daybreakacademy | What Fools These Mortals Be...

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What Fools These Mortals Be...

Who: David Xanatos and those helping him oppose Oberon
What: A fight over a quarter faerie child.
When: August 10th
Where: Xanatos Enterprises HQ and the blocks surrounding it.
Warnings: Attempted kidnapping of an infant, car accidents, fires, and other results of people in a major city abruptly falling asleep, and an ego to make some god kings look humble.

It's late evening in New York City, long after the sun has set on the city that never sleeps...except for the past day, a several block stretch of Manhattan has been eerily still, as all mortal creatures who enter have drifted off to sleep. Still, but not quiet. Car alarms sound throughout the streets, warning of numerous crashes caused by drivers passing out at the wheel. But though aware of the emergencies, response vehicles can't reach the victims, as the drivers begin to doze whenever they try to approach.

Outside the area of effect, there's talk of a possible gas leak, but those arriving from Daybreak know the truth: a powerful faerie has cast a spell to keep interlopers at bay. Oxygen masks won't help, the only ways to push through are magic or iron. And even then, there's more than just the mundane emergencies to worry about...

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[Those hoping to be able to help contain the side effects of the sleep spell will probably be the first to arrive, though doing so from the ground isn't easy. Streets are clogged with cars in varying states of damage, and the area has been cordoned off by police in an attempt to stop anyone else from getting hurt. The lucky rescuers will run into a tall officer with dark skin, who doubts the 'gas leak' theory, but is willing to trust anyone who seems to know what they're doing. Otherwise, just getting in might take some creativity...or, at the very least, stealth.

Once they get past the physical obstacles, they'll find the city a mess. Humans and pets alike are sprawled unconscious on the sidewalk, with accidents on every street. There aren't yet any out of control fires, but who can say for how long. Some houses even have water leaking out under the doors from overflowing bathtubs. The only place that seems untouched is the Eyrie Building, a massive skyscraper that disappears above the clouds. A shimmering barrier surrounds it, keeping the faerie magic at bay...for now.]

[As the hour of Oberon's return draws near, David asks those who want to help him to gather inside his home. The castle is a stunning mix of modern and antique. David is waiting in the great hall in an iron plated suit, expression grim.]

Thank you all for coming. This is a tremendous risk you're taking on my behalf, and I don't know that even my fortune could let me repay you.

While we still have time, is there anything I can do to help you prepare?

[It's time. The runic shield around the skyscraper does hold Oberon at bay, but only briefly. Though it weakens him to touch it, he grows to a size to match the building, and overwhelms the barrier through sheer force. Now, as iron plated robots fly around to distract the faerie king, all those gathered can do is hope their preparations are enough.]

[It wasn't the first time he had been at the Eyrie, though it was more in an investigative manner, he traded the odd-looking cane of his for a rapier. He settles in, steepling his gloved fingertips together, mulling over the information that they know of]

Knowing the Fay, he'll be prepared to keep anything of Cold Iron from getting close to him. Well, one could try with a rifle, but killing or seriously wounding someone such as him will bring even more dire consequences on your family.

I have a small fleet of iron-plated robots that should at least be able to hassle him, even if they can't catch him. But you're right, doing any serious damage would get my mother-in-law on our cases...and I get the impression that Titania is the smarter of the pair.

You wouldn’t happen to have a 3D printer, would you?

[ Rex has gone out of his way to set himself up as more a ‘behind the scenes’ kind of guy since he got to Daybreak, often implying he’s a coward rather than that he enjoys fights to the death in terrible odds a little too much.

It’s why he’s turned up with a huge sack of tools and proper safety gear to improve upon the castle’s barriers. Always a specialty of his. ]

To use, not to have as payment.

What wealthy engineer wouldn't? They're amazing for creating prototypes of new inventions.

And creating extremely complex runes rapidly to be applied in a stick on fashion.

[ Honestly, the sort of ridiculously elaborate ones that some people still spend years painfully etching by hand. It’s the magic equivalent of people who only listen to vinyl really. ]

...also my weight in coffee would be appreciated.

There's already a full pot in the kitchen. I'll-

[...Wait, his assistant isn't here.]

Show you to it shortly. I could stand for another cup, myself.

Do you have any idea of what else this guy might be capable of? Just in the interest of not being caught flat-footed whatever he pulls out.

I think the better question would be what isn't he capable of. Even lesser fae can easily pull off feats of magic that would put archmages to shame.

[Welp. She sure does recognize that officer. He'll get a sheepish wave from Lia before she decides it'd be best to find another avenue for getting in--luckily, she's got teleportation abilities to assist her...]

... Fair.

[She scrubs at her face with one hand, iron bracelet sliding along her arm with the movement.]

I'll see what I can do to help people with preparations, but I'll be honest that my specialty's more or less busting heads rather than diplomacy. Not to say I wouldn't try but...

[Thiiiiiiis is gonna suck.]

Edited 2019-08-16 23:21 (UTC)

To be honest, I think busting heads might be necessary before diplomacy can work. Oberon thinks he's negotiating from a position of absolute power.

We'll just have to show him that he isn't.

[She looks a little more determined now, with the realization that this would play more to her immediate strengths.]

And I am assuming that this is even a thing that he is of the... 'old fashion type'. The trick is to weaken him without wounding him so that Titania can step in, or force him to actually listen.

[With that, he stands up, picking up a book as he idly flicked through the pages]

Aside from iron... the other folkloric weaknesses of the fairies - the wood of rowan - hard to get on short order, runes and charms I don't have an affinity for, church bells which is a little - Oh.

[His eyes snapped open]

Oh! I think that's it.

I'm not counting on help from Titania, she's the one who told him about my boy's heritage in the first place.

[David Xanatos is not a man to hold grudges...but he sounds very displeased with the faerie queen right now.]

It sounds like you have an idea, though.

[Quickly, he pulls out his phone, rapidly typing something]

It's a long shot, but - perhaps the bells having an effect might have to do with the material, I'll pop over to the nearest -

[The vampire grimaced]

Ah. Nevermind, I cannot do that, could you get someone to the nearest church - see if they have actual bells and what they're made of? In the mean time, how fast would you think it might take to cast or 3d print an iron bell? It doesn't have to be a large one.

*Maya's listening to the sounds of the magic outside of the castle, trying not to think about how high up this tower is. How easy it would be for the tower to just... well, it was a good thing Oberon didn't want to hurt the baby. Otherwise this could be a very short conflict.*

Blueprints? I'd like to know what's where.

*Her only value here was her candle abilities, the stealth suit couldn't keep the baby from being seen. But Maya's silence could spread over a room to shield it from prying eyes (of the magical sort). The sort of thing that could keep Oberon from going right for the baby. And, well, if she had to run off with the baby knowing where to run wouldn't hurt.*

...And what's not on the blueprints.

The printing itself wouldn't take long, but cooling would be a problem. Iron takes hours to cool on its own, and most quenching techniques possible on short notice run a risk of cracking the metal.

[He picks up a tablet from a table and sends a file to Maya's account.]

I just sent them to you. There's also a network of hidden passages in the castle, hidden behind tapestries, but I haven't finished mapping them out yet. The downside of moving the castle in chunks is that even the building crew doesn't know the layout in its entirety.

Who knew that moving a castle across an ocean and miles in the air might be complicated.

*Maya's going to scan over the visible parts, at least, while she thinks this over. How to figure out a maze of passages. She doubts she has time to map them herself, but Rex is here so maybe he has a gadget for this. Tapping a silent finger against a table as she works. On the plus side, her nervous fidgets don't make noise.*

Do you have any passages marked off directly around where your son is? And how much can your wife move?

*She'd rather not have to be trusted with the baby on her own, but a side-effect of her depression is an immense practicality. The baby won't get to know his mom at all if he's kidnapped by faerie in-laws. Or whatever this is.*

Locating the ones around the master bedroom was my top priority once I learned they were there, given one of the people who knows them well likely now considers me a mortal enemy.

[He was kind of instrumental in foiling her plan to slaughter all of New York.]

And my wife has recovered fairly well from the delivery. I doubt she's up to much fighting just yet, but she can run if need be.

My... natural static, I guess, doesn't cover a lot. And to expand it I need to silence everything.

*Maya's still not the best at explaining her powers. She just does them, how hasn't really been a thing she could get answers on. She just knows that 'unnerving' and 'what the fuck is wrong with you' are sentiments people have about when she spreads her silence to fill a room.*

Still, if she can run that should be enough. Just to keep moving if Oberon gets past all of you. Buy time, stall, that sort of thing.

We'll try to keep him out of the castle, but we're at a disadvantage due to the political ramifications if we seriously injure him. Going to war against an entire faerie kingdom doesn't sound like my idea of fun.

What exactly is your endgame? Keep a Faerie God on your doorstep until he gets bored?

*They can't hurt Oberon. She could feel the weight of the power in that sleep spell, that doesn't give her any hopes for keeping this guy out. Almost everyone here is scary, to some degree, by hearing what their capable of. But how do you win a boxing match where you can't throw a punch?*

We just need to convince him we're not helpless. That should give us some negotiating power, if it doesn't outright convince him this is more trouble than it's worth. Right now, he he thinks he can just walk in and take whatever, or whoever, he wants.

Is there anywhere he couldn't go? Like- if we could get the baby out of here, that would force him to give up his chase?

*Theoretically, if she got away with the baby, even Oberon would have to track her by sight. Not that she can get out of here, nor does she want to be a permanent nanny to a baby on the run. But it might give them leverage if it annoyed Oberon. And annoying him sounded good to her, guy was a creep.*

Unfortunately, I don't have anything like that prepared. Most of the materials that repel fae aren't common in city construction, and I've never had a problem with them before.

[Plus, using iron or rowan to build his home would have caused problems for his assistant, but...he doesn't see a need to spoil his friend's masquerade.]

I should put on my party clothes and check out the secret passages near the bedroom to know exactly where I'll come out. Maybe see if Rex has a few more cameras that can work with my suit.

*She has time to get a lay of the land, and maybe see if she can calm down a little. This was feeling more and more like the Alamo than she wanted it to. But, like, this was the gig right. Fight the good fight even when that plan seems bad.*

Well damn, and we cannot be certain that we can stall long enough for it to cool.

Hmm. Well if you’ve sufficient medical supplies I can always hook it up to my veins.

[ He says that exactly as flatly as he does everything else. ]

Barriers are something of a speciality of mine, so I shall be done quickly. I’d recommend outlining any further defences so I can prioritise any others that require enhancement. I’m sure I can manage some short term overclocking at a minimum.

[Another few taps on the tablet, and Maya will get another file noting the locations of the secret passages. It's...a risk, giving this to someone he barely knows. But it's worth it to protect his son.]

I'm placing my trust in you. Don't let me down.

I think the school medical team would have objections if I let you do that.

[Is he taking the comment seriously? Going along with what he thinks is a joke? Hard to tell, with the general levity he applies to...anything not life or death for his family.]

The barrier outside and a fleet of iron-plated robots are my main anti-fae defenses, along with this modified battlesuit. How are you with programming AI?

We can still try. I think our safest bet with what I have on hand would be a brine or salt bath. They won't cool as quickly as pure water, but that also means they won't be as likely to damage the finished product.

[When Oberon breaks through, Amaterasu is there to meet him. She can't grow to the size of a skyscraper, but her sheer presence is nearly as large. None of her usual laid-back attitude is here now, just the Goddess of the Sun.]

Oberon, king of Faerie, hear my words! I am Okami Amaterasu, Origin of All That is Good and Mother to all! I will not stand idly while you attempt to separate a child from his loving parents!

And that's why I perform auto-surgery.

[ That one actually isn't a joke, but there is absolutely no difference in delivery.

On the subject of AI, however, he thinks a moment- probably best not to mention he can create sapient minds then throttles their capabilities for his own purposes. ]

I get the job done. I'm better with hardware, but nothing I've programmed has attempted to kill humanity or crashed into walls as yet.

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What Fools These Mortals Be...

Damage Control

Pre-Fight

Oberon's Arrival

Re: Pre-Fight

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