ZacksQuest
Indiscriminate Quest Taker
Intervention Bureau Training Deck
"Ah, there you are. Welcome, Asher. I don't suppose you know why you were called here?" The Director looked hesitantly between the Harbinger and the Archangel. Sandalphon merely smiled at the Director with a complacent look, bereft of any ulterior motive, and so the Director thought nothing more of it.
Sekhmet's eyes towards Asher narrowed into slits. "Harbinger," she purred coolly while baring teeth at him. Apollo turned around and regarded the special agent with a wave of his brass arm, having looked down on the complex's layout and suggested changes from memory to the illusionists and lab techs in charge of making the simulation as accurate as possible. Interns, many of monstrous origin, festooned in rune-etched plates across their body and a variety of other accessories, filed in to their designated spots, some regarding the Board Members in the balcony above them with a polite nod. Freya gave Asher a smile and a small salute with police baton in hand. "Heya, Champ. I've gotta go, but I'll be seeing you pretty soon." She said, shortly before vanishing.
The Director politely cleared his throat and began. "I've seen the reports made by Board Member Sandalphon regarding your private contract work with him, and it is nothing short of flawless. The information you've gathered under his wing has been vital to many of our bureau's most important recent operations. However... we're faced with something we haven't dealt with in upwards of forty years now. A completely new team. Greenhorns, inexperienced if not in combat then as team players. Given recent circumstances, the present members of the Board found it advisable to elect an experienced Intervention member to mentor the recruits, and after-" a bit of a lie "- some deliberation, we've decided you are our prime candidate."
Sandalphon interjected, "Not only would it soothe the consciences of some members of the Board," the angelic god smiled at Sekhmet whose eyes practically rolled back in her head from indignation, "but you could also consider it another investigative assignment, young b'nuora."
The Director blinked in temporary confusion before setting his jaw in understanding, Sekhmet began to angrily start "That wasn't something you brought up to us-!", and Apollo looked back from directing the interns to their places to regard the group.
The Director interrupted Sekhmet. "Explain your logic, Board Member Sandalphon."
Sekhmet continued right on before Sandalphon could properly explain himself, "Supplying the Heavenly Host with information before the rest of the Board is a violation of the edicts of the Intervention Pact-"
"The Heavenly Host will not receive any information any earlier than it's given to the Board. You have my solemn oath on that if it sates you, Goddess."
"It does only somewhat, alfati."
Sandalphon closed his eyes and continued. "One of the team members is something of a kindred spirit to your own, yaluod. A member of the Heavenly Host's coterie who finds the purpose he was brought up for to ultimately fly against our current goals. Unlike you, he has been led to neutrality far later in his life with years of traditions and beliefs driven into him, but I have faith that your mentorship can aid the man in breaking those traditions and I think we would all like to be updated on your progress with that."
The Director continued, "Yes, that would be St. Jacob Stewart, Wrathfu-" he stopped himself, nodded curtly, then restated, "-Patron Saint of Battle Tactics. The other members of this new team are Rachel Valac, disowned heir of the Valac name and official enemy of the Unseelie Court; Razzo, who had been caught embezzling fifteen million dollars digitally and chose recruitment over prison; Melchizedek Mochizuki, half-demon son of King Belial, currently defected to our ranks; Aziza, a djinn who was nonconsensually involved in a-" a hesitant glance at Sekhmet before continuing "-major incident that happened in al'Qasr, Egypt; Crowfather, a conceptual deity of misfortune who gained our interest by helping us end said incident; Dr. Johan Petersen, former NIS agent and human ambassador to the Nine Realms; Amelia Quinton, member of the Quinton family of psions whose connection to the Quinton Academy Tragedy can be called 'damning yet inconclusive'; Divan Naude, who you may remember from your interview years ago; Jago Hinzerhaus, an augmented defector from the Tarekith military; and Leo Cadogan, a self-taught tactician using some form of rune magic-"
He was interrupted by Sandalphon. "It's Ba'alic magic."
"Ba'alic magic?!" Sekhmet asked a bit too loudly, with some interns below perking up their heads. Apollo glared daggers at the two. Calmly, the Director asked, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I remember its use quite well. It's a bastardized version of the original script that he must've dug up from an illegal archive somewhere, but it works effectively the same- the poor boy probably doesn't know its origins. Yet another person of interest to keep a close eye on."
"As are the rest of the team." The Director sighed. "Info gathering is a secondary priority. We're making a leap of faith with this brand new team, and we need you, first and foremost, to show them the ropes and teach them Intervention procedures. You can join them for the Initiation testing whenever they're all gathered."
"Test one- on!" called out a meek and nasal voice from one of the illusionists and suddenly the green room went dark. The sounds of crickets and chittering frogs played over the splash of sea breeze and the blowing of wind, but over all of that was crunching glass and people screaming and flames crackling. The ground was covered in earth, and dirt, and grass, and though it was just a green floor it was real to the touch. The green walls and doorways were turned into a small convention center-looking locale. The interns playing enemy combatants, whose costumes were goofy and whose monstrous features only somewhat resembled what they looked like, had seemingly transformed into the real deal: lamias and cyclopses and keres and loimos decked out in battle armor, wielding semi-automatic rifles or magical blasting rods. Where there was empty doorway there now were guard stations and terminals, accurately functioning. Above, one of the spotlights- the only one left on- began to look like a full moon. The only completely unchanged part of the test was Freya, who was sitting in the reception center with a sure expression on her face. It took the combined attention of a dozen or more illusionists to keep the illusion this accurate and realistic, and just as soon as it was up it flickered back down again. "Test one- off! Uh, Director Pallas, sir, when are we starting the test in earnest?"
Pallas looked to the remaining diviner on the observation deck, who simply shrugged, and then he replied, "Give the team another few minutes, we'll know when they show up."
"Alright, take five, people!" The illusionists dispersed, getting water and talking amongst themselves.
"Alright, Asher, you go wait for the Intervention members and let them meet you personally. We'll talk after the initiation is complete."
Sekhmet's eyes towards Asher narrowed into slits. "Harbinger," she purred coolly while baring teeth at him. Apollo turned around and regarded the special agent with a wave of his brass arm, having looked down on the complex's layout and suggested changes from memory to the illusionists and lab techs in charge of making the simulation as accurate as possible. Interns, many of monstrous origin, festooned in rune-etched plates across their body and a variety of other accessories, filed in to their designated spots, some regarding the Board Members in the balcony above them with a polite nod. Freya gave Asher a smile and a small salute with police baton in hand. "Heya, Champ. I've gotta go, but I'll be seeing you pretty soon." She said, shortly before vanishing.
The Director politely cleared his throat and began. "I've seen the reports made by Board Member Sandalphon regarding your private contract work with him, and it is nothing short of flawless. The information you've gathered under his wing has been vital to many of our bureau's most important recent operations. However... we're faced with something we haven't dealt with in upwards of forty years now. A completely new team. Greenhorns, inexperienced if not in combat then as team players. Given recent circumstances, the present members of the Board found it advisable to elect an experienced Intervention member to mentor the recruits, and after-" a bit of a lie "- some deliberation, we've decided you are our prime candidate."
Sandalphon interjected, "Not only would it soothe the consciences of some members of the Board," the angelic god smiled at Sekhmet whose eyes practically rolled back in her head from indignation, "but you could also consider it another investigative assignment, young b'nuora."
The Director blinked in temporary confusion before setting his jaw in understanding, Sekhmet began to angrily start "That wasn't something you brought up to us-!", and Apollo looked back from directing the interns to their places to regard the group.
The Director interrupted Sekhmet. "Explain your logic, Board Member Sandalphon."
Sekhmet continued right on before Sandalphon could properly explain himself, "Supplying the Heavenly Host with information before the rest of the Board is a violation of the edicts of the Intervention Pact-"
"The Heavenly Host will not receive any information any earlier than it's given to the Board. You have my solemn oath on that if it sates you, Goddess."
"It does only somewhat, alfati."
Sandalphon closed his eyes and continued. "One of the team members is something of a kindred spirit to your own, yaluod. A member of the Heavenly Host's coterie who finds the purpose he was brought up for to ultimately fly against our current goals. Unlike you, he has been led to neutrality far later in his life with years of traditions and beliefs driven into him, but I have faith that your mentorship can aid the man in breaking those traditions and I think we would all like to be updated on your progress with that."
The Director continued, "Yes, that would be St. Jacob Stewart, Wrathfu-" he stopped himself, nodded curtly, then restated, "-Patron Saint of Battle Tactics. The other members of this new team are Rachel Valac, disowned heir of the Valac name and official enemy of the Unseelie Court; Razzo, who had been caught embezzling fifteen million dollars digitally and chose recruitment over prison; Melchizedek Mochizuki, half-demon son of King Belial, currently defected to our ranks; Aziza, a djinn who was nonconsensually involved in a-" a hesitant glance at Sekhmet before continuing "-major incident that happened in al'Qasr, Egypt; Crowfather, a conceptual deity of misfortune who gained our interest by helping us end said incident; Dr. Johan Petersen, former NIS agent and human ambassador to the Nine Realms; Amelia Quinton, member of the Quinton family of psions whose connection to the Quinton Academy Tragedy can be called 'damning yet inconclusive'; Divan Naude, who you may remember from your interview years ago; Jago Hinzerhaus, an augmented defector from the Tarekith military; and Leo Cadogan, a self-taught tactician using some form of rune magic-"
He was interrupted by Sandalphon. "It's Ba'alic magic."
"Ba'alic magic?!" Sekhmet asked a bit too loudly, with some interns below perking up their heads. Apollo glared daggers at the two. Calmly, the Director asked, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I remember its use quite well. It's a bastardized version of the original script that he must've dug up from an illegal archive somewhere, but it works effectively the same- the poor boy probably doesn't know its origins. Yet another person of interest to keep a close eye on."
"As are the rest of the team." The Director sighed. "Info gathering is a secondary priority. We're making a leap of faith with this brand new team, and we need you, first and foremost, to show them the ropes and teach them Intervention procedures. You can join them for the Initiation testing whenever they're all gathered."
"Test one- on!" called out a meek and nasal voice from one of the illusionists and suddenly the green room went dark. The sounds of crickets and chittering frogs played over the splash of sea breeze and the blowing of wind, but over all of that was crunching glass and people screaming and flames crackling. The ground was covered in earth, and dirt, and grass, and though it was just a green floor it was real to the touch. The green walls and doorways were turned into a small convention center-looking locale. The interns playing enemy combatants, whose costumes were goofy and whose monstrous features only somewhat resembled what they looked like, had seemingly transformed into the real deal: lamias and cyclopses and keres and loimos decked out in battle armor, wielding semi-automatic rifles or magical blasting rods. Where there was empty doorway there now were guard stations and terminals, accurately functioning. Above, one of the spotlights- the only one left on- began to look like a full moon. The only completely unchanged part of the test was Freya, who was sitting in the reception center with a sure expression on her face. It took the combined attention of a dozen or more illusionists to keep the illusion this accurate and realistic, and just as soon as it was up it flickered back down again. "Test one- off! Uh, Director Pallas, sir, when are we starting the test in earnest?"
Pallas looked to the remaining diviner on the observation deck, who simply shrugged, and then he replied, "Give the team another few minutes, we'll know when they show up."
"Alright, take five, people!" The illusionists dispersed, getting water and talking amongst themselves.
"Alright, Asher, you go wait for the Intervention members and let them meet you personally. We'll talk after the initiation is complete."
CHARACTERS: Director Pallas, Board-Member Apollo, Board-Member Freya, Board-Member Sekhmet, Board-Member Sandalphon | ACTIONS: Talking to
Lemercer
| OTHER NOTES: A blasting rod is a small staff or large wand used for concentrating and firing evocation magic; think of it as the wizard equivalent of a pistol or equivalent handgun.
Lemercer
| OTHER NOTES: A blasting rod is a small staff or large wand used for concentrating and firing evocation magic; think of it as the wizard equivalent of a pistol or equivalent handgun.Intervention Headquarters: Intervention Welcome Center and Inter-Facility Mall
The silver-haired woman in the Victorian gown turned back to look at Amelia Quinton coolly, leaning down and whispering to something cupped in her hand. On closer inspection, one would realize that it was a spider, and that beyond that there were more than a few skittering across her form. She joined a similarly distinct group of individuals, who all eyed members of the team as they passed. Two such figures- one a tall, pallid man with deep-set eyes and black, close cropped hair with goatee to match, the other a minotaur-like creature with two great bat wings on either side of his back- eyed the young woman with the choker and the horned and winged young man besides her. The silver-haired faerie's eyes turned to the foci of their attention and laughed, sounding more like a series of cut-off hisses, before answering in a breathy whisper. "My my, art thou both captivated by the newcomers? Come, thou art as aged as I, and have learned to see decades as but blinks of an eye. What is it that draws your attention to them?"
The gaunt, tall man spoke first, in a firm baritone voice that danced off the tongue with a light Romanian accent. "The young boy's power. I can sense it from here and it chills my very soul. He has the power of the Rot King within him."
The bull man nodded. "It's been quite a while since I've been in the Infernal Realm, and I haven't seen the man since the Five Year War, but the resemblance is uncanny." He looked to the silver-haired woman. "I'm surprised you haven't made mention of the fae power coming from the woman, Shayla."
The fae known as Shayla chuckled, and rasped, "I have noted it and even recognized its source and creator, and yet I still see no reason to make so superfluous a comment on it."
"What makes you say that?" asked the bull man.
"It's not one of mine." Shayla grinned. "Though, if thou both wouldst act on thine considerations and speak to the two of them, do congratulate the girl on flouncing that unstanched harlot Mab for me. It does make this old dark heart leap to see the Unseelie Queens so deliciously undone by the very obfuscation they tout."
The gaunt man hesitated. "I'm not entirely sure I am as apt to speak to them as you would have me to believe. At least, not at the moment. Zaphan?"
The bull demon, Zaphan, looked to where Rachel and Mel were headed and shook his head, "They don't have any credits yet. I'll be right back, Artur." With that, Zaphan stood up to his towering seven foot height and went over to Mel and Rachel. He stood stoically and blank-faced between them and the kiosk, not speaking for a second as he tried to figure out what to say or do, before extending his hand to them with a big grin. "You're both from Team Ezec, yes? I'm Zaphan, Captain of Intervention Team Asa, it's good to have the both of you aboard." His name, depending on which demonic or mage circles they had ran in or depending on their memory from history class, would be at least somewhat recognizable. He turned to Rachel and continued. "Oh, and I was told to congratulate you, madame, for, ahem, 'flouncing that unstanced harlot Mab'. Er, end quote."
The gaunt, tall man spoke first, in a firm baritone voice that danced off the tongue with a light Romanian accent. "The young boy's power. I can sense it from here and it chills my very soul. He has the power of the Rot King within him."
The bull man nodded. "It's been quite a while since I've been in the Infernal Realm, and I haven't seen the man since the Five Year War, but the resemblance is uncanny." He looked to the silver-haired woman. "I'm surprised you haven't made mention of the fae power coming from the woman, Shayla."
The fae known as Shayla chuckled, and rasped, "I have noted it and even recognized its source and creator, and yet I still see no reason to make so superfluous a comment on it."
"What makes you say that?" asked the bull man.
"It's not one of mine." Shayla grinned. "Though, if thou both wouldst act on thine considerations and speak to the two of them, do congratulate the girl on flouncing that unstanched harlot Mab for me. It does make this old dark heart leap to see the Unseelie Queens so deliciously undone by the very obfuscation they tout."
The gaunt man hesitated. "I'm not entirely sure I am as apt to speak to them as you would have me to believe. At least, not at the moment. Zaphan?"
The bull demon, Zaphan, looked to where Rachel and Mel were headed and shook his head, "They don't have any credits yet. I'll be right back, Artur." With that, Zaphan stood up to his towering seven foot height and went over to Mel and Rachel. He stood stoically and blank-faced between them and the kiosk, not speaking for a second as he tried to figure out what to say or do, before extending his hand to them with a big grin. "You're both from Team Ezec, yes? I'm Zaphan, Captain of Intervention Team Asa, it's good to have the both of you aboard." His name, depending on which demonic or mage circles they had ran in or depending on their memory from history class, would be at least somewhat recognizable. He turned to Rachel and continued. "Oh, and I was told to congratulate you, madame, for, ahem, 'flouncing that unstanced harlot Mab'. Er, end quote."
Characters: Captain Shayla Bloodmire, Captain Artur Demetrescu, Captain Zaphan | Location: IIHQ Welcome Center | Action: Speaking to
GumGumChomp
and
Ayama
| Other Notes: None (Currently)
GumGumChomp
and
Ayama
| Other Notes: None (Currently)
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