Log:Capelli-Cangelosi War, Scene 7

Capelli-Cangelosi War 2016/11/11 	 Night Marshal|Detective Carpenter Ellbeth Sword Dancer Johnny Cho Wolf Magnitude Weakspot Wild Bull Cheshire Daemon

7

This district is home to Colonial Bay's large Chinese community; as much Chinese as English is seen on signs and perhaps more Mandarin is spoken. Most famous is Ming Street, curving round from Beach Street to Wharf Street, always full of tourists, especially at its northern and western end. This is practically a street market, with hawkers extolling their wares to passers-by, and signs and banners advertizing everything from fresh duck to herbal supplies, restaurants and bakeries and other businesses. The Heavenly Dragon Palace and the Buddhist temple are among the more famous sights. But perhaps true Chinatown is south and west of Ming Street, where the tourists rarely go.

To recap...

Wild Bull has calmed down, though it wasn't obvious as to why, exactly. He had been fighting tenaciously against multiple heroes and holding his own. He's spoken to the injured Johnny Cho (in Mandarin) about protecting him from whoever these attackers are...meaning the heroes who had nearly killed Johnny.

Meanwhile, Ellbeth had managed to pry some information out of Johnny's head. Not necessarily admissible in court, but still useful: Cho suspected that Carpenter was going to ask about the plasma weapons he bought, which he in turn sold to some out of town mobsters looking to muscle in on Cangelosi territory. And he was looking for a way to implicate Pride in the transaction...but hadn't come up with a way to do so. Yet.The sellers were definitely ACRO. The sale was set up through an agent named 'Epimetheus'. The buyer was Antonio Meroni, from Chicago. The guy had some of his goons with him. Cho suspects the group was involved in the shootout at hte yacht club.

Magnitude has effectively disappeared, and Weakspot is on the roof with Cheshire.

Wild Bull looks at Sword Dancer, and says in passable English, "Why did you attack him? Who are you working for?"

Sword Dancer says, "I was herrping porrice! He ran so I ran faster and tackrred him! But I guess I ran too fast."

Ellbeth nods and steps forward, "It was unfortunate and unintended. Kihzra is still a relative stranger to our world. There was no intention on her part to injure your friend." she tells Wild BUll. Then to the group of heroes, "Does anyone have healing gifts. If so please use them."

Wild Bull nods slowly, considering that. "The police." He snorts a bit, looking in Carpenter's direction. The detective, for his part, doesn't seem inclined to antagonize Bull further.

Wolf pads up to JC and cautiously *noses* the downed mobster, healing him the rest of the way up to full health.

Carpenter says, "I could call an ambulance."

Daemon watches on silently, from his perch on the wall- just outside of Wild Bull's reach.

Healing isn't exactly his specialty.

Wolf(#2803PenACcF?)

An Akita-like animal with grey-white fur, pointy inquisitive ears, and a cheerful disposition, he is curious about almost everything and pays keen attention to all of the different aspects of his surroundings, his ears flickering to and fro as they swivel from subject to subject.

Sword Dancer lets Ellbeth's excuse stand, but the truth is more that she's still not used to how fast she runs when in a full combat charge.

Wolf trots back over to watchdog Lia

Wild Bull tenses as Wolf gets close to Johnny. He's definitely ready to smash the animal if necessary. But he shows remarkable restraint. At least for him.

"I think the dog here got it." Lia says towards Bull. "I dunno his name, but he can heal people and do other stuff with magic too." Lia reaches down and scritches Wolf.

Wolf arches back into the scritching and wags happily

Johnny winces again...but then sits up...feeling the bones in his rib cage. He says in Mandarin to Wild Bull, << I feel much better. Huh. >>

"That's some mutt..." Daemon mutters from the wall, still pretty amazed by the things this dog can do.

Sword Dancer stays back from Johnny. Figuring that will make him feel more comfortably than an apology would.

Carpenter walks over toward Johnny, "I only wanted to ask you a few questions, Mr. Cho." The Chinese man gets to his feet and says to the detective after a long moment of thought, "I think I'm going to ask to have my laywer present. I'm not going to answer questions without her there."

Wild Bull's attention drifts from the conversation back to Sword Dancer. He doesn't look angry, though.

Sword Dancer, for her part, is pondering how this "lawyer" problem this Earth has could easily be solved with a few pointy objects. But it's their world.

With those magic words, Daemon knows the daytime show is over with. Especially where the Detective is concerned. But the game isn't over yet.

Daemon activates his SpyderMites and a patch of his palm changes functions. Nanomachines reconfiguring themselves by the hundreds of thousands all at once.

A second later- Daemon's systems tell him hes ready to tag.

He looks to Wild Bull- who's attention seems to be on Sword Dancer.

Then to Cho, he drops off the wall and attempts to slide outside of Bull's perview to get within an arms reach of Cho so he can tag him.

He moves as fast as his stealthy approach will allow.

Carpenter sighs, realizing his chance at getting some easy answers might have passed when the tackle and scuffle occurred.

Lia giggles at Wolf, and deverts her attention towards him now that it seems that tensions have died down. For her part, she stopped fighting once tensions had died down. She doesn't like fighting in such crowded environments if so she can help it, even if she is just using her non-lethal attacks.

Wolf bark happily at Lia's giggling, at just the right moment to distract WB

Ellbeth speaks to Detective Carpenter and the hero group as a whole. "If Mr Cho declines to speak without a lawyer present I believe this incident is effectively concluded. I'd like to invite all of you to my yacht to discuss this matter and how we can further aid the detective."

Sword Dancer notices Bull's gaze and gives him a smile.

Carpenter notices Daemon approaching, and does indeed call him on it. "What are you doing?" Neither Cho nor Wild Bull seem to take note, however.

Wild Bull walks over to Sword Dancer and leans against the wall. He speaks quietly to her.

Daemon knows his approach is blown, but he's so close to his target.

He doesn't divert or answer Carpenter's question. Instead- he lunges at Cho, aiming for the back of his neck- trying to press his palm against Cho's neck.

Carpenter steps forward in an attempt to block Daemon's move, using some martial arts of his own, "I asked you a question!" He's not fast enough to stop Daemon from succeeding, however.

Sword Dancer quietly answers Wild Bull.

Sword Dancer grins as Will Bull responds.

Daemon's gambit succeeds, though from Carpenter's response- won't be particularly appreciated. 'No matter- that was a perfect attachment...' He thinks to himself as he rolls deftly around Carpenter's martial arts entanglement. He's quick on his feet- and his reaction time is second to few.

As he moves, his confidence is confirmed as his systems pick up the nanotag successfully entering the target's biological systems and pinging his location.

He responds to Carpenter's question only after his plot completed, "I just wanted to give my apologies to Cho without the Bull Mastiff trying to tear me in half." He says, lying.

Cho follows Carpenter's movement, only noticing Daemon at that point. He didn't feel the nanotag.

Carpenter narrows his eyes. He seems to know something's up that isn't apparent. But he looks back at Cho, who seems to be unharmed. The detective turns back to Daemon, "Please keep your distance. Rash action caused the problem in the first place."

Lia looks up towards the detective, only to see Daemon there now when he wasn't before. Lia middles out her ears and tilts her head slightly, spreading her wings out just a little. She looks towards Wolf, "Any idea what the hell's going on over there? I didn't see anything."

Carpenter gets Cho's contact information and that of the man's lawyer. He then says to Ellbeth, "Thank you for the offer. I think it would be a good idea to go over what we know."

Wolf grrfs and tilts his head to one side, looking at Lia then pointedly looking to Ellbeth, then back to Lia, in a "Hey let's go over and talk to E" sort of way. ..

"You're right of course, Detective." Daemon says, still lying- though probably not so well to a trained eye like Carpenter's.

"Had to see the effects of that dog myself." He adds as he keeps moving- bounding up to the wall, back out of easy reach of anyone.

Its moments like this that he really appreciates his spider-powers.

Sword Dancer continues to speak quietly to the berserker.

Lia shrugs, lets her wings relax, and walks over towards Ellbeth, while keeping an eye on Daemon and the Detective. Maybe what just happened will reveal itself momenitarily. When she gets over towards Ellbeth, she tilts her head towards Wolf, curious to why he wanted to come over this way.

Ellbeth nods and gives Lia a smile, "Hello, Lia. I'm glad to see you looking so well."

Carpenter walks over to Ellbeth. Meanwhile, Cho heads over to Wild Bull, << Hey...let's go. >> Wild Bull nods to Cho, and says something quietly to Sword Dancer.

Daemon quietly makes his way to follow behind Ellbeth, and Lia. His troublemaker persona has its uses, so he doesn't even look remotely guilty or remorseful. Though most of his mask would obscure that anyways.

He skitters across the wall, leaping from one alleyway to the next when an obstruction is encountered.

He drops down just within range to carry a casual, confidential conversation.

"Ladies." He says smiling before turning to Ellbeth and adding, "Thanks for the invitation. I think I'll be able to provide some crucial infrmation- though I'd rather not get into the details here."

Ellbeth opens a gate to the lounge of her yacht. "Harry, I'll be bringing a few guests. Set the table please."

With a mild sigh for the lack of notice, Harry, in the yacht, starts setting out cups and glasses and plates on the main table in the lounge.

Carpenter heads through the gate, and into the lounge. "I may never get used to that." He looks around slowly.

As of on cue, one of Lia's hand briefly vanishes, then reappears, "Hey. I've been better, but I'm managing. My body's not as stable as it used to be. Don't really wanna get into that right now though."

Lia then looks over towards Daemon, lowers her ears, raises her wings a little, and raises an eyebrow (does she have eyebrows?) But then she shrugs, middling out her ears and letting her wings and eyebrows sag back down. She doesn't say anything to the Daemon.

Then, when Ellbeth conjures open a gate, Lia momentarily has a look of 'Oh, shiny!' on her face, giggling a little. Briefly, little pieces of her body disappear. But quickly she corrects her mistake and her body looks solid again. She walks through the gate herself then after.

Wild Bull stares openly at Sword Dancer as she walks back toward Ellbeth. He then turns to join Cho, and the two walk down the alley the other direction while the smaller man makes a call to his lawyer.

Sword Dancer seems in a unwontedly good mood as she passes through the gate, her step having even more dance to it than usual.

Wolf pages: Does WB need any healing or is he fully REC'd ?

Ellbeth keeps the gate open until all the heroes who are going to have passed through it.

Daemon looks trough the gate, and then back towards Bull and Cho. He shrugs and steps through, following behind the others.

Wolf pauses to *nose* WB in a good-faith gesture of Farewell healing, then, after twitching his whiskers thoughtfully, closes his eyes and jumps through the gate, all four paws leaving the ground to clear the edge

Wild Bull actually scritches Wolf's head briefly.

Carpenter takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Okay...so that was a bit of a bust."

(The group moves to Ellbeth's yacht)

Abydos has three luxurious en-suite cabins in addition to a full width master suite, all on the upper interior deck. A chic monochrome theme runs throughout the interior with light reflecting surfaces and large mirrors creating bright and spacious areas. The elegantly styled lounge area on the same deck houses plush seating and flows seamlessly into the lavish formal dining area which seats all guests around a modern glass table. Artefacts discovered during Ellbeth's archaeological digs are displayed on the walls and in cabinets in the lounge and dining area. A beautiful al fresco dining and seating area on the top deck provides an alternative location in good weather.

The sun deck houses a large Jacuzzi as well as the spacious al fresco dining area. Luxurious and comfortable seating make up a shaded conversation area for everyone to relax during the heat of the day or with drinks from the deck bar in the evening. A stunning, cushioned sun bathing area provides plenty of space to soak up the sun during the day.

The lower deck houses the more functional areas of the yacht. Harry Fernchurch's quarters are down here, a cabin suite fully up to the standard of the luxury guest quarters, Harry's kitchen also, and woe betide anyone who trespasses in there without permission. The stern section of the lower deck houses two oversized water jet propulsion systems. Storage is in the forward section. Locked behind security doors is Ellbeth's library of magical and mystic volumes and a state of the art supercomputer.

Wolf 's ears perk up and his nose is working overtime to process all of the incipient sensory input resulting from the sudden change of location: * sniff sniff sniff snif snifff snf sniff *

Harry, Ellbeth's handyman, has set out cups and glasses and plates of the dining table. On arriving Ellbeth casts a quick spell to fill the cups and glasses and plates with teas, coffees, and various snack foods. "Please, help yourselves." Ellbeth says, gesturing towards the table.

Sword Dancer grins a thank you and heads straight for the coffee. Time was she would be wary of summoned food, but she trust Ellbeth enough....

"You gotta teach me how to do that sometime." Lia chirps happily, perking her ears up and taking a seat. "Thanks." Lia says as she grabs the nearest chocolate bar. After that, she consumes it quickly.

Carpenter nods, "Thank you." He doesn't grab any food or drink, though. Perhaps it's just a natural wariness after what happened with Daemon minutes earlier.

Daemon whistles as he takes a look at the yacht. "Nice lair, Ellbeth." He says with a smirk.

As he walks behind the others, his skin-tight costume becomes very indistinct- almost fuzzy and out of focus. Then it all leaps together- back into real life definition.

The costume is gone, and instead he's wearing a incredbly tailored 3-piece suit, cut asymmetrically with a cyberpunk styling. The only thing unchanged is his mask.

He looks over the spread and grabs a cup of coffee.

He pulls a flask out of the inside pocket of his coat and pours whatever inside into the glass. He doesn't seem disuaded from refreshments.

Ellbeth smiles as she turns to detective carpenter. "I think I have most of the information you were hoping to get from Johnny Cho, detective. Are you willing to hear it?"

Sword Dancer takes a plate and flips various snacks onto it with the tip of her sword, whistling some sort of alien tune.

Carpenter raises a brow at Sword Dancer's cheeriness, but doesn't say anything. He responds to Ellbeth, "Depending on how you got this information, I might not be able to use it in court, you realize. But I'm still happy to hear it."

Ellbeth nods to the detective, "Our friend Johnny Cho is obviously connected with Tim Lee's fraction. I wasn't able to determine if his recent actions were on behalf of Tim Lee or done independently. However, Cho suspected that you were going to ask about the plasma weapons he bought, which he in turn sold to some out of town mobsters looking to muscle in on Cangelosi territory. And he was looking for a way to implicate Pride in the transaction...but hadn't come up with a way to do so. Yet.The sellers were definitely ACRO. The sale was set up through an agent named 'Epimetheus'. The buyer was Antonio Meroni, from Chicago. The guy had some of his goons with him. Cho suspects the group was involved in the shootout at hte yacht club."

Wolf turns around three times and curls up in a fuzzy circle under Lia's chair, settling down under her dangling feet which just barely skim the top of his fur. He *sniffs* at the floor idly, as his ears swivel from one voice to another as the PC's and Carpenter discuss things

Sword Dancer idly carves a rune resembling crossed swords into a bit of cheese before flipping it too onto her plate.

Carpenter nods slowly. "Any connection to the safe deposit box that we know of? I'm guessing not."

Lia reaches down and scritches wolf while people talk about important things around her. She doesn't really know much about what's going on-but that's what they're here for, right?

Sword Dancer says, "What safe deposit box?"

Daemon sips his coffee, listening as Carpenter has lays out the restrictive legal warnings necessary for him to listen in.

As Ellbeth gives names, Daemon consults with his various databases of criminals & lowlifes. Hoping he might get lucky and find a place one group or the other might frequent.

Ellbeth says, "Sadly I wasn't able to discover that information." She shrugs, "I was being.. mmm... sutble. Which slows things down considerable.""

The detective says, "There was a mercenary villain type named Ruger to tried to rob a local bank and take a safe deposit box belonging to a 'John Smith'. After a little digging, I found out that John Smith was actually Tommy Cangelosi. When I went to see Cangelosi about it, that's when the shooting started with the plasma rifles that Ellbeth just mentioned."

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah."

Lia huhs a little, continuing to scritch Wolf. She middles out her ears as she continues listening, and seems interested in where this is going.

Carpenter nods. "When I went to follow up on the rifles, I found ACRO agents at the dock. I then dug around a little more, and contacted Sidewinder, Sonny Capelli's son. Sidewinder pointed me to Cho, just before Sidewinder's car blew up with him in it.

Sword Dancer says, "Cha, I wonder who brew it up."

"Well, Detective- what's your play now?" Daemon asks, having been there for something like two-thirds of the incidents listed so far.

He keeps his nanotags out of play for now- he doesn't want to be ordered to stand down because he doesn't have a warrant. He wouldn't have even come to this meeting if it weren't for his SpyderMites. As far as Daemon is concerned, without him- Cho's in the wind.

Wolf *instantly* vacuums up any cheese crumbs hit the floor as a result of SD's cheese-carving and cheese-plating activities: *sff sniff; SLURP*

Carpenter looks out at the water and taps the table idly. "I think I need to get this Meroni fellow to confess somehow. Otherwise, I suspect everyone other than Ruger is going to walk. Though a case might be made agaisnt Cho for hte illegal weapons deal."

Ellbeth says, "Detective, I'm willing to search out whatever information you ask me to, but if you wish to present it in court you'll need to get a court order allowing me to mind search legally."

Sword Dancer remarks, grinning, "Confession is easy. Confession for law court is not easy.:

Lia hmms, "How does on get someone to confess?" She asks. "That seems like the last thing anyone, especially someone criminal, would want to do."

Sword Dancer nods to Lia. "Often, is last thing."

Carpenter chuckles. "True. It's really tough to get someone to do it. Sometimes, you can do it by recording them without their knowledge. I think Meroni knows who I am, though. I might not be able to do it myself."

"Well- it doesn't look like you have to worry about having to do anything by yourself. Daemon says, motioning to the room full of metas at his beckon call.

The detective raises a brow, "You have to understand why I might be hesitant, though. Kihzra over here hurt Cho pretty badly. In the fight at the dock, I had some kind of alien gladiator guy nearly kill a suspect. Whoever helps me out needs be able to show restraint."

"'Restraint' is my middle name, Detective. Not Bulldozer." Daemon says looking to Kihzra. "I've got no intention of ruining your investigation. Just getting to the bottom of it."

(Making a few contacts along the way won't hurt either.)0o. He thinks to himself.

Daemon takes a sip of his coffee slowly.

Ellbeth looks at detective Carpenter, "Then, detective, prehaps the CBPD ought to make a point of engaging and educating the public minded metas of the city into the tactics and restraint that is required?"

"Showing restraint is good, yes." Lia says, middling out her ears, "I think I the healing dog agrees." Lia gestures towards under the table. "I think I showed restraint pretty well. It's lame not being able to use my magic to its potential, but at least no one gets hurt." Lia smiles.

Carpenter smiles. "It would be nice to do so, Ellbeth, if we can get the funding for such. Perhaps Starguard or the FBI can foot the bill." He rubs his chin, "Any illusion spells in your repertoire?"

Ellbeth nods, "Yes. What do you need?"

The detective says, "Perhaps something to hide my identity? Or someone else wearing a wire?"

"I can turn invisible and phase through things, if that'll help." Lia suggests. "I think it's a pretty good way to go fairy undetected."

Daemon vanishes right there on the spot. His image burning out in a white-hot line. He sips his coffee again.

"Did I say restraint was my middle name? I meant 'Subtle'." Daemon says, invisibly.

Ellbeth thinks for several moments, "It's possible. Although anyone with magical ability would see through such illusions, most likely. This may seem an unusualy comment from a mage, but mundane disguise is probably a better way to process. Or ask a shape shifter. There are some in the city aren't there?"

Lia hmphs a little towards Daemon. She then turns green, and fades from sight as well. Suddenly a chocolate bar just seems to leap off the table. Totally not Lia's doing, nope.

Wolf, now that *everyone* is disappearing, pauses to *sniff* the air to see who's actually on the yacht and who has *poofed*-to-elsewhere. . . *sniff sniff sniff?*

Carpenter nods to Ellbeth, "There are a couple of shapeshifters in the city. One or two are attached to Starguard, if I remember right. But things get complicated if I bring in SGG on the matter."