Sunday Bloody Sunday

[Bjorn]

Cadfael keeps quiet, watching to see how the other mage's spell works. His hands, moving almost independently, grab notebook and paper, and Cadfael starts to sketch a rune -- not activating it yet, since he doesn't want to waste the Grasping Ground.

[Carthrat]

The mages spell was actually kinda simple; a spell of dispelling. However, it didn't really work so well; the mage in flight wobbled a bit in the air, and perhaps as a result, lost his concentration. However, in a couple seconds, he was right back to casting..

[Bjorn]

With some regret, but no hesitation, Cadfael dispels the Rune of Grasping Ground -- he has a more immediate problem to attend to.  Instead, he sticks the notepad with the just-finished Rune of Shining Stone out the window.  "Eyes," he advises the other occupants of the car, and then triggers the rune.

[Carthrat]

There's a blinding flash from the stone, which, thankfully, nobody in the car got a clear look at. The high-flying mage did, though, and he starts spiraling around in the sky. If being blind on the ground is disorientating, it must be even worse in the sky.

The car leaves him behind, and Barry gives you a glance. "Handy," he comments.

[Bjorn]

Cadfael doesn't say anything in response to that.   It seems to be a fairly superfluous comment.

He sets aside the now-useless stone with the dispelled Grasping Ground.  A new rock is quickly produced and similarly marked, though having learned his lesson, Cadfael does not yet activate it.  That done, he turns around in the seat and watches for the car that had been following.

[Carthrat]

There's no sight of it. The car you're travelling in is quite fast, after all.

"How'dya like the 'Slipstream'?" asks the driver in the front, proudly. "The ultimate synergy of technology and magic! Especially when we do... this."

There's a high-pitched whining-sound from the back of the car, followed by a sputtering, and a loud pop.

Silence for a moment.

"I knew that wouldn't work," replies the other guy in the front, groaning.

[Bjorn]

"New plan?" Cadfael inquires, keeping a steady eye out behind them.

[Carthrat]

"We can still outmanouever them!" shouts the guy in the front, visibly upset. "I mean, do *you* see any cars around?"

True to his word, there aren't any about. "Look, all we need is five minutes to fix the goddamn drive."

[Bjorn]

"Then fix it," Cadfael suggests.

[Carthrat]

"Yeah, yeah," grouses the guy in front. "They'll catch up to us in about three minutes, though, so I hope you're ready."

The car pulls up in a deserted-looking alley; the very best of the outskirts of Berlin. The place is deathly quiet, and the little light of the moon and stars is blocked out by the surrounding houses, which seem to tower in the dark.

"We've gotta fix it," say both the blonde guys. "So you two gotta keep an eye out. Capiche?"

[Bjorn]

For a second, Cadfael considers just walking away.  It doesn't seem these people have anything to offer him, and with their recklessness and lack of preparation, there would need to be a million of them before "safety in numbers" would be anything but a joke.

Somewhat regretfully, he concludes this is not the time.  With this much Cabal attention, the odds of sneaking away are low indeed.  Better to help for now.

With that in mind, he steps to the foot of the alley.  Brushing the ground clear with a booted foot, he pulls a heavy stick of chalk from a pocket of his baggy cargo pants, squats, and starts to sketch out a rune.  "Not sure if this will work," he says quietly, engrossed in his drawing.  "Better have alternatives."

OOC: Cadfael is setting up a Rune of Gating, with the AOE advantage changed to Line (total AP: 32).  The gate will run the width of the alleymouth, and be directed into one of the neighbouring buildings.

[Carthrat]

The two guys who were in front have cranked open the engine and produced a toolbox, and are fiddling around with the inside. Barry has taken up position at the other end of the alley, scanning around- and he's drawn his firearm.

Looks like something out of Star Trek, really.

[Bjorn]

Having filled the mouth of the alley with his sketchings, Cadfael steps back to stand by Barry, drawing his own gun as he does so.

[Carthrat]

There's a screeching of tires, and Cadfael can see a car pull up a short distance away from the alley. Doors start opening, and black-coated men start emerging!

[Bjorn]

Cadfael stands quietly, trying not to draw attention to himself.  Watching the presumed Cabalists carefully, he holds the pistol in his right hand and the stone marked with the Rune of Grasping Ground in his left.