OPERATION: La Chasse Commence

[Ivan Azarov]

Truth be told, Ivan wasn't planning to pay the City of Love a visit until Friday. Or Saturday, if he missed his alarm. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and cryptic, slightly (just slightly!) inauspicious tweets from a fella who promised him a Nutella tart definitely make for desperate times.

With suitcase in one hand and roast beef sandwich in the other, the young Russian sets off for Paris. When he's there, he plans to reach out to the local shapeshifter community. They usually have eyes and ears everywhere in the places they call home and, with any luck, the ones in Paris are no different. With any luck, they'd have heard of any suspicious owl-shapeshifters in the city. If there are any. And he's not totally misinterpreting Ian's warning. Which he probably is.

But best play it safe, right?

 

[Jackalope]

Earlier:

Jack hadn't planned on going to Paris anytime soon. Sure, she had heard the rumblings, knew about all the factions descending on the city in anticipation of something big. It didn't concern her. It was too high-profile, too messy. Let the masses of suck-ups and glory hounds fight each other over bragging rights. Seems they already had more than enough qualified agents to take out some ludicrous sewer-squid. As usual, she'd stay behind and do the real work - the everyday shit that needed to get done.

Those plans changed in the early hours of the morning. Two mistweets and several text messages from Dr. Mahamati, asking for assistance on some vague personal mission to Paris.

Within minutes she was packed and on her way. Her phone rang before she even exited the Labyrinth – one of the higher-ups was on the other end. She'd never met this man but knew his voice well – all gross an nasally, she like to imagine him as an obese anthropomorphic aardvark.

“Agent Cross. You're heading to Paris. To assist Dr. Mahamati in an unsanctioned action.“

Fucking twitter. It seemed pointless to lie about it at this point. “Yeah.”

“Agent Cross, you are scheduled for recovery ops in Kaidan this week. Kaidan is not Paris.”

She groans, annoyed. “Aw, c'mon man. This prolly won't take that long – I promise Kaidan will still be just as fucked-up whenever I get back there. Besides the doctor is a valuable asset, you can't just let her wander around Paris by herself – you know damn well she'll prolly wander into traffic or get caught up in some multi-faction crossfire.”

There is a pause. “Very well. Continue on your current course of action. But keep a close eye on the doctor. Since her prolong absence, there are some among us who question where her loyalties truly lie. Report anything suspicious. Remember who you work for.”

“I always do.”

Later:

She didn't like Paris so far. It was eerily quiet for a city of its size. The people they did encounter seemed largely suspicious and unfriendly. The narrow streets and blind alleys Maya kept leading them down all seemed like perfect ambush points. And it was not lost on her that much of the graffiti they came across was recent and purple. It had been hours - she began to doubt that this mythic witch woman they were seeking even existed at all. Still, the doctor seemed to be enjoying herself, so at least the afternoon wasn't a total waste.

She turned to Jack and smiled. “Don't worry, Miss Cross. I'm certain doctor Narcisse lives somewhere around here.”

Despite her frustration, Jack couldn't help but return a half smile, noting “Well, if you keep saying that long enough, eventually it'll be true.”

 

[ViridianRain]

Eleanor ran her hand through her cold green hair, her crow esque make up hid a mischievous grin on her face. Paris city of love, home of untold amounts of priceless objects, monsters, mysteries, and so much more that could and would make any classy thief such as herself quite happy. Jotting down some notes on her notebook she smiled before sliding it back in to the bag in her wheelchair that sat folded in her hotel room,for the off chance she might need it. Taking a chance to stretch and test her upgraded limbs she smiled confidently that her mechanical Right arm and Left leg would last and do just well. grabbing her chest holsters she felt her Luger's resting upon the sides of her chest, a simply stripped hoodie, her red fedora, phone, collapsible cane, and thieves tools it was time to head out and find the Witch doctor Halette Narcisse to gather some intel.

 

[Requine]

Posting this for someone who is having technical issues.
​

Maybe the Council had believed that by picking up former Inquisitor, career soldier and trained operative Ariel Kohen, they'd be getting a good bargain. First order of business: Paris.

The operative went about Paris chattering here and there with civilians, gauging moods and paying far too much for a coffee and a croissant. The location she had chosen to stay in was in no way an outstanding hotel in any way, perfectly boring in its plainness and ordinariness. Silently, she congratulated herself on her having seen fit to follow as many persons relevant to the Secret World as possible once she had been inducted into the Inquisition in June.

With a pistol holstered and concealed at the small of her back and a fighting knife at her ribs, she slid into her coat and set off to explore and gather more information about the disappearances. More importantly, about the kind of people reporting on it and how much they might know.

 

[Llenne]

The biological lottery had seen fit to gift her with a trustworthy face and a ruthlessness that bordered on amoral to go with it, and she had every intention in the world to make good use of every advantage she had, no matter how dirty.

Next order of business: Cassandra Havelock.

You need to line up the dominos properly before knocking them all down, after-all.

 

[sam4books]

Targ had heard something about gruesome murderers happening all over Paris, right below the streets. Mostly she had heard it in whispers from the Romani groups she bought her crystals and herbs from in the markets. Always in the bad side of town. Always away from the light. She had been hiding out for....months now? Just enjoying her days in hiding with her fiance, a Arthur Price. She decided to pull off meeting her great-grandfather for now, although her grandmother persisted. 'I know grandma, I'll see if I can meet him later'. Even though the offers she's received about him seemed so good, so simple. She didn't want to give up her time with Arthur just yet.

But there's always trouble in paradise.

It was her grandmother who told her about the Rook. Targ knew about her ties with the Illuminati, and was really disinterested at first. Wanting nothing to do with the Illuminati after what they did to her fiance. In truth she worried about what they might do to him. Once again though, her grandmother was insistent.

"Il ya quelque chose d'horrible se passe dans cette ville Clarissa. Lilith et moi sommes bien vieux pour nous enquêter. Romani vont manquant ainsi que les gens ordinaires et les Templiers sont rien fait. Les gens qui vous intéressent. Vous n'êtes pas contraint par la politique de faction. S'il vous plaît Clarissa, prenez votre amour. Allez à la Tour. Rechercher un Jay Thomas. "

And so she did, bringing Arthur Price with her after a few heated discussions.

 

[Willow]

Leaving the holdout flat Willow got to help the Romani from, she glanced back at the man she was taking a big risk on. Ian 'Atrus' Pertwee needed saving, and the Family needed someone to stand with them with one voice. First he needed a Laptop, phone, and a place where he could safely meet his handler.


Handling two problems was her goal, for now she had a foothold here, and a beach head to work from. The fae problem would be also on her list, she had already seen signs of them looking for above ground shelter. The Templar in the area is not a safe shelter, she could tell that much from Ian.


With her guest settled in, she would start focusing on the Fae. Finding the entrance to the under city she would have to make that her next stop.

 

[Daxia Ring]

<<Your work with the Romani is admirable. Their fight is a long one, but now that they have the protection of the Eagle it’s time to move on. Do not forget that your data are on Anima. Go deliver news of Mara’s return to those Roma who have traveled abroad and discovered the secret for themselves. They should bring a new angle on the nature of the spark that perhaps you have not yet discovered. And when you leave, be sure you go together, two by two, as Noah intended.>>

As usual, it was Sam van der Schaaf who figured out what the Voice of the Dragon intended for them.

“I think they’re talking about Paris,” he explained as he sat down across the small table they’d erected within their tent/data center in the Transylvanian woods. “The Venice guys in town just got a report about a series of monster attacks in Paris: vanishing civilians, creatures caught on video, the like. Apparently the Council’s taken over and the secret societies are being sent in to clean everything up.”

Daxia Ring approached her partner and draped herself over his shoulders, reading the tablet he held. “So what makes you think this has to do with our new mission?”

“At the bottom, they mentioned a Templar agent who made an agreement with some Parisian Roma. Bong Cha has to have assumed we heard about this from the local Venice agents, and frankly I don’t have any better ideas.”

Daxia considered it. “Yeah okay, I guess that’s as good a start as any.” Wrinkling her nose and standing straight, she added, “That sucks, I was enjoying the mountains.”

She didn’t mention anything about her discomfort about the message’s implications in comparing them to Noah’s animals, however. She hoped the Dragon had used that phrase to imply planetary peril… but their handler was probably onto them after all. That thought made her stomach turn uncomfortably, so she focused on the more innocuous of implications.

“We should probably check out this world-threatening quarantine, I guess.”

Three days later, their tent was packed, their farewells said, and the World Tree brought them to the heart of Europe to find a Templar codenamed Ludious… and the Romani he had uncovered.

 

[Requine]

Hey guys, just popping in here with a couple of clarifications and explanations!

1) For those interested in pursuing the Romani leads, talk to me Ludious got a bit overwhelmed with the interest, so I'll handle it.
2) Remember this is just the first report of many, and everyone has to get their action in! If you've had multiple scenes, you can wait for the next report and action thread to put your action in.
3) If you have yet to take an action and want to, remember to do the following:

Follow me on Twitter at @RequineRP and @WorkHardSquared
Wait to see me posting
Ask me to run a scene for you
I will!

Thanks guys ​

 

[Michaelle Frazier]

Michaelle was back in Paris since monday, back from her visit to the Londonian "Support Group", as they jokingly called their little gatherings. That night in particular had been rich in informations. She had met a young women, who had told her about mysterious events in Paris, which she wasn't aware of.

Back home, she immediately mailed her sisters who have contacts with the Dragon and the Templars, to ask them if they heard about this, and began to browse the surveillance reports from airports and train stations. It seemed the intel from Miss Willow was right. Numerous agents from different factions of the secret world were gathering in Paris. Far more than usual. Far enough so she could notice it, and that was too fucking far.

Well... Only one thing to do. You don't mess up with the city of lights, her city.
She made contact with New York, to get a list of the lumies on site, and called Mr. Savoy's office to make an appointment. She had to meet the dinosaur, again.

 

[Angelique Richter]

Days Ago:


Angelique had arrived shaken after the train ride this weekend. Nothing so far had gone as planned. She and Klaus had quarreled about her vampire friend for the majority of the ride. The train had broken down. No one bathed regularly on the train and the cloying scent of heavy perfume irritated her nose.


They had made up once they arrived at their hotel, the modest but beautiful Hôtel Saint-Jacques downtown. Some personal time setting up was taken to familiarize herself with the local area, tourist information and important things, like the cafes she wanted to visit!


Le Café des Chats was their first touristy meal, and did much to improve their moods for the future business they were attending. Later in the week, she had hoped to visit Breakfast In America in case she was homesick. It seemed a good place.


She watched Klaus has he researched and prepared for their eventual meetings and important business while she opened her special duffle bag and began to sort out her preparations for later, sordid dealings should things go south. They were, after all, neck deep in Templar territory.


Earlier, rather than later, Angel attempted contact with Ms. Glenisle and her retinue as well as Blake in case her particular assistance was required. Checking in with the bosses was just good policy!


Ms. Glenisle had mentioned that they should contact their lawyer Mr. QT Whiskers, Esq. and his assistant Jessa Wong. Ms. Jessa translated that Mr. Whiskers had discovered that after a meeting with Duval that they were part owl.


She had also attempted to contact Mathieu to let him know that she and Klaus had arrived, as well as to obtain a copy of the catacomb maps for their future hunt underground.


She read curiously, curled up with her doctor as they spoke quietly about their hopefully future meeting with the enigmatic Witch Doctor he was attempting to contact.

 

[Klaus von Richter]

Dr. Klaus von Richter, Illuminati scientist and infinitely curious nuisance whose burning thirst for knowledge knows no bounds or boundaries, finally found himself in Paris on Saturday with his wife Angelique after a torturous trainride of horrors befitting nightmares and the ensuing

reminders of a person he desperately wished was dead. It soured his first day in Paris immensely.

Everybody seemed to be in luxury… except for them. It was infuriating!

The only good thing to happen during the first few days in Paris was their visit to a cat café, Le Café des Chats. All of the cats were a joy to be with, and he studied each and every one’s demeanor to see which ones were accepting of hugs to smother with. Klaus deeply regretted when they had to go. He wanted to stay forever and ever and ever with cats galore. It was heartwarming to see all of these cats given a loving home, and even better to know proceeds went toward helping cats. Cats know just how to make a day better, and oh, they did the job marvelously.

Each and every cat brought a smile to his face. They were the most precious furry babies

Of course, cats weren’t the only things Klaus wanted in Paris.

Very much on Klaus’s mind was how much he wanted to see ALL OF THE MUSEUMS, ALL OF THEM, DAMN IT.

He would stop at nothing to ensure his stay was pleasantly filled with every single historical site he could fit in his schedule.

Klaus knew, however, that he couldn’t begin to enjoy the sights and sounds until their work was underway.

That is why, much to his chagrin, the grumpy German spent the first part of his day doing some preliminary research on the witch doctor known as Halette Narcisse. Her portrait was intriguing in and of itself. Where did she get a bird’s skull that large? Was it a fossil? Was it a fake? Or did she procure it from more supernatural sources? He couldn’t place where it came from based on picture alone.

It wasn’t only her mask that caught his interest. As a witch doctor, she was sure to have encountered victims of the current bestial plague upon the city of Paris.

Even better, Klaus thought eagerly, if she had any samples from the victims for him to take for further analysis. He was sure she knew something, and he intended to find out precisely what it was the skull-capped woman was aware of.

...And hopefully not lose his own skull in the process.

Which was why he was bringing back up!

Or rather, the backup insisted on coming for exactly that reason. He wasn’t the best when it came to combat, after all, but Angel was far better.

But oh, Klaus knew exactly why this witch doctor intrigued him, and he would not rest until he found out what she knew.

To that end, Klaus was eagerly preparing to meet with Witch Doctor Narcisse, dread and excitement both filling his veins.

Other things were on his mind, such as the three birds, but he could deal with them after getting what he needed from the pagan healer. He had gone to great lengths to inquire about the other individuals.

But first: Halette Narcisse.

 

[Rhoswen]

Having just barely survived a gruesome encounter on patrol, to which she lost one of her fellow Templars, Rhoswen Evans has been largely out of commission for the last several days. Much to her frustration, she has been barred from returning to her patrol duty until fully recovered, although she has occupied herself in assisting with the memorial service for the late Gilles Desrochers and researching the various creatures menacing Paris that she has so far seen or heard of.

She has also reported to both Antoine Savoy and Cassandra Havelock on her findings, and to Knight-Captain Havelock, her concerns about Antoine Savoy's plans for the city. She has received a promise of help, and a lead, once her recovery is complete: She must speak to the ex-Templar and traitor, Laroux.

 

[Catelyn]

Catelyn Eames has had an eventful stay in Paris thus far. She has, of course, checked in with her friend Cassandra Havelock and offered her aid at any time. She and Nikoe have been occupying a rather luxurious suite afforded by their superiors, which they have proceeded to trash. They have sprung Valerie Xi from "enforced bed rest" at a shady Templar medical facility, and sighted some very disturbing things in the morgue. Their concerns about Xi's strange injuries have convinced them that the next step is to visit the witch doctor, Halette Narcisse.

Until then, Catelyn will be pursuing her other motive for visiting Paris. She will be exploring the catacombs, searching for relics and artifacts that may have been unearthed by the recent disturbances, particularly any with interesting supernatural qualities.

 

[Astrid Archer]

A few hours later, Astrid awoke. She worked through the nightmares as usual, wiping the sweat from her brow with a towel, and smirked at the irony of finally feeling some relief. No one to hide the fear from, she thought, I don't have to pretend to be strong.

In the forgotten basement where she made her safehouse, only the rats and bats saw her fear.

Although the sun had yet to fully set, Astrid stretched and worked her body as if it were the first action of the day. She chewed idly on jerky while she worked her mind over yesterday's conversations with Algecur and Russell.

'The Templars? No. They’ve been... quiet, lately.'

'Something dark, something deep from beneath the sewers. Ancient beasts.'

I have no idea who all's here, Astrid thought, except Russ. And who would I trust, anyway? In Ealdwic, we can all be cordial because there we're at rest. Here, everyone's out for themselves, or their faction... which is basically the same thing. Well, nothing for it. I don't have any other leads. I need to get down there.

Astrid opened the 'other' duffel bag. Moments later, Astrid stood, clad in loose, comfortable pants and a light, armored tactical top in a subtle pattern of black, dark blue, with pale gray ripples. She fitted the various pockets with ammo, fetish materials, medical and food supplies. Unlike her easily hidden weapons from earlier, tonight she slung 'Gossamer', her compact Orochi assault rifle, and two 10mm handguns with high-impact loads. A folded-steel katana joined her standard k-bar knife, and she strapped a number of compact grenades and alternate ammunition clips to her bandolier. She strapped on her facemask, which covered her face below the eyes. Her red eyes seemed to glow slightly as she prepared for violence.

At the last minute, she fitted a teal and blue butterfly hairpin into her blue hair.

She hit the streets of Paris' slums, moving easily amid the broken light and fearful glances of the people forgotten to the darkness in the City of Light. She paused near a wall, examining the two distinct types of violet graffiti that clearly carried more meaning to some than to others.

She stopped long enough to draw a small butterfly in teal and blue near the bottom of the wall, making certain not to cover the purple.

Astrid then pressed a subtle depression in the wall. It shifted, and she stepped behind the hidden wall before fitting it tightly back into place behind her.

'That relic and it's guard isn't far from here,' she said quietly through the mask, and began the quick, but cautious, trek toward it.

 

[Aerinn]

Kate arrives in Paris late to the party, as is her wont, on Thursday morning. That day she could be observed brunching with Hannibal Symes and an unknown female companion at a street cafe. After that her movements in the city become difficult to track, and she keeps her schedule quietly to herself...

 

[ViridianRain]

It had been an hour since she returned to her hotel room, the map she was given felt like a golden egg. Hidden artifacts... not just one, but so many the Templar's couldn't keep track of them. A smile spread her face at that thought. She wasn't going to go rummaging around the sewers in clothing though so it was time to get her uniform on.

Pulling a body suit some might refer to as a Cat suit, but honestly it was Kevlar lined, layered with Goretex to suppress her heat signature, and completely waterproof, so in her mind it was more akin to an armored wetsuit. Her boots were specifically designed for traction without footprints and minimal sounds. Trying to put on such a uniform with two mechanical limbs that had no sense of touch had taken some practice but she was now no longer inhibited by it since she put the effort into learning how to.. She slid her phone, the map, some lock probes, digital override sticks, a few glow sticks, lock picks and a few other miscellaneous things such as a bottle of smelly rancid smelling perfume into the various pockets on her thighs; before pulling her phone back out quick.

Aunt Sarah....I should message her. she thought before sending out a text to her Aunt Sarah Willis.
"Hey if you are in Paris, can we meet?" After all she was a thief not a fighter.

Looking around she grabbed her elemental focus, and pistols before heading towards the sewers, making sure not to forget her night vision goggles on the way out.

A Short while later her feet where slogging through the sewers looking for the closest point on her map.

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

Soon after his "working dinner" with Nick and Vincent, Russell would start drawing people together for a war council. He'd start with the aforementioned, Ivan, Xi, Elisha, Nvida, Astrid, and Blake. However, he'd also give them carte blanche to invite others they felt would be of help.

"Two basic rules for this," he'd say with a tired grin. "One, be ready to move the moment we have a workable plan. Two, try and check your team colors at the door..."

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

((For the record, the "war council" is convening in this Gdoc, courtesy of Ilana Val’khor))
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