Game was 3/28/20; once again (and for the foreseeable future), Paul and Wendy Skyped in. This section was split off of the prior chapter as it begins a new story/hunt.
William wakes up at 6 o'clock as normal and heads into the bathroom. He's reaching for the shower nozzle when he realizes he's using his left hand. He looks down and stares dumbly at his right hand, which is clutching the dagger from Violet's office! Some of the verdigris is rubbing off in his hand and the malevolent purple swirls are still present. He tosses the dagger into the sink and showers. It's still there when he leaves the bathroom, so he heads downstairs into the kitchen. He starts making breakfast, but the instant his attention wanders even slightly, the dagger is back in his right hand.
After some trial and error, William discovers that if he holds some thing in his right hand, the dagger can't appear, and he realizes this is connected to the attack on Astrid Helmund's house in Stamford, Connecticut last April. He eats breakfast and then settles in to watch the news, holding the remote the entire time. Once he finishes with the morning news, he steps out into the garage to see the damage to his beloved Skylark in daylight. He sighs when he sees two massive pawprints embedded in the damaged roof, but he decides to see how much he can do here at home. He grabs some tools and starts hammering in the inside, banging out the dents. After about an hour, he manages to at least buff out the pawprints.
The hammering wakes Josh up, so he showers, eats, and goes out to help around 9 o'clock. William happily surrenders the hammer, so Josh slips into the car and manages to bang out even more of the ceiling in thirty minutes. He then stops to take a short break and rotate his shoulder and wrist as he steps out of the car – and sees William holding the dagger! Josh says slowly, "Uh, grandpa? None of the YouTube videos I watched last night indicated that was a necessary tool." William looks at him blankly, so Josh points to the dagger. William looks down, and utters, "Oh." Josh eyes him and William admits, "I found this in Violet's office yesterday. I left it there, but it followed me home somehow." Josh retorts sarcastically, "You never gave me a choice with any of the animals that did the same thing to me growing up," but he sends a group text to the cell about the blade, asking for help.
Anita got up, showered, ate breakfast, and headed to the Montoya Botanica for opening at 8:00 AM. November 2nd is traditionally very slow after Dios de los Muertos, and when she gets Josh's text only Consuela is in the botanica, browsing the half-priced leftover candles. She texts back, "Are you in danger of being stabbed?" Josh replies with a picture of William holding the dagger, and then Veltis interjects, "I'll have to see it, but my guess is that's a big problem. If that's what I think it is, any slight annoyance he has may blossom immediately into a murderous rage, and any attack he makes with that dagger could potentially drain the victim's soul." William reads the text and sighs.
Anita turns her attention back to the botanica, but Consuela leaves at 9:45 with a decent number of discounted candles. She's alone until 10:10, when the bell above the door rings as someone walks in. Anita immediately checks if the person is large or smelly,1) but the young man that walked in is neither. He's about 5'10", black, and wiry, but looks like he can take care of himself in a fight. He's got a ratty jean jacket on, with equally ratty jeans, a surprisingly clean pair of expensive boots, mirrored sunglasses, and a green bandanna over his dreadlocks. Anita isn't familiar with whatever gang he's from, but says, "No colors in here."
The young man immediately removes his bandanna and the sunglasses, but approaches the register and asks, "Anita Perez-Montoya? May we speak for a few minutes?" Anita gestures and says, "Pull up a stool." The man complies and settles in across from Anita. He then says, "Let's skip the usual dance, shall we? My name is Samir, I carry a candle, and I know you are part of the Troy cell in Northampton." Anita nods and Samir continues, "We're also aware of your recent actions against the Aegis Kai Doru. My organization often works as Sulha, mediators between different hunter groups or even between supernatural factions. To be clear, we have absolutely no issue with the Troy cell or their alliances, in fact we enthusiastically approve of their efforts. We've known about them for some time, but always respected Northampton as theirs to protect. I'm here now, in this public space, to ask if you can arrange a meeting with the entire cell. We're hoping we can head off this conflict before it starts."
He adds, "Northampton is a nexus, between the wealth, the college, and the general weirdness, it attracts many different things." Anita agrees and he admits, "One of the most tantalizing things about the Troys is the fact they've accepted two… Bound? Sin-Eaters?" Anita replies, "Bound, Sin-Eaters, Joined. Whichever." Samir nods and continues, "Two Sin-Eaters and a changeling. That's big." Anita nods but narrows her eyes and asks carefully, "You've dealt with Sin-Eaters before?" Samir snorts and replies, "No, my organization hasn't met one in a long time." Anita asks, "Decades or centuries?" Samir frowns and says slowly, "I think the last verified contact with of of your kind was back in the 1940s."
Samir admits, "Like you, I'm Springfield born and bred. But what I find tantalizing is your impressions and observations as a woman outside the Vigil. Would you be willing to share?" Anita initially agrees, but asks, "What's your group's angle?" Samir says, "We don't have one, per se. We want to prevent a needless war. Right now, two European cities are gearing up for war, the Lucifuge in Milan and the Aegis in Athens. Task Force: VALKYRIE is also gearing up. This region has already seen many hidden supernatural wars, some doing lasting damage to the innocents living here."
Anita tentatively concedes the point but asks, "What do you know of Shelburne Falls?" Samir replies promptly, "The official story is that a radical group called the Berkshire Free State detonated a dirty bomb there, and more bombs in Boston back in 2008. We know whatever happened really had to do with the True Fae and changelings and Task Force: VALKYRIE. We've sent our people into Shelburne Falls a few times and seen a few oddities that reinforce the fairie angle. However, since our network relies on people…" Samir trails off and Anita finishes with "No people, no intel."
Samir nods but adds, "We do know the state government is in the process of defying the federal quarantine. We also know that this is because of the meddling of a group of mages called the Seers, led by a sorcerer called Solomon." Anita hisses in outrage and Samir replies wryly, "I see you've heard of him." His eyes wander and Anita realizes he can see The Witch! The Witch hovers nearby, her head cocked as she clearly tries to figure out how this young man can see her.2)
Samir admits, "For total transparency, I am part of an ancient hunter organization called the Ascending Ones, who originated in the Middle East." Anita remembers the name from Hakim's conversation with Veltis yesterday morning on the plane, and assumes the green bandanna reflects the Middle Eastern origin. Samir continues, "To be blunt, we rely on potions to give us an edge against the monsters, but this means we're also heavily involved in the drug trade, legal and… not." Anita shrugs and replies, "Everyone has a hustle." Samir agrees, and adds, "Our illicit side here in Springfield realizes we're eventually going to come into conflict with Silas Black. And before you ask, we have no idea either."
Anita grumps and Samir admits, "One of the other reasons we're reaching out to you is we have a potential common foe, even though the Montoya Botanica is renowned for its neutrality. The destruction of the Night Watch cell is a bit of a wakeup call." Anita derides that cell, but Samir cautions, "You don't give them enough credit. Yes, they were incredibly aggressive, but these young men never got a break from birth. Despite that, they held the line against the vampires successfully for years. Honestly, we're pretty sure they thought Black was a ghoul, not an actual vampire."
Samir reiterates, "I'd like to meet the cell soon and get their observations and the like. I know the Aegis started this fight, but in truth they started the war last year when they attacked the Troy household unprovoked. The more we know, the better our bargaining position with the Aegis. But we didn't want to just walk up to William Troy's front door and knock. Although that seems to work."
Anita asks, "Do you have a business card?" Samir smiles and nods, and fishes one out. It's a thick cream cardstock and has only has his first name and a phone number. He passes it on, and adds, "Just be careful with that. The SPD takes notice of people they know have my card." Samir gets up and says, ‘Now, it is time to shop." Anita retypes the number into her phone and then shreds the card as Samir does some shopping and brings up $100 worth of various herbs. He pays in cash, bids Anita goodbye, and walks out.
Anita sends a group text to the cell, "People free around 8 o'clock? I have information I don't want to repeat over text." Dr. Ranjip replies first, "Can we make it 8:30? I try to build in extra time in case a surgery goes long." Mick then texts, "Sure, and 8:30 works better for me." wod:npcs:polly|Polly]] texts, "I should be off-duty at 8:30. Springfield or Noho?" Anita replies, "I'll come up to you." Josh gets the texts and asks William if the cell can gather again tonight here at 8:30. William sighs but agrees, so Josh texts, "Meet us here at 8:30." Abby texts, "We'll see you then."