Daybreak: Sessions
22-Nov-2009: Help You Out

Bur-Num
Meshail
The better part of a month had passed since Detroit was consumed in the files of Devil's Night and the city finally seemed to be on the mend. Even the War had mostly returned to its standard cold war status as Princes and Archangels alike attempted to stabilize Motor City's proclivity to tethers, however small and short-lived the tethers may be. While the host and horde's heavy hitters were leaving, Belial, Prince of Fire was increasing his ranks in the city. Bur-Num, Calabite of Fire, was one such addition. Though the demon had been in Detroit for a week, he was so focused on solidfiying his role of smoke shop manager and spreading his Prince's Word, that he had yet to communicate with any of the celestial populous.

Over the past week, things had also been changing for Meshail. Rose had gone missing and his servant, radio personality and "psychic", Jas Stevens had been tapped to fill in for the most popular spot on the talk radio station. The shift in schedule kept Meshail busy with more mundane duties. Losing listeners would not improve his status with his Prince; Nybbas rarely likes losing ratings.

While Bur-Num enjoyed a cigar in his new place of business, he heard the chime of the shop's door and in walked an androgynous teen, with a shaved head outside of two purple bangs that framed their face. The teen explained that their boos wanted to meet Bur-Num and that the dealings would prove mutually beneficial. More confused than curious, the Calabite agreed. As the teen, who explained their name was "M", had no ride outside of a skateboard, they climbed on the back of Bur-Num's bike, giving directions at seemingly random intervals. By the time Bur-Num had arrived at the Italian restaurant, he was truly lost.

It was not "M", but an identical "N", who found Meshail at the radio station, producing a new spot for Jas. Somehow the teen had snuck through security and made a bee-line for the Habbalite. N itterated their boss's desire to meet with Meshail and explained that both sides would profit from the experience. Wary, but too curious to not see who was interfering with his life in such an odd manner, Meshail agreed to front the money for a cab to give N a ride to "the boss". Despite the circituitous route, Meshail had been in Detroit long enough to realize where in the city he was when the taxi pulled up to an Italian restaurant.

There were three groups that arrived at the restaurant at the same time; Meshail, Bur-Num and a rough-looking "motorcycle enthusiast". All three were each accompanied by a teen who looked like the escort of the other. The three androgynous teens parted the company of their charges and Meshail, Bur-Num and the biker were directed downstairs.

The restaurant's basement contained what one might expect in an eatery; boxes of ingredients, wine racks, and some refrigerators. The large, antique desk was an unusual addition and the figure behind the desk was certainly a unique feature. The figure wore a black, double-breasted suit, a red shirt and black tie. His skin was a mottled green and small red horns protruded from his skull. If the character of "Lorne" in the "Angel" television series had been brought up as a mobster and worked out more often, the two could have been brothers. His speech patterns were like listening to Christopher Walken in a thick Brooklyn accent coat and he introduced himself as Gorthan.

Gorthan explained that he was looking to expand his Detroit holdings and could use some additional contractual labor. He gestured toward Meshail and recognized the Habbalite as a "talent scout". At this point, the biker could take it no more and verbally exploded in a torrent of questions and vulgarity. Non-plussed, the green demon swiftly pulled a gun and shot the biker causing an explosion of blood as his head opened up like a melon. Bur-Num noticed a flash of green from Gorthan's tie clasp, while Meshail reflected that there was no disturbance caused by the biker's death--and the biker was confirmed to be a human Hellsworn.

Due to the inconvenience and the fact that Gorthan had a job that he didn't think only two could handle, the green demon suggested they meet again at the restuarant in twenty-four hours. Reluctantly, but still curious and/or awed by Gorthan's strange disturbance-negating power, the other two demons agreed. Bur-Num, with some difficulty, found his way back to his smoke shop. Meshail, meanwhile, realized that he had been without car for too long and purchased a new 2009 BMW 535i Sedan.

When the two demons returned to the restaurant the next day, there was a new "third man" who introduced himself as Rhys, Impudite of Theft. Gorthan then asked if any of them had heard of the Devil's Daughter. It was thought to be a myth in Hell (and possibly Heaven), Lucifer's own Forces crafted into a whole new demon. No one believed it for a second, a player like that would have to be known by someone and probably would hold some political power as well. This "Astareth" had no reliable witnesses to her existence. Gorthan believed that she not only did exist, but was being held captive somewhere in Detroit's West Side Industrial district.

If the three agreed to his terms, they would get a cut of the profits for the rescue. Even if this wasn't actually Lucifer's offspring, they would still be rewarded for their efforts. It was a no-lose situation, wasn't it? Gorthan produced three contracts from nowhere--again, with no disturbance and a flash of green from his tie clasp--which outlined the details of their obligation. For a very small percentage of profits, the demons were to retrieve the supposed Devil's Daughter, Astareth, return her to Gorthan and never speak to any others about Gorthan or the mission, ever. Failure to comply would result in... not very good things. The three signed the contracts and returned them to the green-skinned demon.

Meshail and Bur-Num exchanged phone numbers, while Rhys gave the other two cell phones, telling that the number in redail would be good for about twenty-four hours. They parted ways, searching for disturbances or anything else out of the ordinary in the river-side industrial area. At least, that's what Rhys and Bur-Num did. Meshail, hoping to drive out clues or suspects, organized a show for Jas on the Devil's Daughter. While the Habbalite of Media expected a number of crackpots and idiot call-ins, he hoped for at least one glimmer of real information. Nothing appeared. Little was found by Bur-Num, either. His knowledge of Detroit was too limited and, even though his crow vessel granted him flight, he simply did not have the skills of observation to put the vantage point to use.

Rhys called his cohorts. He had seen something that just might be odd enough to be suspicious. A man wearing the symbol of the Vitruvian Man had entered an abandoned gas station and had not come back out. Meshail, having had already encountered men wearing that symbol, agreed that this was a very likely find. The three demons regrouped at the abandoned gas station.

Bur-Num took point and kicked in the door of the gas station--only to be struck by a bolt of energy from a strange steam-punk looking rifle. Annoyed at the affront, the Calabite used his inherent resonance and destroyed the gun. This only elicited cries of "A demon!" and more men showing up with the guns. Men who all looked exactly the same. Though Bur-Num took out the guns one by one, thanks to the strength imbued to him by his Prince, he also took some powerful hits--hits that might have disintegrated another celestial's vessel. When the guns were gone, the humans retreated into the basement. Bur-Num's confusion won out over his anger and the Destroyer simply stood in the doorway, not knowing what to do next.

Rhys and Meshail, meanwhile, had snuck around to the back of the building and the Impudite picked the lock on the door, only to run into another human weilding another of the strange, but powerful guns. Using a trick he learned from Nybbas, Meshail convinced the human that he had a voice for radio and should really be hosting a show. Enamored with the idea, the human sided with the slick producer and led the two downstairs, though he revealed that plans were in motion to blow up the station so the producer should probably do something about that. Seeing his comrades, Bur-Num quickly followed downstairs.

It was a stand-off between the remaining humans and the demons (and their new human) and another firefight ensued. Were it not for Bur-Num's Calabite of Fire Attunement soaking up his disturbance, it would have gotten noisy quickly. But, with the Destroyer providing most of the destruction, the ensuing battle was over quickly and without too much clamor in the Symphony. Finally, the demons had a chance to explore the gas station more fully.

From what was once the monitoring station for the fuel resevoir, came a series of brass tubes, which were attached to a glass cube, seeming to fill it with translucent purple and red energy. Bur-Num ripped through the walls to the fuel resevoir itself then punched through the resevoir casing. The disturbance might bring attention, but no one believed they'd be there much longer. Inside the 24,400 gallon tank was a female figure, beautiful by human standards, and surrounded by the strange purple and red energy. There was a flash and the energy was absorbed by the woman, who fell to the floor, unmoving.

The three called Gorthan and were directed to a different Italian restaurant. They placed the supposed Astareth on his desk and, even though the female was not moving, the green demon thanked them for a job swiftly done. As payment, he gave Bur-Num a fedora which might help the Calabite's constant confusion. Rhys received a very special cell phone. Meshail's requested reward was denied. Gorthan would not give The Quiet Heart to the young Habbalite--the reward was far too large for the job. Instead, Meshail's radio station would be protected from bombing.

As they left, there was no question in any of their minds that they would see Gorthan again. And, Meshail knew he must, lest the storm that would cover the world go unopposed.