February 6, 2008

At the Diner

Walter asked if anyone knew a private investigator suitable for tailing a teenager.  Neither Kyna or Ely knew of one.  Just then, Ely noticed a gold Cadillac with gold tinted windows outside the diner.  Kyna and Walter realized that such a vehicle would be ideal for light sensitive types, such as a Black Court vampire. As it was nearly dark, Ely suggested that they might have a visitor shortly.

A eccentric looking black man entered and spoke in a stereotypical 1970s black manner and requested their assistance.  Walter suggested that they speak in private.  He, Kyna and Ely followed him into the back room to talk.  The man introduced himself as Huggy Bear.

Huggy Bear said that the group had been highly recommended, and that he needed them to find his “pimpin’ clothes.”  He said that someone had stole them.  He said that they had been recommended by the ogre and his wife.  He said that the clothing was vintage and could not be replaced.

Kyna told him that they were busy.  The vampire said that he could play them.  Ely replied that his case could be moved up for the right fee.  The man produced two blocks of hundred dollar bills from his carpet bag.

Kyna could tell that the vampire was nervous.  Walter asked what he was so afraid of that he needed those   clothes.  He replied that his “ho’s might get uppity.”  Walter responded that he could always darn them.

Kyna told him that they could not give his case the time it deserved.  The vampire was incredulous.  Ely asked how they would know that they had found his clothes.  The vampire replied that he had Polaroids.  The pictures were of hideous 1970’s clothing on a mannikin.

Ely determined that the vampire was playing a role.  He asked how Mr. Bear knew the ogre.  He replied that the ogre used to “use his ho’s” before he found his mate.  He had offered $50,000, which they knew was no hardship for him.  They excused themselves to discuss it.

Kyna was reluctant to assist a Black Court Vampire.  She was worried about angering the White Council.  However, there was no violation of the laws of magic.  Ely was attracted to having a high profile entitiy owe them a favor.  Or owe each of them a favor.  They knew he was not a master, but he as an old vampire.  They decided to have the vampire owe each of them a favor equal to the degree of effort and hardship they expended in finding his clothes.

They rejoined the client and Ely made the offer.  The vampire countered with a task that would take no more than 5 hours of his time, some hurt, or one piece of hard to get information each.  Ely asked what should happen if it takes longer than a day to find his clothes.  Mr. Bear replied that if it did, they were not as good as he was led to believe.  

They accepted the offer.  The vampire gave Ely a business card for Huggy Bear’s Vintage Clothing.  Then the client went back to his car and got in the back, which was large enough for a coffin, and drove off.  Walter, Kyna and Ely took Ely’s car to the shop, which was in Georgetown.

At Huggy Bear’s Vintage Clothing
Kyna used her Sight outside the shop to determine how the burglar entered.  She filtered out the noise and determined that the shop was not thresholded, with wards on the second and third floors.  She also noted the residue of something that shouldn’t have been there on the balcony of a second floor window.

They entered and found a Goth girl at the counter.  There were four other patrons in the store.  Kyna could see that the girl was a witch.  Kyna asked the uncooperative girl if she had let anyone upstairs.  The girl replied that she had not let anyone upstairs ever.

Kyna and Walter went upstairs to investigate the living quarters.  Then Ely offered the girl some morphine.  She replied that no one had been upstairs, and he believed her.

The living quarters were straight out of a 1970s TV show.  The room was cluttered.  Kyna could see the aura from a dressmaker’s dummy that had something missing, and the trail of an aura leading to the balcony she had seen from outside.  She determined that the dummy would have sufficient residue to track.

Just then, they heard something walking around on the floor above.  Walter transformed into leopard form and prepared to pounce.  A woman descended in a slinky evening gown.  Walter could tell that she was not alive.  She refused to talk until Ely showed her the card.  She told them that she did not know who took the clothes.  Then she went back up the stairs.

Ely examined the carpet and the balcony and determined that no one had walked across that floor.  Walter looked to the walls and ceiling, but saw nothing.  Kyna determined that there was no Ways to the  Nevernever there.  She conjectured that it might have been taken via telekinesis or something similar.  

She examined that balcony and found a raven feather.  It occurred to her that it might have been a harpy, a flying fey that was half woman and half bird.  She also knew that some harpies were also witches.  Walter suspected the goth girl.

Kyna prepared a sympathetic tracking spell using a piece of the dressmaker’s dummy as the focus.   She kept the feather to use as a backup.  When prepared, she cast the spell…

The Group

  • Zoe Kallas – waitress at grandparents’ diner in Arlington; journalism graduate looking for a real journalism job. (Changling who has no clue, mother was fey of Summer Court)
  • Ely Vantide – debt collector – all kinds of debt. (Emissary of Power for a Dragon)
  • Kyna Quinlan – wizard of Irish descent. New to the White Council. Muscle for Ely.
  • Walter Ballard – were-leopard and therapist to the Supernatural.