[X] "This isn't the type of talk I am willing to have over a phone. I have some free time the day after tomorrow. If you are serious, meet me at Chicago Synthetics"
[X] Plan Stranger Danger
[X] Plan Stranger Danger
Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
- Location
- Who knows?
[X] "This isn't the type of talk I am willing to have over a phone. I have some free time the day after tomorrow. If you are serious, meet me at Chicago Synthetics" [X] Plan Stranger Danger
@DragonParadox
Actual, explicit canon quote that the Sight is not enough to detect Nemesis.
Cold Days chapter 34, where Rashid talks to Harry at the Gates:
The Sight can help, but its not recommended as a regular practice, and even the Sight is apparently not reliable.
Nemesis detection is an Art that takes decades to develop, not a skill. An art that requires support and equipment.
Hence Rashid's artificial eye.
Actual, explicit canon quote that the Sight is not enough to detect Nemesis.
Cold Days chapter 34, where Rashid talks to Harry at the Gates:
At that, Rashid tilted his head back and laughed. "Would you be offended if I called you Harry?"
"No. Because it's my name."
"Exactly," he said. "Harry, I know you have questions. I can field a very few before I go."
I nodded, thinking. "Okay," I said. "First, how do you know if the adversary has . . . infested someone?"
"Experience," he said. "Decades of it. The Sight can help, but . . ." Rashid hesitated. I recognized it instantly, the hiccup in one's thoughts when one stumbled over a truly hideous memory gained with the Sight, like I'd had with—
Ugh.
—the naagloshii.
"I don't recommend making a regular practice of it," he continued. "It's an art, not a skill, and it takes time. Time, or a bit of questionable attention from the Fates and a ridiculously enormous tool." He tapped a finger against his false eye.
I blinked, even though he didn't, and looked up at the massive gates stretching overhead. "Hell's bells. The gates . . . they're . . . some kind of spiritual CAT scanner?"
"Among many other things," he said. "But it's one of their functions, yes. Mostly it means that the adversary cannot use such tactics effectively here. As long as the Gatekeeper is vigilant, it rarely tries." The horns sounded again, and the muscles in his jaw tensed. "Next question."
I hate trying to be smart under time pressure. "This," I said, pointing up at the gates. "What the hell? How long has this attack been going on?"
"Always," he said. "There are always Outsiders trying to tear their way in. There are always forces in place to stop them. In our age, it is the task of Winter to defend these boundaries, with the help of certain others to support them. Think of them as . . . an immune system for the mortal world."
I felt my eyes get wide. "An immune system . . . What happens if it . . . you know, if it breaks down for a bit?"
"Pardon?" the Gatekeeper asked.
"Uh, it gets a glitch. Like, if somebody new took over or something and things had to reorganize around here . . ."
"Most years, it would pose no major difficulty," he said.
"What about this year?"
"This year," he said, "it could be problematic."
"Problematic."
"Rather severely so." Rashid studied my face and then started to nod. "I see. There are things happening back in Winter. That's why Mother Summer brought you here. To show you what was at stake."
I swallowed and nodded. "No pressure or anything."
"No. Because it's my name."
"Exactly," he said. "Harry, I know you have questions. I can field a very few before I go."
I nodded, thinking. "Okay," I said. "First, how do you know if the adversary has . . . infested someone?"
"Experience," he said. "Decades of it. The Sight can help, but . . ." Rashid hesitated. I recognized it instantly, the hiccup in one's thoughts when one stumbled over a truly hideous memory gained with the Sight, like I'd had with—
Ugh.
—the naagloshii.
"I don't recommend making a regular practice of it," he continued. "It's an art, not a skill, and it takes time. Time, or a bit of questionable attention from the Fates and a ridiculously enormous tool." He tapped a finger against his false eye.
I blinked, even though he didn't, and looked up at the massive gates stretching overhead. "Hell's bells. The gates . . . they're . . . some kind of spiritual CAT scanner?"
"Among many other things," he said. "But it's one of their functions, yes. Mostly it means that the adversary cannot use such tactics effectively here. As long as the Gatekeeper is vigilant, it rarely tries." The horns sounded again, and the muscles in his jaw tensed. "Next question."
I hate trying to be smart under time pressure. "This," I said, pointing up at the gates. "What the hell? How long has this attack been going on?"
"Always," he said. "There are always Outsiders trying to tear their way in. There are always forces in place to stop them. In our age, it is the task of Winter to defend these boundaries, with the help of certain others to support them. Think of them as . . . an immune system for the mortal world."
I felt my eyes get wide. "An immune system . . . What happens if it . . . you know, if it breaks down for a bit?"
"Pardon?" the Gatekeeper asked.
"Uh, it gets a glitch. Like, if somebody new took over or something and things had to reorganize around here . . ."
"Most years, it would pose no major difficulty," he said.
"What about this year?"
"This year," he said, "it could be problematic."
"Problematic."
"Rather severely so." Rashid studied my face and then started to nod. "I see. There are things happening back in Winter. That's why Mother Summer brought you here. To show you what was at stake."
I swallowed and nodded. "No pressure or anything."
Nemesis detection is an Art that takes decades to develop, not a skill. An art that requires support and equipment.
Hence Rashid's artificial eye.
Given the context I think one of the main issues he is addressing here is that like with seeing things you are not meant to see on the regular and the art is at least partially in circumventing the problem.
I dont think that's what he's saying.
If the Sight could detect Nemesis at the risk or cost of SAN damage, that's what he would have said. "This will work, but erodes your sanity" or words to that effect.
But instead he says it can help, but at the cost of SAN damage. Thats a different claim altogether.
At least that's my interpretation
You dont expose the details of your internal building to a potential adversary.
Do you want Lara Raith to find out that we put cyberdevils in computers and computer equipment? Because if her Occult/Awareness is high enough, as soon as she enters the building, she'll know, and attempt to mitigate her vulnerability to it.
Nevermind that there's a chance that she leaves stuff behind.
Like a bound spirit. Or electronic eavesdropping devices. And we dont currently have the skill to sweep for that shit.
There's a reason why the US natsec establishment sweep rooms for bugs.
Its just a bad idea all round to not treat her as a serious infosec threat.
Nevermind the complications if one of her rivals inside the White Court take the opportunity to attempt a hit on her and blame it on us as a scapegoat.
We cant guarantee her security. We shouldn't attempt to host her on our premises.
I agree, hence the 'at least partially' above. SAN damage is a significant issue, but not all of it.
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That would be great for us. We would obviously look afterwards, with our anima active and with ATB and CCC. If she leaves anything behind, I am confident we would be able to find it. And use it as a focus for the crown. And to do some counter spying. Bound spirit is unlikely, but if she gets one somehow, well, it's almost guaranteed to be CoD, and thus even easier to flip.
Elder Skavis, who is almost certainly as bad, if not worse, than Lara, knows. Emma-O's forces know. We haven't hidden them nearly well enough for it to be a serious consideration.
But, again, I am ok with changing the venue to something else.
- Location
- Germany
If Lara can sense Cyberdevils, she can also sense Clippy.
Taking our to our show-facility makes no difference.
Taking our to our show-facility makes no difference.
- Location
- Germany
[X] "This isn't the type of talk I am willing to have over a phone. I have some free time the day after tomorrow. If you are serious, meet me at Chicago Synthetics"
[X]Plan Stranger Danger
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[X] "This isn't the type of talk I am willing to have over a phone. I have some free time the day after tomorrow. If you are serious, meet me at Chicago Synthetics"
Vote closed.
Arc 7 Post 5: Words Turned 'Round
Words Turned 'Round
30th of October 2006 A.D.
Uneasy is the silence that follows, In it you hear the passage of cars, the sound of horns, distantly an ambulance heralds with pedestrian urgency the urgent peril of a life, or perhaps many. Suspicion roils in your gut. Why call out of the blue? Why debate such things over the phone at all and not in person behind wards? Caller ID seems a feeble assurance of her identity when set against all who might want to do you an ill turn, now of all days. "This isn't the type of talk I am willing to have over a phone. I have some free time the day after tomorrow. If you are serious, meet me at Chicago Synthetics."
"Of all the times to stumble onto a an overly cautious teenager this has to be the worst," she sighs. Behind the put upon tone you hear something more urgent. Not anger, not greed but fear you think. She is afraid of what? That you will meet with Mab and hand over the non-existent formula to the Winter Court? It makes no sense.
Just as you are about to politely, but firmly put an end to the conversation the vampire, if vampire she is in fact, speaks again: "I realize you do not know much of the workings of the White Court Miss Carpenter, but my time, like the time of all who are high in the circles of power is ordered in advance. I can't just show up at your door the day after tomorrow, given the... weight of Halloween in the traditions of all who are beyond the veil of mortal understanding, but especially those of a more predatory inclination."
That does not make you like her more... so why is she telling you this. The woman at the other end of the phone is not an idiot and neither is she intentionally trying to antagonize you. Mentally you take apart her answer for meaning word by word and syllable by syllable, like a child taking apart Lego blocks. She emphasized timing, tradition and predatory... She is worried about someone following her to a meeting, confronting her about it maybe, someone who isn't very good with modern technology. You are suddenly reminded of Leinth not knowing how to deal with a computer. Were you getting too used to the way most systems are transparent to Clippy and her kin? Are phones more secure than a meeting?
No, that can't be it not to the White Court. They might not be able to get programing, but they can 'get' programmers aplenty to hack whatever they may desire. What is the other alternative assuming she is sincere and sincerely scared of something.
"She does not care if she is known to have the conversation and she is using it to test you. Perhaps also to be known to have tested you," Usum offers. He could stand to sound less excited at the prospect of fresh intrigue.
"Eight Thousand times apologies My Queen," the demon is quick to add.
"I realize that being ushered under the eye of the Queens of the Ferie can feel empowering Miss Carpenter, it is not. That is the lie the Fey tell the universe, living as they do in the palace of their own self-importance," Lara says. "Tomorrow, nine AM at Thomas salon, we can talk about this if you want to make deals that are rooted in the world and in the city we have to share somehow."
What do you do?
[] Agree to meet with Lara before meeting with Mab
[] Refuse the meeting, you do not need more complications tomorrow
[] Write in
OOC: A bit of a short update, but that's just how things do when conversations are at the center of an update.
Yzarc
The Spark of Madness
This is 4 sux.
OctarineShrike
Avatar of Mandos
[X] Agree to meet with Lara before meeting with Mab
- Location
- Germany
This is definitly getting weirder.
I wonder if there's yet another potential coup Lara is dealing with?
[X] Agree to meet with Lara before meeting with Mab
I wonder if there's yet another potential coup Lara is dealing with?
[X] Agree to meet with Lara before meeting with Mab
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