Daybreak: Sessions
14-Nov-2009: You Belong To The City

Achaiah
Meshail
Nithaul
Praxiel
While many celestials want the War to come to an end and just as many want the stalemate to continue, most agree that prolonged bouts of Symphonic disturbance are bad--especially in a location which is prone to tether creation (however short-lived the tethers may be). Unfortunately, though the battles since Devil's Night have abated, demons of Fire and the armies of heaven continue to clash. The air in Detroit is tense and few Princes are pleased.

The weather of Detroit was like the mood of most Princes and the skies poured forth their rain of displeasure, beating the city down in a crushing autumn downpour.

Praxiel, a Lilim of Fate, has many tasks to accomplish in Detroit--some even given by his Prince directly. While assisting in the stabilization of Detroit (so tethers can form) is his ultimate goal here, he has also been asked to investigate the disappearance of Jamie Seger, a Hellsworn and potential sorcerer. Though reported dead, the Soldier's soul never appeared in Hell. Jaime was a member of the Jingo Hawks, a biker gang whose chapters were typically led by demons of The War.

A wiry redhead with a rough Irish accent barred Praxiel from entering the Jingo Hawk's "clubhouse", attempting to provoke the "poofy Italian" into a fight. Unfortunately, the human was hindered by the torrential weather and an attempted swing at the Lilim ended with the redhead flat on his back. Praxiel took the opportunity to run into the clubhouse and lock the door behind him. Fortunately for the Lilim, the members inside were more amused by their friend's (named Fitz) predicament than annoyed with the strangers antics. At least, for a moment. Then it began to sink in that a stranger had entered their domain, without their approval.

When Praxiel explained that he was looking for Seger, the gang relaxed and pointed them to their Lieutenant, Nate. The two verbally danced around their natures before Nate took Praxiel to a secluded room and the two revealed their demonic natures to each other. Nate, was Nithual, an Impudite of War and second in command of the Detroit chapter of the Jingo Hawks. Nithaul tried to explain Jaime's demise, but Praxiel wanted to see Jaime Seger's final location for himself.

Nithual took Praxiel to the factory but refused to re-enter the building. The ghost that haunted the place was still there and just as powerful. Once more, he attempted to trap the intruder of his domain. The Lilim had other ideas, however, and instead demanded answers from the spirit of the occurrences surrounding Jaimie's death. Having his answers--or, all the answers that could be gained from the ghost--, he simply changed to a bird vessel and flew from the hole in the ceiling created by the explosion of soul stones. (See "Strange Mistakes.")

Praxiel wanted to know more about the strange symbol burned faintly in the factory's basement floor. For Nithaul, that meant Meshail. The three agreed to meet at a pancake house local to the Habbalite of Media. Their talks were less than private, however, and were even further interrupted by Fitz who pressed his palms and forehead on the window outside their table, looking saddened and betrayed by his Lieutenant. Always eager for the news to have something new to report on, Meshail spurred the emotions of the human biker into violence. No longer retaining even the meager control of himself that he normally had, Fitz pulled out his gun and attempted to shoot Praxiel.

With the gunshot and shattering of glass, the pancake house patrons panicked, forcing Nithaul to take drastic measures and render his "soldier" unconscious, quickly taking him to the gang's headquarters before authorities arrived. Virdriv, Djinn Captain of War (and of the Detroit Jingo Hawks), upon receiving the Impudite's report decided that Fitz had become too much of a risk. Already chastised by his Prince for the amount of Disturbance, he sent two Soldiers out to deal with Fitz. Though not dissonant, Nithaul couldn't help but feel a celestial twinge thanks to his part of food being permanently deprived. And, though the Jingo Hawks were gaining some new recruits, Fitz's loss meant that the more experienced members of Detroit Jingo Hawks were being lost far too quickly.

While Nithual dealt with the troublesome human and his Captain, Praxiel and Meshail retreated to the Habbalite's dwealing. Though he had been assaulted while researching the Krzkrk'N Prophecies, Meshail had managed to translate and recall the following bits of information, which he shared with the Lilim:

• A great evil will be released from words, this is the sign which proves the rest of the writings contained within are true.
• The appearance of Krzkrk'N's seal marks the prophecy is coming to fruition.
• The prophecy is unknown to the Symphony, though its future is certain.
• The storm that will overtake the world is meant in a literal sense; a devastating cover of clouds (hurricane? volcanic eruption of ash? it's not entirely clear what is meant by "storm" other than actual cloud cover) that will start in one point of the world and expand outwards until it physically covers the earth in its cloud.
• The storm will be born of words (possibly Words?) in conflict
• There are four artifacts which may be used in fighting the storm that will cover the world:
  • The Blood Fist - A large, smooth red stone rests on the top of the hand, surrounded by gold tendrils which wrap up the wearer's arm. Can only be used by humans.
  • The Dream Carver - A large, purple/black butcher knife with an ivory handle, inset with a onyx pummel. Can only be used by ethereals.
  • The Light Crown - A white delicate circlet, lightly woven strands merge into a point, capturing a diamond. Can only be used by angels.
  • The Quiet Heart - A bronze broach, to be worn over wearer's heart. Inlayed in the broach is a faceted green gem. Can only be used by demons.
• These artifacts must be used together and in a specific sequential order (currently unknown) to bring the storm back to its point of origin.
• The artifacts not only are used in battle against the storm, but each have their own powers, though not all have been deciphered:
  • The Blood Fist - Saps and stores the Essense of those around it and can even steal Forces.
  • The Dream Carver - It's a knife, so it probably cuts things, but what specific powers it may have is unknkown.
  • The Light Crown - Can act as both a physical super-powered laser and seems to have another use, but that was untranslatable.
  • The Quiet Heart - Its powers were mostly indecipherable, but it has something to do with hiding/covering something from the Symphony.

The three were discussing what this might mean for the world, their Prince's Words and them, specifically, when a knock at the door interrupted them. A stranger to Meshail greeted the Habbalite as if he knew them and spoke cryptic nonsense. Meshail was able to deduce that this was, in fact, Barty, the Balseraph servitor of Madness he had met in the Marches. Barty complained that there were soulless dreamers in the Marches and, without souls, how could they be there and what fun could they be? These things must be clones and since the Punisher proved so helpful before, he was chosen to help the Balseraph again. Meshail would have ignored the conversation of the Liar as a typical raving of a Loony when Barty happened to mention the Vitruvian Man--the same symbol as used by they who stole the Prophecies and his initial research. But how trustworthy could Balseraph's story truly be?

While others dealt with prophecies and wayward humans, Achaiah had her own share of problems; the city's strongest Tether to Drugs had fallen on Devil's Night and not only did Fleurity want a new, strong tether (which meant really getting the city high), Achaiah had lost her main supplier. Not to mention losing a lot of physical goods when her own apartment was lost in Detroit's consuming fires. There was no time to let the customers come to her anymore, now the demon actually had to work. It had been a while since the demon actively pushed drugs outside of bars and raves and she was a bit out of the rythm for pushing drugs on college kids. Though she scored a few new sales and potential repeat customers, the dealings did not go as well as planned. Something for the Pusher would have to change soon, lest she earn her Prince's ire.