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#Post#: 961--------------------------------------------------
The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamond)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
# The Case of Evelyn West (Week 2)(Scene 1)
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-15 23:41:39 | 8445
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[AC - At a table in the bar](/roomloc/5)
/roll 4d10 (Wits 2 + Awareness 2 + WP)
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-15 23:41:39 | 8446
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">4d10: 1, 6, 4, 1 =
<b>12</b></br>
</div>
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-15 23:49:15 | 8447
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[AC - At a table in the bar](/roomloc/5)
/roll 1d10 t4 (Diff 3 + Highest Sphere 1 + Additional Sphere 1 -
Quint 1 = 4 / WP for Auto)
Effect: Ghost Sight
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-15 23:49:15 | 8448
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">1d10 vs 4: 2 =
<b>2</b> (<i>0 successes</i>)</br>
</div>
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-15 23:55:16 | 8451
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[AC - At a table in the bar](/roomloc/5)
Saturday evening, Betty’s Jazz House, Manhattan.
I’ve been studying the police reports, and the lead
investigator’s notes. I tried looking him up but he died years
ago in Florida after he retired. I thought about going down and
seeing if his ghost was still puttering about but thought better
of it. Not everyone becomes one of the restless. In fact, most
people don’t. So the chances of him being in the Shadowlands are
small.
So, I did the next best thing and went to Evelyn’s favorite
jazz spot when she was alive. In her time it was a new place. In
mine, it’s old enough to be considered a heritage site, but this
is New York, a lot of things are old here. A lot of dead people
too. A city as large as New York has millions of ghosts, from
every possible time period. I saw a Lenape hunter stalking…
something. It was dark, and I don’t like to think about those
things… Lots of dead with unfinished business in a city this big
and this dense.
So, Betty’s… It’s a lively place. The door man was a big fella
dressed in a black suit. He let me in without much of a fuss,
once I greased the proverbial wheel. The inside is classy. The
decor is modern, but harkens back to the 1920s when it was
built. It smells of smoke though. I can feel the itch, so I pop
a piece of Nicorette to calm the urge to light up. I’m actually
dressed pretty well and look like I belong. A suit that fits
well. It’s a cheap suit, but I had it tailored to fit so it
doesn’t *look* cheap to the untrained eye.
I go straight to the bar and order an old fashioned. Once I have
it I sit on the stool and turn to face the club, specifically
toward the stage. My eyes roll over the crowd looking for the
tell tale signs of ghostly patrons, but…everyone looks very much
alive to my eyes. It happens sometimes. The dead, to the eyes of
someone like me, can and do appear as alive as anyone else.
Luckily, I’m not your average joe. I reach into my pocket and
pull out a coin. On one side is the image of the Ferryman, on
the other, the face of Charon. I flip it a few times and close
my eyes. THe magic pours from me, into the coin, and then back
into me, opening my mind, and making ghosts more readily
apparent to my eyes.
I sip my drink, and watch the crowd. There’s one ghost in here
that I can see. He was a young man in life, maybe 19 at most.
He’s standing next to the stage, an old trumpet in hand. He
wants to play, but I can see in his eyes that he’s frustrated
that no one can hear him. He might be of some help…
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:04:47 | 8454
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a ****.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
[[*cracks knuckles, gets to posting*]]
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:24:43 | 8470
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a ****.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
You know, celestial beings *do* have senses of humor. Some of
them, at least.
One of the lesser Cherubim that I deal with for information on
the regular set an interesting price for the most recent tidbits
I wanted: I had to go to an old-style jazz club or the closest
thing I could find, and enjoy the music, taking in the
experience for their delectation next time we met. I'd share the
experience with Mind work, give them the experience of the club.
So I dressed appropriately, a vintage-looking frock in a pale
blue to match my eyes, a pair of black pumps, and a warm, long
coat over it all. It's just too **** cold this time of year to
do otherwise. In my purse, I have my smokes, and judging from
the scent in this place, I'm not alone. So I move to find a spot
at the bar, and stick a cigarette in my red lipsticked mouth,
expecting some gallant young **** to light it for me.
They always do, somehow.
Amusingly, it seems not to be the case tonight, because I guess
guys have no **** manners any more. I look annoyedly at the
bartender, who passes me a book of matches and takes my order
for a martini, because what the **** *else* am I gonna drink at
a place like this? You don't order a Slippery Nipple or whatever
the current stupidity in drink names is, when you're at a
classier place, which this is.
So I light my own cigarette. Pfft. It's gonna be one of those
nights, I guess.
And the lovely lady in an evening gown on the stage is crooning
out "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)," which seems a little too
appropriate for my correct situation. This place is usually all
jazz standards, all the time, so if that doesn't make you sit up
and pay attention, maybe try another place.
I turn to give a long study to the crowd, and I notice a
familiar face further down the bar. The Hollower, Seth. I don't
groan, but part of me wants to. Still, I'm not exactly popular
at the home front. Probably because I don't tend to waste time
in chitchat and bullshit when I could be learning, practicing,
advancing... you know, doing *Mage stuff*.
I could at least see what he's up to, maybe. I doubt it's for
the same reason I'm here.
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 00:28:26 | 8473
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
/roll 4d10 t6
Wits 2 + Alertness 2
Does he even notice her?
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 00:28:26 | 8474
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">4d10 vs 6: 4, 2,
1, <b>6</b> = <b>13</b> (<i>1 successes</i>)</br>
</div>
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 00:37:57 | 8505
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
The young man with the trumpet moves away from the stage while
the woman sings. It’s good, but I’m not actually here for the
music. I like jazz, but I’m on a case. I down my old fashioned
and push off the stool to walk over to him. My body moves out of
people’s way as I go, whether they’re a ghost or a living
person. It makes no difference. I’m sure it looks strange as I
instinctively move out of the way of a rather large wraith to
avoid walking through him. That always squicks me out. I also
duck under…nothing…to normal eyes. I see the Shadowlands, and
there’s a fallen wooden beam where I ducked.
I lean on the wall next to the ghost. “Been here a while?” I ask
him with a smile. He looks at me with a strange expression.
They’re never used to one of the Quick being able to interact
with them. “Who are you?” He asks and I smile even brighter.
“Seth Vaughn, private detective. I’m investigating the death of
Evelyn West. Know her?” He looks like he might be old enough to
remember her. His clothes are lower class but fitting of the
era. The look he gives me at the question says it all. He knows
her, but he’s not sure he wants to tell me anything…
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:42:50 | 8519
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">6d10: 4, 5, 5, 2,
10, 1 = <b>27</b></br>
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:44:10 | 8527
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">6d10 vs 7:
<b>7</b>, 3, 1, 3, 6, <b>7</b> = <b>27</b> (<i>2
successes</i>)</br>
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:51:27 | 8535
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a ****.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
/roll 3d10 t7 (Dexterity + 0 Stealth, +1 diff)
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:51:27 | 8536
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">3d10 vs 7:
<b>10</b>, <b>8</b>, 2 = <b>20</b> (<i>2 successes</i>)</br>
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 00:54:22 | 8537
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a ****.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
So I was just about to get up and walk over, and then he
*leaves*. What the ****, Chuck? I don't think he even saw me.
Oh, wait, right, private investigator. So he's maybe...
investigating. I see him duck something that isn't there, and I
ponder what it is. If it were me, I'd say it was something
Penumbral, but given that he's known around Tammany Hall for
being a Deathspeaker, it's probably something in the
Shadowlands. I peer, and I don't see ****, but then I blink
hard, take a swallow from my martini, and look again. Ahhh. A
ghost of some sort. I don't really deal much with the Deadlands.
That is to say, I don't do it at all. I already have my hands
full with the High-Umbrood I tend to spend time with. The last
thing I want is another realm of possibility to master.
At least, for right now.
So, I get up, and I do my level best to be circumspect about it
while I approach, pretending I'm moving closer for the band, and
then finding myself a nice little spot to eavesdrop. I will only
really hear one side of the conversation, but that might be
enough to get a clue of what's going on.
Amazingly, I dodge around taller people, and conceal myself
behind them somehow. If worse comes to worst, I could turn the
smoke into a screen from sight, but that's about as subtle as
whipping out your **** at someone, so let's not.
Man, the **** I go through in order to get a little information.
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 01:05:43 | 8547
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
/roll 5d10 Perception 4 (Fine Detail) + Empath 1
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 01:05:43 | 8548
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">5d10: 9, 9, 2, 6,
2 = <b>28</b></br>
</div>
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 01:08:09 | 8549
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
A little information goes a long way. I don’t notice her. I’m
too wrapped up in getting information from this Wraith. He plays
absentmindedly with the valves on his trumpet. “Yeah, I know
‘er.” I says in an old New York accent with a slight Irish lilt.
Nice. “Were you around when she was coming here?” It’s likely he
was, but he could just know her as a wraith. She comes here
occasionally, or at least she told me she did.
“Look, I don’t want Miss West getting into any trouble.” He
says. “She’s not in any trouble. She hired me. I’m a PI. She
wants to know why her boyfriend, a guy named Victor Grayson,
carved her heart out of her chest.” I tell the ghost. He
flinches at the imagery. “I saw the tools he did it with. He was
a necromancer, the not nice kind.” It’s me, I’m the nice kind.
“Whatever he needed her heart for, it ain’t good.”
The trumpeter looks down at his trumpet for a moment before
looking up at me. “Look, Miss West is a nice lady. Treats
everyone with respect. I wanna help you, but I don’t know
nothin’ really.” He says, a hint of fear in his eyes. Something,
or someone, is compelling him to keep quiet about something… I’m
about to press him when he seems to gain a little confidence.
“Vi…” A silver blade bursts through his chest, and tears his
Corpus asunder… The look on my face as both he and the blade
fade into the stuff of the Shadowlands speaks volumes…
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 01:38:17 | 8588
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a ****.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
So he got hired... by a dead woman.
*Fascinating.*
He speaks as if there's a *nice* kind of Necromancer... well,
sure, kiddies, all the deathmages hand out cotton candy and
lollipops after the zombie summonings, really. And then it goes
on, and I'm left with a 'huh' on my lips, smoking thoughtfully
as I listen. This might be interesting enough to offer help, but
I can't do squat with dead people, so I'll have to see what I
*can* do. Not that I'd admit to having a weak spot...
And now Seth looks like he's about to puke his guts up. Oh boy.
Something happened that I didn't see... right, time to learn
*Ars Fatuus*.
Godsdamnit.
I approach, and manage an expression of concern as I ask, "What
was that all about?"
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 01:59:20 | 8600
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
I pick up the ghost’s trumpet. It’s what’s left of him. I hadn’t
expected that to happen. If I’d know… Would I have been able to
stop it? Would I have stopped my investigation? I don’t know. I
was hired to find Evelyn’s killer and discover what happened to
her heart. I just don’t know…
Then I hear a voice. Once I only vaguely recognize. I look up to
see Faye. She’s a chantry-mate. Higher up on the totem pole, but
not as much as she probably wishes. I’ve heard stories about
her. Right now, her expression and tone, I wonder if the stories
are true. People say she’s…difficult…in the best of times.
“Do you believe in ghosts?” I ask as I stand up. The trumpet
begins to fade in my hands, not that she’d be able to see it. “I
just watched one get discorporated via some kind of silver
knife.” A spell effect, of course, but not one I’m capable of…
“Sometimes I miss simpler times.” I say, kind of muttery. Back
when I was a static magic user things were simpler, and I felt
more capable… If I was still capable of those magics, I may have
been able to stop what happened.
I stand up, resolve on my face. “Probably by a man named Victor
Grayson, or something he left behind.” I say, righteous fury in
my eyes, behind me otherwise calm expression.
----
#Post#: 962--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamon
d) (pt 1)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 17:41:34 | 8832
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a bitch.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
/roll 6d10 t6
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 17:41:34 | 8833
<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">6d10 vs 6:
<b>9</b>, 3, 3, 2, <b>8</b>, 4 = <b>29</b> (<i>2
successes</i>)</br>
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-16 17:53:39 | 8837
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a bitch.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
He's holding something in his hand; I can't tell what, but
there's a dark sort of anti-glow around it, so it's probably
something from the Deadlands. Right. *Ars Fatum* pronto. I hate
not being in the know. I'll have to bargain something to get
some instruction, but perhaps dear old Dad will help me out.
Fuck the *mi'ahs*, seriously.
"Do I believe in ghosts?" I scoff at him. "What the hell kind of
question is that? Do you believe in *magic*? Sheesh." I roll my
eyes, irritated at that question. "I'm an *Adept Major*, of
course I know about the restless dead." The revelation about the
ghost getting ganked makes me ooof, and shake my head. "Friend
of yours? That sucks." A pause. "A silver ghost-killing knife,
that sounds like something the Euthanatos would know a lot
about."
His mutter just makes me smile, because I know his sorcerous
pedigree. It's actually one of the positive things about him,
because Hermetics as a rule are static magicians first, so I
went through that phase myself. Of course, I was about ten when
I became an actual mage, but not everyone's a prodigy. Still, it
means he has some grounding in the Art before Awakening, which
is a big deal in this day of Traditions just randomly Awakening
any random person that piques their interest.
Of course, it doesn't occur to me until after that smiling after
his comment was an entirely inappropriate response. I don't show
any sign of having made a mistake, but the smile fades quickly.
"I'm one of the few *Ars Manium* specialists among the local
Hermetics, but my expertise is more in High Umbrood. Still, it
looks like you're in over your head here." I'm offering help,
though not in so many words. "It might not be a bad time to
check the library. I mean, the public library, for any records
of the crime you're investigating, if you haven't yet. If it's
old, it'll be in the microfiche section."
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-16 20:01:44 | 8838
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
She’s right, that was a dumb question. Mages, all of us, are
learned people. We know things Sleepers never could. Ghosts
wouldn’t be outside of the realms of possibility, especially for
those of us who deal with spirits. Death spirits in my case, but
spirits nonetheless.
“Not a friend, no. Someone who I was hoping could give me
information about the night Evelyn West was killed.” I explain,
as the trumpet finally fades away, becoming the stuff of the
Shadowlands. I allow the effect I had cast to end. Not that it
changes much. Ghosts are just no longer highlighted for me.
“Could be.” I’ve never worked with a Euthanatoi, and only know
of them through things others have told me.
“I know who killed her, but I need to know why. Victor Grayson,
an occultist from the 1920s.” I stop and look around. “But there
are more appropriate places to talk about the case.” Meaning,
not in a room full of Sleepers who could overhear.
Ars Manium – The Art of the Mind. Yes, I know Latin. A lot of
the books I learned my Sorcerous abilities from I learned from
books in both Latin and Greek, so I took the time to learn them.
I’m also just good with language overall. A natural, one might
say. “That might be a good idea.” Going to the library. “I have
a copy of the original case file and images of all the evidence
involved. I might need to find a way to get my hands on the
evidence personally though.” Which is…highly illegal… “Being a
former cop has it’s perks.” I say with a wink.
“Sounds like you’re offering help. Didn’t expect that, but I’m
not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.” I say smiling a bit.
I know her reputation, but she hasn’t rubbed me the wrong way
yet, and reputations can be… let’s just say they’re not always
the while truth. “I figure we could start with the Library. See
if there’s any mention of an effect like the one I saw.” Then it
dawns on me that she’s a Mind specialist. “You can look at my
memories of what happened, if it’s helpful.” If she tries,
she’ll notice I don’t have mental shields up…which is dumb of
me, because I don’t have some skill in Mind magics.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-17 00:31:43 | 8969
aka "Faye"
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus | Charisma 1 | Kind
of a bitch.
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
He doesn't get annoyed at my annoyance, which is rare. Most
people find me irritating, probably because I'm usually *right*.
I listen to him musing aloud, and I nod agreement. Well, I'll
come back to the club to pay my chiminage another time, I
suppose, because I just volunteered, which is very much *not* my
normal modus operandi. I purse my lips at his comment about
needing to get hands on the evidence, and say, "Well, how long
ago did it happen? I mean, if you can figure out where it is
through a locational rote, you could just reach through space
and take what you need for the time being."
Subtle? Me? Yeeeeahno.
Though judging from how recently he became Awakened, it might
have to be *me* doing the reaching-through-space thing. Yeah,
this is what I get for offering, but hey, at least it's a chance
to get in a little more practice with *Ars Conjunctionis*. I
nod at that, surprised he'd offer to let me browse through his
head, and say, "Yeah. Let's hit a quiet spot where I can pick
out the memories, and then... huh, Library's probably closed at
this hour. Can always try the online archives first from just
about anywhere with an internet connection, though I'm thinking
the Hall is probably the best bet."
((Ars Manium is actually Spirit, FYI))
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-17 21:02:15 | 9264
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
I know exactly where the evidenceI know exactly where the
evidence is. It's in the box that contains everything related to
Evelyn’s case in their cold case storage in the basement of the
police department that services the area that my office is in.
It helps that the murder happened in my building’s basement.
“February 14th, 1927, in the basement of the building my office
is currently operating out of.” I say with a smile. “My second
stop, last week when I took the case, was the library for news
articles about her murder. My second stop was the police
department to pursue their cold case files.” I hold up the gold
badge that says *Private Investigator* on it. “I’m fully
licensed, and I used to be a cop, back in San Francisco.” I
explain to her. “It makes getting into some places easier.” I
smile at her.
“Yeah, I meant the Hall’s Library. My bad for not being
clearer.” It’s an honest mistake, but I don’t say that. She
doesn’t seem the type to take any kind of criticism well. “There
might be something useful, and they’re likely to have ritual
equipment.” I say as I begin to walk toward the door. “I can’t
speak for you, but I know some of my effects require more than a
fancy coin.” That reminds me though. I reach into my pocket and
pull another coin out. This one is…different. This one is black,
and appears to be made of iron. This one… I realize Faye might
not be able to see. It’s an Obolus, a human soul made into the
currency of the Shadowlands.
“Evelyn paid me with this, an Obolus, a human soul pressed into
the coinage of the Shadowlands.” I tell her once we’re outside
the club. “I didn’t ask her for payment, and I don’t typically
deal in souls, even if Death Spirits refer to me as
Necromancer.” I explain it, with barely hidden disgust at the
concept of souls as currency. “I’d like to free them, but I
couldn’t begin to understand how such a thing could be done.”
Honestly, it only dawns on me now that this could be more than
just payment… “Its possible Evelyn meant it for something else
too, but I don’t know what…” is. It's in the box
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-20 16:18:33 | 10712
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Kind of a bitch | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"Well," I say, as he tells me where the evidence is, "That makes
life much more simple and straightforward. I love it when a plan
comes together. What say we get to somewhere we can work safely,
and put together the whole plan?" Because now this is part of my
bailiwick, you see, and I'm generally known for taking charge. I
can be a bit bossy, but hey, he can always tell me to back off a
little, or whatever. Let's see how he rises to the challenge.
"Good, you have credentials that will make this whole thing
easier if we have to resort to hard leg work. But you already
did all of that, so we can just regroup at a *safe spot*," and I
emphasize those words, walking alongside him toward the door. It
occurs to me that I'm still holding my drink, so I drain it in a
couple of long swallows and hand the empty glass to a passing
waiter, stopping only to reclaim my coat from the coat check and
put down a tip. What? I'm a bitch, not an asshole.
"Yeah, I'm thinking the library, and perhaps my own... personal
space there." Some of the 'legacy' mages there have their own
Sanctum spaces; apparently I'm one of them. I inherited from my
Mom. It was actually in a codicil to her will left with the
chantry. I peer at whatever Seth pulls out; all I get is a
headache and a faint black nimbus in his palm. "Yeah, I'll
examine that back at home base." Prime sight should let me see
it clearly, I figure -- it's probably got *some* kind of magic
in it.
I'm finger-fiddling with my phone to order an Uber back to the
chantry -- or rather, the apartment building that we use as a
pass-through to the chantry, right there off Battery Park. Once
that's done, I say, thoughtfully, "If Death is that awful, I'm
beginning to wonder if I can just go live forever in the
Horizon." I pause to light up a smoke, killing the time until
the car arrives.
"Truth be told, I think there's gotta be more to it than just
'random souls as currency,' because I mean... there's a LOT of
ghosts, right?"
Once the car arrives, though, I flick my smoke aside,
half-finished, and get into the car, motioning him in with me.
"Come on, time to go." I'm quiet about anything of substance
through the ride back, not wanting to give any information to
the driver. It takes a while to get back to the chantry, during
which I've been pointing out the sights and relating anecdotes
about when I went there, or things that happened there, and 90
percent of it is shallow bullshit. I don't expect Seth to care
-- it's just a smoke screen to make us seem like normal people.
A short while later, we're inside the chantry. I lead the way
past the subway-car library for now and take him into a deeper
tunnel, one with a mage-locked door. I place my palm to the lock
on the door, and the room is shown once I flick on the lights.
It's a room that was that was once some sort of underground
office. It's done in the same exquisite tiling as the subway
station itself, and even has a small skylight letting in the
sight of the night sky. It's probably 20 feet on a side, and
filled with personal ritual items, books, and tapestries with
arcane diagrams on them. The floor has two summoning circles,
one with a pentagram, one with a Seal of Solomon, each laid into
the tile in rich black porcelain. There is a small sofa on one
side in rich red brocade, and a series of floor pillows
scattered around, along with a writing-desk and chair.
"Welcome to my Sanctum. I seldom allow people inside, so you're
privileged. There's a coffee pot and sink on the back wall by
the sofa if you want to put some on for us. This Sanctum has
been in my family for generations, at this point." I pick up a
notepad and pen from the desk top, and sit on the chair. "Make
yourself at home, unless you wander around in your underwear at
home. In which case, have a seat."
----
#Post#: 963--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamon
d)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-20 16:48:14 | 10713
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Betty's Jazz House - Manhattan, NYC]
I raise a brow. I’m not going to stop her from taking charge.
She’s basically on the same wavelength as I am about where we
need to go and what we need to do. Mages are willful people. It
makes sense they’d take charge. I do it too. “Always good to
know where the pieces are.” It’s a chess reference.
She means the Chantry, and I get that right off the bat. I close
the obolus in my hand and slide it back into my pocket. I didn’t
really expect her to be able to see it, but it's a soul…I’m sure
she sensed *something*. Souls tell tales, especially to those of
us used to the world just beyond human sight.
“There are a lot of ghosts, yeah, but only because there’s a lot
of time. Not everyone becomes a Wraith when they die, not even
most people” I explain. “As far as I can tell, most people move
on to whatever afterlife exists, or are eaten by a maelstrom the
ghosts call Oblivion.” I don’t know much about said maelstrom,
other than its existence, or I’d elaborate further.
During the car ride I make conversation. I’m new to the city, so
when she points out places she’s been I ask the expected
questions. The usual stuff someone new to the Big Apple would
ask. I make the same jokes a New York newbie would make, and
spout some of the same nonsense. You know…because I’m new to the
city and even I have expectations about it that are probably
dead wrong.
Finally, inside the Chantry, and a few moments later inside her
Sanctum. I whistle that impressed whistle that’s so cliche.
“This is a lot nicer than the Sanctum I’ve managed to put
together in the last month or so.” I say, honestly impressed by
both its utilitarian yet still opulent design. I recognize the
seals on the floor. “I used to use a similar set up for
summoning when I was still practicing…” I think for a moment.
“What would you call it..Ars Theurgia?” I ask, chuckling a bit.
“I always preferred the term Hedge Magic myself.” I say smiling
brightly.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-20 17:19:00 | 10714
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
*Eaten by a maelstrom* doesn't sound like a happy fate to me.
Not in the least. "I know there's at least one afterlife,
because I speak to its denizens pretty regularly. Whether I'll
end up there is anyone's guess. I'd say probably no, but hey,
I'm not the guy making the decisions. I'll worry about it when
it's imminent."
That he actually seems curious about the various places I point
out kind of surprises me, but it shouldn't. Not everyone is
bored and boring. The jokes get a lot of snickers of 'yeah,
right' but I'm mellower than my usual mien, because hey, he's
not pushing back at me, and is perfectly content to hear me out
and understands that I actually might know my shit. It's my
city, and it's a beautiful and hideous place, much like so many
things in life are. Nothing is pure, really, in the mundane
world. If you want purity, try the High Umbra.
"Oh, thanks. I mean... I keep getting reminded that I need to
take on students at my rank, and someone hinted that they would
try and take my Sanctum if I didn't. And I won't say who. But I
pretty much reminded them that this little space of delight was
willed to me by my Mom, and if they want to take it, they can
meet me in the damn circle first." Yeah, I'm totally a Tytalan,
even if I'm an unconventional one. I nod at his terminology, and
then chuckle at the expression of preference. "I used it then,
too. I've been summoning since I was like... eight? Always
supervised at the start, of course, but Dad started me early on
learning. I have to say, I find it comforting that you were
practicing Theurgia before Awakening. I feel like I can actually
have a conversation about the Ars with you."
Was that backhanded praise? Wow!
"Okay, here's my thought. I can take the vision of the place
where the evidence is from your mind, and then reach through
space to grab it and pull it in here. Then we can go through it,
copy or scan anything we need, and put it back. Then we have all
the data on hand, and you don't need to worry about accessing it
and drawing attention. Then, we divide and conquer with it.
That's at least the starting point; anything more will have to
wait until we have more of the information on hand."
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-20 17:24:19 | 10715
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
/roll 8d10 t8
Intelligence 4 + Esoterica 4
Does he know what she means by "The Circle"?<div class="alert
alert-success dieroll mt-1">8d10 vs 8: 5, <b>10</b>, 4, 7, 6,
<b>10</b>, <b>9</b>, <b>10</b> = **61** (<i>4 successes</i>)
</div>
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-20 17:48:39 | 10718
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
I don’t comment on her talk of her own future death. Honestly, I
see enough dead people, and I’m enjoying her company, despite
her reputation.
“That would be a sight" I say with a laugh. “I’ve never actually
seen a Certamen duel, but I’ve read a great deal about them” I
explain. “I learned a lot of my hedge magic from old hermetic
books and manuscripts written mostly in Latin and Greek.”
Because if you’re gonna learn hedge magic from a book, there’s a
very high chance it was a Hermetic book… “Learning Latin and
Greek was easy. Translating ancient Greek to modern Greek was
more of a challenge.”
“I don’t know a lot about the Order, but a lot of my basic
learning comes from your Tradition’s practices, combined with
some of my own ideas I developed dealing with ghosts, death
spirits, and other undead.” The work undead is almost spat out.
I really hate vampires. I miss being able to set effective wards
against them and their servants. Ghouls are the fucking worst…
“I have copies of all the files. What we really need is the
evidence.” I pull out my phone and scroll to an image. It’s an
image of a ritual knife with a silver skull hilt and rubies
inset in the skull's eyes, with a tear shaped ruby pommel. Very
gaudy, very 1920s occultist chic. There was also some kind of
amulet with the same skull and ruby design. “These are
Necromancer’s tools. The kind of Necromancer who makes blood
sacrifices, tries to raise the dead, and seeks immortality. The
kind of necromancer who could easily turn Nephandic, if not
dealt with.” Do I think Victor Grayson is a Nephandi? Not
really, no, but…one can never really know…
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 17:22:49 | 11011
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
tell me about Nephandi.
/roll 8d10 v7
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 17:22:57 | 11012
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
/roll 8d10 v7<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">8d10
vs 7: 2, 5, 3, <b>9</b>, 5, 2, <b>10</b>, <b>9</b> = <b>45</b>
(<i>3 successes</i>)
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 17:27:28 | 11013
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
I grin playfully with that. "We all die. Like the one-eyed dude
said, *cattle die, kinsmen die, you yourself must also die.* But
the one thing that lives on, he says, is your reputation."
I'm not morbid, exactly. I just have a very cynical view on
things, because I was out in the Mi'as at an age where most
Hermetics are still learning the basics of Latin and Enochian.
"Certamen duels can be flashy and exciting, or they can be very
painful, depending on who's fighting and whether or not the
losing party will surrender. But mostly, the higher-ranking
Hermetics keep them from getting deadly. I'm Tytalus, though --
we learn Certamen along with all of our other studies, early
on." I listen and nod slowly at his statement. "It shows. You
honestly should have been one of us, I think. I mean, that's not
how it worked out, I guess, but you seem like you'd do well in
the Order. I think you're way too nice for my House, but I think
Bonisagus would love to have a deathspeaker with your
abilities."
That's pretty high praise from me, honestly. "Undead. The
entities that do not belong in this world. They speak of the
*hubris* of mages, but think on the amount of hubris it takes to
think that you can defy death itself? Sheer arrogance. And the
Tremere," I say, almost spitting the word, "Gave up their
Avatars and the glory of true magic for a weak substitute for
Theurgia. Fools and defilers, all."
That he has copied everything makes me nod, glad he's thinking
ahead. "Okay. Then... hrm." I take the phone, studying the
items, looking very displeased at the whole thing. "Ironically,
ruby is supposed to stimulate the passions for life," I offer,
looking disgusted, "And silver is the metal of the spirits and
ghosts. And yeah, this looks like post-Victorian occultist
flair."
I purse my lips, pondering the images, and then hand the phone
back to him. "Not all Necromancers, even the dark and corrupt
ones, are Nephandi, but it's a distinct possibility. One thing
to note is that the Nephandi are even weaker to paradox than
your average mage, when they're using their twisted versions of
the Spheres. Their demonic investitures, however, do not garner
paradox."
Another shake of my head follows. "Do you think this necromancer
is still alive, or a ghost, or do we not know yet? Because I
will admit, one thing I never pursued was prognostication, so my
command of *Ars Temporis* is nonexistent. But someone with that
capability would be a good choice to examine that weapon and get
some data from it. How many of the Mages here are you friendly
with? Because there is an option of going to that new pub place
and looking for someone who can do that kind of magic readily.
I... don't have a lot of friends here," I admit ruefully.
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-22 18:14:41 | 11016
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
Odin. He would say something like that… I liked Mythology as a
kid, so I know a good deal about it, and have read both the
poetic and prose eddas. Still, I just smile, but refrain from
commenting.
I don't really know the names of the houses of Hermes. I’ve
heard both the word Tytalan and Bonisagus, but never actually
knew what they meant. “Are all Tytalans known for being…” I
decide to choose a nicer word “...prickly?” It’s a small, but
friendly jab. Her personality isn’t all that abrasive to me, but
that might be because I’ve shown her what I consider basic
respect, and she seems to have returned it in kind.
“I used to be able to set Wards against them and their
disgusting little pets. The only drawback of Awakening is not
being able to access that Static Magic anymore.” Yeah, it’s
annoying, but it’s okay. Awakened magic has been way more
useful. “That’s what I studied. Spells to summon, bind, and ward
against the dead, undead, and their thralls.” Some other stuff
too, but it’s not important.
“Spirits refer to me as Necromancer.” I tell her. “Not just the
Death spirits I tend to work with, but every spirit I’ve ever
encountered.” Which is more than one might expect… “I do work
with the dead, and study death, so it’s a fitting name.”
“I don’t know much about the Nephandi, save that they’re
absurdly dangerous enemies, and that they sell their souls to
some outer world demons.” Which to be fair, is all I really need
to know. They’re twisted people from everything I’ve been told.
“If Victor is Nephandic…I doubt I’d be able to handle him
myself.” Still being new to this and all…
“His name is Victor Grayson. I don’t know if he’s alive, but if
he is, those tools will have a sympathetic connection to him,
which means we might be able to find him. Hell, if he’s dead
there’s still a connection and we’d be able to find what’s left
of him, I’d imagine.” I have some skill in correspondence, but
I’m not sure I have the raw power yet… As for the Time sphere?
“I have some skill in *Ars Temporis*” I use her word, because it
seems fitting to this conversation. “, but I lack the rawpower
to utilize it in the manner required though.”
“The Anywhere Cafe?” Roll credits… “I’ve only been there once,
but there are a lot of people from a lot of places. I’m sure
there’s someone who could help, if it turns out we need it.”
But…we came here for a reason. “I should warn you, when you
enter my memories, you’ll see the world the way I do.” Just to
prepare her. “And I don’t see it the same way others might. Ever
since I died and was brought back I’ve been able to see into the
Shadowlands. It’s constant, and almost drove me truly mad in the
beginning.”
----
#Post#: 964--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamon
d) (pt 1)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:32 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:22:41 | 11018
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
Extended roll, Mind 3, Deep Dive
will do 3 rolls tops, seeking 6 successes, 1 to duration (1
scene), 5 to effect.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:23:16 | 11019
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
/roll 4d10 v6
/roll 4d10 v6
/roll 4d10 v6<div class="alert alert-success dieroll mt-1">4d10
vs 6: 4, 5, <b>6</b>, <b>6</b> = <b>21</b> (<i>2 successes</i>)
4d10 vs 6: 3, 3, 5, 4 = <b>15</b> (<i>0 successes</i>)
4d10 vs 6: <b>10</b>, 5, 5, <b>8</b> = <b>28</b> (<i>2
successes</i>)
</div>
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:37:57 | 11023
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"House Tytalus is centered on the mastery of conflict," I
explain, not taking offense despite my reputation for being
*prickly.* "So maybe not a bad word, though a lot of us would
take offense at being characterized like a teenage girl. Me, I
don't give a shit because it's not that long ago that I *was* a
teenage girl."
Hell, it's only last year that I got my Master's Degree at 22.
In Classics. My thesis was on the varying translations of the
puns in Aristophanes' play *Lysistrata*. I wrote it in a weekend
after doing the reading all of my last semester. It turned out
well enough, graduated *summa cum laude* from Columbia. Still
debating a doctorate.
"Well," I tell him with a small, challenging smile, "There's
only one way to get back your mojo. And that's by pushing ahead.
You and your *daemon* -- your Avatar, that is -- have to meet
some challenge together and overcome it. This case you're
working on could push you that way. And it's good that you
studied it before Awakening, because the forms are reusable as
an Awakened mage -- you're just much more flexible and powerful
once you can do it with True Magick." And I say this from
experience -- I've done this both ways. "So you probably already
have some grounding in the protocols you use with the Umbrood
and so forth. Warding is both *Ars Manium* -- Spirit -- and *Ars
Conjuntionalis*, or Correspondence. Anything dealing with death
falls under *Ars Fati*, or Entropy."
Weirdly, I'm a lot less obnoxious when I'm giving information.
My love for the magic must be showing or something.
I nod. "Well, a necromancer works with dead and undead entities,
so it's a title that fits. It's not an inherently bad or fraught
title; it just means what it means. People take my being '*bani*
Tytalus' as meaning I'm an asshole, so I'm familiar with the
prejudgment. Truth is, I can't be bothered instructing them on
their misunderstandings, so it's just a matter of shrugging it
off." This is the first sign that I'm admitting to any of it
bothering me at all. I don't talk to people on this level much,
it seems.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:38:49 | 11024
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"House Tytalus is centered on the mastery of conflict," I
explain, not taking offense despite my reputation for being
*prickly.* "So maybe not a bad word, though a lot of us would
take offense at being characterized like a teenage girl. Me, I
don't give a shit because it's not that long ago that I *was* a
teenage girl."
Hell, it's only last year that I got my Master's Degree at 22.
In Classics. My thesis was on the varying translations of the
puns in Aristophanes' play *Lysistrata*. I wrote it in a weekend
after doing the reading all of my last semester. It turned out
well enough, graduated *summa cum laude* from Columbia. Still
debating a doctorate.
"Well," I tell him with a small, challenging smile, "There's
only one way to get back your mojo. And that's by pushing ahead.
You and your *daemon* -- your Avatar, that is -- have to meet
some challenge together and overcome it. This case you're
working on could push you that way. And it's good that you
studied it before Awakening, because the forms are reusable as
an Awakened mage -- you're just much more flexible and powerful
once you can do it with True Magick." And I say this from
experience -- I've done this both ways. "So you probably already
have some grounding in the protocols you use with the Umbrood
and so forth. Warding is both *Ars Manium* -- Spirit -- and *Ars
Conjuntionalis*, or Correspondence. Anything dealing with death
falls under *Ars Fati*, or Entropy."
Weirdly, I'm a lot less obnoxious when I'm giving information.
My love for the magic must be showing or something.
I nod. "Well, a necromancer works with dead and undead entities,
so it's a title that fits. It's not an inherently bad or fraught
title; it just means what it means. People take my being '*bani*
Tytalus' as meaning I'm an asshole, so I'm familiar with the
prejudgment. Truth is, I can't be bothered instructing them on
their misunderstandings, so it's just a matter of shrugging it
off." This is the first sign that I'm admitting to any of it
bothering me at all. I don't talk to people on this level much,
it seems.
"Well, that's both true and not. Nephandi are Mages whose
avatars are inverted after going through the first stage of what
they call Descension. They enter something called the Caul, and
it warps both the mage and the avatar forever. That avatar will
always be broken and twisted when it is reborn. That's part of
the reason for the existence of *Gilgul*. It takes the broken
avatar and destroys it before it can make another human being
into a *widderslainte* -- a Mage born wrong, born evil."
I continue, "They do give over their souls to it, yes. Some
worship Abrahamic-faith demons. Some worship the power that the
Lupines call the Wyrm, which is a primordial force of
destruction. And some follows the Great Old Ones, which are
outerplanar horrors that make Lovecraft look like a children's
picture-book. And from those pacts, they can gain power that is
not governed by paradox, something more akin to the instant-cast
schools of Theurgia."
He says something smart, and I nod agreement. "No. You wouldn't
be able to handle him alone. But you can work with others, and
if there's a Nephandus afoot, I am willing to do my part of
dealing with it. They are the direct enemies of Ascension, and
that's what House Tytalus does. We *fight*. Others will help
once they hear the story. All of us have at least some
obligation to protect the world and the Sleepers, after all."
I hrrrrrm again, walking a circle around him, looking
thoughtful. *Can* I push him into and through a Seeking? I'm
pretty sure I can; I've done it before with younger Hermetics.
But what will emerge, is the question? Will it break him? He
seems sanguine enough to be flexible, which is a strength in
itself. I purse my lips and then stop pacing, realizing it
probably seems creepy as hell.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:39:08 | 11025
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"Then we should poke around here for people to help, but also
put word out there. I'm sure we can find others to work with us,
one way or another. If nothing else, I can blackmail them. I
tend to keep apprised of the dirt around here just because it's
way too useful." And thaaaat would be part of why people don't
like me.
I inhale, blinking slowly. It'll be a challenge, but when have I
ever turned away from a challenge?
"That's a lot to carry around full time. Have you ever spoken to
one of the Ecstatics about it? Because many of them use one of
their Spheres each day as a sensory adjunct, keeping it active
constantly, as a way to better perceive the world. They might
have some pointers on ways to keep it from overwhelming you --
but then again, if you haven't gone insane yet, you're probably
not going to."
First I take off all my jewelry and place it to one side, in a
small silver dish to protect it. The only thing I leave on is
the fine silver chain with a Seal of Solomon pendant, which will
serve as an instrument for my focus.
I move to one side, to one of the tables where I have gems and
polished stones in a large shallow wooden bowl. I select out
three, and hold them in my hand -- one chunk of raw amethyst, a
flat, oval labradorite with a bright gold-blue inclusion, and a
pallid white moonstone. All are well-used gems in my practice.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 19:39:20 | 11026
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"Hold out your left hand, palm up. When I give you the stones,
just hold them in place with your fingers if you need to but try
not to drop them."
Then I stand before him, the little finger of my left hand
hooked gently around the pendant at my throat, and I begin to
chant in Enochian.
*One inner eye to see, one factual vision to me
One movement, mind to mind; one truth for me to find.*
I'm taking my time about this, but I admit that I don't often do
this on other mages, so I find myself not probing as deeply as I
should. It's deep enough, though.
"Just focus on what you're trying to share," I say with a
slightly distant tone.
And then I find it, and it's in my sight as well as his. The
world looks so dim and filled with haze and death. My own world
seems so bright in comparison, so much more vibrant. To see this
all the time? Difficult at best.
...and I watch what he has to show me
#Post#: 965--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamon
d) (pt 1)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:32 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-22 20:48:05 | 11028
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
“Mastery of conflict.” I repeat. It makes sense. Conflict, not
just war, but challenging yourself, your own beliefs and ideals,
it forces you to grow and change. It’s the balance of that
conflict and growth that’s important. Not all change is good.
Not all growth is needed. Sometimes it’s cancerous.
“I haven’t been a teenager in…” Well… “A long time.” I say with
a chuckle.
Speaking of The Ferryman… “I really should pay the toll, and see
what he has to teach me” I say. “The Styx is a winding river
with many secrets.” I add. Is it cryptic? Little, but Kharon the
Ferryman is a cryptic Avatar.
“Good to know I’ll be able to cast wards again. I’ve some skill
in all of those.” I have some skill in two thirds of the
spheres, honestly. I lack only Life, Matter, and Prime.
“Yeah, I still tend to not tell people about my spirit Title.
Necromancers get a bad wrap.” For good reason, honestly. As for
Nephandi… “That sounds utterly terrifying.” Is all I really have
to say about that… “But it’s good to know, regardless. The first
rule of war, know thy enemy.” I say, not really knowing if
that’s the first rule of war, but it sounds good to me. As for
Gilgul…that… yeah… “Sometimes the kindest thing you can do, if
put the wounded animal down.” I say. It’s… heavy shit…
“Never go wrong with having more people, even if the cabal would
be temporary.” I say smiling. A mage is powerful, a cabal of
mages? Power incarnate. Even I, new as I am to all this,
understand that.
Then she begins her ritual, and I watch. I do as she instructs,
holding the stones. They’re beautiful, and each has mystical
significance. I don’t understand her words, it’s a language I
have zero familiarity with, but…it’s intriguing… I will need to
ask her about it after we finish this.
I think about the Trumpeter, the conversation we were having. He
was a young black man, in clothes fitting of the 1920s. His
trumpet was new looking, odd for items in the Shadowlands. We
talk, and then he dies, a dagger bursts from his chest, silver,
and glowing white. The wraith’s corpus cracks, and then fades as
the dagger disappears…
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-22 21:29:49 | 11032
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
I smirk at the comment about him being a teenager. "It's vastly
overrated. Hormones and stupid peers and bad music and worse
fashion trends. Skibidi fucking toilet, for the gods' sakes." I
shake my head, but I'm actually chuckling now, my mood moved to
something closer to 'mellow,' at least by my standards.
"Pay the toll. That's an interesting way to put it." I follow
the metaphor, though, or at least I think I do. "Wards are a
crucial thing. This place is warded against most kinds of
spirits coming in without permission, because some spirits don't
like being summoned and will sometimes come back for a visit if
you're not careful."
One shoulder raises, and I note, "It will make people afraid of
you. That's not a wholly bad thing. You can use that to your
advantage if you need to, but most people aren't comfortable
with being disliked." I, of course, am at ease with it, because
it's just how things work with me as a rule.
"True on all parts. Knowledge of the enemy is crucial before you
go to fight. Any detail could be the one that turns the battle.
Any fact could be the one that makes you the victor." And I
chuckle at the idea of a cabal. "I've never belonged to one
permanently, myself."
And then I'm working... and I commit every detail to my memory,
perfect as it is. This way I can replay it, analyze it.
*<<Bear with me, I'm going to make this memory stick
permanently.>>*
((Assuming he doesn't panic, or try to stop her or kick her
out...))
I weave the memory a bit more tightly, making sure its threads
are perfect and secure within his mind. He will not forget a
single detail now, and all of it will come to his thoughts
whenever he chooses. Every tiny aspect of the scene can now be
slowed, analyzed, and picked apart. I focus particularly on the
dagger and what it looks like, how it's shaped, and so forth.
When I draw back, I note, "You can also do what I just did for
yourself even with the first rank of *Ars Mentis*, Mind magic.
You can improve your memory on specific items, and get perfect
recall. See, the memory is there, imprinted. We just don't
always draw it forth with perfect efficiency."
I then look at him and say, "I was tempted to try and force a
Seeking on you, but ethically, that would be mind-rape, and I'm
a lot of things, but I'm not a rapist."
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-22 21:56:45 | 11034
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
The memories are burned into my mind, not literally, but you get
it. I have a pretty good memory to begin with. I'm trained to
notice things others simply wouldn't. I study things a lot of
detectives wouldn't because you never know what might be useful.
The trumpet, for instance. It looked new, odd for the
Shadowlands. It also didn't fade with the trumpeter, but after
him. Most people would over look that. It tells me it was
important to him, and that it might still exist in the
Skinlands...in the living world. It fettered him here. Not
exactly useful, but it's something I recognize.
After she finishes and tells me I could have burned that memory
in as well, I nod. "Simple mental magics are one of the things I
am good at." I almost grin. "I'm a detective, and while I'm
usually the smartest person in the room, sometimes I'm not.
That's when they're the most useful."
"Well thank you for not mind-raping me." I say with a smile.
"Though I should attempt a seeking soon. I've been at this a
while, it's just... The Styx is deep, and dark, and the
Ferryman's toll can be steep"
#Post#: 966--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Case of Evelyn West (Week 3) (Seth Vaughn/Phaedra Diamon
d) (pt 1)
By: BIGDoor82 Date: February 14, 2025, 2:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-25 21:55:27 | 11777
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
Giving him the permanence of memories is a good thing, I figure
-- that way, no matter what happens, he's got that proof right
there, locked away in his head. It's a good thing, a sure thing
in a world where so few things are sure and true.
"There's a lot of times when being the smartest person in the
room means being smart enough to recognize that others aren't as
*wise* as they are smart," I tell him with a half-smile,
something a touch sardonic. "I picked up the 'smart' early. Now
I'm working on the 'wise' part, or at least, I kinda hope I am."
It's where I'm headed, anyway. You can only get so far as a mage
on pure intellect, and I was never prepared for that truth as a
young prodigy among the Hermetics.
"Well, you really *don't* have to thank me for that, but I
appreciate it nonetheless," I tell him with a hint of irony,
amused at his statement. "A Seeking is a good idea any time you
can feel that edge growing closer. Even if you fail, you still
learn what *not* to do next time."
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-26 01:15:59 | 11796
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
I smile. "Wisdom, some say, comes with age. Well I'm forty two
and don't feel any wiser than I was in my twenties." I say, with
a small laugh. "Better to say, wisdom comes with experience, I
think." And people can be much younger than you, with much more
wisdom. "But back to the topic at hand. We have some goals. Find
out of Victor Grayson is still alive, and whether he was
Awakened or not. Learn about the effect that tore the corpus of
that Wraith to shreds. Lastly, for me to attempt a seeking." Was
there anything else? "If you like, I can introduce you to Evelyn
West, my client. She may have the ability to manifest, some do,
some don't." That is if Faye is interested in that.
I shrug. "Otherwise, visiting Anywhere and seeing if we can
learn anything from the mages there would be a good step in this
investigation" I say, and pop a Nicorette in my mouth.
----
## Phaedra Diamond / 2025-01-30 00:11:00 | 11983
aka "Faye"
aka Lucia Pallas, Adept Major, Order of Hermes *bani* Tytalus
*Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire*
Charisma 1 | Spirit Magnet | Quint 4/4 | HL 7/7 | WP 7/7
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
"Heh. I've not found that to be the case unless someone actually
*looks* for wisdom, and even then, it's kind of a crapshoot as
to whether they succeed or not. It comes with failure, more
likely. The more you fail, the wiser you get, apparently. I
don't fail often enough to know for certain, though, so I
probably wouldn't be considered particularly wise. Smart, yes,
but wise, probably not."
Okay, goals, I'm good with goals. I'm a goal-oriented sort of
person. "I think getting those effects from the evidence box is
going to be crucial, then. Because if I can find his weapon, or
some piece of evidence linked to him, I can find someone to try
and track him through time. Because... yeah, I fucking can't." I
hate admitting that, and it shows. "Maybe a nice Ecstatic or
something. So... here's my thought. We get the box, we split up.
I'll hit the library to look up things that can rip up wraiths,
and you find us a Mage with Time magic to do a little scrying on
any item we can get."
I nod thoughtfully, and then add, "Attempting a Seeking is not
something you should try alone. Always have someone with you, if
you can. ANd sure, I could meet Miz West, maybe she can shed
some more light on things, maybe I'll think of something else
just by virtue of being a different person."
Another nod. "I agree. This sounds like a plan."
----
## Seth Vaughn / 2025-01-31 16:52:27 | 12059
Charos
*"The boundaries which divide Life from Death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where the one ends,
and where the other begins?"*
-Edger Allen Poe
[*Approved*]
Hollowed One | NYC | Private Detective
Speaker with the Dead | Potent Blood
[Tammany Hall Chantry](/roomloc/14)
I smile. It seems we have a plan, and we both understand our
parts in it. She'll do the research, and I'll find someone to
help us. It's solid, and I've been wanting to visit the Anywhere
Cafe again. I'm sure there's a time mage somewhere. We'll see.
“You're the only other mage I've spent any amount of time
talking to since I got here, unless you count the Deacon.” I met
them when I first got here. Probably the only time I will ever
meet them. They're a busy person... “As for meeting Evelyn, I'll
see about setting that up.” I stand up and look around... “I
guess we should get to our respective tasks.” I say with a
laugh. I don't just walk out. I wait a respectful amount of time
and THEN walk out.
*****************************************************