In reply to Michael (msg # 124):

Rachel being a creature of fire and rebirth
enters the building and continues looking around both in the Astral and mortal.

"Shit!" Neko shouts as the flames begin to consume the apartment. Things had taken an ironic turn...

"Feb, drag the mage out. If he's still alive, we can interrogate him. Firebird, see if you can find anything in here before the whole damn place goes up. Then you and Michael get the hell out of here too."

After doling out her plans to the others, she leaps over the still body of the mage and tries to get a bead on the street sam, hoping to disable him without killing him.

Feb's desire to hunt down the samurai is quickly quelled when the flames erupt and Neko barks an order.

"On it."

Not checking if the mage is alive or not, Feb grabs the mage by the collar and drags them out of the room into the hallway.

Looking back he checks to see if everyone else is out and good.

In reply to Feb (msg # 127):

" Michael. Where are you? "

Firebird is still scanning the area.

In reply to Firebird (msg # 128):

Michael is in the second floor condo main room battling with a fire spirit; trying to banish it. The is also an air spirit working with Michael.

There’s a decker in one of the bedrooms. Not sure if the target or the data is still in the condo or not.

@Feb. you push further into the condo as flames crawl up the wall…

Stay Frosty. 20:52, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Feb, rolled 5 using 2d6+1 ((2,2)). fail take 1XP.

…your attention divided, you never see the flames coming as the fire elemental perceives you as a threat to its summoner and lashes out. Take 2 harm

---

@Michael. your grip on the spirit’s mana…

Banish. 20:59, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Michael, rolled 7 using 2d6+1. weak success

…is unrelenting. You send the spirit from existence in this plane, banishing it, but as it flails out of existence, the mana burns across your spirit. Take 1 Harm

---

@Neko. you spot the samurai making a break for the balcony…

Rock and Roll. 21:04, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Neko, rolled 11 using 2d6+1.  strong success

…but he is a half step too slow and you have him in an arm bar before he can get out.

---

@Firebird. you enter the apartment as smoke begins to fill the hallway. a shadow tries to dart past you, Cranmore (threat rating: peer) appearing suddenly from the bedroom and trying to flee down the hall…

Stay Frosty. 21:10, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Firebird, rolled 12 using 2d6+1. strong success

…but you are too fast for him and easily block his path.


Feb [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 3
Firebird [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 3 / Essence 4
   Sky Watcher [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Services 0
Michael [X] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 0 / Essence 1
   Air Watcher [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Services 1
Neko [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 4

---

Mage [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] unconscious, maybe dead
   Fire Protector [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] banished
Street Sam [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] / subdued

Neko doesn't much care for getting in close and personal, but needs must and all that. Giving the samurai a little bit of her elbow, she growls in his ear as she begins dragging him back toward the exit into the hallway.

"You can come quietly... or I can kneecap you, and watch as you try to drag your ass out of here before you burn to death. Choice is yours, chummer."

She then shouts back over her shoulder at the rest of the team.

"Grab what you can and get out!"

Rachel will attempt to hit him with the staff hard.

In reply to Firebird (msg # 132):

combat roll is 11 with the +1 from staff

Rubbing at the burns from the fire elemental Feb grabs the mage again and drags him to the hallway.

In the heat of everything and confused from the attack Feb looks around for their target.

"Anyone see our target?"

With the fire spirit gone Michael feels the waves of exhaustion flow over him. He begins to focus him energy and being on the astral plane and starts scrubbing and masking his astral fingerprints and auras from the condo and surrounding area. He then prepares to leave discreetly through the floors to the parking garage and his meat body.


@GM if helpful Michael will use the last service and have the air spirit help him remove his astral signature from the area so it can’t be tracked back to him later.

@Neko. as the adrenaline rush subsides, the samurai doubles over in pain at the gunshot wounds he has suffered. He is going quietly.

@Michael. among the wards, the spirits and the spell work, trying to cover your tracks is like trying to dust the fireplace mantle after a nuke hit the city. You do what you can and, with the spirit’s help, you think your hasty work has covered the worst traces before you return to your body.

@Feb. the mage is dead weight and you can’t tell if he is breathing, but you do the right thing and start dragging him out of the smoke toward the door.

@Firebird. you take a swing at the corp as he tries to make his escape…

Rock and Roll. 19:17, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Firebird, rolled 8 using 2d6. weak success

…you connect a solid blow and in the narrow hallway, are able to block him from escape deal 1 stun. He is able to retaliate, hitting you with something hard and metal that he is carrying in his hand take 1 stun.

---

Feb [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 3
Firebird [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 3 / Essence 4
   Sky Watcher [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Services 0
Michael [X] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 0 / Essence 1
   Air Watcher [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] services expended
Neko [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] / Edge 4

---

Mage [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] unconscious, maybe dead
   Fire Protector [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] banished
Street Sam [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] / subdued
Cranmore [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

As Neko drags the samurai toward the door, she looks back to see Cranmore dueling with Firebird in the entryway. She stops, places a foot firmly on the samurai to keep him pinned, then brings her pistol to bear, taking aim at their target.

"On your knees, Cranmore!" she barks.

Rachel shifts her stance as she swings her staff to hit him to try to give Neko a cleaner shot.

" Yeah, surrender. "
This message was last edited by the player at 23:27, Tue 07 Nov 2023.

Feb drops the mage to the ground and follows Neko's lead and put pressure on the mage to keep him on the ground.  He aims his pistol at Cranmore and aims for his legs in case Cranmore tries to leave.

Since he's behind everyone he says, "I have a bead on Cranmore too."

In a rush Michael returns to his physical body in the back seat of the car and a low groan escapes his mouth. Slowly opening his eyes and stretching out his stiff muscles. Raising his head a little Michael takes a look around to get his bearings. “Hmm… This is Michael and I’m in the car. What‘s everyone’s location?” he says over his comms. Gathering himself he gets out of the car and moves to the front seat . He tries starting the car; hoping to find the car keys……

" So, Canmore just so you understand. I usually use fire magic on my opponents. And you have two pistols aimed on you. So I suggest you surrender. Or I will burn corpse as a sacrifice to my totem. "

Flames climb the wall, reaching some nearby furniture, changing the gray smoke to acrid black…

Everyone Stay Frosty + Stamina to resist the smoke and imminent danger:

10:53, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Firebird, rolled 12 using 2d6+1 ((5,6)). strong success

10:54, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Feb, rolled 5 using 2d6+1 ((2,2)). fail take 1XP.

10:55, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Neko, rolled 12 using 2d6+1 ((5,6)). strong success

Cranmore, seeing his bodyguards decimated and that he is clearly outnumbered by Neko and Firebird raises his hands in surrender.

Inhaling a lungful of acrid smoke, Feb doubles over, suffocating. He drops the mage and drops to the ground himself, struggling to get out of the smoke and catch his breathe. Take 2 Stun.

In the midst of the confusion and chaos, no one answers Michael’s text messages.

@Neko, @Firebird: you have complete control of the situation, but will have to Stay Frosty every turn you remain in the burning apartment.

@Feb [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] / Edge 3 - you are in serious danger and must flee or you risk falling into unconsciousness and dying in the flames.

@Michael. No one answers. You hear sirens in the distance.

Doubling over and gasping for air Feb drops the mage and starts to make his way out of the room.

Over the comms he says, "I can't get the mage so someone will need to get them out of here.  Michael the room is on fire, they have Cranmore. He appears to be surrendering."

Feb struggles to make his way out of the room.

" now let's get you away from the fire. Walk slowly out. "

Firebird moves around him holding her staff at the ready.

Talking over the coms and hearing Feb’s voice Michael replies, “Copy that, Feb. I am in the car and do hear sirens in the distance. Everyone needs to evacuate now! We need to get out of here before the authorities arrive on scene.”

Michael gets the car engine started and scans the area near him .


@GM Michael uses a check the situation action and will try meeting the rest of the team with the car. He will also try to determine what direction the sirens are coming from and the movement of the apartment building occupants who are exiting the building.

Seeing the flames flare up and Feb begin to struggle, Neko kicks the samurai toward the door and heads back to Feb. She grabs his arm with one hand and keeps her gun trained on Cranmore with the other.

"Out! Everybody who doesn't want to get barbecued, out now!"

She helps Feb along as they make for the hallway.

"Forget the mage, let's split before the cavalry roll in," she whispers calmly to Feb.

@Neko, @Firebird as the smoke blackens out the hallway, a controlled exit becomes impossible. You lose sight of each other in the dark and need to crouch low to avoid the worst of the smoke. Neko’s arms lift Feb from the ground while Firebird corrals Cranmore, leaving the wounded samurai unwatched. You both lose sight of him in the smoke as you stumble into the hallway.

@Feb. you must leave the mage to his fate, unable to both save him and save yourself. Neko pulls you by the shoulder, dragging you into the cooler air of the hallway where you gasp fresh air into your lungs.

@Michael. getting the car any closer to the building proves to be difficult. There are seventy five or more residents milling about on the avenue in front of the condo and driving into that fray will make a quick exit impossible.

Seeing the crowd milling about the front entrance Michael pulls out his pocket secretary and does a quick search for a street map of the immediate area; looking for alternate exit routes out of the building onto the street. Over the comms Michael says, “There are about 75 people milling about in front of the building. The sirens haven’t shown up yet, but they are coming.”


@GM Michael will look for a side or back exit for the condo building to meet up with the group.

@Michael. The condo’s main door opens onto the avenue. There are emergency exits on the other three sides of the building, but they all open inside the fence/wall that surrounds the condo. There is a door in the wall on the opposite side of the building that opens into a narrow alley. The door is locked, at least from the outside, perhaps it opens from the inside, but you can’t tell. The alley is too narrow for the car, but easy enough for people to walk through.