You Only Live Twice

You Only Live Twice
Date 2082-08-15 GM Sarcarian Location {{{place}}}
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Major Corp
Mara Zenith	The Count The Paladin Sparkles
Casualties and losses
	The Paladin's Boys Zenith's life expectancy

Summary

Mara and Zenith finally make it to Tir na nÓg intending to find Zenith's father in-law, the elf with the cetheral skin and get a chance to read the mysterious 4th world book. Things quickly go off the rails, Mara sells her soul to Ohrwurm and Zenith makes bad life choices.

Background

Zenith and Mara previously discussed bondservants and the the book, The Rites and Rituals of Challenge. After learning of the existence of the fellow with the unique skin, Zenith had asked Mara to look in to operatives that fit the description that were active about 12 years ago. Pinging some of her contacts she got a thread that eventually led them to Rian who is in the employ of Count O'Cathalàin. Since the count and the book are both to be found in Tir na nÓg, the pair meet there.

Prologue - Mara

A Friday night in Snohomish finds Mara enjoying the comforts of her small holding of land, paid for by the Trust created by her parents. She walks through the wooded area and then takes a seat to read. As she reads, her mind wanders to the questions that have been nagging her. It occurs to her that Beatrix might know a little something about the book, so she calls her up and asks in confiding tones if she knows where one could read it and how. She learns that there is certainly a copy in Dublin as well as some in private hands, all of which are required to have the utmost security.

Mara also considers the Count and why he's in Tir na nÓg. The cover is that it's business, but it's likely government related. Or possibly something else, related to the blood feud he's involved in. She also considers Stiletto - Zenith's mom - who is still working the shadows and who has left behind a lot of dead cohorts.

After enough ruminating, she decides to invite Malia over for a talk. After a simple dinner and drinks they sit down in Mara's lodge, discussing Path of the Wheel and all of it's intricacies and implications. It is revealed that Malia feel in love with someone other than an elf and that this wrenched at strict interpretations of the dogma. The conversation reminds Mara of a quote from Dunkelzahn's Will and the two of them talk about the equality in quality of different metatypes.

Eventually conversation shifts to their lack of satisfaction with the powers that be and the way in which the Paths are governed and controlled, as if it's some sort of centuries long hazing ritual. Perhaps there was reason for this or perhaps this is Elves being overly burdened by tradition. Malia points out that they both cut ties, but that Mara allowed herself to be pulled back in. Mara realizes that she needs to figure out why. That night she has the dream again.

Getting to Tir na nÓg

After the pair agree to meet, the set about making travel plans. For Mara this amounts to getting on a plane flying her TNN National SIN. Of course, the pretense of this flight is a visit to her parents and a chance to bask in the hospitality off the introduction provided by Fidem to her parents and the resident sword smith.

Zenith on the other hand spends a large amount of money getting in country. Argent is able to arrange for him to be smuggled in country through Ancients contacts in Germany. For the flight he is put on Reaper and has a spooky encounter with a patrol spirit as he crosses the Veil. Finally he is deposited in Ulster and regains his faculties.

Meeting up and Keeping up (Appearances)

With them both now in country they decide to shore up their cover. For Zenith this means getting a fake ID from Freya complete with an identity as a personal assitant. For Mara this means having her new personal assistant call the Flannigans to announce her visit.

When they arrive at the estate, the plan is to make a plan. They need to figure out where the Count is and where they can get hold of a copy of the book. As luck would have it, though, being the Nobles that they are, the Flannigans happen to have a copy. Zenith and Mara spot this on their way through the estate as the butler apologizes for their accommodations and explains that there is another guest visiting. As Mara is shown to her room, Zenith bumps into Rian going into the bathroom, and it is revealed that the Count is here as well. Some might call it luck, but Mara is flying her actual SIN, and wishes that she wasn't. With the scene set, Mara is invited to dinner.

Babysitting not Included

Mara spends some time getting ready for dinner. In the middle of her preparations, a Banshee wanders into her room. The Fey apologizes and excuses itself, but Mara invites it to talk for a moment. After their conversation it's time for dinner. In order to give Zenith some reason to wander around the manor, she sends him with a list of requests. This is likely a mistake.

As Mara sits down for dinner, Zenith comes across a mostly abandoned wing of the house. The rooms remind him of a message sent by Scarlett and then gets him in a bit of a tizzy. He starts frantically searching them, eventually finding his way up a tower. As he makes his way up, he hears *The Paladin* making his way up. Seizing the opportunity, Zenith uses his Mystic Aptitude and body checks the Paladin down the stairs before shooting him in the crotch and running up stairs to find an empty room full of tapestries, an old piano, and no Scarlett.

Meanwhile, Mara has learned a little bit about the Count, visiting to center himself in the old ways. When she learns of Zenith's issues, she excuses herself and sends a spirit to help Zenith. However, things are mostly done by the time it arrives and Zenith is preparing to make his escape out the window. Mara now has to cover herself for bringing this scoundrel into the house and hopefully use that to gain the trust of the Count and the Flannigans.

Rewards

For Both (1.85x multiplier for time):

• 25 karma
• 20 CDP
• 1 Street Cred
• A few answers and a lot more questions

For Mara:

• IG4 discount (Divination)
• Optional Quality: Alibi
• Optional Quality: First Impression
• Several top-quality elf swords (paid for out of pocket)

For Zenith:

• IG6 discount (Divination)
• Optional Quality: Barrens Rat
• Optional Quality: Perceptive
• Optional Quality: Tough as Nails (Physical)
• Wanted: 100k by the elfnostate for theft of a cultural artifact

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.