Witch!

GM: Annie

Players: Annie and Darius.

Synopsis: Annie and Darius go on an AQ to 1650.

Date: DATE HERE, remember to add 60 years to the year to get the timing right :)


Annie takes a nice leisurely bubble bath to start the evening, putting on a nice soft chiffon robe and taking a half hour to dry her hair. She then walks into her workshop, spends a few quiet moments in meditation, then places the little sticky biomonitors on the appropriate places of her anatomy. Once that is complete she links the mage tank to the McCaffrey tower security net and shunts in the feeds from her biomonitors.

"Frankie?", Annie speaks softly into the security commlink.

Frankie replies, "Yes, Miss Medaron?"

Annie chuckles and responds, "I'm going out again…keep an eye on my feeds for me.", she pauses until the security guard answers in the affirmative and then adds, "Thanks!"

The body temperature gel bath that fills the tank is a welcoming embrace and Annie sighs softly as she makes her self comfortable. The lid slides closed with a soft hiss of pressurized air and the gentle sounds of waves crashing into the beach on Maui fill the tank, interspersed with the occasional soft cries of sandpipers and seagulls. She closes her eyes and exhales slowly, then inhales, then exhales again as she puts her mind into the semblance of a zen state.

She finally lets herself go, her astral presence rising up and out of the tank. She hovers over the coffin-like mage tank for a few moments, then takes the 'sideways' step to the threshold of the metaplanes. She waits for the scene to resolve itself and begin her usual opening banter with the Dweller.

Darius makes his own preperations rather more simply. He's been busy in the basement of his magic shop all day summoning and binding his elementals. By now, he's beginning to get a five o'clock shadow, but of course, that won't matter since he's not meeting Annie in person. He's settled into the middle of a magic circle drawn on the ground, modified jsut slighly from the circle he had used for summoning only a few hours ago. He closes his eyes and slows his breathing, as he feels his mind leaving his body, floating up into the astral plane and from there, up to the threshold, where he will meet annie- As sharply dressed and groomed as he usually is.

The Threshold

The metaplanes are particularly smelly today. Smelly like free roaming livestock and sewage running in the gutters. Smelly like unwashed people living day after day in close proximity with no toilet paper.

The two of you are standing in what appears to be a medieval town or village in a western European setting. People are going about their business, hawking some homemade wares and purchasing the things needed for their daily routines.

Regardless of your normal clothing style, the two of you are dressed in gender appropriate period clothing of what appears to be low to middle class.

Darius blinks as he appears in this form, and he pats himself down, to see what tools and equipment, if any, he's equipped with on this particularly Journey, and then he glances aside at Annie. "I have to say, that outfit is not flattering."

You possess any foci or gear that you normally would have provided that it is thematic to the current scene.

Annie also spends a few moments checking herself over, smoothing her skirts and scowling slightly. This is definitely not her chosen style either. "I have to admit though, the tights are so /you/.", she states with a slight grin.

Whatever else she might have to say is abruptly broken off by the arrival of a white-bearded gentlemen in a scholars robes. He offers the two of you a stately nod before beginning to speak. "So, welcome to 1650.", he pauses as he regards Annie for a moment, "For a Fairy Princess of the Tir Noble House of Laverty…your butt looks horrendously big in that skirt.", he shifts his attention to Darius and then adds, "And you. Sloth is one of the deadly sins for a reason. For a person whose art depends on logic and discipline, it is as much the path to burnout as getting mechanically augmented."

"Why do you always bring that up?", Annie inquires with a disgusted shake of her head.

The scholar laughs, "I could go on a four hour long litany detailing all the men, women and children you have killed over the last century. But none of that would piss you off as much as the simple phrase 'Fairy Princess.'"

Darius scowls at the man a little, and he says, "I'm doing well enough." He tells him then, probably fruitlessly. "Now, I'd like to get to business. I've had a long day."

The scholar shrugs, "All right. Tell me what, if anything, you know about this time period?"

Darius scratches the back of his head a little, trying to think back to what he learned back in high school. "Well… Disease was rife, the average age of mortality was around 40, they used to burn random people they didn't like and accuse them of being traitors or witches or who knows what else." He comments, "Ah, the black plague spread across europe during this period… and cholera was a major problem, too. Europe was ruled by a number of kings and war was common between them."

Annie shrugs, "King Charles the second is ruling England I believe. It's a fairly quiet time if you don't count the rampant diseases, minor wars, and socio-political and religious unrest."

The dweller nods his head, "Passable at least.", he takes a moment to look over the two of you once more, "Enjoy your stay." He turns on his heel and begins walking away, barely dodging a downpour of liquid from a chamberpot emptied by someone on one of the top floors."

In the distance you can hear the sounds of dozens of voices in accompaniment to what sounds like a womans screams and weeping.

Darius shakes his head a little and then he raises his eyebrows, "I suppose that's our que." He comments to Annie, and then he begins walking towards the sound of the disturbance.

Annie nods to Darius, "It would appear so.", she takes a moment to check the heft on her staff, "I'm just glad a staff is an accepted piece of equipment in most eras."

You walk around the corner of some buildings and come upon a mob scene. Dozens of towns people are gathered around the bound and prostrate forms of a young woman and a four year old girl. Cries of 'Witch' are being sounded off quite frequently and the two prisoners are being pelted by rocks and pieces of random debris. Both prisoners are heavily bruised with dozens of cuts and scrapes all over their bodies.

Darius blinks a little as they call out, and he shakes his head a little. "Ah, this reminds me a little too much of Denver in 2070." He asides to Annie, and then he wanders towards the crowd, up in front of the crowd, "Wait! Consider, for a moment, if you will, what you are doing to these people!" He calls out, and indicates them, "To these women, to this little girl! Whether they are witches or not, do you really think you are any better than they if you do this?" He implores.

Annie clutches her staff tightly as she moves toward the crowd, "Wait!", she calls out loudly, "This isn't right. Those people deserve to be treated in accordance to the Law, not the whims of mob rule.", she nods in agreement to Darius' statement, "They are human just as much as you are. With thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams. If they have a talent or skill that you don't, you should praise and admire them for it…just as they should appreciate you for yours. They shouldn't be harmed or tormented for being 'different'."

Place of Knowledge.

The pelting of stones and garbage slows a bit with the exception of the odd item hurled by a leering child in the crowd. Almost as one the crowd turns toward the two of you, with one fellow stepping forward in the brown smock of a member of the clergy. "They have been accused, and no evidence has been provided that claims otherwise. The Bible states, 'Suffer not a Magician to live!', and by the fires of God they should be put down!" The priest waves his little wooden cross around as he speaks, spittle rolling off of his lips and his eyes wild with the light of fanaticism.

The crowd begins questioning whether someone who takes the side of a Witch is most likely a witch or another servant of the same Devil master. A few pieces of garbage and thrown stones begin to fly toward Annie and Darius.

Darius opens up his arms, as he thinks back once again, eventually he comes up with something. "Does your god not also say to forgive sinners? To accept others, regardless of their differences? To respect your fellow human beings?" He calls out to the priest.

"Love thy neighbor?", Annie inquires as she continues on with Darius' tactic. "Culturally this phenomenon was a low point in western civilization. Many of the people accused of being Witches were simply herbalists or holistic healers targeted by the up and coming male physicians who resented the respect attributed to these people by their communities. Or jealous neighbors who coveted what they had and wished to have it taken away from them."

The crowd seemed to be a bit swayed by Darius' statement, then just got totally lost as Annie decided to take them down a philosophical doctoral lecture on cultural diversity. They respond like most crowds do when all they want to do is hurt something, and someone gets in front of them speaking in terms normally reserved for the societal elite. They begin throwing more rocks and profane insults.

The Priest however raises his voice, "They are right however. We should give the guilty parties a trial.", he pauses and points toward Annie and Darius, "And you two shall be their defenders. Sharing in their innocence or their guilt!"

Place of Destiny.

A few burly members of the lynch mob grab the woman and young girl, carrying them toward the square in front of the church. The rest of the mob moves in a loose semi-circle behind you, attempting to herd Annie and Darius that direction as well.

In front of the church are four stakes with kindling surrounding them, Probably for use in burning people. A group of Priests are gathered about in their black robes denoting them to be members of the Inquisition. The woman and girl are thrown to the ground at their feet.

"What are the charges against these people?", one of the Inquisition priests inquires.

A woman steps forward, "She used Magic to heal my son!"

"I saw her flying about under the moonlight!", another person intones.

"She had sex in my barn with a minion of the Devil!", an old man cries.

"She turned my husband into a cow!", a middle aged woman cries! Then adds quietly, "Admittedly he is a better cow than he was a husband"

The four priests consider these words, then turn toward Annie and Darius. "And how do you respond to these charges?" You can feel a palpable aura of madness creeping upon you, threatening to overwhelm you. The madness of hatred. It begins to infringe on your soul…pushing down on you as it attempts to beat you down.

Annie blinks as the maddening aura of the Inquisition priests pushes down on her. She grits her teeth as she asserts the full force of her being, who she is at her core, to resist the negative influences being pushed at her. She straightens up suddenly, her arms pushing out and away from her as if breaking out of a confining and suffocating shell.

Annie adds after a moment, "I think the charges are hogwash. They should be dismissed immediately and should adjourn to eat the old womans cow."

Darius stands before them as they lay the charges, and he thinks carefully, feeling the madness creeping into his soul he blinks a few times, and then steels himself against it, and pushes it back. He scowls down at the crowd, at the inquisition then. He shakes his head, "Look at you- making these foolish accusations." he shakes his head.

Place of Fear.

The leader of the black robed priests throws his head back and laughs. "That is your best defense? The allegations are foolish?" He gestures toward Annie and Darius, then sweeps his arm toward the woman and young girl. "The fires of the Lord shall Judge you!"

White hot flames leap up from the soil in a circle around you, searing at your flesh. You find your feet rooted to the ground and unable to move. Your flesh begins crackling and boiling under the flame of God's judgement. Fear of their Lord rushing nonsensically through your brain, inducing panic and a gibbering desire to repent of your sorcerous ways. It's not you…the feeling is coming from somewhere else.

Annie blinks and tries to move away from the fires. When she finds her feet rooted to the ground, she simply grits her teeth and forces herself to ignore the pain. She is in the right here. People don't deserve to be tortured and killed just because they are different somehow. If she has to die for those beliefs, then so be it.

Darius lets out a cry of pain as the flames lick over his body, but as he begins to feel that… fear, that panic biting into him, he simply grits his teeth, clenches his fists, and glares down at the priests in defiance- in rage. He doesn't let the fear consume him.

Place of Spirits.

The woman and the child begin screaming in pain, the smells of burning hair and flesh swirling around you as the white hot flames continue to burn. And then just as suddenly they are gone, leaving only the residual heat behind that quickly fades. The woman and young girl are weeping inconsolably on the ground at your feet.

"Interesting", says the lead black robed clerics. He has a palpable aura of charisma, the sort of personality that can whip a crowd from a peaceful group of protestors into a blood-mad mob of murderous hate mongers. "I think this situation calls for one of the Lords own Angels to smite you." He raises his hands upward toward the sky imploringly, "Oh Lord! Send down your Angel to smite these minions of the Devil!"

A blinding light appears in the circle near you, then dims to reveal a ten foot tall winged figure carrying a flaming sword. The being turns toward Annie and Darius, raising the sword in preparation to attack."

Initiative Order: Annie @ 30, F8 Archangel @ 23, Darius @ 10

Annie raises her hand, drawing a banishing pentagram into the air in front of her. The pentagram glows with a pastel green light that sparkles and pulses before beginning to fade away. "I invoke the power of the elements. Earth, Air Fire and Water. And the power over the spirits granted to my by the Queen of Witches, known as Hecate, the Crone who rules the dark of the moon.", she winces inwardly as she states this since it won't likely give her many brownie points against the observing crowd, "Begone Spirit!", she commands forcefully.

The Archangel howls in pain, shrinking by half in size and stature as his power is siphoned off by Annies knowledge of conjuring.

Darius scowls a little, as Annie begins to invoke her own magical symbols, he holds out his palm, and a symbol seems to glow on it- it's an old symbol, Aramaic to one who has an eye for dead languages, and he begins to murmur in that same language, as he too attempts to force the Archangle back.

Second Pass.

"Your time is past Angel.", Annie growls as she makes a final slashing gesture toward the angelic being.

The Angel shrieks a final time, then dissolves into flickering motes of ephemera that swirl around for a moment before being borne off by the swirling wind.

Annie shifts her eyes to the clerics as she gives her staff an experimental twirl, "And I think your time is past as well. Hatred is not good. Mmmkay?"

Place of Battle.

Darius finally clenches his hand shut as the archangel dissapears, and he reaches for his side, where a persian slavemaster's whip sits coiled up. He yanks it free of his belt, and then cracks the whip in the air impressively.

The clerics seem stunned as their Angel is summarily dismissed by the two strangers. The lead cleric doesn't waste any time however, simply pointing at the two of you and screaming: "Kill the Witches!"

The four clerics plus the parish priest all draw heavy steel maces from their belts and prepare to attack you. Another three burly fellows from the crowd decide to move in to assist. Probably not too smart since the strangers just killed a Angel…but no-one ever said Bigotry was smart.

Initiative: Annie @ 30, Clergy @ 14, Darius @ 8, Thugs @ 6

Annie considers her staff for a moment then sighs. "You guys like fire.", she pauses, throwing her arms wide and then begins chanting softly in Sperethiel, "Then have some fire."

Annie brings her hands together and pushes away from her body. A ball of flame forms in her adjoined palms then flickers across the intervening distance in a heartbeat before exploding in a massive wall of flames. Two of the thugs, one cleric and a sizeable portion of the mob are incinerated in a moment, with people on the outskirts rolling around on the ground and screaming in pain as they try to put out their flaming clothes. The rest of the crowd breaks with screams of 'Witch! Run!", as they scamper away from the clearing. The other clerics seem stunned by the display, but opt to stay and fight this manifestation of the Devil.

Two of the clerics charge toward Annie with their maces upraised, attempting to strike at her.

The staff weapon focus blurs in Annies hands as she turns to meet the charging clerics. Whump! Whump! They stagger backward with blood pouring from their faces as they take a beating.

Darius holds out his hand as he continues to bark in Aramaic, symbowls swirling around him as an unearthly wind forms up- even as his oponents strike at him, and he tries to duck and to deflect the blows, but fails, suffering some rather nasty wounds. Finally he releases a wave of Mana which knocks his assailants unconscious, though by now he's coughing and sputtering, his nose is bleeding, and he's looking like he's seen better days.

The remaining battered and beaten clerics look at each other, then simply turn and run, disappearing into the maze of surrounding buildings.

Annie sighs and then turns to look toward Darius, "You all right?", she inquires with a concerned edge to her voice.

Darius cluthes the side of his ehad and blinks a little, as he tries to stop his head from spinning. He finally nods his head, "Yeah, I will be. I'll be sleeping this one off for… a while. That's for certain." He comments to annie, then.

Annie lays a hand on Darius' shoulder, channeling the raw mana into a heal spell. "This should help a bit", she comments after a moment then turns to untie and help the woman and child to their feet.

The Citadel.

Darius lets out a sigh of relief as the healing energy washes over him, "Thanks." He utters, and then wanders with Annie to the survivors, and he helps her help them up.

A silver slash appears in the air nearby, then spirals open into a circular portal. On the other side of the portal you can see the Citadel, conforming to whatever your specific magical paradigm requires.

Annie checks the woman and child over for wounds one more time, then sends them on their way. She indicates the portal to Darius, "After you."

And, just like that, Darius steps through- to him this place consists of literal ivory towers, and so he makes his way towards the great libraries, so that he may study the spell he came here to learn about.

Annie follows inside, moving among the Greek pillars as she searches for the Library.

Quest Complete.

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