I will feed you to the warp myself, Harrison.
Move it. Whatever happens over there, it couldn't happen to anyone nicer.
The bargain's been struck. I will have one new soldier for my efforts this night.
Damn you all.
SHE'S PACKING
Screw you, General. And screw your war! I hope your people die. I hope they CHOKE!
Blackout, gunshot, sound of something heavy falling into the water.
how dramatic
Oops?
The bond is broken. When I return home, I will have no path back here.
Then leave. For God's sake, just LEAVE. There's been enough bloodshed.
Yes. My people need me. With or without an army. Good bye. I pray we will not meet again.
Miraculous healing lets the General call open a portal back home.
Byeeeeeeee
And I could subdue you that way?
No. But someone else? Perhaps.
Wise sensei giving ninja turainingu.
There she is. Vicki!
Vicki! Is it true? Did Harrison order me to kill you?
You don't remember?
I'm... not sure? Last thing I remember I was talking to Harrison. Then I'm waking up in the storage with a splitting headache. Came here to the dock and found this lady. She told me to wait here for you.
uhm i thought she was supposed to stay with you
What... happened? Where's the kaptin?
She's gone. She's not coming back.
I... I don't know why, but I think it's a good thing?
You have no idea.
Right. The less I know, the better. But I do know one thing. I'm sorry. For... everything.
Exit Donny.
So do you guys have a wizard clubhouse or something?
We have a headquarters, yes.
How do we get there? Magic carpet?
No, the ferry. And then the subway.
Why can't we commandeer Harrison's boat?
Yeesh. Well, let's jet. The 10:05 ferry's leaving any minute.
Exeunt.
Fadeout.
Back at the ranch!
You know what that means.
Datamining!
Good evening. I trust you are rested after last night? I admit that I am... jealous. To be out at sea again... well, it would be like old times.
Old times?
Old times. My childhood. At my mother's knee, learning from the best.
Was your mother a jinn as well?
She was... not. Formidable, but merely human. I do not often dwell on the past, but I dare not forget it. I am the daughter of the pirate queen of Ulster. And her legacy lives through me.
I have some questions about yourself.
Your mother was a poirate?
I did not say pirate. I said pirate QUEEN. She had a whole fleet of ships. She ruled the waters of half the old Irish kingdoms before she was through.
GRRL POWER!
Her portrait hangs in the study. She was... a formidable woman. But, in the end, merely human. Though it has been centuries since she passed, I still remember her. Every time I swing this blade on my back.
How's Vicki settling in?
We have spent the morning conversing. She seems quite... eager. Anxious to prove herself. I have seen her sort before. Recruits like her are the first to throw themselves into danger. And are the first to get themselves killed. I have grown fond of her. I hope that does not happen.
uguu~
Any thoughts on that last mission?
Harrison's death was... not your doing. Do not blame yourself. All her choices were the result of selfishness and greed. They caught up with her. That is all.
I'll leave you to it.
Thank you.
Eli is back at powergaming his feuer magix.
Hey there. You're awake. That was quite the harbor cruise last night. Most people would pay good money for that.
I didn't do much sight-seeing.
You mean you didn't glance once at the Statue of Liberty? I guess you're a real New Yorker after all.
But seriously, the brass ones on that guy. Showing up in the middle of the harbor like he did. Supernatural creatures used to be more... skittish. They worked in the shadows. They're getting BRAVER. Bolder. Flexing their muscles in front of mundanes. And if that goes unchecked...
he starts pacing outside the circle
Well, we know where that leads, don't we?
No, I don't. Where does it lead?
People rising up. People falling down. ... sorry, I'm not making a whole lot of sense, am I? Many centuries ago, there was a fire mage. His name was Aldin. He got bold too. He killed people with his power. Whole villages. Armies. Nobody could stop him.
again with the pacing
He was my great grandfather.
ZOMG
So yeah, I know where this leads. And it's never anywhere nice.
How's Vicki adjusting?
Surprisingly well. Better than I did back in the day. Of course, I was setting fire to everything I touched. So... there was that.
I'd like to know about Aldin.
Yeah, I guess I can't casually mention an evil fire mage and not expect a follow-up question. Like I said, he's my great grandfather. Or was. He's dead now.
"casually mention"
What happened to him?
He was brought down. It was inevitable, really. Aldin got too bold and too powerful. Someone had to do something about it. So the families of his victims got together. They made a deal with the fae of the Unseelie Court. How they did it, I don't know, but they turned themselves into... hunters.
Yippie, the wild hunt joins the list of generic fantasy things.
Fae? As in fairies?
Fairies, elves, whatever you want to call them. They're trouble with a capital T. They became the Hunters of Aldin. Infused with unimaginable power, they were dedicated to one purpose and one purpose only. Stopping and killing Aldin by any means necessary.
You don't look happy about that.
I am and I'm not. Aldin needed to die. He was... well he was insane. No question. And after a long and bloody battle, they did it. Aldin was dead. But the Hunters weren't done, not by a long shot. They decided ALL fire mages had to die. And they've been doing it ever since.
[Perception] But... you're a fire mage.
Yep. When my power... manifested, they were drawn to me like a homing beacon. They wanted to kill me. Mandana and Kalash found me just in time. They... helped me fake my death. Threw the Hunters off my trail. And I've been here ever since. So yeah, monsters working out in the open never leads to anything good. People WILL fight back. One way or another. And innocents have to pay the price. Every time.
Any thoughts on our last mission?
Harrison was a nasty piece of work, but honestly? If I was faced with the same threat, I might have done the same thing. I don't judge you for making that call. You tried to avoid bloodshed, it backfired. It... happens.
I'll leave you to it.
Right! See you around.
All that's left is the study.
Vicki the boozehound
So this place is real. It's all real. You know, when I got up this morning, I thought I dreamt it all. But everything's changed. People are... remembering. Remembering that people died. I heard Vinny crying all night. He doesn't understand. How could he? I wanna tell him, but... that would be a really bad idea. Anyway, I'm ready to get to work.
You settling in okay?
I'm fine. Just show me the monsters and I'll take 'em out.
It's good to be working with you again, Vicki.
Right back atcha. Just... don't shoot me again or anything.
Looks like I've got seniority over you now.
Yeah, whatever. Don't let it go to your head. You still have a lot to learn... partner.
How's Donny doing?
Donny? He's super pissed. He's not sure what happened, but he knows he was tricked. He's doing his best to make it right. Not that it really CAN be made right.
What happened on Staten Island since we left?
The station's a madhouse. All the victims' families are flooding the place, demanding answers. The cops don't know what to say. You'd think I'd feel a bit of... I dunno. Vindication or whatever. But I just wanna move on.
Any thoughts on the last mission?
I can't change what happened to all those people, but if I can stop it from happening to anyone else? I'm ready and raring to go.
We'll chat later.
Right. Catch ya later, partner.
Who the hell is WRITING those reports?
It has been a long time since I have seen one of the mer-folk. To hear they are so... changed distresses my greatly.
Changed in what way?
The creature in the report is almost unrecognizable from the people I once knew. The mer-folk once lived in harmony with humanity. This is several thousand years ago, of course, but... they were peaceful. Playful. Loyal to their allies. All they asked in return was to live in peace. Now I hear they are fighting for their lives? Fighting wars? Building armies? *Sigh* I suppose our world is not the only one that has evolved. Regardless, one must not live in the past. If you are ready, we will start the meeting.
Call the meeting.
I agree.
Uhh, you don't need to call me that. I'm no detective. Not anymore.
My daughter speaks the truth. For a full year, you were on a mission to ferret out the truth at great risk to yourself. Is that correct?
Yeah, who else was gonna do it?
Then it is settled. You are a detective. "One who detects". Speak no more of it.
You could also say she is an inquisitor, as one who is inquisitive.
Welcome on board, Vicki. We could use another cop around here.
We might not have the authority of the city of New York anymore, but we still got some tricks up our sleeve, don't we?
Indeed. Now to the matter at hand. The jinn were great friends of the mer-folk once. I remember them quite fondly. I am grateful you let the General live, but not at the expense of Joy Harrison's life.
Not by our hand. She killed herself, sir.
Sometimes a nasty perp does you a favor and ices themselves. Saves paperwork and manpower. Not to mention lives.
there's a slight pause
What? Pulling that trigger made things better for everyone. I ain't gonna pretend otherwise.
That was... harsh, but truly spoken.
Darn right.
You all did good work last night, considering the circumstances. But my question still stands - why? Why is the demon doing this? What does it have to gain?
We, um, still don't know.
Have you investigated the Bronx as instructed?
No, not yet, father.
Then perhaps you will find our answers there.
Maybe we missed a clue in the Village Eye. A clue only a cop like Vicki could see.
I don't see any cops. So I guess you'll have to settle for me.
You all know your duty. Report back when you have new information. Meeting adjourned!
Yeah, you get used to that.
We might as well still check out the Village Eye today.
So this is how you guys travel? By subway?
It's all we have the budget for, most of the time.
Budget constraints, yeah, I get that. But what about an EMERGENCY?
Emergency?
Yeah, like, let's say some monster is about to rip the mayor's arm off. You're gonna take the subway?
Don't be foolish.
Yeah, the mayor would just grow a new arm.
!
Right. Wait, what?
It's a... long story.
Nevermind, I don't wanna know.
We can know add BROS to the party.
Unfortunately there's a strict BRO limit of 2, so Bandana will have to ride the subway through the night like a hobo while we check the Village Eye.
Familiar surroundings.
O shit, it's teh fuzz.
Oh. Hey Cory, how's it doing?
This is probably Cory Palmer, the sucker cop from Blackwell Epiphany. His voice sure changed tho.
You know, standing here in the rain, guarding a wreck. You?
Eh, things sucked. Might be getting better. Catch up later?
Sure. It's good to see you.
He could see you through the veil? Is he void-touched?
Eh? No, Kalash asked me if I wanted a veil. I told him no.
Wait, you were asked? How come I wasn't?
You were a wanted criminal. In cases like yours it's mandatory. Sorry.
Makes sense. Hell, I almost shot you the first time I saw you.
You two know each other?
Sure I do. You would too, if you ever went to the socials.
destroyed
let's proceed
I wonder if Wendy's still at the park.
Nope, only a murderhobo.
Off to the basement.
It was a large spillover of life energy, but... essentially yeah. That's kind of it.
Get to work, inquisitor Santina.
This the stiff?
That's him.
Right, let's take a look.
:informative:
Yeah, my best guess is that he's being absorbed by the life energy in the room.
What. He's being EATEN? Are we safe here?
It's LIFE energy. It doesn't kill. As long as we're alive, we're fine.
Fine. But if I turn into plant-woman, I'm coming after you. Anyway, good news. His hands are still pretty human-ish.
[Scholastic lore: police investigation] Aha. You can take fingerprints.
Duh. Did I teach you nothing or what? Aaaand... got 'em. That's the easy part. Now I just gotta call in a favor.
A telephone! Such technology.
I'm sending you a file. Fingerprints. Could you get them analyzed for me? Yeah, it's dead ass urgent. Well, la dee dah, look at Mr Responsibility. Too busy to help out his own sister.
Nah, I'm just yanking your chain. I get it. Get back to me when you can.
she hangs up
Donny's swamped. This'll take some time. Might as well hit the Bronx. See if we can dig something else up.
Indeed.
Back to the subway.
Whom shall we take for the next mission in da hood, ye Codex? Our options are Eli, Mandana and Vicki, but there are only two party slots, so choose wisely!