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	<title>Oriceran Wiki - User contributions [en]</title>
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	<updated>2026-04-08T15:35:22Z</updated>
	<subtitle>User contributions</subtitle>
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	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Jason_Parker&amp;diff=1755</id>
		<title>Jason Parker</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Jason_Parker&amp;diff=1755"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T23:01:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/4  New Junior in the school. will room with Ethan, Peter, Tanner and Luke. From Chicago. &lt;br /&gt;
“He’s really rich, and a member of a very old, very well-known dark wizard family.  Apparently, he’s a junior and a transfer from some private magic school in Chicago that finally booted him.  probably for something to do with dark magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison studied his energy curiously. It was unlike anything she had seen before. She noticed the dark streak, but there was also playfulness and lightness, and a whole mixture of other things. In fact, given that he was trying to control the conversation and act all big and brooding, there was more to him than he was letting on. This guy’s energy showed that there was something to him that might just fit in perfectly with them, although she knew his dark swirling streaks could bring something very bad to a place where she only wanted to see light.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/28  Jason is identified as the traitor, betraying Alison and Izzie to the Dark wizards, in a bar in the kemana.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 08/02 Shunned by the magical at the school, because of what he had done in the amulet incident. Shunned by his own family,also.  Se was aware of how most of his bloodline had disowned him and blamed him in part for all the death and destruction that had befallen them. That turned out to be the break he needed to walk away without any backlash. They wanted him gone. He had wandered for a while, not sure what to do with himself, reduced to living in a shelter that catered to magicals. &lt;br /&gt;
And then one day Turner Underwood, the retired Fixer had showed up at the door and offered him a chance. “I have been rescuing your kind for hundreds of years,” he had said. “What? You think my mission was to only rescue those magicals who deserved it? Would have made my job a lot easier. No… and I’m not here for those who need it necessarily, either. I’m here for those who want it. Get up, you’re coming with me, unless your own plans are working out?” &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Turner Underwood, the retired Fixer had showed up at the door and offered him a chance. “I have been rescuing your kind for hundreds of years,” he had said. “What? You think my mission was to only rescue those magicals who deserved it? Would have made my job a lot easier. No… and I’m not here for those who need it necessarily, either. I’m here for those who want it. Get up, you’re coming with me, unless your own plans are working out?”Months of listening to Turner’s long stories and taking every direction from him, rising early and working hard all day had convinced Turner to talk to Mara Berens, putting the wheels in motion. At last, the invitation arrived. The school was Jason’s only option still on the table. No other magical school would even consider taking him. Word had spread quickly through the magicals about what had happened at the School of Necessary Magic.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Melchior&amp;diff=1754</id>
		<title>Melchior</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Melchior&amp;diff=1754"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T22:55:39Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:chaacters  TSONM08/05   Melchior, Ira Heineken's illicit contact in the darker parts of the kemana beneath the school. tall, reedy man stepped into the dim light....&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:chaacters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM08/05   Melchior, Ira Heineken's illicit contact in the darker parts of the kemana beneath the school. tall, reedy man stepped into the dim light. A deep scar ran from his left temple and cut across his eye to the cheekbone. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Iran needed to purchase Kemana crystal power from him. Melchior’s reputation preceded him, and it included a lot of blood and broken bones. Melchior demanded,  “You owe me a favor—any favor—whenever I choose to call it in. And that little stone you always carry.” The stone was an elemental summoning stone, his sixteenth birthday gift and the only thing he had left of his brother. And h agreed. He was doing this for Seth. Those who killed him would suffer.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ira_Heineken&amp;diff=1753</id>
		<title>Ira Heineken</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ira_Heineken&amp;diff=1753"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T22:37:35Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/17  Professor, Mechanics and Magic class. New, just transferred in from San Francisco.&lt;br /&gt;
Professor Heineken was tall, with shoulder-length blond hair that he pulled back into a man-bun at the nape of his neck. His eyes were crystal blue, and his smile was perfect and white. He looked exactly like the kind of professor who would come from California.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“This class is about essentials. Everyone needs to know how to work on cars, or any motorized vehicle you might own. I’m going to show you how anybody can fix a car using their magic, and not even get a speck of dirt on their clothes most of the time.Everyone should know how to change a tire, check their oil, and change their oil. Besides, with the busy lives you will have when you get out of school, wouldn’t you like to be able to do car maintenance in five minutes instead of sitting at a dirty and dusty mechanic’s shop waiting for the humans to take forty minutes or three hours to do the same thing? By the end of this class you’ll be able to change your own oil, and you’ll be able to change your tire without having to touch it.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 08/02 Appearance has changed. a handsome young man in his late twenties who turned heads wherever he went. His bright green eyes and dark, almost pitch-black hair were model-perfect. (Author changed her mind?)o&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONm 08/3 Heineken met his contact (Melchior) in an illicit area of the kemana. He was up to no good.  The price of the object had risen, too, for him, the possession of an elemental summoning stone, his sixteenth birthday gift and the only thing he had left of his brother. He carried it everywhere with him. Seth had died because he had been dragged into the wrong company. Ira needed this experiment to proceed smoothly so he could avenge his brother. Ira reminded himself that he was doing this for Seth.  He retrieved a small vial. He needed a tiny sample to see if it was a good fit. It had taken him five long years to learn how to draw magic from the kemana crystals. A scar on the heel of his left hand was a reminder of the first time he had tried and the power had been too much. It had bitten into his flesh and driven him away. &lt;br /&gt;
He quieted his mind and allowed his magic to slip into his hands. Slowly, he walked forward and pressed the powerful magic against the crystals of the kemana, seeking a suitable access point. Melchior watched him closely, distracting him. Ira needed to get it over and done with. He found a slight weakness and siphoned a vestige of magic into the vial. &lt;br /&gt;
The vessel glowed a bright white-blue which was difficult to hide. He slipped it into a leather pouch and into his pocket.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ifrit&amp;diff=1752</id>
		<title>Ifrit</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ifrit&amp;diff=1752"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T22:10:17Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:species  TSONM 08/03  A species of elf (creature), who specialized in fires. Lived in a special quarter in the kemana. Discovered by Alison's crowd while wanderin...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:species]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 08/03  A species of elf (creature), who specialized in fires. Lived in a special quarter in the kemana. Discovered by Alison's crowd while wandering the kemana on New Year' Day of their senior year.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the area, he temperature of the air began to increase, and the light around them shifted to a slightly orange hue. The heat wasn’t unbearable. It was more like a warm summer’s day. The scent of burning wood and jasmine filled the air. Every surface seemed ablaze. Bright orange flames flickered and danced along the edges of the street. Small blue and orange tongues of fire licked at the exteriors of cottages and shops that seemed hewn from rocks. In a shop window, they saw everything a fire-worker could ever wish to own. Blood-red and lava-orange gems and crystal figurines. A small salamander figurine caught her eye. The creature blinked, and Alison smiled as its tongue passed over its lips. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
They went into the shop.  A pair of Ifrit stood behind a black stone counter, watching the students with dark-red eyes. The Ifrit were tall beings with vibrant manes of flames instead of hair and small black horns in the place of human eyebrows. Their angular features resembled humans, but their fingers looked slightly longer than was entirely normal. They dressed in a mix of charred blacks and vivid oranges, the loose, flowing garments moving almost like the flames around them. . Ifrit are tricksters and very fond of semantic games.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison was interested in one of the three salamander figurines they had displayed. . The first was an orange crystal lizard with small black spots down the center of its back. It walked lazily up the Ifrit’s arm, while the black stone one with bright orange toes and tipped tail walked along its hand and glared at Alison. It was the third, whose body resembled flames bound into a solid form, that held her attention. The fire swirled across its back and raced up and down its tail. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“We can strike a good bargain. I can see you have many things to exchange,” the Ifrit told her, holding the fire salamander a little closer.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner saw the hunger in his eyes when he looked at Alison’s white hair. She peered over her glasses and saw the blood-red sparks of ill intent in the Ifrit’s soul and gave him a polite smile. &lt;br /&gt;
“Thank you, but not today.” She turned away. and the black stone one followed them out of the shop. The Ifrit controlling the lizard was sure that the Drow would return, and when she did, he would take a small piece of her magic for his own.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ira_Heineken&amp;diff=1751</id>
		<title>Ira Heineken</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Ira_Heineken&amp;diff=1751"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T21:35:43Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/17  Professor, Mechanics and Magic class. New, just transferred in from San Francisco.&lt;br /&gt;
Professor Heineken was tall, with shoulder-length blond hair that he pulled back into a man-bun at the nape of his neck. His eyes were crystal blue, and his smile was perfect and white. He looked exactly like the kind of professor who would come from California.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“This class is about essentials. Everyone needs to know how to work on cars, or any motorized vehicle you might own. I’m going to show you how anybody can fix a car using their magic, and not even get a speck of dirt on their clothes most of the time.Everyone should know how to change a tire, check their oil, and change their oil. Besides, with the busy lives you will have when you get out of school, wouldn’t you like to be able to do car maintenance in five minutes instead of sitting at a dirty and dusty mechanic’s shop waiting for the humans to take forty minutes or three hours to do the same thing? By the end of this class you’ll be able to change your own oil, and you’ll be able to change your tire without having to touch it.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 08/02 Appearance has changed. a handsome young man in his late twenties who turned heads wherever he went. His bright green eyes and dark, almost pitch-black hair were model-perfect. (Author changed her mind?)&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Jason_Parker&amp;diff=1750</id>
		<title>Jason Parker</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Jason_Parker&amp;diff=1750"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T21:07:49Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/4  New Junior in the school. will room with Ethan, Peter, Tanner and Luke. From Chicago. &lt;br /&gt;
“He’s really rich, and a member of a very old, very well-known dark wizard family.  Apparently, he’s a junior and a transfer from some private magic school in Chicago that finally booted him.  probably for something to do with dark magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison studied his energy curiously. It was unlike anything she had seen before. She noticed the dark streak, but there was also playfulness and lightness, and a whole mixture of other things. In fact, given that he was trying to control the conversation and act all big and brooding, there was more to him than he was letting on. This guy’s energy showed that there was something to him that might just fit in perfectly with them, although she knew his dark swirling streaks could bring something very bad to a place where she only wanted to see light.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/28  Jason is identified as the traitor, betraying Alison and Izzie to the Dark wizards, in a bar in the kemana.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Kathleen&amp;diff=1749</id>
		<title>Kathleen</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Kathleen&amp;diff=1749"/>
		<updated>2018-12-02T21:07:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/4  A first year student, assigned to share a room with Alison, Emma, Izzie, and Aya. Kathleen chose a bed by the window, next to Alison's.&lt;br /&gt;
Light Elf from New York. Red hair, a star on her hip, surrounded by freckles. Wanted to explore the grounds, so that they would know where to go, when. Asked other girls to go with her. A kind of a loud-mouthed show-off. Showed how easy it was to move objects by opening the door of their room, with a bang. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison found  the girl’s soul interesting. She could tell by the fiery red streaks that ran through the calm blue that the girl was outspoken and wild. Her parent’s souls were exactly the same, only slightly more subdued.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/6  Kathleen's Magic: .” Kathleen stood up straight, putting her hands down next to her, and stuck out her chest. &lt;br /&gt;
She closed her eyes and pulled the energy from the ground beneath her feet. Her eyes glowed and Oriceran symbols turned and moved on her arms. She breathed deeply through the warmth of the energy, willing it into the palm of her hand. She rolled an orb of light in her hands, whispering so quietly they couldn’t make out what she said. The symbols dimmed slightly molded the shape of the energy. &lt;br /&gt;
She opened her still-glowing eyes and held out her palm, where the orb shifted into a rose, then slowly morphed into a butterfly. The butterfly took flight, whizzing around the girls to land on Alison’s shoulder for just a moment before flying over their heads again. The girls could feel the warmth of Kathleen’s magic in the butterfly as it touched them, then it finally returned to her palm and fizzed apart cascade of sparks. The symbols on Kathleen’s arms disappeared and she smiled proudly. Her Mom had taught her that one!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/8  Even though all of the girls dress in the school uniform, each one seemed to have their own . Kathleen, well, she was her own flair.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/18  Kathleen a real bitch. doesn't like shifters, and calls Luke a &amp;quot;dog:, right to his face.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 08/01  Christmas Presents in senior Year: Fairy-made bracelets,elf-made dress, a private workshop with the fashionista Madam Tae.” Wants to go to Parsons School of Design.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1745</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1745"/>
		<updated>2018-11-29T23:31:38Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUNT'''   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknown forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimeraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmeraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teenagers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUES'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbequeing. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLAN''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hit-man: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hit-man, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proof vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 '''SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn't think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone teared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACK'''   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vax Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vax monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Sentry_7921&amp;diff=1744</id>
		<title>Sentry 7921</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Sentry_7921&amp;diff=1744"/>
		<updated>2018-11-29T23:28:41Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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TUMB 12/25  Unbeknownst to any Earth being, there is an alien race which keeps tabs on other systems/galaxies(?) as to when the Vix might invade them, doing so by means of sentries stationed so that they might survey the &amp;quot;clean&amp;quot; systems.  There is always a single Vix entity which experiments with the new race, called a Forerunner. A Sentry, #7921,  has identified Brownstone as the Forerunner for the Vax, active on Earth, and has vowed to destroy destroy the creature calling itself James Brownstone, before it reaches its full potential. (I hereby report that a Vax Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”)&lt;br /&gt;
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Sentry is a female, identified as a woman (human disguise on earth). Has superior communication techniques (thin silver square, responds to visual commands. Speaks a another language, foreign to Earth. Has not spoken her own language in so long that she's almost forgotten it. ( It’d been a long time since she had spoken her own language. The words came slowly and haltingly but were clear.)&lt;br /&gt;
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The Sentry is working under the assumption that the Forerunner is knowledgeable about what it is doing, and vows to destroy it. (The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vax monster. )&lt;br /&gt;
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See Species, [[Vax]])&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Vax&amp;diff=1743</id>
		<title>Vax</title>
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		<updated>2018-11-29T23:27:55Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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TUMB 12/25  An alien race, which invades other planets/systems/galaxies, with the intend of destroying/subjugating them. Intent unclear. The Sentry's race feels it is destructive enough that any Vix invasion must be stopped, and any Vix entity must be destroyed.&lt;br /&gt;
It seems to be the Vix plan to sent an entity to the new race, called a Forerunner, to investigate its defenses, level of intelligence, cultures, etc., before the major invasion.  &lt;br /&gt;
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A Sentry has identified Brownstone as a Vax Forerunner, in disguise. How long had the monster been adapting to Earth defenses, or Oriceran defenses for that matter? The famous Brownstone had fought everyone from gangsters to Drow queens. He might very well be one of the most experienced of his kind ever. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vax monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.” (See Characters, [[Sentry 7921]])&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1742</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1742"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:16:00Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUNT'''   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknown forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimeraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmeraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teenagers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUES'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbequeing. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLAN''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hit-man: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hit-man, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proof vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 '''SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn't think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone teared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACK'''   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1741</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1741"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:15:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUNT'''   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknown forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimeraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmeraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teenagers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbequeing. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLAN''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hit-man: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hit-man, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proof vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 '''SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn't think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone teared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACK'''   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1740</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1740"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:06:49Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUN'''’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLAN''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 '''SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACK'''   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1739</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1739"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:04:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUN'''’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLA'''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 ‘’’SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACk''’   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1738</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1738"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:04:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUN'''’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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''’A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLA'''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 ‘’’SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACk''’   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1737</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1737"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T22:01:38Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUN'''’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
''’A DOG'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLA'''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 ‘’’SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACk''’   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1736</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1736"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:58:56Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/01   '''THE PLAN'''  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   '''BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS'''   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ''' FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY'''  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
'''THE COUPLES'''&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ''' THE ATTACK '''  Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 '''SHAY AND LILY'''   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE HUN'''’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
 '''’A DO'''   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ''' THE HUNT CONTINUES'''   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces. &lt;br /&gt;
'''TRIAL ATTACK'''   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  '''THE DOG CONTINUED'''   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE PART'''’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 '''HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLA'''’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hit-man out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  '''MARIA’S MOVE'''   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time'''&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/17 ‘’’SHAY COMES HOME EARLY'''   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in Alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  '''KATHY'''   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  '''THE ULIMATE ATTACK'''   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  '''AFTER THE ATTACk''’   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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''' SURVEILLANCE'''  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1735</id>
		<title>12 - Karma Is A Bitch</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=12_-_Karma_Is_A_Bitch&amp;diff=1735"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:53:30Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=11|prev=Fatal Mistake|nxtseq=13|next=Vax Humana|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07JBBKYW2|img=51c9ui2OkjL|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
The Council Is Dead. Long Live the New Council.&lt;br /&gt;
How do you have a Council of one?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone is working to get back into a rhythm, but the last remaining Council member is seeking Brownstone.&lt;br /&gt;
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Shay has jobs to do, but can she leave Brownstone alone without him dying?&lt;br /&gt;
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Can Lt. Hall go back to the AET after delivering a personal beat-down without doing paperwork?&lt;br /&gt;
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James runs across a dog (almost literally), but it disappears on him. Can he find it again, or was it just an Oriceran trick?&lt;br /&gt;
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Brownstone has the whispers of Doom in his head all the time. Can he ignore the desire to lose his mind to the power the amulet contains? When everyone has blood on their hands, who will Karma decide is going to die? &lt;br /&gt;
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Because we all know, Karma can be a Bitch.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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KARMAISABITCH-EVENTS-TUMB12 – ORICERAN&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 12/01   ‘’’THE PLAN’’’  He Who Hunts, the Council’s assassin, watched with joy the videos of the battle which had destroyed it. He cared less about them. They had served his purposes. He had used them to gather the key artifacts needed to pierce reality and delve deeper into darker and more chaotic realms. With a few more years of effort, he’d be able to connect them directly to Earth and Oriceran. A wonderful age would await. He was especially interested in watching Brownstone, who had displayed unusual abilities of which He Who Hunts had not known. He must have been holding them back for some reason. Fear? Lack of control of them? If fear, he would be easily corrupted, and available for He who Hunts to manipulate and use as a tool for his own purposes. He owned a glowing red crystal, one of the few artifacts that had survived the attention of both the government forces and Brownstone. The crystal presented a rare and useful opportunity; a tool he could use for the complete corruption of James Brownstone. He Who Hunts would only be able to use the crystal once, but when he controlled the other man, he’d be worth armies of the pathetic wizards and Zain fodder. Unleashing Brownstone upon an unsuspecting city would be glorious to behold. Such death. Such panic. Such chaos. A fool destroyed his powerful enemies. An intelligent creature turned his enemies to his own use and made a mockery of them. This was his intent. He Who Hunts’ spell had sensed the rage and anger spilling from Brownstone as he finished off his enemies. The strange armor he wore didn’t taste like any magic He Who Hunts knew, but it was clear that negative emotions were critical to its use. That would make the bounty hunter vulnerable to the power of the red crystal. Vulnerable to corruption. He called in eight wizards, changed them into monsters, and was ready to address the corruption of James Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
Trey and the Las Vegas team, while taking on a pair of  Level Three bounty twins, meet with Victoria Stone, a witch with an Armani suit and a golden wand. She tells the she’s taken up bounty hunting, so she’ll be seeing them around. She and Trey flirt a little, and go their own ways, for now. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/02   ‘’’BROWNSTONE’S CONCERNS’’’   Brownstone discusses his fears of losing control with Shay, on a bounty-hunting trip to Mexico. He admits his transformation has gone past simple armor and swords, and now includes energy blasts. He’s worried that, as he is at those moments controlled by hatred and anger, he might hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it. Shay isn’t worries about it. Thinks the only way to peace is through fighting and warfare, including the most dangerous actions. Just be more careful. Shay has been unable to find any references for him, for any of the symbols, etc., so does not know any more than he does. Shay feels that if he “feels uncertain, he needs to use it more, not less. Make sure it knows who’s in charge.”&lt;br /&gt;
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James approached the house, wanting to take the last of the Council members in, and was met by ten wizards, who started by blasting him with white balls of blue-white fire. After several more magical attacks, Brownstone and Shay  killed them with one of Shay’s adamantine knives he had borrowed. Took less than one minute. James had tried asking it about his origins, if it could provide other enhancements (portal transportation), and it didn’t know. Might  know after secondary directive kicks in , after he has achieved “advanced enhancement”. Will take all heads to local city and collect bounties.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/03  ‘’’ FORT SHORTY AND LEEROY’’’  Brownstone Agency has a meeting with all, about the activities concerning the Council. They had wanted to be in on the rest of their deaths (to avenge Shorty’s death), but Brownstone said no. Talked about the dangerous business they were in, and about Shorty’s death, why he died and what it stood for.  Trey took over, and said that they would honor Shorty by renaming fort Brownstone, their training facility, Fort Shorty. They all agreed, and Trey got the plaque to put on its wall. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Brownstone drove home, he remembered Leeroy, his dog, who had been killed almost a year ago. He missed him. Most younger men outlived their dogs, but few had to deal with them being killed by gangsters because of something they’d done. As he drove, he almost hit a stray dog, and realized that he might need another one, but right now, to kill his blues, it was BBQ TIME !&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/04  He Who Hunts opened his portal, and directed all of his wizards and monsters to go, and they exited into a subway tunnel, with homeless people in it. He who Hunts fed from them (energy), and turned them into part of his mob. He gave them a purpose – kill Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
‘’’THE COUPLES’’’&lt;br /&gt;
Tyler and Maria sit in a fancy restaurant, as Tyler has noticed that she has had something bothering her ever since the  Council raid. She tells him. She’s thinking of resigning from the Force. It felt good -fighting alongside Brownstone, kicking ass and going good deeds. And she has another ten years of good field work left in her, so no desk job. So she’s thinking of working for Brownstone. All of the action, and none of the desk-work. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey goes to Zoe’s house, interested in making the relationship permanent, at least for a while. She thinks about it, and challenges him to satisfy her enough so that she will stay monogamous. He accepts the challenge. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/05   ‘’’ THE ATTACK ‘’’Brownstone exits Phillip’s Bar-B-Que, going home, and is attacked by four wizards, with wands and magic. As he was not bonded with Whispy Doom, (never is, when he’s not fighting), he took it all as a human, And was burned and damaged before he killed them. Taking a healing potion, however, quickly healed him. When he got home, he called Tyler, to have him find out who was trying to kill him. Tyler suggested that he hire more staff, expand his business, and Brownstone wondered why he was so interested, and what it might cost him. He calls Shay, to tell her, but she had already heard of it on the news, and was not surprised. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/06 ‘’’SHAY AND LILY’’’   Shay and Lily had been hired to go to Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea to recover a magical glass jug, specifically a glass ewer associated with the bath rituals of the founder of one the ancient Korean precursor kingdoms, Silla. The ewer had been kept by Silla Royalty, but lost with the fall of the kingdom. Allegedly, it possessed magical healing powers and no one had a record of it, even in rumor, for over a millennium. Just recently, a Korean shaman had somehow discovered its location on Jeju Island, far from where it’d last been seen. As they were going down a lava tunnel, they were attacked by pre-set traps, and then a large humanoid. a gray-skinned giant stomped around a bend in the tube. Bathed in an aura of flame, the creature had to duck to avoid some of the longer stalactites. His thick, cracked hide resembled the rock of the cave, two glowing solid-yellow eyes peered from his face, and long, sharp claws tipped his hands, a dokkaebi. It attacks them, injures them, and they kill it, healing potions saving them from more pain, and healing almost immediately. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/07  Shay and Lily come upon a room, with the ewer, guarded by Aerye, a kiniho, a creature with nine tails, a shape-shifting fox. After a magical battle, they kill her, and take the ewer. &lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone calls Alison, tells her of the attack. She advises him to be careful, have backup, and that he always has the wish, if he needs it. &lt;br /&gt;
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‘’’THE HUNT’’’   Trey and team are out to get any of the ones who had attacked Brownstone. Heather had given them the name VR King, from the dark web, who was listed as only a level one, but she’d warned him there were some oddities about the VR King’s online presence, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he had used magic to alter or scrub some of it. He was a self-admitted wizard specializing in fire and electronic magic, who was bragging that he was ready to move up in the world and “kill himself a pussy-ass motherfucker like James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
They find a twelve-year-old kid playing A computer game, who saw the name on a board, and assumed it. They left, knowing they were going to have to run down a LOT of leads before they found the right one. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/08  Brownstone and Shay talk about the attack. Brownstone wants to issue the group a challenge to come and get him. Shay wants to play is quieter, until they find out who it is that wants him, then plan their strategy. Shay wins.&lt;br /&gt;
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Tyler is finding it necessary to contact The Eyes again, about the unknow forces attacking Brownstone, so he sends his bar lady, Kathy, who had mentioned that she wanted to “up her game” , so he gives her a chance to deal with contact like The Eyes. &lt;br /&gt;
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‘’’A DOG’’’   James wandered the neighborhood, looking for the dog he had almost hit several evenings before. If he could find him, it would be one less distraction. He saw him in an alley. Dark, short, flat coat and floppy ears, good size, probably over sixty pounds. If he had to guess, he’d say the dog was a mix of a Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner. That made the dog a so-called Labmaraner. Ran too fast, couldn’t catch up to him. Lost him again.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/09   ‘’’ THE HUNT CONTINUES’’’   Kathy goes to The Eyes, and, as Tyler mentioned, is met by the Kilomea at the door. Also guarded by two gnomes, at his inside door. Goes in, meets with The Eyes, who asks her if she’s afraid of him. She decides to tell the truth (“Because I don’t know what the fuck you are, so I can’t even begin to figure out how to deal with you.”), and he tells her that “If you fail to impress me, you will leave this place with nothing. If you fail severely, you won’t leave this place at all.” And he asked her some bargaining questions, and he accepted her answers, giving her the requested information free this time, but would be much more costly next time. Kathy accepted, so The Eyes told her about He Who Hunts. Not a traitor, but not really one of them. He Who Hunts. He craves more now, and Brownstone is the key to something grand…awful or good, I can’t say, but grand. He’s sent men.”&lt;br /&gt;
Look for the tunnels, his sign. And he’d be watching her. She has much more potential than Tyler. &lt;br /&gt;
Heather searches for clues as to what “the tunnels” might mean, and finds a correlation between old abandoned subway tunnels and missing homeless people. A big uptick of them missing. If she can identify which tunnels, she might be able to give Brownstone a location to search. Brownstone tells Shay, and she will get in touch with Harry, who runs the info service in Los Angeles, and uses teen-agers who know all of the tunnels. Will only take a few hours. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/10  James, Shay, Trey and all of the Agency crew go into the tunnels at the location Harry had given them only an hour after the request. Suited up with armor and magic deflectors, they were ready for revenge. Whispy Doom suggested, Insufficient power for advanced transformation. Tactical potential not reached. Consider implications of allied forces. &lt;br /&gt;
‘’’TRIAL ATTACK’’’   Upon turning a corner, they saw them. A line of wizards flanked by strange monsters waited, their wands up. A man with rock skin stood to the side. At least nine other men looked identical except for different-colored glowing eyes. A giant spider with the head of a man crouched in the back. A human torso was connected to four pointed legs and a long serpentine tail. A few other nightmarish creatures stood ready. New enemies, Whispy Doom sent. Kill enemies. Adapt. Grow stronger. The Agency crew attacked the group, and Brownstone went for He who Hunts, the rocky man. Punch after punch sent the mutant stumbling back, cracks appearing in his face and chest and pieces of rock flying off him.&lt;br /&gt;
Kill enemy and find stronger enemy, Whispy Doom demanded. Current enemy defensive abilities insufficient to promote additional adaptation. Shay went after the tailed serpent, beheading it, and going on to the spider mutant. Brownstone kills the rock man,Shay the mutants, and the crew the other monsters. Brownstone thinks this is the end of it, and that He who Hunts must be dead already somewhere. &lt;br /&gt;
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He Who Hunts was watching from a scrying window, and was disappointed. For him to use the red crystal to subdue James, James had to be at maximum, transformed, ruled by rage and anger.  In this attack, he had displayed no armor, no helmet, no green rays of destruction. Attacking Brownstone with serious force would be the best way to pull out his true nature, but it risked bringing the government to reinforce the man. If he couldn’t corrupt Brownstone before the government got involved, he’d be forced to leave Earth for a while. All his time with the Council, all the corrupt threads he’d woven through Earth—everything could be wasted. And insofar as He Who Hunts could feel affection, he was starting to like James Brownstone. He had another plan. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/11  ‘’’THE DOG CONTINUED’’’   Brownstone payed off the neighborhood kids who had been looking for the dog (they hadn’t found him yet), and told them to keep looking. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy comes home, finds herself stalked by a shadow man, shoots him, and he disappears. It was Eyes, testing her, to see if she had enough gumption to live. She had, so he’ll continue dealing with her, telling her that danger was coming, and to stop it.  If you can, you might be worth paying more attention to. If not, no bother. Disappointments are common in life and…death.” Kathy is dismayed, but delighted, also. If she was going to improve her business, she was going to have to start playing with the big boys. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/12  Trey and Zoe, in the morning, talk about Brownstone, and how much he cares about his crew. Zoe is surprised, and pleased, and wants a little more “exercise” before he leaves. &lt;br /&gt;
Shay looks at James the next morning. She’s spent most of her life not caring about others, and now she loved a man enough to have trouble imagining what the future would be like without him. She worries about him, so she started to talk to him about it, reviewing his “accomplishments” in destruction. “The point is, you went from a badass to a next-level badass. I’m concerned about how many new enemies you’re picking up and what that might mean for your continued ability to keep breathing. It’s just something to think about. You’ve got a daughter now. It’s important to think about her future too.” He grinned. “You should be happy. I’m gonna take a few weeks off and concentrate on barbeque. Yeah, also gives me more time to find the dog. If he’s not a stray, then his owner is a fucking moron.”&lt;br /&gt;
Okay, so James is getting a new dog soon. Oh, I really, really hope this dog isn’t a furry little shit. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/13  Shay and Maria have lunch, and Maria tells shay that she’s retiring from the Department, and invites her and Brownstone to her going-away party. They’ll be going. &lt;br /&gt;
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‘’’THE PARTY’’’  Tyler had cleared out the scum for the evening, leaving only cops, bounty hunters, and their families. And there was BBQ! Loud rock music blasted over the speakers. Kathy had taken point on handling most of the drinks for the night but needed help now and again, especially when some table decided it was time for shots. Maria stood, and gave a speech, and cried. She’s not telling anyone what she’ll be doing next. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/14 ‘’’HE WHO HUNTS’ NEW PLAN’’’ He Who Hunts is trying to make new plans. His forces have been depleted, and he does not have the energy needed to create more. He would have to meet him face-to-face, and find a way to get Brownstone into a raging fit, so that the crystal will work and corrupt him. The window of opportunity had narrowed and the time for caution had passed. And then he saw Happy Magic Land Amusement Park, and smiled. &lt;br /&gt;
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Trey and the crew are on a level four take-down, using non-lethal weapons (the bounty is wanted alive). The target, Alphonse “Quickstep” Cametti, had been just another hitman out East until on one lucky job he stumbled onto an artifact that gave him a useful power for any man, let alone a hitman: teleportation. But Quickstep needed line of sight for his power to work, and it was short-ranged, so he couldn’t just ”blink away”  if he felt threatened. Trey showed them a picture, an image of a silver pendant formed by seven interconnecting rings.  We take this necklace off, and he can’t do shit. He’s just another bitch-ass hitman, then. With cuffs on, he ain’t doing shit.” And it was so. After multiple transports, and nailing Trey with a shot (bullet-proff vest saved him), they got him, and took him in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/15  ‘’’MARIA’S MOVE’’’   Maria has an appointment with Brownstone, Trey and Royce at the Agency. She applies for a job there, to work for them as a bounty hunter. After much discussion, they hire her, and start by throwing her into training with the crew. She asked them if they would have any trouble working with her, taking orders from her, and they replied, “Show us what you got, 5-0, and give us no reason to bitch.” She was going to be leader of the red team, in a mock battle. She took five minutes to talk to her team, then they went into fight the blues. Maria’s team won.&lt;br /&gt;
Heather’s drones had found the dog, and James hopped into his truck, going after it. Tempting it with baked chicken, James lured it into the back seat of his truck, then drove home. Shay agrees  that they can keep him, and he seems happy.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/16  James and the new dog go for a walk in the local park, and capture a drug dealer. Dog alerts James to drugs in pocket, Dust, so they take him in. dog is smart, and seems to like being around them all. Has a good sense for recognizing bad people. Still not named.  &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts visited the park, was seen by a small boy who recognized him as magic, buy boy’s Mom thought he meant an Oriceran, so no word ever got out ahead of time. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/17 ‘’’SHAY COMES HOME EARLY’’’   Shay has a bad feeling, as if something just isn’t right, but can’t put a name to it. Just doesn’t want to go on her next tomb raiding adventure, in Canada. James reassures her. &lt;br /&gt;
“You keep forgetting how I didn’t die a single time before I met you. I’ll be fine. Go on your raid.&amp;quot; So she goes to pack, and leave. Dog still not named.&lt;br /&gt;
Kathy, at the Black Sun, looking for the danger The Eyes said was coming, and can’t find it. Is worried.&lt;br /&gt;
Brownstone puts the dog through a training course at Fort Shorty, with all of the guys watching. The dog finishes the route, and eats the steak at the end. Smart dog. Still no name.  &lt;br /&gt;
Shay and Lily sit in alberta, discussing the current raid, of a magic pick-ax. Shay tells her she’s ready to go it alone, and plans on going back to Los Angeles. Still uneasy. Last battle was too easy, like cannon fodder. Not He Who Hunts or any other worthy antagonist. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/18  ‘’’KATHY’’’   Kathy trusts that The Eyes was telling the truth, and that something was coming, but she couldn’t find it. She was getting worried. She called Harry, one of her contacts, and he told her about the strange “humans” at the amusement park. The kids had seen them, and then they disappeared, and couldn’t be found. Oriceran? Magic spell? Harry didn‘t think it was important. As she couldn’t get  The Eyes  on the phone for any confirmation, she decided to follow up on it anyway, as it was the only lead about anything strange she had, so she decided to go see The Eyes herself, to ask. She did so, and she was right. Death would come in about an hour. But she couldn’t tell any authorities, nor could she tell anyone who would go to the authorities.  If she can figure out how to change the future in an hour, that was her mystery. Solve the problem without the authorities or forfeit your life.” She tells Brownstone. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/19   Brownstone calls Shay, asks her about Alberta. When he learns she’s in Los Angeles, he tells her about the amusement park thing, that It’s a Council thing, and will meet her there. CANNOT TELL THE COPS!, or the person who told him will die. Brownstone arrives at the park, dog on a leash, and demands to see the Manager, with the news that the Park must be evacuated. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/20  THE ULIMATE ATTACK’’’   At noon, it began. The entire area shook, and massive spires of scarlet energy shot up from different points in the park twitching and shaking, pairs reaching for each other. Swirling, scintillating portals appeared in the sky over the park, eight in total. Brownstone and team decide to split into four teams, each taking a zone. . “Animal Town, Fantasyville, Robotown, and Princess Island. Four zones. Four teams.”&lt;br /&gt;
. Brownstone would take one Land himself, Animal Town. The others would take the other lands. Fight, but retreat if needs be. Watch each other’s backs. They split into three teams, Trey, Maria, and Max leading. James had only the emergency equipment he carried in the truck- was insufficiently armed for a full encounter. James killed all of the robot men appearing, then found the energy stream for the portal. Whispy Doom asked him to touch ot slightly, for acclimatization purposes, and James disobeyed, him, losing a hand in the process. With healing potion and Whispy Doom, the hand was regenerated within minutes. James lobbed a grenade it, (a rock from which the energy was streaming), and shut it down, charring it to some extent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/21    Fights continue in all of the zones, Brownstone rescuing kids, Maria rescuing Security guards, and Shay rescuing Maria when a wizard tried to take her out. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/22  He Who Hunts confronts Brownstone, telling him that he’s been killing twisted, distorted humans. Brownstone starts to get angrier. The amulet is happy about that. (Yes, the amulet sent. Anger. Hatred. Power increasing. Brownstone was hit by an energy ball, and the amulet was happy. Additional adaptation achieved, Whispy Doom crowed, his joy infectious. Kill enemy. Grow stronger. But still not enough to achieve maximum advancement. And thgen the dog raced into the area, trying to help brownstone. He who Hunts was going to erase it with an energy blast. &lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/23  The blast was headed for the dog, so Brownstone called to it, causing it to change its course enough so that the blast struck just behind it, throwing the singed and yelping dog through the air. He landed wimpering, and Brownstone went crazy. Yessss! Anger. Hatred. Sufficient power for extended advanced transformation, Whispy reported.&lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts ran, and brownstone, now in advanced armor (armor, green tendrils, claws) chased after him. He who Hunts was flying, and James couldn’t do that, so the amulet altered him so that he could jump as high as the wizard was flying. Still no contact. But all of the energy blasts had weakened the roller coaster the were fighting on, and it fell on James, burying him under multi tons of debris. He who Hunts had only been wounded by the last blast. And then everything in Brownstone went quiet – his thoughts, the amulet, and He Who Hunts stood with a red crystal above his head. Pain returned, and he felt as he did when not bonded to the amulet. Energy wisped from the crystal into his armor. His thoughts started blanking. He called to the amulet, to do something. No answer. &lt;br /&gt;
He Who Hunts glowed brighter. “You’re a dull blade, Brownstone. You will be sharpened, and I will use you to cut through the feeble lies of this planet. The false order. Rejoice! You are about to be repurposed into something far more useful.” Then Shay attacked the wizard, and he hit her, sending her flying. At this, Brownstone treared up, and the new anger cleared his mind. Also, the amulet re-established the link, so that Brownstone again was protected. Brownstone attacked the wizard, cutting him to pieces, but the wizards last words were, “I…may…die, but…it…doesn’t…matter. You…will…become…He Who Destroys. I…sacrifice…myself…to…chaos.” But the red crystal controlled him, and thoughts of killing his friends prevailed. But he rose, leapt into the air, and brought one of his blades down on the crystal, destroying it. He fell, in pain, damaged. Link reestablished, Whispy sent. Severe damage sustained. Time needed for adaptation and regeneration. Recommend external healing. Entering quiescence to preserve function.  Shay pulled out his last healing potion, pouring it into him. It worked. The dog was beside him licking his face. Shay held his head as the other bounty hunters rushed to surround him. The dog kept licking his face and whimpering. As James recovered, they all relaxed. They had given a potion to the dog, and it had healed it, as well. All would be well.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/24  ‘’’AFTER THE ATTACK’’’   As news drones and media copters were overhead, the remains of the Park battles were soon all over the news, including the destruction of the roller coaster and the park buildings.  People would accuse James of not telling the police because he wanted all of the bounty for himself. James didn’t care. But the PR would look bad. He offered to donate half of the bounty money to the park, but also pointed out that it probably had insurance to cover most of the damage. Everyone finally calmed down, and the crew went back to Camp Brownstone, shay and James went home with the dog, and Maria went to Tyler, who had been saying that it was just as he had predicted. Even Shay commented that her life used to be much simpler. James remembered how the crystal had taken him back to earlier memories of people to kill, including Father Thomas, on of Brownstone’s favorite priests, who had died. So they called the dog Thomas, in memory of that friend who had been now remembered. &lt;br /&gt;
Kathy was worried The Eyes would kill her for her part in the destruction of He who Hunts. She was now 25, and wanted to live, not die from The Eye's anger, so she tried to stay awake by working overtime at the Black Sun, as he would most likely not kill her in public. Her phone rang, and The Eyes told her she had passed, and it wouldn’t be so easy the next time.  Kathy let out a sigh of relief. “Not going to die today anyway.” Tyler told her, and sent her home to sleep. “We all die eventually, but don’t worry.” Tyler grinned. “You’re not a real information broker until at least five different species have tried to kill you.” He was proud of her, that she had mad a profit in this enterprise.&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 12/25   Shay and Brownstone go home, talk about the future, Alison, Lily, what might happen to whom. Shay predicts that Alison will turn out to be a bounty hunter, like him, because there’s a part of her, like Shay,  that wants the rush of the challenge.  Alison gets a rush out of taking down bad guys. She doesn’t even have to pretend to not care as much as you tried to.” They compromise, and decide to take a month off, to rest and recuperate, and plan more of what might happen to them in the future.  The Park had insurance, so they returned all of that money he had given them. Alison will eventually be more powerful than brownstone, so they don’t have to worry about her. Peyton will build Lily up into her own business, and she’ll be better than Shay could ever be, given that she has precognizance and Elf responses to work with. So it’s just them. They go into the bedroom to explore that.&lt;br /&gt;
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‘’’ SURVEILLANCE’’’  Sentry 7921 was watching the videos of Brownstone and He Who Hunts, and when she saw Brownstone change to advanced enhancement. She was dismayed, and immediately called in a warning. The governments of Earth didn’t even recognize who this creature was, what a threat he presented, and so had no inkling of the danger they were in from this extraterrestrial creature. &lt;br /&gt;
“This is Sentry 7921. I will transmit the corroborating data soon, but I hereby report that a Vix Forerunner is present on Earth and operating at least at extended advanced levels. I will shortly be initiating a class-two containment protocol. There is no evidence at this time that any authorities on Earth recognize the threat, and per standing orders, I will handle the matter discreetly and eliminate the Forerunner.”&lt;br /&gt;
The woman paused the playback, staring at James mid-swing against He Who Hunts. “So you’ve adapted your strategy, huh? Tested Earth’s defenses by pretending to be a bounty hunter?” She narrowed her eyes. “I never thought a Forerunner would be so subtle, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let you take this planet no matter what it takes, you Vix monster. &lt;br /&gt;
“I swear I’ll destroy you, James Brownstone.”&lt;br /&gt;
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		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Scott&amp;diff=1734</id>
		<title>Scott</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Scott&amp;diff=1734"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:42:52Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
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A dark magic shifter, who had gotten caught between the start and the final form.&lt;br /&gt;
“His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
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Had met with Christie in London, promising to create the amulet needed by her to heal her mother (He had this artifact that would give me the magic we needed).  Then became demanding, needed books to finish the chore. Found that TSONM had the books in their library, so enrolled Christie there. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. The artifact. It started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out.It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.&lt;br /&gt;
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“When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26 Scott had taken the artifact and secreted it somewhere in the forest near the school. It must have been somewhere nearby because the artifact’s magic doesn’t work if we’re too far apart. I think it was in the woods on the edge of the grounds. The artifact is in an underground root cellar thing. It’s got a low ceiling with thick roots going across it and lots of dirt and damp. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27 In the clearing in the forest:  His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. After a battle with Alison's group and Scott, as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1733</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1733"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:41:40Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. (See Technology [[Dark Artifact]] for more facts.) &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Dark_Artifact&amp;diff=1732</id>
		<title>Dark Artifact</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Dark_Artifact&amp;diff=1732"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:40:06Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:technology]]&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10   The groups of Private School kids  that Alison's group had met needed their help in controlling and disposing of a dark artifact they had called out. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison saw the flickers of magic as they approached the back of the building. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison and her friends looked at the small, black wooden box that lay open on its side. Small ribbons of pitch-black shadow curled and evaporated before forming a few inches away again. The bare dirt had been painted a deep purple by the contents of the box.  It was supposed to be some fun that would let them play with magic for an hour. . The magic felt malevolent. Luke growled as his wolf surged forward. &lt;br /&gt;
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We’ll envelope it in our own magic and crush it,” Alison said. Emma and Ethan stood side-by-side looking at the black cloud as tendrils slowly stretched out as though tasting the air. Alison circled around it. When she got closer, she could feel pure violence rolling off it. Something within her told her that if they didn’t squash it soon, then it would lose whatever bound it to the box, and then blood would be shed. She wasn’t going to let that happen. Emma had been working hard on her magic, and she hoped it would be enough to help direct and guide Ethan’s more erratic magic. He had talent, but he was still struggling to really get a grip on it.&lt;br /&gt;
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Alison rolled her shoulders and slowly allowed her magic to slip out of her fingertips as she focused entirely on the black cloud before her. It was unlike anything she’d seen before. It looked as though it were draining the life and color from around it. Alison’s magic combined with Ethan and Emma’s magics forming a kaleidoscope of colors in her vision. It slowly wrapped around the dark cloud engulfing it. The darkness pressed back against her magic, and she felt chills running down her spine. Emma was growing pale as their magic gradually compressed the cloud tighter. Alison gritted her teeth. She pushed more of her magic into the effort, and suddenly the cloud was gone. Emma took a shaky breath, and Ethan put his arm around her shoulders. They didn't know if they had destrpyed it or sinmply chased it away.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  Alison's next meeting with the artifact was in the forest/cottage/ root cellar. where Scott had hidden it. After killing him, they went huting for the artifact. “The artifact is some weird stone statuette made of the darkest black stone. He said it has something to do with shadow and the natural transformation from day to night and the between.” Christie walked next to Alison, trying to seem as strong and confident as the older girl. &lt;br /&gt;
“So, we can destroy it with light.” Kathleen looked at Alison. “I mean we destroyed his magic and that made him vulnerable to my blast of light.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When they searched the cellar, they found it, in its box, under the altar, where Scott had hidden it.  The box was covered in a net of slate grey magic. When she ran her fingers over it, the grey magic shivered and moved away.  It was just a little man holding a large disk in his left hand. No human would have guessed at the amount of malevolent magic packed into such a tiny vessel. They focused as much light magic as they could summon on the small black statuette. At first, it looked like their magic wasn’t doing anything at all. The statuette swallowed up the light but didn’t change in appearance. The friends were beginning to feel dismayed that their efforts weren’t working. They didn’t know what else to try. They hadn’t studied how to destroy dark artifacts. &lt;br /&gt;
Just when they were ready to admit that the light magic plan failed, the statuette moved. Only a small fraction, but it definitely moved. Something was happening. Then it started to wobble and rattle around inside the box. The group was tired and wouldn’t be able to keep up this level of magic for much longer. Their hands trembled as they maintained their focus.The statuette’s rattle increased in violence until it stilled entirely. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Suddenly the statuette exploded. Small black shards of stone flew through the air and disintegrated into dust when they struck the walls. The students hit the ground and covered their heads. They didn’t have a moment to recover. The walls and the ground started shaking. Clods of earth fell from the ceiling and showered the students in dirt and grime. The statue was demolishing the cellar, and they had to get out. They tried to run to the stairs, but the steps were slowly being buried, and the exit was growing smaller by the second. Emma summoned her magic. She looked at the exit and forced herself to speak the words to move the dirt aside. The fresh earth exploded outward, causing Dorvu to cry out in alarm. Emma pushed Aya and Christie up the stairs and out into the cold night.  They had all gotten out safely.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Dark_Artifact&amp;diff=1731</id>
		<title>Dark Artifact</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Dark_Artifact&amp;diff=1731"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:18:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:technology  TSONM 07/10   The groups of Private School kids  that Alison's group had met needed their help in controlling and disposing of a dark artifact they ha...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:technology]]&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10   The groups of Private School kids  that Alison's group had met needed their help in controlling and disposing of a dark artifact they had called out. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison saw the flickers of magic as they approached the back of the building. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison and her friends looked at the small, black wooden box that lay open on its side. Small ribbons of pitch-black shadow curled and evaporated before forming a few inches away again. The bare dirt had been painted a deep purple by the contents of the box.  It was supposed to be some fun that would let them play with magic for an hour. . The magic felt malevolent. Luke growled as his wolf surged forward. &lt;br /&gt;
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We’ll envelope it in our own magic and crush it,” Alison said. Emma and Ethan stood side-by-side looking at the black cloud as tendrils slowly stretched out as though tasting the air. Alison circled around it. When she got closer, she could feel pure violence rolling off it. Something within her told her that if they didn’t squash it soon, then it would lose whatever bound it to the box, and then blood would be shed. She wasn’t going to let that happen. Emma had been working hard on her magic, and she hoped it would be enough to help direct and guide Ethan’s more erratic magic. He had talent, but he was still struggling to really get a grip on it.&lt;br /&gt;
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Alison rolled her shoulders and slowly allowed her magic to slip out of her fingertips as she focused entirely on the black cloud before her. It was unlike anything she’d seen before. It looked as though it were draining the life and color from around it. Alison’s magic combined with Ethan and Emma’s magics forming a kaleidoscope of colors in her vision. It slowly wrapped around the dark cloud engulfing it. The darkness pressed back against her magic, and she felt chills running down her spine. Emma was growing pale as their magic gradually compressed the cloud tighter. Alison gritted her teeth. She pushed more of her magic into the effort, and suddenly the cloud was gone. Emma took a shaky breath, and Ethan put his arm around her shoulders. They didn't know if they had destrpyed it or sinmply chased it away.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1730</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1730"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:01:41Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1729</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1729"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T21:00:54Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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 TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Scott&amp;diff=1728</id>
		<title>Scott</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Scott&amp;diff=1728"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:59:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:characters  A dark magic shifter, who had gotten caught between the start and the final form. “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
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A dark magic shifter, who had gotten caught between the start and the final form.&lt;br /&gt;
“His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/26   He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
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Had met with Christie in London, promising to create the amulet needed by her to heals her mother. Then became demanding, needed an artifact and books to finish the chore. Found that TSONM had the books in their library, so enrolled Christie there. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. &lt;br /&gt;
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“When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27 In the clearing in the forest:  His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. After a battle with Alison's group and Scott, as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1727</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1727"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:46:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1726</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1726"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:45:04Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE TRYOUTS'''   Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  '''THE SECOND LOUPER GAME'''A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  '''THE HOMECOMING DANCE'''  The Homecoming Dance was that might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 '''MORE BOOKS MISSING'''  As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 '''ANOTHER LOUPER GAME'''   up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, timing it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 '''THE HALLOWEEN DANCE, AND TANNER'S GIFT'''  The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS'''  Alison became more persistent in trying to find the book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  '''PROFESSOR POWELL'S CLASS'''   They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  '''ALISON AND TANNER BACK TOGETHER.'''Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  '''THE SEMI-FINALS LOUPER G Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   '''FINDING CHRISTIE'''   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''SCOTT'''   With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The groUp gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  '''THE BOOKS'''   Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  '''GOING HOME'''   The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeer and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1725</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1725"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:43:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE TRYOUTS'''   Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  '''THE SECOND LOUPER GAME'''A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  '''THE HOMECOMING DANCE'''  The Homecoming Dance was that might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 '''ANOTHER LOUPER GAME'''   up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, timing it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 '''THE HALLOWEEN DANCE, AND TANNER'S GIFT'''  The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS'''  Alison became more persistent in trying to find the book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  '''PROFESSOR POWELL'S CLASS'''   They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  '''ALISON AND TANNER BACK TOGETHER.'''Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  '''THE SEMI-FINALS LOUPER G Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   '''FINDING CHRISTIE'''   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''SCOTT'''   With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The groUp gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  '''THE BOOKS'''   Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  '''GOING HOME'''   The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeer and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1724</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1724"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:31:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=School_of_Necessary_Magic&amp;diff=1723</id>
		<title>School of Necessary Magic</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=School_of_Necessary_Magic&amp;diff=1723"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:30:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:locations]]&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 02/2&lt;br /&gt;
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School for kids with special magical talents, to learn to control and use them correctly. Supported by the US government in a good way. Many kids there from powerful and important families. People might have issues with Oricerans, but at the end of the day everyone wants every advantage, and there’s no bigger advantage out there right now than magic. Shay wants to go with James to check it out. &lt;br /&gt;
I’ll have to let them know you’re coming. They were clear about specifying exactly who would visit, and said if I didn’t do that we wouldn’t be able to find the school.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TUMB 02/5 '''School''' near Charlottesville airport. Rolling green hills dotted the lightly forested area, with only the occasional recessed home or mansion in the distance at the end of a private road. There wasn’t a skyscraper or graffiti-covered alley in sight. A tall and elaborate wrought-iron fence extended past both sides of the road ahead. An imposing gate sat in the center, bisecting the drive leading up a hill. Dense trees clogged the verges. The gates swung open as if pushed by invisible forces. No obvious mechanism was visible. A large building surrounded by a few smaller buildings appeared in the distance. The trees grew sparser. Alison felt the energy, thought it was beautiful. A white unicorn tromped along the side of the road. He would have sworn faint sparkles surrounded the thing. Another hoofed creature floated among the trees, eyeing the car with wide reptilian eyes. A lightly flaming halo burned around it.&lt;br /&gt;
The creature looked like some sort of strange cross between an elk and a small dragon. It had jade-colored scales covering its body, antlers protruded from its head, and a soft mane of white fur around its neck. A Kirin. Wise and benevolent. Alison recognized them by their energy shapes. At the main school, a huge extended Georgian manor surrounded by a constellation of smaller buildings. Teens of various ages in uniforms wandered the grounds, some with backpacks. Pointed ears protruded from more than a few of the students’ heads. He parked the car on a circular drive surrounding an elaborate fountain resembling a bird on fire. A phoenix. If anything, all the fantastical displays proved that the School of Necessary Magic would be able to help Alison learn to control her abilities.The first adult he’d spotted since arriving, a distinguished-looking older woman with short hair and dark glasses, marched toward them. &lt;br /&gt;
I’m Eleanor Hudson, a human witch. I teach magical history and basic spells here. In the beginning, many things about the school may be overwhelming to new arrivals, so the orientation is critical to integration.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSoNM 01/, 5, 13  '''Located''' in the rolling hills and green pastures of Albemarle County, Virginia. From the School of Necessary Magic, you could see for miles. It perched atop a lush green ridge, surrounded by hundreds of acres of pastures and forest. The school was tucked away from the traffic in nearby Charlottesville and gave just enough privacy to allow the students to flourish. A wide iron gate with the Oriceran crest on the top opened to massive Georgian mansion. It had been there for twenty years. It had wraparound porches and bright blue shutters, but on the inside were secrets and old magic from previous generations. Everything the young witches and wizards would need to learn was inside those doors, just waiting to be tapped. For the students, it was a place to increase their power, hang out with like-minded friends, and dream about the future.  It was a place for the most powerful magical youth to hone their skills so that when the doors to their world opened to Earth once again they could help control the magic. Those who wandered near the iron gates found themselves wandering away, unable to remember what they were doing in that part of the county. It was the perfect setting for young talent to be molded into the future magical beings of Earth. Local rumors said there was a spell over the entire school, but most chalked it up to overactive imagination. Central area contained a large living area with couches, a huge flat-screen tv, and vending machines. Surrounding them were sleeping rooms (with five single-posted beds, matching night stands and dressers) with identical doors and oil lamps on the wall, only there was no oil and the candle still flickered wildly. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''The West Wing'''There were paintings and sculptures everywhere, and magical energy clung to everything. The West Wing was the main teaching area, full of classrooms with whiteboards, desks, and all kinds of interesting artifacts. On the right side of the wing was a massive IT center packed with the newest computers and technology. The school felt it was imperative for the students to learn human technology, given the way the future was headed. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''The East Wing'''There was a well-equipped gym with treadmills, weights, and even some weapons for sparring. Attached to that was an indoor pool with tall cement diving boards. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''The North Wing''': &lt;br /&gt;
The cafeteria, bottom floor.  The entrance is behind the staircase.”&lt;br /&gt;
The large and ornate room was beautiful. It had been Turner Underwood’s ballroom many years before when he lived there. The ceiling curved up into a dome, its panels etched with the different magical creatures from Oriceran. In the center hung the massive crystal chandelier with hundreds of candles in black steel holders. All the oval tables were made of a rich dark mahogany and the chairs were high-backed, their upholstery stitched with shining brown, maroon, and golden thread. Every person who ate in the dining hall felt like a king or a queen.&lt;br /&gt;
The enchanted sky in the dome changed depending on the time of day and the weather outside. On rainy days it would show a sunny day inside, running the rain late at night to let the students enjoy a relaxing evening. It rarely ever stormed from the ceiling, which kept the mood light and upbeat regardless of what was going on in the outside world. Everything in the dining hall was elegant and rich, right down to the appearing and disappearing dishes on the table.  TSONM 01/13&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Library'''  Was opened by large ornate wooden doors to a  massive room. Lining the walls were floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with books. Ladders rolled back and forth on their own, growing tall and then shrinking again to the bottom shelf. In the center of the room were empty tables and chairs for studying. Leo Decker, Gnome, head L:ibrarian&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Stables''': “There are stables her with horses we can ride. You can learn care for all types of Earth creatures here in your second year. Like a veterinarian, only when you get farther into the program you start learning about magical creatures too.” Izzie couldn’t remember where she’d heard to that. &amp;quot;I’ve heard the barn is used for more than just horse care, if you know what I mean, said Kathleen. The stables were at the bottom of the ridge, reached by a winding trail. Alison could see their souls, and though they were just regular Earth creatures there was calm and kindness in their energy. Horace Rigby, Groundskeeper, Stables&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Horticulture Areas''':  Three massive greenhouses and fields of plants.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Stream''': By the Teacher's cottages (Off Limits! !) “But if you go to the bottom of this hill and skim along the edge, you’ll see the start of it. Just follow it back into those woods. It’s pretty easy to find the student’s hangout area. They’ve been going there for years. There’s a long row of purple pansies that bloomed in the moss this summer, which is like a trail back to the tire swing.”&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Scheduling''': Mrs. Berens announced, &amp;quot;Students, you may unpack, get ready for classes tomorrow, and venture around the manor. Dinner in the cafeteria will be served promptly at five. If you have any questions or concerns, I, along with several other instructors will be in the girls’ dorm area, and our male instructors will be with the boys. I am going to call your names, and when I do, come up and collect your room number.”&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Meals''': Served in the cafeteria, tables seat seven. Students served but magic, plates appearing with their individual orders, then disappearing as well. &lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 04/1 Kitchen staff were '''pixies'''.Cary, the head cook. Her wings fluttered behind her as she held up a pot five times larger than she was. Polly, her helper.  &lt;br /&gt;
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'''Mara Berens''' had been Headmistress for nineteen years.&lt;br /&gt;
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'''Staff and Classes Taught''':  &lt;br /&gt;
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Lucy Fowler, Plants for Potions.&lt;br /&gt;
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Annabelle Grant, Hidden Earth Instructor (kemanas, railway system) Also greets new students&lt;br /&gt;
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Eleanor Hudson, Magical History and Basic Spells. &lt;br /&gt;
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Max Regency, Gnome, Channeling. &lt;br /&gt;
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Xander Powell, Dark Magic, (How to protect against)&lt;br /&gt;
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Elias Hodges, Transfiguration Class. &lt;br /&gt;
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Rupert Wilson, Multi-dimensional Lessons&lt;br /&gt;
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Pofessor Heineken, Cars and Magic TONM 07/11 &lt;br /&gt;
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Leo Decker, Head Librarian, Gnome &lt;br /&gt;
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Horace Rigby, Groundskeeper, keeper of plants from Oriceran, Stablemaster non-magical human&lt;br /&gt;
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Felix, the school cat, a fat tabby, stole left-over bacon, which he loved.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Had been damaged in the fight between the Dark wizards and the Oriceran/magical forces at the School. the destroyed windows have been replaced, and the roof is mostly repaired.”  It had taken them three hours to stop the smoldering of the exposed trusses, but thankfully, they were mostly salvageable. They had engraved the thick, pale oak with new layers of spells to help strengthen the overall protection and safety of the school. &lt;br /&gt;
“They have been layering spells as they work which has slowed everything down. Wards and magic are now woven into the very fibers and brickwork of the building, and the glass has been reinforced to withstand attacks from magical and human weapons better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Turner Underwood pursed his lips and sighed softly. The small etchings into the pale plaster around the black door took away some of the simple elegance he had loved about the building. It was necessary of course, but it was another reminder that this wasn’t the safe haven he had hoped. &lt;br /&gt;
Horace had already fixed up the grounds, and led the elf over the extensive lawns and gently rolling hills with stunning views of the thick forests covering the Blue Ridge mountains. Where there had been craters and ashy remnants of trees now stood slender trees with gold and amber leaves. Thick, soft grass covered the dark soil that had filled the crater, removing any signs of what had happened there.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1722</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1722"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:27:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
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Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
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But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
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Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/01 '''THE NEW STUDENT''' As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, and saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with flecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 '''BACK ON CAMPUS'''   Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shrunken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 '''CLEANING UP'''   Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, to clear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  '''RELAXING'''   Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. '''FIRST LOUPER GAME OF THE YEAR'''First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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 TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10  '''SNEAKING OUT'''  Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1721</id>
		<title>07 - Determined Is Her Path</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=07_-_Determined_Is_Her_Path&amp;diff=1721"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:22:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=06|prev=Strange Is Her Life|nxtseq=08|next=Epic Is Her Future|series=The School Of Necessary Magic|asin=B07JMXD6SZ|img=51ZLy1ZL-ML|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
What do a few stolen books have to do with the end of life as we know it?&lt;br /&gt;
More than you would think.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Drow princess Alison Brownstone begins her senior year ready to finally graduate and start her new life, fully trained and ready to kick ass.&lt;br /&gt;
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But still reeling from the attack last semester, and the absence of her best friend, Alison is desperate for some kind of distraction to make the days pass quicker.&lt;br /&gt;
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And trouble in paradise with boyfriend Tanner makes it even more vital.&lt;br /&gt;
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When books start disappearing, she can’t resist digging deeper. After all, no one should be able to penetrate the gnome’s magical protection.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But going down the rabbit hole leads to truths far more dangerous than petty theft.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Without Izzy by her side, can Alison defeat the greatest challenge she’s ever faced before more lives are lost?&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
DETERMINEDISHERPATH – EVENTS – TSONM7 – ORICERAN&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01  As Alison was exiting the train station, returning from summer vacation, (now wearing her new magical glasses so she now has visual contact) she noticed a swirl of magic, containing thick, crimson lines, worried pink and anxious gray soul energy.    She looked around, ands saw a young girl casting a spell. There was no malice in it, and it was totally illegal to do so in public. She had been looking for the School, and as she talked with Alison, her energy changed to  calm pale blue with fecks of gold excitement. She was a new student. Looking for TSONM, and Alison accompanied her there. They ordered lattes as the exited. No magic on the bus. No Izzie, but it had to be that way. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/02 Alison looked for and met with her friends, Emma, Kathleen, Aya, saw Tanner, kissed him, and they went onto the grounds, toward the mansion.  Saw devastation from fight with dark magicals.  The renovations were mostly completed, but the building still bore the scars of the huge fight against the dark magicals. The east wing was bare and exposed where workers were busily plastering the new brick under Horace’s watchful eye. They knew the darks would return, not if, but WHEN, was the question. Tanner had been working on developing his magic skills. &lt;br /&gt;
Peter had also been working on some additional magic gadgets. A walking suitcase, filled with six silver and black swirled orbs. Vibrant blue and yellow magic clung to the edge of the orbs like a thin armor laying in even plates.  Peter reached in and picked up an orb before he closed his eyes and pressed his own royal purple magic into the orb. Alison watched raptly as the magical plates slid apart, and delicate blades slowly emerged. To Tanner’s eyes, it looked like a deadly translucent shuriken.  “They’ll slice through anything from dragon hide to actual armor. Emma had met a new boyfriend, a shifter, and had gotten a new rosewood wand. &lt;br /&gt;
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Mara meets with Professor Xander Powell, her former boyfriend, and Izzie’s great grandfather. Mara had pit Izzie, Leira and Correk again on the run, in the way of danger, and he was very disturbed over that. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/03 Everyone started the school year off with a game of Dodgeball, toclear out the cobwebs and get their mind focused. The teacher held onto the large, red rubber ball and pushed burgundy magic into it. Alison watched as the burgundy slowly swelled within the ball and formed a large star shape. The teacher struggled to hold onto it as she finished imbuing it with the last bits of magic. The ball turned from burgundy to navy, mocking them, as they tried for it. Alison was distracted by her new vision, by the solidness of her schoolmates, and missed the ball when it chose her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSNOM 07/04  Leo Decker, Head Librarian, and his helpers find that three books were gone, stolen, during the fight. They attempt to return them with their finding spells, and could not even sense them anywhere, as if they were In-Between. Two on Oriceran, and one on the history of elves.&lt;br /&gt;
Alison went to the Library, and found a gnome standing guard at the doorway. Librarian Decker paced near the check-out desk with a dark expression on his face. His soul energy was full of livid reds, coppers, and oranges showing just how angry he was. Alison saw a clear seam of silver showing shame where he felt it was his fault. Alison and Christie searched the shelves, looking for clues, and found a few faint fingerprints and a few threads that a spell had been used, but no energy colors. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/05  Alison and Tanner go to the colorful kemana, to relax with each other. They decide to go to the Scroll shop (conducting a sale), then to pizza (best pizza for miles). The Shop was a special place for Alison, as she and Izzie had set up a secret mail correspondence account there. There was a message from Izzie.( She had fought, and fought well, had run with a pack of wolves, was doing well with her magic, was moving around a lot. Miss you. Hope all is well. ) It was a month old. She and Tanner penned a message, and the shopkeeper went in back to prepare it for delivery by the gargoyles. It made secret notes far easier than trying to use the main mail system. &lt;br /&gt;
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Classes started, the first one being Fowler, with plants (defensive potions being the topic – transparent defensive bubble - holly berries, ground oak, and sage). &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/06  Unable to sleep, Alison takes a midnight walk. Misses Izzie – has to go alone. She left her glasses behind. She wanted the familiarity of seeing the magic without the distractions of seeing everything else too. Worried about Izzie. Nothing was the same since the big fight.  There was a small glimmer of slate grey present within all the teachers, a concern that gnawed at them. As she walked into the forest, she saw a book lying between two trees, with a trail of magic orbs she could follow. She followed it, and was led back to where she found it. She tried a spell on the book, to find if it had been spelled, and found one page missing from it. She went to Horace’s cottage, to see if he might have any ideas. Dorvu was there. Along with Estelle. She found Dorvu and the humans were in  a behavioral crisis, so she went back to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison and Christie meet in a hallway the next day, Christie telling her that Dorvu had frosted the teacher’s windows and doors the night before. They discussed the book theft again, and Christie suggested it might have been a test run for something more serious. A good thought. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/07. First Louper game of the year, Cardinals against the  Wichita Lions. Luke was team captain. Missed Izzie. Game started. Yukon Territory, They saw something gold glistening atop a snowy outcropping, with the Lions already rushing toward it, so they took off running.  &lt;br /&gt;
Magical bear attacked them, disappeared with use of their magic. River, with stones to cross. Got over before trap got any of them. Climbing  East side of outcropping, cold, numb, but Ethan, with Shannon’s help, reached out and grabbed the disk. They’d won the first match of the year.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/08  Hudson’s History of Magic Class. She quizzed them as to what they knew about Easter Island, and the stone statues, then told them the truth. After discussion, they all saw how quickly any disagreement could be turned into “Them against us.”&lt;br /&gt;
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 TSONM 07/09 After a visit to the Library, and learning that the books had to do with Transfiguration, Alison and Tanner decided it was someone who had clearly wanted to change themselves, and that there could be more than one person involved. &lt;br /&gt;
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Alison was going to try out for the school Musical this year, Wicked, and missed  Izzie being alongside of her.  Alison would try out for Elphaba, a good witch. Kathleen was trying for Glinda, and was awarded the role.  Christie tried out for the pivotal role of Madame Morrible, and got it. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison was awarded Elphaba. Alison’s comments on her new glasses: When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/10   Alison, Emma, Ethan and Luke sneak off, into town, and are met by the group of normal kids they had known before. The normal had tried to do something magical, had failed, and now needed help in repairing the damage they may have done. They had apparently gotten an artifact, a and had opened it. It turned out to be a malevolent spirit, and they needed Alison et al to make it disappear before it became too strong in the Earth world. They did so, but Alison was upset. Something about the the wisps of thinner magic that had formed around the edge of the cloud reminded her a little of the odd magic she’d seen in Christie’s magical aura. Any connection? Any connection to the missing books?&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/11  New Professor at the s\School, Professor Heineken, on cars and magic, and that he was from San Francisco. Alison and Aya went for a midnight walk, like she and Izzie used to do. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison has made up her mind that she wants to be a bounty hunter, like  James, to help both humans and magicals. Everyone deserved to feel safe and to know that there were people out there watching out for them. And Shay had helped over the summer. She said if I wanted to follow in Brownstone’s shoes, then I had to be prepared. You can’t always depend on your magic.”&lt;br /&gt;
Aya wanted to do something to smooth out the inequalities put on people. (Shifters, magicals, normals). “I want to make the world a little better.”&lt;br /&gt;
Alison and Aya stop by Horace’s, and Estelle warns them about Christie. But won’t tell them what she might have seen to watch for. He &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  Horace, watching Alison and friends sneak off to town again, sent Dorvu to spy on them. He remained high in the sky where the bright sun would hide him. His silvery scales shone in the bright light and made him look much like a painful sunbeam if anyone were to glance up at him, eating quails he had flushed as they flew past him.  He saw Alison et al meet with chase’s group, and go off for coffee at Mel’s. They  each explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  Magic looks so cool. It’s like something from the comics. Our parents say that magicals are just freaks who can’t be trusted though. They say that you’re all just biding your time before you take over the world and make us your slaves or something. Do you do big blood sacrifices?” Alison’s group was shocked. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/13  A second Louper Game, between the Seniors and the Alumni had been scheduled. The location unfolded, a dark, foreboding forest surrounding a small hill with the ruins of a castle at the top. A thick fog rolled over the thin grass and wove its way between the heavy boughs of the trees. The canopy had fallen for the year leaving the pale grey sky overhead exposed. It felt as though something dark had swallowed the color around them leaving a dull grey landscape. A snake burst out and attacked one of the alumni, who, along with another, dispatched it with magic. &lt;br /&gt;
A pack of hounds attacked the Seniors, and were defeated. Neither team saw the gargoyles circling above with sharp claws ready to plunge into whoever dared enter their domain. They defeated the Gargoyles. The Seniors found a bobby-trapped path through the castle, but Shannon’s magic showed them the right path. They came into a kitchen and were attacked by the pots and pans, so they ran downstairs into the basement, and saw the Alumnae had the chest with the disk. The alumni team had won. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/14  The Homecoming Dance was tht might, and all of the Seniors were primping and glamouring their outfits.  They had asked Christie to join them, as Izzie wasn’t there, and she did. The boys came to pick them up, and they all went out, looking fabulous. &lt;br /&gt;
The Hall was, as usual, decorated to the theme, a New Orleans Masquerade. All danced, flirted, and had a good time. Luke went off to run with his pack. &lt;br /&gt;
At breakfast the next morning, they reviewed the evening’s high points, and Aya offered Peter the chance to copy her homework that he had forgotten to do. The class was about “the different characteristics of short distance vs. long distance portals, and the roles they play within our world.” But they were all much more interested in the night before. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/15 As they left a classroom, Alison heard a slick clicking sound as Christie went by her, and again saw the slight grey on her forehead. Alison felt the shimmer of the lie that  Christie told her, and decided to ignore it.  Then Alison heard whispers from a group of Juniors passing by. &lt;br /&gt;
“Did you hear? More books went missing! Straight from Professor Powell’s own collection I heard!” It was true, and he was at a loss as to how they had done it. His office was heavily warded and locked when he wasn’t in it. His personal collection of books contained many tomes that were entirely unsuitable for students. He didn’t practice dark magic any more, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped studying it. His collection contained everything relating to dark magic, a little on portals, history, and the delicate art of transfiguration.  “The thief took three books. Each of which was on the topic of transfiguration. One was on the hypothetical concept of changing one magical type with another. It was merely a thought experiment. The other books tied into transfiguration too. The thief clearly planned on transfiguring something and potentially a person.” Mara burst in. They had taken two books from her collection, as well. “They were two books on the intricate make-up and nature of a person’s magic. They detailed the theories on how our magic is woven into our beings, and the effects it has upon us.” Alison asked to examine the areas, was granted permission, and found no trail leading out past the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison, Kathleen, Aya, Emma and Christie went to the kemana, to show it to Christie for the first time, and to purchase gifts for friends for Christmas. They were looking for focusing bands to give to Ethan, to help him better control his magic. Kathleen finally found what she thought would be best, four slender, braided leather bracelets with small black gems joining them.&lt;br /&gt;
Tanner and Luke are also in the kemana,. Tanner wants to find Alison a book she remembered from her childhood, The Tales of Arashi. They found the book – not cheap. It would take most of Tanner’s savings, but she was worth it. He bought it. They split up again, to buy something for Kathleen (earrings, a dwarven hand-crafted set of rose earrings. The more sensitive members still felkt something a little “off” about Christie, and no one could determine why. Still no progress on the book thefts. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/16  Multi-dimensional class. They learned how to use their magic to get them out of sticky situations. Earthquake situation today for Rachel, basement of a house. Using her magic, she saved herself. Good work.   Ben was caught outside, with ground cracks opening alongside of him. He used his magic to cause the life-force of the trees and bushes around him to grow and protect him from debris, and to grow to form a bridge across the cracks for him to walk on. Aya was climbing a disintegrating building, and Kathleen was caught in a tsunami. All survived. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison approached Tanner with the idea of talking to his dead parents on Halloween, that she could help him do it. He expressed a vehement NO, and didn’t want to talk about it. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/17 Louper Game, up Against the Kentucky Wildcats. The city of Prague popped up around the team. They had to get the golden disc from the chariot of a moving God, Victory.  Luke jumped, tinming it exactly right, and with the help of his team-mates’ magic, captured the disc. The Cardinals won.  &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/18 The Halloween Dance was here. Black and orange theme, each girl accenting it in her own way – make-up, fabric, style/cut of dress, etc. The School was decorated, also – thin mists, eerie dark forests, gothic castles, spooky ! Shadows crawled along the walls as the students danced. Small black cats could be seen out the corner of people’s eyes. As the night went on, pumpkins slowly appeared around the edge of the room and along the corridors leading to the hall. Over the course of a few songs, their grim expressions slowly became darker and more malevolent. Alison was sure that she could safely help Tanner speak to his parents, so he went along with it. But it didn’t work out well. He did not enjoy seeing his parents again, Some of the dead escaped onto Earth, and Tanner was going to have to corral them, and get them back to the In-Between. Alison, all of the seniors, Mara Berens, the professors, all helped get the dead back into the In Between, and were all exhausted by the time it was accomplished. Tanner was furious at Alison for doing it, leaving her feeling alone for the first time in years. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/19  Alison awoke early the next morning, upset over the night before. At least, they had managed to corral the dead quickly and stopped them from wreaking mayhem on the town. The humans wouldn’t have known what to do with that. She walked outside, watching the dawn arrive. A walking meditation. Then Alison saw and picked up a missing page from one of the books – a transfiguration spell, with some of the ingredients altered. A trap? Her Drow magic allowed her to see a magic trail, leading back to the School, and she followed it, right back to the Girls’ Dorm. She saw Tanner, tried to talk to him. He put her off, walking away, not wanting to get involved in her stupid book hunt. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/20  Everyone was talking about the disasters the dead had caused. “The gnomes are livid. The library is a disaster. They’ve been trying to get the books back in their places all morning, but their spells won’t work. Every time they think they have it straightened out, the books spring back off the shelves into untidy heaps everywhere.” Alison had felt the way the veil affected her own magic and the power within her veins. She knew what she was and what that entailed but feeling it had been something else. She wasn’t a malicious person, but there were a darkness and potential for harm within her. Professor Powell must have understood that feeling. They all enjoyed the gossip, and soon were laughing. &lt;br /&gt;
Alison became more persistent in trying to find th book thieves. The only oddity she’d noticed was the smudge in Christie’s magic. It had become more persistent, and the girl had been evasive when asked about what was bothering her. She knocked on Professor Powell’s office door. As the dark magic professor, she hoped that he would know something about the potential transfiguration spell she suspected the thief was trying to commit. Maybe if she could figure out the spell, she’d be able to find the thief that way. She went to Professor Powell, to consult with him, the Dark Magic teacher. I suspect that the spell in question involves dark magic. The books that have been stolen so far were all linked to transfiguration and the nature of a person’s magic. I believe someone is trying to change their own or someone else’s core magic type. “ “Yes, that would be dark magic. I’m afraid I don’t know any spells that do that specifically. I can, however, tell you that such a spell would require a lot of magic. I would expect the person to make use of one or more artifacts unless they’re working with a group of other magicals. The type of change they’re trying to bring about will obviously have an impact on what they need.” She was one step closer to finding the thief she just knew it. They needed a dark artifact, so now she needed to find out where they could source such a thing. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/21  Thanksgiving. The year had flown! The cafeteria was decked out for the feast, each table with a different theme, all in Fall colors. After dinner, each diner gave a toast of Thanks for their special favors this semester, and in their lives. The Faculty did much the same thing, in their dining room. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/22 Tanner and Alison finally were able to talk about Halloween. The images of his parents haunted him. His mouth went dry at the memories.  Alison talked about what she wanted to do after Graduation. “I’m thinking about taking a gap year and becoming a bounty hunter like Brownstone.´ “You know I can’t join you on that.” There was no way around the fact that her choosing that path would keep them apart for the year. “I’ll see you later,” Tanner finally said. . He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his own future right then. Alison enjoyed the support and comfort of her friends. She felt her assurance and confidence coming back as she realized it was just a small argument. She had her friends around her. No matter what happened, she’d never be alone in the world.&lt;br /&gt;
In the Musical rehearsals, Christie was totally distracted, and slipped out early. Alison wanted to go after her, but had to stay in the rehearsal, with the group. &lt;br /&gt;
When rehearsal was finishes, Alison went looking, and found her in an empty classroom where Christie was moving her hands in a rhythmic pattern required to weave a spell. The dark smudge in her magic had grown into something darker, and there was a heather grey wisp of magic forming between her hands. When Alison entered, Christie gathered her things and ran out the other door, saying nothing. Alison was beginning to suspect that Christie wasn’t as naive and delicate as she initially appeared. It wouldn’t be the first time a dark magic student had been planted in the school.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/23  They arrived in Professor Powell’s dark magic class and settled down in their usual seats. No one could focus with the end of term being so close, and the last thing on anyone’s mind was studying. Xander looked at them, gossiping, and thought, they were training to keep the world safe. Safe from the likes of me. The dark magic would always be a part of him. It called to him during the long cold nights and tempted him during moments of weakness. These students needed to understand what was out in the world.  Another look around the classroom at the gossiping students hardened his resolve. He was going to push them and make them really work. The days were ticking by, and they needed to be ready for whatever the world threw at them. “ We will start today’s class with a sanity attack. Aya, prepare yourself.” &lt;br /&gt;
Whatever spell Professor Powell had cast left the girl terrified and unable to move. Professor Powell had been teaching them defense against attacks, ranging from fire and shadow through to vicious spells that ate at bones and would stop a heart dead if you weren’t quick enough. This was something new for them to learn. It seemed to be attacking Aya’s mind, and that shook some of the students. Professor Powell was disappointed that it had taken Aya as long as it did to break his spell. If she had been out in the world, she could have been killed. He made a mental note to add more mental defenses to his list of spells to teach. Professor Powell  threw a dark spell at Stephanie. She put up a hasty mental protection spell and fought with the dark magic. It was a writhing mass of pure darkness. She had done better than Aya, but it was still sloppy, and he didn’t appreciate her attitude. He split them into three groups,  and Xander sent a small swarm of blood-thirsty sprites at one group. He formed a shadow spell that acted much like quicksand and slowly pulled the middle group down into the floor. The final group received a slavering hell beast. He formed small barriers, so each group was truly separated, and the creatures couldn’t leave the classroom. They had to be returned to where they were formed. Could not imprison or kill them. Alison killed them with a bubble that enclosed them in a fireball. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/24  Alison again tries to talk with Tanner. Tanner was an amazing guy, but she wasn’t going to allow their differences to ruin her year. “I’m sorry. I should have respected your boundaries. When you said no, I should have left it at that.” “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Next time when I say no, just listen. I had accepted a long time ago that they were gone, and I got on with my life. Then they were right there, and all of those old, ancient wounds reopened.” They talked more, and straightened things out. She told Tanner about finding the missing page, and following the trail back to the Dorm. “We need to speak to Christie and find out what her role in all of this is.” “Agreed.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/25  A Big Louper Tournament against one of the Cardinal’s biggest rivals—the San Francisco Sandpipers. The crowd was buzzing as everyone was sure that the Cardinals would win this game and go on to the international tournament. Peter gave Alison a bag of orange candies, touched with magic to keep out the chill. She was glad to be living in the world full of magic where life was a little easier. Then she saw a dark, malignant figure standing on the other side of the field, and Christie running toward it. Alison and Tanner tried to stop her, but she was caught on the field, and would, therefore, be in the Louper Game. Luke saw her in the game, and made the decision to keep her in it, not to “kill” her to get rid of her.” We’ll win the right way, without harming anyone.” The game continued. Christie knew she was slowing the team down, and hated it. They lost the game, and Christie disappeared, with everyone looking for her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/26   She might be in her room, 89. They went back there, Dorvu  above them, amusing himself by blowing puffs of icy air into various shapes from hearts to perfect circles. Alison and Tanner burst into 89, looking for Christie. “She might be in trouble, and we want to help her.” “She wanders down to the stream sometimes.”&lt;br /&gt;
Christie was in the woods, next to the stream. A deep growling voice spoke to her, telling her , “You failed. Your friends will make fine sacrifices.” He stepped forward revealing a bare torso covered in muscle. His hands were tipped with sharp wolf claws, but his face was what made the words slip away from her. What had once been a handsome man had been transformed into a monster. His jaw was caught between that of a wolf and a man, and sharp teeth were on display when he pulled back his thin, black lips. His short hair clung close to his skull and revealed pointed ears. &lt;br /&gt;
Christie ran, coming out of the woods and meeting Alison et al, who ran after her. “What’s going on, Christie?” Alison stood in front of her blocking her escape. “We can’t stay here. Please. I’ll tell you, just somewhere safe.” Christie told them of her problem – sick Mom, old spell books, special pendant a guy said he would help her with to heal her Mom. A handsome shifter, who wanted better from life than it was giving him. “We couldn’t find the books he needed to make the transformation, but we found out that this school did. So, I managed to transfer to this school so I could get the books. He used an ancient artifact to unleash magic that he said would help me achieve our goals. It linked me to him, I think. I can feel him. “When I went to take the books, he took control of my body. The shifter used me like a puppet, but we were so close. He was going to help me make the pendant, and then everything would be okay. The artifact started to corrupt something within him so what little magic he had wasn’t enough to finish the transformation. It pulled his wolf side out. It stopped, and now he’s stuck in this awful in between state and he needs help from a magical to fix it. . He said he’s going to sacrifice my friends unless someone helps him finish the transformation.” We need to find and stop this deranged man first.” “His name is Scott. He was thrown out of his pack because of some disagreement with the alpha. All he wanted was to be respected, and he had kind brown eyes.” &lt;br /&gt;
They wanted to find the artifact, in the root cellar Scott had been using, so Luke shifted, they all shifted to night vision, and started off to track the artifact, Dorvu watching from above. &lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/27  With Luke as a wolf, and Tanner with Alison, Christie walked with Emma and Aya. Christie could feel Scott lurking somewhere. There was a sense of him watching, but the bond had never been very good at locating him. It was something he used to control her, and she didn’t know of a way to turn it to her benefit. They stepped through the boundary at the edge of the school grounds, and the security it provided. They were on their own now. Something was very wrong. Luke’s  hackles rose when he heard an unfamiliar footstep and the sensation of being stalked coursed through him. Scott smiled. They were going exactly where he wanted them to, to the artifact and the sacrificial zone. Soon, he would be the wizard he should have been.&lt;br /&gt;
They came to a dark clearing. A bush rustled behind them, and they turned around. Scott stood over six feet tall with broad, strong shoulders and thick heavy muscle. His torso was bare and lightly covered with grey and tan fur. Long, black claws tipped his curved fingers, and his thin, black lips pulled back to reveal long white teeth. His once soft brown eyes were now a dark amber that glistened with malice and fury. Alison looked at the thick layer of magic that surrounded Scott. It sat in plates much like armor and was dark silver in color. She tried to find any chinks or weaknesses. Unlike physical armor, it didn’t need gaps or such to allow for the wearer’s joint movements. Scott tried to attack Alison, and was met by the group’s magical production of bright light. It blinded him, threw them all off of their feet, and he crashed where Alison had been. Luke attacked him, and was thrown against a tree. Dorvu roared, trying tpo get down into the forest to help his friends, blowing a blast of freezing air that stopped him for a moment. There were cracks in the magical armor now. Luke again attacked, tearing at his leg, and was again thrown away, Scott already beginning to heal. The grop gain hit him with agonizing light, which tore through his protection. The group’s magic was weakening, and as Scott again approached Alison, she grabbed up a branch and drove it into an eye. He screamed, breaking their focus, and started toward the group again. Kathleen used her magic to again attack her, Alison adding a blow to the side of his head. Alison dropped the branch and called her magic. Scott dropped to his knees, his torso a bloody, ragged mess. Alison engulfed him in her Drow magic, snuffing out his life and making sure that he would never sacrifice anyone. &lt;br /&gt;
Now they had to find the artifact, destroy it, and make the pendant to save her Mom. Christie described the artifact. They found the cellar, the artifact, and the pile of sacrifices alongside the altar. They destroyed the artifact with concentrated light, and the artifact destroyed the cellar with it’s energy, leaving a pit in the ground. They were sure Powell would be proud of them. They had gotten out alive!&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/28  Alison tried to dig into the ground, to find the books that were buried, and aya remembered the spell the Librarians had taught her, on how to retrieve books. She gave a flick and a slow sweeping motion of her wand. To everyone’s delight, the books all flew toward Aya then stacked neatly at her feet. &lt;br /&gt;
The group took the ingredients from Christie’s pouch, and made the pendant. Alison saw the black magic of it escape into the woods, and didn’t say anything about it. The pendant was a pure healing stone. &lt;br /&gt;
As the group made their way back to the school, Horace saw them. He knew that this was a group that would not only help the world, but would change it. He, also, had seen the darkness escape into the woods. That pendant was made with the intent of saving a life, but everything must balance. A darkness emerged into the world to balance the life that would be saved. There was nothing much to be done about it at that moment. Who knew where the darkness had gone, or even what exactly it was. He might have a quiet word with Mara and Xander about it, without mentioning the students. &lt;br /&gt;
Estelle still had doubts about Christie. “That Christie girl isn’t all sweetness and light, you know. She likes to bend the rules a little too much. This won’t be the last of the trouble she causes.” Horace knew it, and thought that being with the group might influence her for the better. She was on the cusp. “Let’s hope she sees that for herself and makes the right decisions.&lt;br /&gt;
The group returned the bools to the back of the Library door, then went to the dining hall, hoping for something to eat, even if it was late. To their relief, a generous helping of meatloaf with mashed potato soon appeared. Luke dug in the moment immediately. He was absolutely ravenous. The pixies sighed and shook their heads. These students really had no manners at all.&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/29  The last Christmas dinner before vacation. The Dining Hall was again fully decorated, and everyone had bags of gifts to distribute after dinner. Each was given a thoughtful gift that they liked immensely. &lt;br /&gt;
Goodbyes were said, as all went off to their vacations, the jitney surrounded by ethereal reindeers and Santas. When Alison boarded her train, at the magical station, she saw a dark shadow lurking at the very edge of the platform, far from any other commuters. It could have been an oddly shaped shadow cast by the magical lights over the platform. It could have been, but Alison knew differently.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1720</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1720"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:13:39Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
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To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
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But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
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Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
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When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
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He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
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Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
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Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
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James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/01   '''THE AMULET'''  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/02  '''THE ANTIQUE SHOP'''   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/03  ''' PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD''' As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/04  ''' HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT'''  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/08  '''THE ARTIFACT'''  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates - nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  '''THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN''' Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/13  '''OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT'''  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/14 '''’THE CONSPIRACY'''   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accept'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/16  '''RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
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They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruiting Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/17 '''DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL'''   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interesting.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/18  '''NEW FAMILY HISTORY'''   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/19 '''MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'''   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/20  '''NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT'''   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
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She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/21 '''SUSPICIONS'''   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/22   '''THE MISUNDERSTANDING'''   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/24  '''THE PORTAL ARTIFACT'''  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
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He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
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As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/25  '''THE ROBBERY'''  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE BEATING'''   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Steel Wolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wire-frame holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
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His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
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The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1719</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1719"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:11:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
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To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
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But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
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Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
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When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
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He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
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Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
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Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
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James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/01   '''THE AMULET'''  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/02  '''THE ANTIQUE SHOP'''   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/03  ''' PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD''' As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/04  ''' HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT'''  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/08  '''THE ARTIFACT'''  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates - nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  '''THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN''' Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/13  '''OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT'''  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/14 '''’THE CONSPIRACY'''   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accept'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/16  '''RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
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They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruiting Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/17 '''DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL'''   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interesting.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/18  '''NEW FAMILY HISTORY'''   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/19 '''MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'''   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/20  '''NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT'''   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
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She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/21 '''SUSPICIONS'''   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/22   '''THE MISUNDERSTANDING'''   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/24  '''THE PORTAL ARTIFACT'''  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
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He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
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As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/25  '''THE ROBBERY'''  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE BEATING'''   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Codex of the Sky Gods  and that the Steel Wolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wire-frame holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
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His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
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The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1718</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1718"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T20:00:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
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To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
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But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
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Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
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When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
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He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
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Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
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Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/01   '''THE AMULET'''  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/02  '''THE ANTIQUE SHOP'''   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/03  ''' PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD''' As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/04  ''' HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT'''  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/08  '''THE ARTIFACT'''  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates - nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  '''THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN''' Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/13  '''OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT'''  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/14 '''’THE CONSPIRACY'''   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accept'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/16  '''RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
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They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruiting Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/17 '''DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL'''   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interesting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/18  '''NEW FAMILY HISTORY’’’   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/19 '''MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’’’   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/20  '''NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT'''   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/21 '''SUSPICIONS'''   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/22   '''THE MISUNDERSTANDING'''   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/24  '''THE PORTAL ARTIFACT'''  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
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He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
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As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/25  '''THE ROBBERY'''  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE BEATING'''   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Codex of the Sky Gods  and that the Steel Wolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wire-frame holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
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His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1717</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1717"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T19:57:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
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To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
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But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
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Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
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When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
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He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
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Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/01   '''THE AMULET'''  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/02  '''THE ANTIQUE SHOP'''   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/03  ''' PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD''' As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/04  ''' HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT'''  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/08  '''THE ARTIFACT'''  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates - nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  '''THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN''' Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/13  '''OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT'''  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/14 '''’THE CONSPIRACY'''   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accept'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/16  '''RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
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They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruiting Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/17 '''DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL'''   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interesting.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/18  '''NEW FAMILY HISTORY’’’   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/19 '''MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’’’   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/20  '''NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT'''   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
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She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/21 '''SUSPICIONS'''   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/22   '''THE MISUNDERSTANDING'''   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/24  '''THE PORTAL ARTIFACT'''  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
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He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
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As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/25  '''THE ROBBERY'''  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
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'''THE BEATING'''   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Codex of the Sky Gods  and that the Steel Wolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wire-frame holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
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His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
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The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1716</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1716"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T19:52:19Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
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To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
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But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
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Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
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When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
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He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
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Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
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Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
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James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/01   '''THE AMULET'''  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/02  '''THE ANTIQUE SHOP'''   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/03  ''' PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD''' As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/04  ''' HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT'''  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/08  '''THE ARTIFACT'''  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates - nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  '''THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN''' Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/13  '''OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT'''  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
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Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/14 '''’THE CONSPIRACY'''   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
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As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accept'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/16  '''RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
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They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruiting Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/17 '''DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL'''   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interestin'''&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/18  '''NEW FAMILY HISTORY’’’   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now'''&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/19 '''MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’’’   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/20  '''NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT'''   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
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She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/21 '''SUSPICIONS'''   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/22   '''THE MISUNDERSTANDING'''   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/24  '''THE PORTAL ARTIFACT'''  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/25  '''THE ROBBERY'''  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''THE BEATING'''   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
 Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Steel WCodex of the Sky godsolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wireframe holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1715</id>
		<title>01 - The Artifact Enigma</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=01_-_The_Artifact_Enigma&amp;diff=1715"/>
		<updated>2018-11-24T19:47:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Artifact Of The Sky Gods|series=The Daniel Codex|asin=B07K1KDP2S|img=51le89Cxw2L|blurb=&lt;br /&gt;
CIA agent Daniel Winters is on a mission to keep two worlds safe; he just needs to bring a guy back from the dead first.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To most, Daniel is the charming owner of an oddities shop he inherited from his grandfather.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But looks are deceiving.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Charged with keeping the worlds safe—from magicals and humans alike—Daniel leads a double life, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When a relatively straight-forward mission takes a turn, it plunges him into a dangerous new world where no one can be trusted.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He must live a lie within a lie while he works from the shadows to keep the worlds safe from a deadly new threat.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Everyone has their limits.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Will Daniel survive being pushed past his?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
James Bond meets Harry Dresden in this action-packed paranormal thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
THEARTIFACTENIGMA-EVENTS-TDC1 – ORICERAN&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/01   ‘’’THE AMULET’’’  Daniel watched for the two humans and the elf that had been tracking him, since he’d recovered the amulet. The CIA had trusted him with this mission. He took out his jammer, and his new gadget, the active deflector, as he allowed them to approach him. He refused to go with them, and they began to fire, but the deflector worked very well, as the bullets could not pierce the shield. He then ran, throwing a sonic grenade at them. The elf  fire-balled the gadgets, filling the alley with smoke. Daniel ran, dodging bullets, and throwing another sonic grenade at them. This one was effective, taking out the two humans, and the elf advanced, starting to cast a spell. Sirens sounded, and Daniel got away by using a grapple gun to rise to the roof of an adjacent building, the elf following him on  a pillar of fire. The elf demanded the amulet, which Daniel refused to give up. A Sky Jager (bounty hunter) descended from his jet wings, and drew a gun on the elf, demanding his surrendered as a level four bounty. The police were arriving, as well, so Daniel fell off the side of the building, hearing gunfire overhead.  using his inflatable cushion to soften his fall. He found the two humans starting to revive. He knocked them out again, and sprinted for the road. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/02  ‘’’THE ANTIQUE SHOP’’’   Daniel opens the shop, and meets with Tommy, who brings him his coffee every day, a teen-ager whom Daniel had befriended, allowing him to stay in the apartment overnight sometimes, helping hm with growing up. They talk a little, then go to the basement to “hang with the heroes”, DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse comics. They talk about Tommy’s family, and Peter comes in (Daniel’s Grandfather), who owns the shop as well, and finds artifacts for Daniel to search for and buy, when he isn’t doing CIA work. Tommy goes off to school, and after Daniel activates the jammer on the table, Peter tells Daniel of an artifact he want him to find and buy, a shotgun. Daniel is encouraged to use the jammer at all times. (“The Company wants me to be able to talk without risk no matter where I am. It’s one of the few things they let me sign out permanently for general use.”) “This one was sent to us by your buddy ,Rolf, who found it on the dark web. Allegedly has strange powers. Daniel will hunt for it when he goes to Munich soon. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/03  ‘’’ PROBLEMS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD’’’ As Daniel is going to the Metro station, to his day job (the CIA), he sees a thug menacing the local corner shop keeper, and goes in to find out what is going on. Upon the thug’s threats to Charlie’s dog, Daniel beats him and throws him out of his shop.(Doesn’t use ANY special talents – like fighting with a kid!) Daniel likes to keep this a safe neighborhood, and will not allow anyone to upset it. The people call him “The Mayor”, and are happy he will do this. Charlie tells him about several threats lately, is if a gang and organized crime might be moving in. And as the thug is leaving, he threatens Daniel with reprisals. Something far more targeted was happening?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/04  ‘’’ HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT’’’  Daniel takes the Metro to another neighborhood, where he keeps his car in a locked facility. (See Characters, [[Daniel]]) He checked into his office, through all of the necessary security check-ups, and learned that Nessie was looking for him. She tasks him with  his new assignment. “ You’ll go to Germany to rescue a dead man from the tomb where he’s been resting for one hundred years. Then you’ll deliver him to some contacts to be flown to a secure location. Get the man out of his sarcophagus in Munich. He’s a man in need of rescue, not a body, and he’s not in a cemetery, but in a sarcophagus being stored with some archaeological and historical artifacts. The sarcophagus belongs to a man named Gunter Holst who died in World War II. Part of your assignment is to recover a body that will appear dead and ascertain his identity. Our information suggests he might be a useful asset in terms of dealing with magical threats. Has been in the box for one hundred years. You’ll be working with Ronni on this assignment. I need to get you signed off on all your devices, so you can catch your flight.” She pushed a box of gadgets toward him.” The government needs to dock your pay for what you lose.” Even if they don’t work?” Nessie nodded. “At least they’ll have a chance to examine why they failed.” (See [[SAD Equipment]] for contents).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/05   In Munich, Daniel goes to a local bar for more information about Leuchtenberg Palais. For one thing, his briefing didn’t give him a clue about how he might bring a dead man back to life. Splashing a little cash around to the right man or woman might help with that. Ronni always modified the “gadgets” to do more than they were built to do. Ronni had a knack for combining tech and small artifacts with low levels of magic to make something new, despite lacking any actual magical ability otherwise. At least, he’d been told she lacked magical abilities. This time, she had altered her receiver. It looked like a little Pikachu. It can also pick up conversations and transmit the information remotely. Daniel didn’t know what state the body would be in. Ronni thought that it would have at least some sound generation capability, so probably not a skeleton or goo. Even magical beings tend to still rely on some basic biology. Probably humanoid. To pass the time, they talk about the three most wanted &lt;br /&gt;
On the Homeland Security Enhanced Threat list. Number three is Cailarin. He was a big player in the Oriceran Dark Market. Also helped create a new dark web system nicknamed Venger. You not only need specific software but also a minimum of magical ability.” Number 2 is dead, yesterday, by a Level Six Bounty Hunter from LA. Number One has only an alias. Morgana. Daniel will see what Rolf has to say about her. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/06  Daniel creeps into the Palace at night, Ronni keeping two drones going, one on him, the other on the neighborhood (from thousands of miles away!). Daniel had gotten more from Rolf than he had from Nessie about the target. Thanks to Rolf,  easily avoided the alarm system. Made his way to the basement, where the sarcophagus was in a storage facility. He finds the room, opens it, lights click on. Automatic motion sensors. Ronni reported some weird interference on some of the drone feeds. Daniel started searching the rooms, and finally found the sarcophagus.  He opened it, and his target, dressed in a faded black suit, lay inside with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked peaceful for a skeleton. Suddenly, it sat up, and began replacing itself – lungs, stomach, kidneys, liver, brain- and then the skin. The whole thing took 15 seconds, and he saw a well-built, square-jawed, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. The man’s name was John Rainer. John got out of the coffin, and Daniel’s link to Ronni suddenly went dead. Daniel heard a voice, and looked around. Daisy! ! An elf he had crossed paths with in prior tasks. Daisy wanted to take John with her, and Daniel needed him to go back with him. Just as Daisy was about to use magic to take him, guards burst into the room. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/07 Daisy said “You take him, and keep him safe. And you owe me.” And she started to disable the guards as John and Daniel ran. As thy exited the building, Ronni came back on-line. As Daniel’s car had been transported to Munich with him, they used that to take John to a black van in an alley. After codes were exchanged, the men I  the van took John Daniel told him he’d been out for a little over100 years, and he was, indeed surprised, but things hadn’t changed that much. Still have cars, Germans and elves. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/08  ‘’’THE ARTIFACT’’’  Daniel signs off from Ronni. Had delivered John to CIA people, so will go after the shot-gun for Granddad. Daniel disguised his car (different color, new plates -nanopaint) He met the contact, Gunter,  at an old warehouse, and the man begged him to take it off of his hands, for free. Just needed to get rid of it. He showed Daniel what he had inadvertently done (killed his friend), and he wanted no more of it. It looked  like a gigantic shotgun with a black metal stock. Hand cannon might have been a more appropriate description given that the barrel was over two feet in diameter and half an inch thick, but there were no obvious triggers or buttons. It worked on what you thought. To activate it, think of what you want it to do. To stop it, think of something neutral. A particle separator. Daniel didn’t want to touch it, so went to get an emergency blanket to wrap it in. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/09  Daniel was wary of the gun. He didn’t know of its capabilities, and random artifacts only made things more impossible. Daniel had returned at night, and no one was up. But when he got to the basement, Grandfather came and opened the door. &lt;br /&gt;
Grandfather had known it was dangerous, but also knew that Daniel would handle it. “Let’s get it into the vault and pretend it doesn’t exist.” They locked it into the vault, and went to bed, except that Grandfather came down about an hour later, took the control rod out of the gun, copied it so that the gun would look complete, and kept the real control rod himself. Daniel just wasn’t ready to know everything about it, yet.&lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/10    Granddad went out, got in a cab, and went to an all-night diner, to meet with the old Fixer, Turner Underwood. Underwood had known of the gun, and that it needed a non-magical person to handle it. The last time it had been handled by a magical, it almost blew up the whole country. Peter met with Underwood, and took, as payment, news of his daughter and son-in-law. They might still be alive, in an unknown village in Brazil. Problem was, the village had ceased to exist, as if it had never been, and there were no clues to its disappearance. Peter was dismayed,  but he still had a copy of the strange runes and cyphers on the control copy, and he would look into what they might mean. They might have clues to their whereabouts, and how to get to tem, and get them back. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC 01/11  Now that Daniel has a few days off, he’s looking the neighborhood over, for signs of the trouble that had been brewing when he left. Everything looked good until he came to the florist’s, talking on the phone with a panicked look on her face. Something was happening, he just didn’t know what. His phone rang- they needed him at Headquarters, so he left to go to work.&lt;br /&gt;
He met Nessie in her office, gave a report on the failures of some of his equipment, and left. On the way out, he met with  an older agent, Timothy Franklin, who had been around longer that he. Franklin warned him to “watch his back”. Franklin wanted to investigate his availability for a small job, perhaps even that night. Daniel could do it – just let him know. Visited with Ronni, thanked her for her help in Munich. Traded insults with Jack Buckley, and promised Ronni that he would take her out to lunch as payment for her good work. She accepted. Daniel left, no jobs at hand, for a relaxed evening. &lt;br /&gt;
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TDC01/12  ‘’’THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN’’’ Daniel and Connor sit, playing D &amp;amp; D with some of their friends, and Daniel seemed to be loosing. (Four men, one woman) Connor, Daniel, Taylor, Juan and Lorelai. They had played for years together. The one thing constant through their various life experiences. Suddenly a real scream sounded. They all rushed outside, and Daniel saw that it was Jeanine, the florist who had been panicked earlier. She was being held by one thug, while four others watched. &lt;br /&gt;
The group attacked the thugs, and managed, with Daniel’s expert hidden help, to overcome them. The police arrived, and they all decided to go back to gaming. Daniel knew he would have to be more involved with keeping the neighborhood safe. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/13  ‘’’OFF THE RECORDS ASSIGNMENT’’’  Timothy and Daniel talk, Timothy making it more of a request than a mission.  “There’s a man in Vancouver, a very wealthy man,” Timothy began. “And it’s come to my attention that he’s keeping a dangerous artifact, a nozzle. There’s no way he should hold on to something like that artifact. It’s a danger to him, his city, his country, and the world. I need you to do what plenty of CIA agents have done throughout history. I need you to do something a little shady off the books to help protect the peace of your country and the planet.” “You want me to go on a blind mission with no material or personnel support, and I shouldn’t even breathe a word of it to any of the people I work with? . I have to get in, grab the artifact, not seriously hurt anyone, and get out. Otherwise, the Company will come down on both of us for an unauthorized mission.” Daniel agreed. But it were anyone but Timothy, the answer would have been no. Timothy sent him the address and the layout of the penthouse. The Artifact was in the middle of the living room, on display. Daniel thought about asking Ronni to be his visual support, then decided not to. He’d handle it himself. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel created a safe behavior pattern, in disguise. Blond wig, blue contacts, face putty.  Looking like everyone else was simply another way of being invisible. Security drones protected the penthouses, so an internal raid was necessary. Using his special lockpicks and cards, Daniel got into the penthouse, but was apprehended by a guard, then by many guards. He escaped by jumping from the thirty-eight story window, using his inflatable cushion to land. Jumping in his car, he took the nozzle to Timothy, with lots of questions! The nozzle also contained many of the symbols he had seen on the shot-gun barrel. Same wizards? Same race?  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/14  ‘’’THE CONSPIRACY’’’   Daniel started to investigate some of the strange symbols he had found on the gun barrel, and on the nozzle. He engaged Ronni, a good research person, for this “top-secret” job. Erase the work when you’re done, and only tell me directly, face to face, if you find anything.” Daniel went to find Timothy for some answers, entering his office  door and locking it behind him, demanding to know the truths of the situation. Timothy implied that his silence was for Daniel’s own good, that maybe it wasn’t good to know too much.  Then Timothy started talking. The artifacts were from true aliens, not from Oriceran, and the technology was so advanced it seemed like magic. But not magic, science. Also, aliens good at imitating humans. Are walking around, undetected. The point is, we don’t know where they’re from, how many of them are here, or their intentions. The only thing we know is that they’re here, and they are potentially armed with technology hundreds of years beyond what we have available. The hawks want to arm the country to take on those aliens. The same people who wanted to nuke Oriceran are ready to start a war with an enemy they haven’t even identified. And as worried as I am about these aliens, we’re not even sure they’re enemies. These aliens might be a threat, or they might merely be tourists.  I’ve put together my own group within the CIA to look into the aliens. If it costs me in the end, then I don’t care. I’ll die with no regrets. Do you want to grab magical tchotchkes for the rest of your damned life, or do you want to save worlds? We’re connected to Oriceran now. If things go south, they’ll be in the line of fire, too.” Daniel thought about this. Doing a side job without the Company knowing was one thing, but participating in a fully independent rogue team wasn’t merely brushing against the line. It was jumping yards past it. Daniel needed to talk to Nessie, one of the rogue group, before he gave his final answer. He talked to her, and she gave him an address in DC, to go and see the whole picture. This would be a test of his good faith.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/ 15  Daniel goes to the secret briefing that Nessie and Timothy suggested. He meets with Malcolm White, another CIA agent in the conspiracy.” This is the HQ for our new task force or whatever you want to call it. Group less than ten people presently. Everything’s secure. Only a small number of people in the entire world know about this building.&lt;br /&gt;
They enter a meeting room.  A large virtual screen covered the back wall. Several workstations with computers and large headphones lined one of the other walls. &lt;br /&gt;
The screen currently depicted a flat map of the Earth marked with several small triangles in various locations with small notes next to them. Vancouver, Canada, and Munich, Germany had both been marked, but there were easily a dozen other notations on the map. They talk about how the Fortis Group operates – a shock. Destroyed (bombed) and entire American town because they thought that one alien was there. Are now looking at Ronni, as she  is investigating artifact material for Daniel. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As Ronni approaches the CIA, on her way to work, she is accosted by two men who try to take her with them. They do not identify themselves in any way. She eludes the with two of her gadgets (a Gumby- a personal poisonous gas bomb, and a Barbie Shoe, a flash bomb which explodes and blinds viewers). She arrives at the CIA, and sees two agents who had  all of her office things in boxes. They refuse to allow her to enter, and inform her that she’d been fired for  “suspicion of espionage.” As she started to walk away, Daniel drives up in his Jag, sees that she’s been fired, and takes her into the car, to explain what had happened.  (They caught her investigating the symbols for Daniel). Daniel explains about the new group, asks her to join, and she accepts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/16  ‘’’RONNI AND HER FRIENDS’’’  A week later, Ronni goes to the Big Gnome’s house, to ask him to join the group, as well. &lt;br /&gt;
He invites her into his living room, filled with a large table, tools, and gadgets in the process of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
She offers him a better job than his one on TV, with an otter to save the country, shows him the symbols from the artifacts, and explains. He accepts, and wants to bring along Madge, a friend of his cousins, a pixie, who can help with the paper work, and other things. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
They go to his office, Lat Productions, and see his sign, printed in  Comic Sans font. He’d do business HIS way! Madge is a winged pixie. Ronni starts to give her the pitch, but all she wants to know is, “Are there snacks? She doesn’t care about the job, as long as she can snack on what she wants. So Daniel is responsible for  recruitING Ronni, Big Gnome, and Madge for the group. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/17 ‘’’DANIEL’S NEXT OFFICIAL RETRIEVAL’’’   Buckley approaches Daniel in the CIA office, as Daniel was looking for Ronni, and told him that she was no longer there. Fired for leaking information for personal gain. Buckley looks unkempt, beard, creased cloths, Has been busy. Ducked behind a desk when a loud crash occurred as someone dropped something. Daniel goes to Nessie’s office, talks about Ronni,  about his next job. A ring of burglars has terrorized London, and they might be using a magical artifact. We want you to investigate and recover it before MI5 or MI6 get involved. Every one we control adds to the safety and security of the United States.” Nessie showed him all of his equipment, including a couple of new items (See Technology [[SAD Equipment]]. &lt;br /&gt;
Artifact, this time, is a glowing medallion. Some reports suggest it increases mobility, and others suggest that it allows people to pass through walls. It might even do both. It also remains unclear whether it only works on one person, or if it works on a group of people in a certain radius. We only know the local authorities and bounty hunters haven’t been able to track them down. Even when they get close, the thieves get away.”&lt;br /&gt;
In London, Daniel is happy that this artifact wouldn’t kill someone, just help steal from them. He meets with a local back-up, to help him, Serena. She’s done her homework, and knows where the thieves will strike that night. They are on the roof, and apprehend the thieves as planned, but just as they attempt to capture them, a new group shows up, a tomb raiding group, led by John Hollingsworth V, current CEO and leader of Hollingsworth Retrieval Specialists. John and Daniel chase a thief, and it was the wrong one. (eight thieves). One of John’s men had captured the one who had been wearing the artifact. John hopped into the craft, leaving Daniel empty handed. Now Daniel would have to get the medallion from John before he could go back to America!&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel goes to a local pub, and meets with Daisy, the elf, telling her of the other aliens, besides the Oricerans, who were on Earth. She had been unaware of them. He offers her the opportunity to work with the rogue group of agents, to save the worlds, and she accepts. At the very least, it should be interesting!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/18  ‘’’NEW FAMILY HISTORY’’’   Daniel and the group were involved in another D &amp;amp; D game, Daniel and his cohorts falling to Connor’s team because of bad luck with the dice. In his mind, he likened D &amp;amp; D to real life, but it wasn’t. Real life isn’t a game. My parents hit a tomb, and they didn’t come back. A good roll won’t save you when real magic is around, and the only ones who bring people back from the dead are necromancers. And after the gamers had left, he went down into the basement and looked through the keepsakes he had left from his parents. And as he thought of the dangers his parents had faced, he thought of his own situation, and about joining the new team. Is this my future? I’ll chase these aliens until one day, I disappear, and no one knows what happened to me? Will I be as smart and ready as Ronni when they come for me? Granddad stepped into the room, and confirmed that Daniel’s parents had really been looking for a Codex, the Codex of the Sky Gods, which had the unusual symbols in it. If found, it might tell how to reach the alien planet. Had nothing to do with Oricerans, but with true aliens from another place.  Daniel told him about the nozzle he had retrieved. Peter also told him that they might still be alive, somewhere. Daniel was amazed, and now knew he could NEVER walk away from the group, now. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/19 ‘’’MORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’’’   Daniel went out for a walk a few weeks later, and, in passing by the Florist’s shop, found three men in the alley trying to set it ablaze. As he confronted them, they ran, jumped into a van, and escaped. &lt;br /&gt;
He followed in a parked car he had found running, and, when he started to lose them, implanted a GPS tracker on the van . He went back to the neighborhood, retrieved his own car, and returned to tracking the vans, which now numbered three. Using many of the gadgets in his car, he disabled all three, and , tracking the fleeing arsonists, found one of them phoning information to their leader. He grabbed the phone, and warned the voice on the other end to stop fooling with his neighborhood, as he wouldn’t play so nice next time he caught them doing anything. His Jag had gotten a few dents in the chase, and Daniel knew that Nessie wouldn’t be happy at all about that!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/20  ‘’’NON-STANDARD EQUIPMENT’’’   The next day he took the Jag into a garage Tim had told him about, and found Nessie waiting for him, unhappy, as expected. She took him into a supply room, showing him that it contained a vast store of both replacement parts for their equipment, but new parts for the gadgets they had reverse-engineered from alien technology. She also told him that he was the new operational head of the unit, a simpler job than it would have been for CIA, requiring no signatures of approval for things. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She showed him  ‘’special suits’’, blast pistols, assassin drones, rings and watches (low-powered energy fields), anti-magic deflectors, and a tiny miniaturized ’subcutaneous receiver and transmitter. (See Technology, [[SAD Equipment]], Non-standard Equipment for details). As his car was now repaired, he and Nessie went back to the CIA office , to their jobs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/21  ‘’’SUSPICIONS’’’   Daniel was determined to maintain his double identity for as long as he could. As he was in his office, completing paperwork about his jobs, both official and unofficial, Buckley came in, surprising him again. Buckley wanted to invite him to lunch, as he had something to talk to him about. Not in the CIA cafeteria. They took Daniel’s car. Even though they liked to joke around in the office and had worked together for years, they’d never socialized outside the headquarters They hadn’t even had any occasion to work missions together. He didn’t consider the man an enemy, but he was far from a friend. They’d always sparred verbally, but that was just cheap fun. He was now delivering barbs. Buckley accused him of being a “CIA sheep, and a coward”, of throwing other people “under the bus to save your own ass.” Daniel pulled over, and Buckley got out, leaving Daniel to go back to the office where he talked to Timothy about it. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel and Timothy go to a bar, using their jammers for privacy. Daniel accuses Buckley of being a Fortis agent, because of the Ronni connection. Daniel says,” “There’s got to be some way I can convince him I’m not involved in any of these alien investigations.” Timothy advises, “Arrange a meeting and feel him out,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/22   ‘’’THE MISUNDERSTANDING’’’   Daniel calls Buckley, setting up a meeting, at the parking lot they knew, at 7 PM that night. He goes to Ronni for a jammer interference gadget, and she gives him a My Little Pony figure. Toys? Disguises! Cuter this way!  (See Characters, [[Ronni]] for a list of her “toys”)&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley and Daniel meet, in the parking lot, and Buckley insists that Daniel follow him to a place he would pick. Daniel does so, suggesting to Ronni that she keep a drone on him, for protection. Daniel laughed. “It’s hard to fight people who know all your procedures and moves. That Mustang is almost as tricked out as my car. He’s probably got some drones following me as well.”&lt;br /&gt;
Buckley took him to the Wharf Marina, where he lost contact with Ronni. Jamming, but Buckley’s line would be jammed as well, so they were on an even playing field. Buckley took them to a small cabin cruiser, the ‘’Big Bad Wolf’’. Will talk on the water. Buckley accuses Daniel of being a Fortis Agent, and of killing Ronni. And Buckley takes him to a quiet, still place where he would be able to force Daniel to talk and tell everything he knew about Fortis. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/23   Daniel laughed, and told Buckley that Ronni was alive, and working for a special group. To prove it, they both turned off their jammers, and Daniel called Ronni, asking her to speak to Buckley. He asks to join Daniel’s group, and Daniel agrees to talk to them about him.  Timothy agrees to try him out, but to not let him know about anyone but Ronni and Daniel, so Daniel agrees to meet him for lunch. As Daniel came in, seeing Buckley at a back table, he also saw an adjacent customer rise, trip, and fall on him. Lucky man!  Suddenly Buckley started up, clutched his stomach, coughed and started to spit blood. They called 911, but it was too late. Daniel ran to the parking lot and saw a car, a Fiat, drive out. then, saw it turn color, with different plates. Someone from their own CIA agency had killed him! !&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel talks to Timothy about it. “They murdered him in fucking broad daylight and in public. But Timothy shook his head. The report was already in. “According to the report, poor unfortunate Jack Buckley overdosed on a new dangerous synthetic that was mixed with dust.” He took a deep breath. “The Company isn’t treating it as anything more than that. They are initiating a formal review of his cases. As far as the official word goes, Agent Jack Buckley had become a junkie. We can’t investigate this or make any noise. If we do, they’ll come sniffing our way, and we’re not ready to take them head-on just yet. The only thing we can do is move forward and make sure he didn’t die in vain. Do you understand, Daniel?”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/24  ‘’’THE PORTAL ARTIFACT’’’  Daniel had a new CIA case, so was able to get away from the office, to rural Quebec, and recover from the Buckley incident. The mission was simple enough—check out the site to see if he could gather any information about a portal-opening artifact. . The Company had followed several suspicious and gory deaths all over the world in the past few months, all associated with an anti-magic terrorist group, New Veil. Daniel thought, They hate magic, but they’ll still use artifacts. Got to love human consistency. Maybe it was human nature to turn into what you hated. Or maybe it was something darker.&lt;br /&gt;
And Daniel vowed to get even with them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He received a call from Timothy, who had just discovered information known by the CIA – about his parents disappearance, being tomb-raiders, and that they had been seen after the village disappeared. Still alive? Who knew? The agency had betrayed him. They knew the entire time that his mother and father might still be alive but hadn’t seen fit to pass that information onto him, even after he’d joined the CIA. If Fortis had killed his parents because they’d found evidence of aliens, he’d burn their entire group to the ground, no matter what it took, and dance in the ashes. “You don’t fuck with dogs and family.”&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel arrived at the abandoned church, finding four humans inside, three standing, one on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. If the terrorists were in disagreement it might be a good time to grab the artifact, assuming they had it with them. After listening, Daniel discovered that they wanted to use the bound man for experiments to test the new alien gadgets they had. Daniel sees them activate a portal (The three terrorists held small glowing leaves in the air. Tendrils of energy connected the leaves to the center of the portal), and confronts them.  They explain their actions (See Groups [[The New Veil]]), and Daniel orders them to deactivate the portal, whereupon they send it towards him, attacking him with it. It seemed to send his bullets back at him. He used that knowledge, of reverse maneuvers, shooting into the portal and then jumping toward the New Veil men, so that the bullets would return to them. He’ also, was injured as the portal came at him, but it worked. As he jumped towards the attackers, the portal shot is bullets at him (them), leaving  them with multiple chest wounds.  As they died, Daniel collected the leaves of the portal, the artifacts. He injected the bound man with a drug that would destroy the memories of the last few hours, and left.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As he was driving to the airport, Charlie (corner store owner that the thugs were threatening), called him, told him his store was being robbed, and that his call to 911 had been diverted.  Daniel told him to stay out of sight, that he’d be back soon. And don’t call anyone else. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/25  ‘’’THE ROBBERY’’’  When Daniel got back, h examined the break-in. It felt wrong. Back door lock had been shot out. The alarm had not gone off, though.  Nothing taken, nothing trashed. If this was a revenge action, the place should have been destroyed, with lots missing. This wasn’t some random punks from the neighborhood. Whoever did this was a professional with expensive gear. The Munich gun was still there . Someone had managed to enter his shop without tripping the alarm. They had taken nothing and disturbed nothing—a break-in with no damage and a robbery with no theft. Nothing about the situation made any sense. Maybe it was a warning to keep his nose out of alien business. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
‘’’THE BEATING’’’   As Tommy walked down the street,  he was approached by four men, who didn’t want his money, but did want his pride. Called him a Half-Ori bitch, and wanted him to lick their shoes. He tried to get away, pulling out the web cube he carried, and was punched in the stomach, then in the face, then was kicked, and kicked again, and again, all of the time being taunted to use  magic, cast a spell, etc. They kicked Tommy’s web, stomping it and crushing it.  “We don’t need no more people on this planet, and you fuckers come here and flash your little magical dicks around like you own us. I don’t get it. You feel free to tell everyone in this neighborhood how we beat your ass down and how they shouldn’t fuck with us. We’re moving in now, and anyone who gets in our way is gonna fucking die. Make sure that bitch who everyone calls the mayor hears it, too.” And they told him to move away, as they might kill him next time. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Daniel talks with Peter about the break-in. . It must be the Company. Maybe they don’t have direct evidence on me like they did Ronni or Buckley.” Peter wasn’t as upset as Daniel, as he would take a few of them with him if they came after him. Then Tommy came in, with a battered face was covered in bruises,  limping. “Who did this to you? Tell me right now.” Peter wanted him to just call the cops and let hem handle it, but Daniel refused. He wouldn’t let people beat a boy black and blue on his watch.&lt;br /&gt;
The teen swallowed. “Y-you shouldn’t mess with these guys, Daniel. This wasn’t just some asshole who wanted my wallet. These guys are seriously bad news. New gang, I think.” Daniel gave Tommy money to go and see a doctor. Peter took him out, and Daniel made plans. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/26  Daniel checks out information with a contact he knows, and finds that this is a new gang, calling themselves  the Steel Wolves. Used to be a decent-sized gang in Baltimore, but they started some shit with an Ori gang, and it didn’t end well. Lost most of their guys and kind of disappeared until rumors of them hitting the DC area started popping up. A little over thirty guys survived.  They learned firsthand how a good gun don’t always work against magic. They’ve got a house they’re renting in DC until they take over their new neighborhood. They are pretty vicious, and into the full package of rape, murder, and assault.” And Daniel decided When you break the rules, you have to be punished. That’s simply the way things are.&lt;br /&gt;
 Daniel went to their neighborhood, and ascertained that there were over two dozen of them in their house. He contacted them, finding them as dumb and arrogant as he had assumed and, posing as a Mafia agent (their assumption), went in. He was recognized by one of the thugs he had previously beaten, and so asked to talk to their leader. T.E. came forward, challenging Daniel. Threatened to take him down with the gang, one against many. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel surprised them by grabbing one and killing him, then dropped a flash-bang into their midst. Daniel whipped out his pistol and methodically put a single round into the chest of man after man until he ran out of bullets. He snatched a gun from a blinded man, shot him with his own weapon, then used his body as a shield and put rounds into the gang members coming down the stairs. Their bodies rolled down to form a pile of dead men. He dropped the body, reloaded his own gun then stepped over the tangle of limbs and bodies and stalked slowly upstairs, pulling out a sonic grenade. After priming it he bounced it off the top of the wall and  immediately crested the stairs. Several men lay groaning on the floor. He fired two bullets into each man before ejecting his magazine and reloading. A thug charged him, and Daniel went down, but slapped his watch, and a needle popped out, with which he injected the thug. Single use paralytic agent. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TDC 01/27  Tommy brought Daniel his morning coffee, and Tommy told him the news, that the Steel WCodex of the Sky godsolves had been attacked by the Baltimore gang, and had left town. There was nothing more to worry about in the neighborhood, and he was heeling well. Would be fine in a couple of days. &lt;br /&gt;
Daniel went to the brownstone house, finding Ronni, Big Gnome and Madge there, working away, with lots of new stuff, holographic displays, virtual keyboards. And then they showed him their masterpiece, a three-dimensional rotating wireframe holographic display of the Earth appeared and floated above the table. Flashing dots were spread all over it,  marking possible alien activity or artifacts.” &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
His parents had been seeking, a source of information that would lead them to a gateway to another world, ‘’The Codex of the Sky Gods’’, and when he saw the three-dimensional holographic representation of the Earth and its artifacts in the Rogue meeting room, he knew that he had now his own source of information that might lead him not only to that gateway but to his own codex. I’ll protect my neighborhood, country, and planet from all enemies foreign and domestic. Human or magical. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial. 	&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Daniel Codex was operational.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Shannon&amp;diff=1686</id>
		<title>Shannon</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Shannon&amp;diff=1686"/>
		<updated>2018-11-17T17:01:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:characters  TSONM 07/07  A wood elf. Female. a new member of Luke's Louper Team, with piercing slate-grey eyes, stared straight at him, challenging him. The first...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/07  A wood elf. Female. a new member of Luke's Louper Team, with piercing slate-grey eyes, stared straight at him, challenging him. The first female on the team in years. Luke bared his teeth a little, feeling his wolf rise. The elf smirked and looked away. “Remember, we work as a team!” Luke growled. &lt;br /&gt;
The elf lowered her eyes and composed herself. She hadn’t intended to upset the team captain. She was merely showing she wasn’t afraid of him as a shifter. She wasn’t some weak girl. She was here to kick ass and get them through to the finals along with the guys. She turned out to be a valuable member of the Louper Team.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Shannon's magic was strong, with intense focus. When paired with Ethan's magic, it could overpower almost anything at which  it was directed. “Shannon, combine your magic with Ethan’s. Control and direct it. Blast that bear in the chest, and knock it on its ass,” Luke said. Shannon’s magic flew straight and true at the bear’s heart with Ethan’s own pure white magic right behind it. The elf pushed away all distractions and focused on the feeling of her magic guiding Ethan’s. He had a lot of power, but she struggled to corral it.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Had remarkable upper body strength, which she used to help members of the team climb in difficult places. (Shannon helped Rex up onto the ledge, her upper body strength proving better than his.)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/13  Her magic could be used to ascertain safe paths in uncertain situations. (She reached into the moss with her magic and pressed against it looking for the safe route. She smiled triumphantly when a neon yellow path formed. )&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/25 She thinks quickly,relates unknown facts, and suggests reasonable answers.  (“Yes! It was big and wooden, with some diploma thing behind it. It looked a lot like the headmistress’s desk.”&lt;br /&gt;
“The school!” Shannon blurted.)&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Christie_Bealls&amp;diff=1685</id>
		<title>Christie Bealls</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Christie_Bealls&amp;diff=1685"/>
		<updated>2018-11-17T04:41:59Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01 A new student at the school whom Alison met on the train platform as she was coming back from vacation.  “I’ve never been this far from home before. I’m a transfer student, and it took me the entire summer break to convince my dad not to ride the train with me. Overprotective wizard, you know. He gave me the wand he had when he went to Marlborough College. Made of Chestnut!” She had a distinctive British accent and kept tucking a dark brown curl behind her ear. Everything came out in a flood of words. Alison saw a dove tattoo on her wrist. Alison invited her to ride the jitney with her, and, chatting, they went off to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Christie's soul energy was colorful, being pink and grey when she was worried and anxious, changing to calm blue with golden flecks as she met Alison, then to blue with golden ribbons as she became excited with going to the School. It turned a glowing, warm, pale orange when she was relaxing. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Was more interested in Oriceran history than any other subject, particularly in the Silver Griffins. A young witch, dressed in purple pants and a white down vest. Curly hair. The girl could talk without taking a breath and seemed to have no filters. She was thirteen and a half, having finished middle school early. The teachers said she was beyond their capabilities. Everyone decided she’d be better off starting high school early. Something about teaching her how to use her wand more effectively. She was thinking of it more as an epic adventure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Talked about coming to the School. “I haven’t really come into my magic yet. Mum’s worried that I might not know what I’m doing if I have to actually use magic some day. She thinks I spend too much time hiding and reading when I should be out there playing sports and refining my magic. Truth is, I found a cache of old spell books they had buried that belonged to ancient Bealls. I’ve been practicing all summer. Only burned a pillow, and boy, those things go up fast. Whoosh!” She threw up her hands, rolling her eyes. “And, okay broke that window, but I fixed that with the old wand before anyone saw, so that doesn’t really count. Frankly, shows I learned a thing or two, so it’s a win-win. I’m pretty sure Mom’s hoping I’ll find a nice boyfriend too.” A magical bookworm!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/09. Christie on singing. &amp;quot;I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. There’s something really relaxing about it. I feel like I’m finally at peace when I sing. The music washes over me, and everything else slips away. It’s like I step into a better world. One where everything’s beautiful, and I can be myself without worrying about anything.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM Had a sick Mom she needed a healing pendant for, so got involved with all of the dark magic, as she didn't have enough strength in her own magic to create it.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=%22Normal%22_Highschool_Group&amp;diff=1684</id>
		<title>&quot;Normal&quot; Highschool Group</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=%22Normal%22_Highschool_Group&amp;diff=1684"/>
		<updated>2018-11-17T01:02:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: Created page with &amp;quot;category:groups  TSONM 07/12  In earlier books, Mara, in hopes of acclimatizing her students too the ways of humans, and vice versa, had instituted luncheon meetings betwe...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[category:groups]]&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 07/12  In earlier books, Mara, in hopes of acclimatizing her students too the ways of humans, and vice versa, had instituted luncheon meetings between groups of Necessary School kids, and students from a human private school in the same city. The two groups got along fairly well, and enjoyed seeing each other when they happened to meet, accidentally or otherwise. The rule was that no magic was to be used in front of the humans. Naturally, that rule was broken, and had remained the secret opf the two groups for the years since they had met. Both groups were Seniors now, and the Human kids had gotten themselves into trouble with an artifact that the Necessary kids helped them with, destroying the evil spirit the humans had inadvertently called up. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A smaller group of these &amp;quot;normal&amp;quot; students, four in number, were Chase, the leader, Lydia, girl with a pixie cut, Ben, a scrawny blonde boy with scruffy hair, and Mags, a girl with long dark blonde hair tied back in a French braid. Alison, Emma, Ethan, Luke, and Tanner were the Necessary kids. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When Alison et al again sneaked into town, they were again met by Chase's group, and invited to coffee. They each &lt;br /&gt;
explained their beliefs. “You have powers to control the elements and summon things. You change the world around you.&amp;quot;  “And we understand that magic isn’t something to be used to harm others. We protect people. We try to make the world a bit better.”&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1676</id>
		<title>Alison</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1676"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T23:39:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/1, 2&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison Anderson&lt;br /&gt;
15 years old, Mom missing (Nicole Anderson), for three weeks, Dad &amp;quot;doing his own thing&amp;quot;. He took off last week. Left some money for food and told me he had to take care of some business stuff.” Sperm donor, only, doesn't care about her otherwise.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Lives in a modest white one-story with peeling paint. Weeds were waging war with the grass in the lawn &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sensitive to emotional flares. Dark hair, white tips. Doesn't go to school (does her own thing). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A blind person. When he’d helped her into the truck earlier she’d patted around as if she were making sure the truck was there. She sees the energy, and understands what it is. Found Leeroy because he was scared and I saw his energy flare. It’s kind of like seeing his fear.” Can read braille as well. Has a haptic reader (‘touch feedback.’ The surface changes,  can load an ebook and read it in braille, or listen). If there’s any blessing that comes from my  special sight, it’s that I see the purity of everyone’s heart.” Brownstone's heart ,  &amp;quot;is the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen.” TUMB 02/4 Couldn't even use a notepad and pencil. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/21&lt;br /&gt;
Upon the death of her Mother, Alison became  the new Oriceran Princess of the Shadow Forged, and inherited her legacy, a wish that Nicole had passed on to James to give to her when she was ready.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/1 Oriceran Heritage: Is a Drow Princess. (Don't yet know what that means). Hair will get lighter, skin get darker as she ages. Might get incredible magic. like her Mom. Didn't tell her yet about the wish. Alison chose to stay with Brownstone, with shay as her new Mom, but Shay liked &amp;quot;Aunt&amp;quot; better. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/4  On her way to school, taking a few clothes, her phone and her braille reader. No artifacts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/3, 4  Alison offered, “I see souls and energy. Oh, and spells. Most people don’t even notice that I can’t see.”&lt;br /&gt;
Mrs. Hudson's energy took on a deep blue color—something she had seen many times. It was pity or sadness; the shades were similar, but both were irritating. Anyone who knew about her mother instantly changed to that shade.&lt;br /&gt;
Room-mate with Kathleen, Emma, Izzie, and Aya. Alison got a bed by the window.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/6 Alison's Magic: “I’m going to admit something, so don’t laugh. I’m here to learn what my magic is. I don’t know yet what I can do. Please don’t ask me anymore about it right now.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/8 Even though all of the girls dress in the school uniform, each one seemed to have their own style. Alison's was Chuck Taylors.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/ In channeling class, Alison's magic/energy had moved the whole classroom. She knew that she needed to learn to control it. She could feel the desire of her magic. It was like having another person inside her body and her mind. She tossed and turned at night from nightmares of the night her mother died, and by day her energy burst at the seams. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/14 In the Hidden Earth Class,  Alison was almost jealous of her classmates -  and somewhere in the back of her mind she wished she could start over and feel that excitement and wonder again. To feel the mystical energy that surrounded the world of magic without it being tainted by darkness and death.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 03/23  Alison has found that she is able to look into the future, but decides not to, until she is more able to handle her abilities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01 Now has magical glasses that allow her to visually see the world. When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1675</id>
		<title>Alison</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1675"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T23:24:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/1, 2&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison Anderson&lt;br /&gt;
15 years old, Mom missing (Nicole Anderson), for three weeks, Dad &amp;quot;doing his own thing&amp;quot;. He took off last week. Left some money for food and told me he had to take care of some business stuff.” Sperm donor, only, doesn't care about her otherwise.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Lives in a modest white one-story with peeling paint. Weeds were waging war with the grass in the lawn &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sensitive to emotional flares. Dark hair, white tips. Doesn't go to school (does her own thing). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A blind person. When he’d helped her into the truck earlier she’d patted around as if she were making sure the truck was there. She I sees the energy, and understands what it is. Found Leeroy because he was scared and I saw his energy flare. It’s kind of like seeing his fear.” Can read braille as well. Has a haptic reader (‘touch feedback.’ The surface changes,  can load an ebook and read it in braille, or listen). If there’s any blessing that comes from my  special sight, it’s that I see the purity of everyone’s heart.” Brownstone's heart ,  &amp;quot;is the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen.” TUMB 02/4 Couldn't even use a notepad and pencil. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/21&lt;br /&gt;
Upon the death of her Mother, Alison became  the new Oriceran Princess of the Shadow Forged, and inherited her legacy, a wish that Nicole had passed on to James to give to her when she was ready.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/1 Oriceran Heritage: Is a Drow Princess. (Don't yet know what that means). Hair will get lighter, skin get darker as she ages. Might get incredible magic. like her Mom. Didn't tell her yet about the wish. Alison chose to stay with Brownstone, with shay as her new Mom, but Shay liked &amp;quot;Aunt&amp;quot; better. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/4  On her way to school, taking a few clothes, her phone and her braille reader. No artifacts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/3, 4  Alison offered, “I see souls and energy. Oh, and spells. Most people don’t even notice that I can’t see.”&lt;br /&gt;
Mrs. Hudson's energy took on a deep blue color—something she had seen many times. It was pity or sadness; the shades were similar, but both were irritating. Anyone who knew about her mother instantly changed to that shade.&lt;br /&gt;
Room-mate with Kathleen, Emma, Izzie, and Aya. Alison got a bed by the window.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/6 Alison's Magic: “I’m going to admit something, so don’t laugh. I’m here to learn what my magic is. I don’t know yet what I can do. Please don’t ask me anymore about it right now.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/8 Even though all of the girls dress in the school uniform, each one seemed to have their own style. Alison's was Chuck Taylors.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/ In channeling class, Alison's magic/energy had moved the whole classroom. She knew that she needed to learn to control it. She could feel the desire of her magic. It was like having another person inside her body and her mind. She tossed and turned at night from nightmares of the night her mother died, and by day her energy burst at the seams. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/14 In the Hidden Earth Class,  Alison was almost jealous of her classmates -  and somewhere in the back of her mind she wished she could start over and feel that excitement and wonder again. To feel the mystical energy that surrounded the world of magic without it being tainted by darkness and death.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 03/23  Alison has found that she is able to look into the future, but decides not to, until she is more able to handle her abilities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01 Now has magical glasses that allow her to visually see the world. When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1674</id>
		<title>Alison</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Alison&amp;diff=1674"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T23:13:39Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/1, 2&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison Anderson&lt;br /&gt;
15 years old, Mom missing (Nicole Anderson, for three weeks), Dad &amp;quot;doing his own thing&amp;quot;. He took off last week. Left some money for food and told me he had to take care of some business stuff.” Sperm donor, only, doesn't care about her otherwise.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Lives in a modest white one-story with peeling paint. Weeds were waging war with the grass in the lawn &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sensitive to emotional flares. Dark hair, white tips. Doesn't go to school (does her own thing). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A blind person. When he’d helped her into the truck earlier she’d patted around as if she were making sure the truck was there. She I sees the energy, and understands what it is. Found Leeroy because he was scared and I saw his energy flare. It’s kind of like seeing his fear.” Can read braille as well. Has a haptic reader (‘touch feedback.’ The surface changes,  can load an ebook and read it in braille, or listen). If there’s any blessing that comes from my  special sight, it’s that I see the purity of everyone’s heart.” Brownstone's heart ,  &amp;quot;is the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen.” TUMB 02/4 Couldn't even use a notepad and pencil. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 01/21&lt;br /&gt;
Upon the death of her Mother, Alison became  the new Oriceran Princess of the Shadow Forged, and inherited her legacy, a wish that Nicole had passed on to James to give to her when she was ready.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/1 Oriceran Heritage: Is a Drow Princess. (Don't yet know what that means). Hair will get lighter, skin get darker as she ages. Might get incredible magic. like her Mom. Didn't tell her yet about the wish. Alison chose to stay with Brownstone, with shay as her new Mom, but Shay liked &amp;quot;Aunt&amp;quot; better. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TUMB 02/4  On her way to school, taking a few clothes, her phone and her braille reader. No artifacts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/3, 4  Alison offered, “I see souls and energy. Oh, and spells. Most people don’t even notice that I can’t see.”&lt;br /&gt;
Mrs. Hudson's energy took on a deep blue color—something she had seen many times. It was pity or sadness; the shades were similar, but both were irritating. Anyone who knew about her mother instantly changed to that shade.&lt;br /&gt;
Room-mate with Kathleen, Emma, Izzie, and Aya. Alison got a bed by the window.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/6 Alison's Magic: “I’m going to admit something, so don’t laugh. I’m here to learn what my magic is. I don’t know yet what I can do. Please don’t ask me anymore about it right now.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/8 Even though all of the girls dress in the school uniform, each one seemed to have their own style. Alison's was Chuck Taylors.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/ In channeling class, Alison's magic/energy had moved the whole classroom. She knew that she needed to learn to control it. She could feel the desire of her magic. It was like having another person inside her body and her mind. She tossed and turned at night from nightmares of the night her mother died, and by day her energy burst at the seams. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/14 In the Hidden Earth Class,  Alison was almost jealous of her classmates -  and somewhere in the back of her mind she wished she could start over and feel that excitement and wonder again. To feel the mystical energy that surrounded the world of magic without it being tainted by darkness and death.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 03/23  Alison has found that she is able to look into the future, but decides not to, until she is more able to handle her abilities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01 Now has magical glasses that allow her to visually see the world. When asked what the world looked like, she said, “A beautiful kaleidoscope of color. Everything has its own specific color. I often feel as though it’s everyone else that’s blind.”&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Christie_Bealls&amp;diff=1673</id>
		<title>Christie Bealls</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Christie_Bealls&amp;diff=1673"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T23:12:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/01 A new student at the school whom Alison met on the train platform as she was coming back from vacation.  “I’ve never been this far from home before. I’m a transfer student, and it took me the entire summer break to convince my dad not to ride the train with me. Overprotective wizard, you know. He gave me the wand he had when he went to Marlborough College. Made of Chestnut!” She had a distinctive British accent and kept tucking a dark brown curl behind her ear. Everything came out in a flood of words. Alison saw a dove tattoo on her wrist. Alison invited her to ride the jitney with her, and, chatting, they went off to the School. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Christie's soul energy was colorful, being pink and grey when she was worried and anxious, changing to calm blue with golden flecks as she met Alison, then to blue with golden ribbons as she became excited with going to the School. It turned a glowing, warm, pale orange when she was relaxing. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Was more interested in Oriceran history than any other subject, particularly in the Silver Griffins. A young witch, dressed in purple pants and a white down vest. Curly hair. The girl could talk without taking a breath and seemed to have no filters. She was thirteen and a half, having finished middle school early. The teachers said she was beyond their capabilities. Everyone decided she’d be better off starting high school early. Something about teaching her how to use her wand more effectively. She was thinking of it more as an epic adventure.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Talked about coming to the School. “I haven’t really come into my magic yet. Mum’s worried that I might not know what I’m doing if I have to actually use magic some day. She thinks I spend too much time hiding and reading when I should be out there playing sports and refining my magic. Truth is, I found a cache of old spell books they had buried that belonged to ancient Bealls. I’ve been practicing all summer. Only burned a pillow, and boy, those things go up fast. Whoosh!” She threw up her hands, rolling her eyes. “And, okay broke that window, but I fixed that with the old wand before anyone saw, so that doesn’t really count. Frankly, shows I learned a thing or two, so it’s a win-win. I’m pretty sure Mom’s hoping I’ll find a nice boyfriend too.” A magical bookworm!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/09. Christie on singing. &amp;quot;I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. There’s something really relaxing about it. I feel like I’m finally at peace when I sing. The music washes over me, and everything else slips away. It’s like I step into a better world. One where everything’s beautiful, and I can be myself without worrying about anything.”&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Lucy_Fowler&amp;diff=1672</id>
		<title>Lucy Fowler</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Lucy_Fowler&amp;diff=1672"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T22:06:13Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Light Elf&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/3  Plants for Potions Instructor, School of Necessary Magic. Older and had bright red hair that frizzed uncontrollably, and she wore wildly colorful outfits to match. Example: a knee-length quilted skirt, a bright yellow top, and a knitted cardigan with cats in berets on the back. Her bright yellow tights matched her top, and her boots had small jingling balls attached to the back. Her wild, frizzy red hair stuck out everywhere, untamed. She was a Light Elf with a particular proclivity for potions making.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 02/6   Her Botanical class: She rubbed her gloved fingers over her red nose. Each of the glove’s fingertips bore a cat’s face. She was an eccentric woman, always talking in the grandest of voices and wearing whatever her heart desired. Her wild red hair matched her wild personality perfectly. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“Everything in this world started out as an organic organism. From the food we eat to the medicine we take, and even the sheets we lie on, almost everything includes some sort of plant that grew in Earth’s soil. On Oriceran it is no different. In fact, we know that Oriceran lacks technology and all those fancy lab-grown textiles, everything there comes from magic or a botanical.” We brought some specialty blooms back from Oriceran and planted them to grow wild right here in our very own Dark Forest. Today we are going to be exploring these beautiful babies, and we’ll use a little bit of magic to help get them through this last bitter bit of winter.”&lt;br /&gt;
Horace walked up carrying two potted plants. He nodded at Izzie, who was standing next to Alison, the two of them shivering in their boots. Mrs. Fowler took one of the pots.This one, with the bulb at the end, blooms late winter or early spring, but if the weather is too cold, you must use a little magic to help it get some sunlight. Anyone know what this is?”&lt;br /&gt;
“It’s a mehola plant.” In the other pot was some mission grass, coming alive in the spring and summer but going dormant in the winter. However, unlike many Earth plants, the mission grass does not turn brown or die. It just doesn’t grow in the cold, so we have a beautiful green plant in the midst of our snowy winters. So we will be going into the woods and down the path—you don’t want to step on anything trying to grow—and when we find them, we will do a little experiment.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“That open area is a lilac patch I planted myself. Very beautiful when they bloom. To the left is where the lavender grows. Lavender grows on Oriceran too, just under the name ‘lystander.’ It is used in many things here and on Oriceran. I think it’s fascinating that one species of the same plant is on both planets. It shows you just how connected we really are.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 05/14  Fowler knew that Oriceran plants did better, grew faster, and were healthier if they were talked to in full, complete conversations. Fowler had been around Oriceran plants to know that they were able to signal back, and, in effect, hold conversations. . Professor Fowler had been in the plant business for so long that she was fluent in plant speak.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1671</id>
		<title>Leo Decker</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1671"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T21:53:30Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/5   Head librarian and keeper of knowledge at the school. A Gnome, gruff as Gnomes tended to be. His people were the keepers of artifacts and also protected the books in the Light Elf castle in Oriceran. Gnomes were known to be excellent secret-keepers but they were also loners, sticking to their own kind and fearlessly protecting their charges. &lt;br /&gt;
When the girls met him in the Library,he wore a suit and bowler hat with a red poppy on the brim that blew raspberries  at the girls. The red poppies were magically enhanced, and all library gnomes wore them in their bowler hats. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/04  Gnomes have such strong instincts to protect their domain, and Leo was determined to get the books back that had been stolen in the fight.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1670</id>
		<title>Leo Decker</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1670"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T21:52:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/5   Head librarian and keeper of knowledge at the school. A Gnome, gruff as Gnomes tended to be. His people were the keepers of artifacts and also protected the books in the Light Elf castle in Oriceran. Gnomes were known to be excellent secret-keepers but they were also loners, sticking to their own kind and fearlessly protecting their charges. &lt;br /&gt;
When the girls met him in the Library,he wore a suit and bowler hat with a red poppy on the brim that blew raspberries  at the girls. The red poppies were magically enhanced, and all library gnomes wore them in their bowler hats. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/04  Was determined to get books back that had been stolen in the fight.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1669</id>
		<title>Leo Decker</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Leo_Decker&amp;diff=1669"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T21:47:14Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:characters]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSoNM 01/5   Head librarian and keeper of knowledge at the school. A Gnome, gruff as Gnomes tended to be. His people were the keepers of artifacts and also protected the books in the Light Elf castle in Oriceran. Gnomes were known to be excellent secret-keepers but they were also loners, sticking to their own kind and fearlessly protecting their charges. &lt;br /&gt;
When the girls met him in the Library,he wore a suit and bowler hat with a red poppy on the brim that blew raspberries crossed over his chest. at the girls.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/04  Was detgermined to get books back that had been stolen in the fight.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Games&amp;diff=1668</id>
		<title>Games</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://oriceran.kurtheriangambit.com/index.php?title=Games&amp;diff=1668"/>
		<updated>2018-11-16T21:39:15Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kkay: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[category:miscellaneous]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 03/24  '''DODGEBALL''', the magical way. &lt;br /&gt;
Instead of throwing the ball at opposing team members who try to catch it or dodge it, this red rubber ball does all the work. It will hover and bounce and throw itself at different people. The ball doesn’t distinguish between teams, so everyone is fair game. I want to warn you that the ball has a mind of its own and once I put the spell onto it. This is an individual game, so no teams. The last one who grabs the ball and holds on as it attempts to buck you off is our winner. So, spread out across the field, and get ready.” &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alison noticed that every time the energy and magic switched to a new location, the color of the ball changed. She soon picked up on what the different colors meant. The ball was vicious, and this seemed more like a punishment than an actual fun game. The ball wasn’t hard by any means, but it stung when it smacked into you. It also flew fast enough to knock you right off your feet. They had to catch the ball, but it wasn’t like it would just go limp when they caught it. They had to then try to hold onto it for longer than five seconds while it bucked wildly around. The ball was strong enough to pull someone into the air. If they held on for five seconds or more, they won. In the past, others had tried to break the school record of two minutes and seventeen seconds. That record had been on the books for about seven years without anyone even coming close. Izzie won, topping the school record by four seconds.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TSONM 07/03 The magic pushed into the ball was burgundy in color, turning dark blue (mocking) as the students tried to catch and hold it, urning burgundy again as it picked its next victim.   &lt;br /&gt;
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03/28  '''LOUPER''' Mara remembered when the School had won their first Louper Championship. The money was nice (grounds maintenance, but she loved the comradery it created. &lt;br /&gt;
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03/6  Luke explains Louper to a friend as he signs up on the school bulletin board for it. It’s this weird game that should really be for the nerdiest of the nerds, but it somehow turned into a jock game. &lt;br /&gt;
Luke continued. “It’s a cool sport and a virtual reality game. You get to be a different kind of magical being and use your powers to compete against others. It’s just as much a brain as a brawn game. There’re too many rules to explain the whole thing” &lt;br /&gt;
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03/11   “All right, so you will be using magically-enhanced virtual reality headgear on the open field today. This is not a battle. You won’t be challenging anyone, but it will give you the chance to get used to being in a virtual world and learn how to maneuver in it. This won’t be as shocking to those of you who have played before but for the few where this is your first or second time, remember that you will physically be playing the game on this field with everyone else. They will be in the same world as you, only when you look around during a game, you will see them as their character. &lt;br /&gt;
Luke had been reading the the Louper bible. The book contained all the rules and tricks, and a description of the best players to start as. Luke shook his head. “It’s not about how strong they are. It’s about how smart you are. I watched a Milltown Kemana game once where the newbie on the team beat the other member with a simple baseline character with no skill level. He was seriously all about showing us that it’s what you do with what you have that matters.”&lt;br /&gt;
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04/11 LOUPER IS PLAYED AS A TEAM ! &lt;br /&gt;
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At the beginning of every game, the chosen head of cerenmony will cast a spell, and each of you will find yourself in a different setting. Every game will be different. Each time you step on this field to start a new game, you will find yourself in a new setting. This setting is a virtual world—a magical spell that surrounds you, allowing you to see only that world while you’re on the field. &lt;br /&gt;
“At first, this can be hard to maneuver through, especially since, depending on the field, what you’re feeling isn’t necessarily going to match up to what you are seeing. For example, you may find yourself in a swamp, stepping through bogs, seeing the water rise to your shins, and even smelling the stench of the water and algae. However,what you’ll feel will be turf under your feet. You cannot allow yourself to be distracted by the difference between those two things. If you do, I can promise you your opponent will know, and will use that distraction to take you down.” Rulebooks were passed out. Regency was adamant that they needed to know the rulebook cover to cover if they wanted to have any chance of winning the game.&lt;br /&gt;
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“Now, once you’re in this virtual spell world, you will work as a team to get through the different obstacles and challenges, all the while facing off with your opponent. Often times you will find, especially at your age, that the players are evenly matched. However, don’t let your guard down. There is always that one player who is far above and beyond anyone else on their team. They are the ones you have to watch out for. If a team member is defeated, they are out of the game. There will be no question about it, because the virtual world will disappear and you will find yourself in the center of the field. You’ll be able to see your teammates, but they will no longer be able to see you. As far as they are concerned, you are dead and gone, at least until the end of the game.”&lt;br /&gt;
Whoever makes it to the end and retrieves the prize, trophy, or goal is the winner. Even if it’s just one person from the team who makes it to the end, the entire team wins as a whole. You will receive a collection of coins that can be used in the closest kemana and a team trophy. Just to clarify, since there have been issues in the past about this, all prizes are split evenly among team members, no matter when they died during the game.&lt;br /&gt;
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”Wyatt explains how to develop your character during the game.  “So, we all know we want to develop the strongest, smartest, and bravest player we can, but the big question is, how do we get there?, basically, whatever you are in reality—whether it’s fit, smart, agile, fast—that’s what you are in the game. So, Well if you work out in reality and get stronger, your character in the game gets stronger. If you study and get smarter, you’re smarter in the game. Now, that all sounds like excellent motivation to get smarter and stronger in real life, but the one thing you have to keep in mind is that it’s not just the good stuff that transfers to your character, it’s the bad stuff, too. If you train too hard and get injured, your character will be injured in the game. If you stay up all night studying, partying, or any of the other things I know you guys do, your character is going to feel lethargic on the field. I don’t know how it is for other guys, but when I walk out on that field already tired, I almost feel twice as tired when I step into my character.”&lt;br /&gt;
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TSONM 04/13 '''GO-KART RACING'''&lt;br /&gt;
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Ethan and some of his friends had worked in secret to build magical go-karts to race. When they had been completed and all the professors had gone to bed, the group set up a race track at the back of the estate, as far away from teachers’ prying eyes as they could get. One of the seniors, a wizard who had met Ethan through the Louper team, stood at the edge of the field and cast a glamour over the event. Unless you were inside that perimeter, you’d never hear any of the noise from the go-karts or the cheering fans.&lt;br /&gt;
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All of the go-karts had been magically decorated to represent the driver’s grade, friends, and background. The whimsical cars mostly belonged to the Light Elves. The serious magical creations had been done by some of the older wizards and witches, and there were even race cars painted to look like shifters that had been created by their magical friends just for them. The only rules to join were: keep your mouth shut, be there on time, and don’t tell anyone who would tell the professors. Ethan considered it one of his greatest achievements in school so far.&lt;br /&gt;
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“Here are the race rules. There is absolutely no driving on anyone else’s track, so stay in your own lane. We don’t want to have any crazy crashes. All magic is legal, but you may only use it on your own cart. That means there will be no casting spells against anyone else, no matter how badly you want to win. If the rules are broken, that person will be disqualified from the race. The first one to circle the track five times will win bragging rights, and have the satisfaction of knowing he or she won the first race of the new go-kart extravaganza created by our very own Ethan.”&lt;br /&gt;
The race began (fireball started gun), and as it progressed, one of the Darl kids used magic on Ethan's cart to spin it out. The race broke up about then, as Berens and ZHumphreys came down on it, and all scattered.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kkay</name></author>
		
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