You will pay the price for your lack of vision!

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Erin and Yomi are left alone in their respective prisons for the rest of the night, Erin in a warm, swanky bedroom and Yomi in her concrete cell. Meals are brought to both in the evening, a surprisingly nice steak dinner given their status as captives, but you are otherwise left to your own devices until the morning.
<El-Cideon> (OOC: Pretty much your move here. If you're gonna talk/plan, go ahead; will move on to the next day when you're done.)
<Nadia_Chekova> Since Yomi seems to be in the most danger, she's the one Nadia first asks about needing help with breaking out.
* Erin glances around the room she's taken residence in; it would go badly if there were secret peepholes or anything within, and given her captor's predisposition, she finds it not an unimaginable prospect.
* Yomi normally sleeps with her sword close by, and this situation would hardly change much. She's make it harder to enter her cell unannounced by positioning the chair by the door, however, reclining it against it.
<Nadia_Chekova> With Yomi unwilling to commit, Nadia then asks Erin!
<El-Cideon> Erin doesn't see anything obvious, but then, that would defeat the purpose of being secret if it was obvious, no? There's a cozy-looking bed with clean sheets, and a fine dresser and nightstand. It's notably lacking a window, but you can't have everything, right? The only thing marring the setup is a mousehole in the wall by a corner.
<Erin> "I think it won't be necessary! We're reaching an understanding," replies Erin, spreading her arms. "I'll hear her decision tomorrow, and if it is unfavorable, then action could be taken the same night, no?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Okay. Rena and I will try and find out more about where you're staying so we're ready for tomorrow," Nadia replies, putting her formidable information gathering skills to finding out about a rich woman named Justine.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+12 GI on Justine
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+12 GI on Justine and gets 19."12 [1d20=7]
<Nadia_Chekova> After getting some background information and following the white eagle to Erin and Yomi's prison, Nadia and Rena then go to find a nearby hotel to put up at for the night.
<El-Cideon> OOC: moving on?
<Erin> OOC: Yeah. I'll redo spells too.
<El-Cideon> Everyone sleeps undisturbed. Erin and Yomi are given a chance to get plenty of rest; it's around nine in the morning when someone comes for them. There's a knock on Erin's door before Justine opens it. "Follow me, please?" she asks, walking down the hall.
<Nadia_Chekova> Upon rising, Nadia sits in her hotel room eating breakfast with Rena and spying on Erin via the telecom-bauble.
<Erin> As long as Justine remains polite, surely there is no reason to suspect mischief! Erin steps after the other woman, trying to beat back the morning fog to stay alert.
<El-Cideon> Someone stops by Yomi's cell too; the door opens without any polite notice save for footsteps in the hall outside. A dour-looking girl with brown hair stands with a pair of men at her side. "Upstairs," she grunts.
<Yomi> Seems like Yomi is about to learn whether her would-be kidnappers wish to remain in good health or not. "By all means, lead the way," she suggests to the sour-faced girl, ready to follow.
<El-Cideon> Justine leads Erin into something like a conference room. There's a long wooden table with comfy chairs around it and 19th century landscape paintings adorn the walls. Again there's a mousehole in the corner opposite the door, though. This establishment seems to have a vermin problem. (more)
<El-Cideon> After a moment, Yomi is led upstairs and brought into the same room. "I apologize for the paucity of your accomodations," Justine says to Yomi. "This building wasn't really meant to be a hotel and I couldn't put you in the same room as your friend because, well, who knows what sort of desperate escape scheme the two of you might have hatched?"
<Yomi> "Leaving through the front door?" Yomi asks with a shrug, glancing towards Erin. "Are you alright?"
<Erin> "I assure you, we were not desperate," replies Erin, glancing at Yomi with a grin.
<El-Cideon> "Bravado," Justine says with a chuckle. Then: "Shall we have your companions join us?" She consults a piece of paper. "Our German correspondents have sent in an addendum to their previous message. Apparently one Rena Linden and another woman who we only have a description of are also to be detained. Your friends from the bar, I presume?"
<Yomi> "So what exactly made us two more special?" Yomi inquires curiously.
<El-Cideon> "For whatever reason, I was only told about the two of you at first," Justine says. "Or rather Howard was. I've been intercepting his messages for some time now. This one just in came in this morning. You'd have to ask the Germans why it took them days to remember the rest of your group."
<Erin> "Well, perhaps we can have them meet you later," replies Erin, resting her hands on the chair's arms. "For the time being, isn't it better discuss the future? Specifically, ours?"
<El-Cideon> "Yes." Justine sits down at the head of the table, motioning for you to follow suit. The young brunette loiters behind her while the two guards stand at the door. "I wonder how you plan to get me what you've promised from these Germans without provoking open violence. If this can be done safely, I believe we have a deal."
<Erin> "As I've said, it is trivial to establish the presence of a false Ivo within the city," replies Erin. "The story you deliver to the real one is that he was here just yesterday, and the prisoners have already been sent on their way. There would be enough circumstantial evidence that he'd be forced to believe you, and in turn, be forced to rely on you for aid in tracking down his doppleganger."
<El-Cideon> "At which point we surely set some manner of trap, yes. I worry about the troops offering armed resistance, however, or rushing to this man's aid if he's taken away from them. I am certain my forces are prepared to resist any such efforts, but I can't have fighting in the streets."
<Yomi> "So you just need to shine the light elsewhere, don't you?" Yomi voices. "An isolated, out of the way place any troops willing to go after him would be directed towards."
<El-Cideon> "You propose a distraction of some sort, I presume?"
* Yomi shrugs. "Just as a false Ivo could appear to add credence to the plan, so could false leads that would only be the prelude to a trap."
<Erin> "We can create evidence leading to a certain location, the route used for the doppleganger's escape," replies Erin, pursing her lips. "You could pretend that we've stolen your book as well, so you simply can't hand it over, even if you wanted to."
<El-Cideon> "All of this will have to be *very* convincing, if they're to leave thinking their quarry has fled elsewhere. These are not men who concede defeat easily."
<Erin> "We would need independant witnesses," replies Erin, pursing her lips. "There's already the hotel, but there would need to be those who would keep an eye on comings and goings about your own estate, and most importantly, those who have seen the false Ivo move to a suitable location," replies Erin. "I'm not familiar with this city, so I can't name an address or route."
<El-Cideon> Justine shrugs. "The city's police forces are essentially at my disposal. Rumors can be spread with ease, witnesses drawn from allies in Cape Town's more refined social circles. Leading him where we want him to go should not be a problem. What do you plan to do once you have this man, I wonder? I fully expect his soldiers to make a search if he disappears."
<Erin> "I would not be so sure," replies Erin. "We have it on good authority that nobody is terribly fond of him."
<Yomi> "His soldiers are bringing all sorts of relics along with them, aren't they? Then we just need to snatch the good doctor for information, and put that information to good use. If his troops to try and seek him out, divide and conquer should work well enough on them."
<El-Cideon> Justine laughs. "Perhaps not, Erin, but duty is duty. I'm not certain their dislike for a superior will necessarily lead to abandoning him." she shrugs. "If they pursue, I would rather deal with them through some manner of legerdemain than confront them with force. But if they search in sufficiently small squadrons, perhaps they can be dealt with individually and quietly. Again I prefer to avoid open conflict, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see hpw they react."
<El-Cideon> Again I prefer to avoid open conflict, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see hpw they react."
<Erin> "They might make a token effort, one easily dispelled when the slightest evidence that he won't be returning arises."
<El-Cideon> "Very well. Return to your friends and work on making sure 'Ivo' is seen about town, then? Some manner of obvious public meeting between the two of us may be a good idea. And I'll make sure my men know how to answer when the Germans start asking questions, and find a suitable ambush point." She stands up. "And I do hope you don't take it personally that I'll continue to keep tabs on you."
<Erin> "We're staying in his usual room," replies Erin, likewise rising. "I suppose you will do as you must."
<El-Cideon> "Yes." She pauses to scribble something on a scrap of paper. "If you need to reach me, this number will do. I won't answer personally, but you can trust that whoever does will find me. If there's nothing else...?"
* Yomi doesn't have anything more to add, herself, and looks forward to parting ways with her host.
<Erin> "I'll drop by unannounced sometime. Perhaps after this is over, we can have a proper chat without all this duress. Until then," replies Erin, turning to leave.
<El-Cideon> Justine wanders off to do whatever it is that she does when she's not harassing random travellers. The brown-haired girl escorts you out what seems to be the front door. You walk down a grand staircase to a two-story entryway with marble floors and columns. Your escort pauses before seeing you out. "Just so you know, if you turn on Justine or if she gets hurt because of all this, I'll kill you before the Germans do."
* Yomi outright ignores this, trusting in Erin to play nice with the angry girl.
<Erin> "I will be seeing you soon enough," replies Erin, massagining her forehead. "Why do you hold us in such disdain?" she asks, point-blank. "We've done nothing to you, and you can hardly say- oh, forget it. I suppose I'll be seeing you again soon enough, too."
<El-Cideon> "Yeah, I guess so," she says, not looking pleased about this and also not deigning to answer your questions. She arranges for a car to escort you back to "Ivo's" hotel or wherever else you might wish to go.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> Erin and Nadia pass two days living it up in Ivo's hotel room at the expense of Nazi Germany, Erin periodically gallivanting about town to build up "Ivo's" local presence while Yomi teaches Rena the fine art of stabbing people with even bigger weapons. As you gather in the morning before everything's supposed to go down--
<El-Cideon> "I was wondering, Erin," Rena says. "You seemed very upset when we found the letter with a description of you in Zanzibar. If you can change your appearance so easily and dislike your current one, why not adopt a more attractive one all the time?"
* Yomi conceals her laugh with a cough, looking away.
<Erin> "There is absolutely nothing wrong with my natural appearance," replies a grumpy-looking Erin, presently armed with morning bedhair that she absently drags a comb through. (The blue dress with the red jacket aren't doing her any favours, either.) "But even if I was, it would surely be a waste! Such hubris it would be to waste magic on simply improving my appearance, hmph!"
<El-Cideon> Rena shrugs. "I don't see why that's a waste. It sounds very sensible to me."
<Nadia_Chekova> "It's no different than using make-up," Nadia agrees. "I suppose having magic explains why you never bother with it."
* Yomi goes into a coughing fit, unable to contribute anything useful to the conversation.
<Erin> "But I- look," continues Erin, slamming a hand upon the table. "Maybe if I was some kind of high-flying, man-eating socialite, there would be SOME point to wasting what little power I have on vanity. But there's practical reasons not to! Magic isn't limitless, you know."
<El-Cideon> "Oh. So you're not powerful enough to do it?" Rena concludes.
<Yomi> "Talk of make up aside," Yomi finally speaks, "no one's getting cold feet about our plan?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "We've been chasing these Germans too long," Nadia shakes her head. "We need something concrete to bring us closer to our revenge."
<Erin> "That isn't the point! Look- um. Speaking of that, why, the reason I can't spend all my time looking like some little princess is because I had to direct my talents to spells of protection and restraint," replies Erin. "Ow," she adds, catching some tangle in her hair. "But.. well, all we need to do is capture Ivo, correct? And after that..."
<El-Cideon> "What are we going to do with him?" Rena wonders.
<Yomi> "We need to consider how to make him talk, how to prevent him from escaping, and what to do about Elgin if he also shows up."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Make him tell us where our stolen belongings are. I've no personal grudge with him," Nadia shrugs, expression darkening. "Elgin, on the other hand..."
<Yomi> "Erin, do you have magic on hand to twist his will into spilling everything? I'd truly prefer we didn't have to force him to talk."
<El-Cideon> "I don't know this other man, but I would be content to kill Ivo when we are done with him," Rena says as flatly as ever.
* Nadia_Chekova isn't wholly comfortable with killing under most circumstances, but... "You've earned that," she nods to Rena.
<Erin> "No, though even if I did, it would still be some kind of force," points out Erin. "That.. well, maybe there's... some... curse that could restrain him in Justine's book instead."
<Yomi> "There is also the matter of his assistant. If the Germans can still continue with their plan, it's bound to be bad news for everyone, right? Since we might have a chance to hold them back, let's not do it by half-measures."
<Erin> "If we're able to determine their goals- some ritual, I have no doubt- then as long as we make it impossible to carry it out, that should be enough," offers Erin, scrunching up into her chair. "Let's not take the last resort unless we really can't find any other way."
<El-Cideon> Justine arranges to meet everyone two hours before her appointment with Ivo, at a storage facility in a quiet, run-down part of town. One of her late associates was kind enough to leave his belongings to the rest of the circle, she explains, and most of it remains locked up here. There are crates, boxes, and pieces of furniture under dustcovers arranged about a wide open space; Justine seems to have set things up so that there's about a hundred-foot square arena of empty floor in the center of the building. (more)
<El-Cideon>  Justine seems to have set things up so that there's about a hundred-foot square arena of empty floor in the center of the building. (more)
<El-Cideon> The ring of debris surrounding this empty space has plenty of nooks and dark corners for people to hide in preparation for surrounding Ivo when he arrives. Ten of her men from the police department will be waiting to persuade Ivo to back down without a fight. Justine herself intends to follow at a safe distance after her meeting with Ivo has prompted him to come here. (more)
<El-Cideon> Additionally, there's a man setup up in abandoned shop down the street with a police radio to keep an ear out and report if anyone other large groups are sighted moving this direction. As long as there are no last minute changes, Justine wishes everyone good luck and prepares to go meet the man himself. (OOC: ask her a question if you want, make any setup changes/details you want, otherwise we can timeskip some more.)
* Nadia_Chekova is not stupid enough to meet Justine or her goons face to face, and instead arrives five minutes after the others, sneaking in to hide at the outskirts of all the crates without anyone seeing.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+15 hide
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+15 hide and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+15 move silently
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+15 move silently and gets 23."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: they can't actually beat those rolls, so you're prety effectively stealthed in there!
* Erin ensures that both Yomi and herself are well protected; the armouring spells have quite an extensive duration.
<El-Cideon> OOC: anything else. Other folks waiting inside/outside? It's easy to be inside the ring of boxes and chaff without being visible from the entrance; abandoned shop with the radio also has a decent view of anyone entering/leaving if you want to go in behind them.
<Erin> OOC: Erin will lead from the rear.
<Yomi> OOC: I'll get cover from the bullets that'll doubtlessly be shot first. And stay near Erin for a start
<El-Cideon> OOC: Alright then, here comes stuff:
<El-Cideon> And so you wait. Nadia doesn't have much to do but sit inside the dusty warehouse alone and watch a gang of policemen file in and take up positions around the room. There's nervous tension inside the little shop until the radio crackles into life and announces that the scientist, in a fit of near-apoplexy, is headed with all due speed to track down the person impersonating him. (more)
<El-Cideon> Soon enough a truck pulls up outside the warehouse. Half a dozen Nazi soldiers hop out and rush towards the building, Ivo stalking behind them in an obvious fury. Elgin looms at his side, hulking, brooding, and impassive. (more)
* Erin is now known as switchingcomps
* Carthrat (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #HometownHeroes
* Carthrat is now known as Erin
<El-Cideon> One of the soldiers fiddles at the door while the others keep watch. There's a brief exchange where someone points out something to Ivo--it seems Justine took care to leave the door slightly ajar and with an obviously broken lock to further the charade. (more)
<El-Cideon> One of the soldiers thrusts aside the door and the group barges into the warehouse with guns drawn, racing into the center of the room. Nadia can witness the ensuing events firsthand: as soon as the whole group is in the center of the building, Justine's cops stand up and train their weapons on them, insisting on their surrender.
<Erin> Erin emerges shortly afterwards, stepping into view just beyond the circle of policemen. "I don't know what you have been doing, running about like thieves the past few months, nor what you have planned. But it is going to end here," she declares. "I implore you to give up this cursed path on your own."
<Yomi> "I would like to second that," Yomi adds, stepping up to Erin. "Imploring you to give up, that is."
<El-Cideon> Ivo eyes the circle of guns trained on him with more irritation than concern. The Nazi soldiers are in a circle around him and Elgin, not taking any hostile actions but clearly ready to at a moment's notice. "Ah, I remember you," Ivo says in his reedy, breezy voice. "The girl from Istanbul, no? Your persistence is impressive. Your intelligence is not."
* Nadia_Chekova is poised to strike from the shadows at a moment's notice, not so fool as to announce her presence and give up her one advantage over these armed soldiers and crazed warlocks.
<Yomi> "You wound me with your words," Yomi deadpans. "Is that your way of asking to be shot?"
<El-Cideon> He sighs. "It might be more constructive to tell me what you want first. I admit to some curiosity over what possesses a young woman to travel all over the world pursuing things beyond her understanding. Enlighten me, please."
<Nadia_Chekova> While tempted to leap out and roundhouse kick the back of Elgin's head while screaming 'Revenge!' Nadia nonetheless controls herself.
<Yomi> "You see, I was blamed for what you have stolen," Yomi elaborates. "It's quite troublesome, but I simply must get the Shishio back. You didn't like it very much when you were blamed for something you did not do, did you?" Of course, there was all the murder, too, but she never liked those people.
<El-Cideon> "'Shishio?' Oh, the sword. ...Ahah, haha. You think we still have that? How amusing." He turns to Erin. "And you?"
<Yomi> "Don't dismiss me like that!" Yomi demands. "I know you're not hiding it in your coat! Tell me what you've done with my sacred blade!"
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "It was part of a bargain with one of our partners in the far east. It hasn't been in our possession for quite some time, dear girl. You came all this way chasing shadows, I'm afraid." He looks at Erin, as if still awaiting her answer.
<Erin> "You have stolen something irreplacable from me and mine. But I find myself curious about the purpose behind your sins. Perhaps even more than I am for the journal,"
<Erin> (more)
<Erin> replies Erin, steepling her hands. "What drives you to stain your very soul?"
<El-Cideon> "Ahhh, the mageling speaks. Miss Callahan, no? I assure you there is no stain upon my soul. We are embarked upon a grand project that will transform the face of world affairs! I do none of this without great consideration."
<Erin> "You are thieves and murderers of the innocent," replies Erin, in a level tone. "You must understand that there is no way any outsider could understand the virtues of your project. Please, enlighten us."
<El-Cideon> "There have been those who stood in the way of our progress and were forced to be dealt with, yes. No one of importance. An antique collector in Istanbul, a museum curator in Egypt, a whore in Monaco. Who would miss these people? Sacrifices are necessary for any great undertaking, this project moreso than most. We knew this at the outset."
* Nadia_Chekova almost attacks at this point, but she didn't become an infamous cat-burglar by being impatient. It's just one more slight for the tally...
* Yomi is getting angrier as Ivo speaks, but doesn't let it show just yet. "If you have the time to say all that, you can just answer the questions directly. What are you working on? Why do you need to steal all those artifacts?"
<El-Cideon> "Fuel for the fire, dear girl. We *will* remake the future in our own image and this chaff, these relics of outmoded beliefs will power this undertaking, serving one last purpose before being relegated to history's dustbin. I wouldn't expect someone of your limited understanding to grasp the mechanics involved." (more)
<El-Cideon> "And it amuses me greatly to hear all of you speak with disdain of killing, given what you did to poor Hassan."
<Yomi> "It's not my ability to understand that's the problem, but you speaking in riddles-- and what about Hassan?"
<El-Cideon> "Hm? I assumed you would know, being the responsible party. Unless there is another band of assassins wandering the world and slicing men to ribbons with a sword? I cabled him back immediately in response to his message telling us of your visit, only to learn that him and his guards were butchered overnight."
<Yomi> "Hmph. Call me an assassin, why don't you." Yomi glares at Ivo. "Let's get this back on track. How would the world be remade?"
<Erin> "We had nothing to do with that," replies Erin, breathing slowly. "Your path is nothing more than that of past tyrants and conquerers; building a so-called new world on blood, and the ashes of the old. No, there is nothing new about this at all, regardless of the... mechanics involved."
<El-Cideon> "Your lack of vision in particular is disappointing," Ivo says to Erin. "When the Reich has established its new order, based on proper hierarchy and sound racial hygiene, perhaps it will be clearer to you." (more)
<El-Cideon> "I'm growing tired of these insects," Elgin rumbles suddenly, prompted even Ivo to glance at him with some alarm before continuing. "In answer to your question, I intend to give the world a sign, an announcement of what is to come and a promise that the evils of communism and miscegination will be swept away."
<Yomi> "I think you have a choice, here," Yomi says, briefly taken aback by Elgin's attitude, but not discouraged by it. "Either we'll keep on being in your way, regardless of how things turn out here, and mess you up every chance we get... or you make this pitch of a perfect world free of evil communism to us and see if we can come to an understanding.
<Yomi> Up to you to choose whatever's more efficient in the long run."
<Erin> As if mere politics could justify any of their crimes! Erin wants to scream at them; only the presence of another voice is keeping her from railing.
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "If you insist on being an obstruction, you will be crushed underfoot, I promise you that. If you wish to see the future, I need only direct you to the Reich itself to give you an example of proper Aryan dominance in action. It's merely a matter of scale, really." At this point he seems to notice Rena lurking behind Yomi.
<El-Cideon> "Is that where you got to?" he says with some surprise. "You see, I find it harder to believe your claims of innocence with regard to Hassan when I see you took the flower from his garden before leaving."
* Yomi herself doesn't look behind her, trusting in Rena to cover her back. "I couldn't care less if you believed me. But let's talk about Rena a bit. What exactly did you do to her?"
<El-Cideon> "If you attempt to bring me back to the laboratory I will kill you," Rena insists, while Ivo merely rolls his eyes.
* Yomi taps her foot as she awaits Ivo's answer.
<El-Cideon> "I wonder, do you know that you are travelling with a murderer, or do you simply not care?" Ivo queries. "We merely studied the creature, I assure you. Until we had exhuasted the potential for curiositym, at which point we disposed of her. I'd meant to have the creature destroyed when were finished with her, but I'd corresponded with Hassan on curiosities like this for some time and he expressed an interest in her."
<El-Cideon> "I so no harm in indulging him. He did enjoy collecting unusual things."
<El-Cideon> *saw
<Yomi> "Why do you call her a creature?!" Yomi exclaims. "Aren't you the ones who messed her up?!"
<Erin> "Creature?... no, Rena is as good as human," insists Erin. "Whatever the colour of her blood, it is the mind and soul that are important."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, she is quite sub-human, I assure you. And she remains in the condition in which we found her. I wonder how close a look you've taken at her mind and soul? I thought it might be interesting to watch how the former developed, but ultimately it quite refused to do so at all."
<Yomi> "Found her?" Yomi asks, struggling to understand. Quite a lot of her assumptions seem to be getting shattered by this mage who doesn't look like her cares enough to lie to her.
<Erin> "Nonsense. She can learn as anyone can!" retorts Erin. "I don't know what you did, but I'm sure it was in no way conductive to a decent life. Sub-human, what rot..."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes," Ivo continues. He seem to take some relish in expounding on the subject. "And I again insist that we did nothing to make her what she is. What flaws the creature possesses are inherent in the product. She is the legacy of a very foolish man who thought he could create a better class of person. Ultimately his project killed him. I wonder how long it will be before it grows tired of you?"
<El-Cideon> "Stop speaking of me as though I'm not here!" Rena barks at Ivo.
* Nadia_Chekova is really sick of listening to all this shit, but she isn't going to risk revealing herself. Hopefully the others will be done with their questions soon.
* Yomi glances back, trying to give Rena a supportive smile.
<Erin> "This is pointless," mutters Erin. "I'd hoped, somehow, that we could reach some kind of understanding. But the more you talk, the less I feel your opinions could ever matter." She rudely points a finger towards Ivo's face, and her voice takes on steel. "Tell us where Shishi-o, Catherine's Aurora, and the Journal of St. Germaine are. And then you will surrender, because we cannot allow further crimes-" (more)
<Erin> "-in the name of a so-called utopia."
<El-Cideon> "Your book is safe at home," Ivo says. "I look forward to perusing it and wrenching out its secrets when the project is completed. Alas, I have not had time for diversions." (more)
<El-Cideon> "I have said as much as I know about this sword of yours. As for this...Aurora? Ahhh, the necklace Masha asked for, no? I would imagine she asked for it for its symbolic value, as she is not given to vanity. It seemed the least we could do to accomodate her, given what we've asked of her." (more)
<El-Cideon> "I would imagine she has entrusted it to some emigre group or another, waiting for the day their glorious counter-revolution starts in vain."
<Yomi> Yomi's smile twists into a grimace as her sacred family sword passed down through the generations is reduced to little more than a minor bribe to someone Ivo can't even recall by name.
<Erin> "Masha? One of your subordinates, I presume."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes. Of considerable importance to our grand design. It seems only fair to indulge her."
* Erin sniffs. "Order your men to drop their weapons. Don't try to work any magic- we're quite aware of your abilities."
<El-Cideon> Ivo chuckles. "I doubt that you are. My companion here is dangerous quite beyond your reckoning," he nods to Elgin. "This is in fact *your* chance to escape with your lives. I dislike personally engaging in acts brute violence. I'll allow you to leave with your lives if you choose to do so right now. What do you say?"
* Nadia_Chekova tenses, prepared to leap out of hiding and roundhouse kick the murderous Elgin in the back of the head!
<Erin> "If you had such overwhelming power, you would not bother to give us a chance," replies Erin, reaching into her coat pocket.
* Yomi tugs on the string holding her sword wrappings in place, turning to face Ivo and Elgin fully. "This time, there will be no escape. Last chance to surrender."
<El-Cideon> Elgin's face creases into a grim smile, the first real expression you've seen on him. "Time to die," he rumbles, in a voice that sounds assembled by someone who's only ever read about humanity.
<El-Cideon> OOC: next time...ROLLING INIT.
<El-Cideon> ~