though the relationship between the two has remained uncertain. It is clear, however, that they are linked, and locating one may lead to the discovery of the other.

We believe the Hoffman Institute to have uncovered a lead to the location of the Jade, and due to the dangerous nature of the Talisman itself, it cannot be allowed to fall into their hands, particularly given the objectives of the organization. Their public face is a think-tank for the development of alternative energy, and their focus on their own profits may override their morality, prompting them to attempt to exploit a potentially volatile artifact without considering the consequences.

Your mission will take you to the city of Chicago, in the United States of America, where the Institute is headquartered. Your mission objective is to procure the Jade, and gather what information you can about the potential location of the Lazarus Talisman. We've the good fortune of fortuitous timing on our side: the Institute recently hired a new personal secretary for Dr. Tomas Hoffman, the company's founder, and she's yet to begin work. We've arranged to replace her with one of our own agents. [He nods to Gar] Sir Gar will be taking the position, due to her extensive knowledge of Shadowkind artifacts, and will be gathering intelligence undercover. She'll be operating as team leader, so any queries may be directed to her. The rest of you are at her disposal for whatever tasks she may need completed that she's unable to do without compromising her position. This may require shadowing other Institute agents, doing research, surveillance, or infiltrating the premises to gain access to areas she cannot. It will require a great deal of flexibility, naturally, which is one reason we're assigning so many of you to the cause.

[He pauses, to let all this sink in] Questions thus far?

[bigbad]

[Spike has his hands on the picture now and he's turning it around in his hands, trying to make any sense of it at all. He looks up at Wynn.]

What's it do?

[witchwoman]

[Myri chews on her bottom lip, glancing at all the others. She knows that of everyone, she sticks out the most in the this world. Looking at her hands folded in her lap, Myri wonders if sending her out is such a good idea. She would hate to jeopardize a mission simply because she isn't as used to things.

But she isn't sure how to say that just yet.]

[rationalizes]

[Gar perks up] The Lazarus Talisman? [Realizing her enthusiasm might be getting the better of her, she glances at Wynn, looking a little chagrined.] ... If I may, of course. [Wynn simply nods his assent and she turns back to Spike, eyes shining]

The Lazarus Talisman is a Shadow World artifact that fell through to this world, much like Shadowkind do, which is part of why its origins remain so mysterious. It's rumored to possess great power that would imbue its wielder with supernatural abilities, strength, stamina, and the like - as well as potentially the gift of immortality itself. I'm certain you can imagine why so many people have been questing to discover its location over the years. A number of replicas have shown up around the world, but all of them have been confirmed counterfeits, usually not even possessing any magical properties whatsoever. [She sits back in her seat when finished, looking ready to burst with excitement that buzzes underneath her attempts at a calm demeanor. ]

[postergirl]

[This actually seems to get Dumage's attention, and she leans forward a bit] Well. I certainly imagine it would be a hit at parties.

[slays]

[ Buffy listens to all of this, surprisingly intent for a girl who's got the student attention span of ... zero. She interrupts promptly. ]

And what about this Jade thingy? Any word on its mystical heebie jeebie properties? If it's connected to the talisman, whoever's at this Hoofman Institute and protecting it could be way impervious, too. How are we supposed to fight something like that?

[shootfirst]

If we're fighting invincible bad guys, I am way glad to finally be field certified for firearms.

[rationalizes]

Kat, the idea of "invincible" is that ... [She looks around and trails off] ... Never mind.

/done

[wynn]

Much less is known about the Jade, although evidence suggests it is somehow necessary to activate the talisman itself. There seems to be no proof that it provides those who possess it with any abilities in the same manner.

[witchwoman]

Certainly they'd protect an artifact of such importance at all costs...

[She turns towards Gar.] What is the plan, exactly?

[rationalizes]

That's unfortunately what we won't be able to decide until we've discovered what information it is that the Hoffman Institute has in its possession. I'll use my position to do an initial sweep of the documents in the offices, but there are certainly a number of unknowns in the mission at this time.

[nosdacaraid]

In other words, we'll be flying by the seat of our pants when we get there.

[slays]

Well, as far as first missions out go, seat of our pants isn't a plan I'm loving exactly, but ... [ She looks up at the other knights, then at Wynn and nods. ] I say it sounds doable. I mean, whatever this Jade thingy is, better it's here with us than with some shady capitalist types.

[bigbad]

[Spike glances at Buffy, then at the rest of the knights and gives a nonchalant little shrug.]

I think it sounds like fun. When do we start?

[shootfirst]

If you ask me, it's way more exciting when we have to figure stuff out when we get there.

[wynn]

You'll depart this coming weekend, which will give you two or three days to make preparations and set up any necessary surveillance before Sir Gar begins her role on Monday.