2020.12.1 The Spark meets the Soot

The Spark Meets the Soot
Hunting for Info on Caleb, the trio meet the enemy.
IC Date	2020.12.1
IC Time	9PM PST
Players	Evie Tabin-ST Wick
Location	First Mission Church (Off-Grid Location)
Prp/Tp	Autumn Winds
Spheres	Changeling
Theme Song	A theme song for the log

NPC Cast

Caleb, The Apostate Doomed Chlurican Wilder

Ruth, the Nihilist Doomed Troll Childling

Elzbeth Aoin ap Fiona, the Typhoid Doomed Sidhe Wilder of House Fiona

First Mission Church

FIRST MISSION CHURCH is an old Lutheran chapel in the College West neighborhood. In the continued war for the souls of humanity, the church is closed - postings by the Catholic Church are plastered everywhere telling everyone that soon Jesus is coming but until then, DO NOT ENTER. The entire church is surrounded by wire fencing, your classic Construction Company logo attached to the fence advertises who is renovating and alterating this particular church. While the war of souls may be happening in board rooms at the moment, the structure of the church is, as per the norm for a Lutheran church, surprisingly Catholic. A large compled that contains all the amenities a church would need. The main doubledoors that open straight to the church sanctuary. All stainglass windows however are covered with plywood. The front doors, are locked.

Adjacent to the sanctuary, tucked behind a bushline, is a doorway. This is hte rectory, the house of the resident priest. The door however is currently covered with plywood and is locked with a disclock. The last area of interest, found by walking a small concrete sidewalk, is the commons that contain the church kitchens and dining room. The rest of the curch has been demolished awaiting extentsion.

Banality is HIGH here. The cold wind of Winter awaits you as the bikes pull up giving the church a menacing loom over the entirety of the surroundings. It doesnt appear to have any humans about, save Evie, and no vehicles or signs of presences are noticed here.

Scene

Welp. It's a church. It's boarded up. And her Changeling friends are scared absolutely shitless of it, despite having taken the trouble to show up. Evie's about as ready as she's going to be for this, baseball bat in hand and backpack on her back. And her best option is, what, diplomacy? Sheesh. "Okay. First objective is to break in, second objective is to engage Caleb in conversation. Backup plan, I'm hitting a home run with his head as the baseball." She's not exactly sold on her own plan, but is there any better one?

---

Wick hugs himself tight as he drifts after Evie and Tabin with growing reluctance. Just getting close is making him feel sick - still affected by the banality of the two previous bullets he nearly took. He shivers with a cold dread. "Can't stay long. And we'll need a fast escape. It feels /bad/. And... do we need to break in? Do we need the bat? We're just going to talk... Are we trying to find him alone?" His words tumble out in a nervous jumble.

---

Tabin has felt such a burn of cold before. While he isn't dreadful, he is certainly an overly cautious and obviously thumbing heaven sort of Eshu. "I think the game plan was for Evie to go first. We back her up, and if things get hairy we get the hell out of dodge. We're only gonna kill 'em if we don't have a choice." He looks over at Evie to confirm that that was indeed the plan. They've fought 1 Dauntain since then. He might have forgotten.

---

Evie nods back to Tabin. "I'm assuming this Caleb is inside? So we need to get me past plywood. Or I go check out the commons over there - I don't /think/ I see a lock? Also still debating if I keep the bat or not. Wick made a good point with the diplomacy, and I think I should be as non-threatening as possible to start out with." She's ready to hand off the bat to Tabin, just waiting for the go ahead before leading the charge.

---

Wick nods at Tabin. "Yeah. That's the plan. Need to get information from him. Try and understand the cycle. But. Yeah, if we have to. If our lives are at risk. Plan B." Glancing to Evie, he hesitates. "I've also got like... a taser. And pepper spray. You could hide those on you. What about that?"

---

Tabin nods. "Yeah. We're digging for info here. Save first, then condemn. Though to be honest I am happy to condemn the biker guy to the pavement. No offense." He looks to Wick. When Evie takes the bat he takes it, looking it over. "I can also mask it if you want. Make it invisible while you have it." He looks to Wick with the taser and pepper spray, then back to Evie. "Up to you."

---

Evie grins at her allies and backup in this. "No bat. Taser and pepper spray will be plenty. I'd take an inviso-bat, but considering we're dealing with your evil cousin in there? I'll not take that risk. So. I think I'm ready to go in." She lingers long enough to register any objections - but should none be lodged, she's making her way in to the church. Or as far as obstacles allow.

---

Wick runs a hand back through his hair, trying to settle himself. He gives a small, distracted nod as Tabin mentions his lack of concern for the biker guy. It's Tabin's friend that he cares most about. For Tabin's sake. Not a stranger that just tried very hard to kill them all. Glancing to Evie, he nods and digs the taser and pepper spray out of his backpack. But then he blinks as Tabin offers to mask the bat. "Will she... remember she has it? Or... I mean, if we're good to use cantrips, I could apply Wind Runner to us all. Keep us out of their reach."

---

Evie not only climbs, she literally flies over the fence. Just like out of a fairy tale, Evie lifts, awkwardly moves across and then drops down to the ground. With the ability to fly, a new entrance is available to Evie should she chose to take it.

There is the double doors of the entrance which is closed. The Rectory door with a disclock. The commons, which could get you to the sanctuary, is also locked. The Belltower.

---

Wick can't help but smile as he watches Evie take flight. "Think happy thoughts," he'd told her before casting it on the three of them. And now with practiced ease, he floats up off the ground. He keeps to Tabin's side as the two drift off after her. Evie glances back to Wick, rolling her eyes with a smile - she's definitely thinking those happy thoughts, regardless. "Got it, Peter Pan the Second!" Wait, second? Then who's the first? Answering that, she winks at Tabin as she heads up to the belltower. It's a little awkward, but hey. It's her first time flying, so cut her some slack?

The belltower is slim. Unlike your typical Catholic cathedral the belltower is by no means spacious. Landing in the nook next to the church bell it is wide enough for only one person. The three of them will have to congo-line down the stairs in order to fit, and Tabin, probably the tallest of the three, has to practically bob and weave to fit around the bell. VERY, thin stairs encircle underneath the bell going down a few flights before a doorway emerges. Apparently this is how one gets to the bell to do things like fix it.

The door is unlocked.

---

Wick gives a soft laugh. "Suppose I am a bit of a Pan." He lets Evie go first like the gentleman that he is. Then he slips down after her, ever so careful not to disturb the bell itself. In a low whisper, he says, "Tight fit. If we need a quick exit... what do you think Tabin? I could flicker-flash us out somewhere safe. Though... three of us will be a risk."

---

Evie takes the lead down the narrow staircase, grunting as she only just about snakes through the restrictive corridor. "Guh... before we get further, Wick, do you say anything to make your flicker-flash happen? I think. I think I might just be able to pull a similar move. Got a vague idea. Would rather not rely on it, but in case you two run completely out of steam..."

---

Tabin, the urban spelunker that he is, looks over at Wick. "Might have to. Typical lutheran church? Belltower? It'll dump us on a balcony overlooking the sanctuary. Closest exit we'll need to run downstairs into the sanctuary to get anywhere. I can portal passage us down into the lobby outside the sanctuary and we can make sure we have an exit." He offers.

---

Wick blinks a bit at Evie, rather surprised as she mentions being able to pull a similar move. It would seem he hadn't quite known for certain whether she was a mere mortal or not. He nods at her. "Sure, if you've got something. Maybe just get yourself out and me and Tabin will risk our methods." He then glances to Tabin. "Sure, that'd be safer. Just to get a door open. But if I need to pull us out - I just wanted to permission to take such a risk with you." He keeps his voice lowered to a whisper as they drift down the staircase. With his cantrip in effect, his feet no longer bothering to touch the ground.

---

Evie nods to Wick. "Good idea. Yeah. It's easier for me to just worry about myself-- also, the words you speak? I kind of really need those."

---

Wick pauses as Evie repeats her question. "Ah! Right. Um. No, I don't really need to say anything. It's just like with how we started fying. In a pinch, I can just do it. Though... the best way is by playing that ocarina I used earlier."

---

Evie whimpers at that. "...nevermind, guess I'm relying on you two for the escape."

---

Wick tilts his head, somewhat mistified. "I mean... I can say something if you like... but... it's not necessary." He glances from Evie to Tabin.

---

Evie replies to Wick, "Necessary for me. Just a couple quick syllables will do, whatever you feel makes sense?" Evie hesitates before giving a small nod. "Sure. I can like... announce it, I guess. I'll just say Flicker Flash. It'll warn you both, but be too fast for them to do anything about."

---

Wick hesitates before giving a small nod. "Sure. I can like... announce it, I guess. I'll just say Flicker Flash. It'll warn you both, but be too fast for them to do anything about."

---

Evie thanks Wick. "No need. That's my line. I'll explain more later?"

---

Tabin looks at Wick. "It's some magic thing. I dunno much about it either. I sort of just roll with it." He says, offering Wick confused support.

---

Wick smiles and nods. "Sure. Thanks." He pauses, glancing from Evie to Tabin. "So... we're set? Let's find Caleb... Don't suppose we need to be invisible. Flying's enough."

---

Evie nods. "Ready."

---

        The belltower empties, as Tabin suggested, to a balcony area. Several pews line the balcony seating that overlook what would be, at one time, an elegant but not ostentatius sanctuary. That is to Evie's perception anyway. To the Fae, this place resembles faithlessness. The empty. No hope. No joy. The Liam are fond of saying that faith is, in itself, glamour. You could prove them wrong here. The lifeless colors of the sanctuary stand out against an empty husk of a building, only diguising itself as a place of worship.

"Where's Ben?" Comes a voice. It is sensual. Lyrical. Low. Sultry. And dangerous. "He should have been back by now. Wasn't he simply scouting?"

"Relax, sister." Comes a voice. Caleb. Recognized by the three of them. "He probably went to go have some fun."

"Ben never has any fun." Comes the whimpering sound of audible tragedy ringing in your ears. Hollow, empty broken. "There's no reason to. No point. He just wants to kill."

"We never should have come here!" The sultry voice hisses. "We should have stayed where it is safe."

"Winter comes for all Sister. We are simply the vnaguard of the new age. Now sit down."

---

Wick catches his lower lip, shivering with that low, sultry voice. He stills a bit at Caleb's familiar voice. But then he winces, almost as if pained at the audible tragedy of the hollow voice. He hugs himself tight, shaking his head a bit as if to try and shake off that broken emptiness. Catching his lower lip, he peeks from Tabin to Evie, waiting for her to approach them down below.

---

Evie stealthfully observes the trio!
Stealth:	Evie rolls Dexterity vs 7 for 0 successes.
Spot:	<Private> Tabin rolls 6 dice vs 6 for 2 successes.

Evie creeps up to the edge of the balcony, sidling up and just sort of peeking the top half of her head over. No particular technique. Maybe the others are just /that/ distracted?

---

Evie slueths her way through the pews to get a look at the entourage.

The entourage is centered around a small firepit. The sanctuary itself, is littered with garbage with everything from newspapers to homeless dregs of sleepware and amenities and graffiti.

Caleb, is a man that gives a faint whiff of Tabin. A different dream cut from the same theme. He has a 'street tough' look, though definately shorter. About 5'4". But his shoulders are broad and russet hair. His clothes are dreggish, a long coat that is dirty with a t-shirt that is worn from lack of washing. He looms over the other two like a large shadow, a maddening presence to which the only thing of fae-ilk to him, at least from this distance, is his ears are faintly tapered.

The sultry woman, is someone that would make Evie's eyes want to pop out of their sockets. She is tall, about 6'1" with an athletic physique. She is what elves -want- to be. There is a regalness to her App 7 beauty that cannot be denied and the Dreaming, regardless her Doom, refuses to betray it. Long red hair over urban streetwear but whose fae mein is that of a knightess - armor made to accenuate curves and add to her surreal beauty rather than mere full plate. Her pale skin threatens to reflect the firelight luminously, but there is a predatory vibe from her. That she looks at everything like food.

Where Caleb is the target, and the Sidhe is the beauty, the most /interesting/, is the third person of the trio. The Troll woman is about 12 years of age and looks to be the size of one, even in her fae mein. She has little meat to her body, looking malnourished as if someone sucked the muscle out of her like a vacuum cleaner. She is a being withered, hollowed and broken, She is cradled on a pew and is the one who looks up at Evie nonchalantly.

"There's company." The girl points.

The Sidhe immediately stands and a pulls out a bow...from /somewhere/, and aims it at Evie's general direction.

Caleb, merely smiles. "Now now. No need to be rude! Come closer! There is plenty of room by the fire."

---

Evie quickly realizes she's been seen and throws her hands up defensively. "Whoa whoa whoa! Your friend's right, I only came to talk. I've heard some things, and I got curious. That's kind of me. Overly curious one. Parley?" Hopefully that keeps the bow from firing a shot? Wick keeps hidden up on the balcony with Tabin. But he sneaks a quick peek down at them. The sultry woman rather ensnares his focus. But as that hollow voice speaks to call attention to Evie, his heart all but breaks at the sight of the child, such a tragic vissage to match the voice. Hiding once more, he covers his face in his hands.

---

Caleb tilts his head to the side, giving Evie a cursory look. Then he smiles, waggling a finger at her. "....I know this one." He says. "Evie Adams." He says. He looks to the Troll. "Ruth, could you do me a solid and offer Evie a way down?"

The Troll girl, shrugs. "I guess."

Without warning, the pews shudder and break apart, lifting to offer Evie a serripticious staircase that goes down to the Sanctuary floor.

"She's with Tabin. Also seen her with the other one. The Satyr." Caleb looks to the Sidhe. "Find them. I know Tabin, they can't be far." The Sidhe nods, and slowly gets to her feet, making for the lobby. As she smiles, Evie notices that her smile comes with a set of vampiric fangs as she stalks toward the base of the balcony to head toward the lobby.

---

Tabin looks to Wick. He says wordlessly. "That's our cue. We have to hide."

---

Wick catches Tabin's meaningful glance and nods. Without making a sound, he mouths "Hidden Form." And with the slightest flicker of glamour, he sets it well before the Sidhe will make it upstairs.

---

Wick Veiled Eyes!	Wick rolls Manipulation + Fae vs 4 for 2 successes.	WP

Tabin Veiled Eyes!	Tabin rolls Manipulation + Fae vs 4 for 3 successes	WP

Evie Psychoanalyses the Dauntain!	Evie rolls Perception + Psychology vs 5 for 4 successes.

---

Caleb is definately a patron. He looks out for people. The way to help everyone is to consume them in Winter. The Sidhe has no particular goals other than to help Caleb. She doesn't think anything here is wrong or out of the ordinary."

Q: Why did he reject Glamour as a means of help?
A: Because Glamour isn't saving anyone. You stay here, you suffer, you go away. Banality is the only constant and therefore Banality is the solution.

Q: How prone is he to entertain conversation rather than aborting to kicking our asses?
A: Mid-card. He's definately a scrapper and has no problems shifting from conversation to punching you in the face (which is the physical vibe you get from him. His preferred methods are more martial). But he doesn't seem the type to just go 'huzzah! *stab*'. You, for now, are not his quarry.

---

Evie sighs, getting up quickly and landing near the top of those impromptu stairs. Where she stays. "Okay, so you've been watching us. Why? I'm new here. Help a Dreamer out." She's projecting her voice quite far, making sure the entire church hears her. "Why watch us? Why slide into Banality? What grand failure of Glamour transpired that made you reject its warm feeling in favor of a cold, static death? I may not know what you've been through, but I know my friends have shown me enough of the world hidden to most that my sense of wonder feels rekindled. I haven't felt this great since I was a kid! You'd doom humans as well as fae? Tell me. Why do you feel Glamour isn't viable?"

---

"Because it's pointless." Ruth, the Troll, says aimlessly. "There's no point. Banality'll eat us anyway. It's inevitable."

"Exactly, Ruth." Caleb gives the girl a smile and a ruffle of her hair. Ruth, is not impressed. "Tabin's Dreamer, eh? Well he did have a good taste in women. But fine. Friend of Tabin's is a friend of mine. We're stuck here in this shithole until we somehow find a way home. Banality is the key, Evie! To a better world. To our homeland. It is the key to everything! /That/ is why it consumes everything and is why it is so inevitable. It is not a chill to be feared, but a wave to be ridden. As for watching you, you are Tabin's friends...and his salvation is personal. Your his Dreamer. You'd understand."

The Sidhe comes upstairs to the Balcony, beginning to scan the area. Tabin has ducked under a Pew and is veiled.

---

Wick dives behind a different Pew without a sound the moment before the Sidhe reaches the balcony, still never quite touching the ground. He tracks her footsteps with the greatest care, making sure he won't come into view with her path.

---

Evie catches herself just about drooling over the Sidhe's beauty as the fae approaches, but shakes herself out of it long enough to head down from the balcony, crossing paths. A polite nod, in true movie cinema fashion. Her feet do make contact with the wooden pews, if only to keep hidden her flightiness for the time being. Also for the time being, her quarry? Is Caleb. And the troll girl. "Neither of you answered my question. Was there a specific event you witnessed? The dams of whimsy crashing down? If it's the steady creeping you're fearing, I'm proof positive it can be countered." She takes a seat by the fire Caleb was so thoughtful to provide. "Then again... maybe that's just a small backcurrent obscuring what you've seen? Enlighten me. My range of view is yet limited."

---

Caleb doesn't seem to be aggressive, so as Evie approaches his posture doesn't change. "I saw the truth." He explains. "The Dreaming peeled itself back and showed me it's cliffnotes. At first I was like you...believing in the impossibility of everything and the whole 'keep the spark alive' garbage. But after I got out? I realized that our durance wasn't an oddity...it was preparing me for revelation. And when it happened, I became devoted to it's cause."

Ruth, the Troll, simply shrugs. "Nothing. But nothing ever happens. All the same. Flickers like candlelight. Can't do anything about it...so why fight it?

The Nihilist drains Evie's inner Glamour (Stigma)	<Private> Tabin rolls 6 dice vs 8 for 2 successes.
Evie loses 2 temporary willpower, Evie gains two temporary Banality.

MEANWHILE, IN THE BALCONY!

The Sidhe flings open the door to the belltower, and begins clucking her tongue in preparation for a bunk as she looks up at the Bell. Tabin, looks to Wick across the pews, gesturing to the opposite staircase to head to the lobby.

<OOC> Tabin says, "Evie, lose 2 temporary willpower and gain two temporary banality. (will explain in a brief pose)." Evie loses one Willpower Evie loses one Willpower <OOC> Evie gains 2 temp Banality.

The more Ruth talks, the more....easy it is to see her perspective. How pointless it all is. How worthless. It is as if her very droll, very heartbreaking perspective is contagious dragging everyone down with her.

Evie struggles awake to make images in the fire
Struggling Awake	Evie rolls 1 vs 6 for 1 successes.
Arete	Evie rolls 2 vs 6 for 1 success.	WP
Paradox	<Private> Tabin rolls 2 vs 6 for 1 success.

---

Wick keeps careful track of the Sidhe's progress. But his attention ever flits towards Tabin to make sure he's not in danger. At the silent gesture, he hesiatates a bit but then nods. And ever so carefully begins drifting at ground level towards those stairs.

---

Wick and Tabin traverse the Balcony	Tabin rolls Dexterity + Stealth vs 6 for 1 success.	WP
	Wick rolls dexterity+stealth vs 6 for 7 successes.

---

Evie doesn't say anything right away. She simply smiles at the troll child, nodding with affirmation at her statement about flickering like candlelight, then taps the firepit with her foot. Only then does she speak. "Learn to control the flickering." With that, the flames start taking a whimsical shape. First, a unicorn, trotting around in a circle. Then it shapeshifts into a dragon, spewing harmless jets of flame from its own body of flame. Finally, the dragon changes subtly into a griffon, rising up a bit higher before fizzling back into the dance of ordinary flames that had come before. With that, she observes the child, waiting for her reaction.

---

The Troll child seems...unamused, by the semantics as if you could give the girl the world's biggest lollipop and she would complain about it's weight, heft and inability to be eaten. "And then it stops. It always stops. So why bother?"

Caleb smiles to Ruth and caresses her cheek. "Don't worry. You will be home soon enough. I promise." That makes Ruth smile. Caleb, the cultist. He looks to Evie. "The Black Knight showed me everything. It is our path to salvation. You should join us, Evie. Help me help my friend." He pulls out of his jacket a jagged, rather rustic looking dagger. It looks like a kid tried to beat iron to death but somehow, the disjointed disheveled looking blade has some measure of design. A blade, a leather wrapped handle. Embedded into the metal is the name 'TABIN MURPHY'. "Where is Tabin, Evie? Help me help him."

The Nihilist continues to consume	<Private> Tabin rolls 6 dice vs 8 for 0 successes.

---

Tabin and Wick scurry like rodents under the pews and make for the stairs. Tip-toeing down into the lobby it is wide but not large. Not much room between the Sanctuary proper and the front doors leading outside. The hallway winds around the Sanctuary, with a door that puts it to entering the Rectory and then the hall goes out of sight, probably to the common room and kitchens. There is nothing here.

Tabin grumbles. "Shit. Unlock the doors? Make for the Common Room?"

---

"THEY ARE HERE SOMEWHERE." The Sidhe shouts from the belltower. "The bell says three of them came down. A Satyr and an Eshu came with them."

Caleb smiles to Evie. "Told you I know him. Where are they? If you are worried for the other one, there is no need to fear. I simply need his name. I'll help all of them, if you help me."

---

Wick winces with the Sidhe's shout. Now they know. But at least they aren't found yet. Looking to Tabin he nods, "Best to have things unlocked in case we need to make an escape, right? Shouldn't let Evie stay in there much longer."

---

Evie doesn't respond immediately. The universe does. What looks like a flaming counterpunch from reality slams into her nose, knocking her onto the ground, on her back. "Gaahhh....!" She seems like she wants to cry, and actually does shed a good couple tears in searing pain. "...no. You don't just quit. ...guh..." She rolls onto her side, pushes herself up off the ground with great effort, tears of physical pain landing on the ground below her as she struggles up to a standing position. "...you don't quit. This time last month, that wouldn't have occurred to me at all. This time... next... month? Maybe it won't stop after all. That..." Okay, she has to take a knee. "...that is why I bother." Okay, now she gets back up again.

That act was partly for show, but wow the atmosphere is starting to get to her - and the Tellurian did kind of whap her good. She.... she looks at the dagger Caleb offers her. She's considering it. She's giving Caleb's offer serious consideration. "...then again. There is accelerationism. Apocalypse, Gehenna, Oblivion, Descension, Eternal Winter. All pointing to the same inevitable end. I..." Hesitation. She caught herself slipping, she's shaking her head no, but in the end. "...fine. Gimme the damn dagger." She holds out a hand for Caleb to do so.

Evie attempts to fake sipping the Kool-Aid
Bluff:	Evie rolls Manipulation + Subterfuge vs 6 for 3 successes.
Resistance:	<Private> Tabin rolls 7 dice vs 6 for 2 successes.

---

Tabin nods to Wick. "Let's get ready the escape hatch then." Tabin goes to the front door and unlocks it. The footsteps on the balcony are beginning to head back toward the stairs leading to the lobby.

---

Caleb and Ruth watch the weird routine of Evie. "See?" Ruth says. "Resisting hurts. Better give up."

Caleb smiles to Ruth. "Of course it is. This is why we are helping people." He looks back to Evie who seems to come to his perspective! "...a dreamer sending their lover to heaven?" Caleb smirks. "....Tabin is mine to send. I owe him that much." After a moments consideration the blade is turned handle-foward and offered to Evie. "Fine. Just make it painless for him. He's been through enough."

The Nihilist continues to consume.	<Private> Tabin rolls 6 dice vs 8 for 0 successes.

Wick overhears the conversation in the Sanctuary!	Wick rolls Perception + Empathy vs 6 for 2 successes.

---

"...thank you." Evie gingerly accepts the dagger from Caleb, expression utterly solemn. "It still hurts. But it... it won't hurt much longer." To Ruth, she offers a weak smile. "...I'm sorry. Not much longer, though." With that, she holds the dagger close to her chest, heading back up the steps to the balcony... and looks about, but can't find anyone. "No. Don't tell me you two left me here. No..." Despair once more seems to overtake her as she moves toward the stairs slowly, looking upstairs for wherever her new quarry may have been... "...they left. They had to leave though, didn't they. They aren't ready for winter's chill just yet."

Evie deduces her companions' location.	Evie rolls Wits + Enigmas vs 6 for 2 successes.

Well, there are few places for them to be. They can't be on the balcony, because the Sidhe is there who is heading for the Lobby. They didn't go through the belltower because the bell would have said so. That means they somehow are in the Sanctuary (which is unlikely, you can't exactly stealth flying over a balcony, or they are in the lobby below you where the Sidhe is headed."

---

Wick checks to make sure the door to the sanctuary isn't locked. And if it is, well he knows how to deal with that too. He stands, listening at the door. And it's then that he catches something about Evie asking for the dagger. And Caleb gives it to her. His stomach freezes. He doesn't want to believe it. "Tabin... we need to get out of here," he whispers. "We need to get Evie out of here... and help her... it sounded like they got to her."

---

Caleb nods. "No one is ready for it. But that is why we do what we do. We must have the strength they don't to guide them to the world ahead." He doesn't seem surprised. "Tabin's wily. He -was- always the brains of the operation. But you are his dreamer. He will return to you eventually. That is when you can send him." Caleb nods.

---

Tabin nods to Wick. "Well the front door is ready to go." He rests the front door ajar so you dont have to slam the bar to make it open. "She might have gone through the belltower. Let's head outside before the Sidhe comes." He tells Wick, nudging toward the front door. "I'll leave something for Evie to notice. She'll know where we went."

Tabin leaves a clue behind for Evie	Tabin rolls Manipulation + Prop vs 3 for 5 successes.	WP GL

The Shadows on the floor twist and turn with a gesture from Tabin, reorganizing themselves. Evie is a smart cookie. She can sense ambient magic better than anyone. Which will help her peg that the shadow on the floor between the front door and the sanctuary is now an arrow, pointing toward the front door, subtly. Wick nods. "Ok. Though... we'll need to be careful. Just in case the banality did get to her," he whispers. And before the Sidhe can make it down into the lobby, Wick slips off out the door.

---

Evie sighs, a forlorn look toward Caleb. "Very well. It seems the deed must be done another day." She offers a thankful nod, making her way out the front door unimpeded. She offers one last parting message. "I might like to see Ruth one more time before winter comes. We'll see."

Once outside, Evie decides to give Tabin and Wick a wide fucking berth as she places her newfound anti-Fae Kryptonite safely in her backpack. "OH MY GOD HE BOUGHT THAT. Now let's get /out of here/ before I start deciding he has a point."

ESCAPE