Prologue: E-mails

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Subject: Your friend (?)

I found this entry on him first.

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This is the latest update for today (July 20th, 1998).  Found a Spark today in the Valley.  Not terribly unusual.  He's somewhat hostile.  A bit ecclectic.  Will monitor situation and report him for potential Workshop residancy if viable.  His name is Brian Randall.

-- Laura
I assume that this is a corespondance between a Workshop agent and a Seventh Cabal supervisor.

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Name: Brian Randall
Status: Hostile
Type:  E-6 (unknown sub-type?)

Subject defies containment.  It it luck?  Is he aware?  Or is someone else looking out for him?  This is vexxing.  He should be captured within the next few days -- Caber and his team are planning a distraction that should clear the area.  Timing will be critical.  [3/28/2004]

UPDATE -- The call was bad.  The type is NOT E-6, it's either U-9, or I-2, depending.  He's gone; Laura did not survive Caber's event.  [3/30/2004]

UPDATE -- Irrelevant -- he was sighted on the southern edge of a disruption in S. California, cause unknown.  Survival is deemed unlikely.  [4/2/2004]

UPDATE -- Propose escalating aquisition time-tables.  Likely Sparks with no value to the project can be disposed of should aquisition prove unworthwhile.  We can't afford to let any candidates escape.  The Enemy is gaining in power, and we let potential weapons slip through our hands.  Unnacceptable. [4/20/2004]
These appear to be reports from the Workshop database specifically.

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Browning Incident [12/15/2005]
We're intact, but barely.  He broke in, not alone, and freed Ezmereth.  Ashnod and Victor were contained, undamaged.  He expressed severe hostility, but Agent Taylor was able to drive him back before he could do much more than appear.

His abilities are difficult to place, but estimates put him above Ezmereth.  He expressed a few potential abilities we had not previously deemed possible, but we place him firmly on the side of the Enemy.

Agent Taylor caused some permanent damage to his psyche, such that he should not be able to return.  The backlash has destabalized her, but she maintains that she is still capable.

Resultant of the effects are:

Number: 581 Type: [E-15] (Ashnod: Eric Campbell)
Destabalized.  No longer cooperative with research efforts.  Expresses hostility towards guards and personel.

Number: 234 Type: [T-9, M-5, P-4] (Megan Witherspoon)
Destabalized.  Increasingly hostile towards guards and personel.  Subject has become irational and moody.

Number: 678 Type: [C-3] (Brigett Witherspoon)
Feuged.  Will no longer speak, or attempt to communicate.  Subject is unresponsive to all but other residents of the Workshop, specifcally Megan.

Number: 042 Type: [E-14, T-3, M-2, B-16, P-2] (Ezmereth: Real name unknown)
Escaped.  Whereabouts unknown.

Identifying the assailant is difficult.  We have the following potential suspects:

"Ace" (affil. Pax Arcana)
"Carlos Verguese" (affil. unknown)
"Brian Randall" (suspected deceased)
"Gray Hollister" (suspected deceased)
Jeffery Browning (considered most likely suspect)
Montgomery Irons (affil. unknown)

Awaiting further instructions.
And I honestly don't wish to think about that one too much.

The implications frighten me....

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Delphi Imposition!

Thanks for that last (yeah, Brian was a friend).

Sorry to keep bugging you, but I do have a couple more requests . . .

(A) Any idea what those classifications are?  E-15, T-9, U-6, etc?

(B) The interesting one.  With your, ah, nifty array of tricks . . . I'm wondering if you'd be capable of hooking us up with some fake identification, like drivers licenses or passports.  Something of the like would be -really- handy to have around, if you could swing it.  If not, no big deal, we'll get by.

Brian was a friend, before whoever it was decided to nuke his area . . . and as said, central to this group.

I must say that I have absolutely no idea what to make of it, but every piece is a little more to the puzzle, I suppose.

Appreciate it.  ^^

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

For your first question, I'm not certain on all of them (this is not the actual Workshop database), but it appears to be references to paranormal parameters.  The only ones I can glean with any degree of certainty right now is that 'u' means 'unknown', and 't' means 'telepath'.  These blocks were originally in a cypher.

For the second, I would need some time to manage it, and the difficult part would be getting these things to you while you're on the move.  I will see what I can do, but I will require some time to ship something to you, and that means you'll require a safe-house, or other location where you can wait, unknown.  I will see what I can do in that regard.

Also, the nuclear missile was probably unrelated to your friend; plans for that event precede his earliest entry.  At a guess, it was merely timing.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Oh, I didn't mean they intended to drop it on -him- . . . just that it happened to come down where he was.

Hah.  I can't believe I talk about it so casually.

A simple solution to the whole on-the-move thing would be that if, say, we have some idea ahead of time as to where we might be . . . you could drop them in a post office box for us.  :)

And while I'd usually be skeptical of 'telepath', the last while has been slightly, well, enlightening in that regard, so it doesn't get more than a raised eyebrow.  ^^

I have to get out of here, we've been here long enough.  We'll contact you when we next get the chance - and we're heading to SF, as you've probably already surmised.  Wise or not, it's the only (constructive) thing any of us can really think of to do right now.

Take care,
--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

I see.  I will try to arrange to have it ready for you somewhere near San Fransisco, then.  Getting a key to you will be somewhat more difficult, but should still be possible.

Good luck, and be careful.

[RangerShade]

To: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')
From: Shade


>Alright. Weird shit has happened to Ginrai and you seem to be in the know, >at least somewhat. You ALSO know something about Rome. So answer me >this: do the names 'Pax Arcana' and 'Seventh Cabal' mean anything to you?

All I know about Rome is that we have allies and enemies there. But if I had to venture a guess I'd say that Cabal sounds like bad news. Avoid anybody with any overt Catholic trappings if you can.

And keep an eye out for any out of towners with San Fran or Australian features. Ignorance can be bliss, but it can also be fatal.

-I see little and understand less, Shade

[RangerShade]

To: Dracos
From Shade

I ran into trouble, or rather trouble tried to run over me. And then it tried to slash my guts out.

And how are you? Still think I'm crazy? Or are you beginning to feel heat?

-If I had a nickel for every time, I'd have a nickel. Death

[Rezantis]

To: Fans Of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: You there?

That was a -disturbingly- abrupt end to that conversation.  Are you alright?

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Subject: RE: You there?

Yes.  I apologize.  It is difficult for me to pull people into that layer of dreaming.  I was relying on the stength of Shade's connection to the dream, as he was trapped.  When he woke up, everyone else was dismissed, as well.

The wolf says that he will try to follow the dreams of your friend.  He may have more luck than I, but I believe that your friend's dreams are sealed from me.  I cannot access them....

Thank you again, Nathan, for what you have done.  And I apologize for any difficulty I have caused you.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Continuing on . . .

. . . since that was the first and simplest question I was looking for an answer for, a few more things.

(A) I wouldn't worry too much about it not ending once we get Bjorn out of there.  None of us are expecting them to just leave us alone, and that's only going to make them MORE inclined to get us.

(B) Ahm, since I didn't fully read the manual before agreeing, precisely what's being your guardian involve, and what does the gauntlet let me do?  :)

(C) Plan continues as before.  We' re heading to SF still, and if we haven't contacted you by the time we get there (unlikely), we will at that point.

I wouldn't say you've been causing me difficulty.  I'd say the Seventh Cabal has been causing me difficulty.  I'd say I'm rather lucky that you're the method they chose to use.  :)

--N

[Rezantis]

To: Shade
From: Karelais ('shelim_manya@hotmail.com')

Subject: Well.

Questions, questions.  Who was that wolf that you were warning Ginrai about, then?

I'm contactable on this email address, Drac is contactable on him - if you find Ezmereth, or whoever, drop us a line.  In the meantime we're heading to SF.

--N

[Rezantis]

To: Shade
From: Karelais

Subject: Oh, and an idle question . . .

. . . what DO Australian and San Franciscan features look like, anyway?  o_O

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Subject: RE: Continuing on . . .

The gauntlet will grant you the skill of Apollo's guardians, should you fight with his weapons, or play his musical instruments.  The rest, I am sorry, I do not remember.  It was rare that the power was given to a single being, instead of let protect the village.

I have arranged a point where you can pick up fake passports -- I was able to research your photos from some databases I accessed.  Additionally, I have surmised that I cannot access the servers of the Workshop until I have some access from inside.  Included with the drop I'll have arranged for you, will be a CD-ROM containing a program that you can run on their servers, if you manage to get inside.

Again, good luck, Nathan.

-Ayame

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

Subject: More questions.

We're at the safe house in Ripon, and we got the stuff you said you were sending us.  Thank you muchly.

A few more quick questions:

(A) Got any more information on the installation Bjorn's held in?

(B) Shade.  He worries me.  Can he be trusted?  He's being amazingly evasive when he's asked questions, and this sort of thing worries me.  If nothing else I'd suggest you, personally, avoid contact with him if you can.  >_>  I'll try to follow your lead on this, but if you're apparently my reponsibility now - :) - I have to voice at least -some- degree of concern.

(C) Send me a quick CRC checksum for the CD, so I can double-check it's intact.  I have rotten luck with discs.

(D) I think I have a rough grasp on the gauntlet now.  A -very- useful piece of work.  ^^

(E) A couple of extra things in here, one for someone I recognize as Paul Durant . . . and one who I don't recognize.  Why're they in here?

(F) When we're done with this mess, you have GOT to show me some of the tricks you used to arrange all this stuff.  :)

We'll be heading out tomorrow morning, hopefully be in San Francisco tomorrow evening.  I'll be online a little longer, waiting a reply.  Have a good one.
--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Subject:  More answers....

A: I have the address, and have found a company using that same address.  I expect that the aformentioned company is a front for the Workshop.  They're in a two-story building, which seems insufficient, given what I've heard of the installation.  Regardless, it's called BioWire, and they do research for genetic engineering and 'space-age materials' such as advanced polymers and adhesives.

B:  I'm sorry; I thought he was your friend.  He is one of the few that can walk the world of dreams, though he seems clumsy and untrained, yet.  I do not know, for his future is bleak ... but every bleak future I see for him he slips away from.  Perhaps his luck will carry him through.

C:  Understood.  I had not thought of that beforehand; I'm sorry.

D:  It's an extension of yourself, now.  I hope that its power serves you well.

E:  These were the two extra files attached to yours that I had referenced in the database; I assumed they were your friends, and that you might find these useful.  Shade and Mr. Christianson were found afterwards, and I thought they might come in handy.  If you run into your old friends, those could prove helpful.  If you do not know who the other man is, his name is 'Sterling Dubert'.

F:  Almost anything can be bought online, these days, if you know where to look ... I seem to be better at looking than most, is all.

It should only take you two and a half hours to reach the city.  Be careful, and good luck.