2014.09.10:The Black Forest Lab I

The Black Forest Lab I
Velok hires a stealth witch for a stealth job
IC Date	Wednesday
IC Time	Near Midnight
Players	Velok (Storyteller), Cynthia
Location	Prospect
Prp/Tp	The Black Forest Lab
Spheres	Mage and Shifter

Log

Abandoned Apartments - Room 101
xxxxxWhat once was a common room has been converted into a workroom and ritual space. The air is filled with the smell of sage and other mysterious herbs. The walls have been cloaked in lengths of thick sound absorbing fabric that make the room seem darker. The area is lit by the soft glow of candlelight and oil lamp throwing shadows about the room and leaving the corners a mystery of darkness that seems to watch silently. Closest to the front door is a cheap office desk and chairs. Farther back along the wall can be found long tables with various shiny bits, doodads, and feathers on them. Hanging curtains section off the kitchen and bedroom areas from the main room.
xxxxxOnce beyond the curtains the kitchen is clean, but lacking in modern appliances. The lack of electricity and gas means no fridge or stove. Instead, an area near the back wall has been gutted and replaced with bricks on which a small fire-pot sits with a crude metal hood to catch smoke and pipe it out. The bedroom has a brand new king sized bed. These areas are also lit by candle or natural light from the windows.

---

The Abandoned Apartments. Or so they're known on the streets. Aren't abandoned. And in fact the lower floor is a bustling market of underworld dealers, shady merchants and black marketeers. Direction up to the 'Witches place' is easy to get even if a few people cross themselves. Right on the 2nd floor is a door with an eye painted on it. Not like all the other doors on the floor which are partialy off hinges, broken or missing. This door looks like booting it would break your leg. A knock upon it also lets you know that this is a solid core reinforced door. Cynthia opens it with a smile and gestures for you to come in "Welcome to my office. Are you hungry? I have some stew and fresh baked bread."

xxxxxAfter their last encounter, the 'Witch' wasn't exactly very difficult to find. He's heard of the market before, anyone who's anyone has. Velok mostly keeps to himself, walking past and avoiding the sales of oddities and any aggressive salesmen. He wears dark blue jeans, his black hoodie with the hood pulled up, and the usual assortment of weapons upon his back that, in this place, is almost a badge of fitting in. The steps are climbed slow and Velok squeezes around a particularly engaged conversation between two people to come across the correct door. His hand raises and he prepares to knock, but he finds himself staring curiously at that eye painted on the door. His head tilts back and forth, gaze locked thoroughly on it as if the decoration was important. When the knock does come he takes a step back, continuing to stare. "Quite an interesting locale." Is Velok's first comment as he steps through the door, eyes lingering on that picture just a fraction longer before he steps out of the way and into the apartment proper. "Oh, no. Thank you. I ate in preperation." His eyes scan over the office before falling on Cynthia, face remaining neutral. "It's agreeable to see you again. I'm guessing being around here...never gets boring. What does the eye on your door represent?"

Cynthia grins as she slides into her chair at the desk "I'm a seer. Also it means that no one fiddles with my door as they think that anywhere an eye is drawn in the building, I'm watching. Which.. Technicly I am. But there is as much use in belief as in fact. What can I do for you?"

xxxxxVelok furrows his brow, looking back to the door, then allowing himself a small smile. "Quite an interesting technique, and it works?" He watches the door for a moment then invites himself to sit down at his own chair in front of the desk. "Whatever works I suppose." He tilts his body to let his legs splay out before him, stretched completely and placed somewhere out of the way. The tall person's perogative. "I've got a job you might be able to help me out with." His hands reach up and find the zipper of his hoodie, pulling it down the middle to be able to reach in and pull out a manilla folder. He tosses it onto the desk before her, his blue eyes staring into hers. "Are you interested in travel?"

Cynthia nods "It does. But only because in a way this building is mine. I can't see out of every eye painted in town. Do you know how many goths with eye of horus designs there are? Confusing mess that would be." she smiles and nods "So, a job eh. Travel to where? I do in fact like travel." she leans forward and opens the folder looking over it.

xxxxxA small smile spreads across Velok's lips and he nods his agreement. He understands the references within it. How many contacts Cynthia surely has within the building that would tell her everything and anything. The folder itself doesn't have all that much within it. Pictures, mostly, but a couple different documents. "Germany." He says rather straightforward. The first picture is one of Germany, the type you'd find on wikipedia or what not. There's a part circled in red near the southwest section. Above the circle is scribbled the words 'Black Forest'. The next few pictures is one that might have been taken by a satellite. It shows a large clearing in the middle of a densely wooded area, with significant space between the treeline and a large, barbed wire, chainlink fence. A single building sits in the middle of the fenced off area, one story tall. The roof is flat but shows air conditioner units, as well as ventilation units that one might find on the top of hospitals. From the various images, one can easily assess that the building is well guarded, though taken at different times and days, so impossible to tell very much within the way of strength
xxxxxThe next couple pictures are different. They show a black suburban with a man in a black suit with white dress clothing and black circular sunglasses. He's looking backwards, out of frame, as he stands near two children. (http://www.cityofhopemush.com/wiki/images/0/08/Leverage-Simon.jpg) The two children are both blonde, but the pictures don't get very good looks at their face as they're climbing into the suburban. They both look around the same height and same age. The scarce pictures show a 'moment in the life', the two children getting into the car, then the man with sunglasses, then the car driving away.

Cynthia hmms as she leans in examining the picture closely. "Hmm, who are the targets? The man or the kids? All three?" she begins to look over the photos very carefully. "Looks sort of like a medical center. Multiple filtered vents." she goes back to the photos of the people.

xxxxxVelok nods his head as the first sets of photos are surveyed. "Technically, all three." Velok responds instantly. With the first set of photos sorted through, the next set are revealed. Two smaller snapshots, individual, seem to have been taken in a happier time. (http://www.cityofhopemush.com/wiki/images/3/3c/Leverage-Billy.jpg) "Billy," Velok points out, gesturing towards the first. (http://www.cityofhopemush.com/wiki/images/a/a5/Leverage-Suzie.JPG) "And Suzie." Velok points out the second. When Cynthia compares, she'd tell that the pictures he points out are clearly taken from a while ago, and the comparison pictures of 'now' show the kids have changed. Both of them have their hair cut down to a military style, both are wearing different, dirtier clothes, and there is no real sense of happiness. None of them share any familial resemblance to the man indicated. "Several months ago, the two lived here in Prospect. They were taken by this man." He leans forward, tapping his finger on the picture of Simon. "His name is Simon, and he's not entirely friendly. He is the primary target."
xxxxxVelok relaxes back into the chair, letting Cynthia take it all in as he starts to explain. "Some time ago, the two were kidnapped by Simon. Normally I wouldn't care, kids go missing all the time, but it's Simon I'm far more interested in. He's been incredibly difficult to trace, covering up his tracks rather carefully. The picture with the suburban is the last known sighting of him." He takes a look back around the apartment again. "A tracker was put on the car, before its departure, and it was traced to that compound." Velok's eyes return to Cynthia and he smiles. "Medical center, yes. Possibly. Or some sort of scientific lab. I'm not...well versed in the differences." Velok admitting he doesn't know something, not entirely his best feat. "What I do know is that people with lab coats can be occasionally spotted coming out of the building on breaks, but they're always accompanied by guards. Out in the middle of nowhere, deep in a forest, and heavily guarded." He rolls his shoulders. "Someone wants it hidden."

Cynthia hmms "So are we offing him and rescuing them?" she looks up from the pictures with a grin "Or is it a see what they're doing there and then make the call as to what is going to burn or staY?"

xxxxxVelok shakes his head immediately. "There's something...special...about these two." he says, taking a deep breath. "And I have no idea what." There's no level of subterfuge within his tone, even the act of disappointment that Velok doesn't know. "He's gone out of his way so far to keep these two around, even while others he's had killed off quickly with no second thoughts. There's something special about them, but it could be anything." His eyes flicker up towards Cynthia and he nods. "I have a reasonable guess that you won't be finding Simon here, but this was the last known place the two children were taken. He's...dangerous. I wouldn't recommend engaging if he turns out to be there, but I want to know what is going on." He didn't...exactly mention the children, and his eyes watch over Cynthia carefully. "Something's special, and I don't know what. I don't even know if they're there, or if this is a dead end. It could very well be either or. I'm not going to..." He falls quiet as he tries to decide how to phrase things. He doesn't know Cynthia very well, so phrasing is important.
xxxxx"I want you to get inside without dying, find out what's going on in the building. He's gone to significant lengths to protect these two kids, I want to know why. If he's there sleeping, great. Slit his throat. If he's not, try not to get your own throat slit. I'm sure the parents of the kids would absolutely love the kids returned so they can be one big happy family again." Velok says it almost with scorn, but he reaches forward and taps his finger on Simon. "But stopping whatever this man is planning and finding a way to end him is my priority. Information is what I need. What's your price?"

Cynthia hmms and nods "Are we talking extra sensory perceptions? Enlightened?" she hmms and takes a sheet of paper out of the drawer "Just information gathering to begin with?" she writes down a number. There is a letter after it "Now if it comes to a combat engagement with targets or if you need a smash and grab followed by a burn." she writes a much larger number with a different letter after it "That of course assumes you wish to be the only one with the information and you'd prefer no scientists remain to duplicate it."

xxxxxVelok shrugs his shoulders a little bit, eyeing Cynthia. "I don't know what's in the building." he says, not entirely worrying about the numbers. He takes a look around the place once again, looking to see if Cynthia merely works here, or if there are signs that she lives here. "Information gathering, yes. I would also like to be the sole recipient of the information, but you won't be working alone." The first time he mentions there will be...more. "I'm also going to be hiring two others to accompany you." He looks back towards Cynthia, glancing down towards the numbers only a moment, then back up to her. "I'm not hiring you for smash and grab purposes. I need surgical precision on this one. I don't know how many guards there actually are, or WHAT they are, so I wouldn't recommend combat. Of course, I don't have any beliefs that you're...unable to defend yourself." He smiles, tilting his head up. "I'm going to be relying on your, and your teams, judgement on the best course of action to get inside, and what to do inside. Keep in mind, this could be a diversion by Simon. It could be a completely innocent facility." Velok doesn't believe that, but the unsurity of what's inside is...not something he enjoys.

Cynthia says, "I'm just saying, the option of leveling the place and being the only one possessing the files and drives from any servers is on the table." she tilts her head with a grin "Who else are you thinking of including?" as she goes back to looking over the photos "And what level of information are you looking for? I can also provide you multi-dimensional analysis. Possibly even questioning deceased that are there. Or are you just looking for everything you can get?""

xxxxxVelok nods his head. "Tell you what." He says with a smile, leaning forward against the desk. "You know what I want." He nods, tapping on the picture of Simon once again. "I want anything that will help me beat this man. I want to know what happened to those kids and why they're special. Why he's kept them alive for as long as he has. What's going on inside that I'm not supposed to know about." He leans back in the chair and stretches his legs out. "Whatever you decide to do once you're inside, put it on an invoice. If it helps me accomplish my goal, I'll pay it." He gives her 'The look'. The look that says make it reasonable, if you try to list excessive McDonalds as helping accomplish, he won't be pleased. "I'll be hiring Misa, who you've had dealings with before, I believe. She has some experience regarding these children and Simon. I'm also going to be offering a position to a man named Wormwood. Will any of those be a problem?"

Cynthia nods and hmms thoughtfully "I'll just need to maintain my cover around Misa. She doesn't know much about me so it'll be a bit of a reveal but I'm alright with that. Wormwood I'm familiar with. His name is known on the streets as a solid doctor. So that shouldn't be an issue." she nods "Shouldn't be an issue at all."

xxxxxVelok nods his head, glancing from Cynthia to the file. "From what I've heard, Wormwood has knowledge of medicine and science things in general. The labcoats were a tipoff, and I didn't exactly think those types were your specialties. Wormwood will hopefully be helpful in determining exactly what you guys might be looking at, and what is important and isn't." Velok shrugs his shoulders. "Shouldn't be an issue, yes." His voice falls quiet as he looks up towards Cynthia. "I've never worked with the man. You can perhaps understand why shouldn't be an issue might not be entirely...acceptable to me." He's staring directly at Cynthia now, shifting within the seat. "Simon is an incredibly dangerous man, who has an international reach. I don't know who's working for him, who's susceptible to his influence, or who my friends are." He raises his arms, gesturing around. "You can see with this assignment, I'm not exactly coming to the police."

Cynthia smiles and pulls out a sheet of velum. Honest to got parchment paper, a quill, an empty ink well and a knife. "Well, if it makes you more comfortable I can draw up a group contract for us all regarding the job. We all sign it. If anyone breaks it then everyone else will know. And then it will fall to those that enforce to reap a punishment upon the oathbreaker." she grins "But Wormwood has treated a friend of mine before. There was an incident. A shooting. You probably didn't hear about it. Cause the man doesn't talk about his jobs."

xxxxxVelok actually smiles wider when she pulls out the hardcore parchment paper and quill. "I didn't exactly think you were the type of person to sign a contract, but if that's how you feel would make things more secure, I encourage it." He does relax, letting some of the tension melt away for a time being. "I've heard some good things about Wormwood so far, but I've never been the most trusting of people. While I'm willing to take your word for it that he's assisted you before, in this matter, I would prefer safeguards." His chin tilts back up, eyes watching Cynthia carefully. "Betrayal comes quick, and with little warning. Simon will kill you, or he will have someone else do it. It will be without warning or mercy. Betrayal, should it happen, should be punished quickly to prevent further contamination of the assignment. Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Cynthia?"

Cynthia grins "Don't worry, if it looks like someones going to compromise the mission with a some betrayal, I'll deal with it. But these contracts aren't just paper and signatures. They are a metaphysical binding and when they're broken They come for you, with sharp knives in the dark that no protection you can raise will protect against because you're an oathbreaker." she smiles "It is not my first rodeo and I'm always aware of the possibility of betrayal. It is why I prefer to practice prevenge instead of revenge."

xxxxxPrevenge. Velok has never heard of that pairing, and he draws himself up out of his seat to pay atention and smile. "Interesting..." He says, glancing up towards Cynthia, then down to the paper. "Of course, if it's going to be a binding contract, the wording is going to be the most important. That, and it's also highly possible Wormwood and Misa might not entirely be willing to sign, but you have my attention so far."

Cynthia says, "We'll have to work out the wording with them with the services they're providing and with what is being provided in return. Not just payment but it can include us not revealing what we discovered to any except to each other and you as the hiring individual. If any of us are perhaps something beyond the common joe, it can include a non-revelation clause." she casually leans back ticking off points on her finger. "And then there is the punishment clause. These contracts are witnessed by entitites and if they are broken they hound the violator until they make right. But also if there is a punishment clause it calls the attention of a band of very skilled assassins who then enact this clause as a matter of religious devotion. And they always succeed. Part of their abilities are tied to ones broken contract. As long as the contract is broken, your defense against them is too. You might be able to turn your flesh into iron and teleport away at the blink of an eye, but they'll be waiting for you on the other side and their knives with carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey.""

xxxxxVelok raises an eyebrow, looking down at the contract carefully. He pays rather close attention, but the more she explains, the more relaxed he feels. "I knew someone that discussed something like what you're saying." Velok says carefully, looking over Cynthia once again. "Very similar to a deal with the devil, the details are in the wording." Velok nods at the idea of the punishment clause, at the different writings. "If you want to write it up and everyone can sign their agreement to the bind, it would be a method I haven't considered." He takes a deep breath, the happiness that things are going well apparent. "in regards to what everyone is doing...though. It will be particularly difficult to accurately give assignments and goals as I have no idea what you might find inside. It could be nothing. It could be Simon's headquarters. I don't know." Velok waves his hand dismissively. "Because of this lack of knowledge, I'm hesitant to go over exactly what I want you to do. I have what I want you to accomplish. How you accomplish it is going to be based on your particular intelligences and skills. I want to know what's in there. I want to know what Simon might be planning, why he's kept those kids special, what his plans are, if you can. If you find a secondary objective whose accomplishment would help push back Simon's plans, I encourage you to accomplish it. If anyone ends up working for Simon, or joining him, I won't be particularly pleased. I'm not hiring you all to become a problem to me."

Cynthia grins and extends a hand "Well, you have yourself a stealth witch. This should be fun."

xxxxxVelok stands up from the seat, reaching out and taking the extended hand. He smiles, leaving the folder and indicating it's for her. "I have no doubt." He says with a nod, zipping up his hoodie and looking Cynthia over once more. "I'll let you know when the plane is ready to depart and take you guys. You won't need to worry about passports and all those...things." He bows towards the woman and turns, heading back to the door. Upon opening it he stares at that eye on the surface once again, gaze lingering, then departs.