16388/A Dead End

A Dead End
Date of Scene:	21 November 2023
Location:	A Dead End Street
Synopsis:	Jennifer went to acquire an Atlantean relic. Found several ninja and a demon. Alex arrived, distracted the demon, they escaped.
Cast of Characters:	Alex Summers, Jennifer Kale

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Alex Summers has posed:
Just south of Flushing Meadows Cemetery, in Flushing, Queens, is Pidgeon Meadow Road. A common thruway that many take to cross Queens. A very busy road in the daytime and early evening. But at 1:41am, it's not quite as traveled. There's an alleyway off Pidgeon Meadow between 169th and 170th streets that connects to what appears to be someone's driveway - and is often mistaken for a cut through, not a private drive. At the end of the drive is a small building which is located behind a otherwise normal residence. That residence is home to a local soothsayer/palm reader named Greta Lockwood. Greta is known as being the real deal and can see into the afterlife and the astral plane. And she also sells reagents for magical casting as well as rare and unique totems and artifacts as well as information. She only operates her business in the middle of the night, and anyone who is in the know or the need seeks her out for her commodities. Greta is a 60 something year old woman who has seen more than the normal 60 years of a persons life. She's seen things that should never have been seen by mortal eyes. Which has made her seem older than what she is.

Now, one might ask why Jennifer Kale is in this neighborhood and coming up to Greta's place of business. Well, rumor (within mystical circles) has it that Greta came across an Atlantean relic. Something that she recently acquired from unknown sources and is likely trying to get rid of it before it attracts unwanted attention. Something that Jennifer may be interested in.

Jennifer Kale has posed:
Jennifer hitches her 'work pack' up on her shoulder and glances up towards the house she's approaching. Of course she's heard of Greta. You don't get to be part of a major mystical family and not know who Greta Lockwood is. She was on the list of contacts she got from the cult members in the New York area!

But this is the first time that Jennifer has come here. Noramlly she has her own sources for reagents and items, and she already has one of the more powerful relics. But this is something different.. something interesting. Potentially useful.

Jennifer approaches the house, glancing around for a bell or instructions on how Greta wants entry to be handled. Barring that, she'll simply knock. Three times, of course. Just in case.

Alex Summers has posed:
The cemetery itself is alight to those that can see the aether, is alight with all the incorporeal spirits as they lurk about while waiting passage to their next afterlife. And, while this is normal, there's also a sense of foreboding somewhere within the cemetery, giving it an eerie feeling of dread. The cemetery can be clearly seen from Greta's house and can also be seen from the entrance to the back building where the 'business' is located. The thick clouds hang low in the sky and ambient light from the neighborhood is reflected off of them, allowing for additional vision and illumination where one may walk.

There is a bell on the side of the door frame attached to a curved piece of spring steel. Ready for tapping or pushing to make it jingle. The door is painted red. However, people with the sight can see the wards and guards painted on the door and around to keep unwanted demons or djinn out. There is also a light on inside past the drape covered window. There doesn't seem to be movement inside until the bell is wrung. Then there's more than just movement inside, there's also the light pitter patter of footfalls on the building's flat, rock covered roof. Barely audible, they are approaching Jennifer's location from above. Also, several figures move around and cast shadows behind the drawn curtains. Something is wrong.

Jennifer Kale has posed:
Lifting a hand towards the bell, Jennifer pauses when she notices the shadows moving behind the curtains. This doesn't seem right. There shouldn't already be other people here. Inspecting the wards and guards on the door, she looks for anything that might keep her from teleporting inside. She means Greta no harm, and in fact is hoping to help her.

Pulling up a ward of her own, Jennifer tries to teleport herself into the building so she can offer help.. or justice. Hopefully help. Because justice usually means dead people. Jennifer lets out a breath and clears her mind, she focuses on Greta to try and teleport directly to the woman to get her out first.

Lifting her hands to shoulder height, Jennifer blows out a breath and murmurs, "Here goes nothing. Good thoughts. Positive thoughts. Help Greta. I need to get in to help Greta..."

Alex Summers has posed:
Jennifer's surroundings suddenly change as she teleports from outside the building to inside the building. It's a cozy little shop like setup with two counters, shelves, shelves, and more shelves, and a small table/chairs sitting area for personal readings. The lights aren't terribly bright, 40-60 watt bulbs and lots of nice artwork on the walls with a warm wood feel to the affectations and furniture. What doesn't fit are the four ninja(s) that are standing around looking at Jennifer's arrival; oh and Greta's lifeless body on the floor at Jennifer's feet. Greta's throat was cut. It appears that she was sitting in one of the three chairs at the reading table when she was taken from behind. Her throat cut, and not given time to call out or bargain for her life. Now she lays on the floor in a pool of her own blood.

The ninja(s) attack in dual teamwork. One throws magically imbued shuriken toward Jennifer while the other closes in with magically imbued claw spikes from a glove on his/her hands. The other two ninja reposition themselves to attack next.

Jennifer Kale has posed:
"Shit."

It's too late for Greta, unfortunately, and now there's also ninja. Four of them. Jennifer glances around at each of the figures as they pull imbued weapons. She lets out a heavy sigh and mutters, "Couldn't just have been some regular thieves, no, has to be magic ninjas." She looks around for the Atlantean relic, darting quick glances here and there to see if she can spot it.

In the end, there's ninja stars flying at her and magic claws coming towards her, and there isn't time to look. Casting out a hand, she calls out, "Come!" Drawing the relic to her through magical compulsion.

Either it works or it doesn't. Either way, she's not sticking around to find out. If it works, she's duck and start the teleport. If it doesn't work, she'll still start the teleport. Only this time, she's going to teleport farther away than just outside.

Alex Summers has posed:
The Atlantean relic is a 6 inch long, jewel incrusted golden rod that's about 2 inches wide and flattish. It's pretty clear that it's magical and Atlantean as it has words written on it. Problem number one; it's being shoved into one of the prepping ninja's secret pockets within his/her gi (ninja top). And the other problem is the ninja is suddenly pulled toward Jennifer by the gi top constraining the movement of the artifact. It pulls the ninja who is drawing a sword. That ninja collides with the ninja that is performing the claw attack. The pulled ninja deflects the attack of the clawed ninja and he then impacts directly with Jennifer.

Jennifer teleports out of the way of the throwing stars and taking along the ninja whose gi holds the artifact. In mid teleport, she can feel the pull of something dark keeping her from going far.

Jennifer and the ninja appear in the cemetery only a few yards from a gluttonous horror that chuckles darkly as it hovers 4 feet above the ground. It is clearly a demon. Standing on either side of the horrific mass are more ninja. Four more to be exact. They have their weapons drawn.

The demon says, "Jennifer Kale... what a pleasure to finally meet you. And of course, kill you."

Two of the four ninja rush forward to engage.

The one ninja that teleported with Jennifer still has the artifact in his gi and is pulled toward her.

The icky demon http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/beasthand.htm .

Jennifer Kale has posed:
"Ffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-" Jennifer is definitely not thrilled with this turn of events. The one ninja gets pulled with her, through space... but not nearly as far as she'd been hoping for. And then... well, then there's a demon. A gnarly looking one. And it knows her name. "-uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck." She looks over the demon and sighs, "Corruption, that's clear.. Am I sposed to know ya?"

Then there's a ninja coming at her, not entirely of his own will. Jennifer trusts that her shield can hold up long enough to make a grab for the relic. She'll reach into the man's gi to grab at the relic before sending a quick blast of green energy towards the demon.

"It was nice to meetcha, but really, I gotta go." And with that, Jennifer takes off across the grounds, trying to get out of the cemetary. "I really need to start carryin' that handful o' mud with me everywhere, I guess..."

Alex Summers has posed:
There's quite a loud clang and rowrrrrrr as headlights cross the cemetery and a jeep comes barrel along and instantly ramming the floating demon as a blond male dives out of the jeep and rolls.

The ninjas leap out of the way. However, the only thing the demon could do was get shot by the green energy from Kale and then as it turned toward the bright lights, it got creamed by the oncoming vehicle. Both jeep and demon smash through various tombstones and then into a tree pinning the demon between the grill of the jeep and that tree. It roars out in pain and frustration.

The blond raises his arms at the two approaching Ninja and he blasts them. Knocking them 50 yards with white hot plasma.

Jennifer grabs the artifact with ease and keeps from being struck by other ninja as she moves away. The shield holds. Even though it's magically imbued, it's still being used by a normal ninja.

Jennifer Kale has posed:
Woo! Jeep to the rescue! Wait, no. Blonde man to the rescue!

Jennifer gets to see the demon get zotted by magical energy and smashed by a Jeep, which is gratifying. And she got the artifact, so double score! But there's still ninjas. Which takes away from the score column.

And the blonde has powers! Back in the double score column! Buuuuuuuuuuut, she knows some things about the demon. And about her shields. She pulls a little from her own to loop around Alex, grabbing his hand as she heads for the gate again.

"We gotta go! That Jeep was a nice trick, but it ain't gonna hold him fer long. We gotta get away from this place." Jennifer hauls him along with her as she runs between tombstones.

Alex Summers has posed:
His hand is quite warm to the touch, almost as if he just launched blazing hot plasma from it. But it doesn't burn when Jennifer takes hold of it. He's caught off guard by her approach and urgency. Then he's suddenly pulled from his footing with a 'wooooah'. But he also sees the overwhelming odds and believes her words to be true as the demon pushes the jeep an inch or two. Squirming it's bulbous blubber blatheringly bloated body to try and get free.

The ninjas pursue the fleeing blondes and Alex says while running in tow, "I'm Alex. Is that a mutant or a demon?"

Jennifer Kale has posed:
"Hey Alex. I'm Jen. And that is a corruption demon," Jennifer responds with a flashed grin from over her shoulder. She catches a glimpse of the pursuing demons and sticks the relic into the waistband of her pants. It frees up a hand that she throws towards the ninjas, another blast of that green energy flying towards them.

Dodging the last of the tomstones, she looks back to Alex, "Once we're outta th' cemetary, I should be able t' teleport us. I was gonna go to my place, but usually I wait for th' second date before I invite a man over. Got another idea where t'go?"

Alex Summers has posed:
"Fred's Diner.. Mutant Town, Bushwick." He announces, trying not to project his voice as he himself turns and releases another blast of the fiery hot plasma. Both ninjas dodge, not only his blast, but Jennifer's as well.

Alex stumbles a bit and then rights himself as he turns and continues running to get out of any demon's path that may be coming next.

The exit of the cemetery is easily reached through the gate allowing them egress.

Jennifer Kale has posed:
"Got it!" Jennifer grins towards him and makes that last mad dash for the gates. As soon as they hit the sidewalk, she raises her free hand, making a quick gesture with her fingers.

And then they're suddenly stumbling a halt in front of Fred's Diner. For Alex, it's like that first step the cartoons keep warning about.. a doozy! Sort of like going down the stairs, but you miss one and you aren't sure that you'll land on the next one down.. but then your feet hit pavement and you're still upright.

Jennifer straightens from the stumblestep and lets out a small sigh. "Oh thank God. Okay. Hopefully that won't be seen as too weird in this neighborhood. And hey, good diner food, decent coffee!" She shrugs the pack from her shoulder so she can tuck the relic inside it, then looks back to Alex with a smile, "My treat? Least I can do for you saving the day."

Alex Summers has posed:
It's clear that he's teleported with others before. But it's still quite the jolt. Changing environments, reorienting himself to the new surroundings, plus potential elevation change. He catches himself and skids to a stop with a side cut like he was ice skating with a side jump to right himself and get a clear turning view of Jennifer herself and anyone who may have followed through the portal - if it was a portal, vs a desolid, resolid elsewhere sort of thing.

Mutant Town - there's nothing too weird or out of the ordinary here. Instead, it's a collection of mutants of all shapes and sizes scattered here and there even at this late hour. Though it's clearly the night owls that are out.

Alex replies, "Yeah... that sounds great. And this place has the best eggs. Oh, and; Hi Jenn. Good to meet you."