7014/In Egypt we find the Al-Fidr

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In Egypt we find the Al-Fidr
Date of Scene: 20 July 2021
Location: Sanctum Santorum
Synopsis: Abcde's coven gets her face time with not one but two sorcerer supremes. They help Abcde come up with some better ideas for the mission to Egypt and promise to pick up the mantle if she fails to stop the khushu idol with Red Arrow and the two Asgardians.
Cast of Characters: Abcde Prescelta, Stephen Strange, Illyana Rasputina




Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    Abcde is about to do something very danger, very dumb, and she knows it. But it needs to be done and that is what the Chosen are for. The coven of the chosen has existed for a very long time and has always fought for the light, for what was right. Abcde is another in a long line of witches who have put the fate of humanity ahead of themselves.

    But just in case she was to fail on this foolish quest, perhaps she'd better leave a post-it note to let others know of the darkness rising. In this case, she decided to do something all together also brave - try to contact the sorcerer supreme.

    Through her coven, her aunts, she put out a feeler. Perhaps someone, somewhere, would know of a way to contact them. Abcde was not sure the message would reach the supreme in time before she had to depart. But as luck would have it, it did. She was instructed to an address in New York. It seems normal, until she felt the magical protections upon its door way.

    Now, standing in the entry way of the mansion, her hands tucked behind her back, she looks like a mouse come to meet the elephant. Her eyes wide, taking everything in. This small town witch from West Virginia has never shied away from a fight worth fighting, but she is very much out of her depth right now.

Stephen Strange has posed:
It may be no simple feat to the Sorcerer Supreme, this is true. However, the mystical circles have a better social network than most online services. There is always a person who knows a person who has a friend who has interacted with another person who has met the current Sorcerer Supreme. And...this is one of those cases.

The Internet pales next to the interactivity of the magical realm.

It was almost amusing, the charming manner in which the inquiry came about to Strange. It certainly had brought a smile to his face, once he had received the inquest. And so, it was a simple manner of providing the address to the Sanctum, in the middle of Greenwich Village, no less. Really, a master of the mystic arts, living in New York? Stranger things have happened.

But, the acceptance and the address was given also as a test. For, as the young witch upon Strange's doorstep can attest to, there are wards in place upon the very entrance. The building is certainly watching, of that the young witch can be certain. But, it is also judging. Would this little slip of a girl be allowed entrance? That was a decision that was out of Strange's hands. The Sanctum can be reasoned with, certainly, but it can have a mind of its own. And, in this case, it is the Sanctum, not the Sorcerer within, that decides if the caller is worthy.

To which, an answer is given. The door opens, allowing passage within. There is no one in the foyer...yet. But, surely the master of this domain knows that his guest has arrived.

------

Within the Sanctum itself, Strange sits in what appears to be a library. A book before him, he appears to be doing what he often does...research. This time, it is research on dream realms and known influencer of mortal dreams. Just a little light reading. Dressed for receiving guests, it is quite apparent that he is expecting someone.

Though, he already has a visitor. As the Sanctum makes Abcde's presence known, Strange looks up, closing the book and placing it aside. His eyes turn to regard the *other* Sorcerer Supreme in the room, with a slow smile gracing his features. "It would appear that our guest hhas arrived. Shall we go and greet her?" As Stephen stands, his hand lifts up, beckoning to a certain cloak, that willingly flitters over to settle upon his shoulders.

Because, of course, when greeting guests, one must look the part.

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Ah, the joys of unexpected need for the Sorcerer Supreme. In these days, word of mouth moves so much better than letters across a continent or desperate spiritual envoys bargained with at the last moment. Nothing like dropping a message over tea in a London shop or letting word spill through the aether. Even if the email services attached to SStrange@Magic.world aren't exactly real, the methods that don't rely on high command over the Mystic Arts abound.

Or you could know where Bleecker Street is. The mansion isn't subtle, being one of two in the old confines of Greenwich Village, and that one bears no distinction as a historical landmark for the public to traipse through. A good thing.

Illyana Rasputina, sovereign of an entire dimension, is not a morning person.

A young woman lounging in a silk smoking jacket could be the stuff of 1970s legends, the beginning of many a C-list movie. The modern femme fatale in a hard-boiled detective novel wouldn't be far off the mark, the gamine blonde nursing a cup of coffee as she hauls herself out of the abandon of sleep. Long, bare legs flex slightly and she sits up as the wards resonate, her own attuned awareness for them pretty well established. "So early? Must be a problem." She doesn't stifle a yawn, because sipping coffee does that for her.

Mussy hair twisted up into bunched buns proves fashionable. The single accord afforded to the majesty of the place happens to be a pair of slippers. Hoggoth slippers. Little tiger heads with flashing green eyes honours the elder male in the Vishanti.

Her hazy arctic pale eyes turn to the entrance, already catapulted from mundane vision into the Sight, which serves to give her that ideal somnolent look of an opium addict. Abcde's aura will be the first thing spotted, the woman next, observed with a Russian aplomb. "Show-off," she murmurs affectionately at Strange or the Cloak. Both of them are in that resplendent red and blue today.

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    What a sight the young witch makes. She even wore the hat. Yes the slightly pointy one. Not quite as high as the Hollywood caricatures would have you believe. She has a harness on too, one which allows for an old wooden broom to sit on her back comfortably. The thing positively thrums with old magic.

    That's not the only item of interest on her person. There sits at her hip a magical wand that speaks volumes of 'i kill monsters' if ever there was one. It has the wiff of having been recently used in a big manner. There is also the scent of the darkness that corrupts all, that wishes to devour and consume life entirely. Abcde has been near something very bad recently. Yet, the sanctum let her in regardless.

    Her clothes fit 'the street' - jeans and hoodie, a phone in her pocket and her hair brushed and stowed in a low ponytail. The smudge of ash and ink on her fore arm suggests a ritual was performed recently but has since lost its purpose.

    As not one but two sorcerer supremes join her in the lobby - one with a most impressive cloak - she isn't quite sure how one greets these paragons of magical power. So she does an awkward curtsey of sorts which sort of turns in to a bow and then mostly ends up just looking out of place on the modern woman.

    "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." She thrusts out a hand not sure to whom it is meant to be given, "I'm Abcde Prescelta of the Prescelta Coven. And I am about to face something very dark. So dark I'm sure I'm about to make the worst mistake of my life."

Stephen Strange has posed:
The comment from Illyana, just before stepping out of the library, is greeted with a slight little grin and a tip of a wink. Stephen's reply to showing off. Of course he is. The witch upon the doorstep, now walking in, is expecting a show. Might as well deliver.

And, with that, the door is opened from the library...which spills out into the lobby. The library isn't anywhere near the lobby normally...but in a house of magic, the concept of doorways is fluid at best...and oftentimes unneeded. As such, both Stephen and Illyana step out into the lobby.

And...that outstretched hand is taken by Strange and given a shake. "Greetings, Ms. Prescelta. I am Dr. Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of Earth..." not that he needed to mention that. "...and this is Illyana Rasputina, Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo."

Yes, that's right. Abcde just struck the jackpot and got double the Sorcerers for the price of one visit.

"And...it appears you are one to get right down to business. Excellent. Just what is this mistake you are about to take, and how can we be of assistance?"

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
The hungering darkness stained by evil naturally attracts Illyana's notice, but her death grip on the coffee cup nurtures nothing untoward. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of elder evils on down, consider it professional interest to examine those traces under a magical microscope after heeding introductions. Once the good Doctor performs the acts of hospitality and greeting, anyway. It's his Sanctum, and some rules deserve not to be trod on by upstart blonde Russians. "Illyana. You have stared in abyss, da? It put sticky fingerprints all over you."

Her distinct Russian accent would imply that the Soviets really did bore a hole through the crust into another dimension, but stranger things have happened. "What did you do for such a big bad monster to want to eat you? Is all very..." She waves her hand loosely, unconventional compared to the much more upstanding proper Doctor.

Their fluid auras dance, entwined and separate, breaking the protocols of two such magical entities. Indigo and cornflower blossom and twist around the electric gold and poisoned violet through Illyana's completely shattered arcane nimbus. "He is good at fixing. Best talk before doing reckless things."

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    Abcde shakes Stephen's hand and smiles to them both. "Well, yes my mother taught me never to mince words." She responds first to Illyana's query and says, "Not directly no. I recently visited a place seeped in despair and a shade slipped through the cracks and grew fat with all the misery in the neighbourhood."

    "Not that it made the misery.. no. That would be the mistake I think I'm about to make. Luckily this big bad monster doesn't know I'm coming yet. But I won't be able to hide forever."

    "Sorcerers Supreme, the Khushu idol is an old horror that used to be legend. One of my coven saw it in person before World War 2. It moved from our legends shelf to our 'oh no' shelf. A week ago I was called in to help a vigilante group in Starling City with a man possessed."

    "He had on his arm a magically charged tattoo linked to the Khushu idol. He was being ridden by a rage spirit." She winces a little remembering what she had to do to fix that problem."

    "A cult known as Al-Fidr recently got their hands on the complete Khushu idol. It was assembled and placed on a layline in Starling City, in one of their worst neighbourhoods. The darkness spread quickly and the people ... well, violence went sky high."

    She brings her hands to rest in front of her and says. "The idol is no longer in America - it's in Egypt. Given that the wielder appears to be sacrificing people, and creating tattoos to use its power.. I think it's fair to say the person who has the idol knows what they're doing."

    She counts on her finger tips, "Life force absorption, blood sacrifice, life sacrifice, strength, speed, durability, restoration, telekenesis, teleportation... these are all capabilities attributed to the idol and the more they sacrifice lives to it the stronger the wielder will be."

Stephen Strange has posed:
The darkness upon the young magic user is certainly known to Strange. It was one of the alerts that the wards were designed to detect. However, seeing for himself, it is apparent that it was more contact with, rather than anything more. Which is why the wards allowed the witch to pass within.

As Abcde provides appropriate background information towards the situation at hand, Strange himself remains silent, listening intently. The disclosure with the shade fits well with the dark fingerprints upon the young witch, as does her description of its eating habits. That pans out correctly. The information about the Khushu idol may be relatively new, at least in the aspect that Stephen has not heard of it in recent memory, but the reveal that the legend may be real is no real surprise either. However..the fact that it is being used for nefarious purposes...that has Strange's attention.

"Often times, legends are just truths lost within the annals of history. I am not surprised that the idol thought legend is actually real. However, what concerns me is that this cult that you speak of seems particularly vested with this idol...and is educated enough with it to know how to fuel and channel its arcane power. You are wise to seek council, young mage."

A pause. "Yet, you offer information. Information you already have. I sincerely doubt you journeyed here to tell stories. What is it that you require? Advice upon how to handle such a threat, or perhaps assistance of a more direct kind?"

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
"Khushu Idol? That uses murder and terror to amplify powers, da? Nasty thing," Illyana says in an aside to Strange, the deadpan delivery an understatement of the hour or day for it. She briefly traces a circle on the coffee cup and it starts refilling itself at her instigation, right back upto the brim. "Da, a problem when someone links themself to life-eating magic item, makes waves. Monsters come out to sniff around."

She isn't itching to disappear and go monster-hunting, though the taut awareness of a predator honing in on trouble is there in the keen lines of her body, the stark weight of her gaze.

"Human sacrifices get noticed. Who will it be? Army, police? Big hero in Egypt, not sure what he gets himself into?" She shakes her head, smirking at the witch and the sorcerer. They probably know the tales as well as she does. "Best way to get back is not by bloodshed. Too likely thing gets stronger by it. Victim using it have no problem killing you, right? Need to make it blow back on itself. Fight fire with white magic, is often a good strategy. Has weaknesses, though."

She shrugs a shoulder and her amusement burns in shades of deepening electric blue. "See, you ask. I jump in. Other choices, but you have ideas of your own, da? Not be here unless you had plan, I think."

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    Abcde nods her head to Dr. Strange as he asks her to get to the point in a very polite kind of way. Another nod is given to Illy as she recognises the idol in question. "Firstly, I hope that if I fail then they won't get away with it. Because someone has to go after this thing if I can't stop them. I know damaging it will disable it and keeping it away from laylines will stop them charging it up with sacrifice and pain."

Shehe pauses a moment, "The group leader, who I have been calling Red hood. She dresses like the Green Arrow but in red." A small smile and a shrug, "Has two Asgardians she has brought on to her team. The cult kidnapped mutants from Starling City for.. well we're not sure. But those two Asgardians can sure fight. My intention is to let them steal the spotlight while I aid them. Their goal will be to damage the idol, not the user. If I prepare well enough, I may be able to counter the telekenesis used on them."

    Another small shrug. She's not sure she can do that against an idol all powered up, "If there's an easier way to let the big scary Asgardians fight back against magic. Well, I'd love to know it."

    "And failing that, I ope our archer leader can shoot the idol to damage it... and failing _that_, then I will use direct magics." She pats her wand at her hip. A last resort, not something for a little witch to go about doing willy nilly.

Stephen Strange has posed:
Stephen stands there, patiently, as Abcde explains her proposition to handle the danger of the idol. He doesn't interrupt, but rather listens intently until the young woman finishes. It is only after Abcde finishes that Strange deigns to speak. "Ah, so, this visitation has multiple purposes then. Apprising of the situation notwithstanding, you wish to ensure that there would be appropriate countermeasures taken, should you fail. Also, you are seeking affirmation on the best possible use of your particular team's talents, since it does sound like you have a rather eclectic assortment of abilities at your disposal. Would that be a fair assessment?"

Stephen may have asked the question...but he does not necessarily wait for an answer. Turning slightly from Abcde, he casts a sideward glance towards Illyana, in her chosen attire. But, it is only to see her reaction, as the words he has are continued towards the young witch. "I have had some experience with Asgardians. Depending on who, some are rather adept with the mystic arts...while others are not. It is the same with anyone, I suppose." Strange returns his gaze upon Abcde. "Depending on the Asgardians, there might be little that you need to concern yourself with. If the goal is to damage the idol, then that should be a simple enough task."

There is a pause as Strange considers. "If it does come down to it, then yes, you can rest assured that there will be appropriate action taken to separate this idol from the cult that currently possesses it. However, since you are here, I do believe that we should be able to divine a course of action that will certainly benefit your ragtag group, so that you will not fail."

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Strange does that thing he does. The good doctor certainly never entered his surgery without appraising the team of the strategy, having considered the situation for the patient from every record, report, and finding. Not without consulting the deep lexicon available to him and possibly toying with a cutting-edge approach to a rare issue. "You will float away for hours from this." The Russian witch waves her finger side to side in a little shake. "She brings you a special treat. I see how your mind works."

It's actually impossible for her to since establishing any manner of psychic bond first has to break through the clotted Limbo energies saturated throughout her mind and body, denying any such connection. The thought counts, though. Abcde is hardly committing a sin by asking what she has. One Sorcerer Supreme commenting on the best of them all offered a present is to be expected -- both because Russian humour demands it, and because poking him goes with being naturally spiky and prickly.

"You bring these Asgardians? You sure they will not take your idol, da? They like magic. Very important. See humans, too slow and childish, to have these things." Her eyes narrow slightly and the elongated slant is accentuated as she watches between them. "One not Loki, is it? He is not a good help to you without some guarantees."

Strange is the guardian of the dimension, /he/ gets to sort it out. Oshtur and Agamotto accept him handling it by dint of the big picture window and the pretty necklace, anyway. They haven't come knocking on //her// doorstep, though why she's hanging out at the Hotel Vishantifornia is another business not to be discussed. "So positive. He is good at these speeches," she asides to the other witch.

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    "The Asgardians." Abcde says with no small amount of fondness, "They seem very motivated to stop this thing. They were friends, I believe, with the mutant who was possessed that I helped them save. The other mutants, too, they want to get them back. I understand the concern and it did cross my mind. But if I assumed everyone were out to betray me, I'd never get anything done."

    She shakes her head, "No. No Loki. These two are warriors, not mages. They seemed quite oblivious to the peril they were in with the mutant, but were able to best him and tie him down long enough for me to get the rider off of him."

    There's a wide eyed nod to Illyanna in agreement at Strange's speech. She smiles a moment and says, "Thank you. I would never ask someone else to fight in my place, but it helps to know if I.. uh.. don't make it, that someone else will try after me."

    Her smile grows a little more, "Strategy. The main obstacle I see is the telekenesis. Any attempt by the two big Asgardians or even an arrow from the archery will likely be swatted aside with ease, or held in place just to gloat at how powerful the user of the idol has become."

    She dips a hand in to her pocket and says, "I was intending to use a Horciphus Recitinal. A false window in to the world, so that any attempt to grasp on to any of us simply misses. I'll just shift everything over by a meter. I'm sure the three of them can adjust their fighting style. It might be a bit trippy for them at first. The subterfuge should hopefully be confusing enough that we can.. you know.. win."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Not mages. Fortunate. I would have warned otherwise. Certainly would have warned against Loki. And Amora, as well. They would have designs for such an artifact. Warriors...tend not to concern themselves with trinkets, unless they are willing to throw them at their targets." As far as explanation into that comment? Strange gives none. Although, he did sound somewhat relieved that the two were more concerned with combat than not.

Then, as thanks is given, Strange just nods and waves it off with a hand. "Think nothing of it. I appreciate the alert and the courtesy of providing it. I could imagine how you might have felt, just standing at the doorway." Well...he doesn't have to imagine it. It was pretty apparent with the aura. But, at least Stephen is being polite and not pointing that out. "Though, it is not necessarily 'try'. It is 'do'. As much as pop culture twists concepts around to fit in their fictionalized settings, it at least has that concept correct. There is no 'try'."

Did...Strange just go Jedi for a moment there? There's a quick glance towards Illyana as he seems to feel he needs to defend himself. "What? I watch movies, too. On occasion."

But then, back to business. "I do like how you think though, Ms. Prescelta. A cantrip to skew the perception of the telekinetic should be enough to disable at least the finer control one would need to deflect attacks. Although, I would warn of the brute force method, in which the user may just decide to push blindly out in all directions. However, this requires effort, just the same as any physical activity. Spreading out omni-directionally should tire the individual out sooner." There is a moment of consideration, before the good doctor speaks again. "Might you have an obfuscation spell within your arsenal, perchance? If your archer companion is anywhere as accurate as his or her green counterpart, then it may be possible to cast a glamour upon the arrows themselves, so that they are undetectable via normal means until the moment of impact."

A shrug is given. "Just an idea. Personally, I do approve of the Horciphus Recitinal." Not that it means anything at all, but hey, approval from the Sorcerer Supreme!

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Amora and Loki after a specific Idol like that might have Illyana stepping out the back door to make sure the problem corrects itself with the assistance of a few nudges in fate. If those nudges come at her hands? Total chance! Who knew coincidence worked in such a remarkable way.

Strange's responses mostly stand in for her own, for the long-legged sorceress in a smoking robe of supple silk might be revisiting her coffee with a vengeance. Has it cooled? Not really. The contents might be lower than she wishes, so she takes a sip, and failing that, also adds a little more from the same transitioning a steady stream from somewhere else. Mmm, coffee. The bittersweet fragrance rolls over her tongue, and takes away whatever ginger-snap of an answer might alight there.

Not that anyone is being particularly rude or worthy of snappy comments, but she is still adjusting to the whole principle of being awake, with the dangers that escort that. Her gaze lifts, pale eyes full of Siberian frost, and then tick to Abcde before returning to Strange. "Have a backup if they do not rely on their sight. A telekinetic may sense motion or disruption, too. So illusion, maybe not so effective. But you can interfere with vibrations, stamping noises, fluctuations. Bad headache if they sense, you know?"

Her primary answer, sword to the head, isn't exactly doable here. No worries.

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    Abcde positively bristles with excitement that the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth likes her approach. She nods her head quickly, "Yes obfuscation for the arrows. I'll have to gather some ingredients but I can do that." She is still smiling though at the star wars reference, "You're not quite what I was expecting. You have a grandeur about you. I imagined the sorcerer supreme to be the supreme bookworm of all bookworms."

    She smiles and dips her head, "Sir." She hmms at Illyanna's suggestion. Though sight or no sight won't help them, magical senses might. "A bad headache you say..." She taps a finger to her lips and nods her head, "I think I can prepare that too. If I can convince the Asgardians to drink my brew." A potion for that might do the trick. No trespassing is a fairly basic protection enchantment.

Stephen Strange has posed:
Oh....bookworm, is it? That prompts a laugh from Stephen. A genuine laugh. "Well, you would not be wrong. I was just in the library before your arrival." That minor reveal aside, Stephen adds just a touch more. "Books and research is a solid start. But...that is all that it can be. A start. Sometimes you need to get out and do, rather than read about it and wonder."

Illyana's suggestion is taken up, with Strange providing his own agreement to that. "Yes. Illyana has the right of it. Illusion may not be enough. But, if one can disrupt the senses...shatter the focus....then that will make it all that much harder to control the moment. And all that much easier for your group to succeed."

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
"Now he will be so pleased within himself. Bookworm of bookworms. It is like having a dragon with spectacles," Illyana murmurs, her own realm home to more than one wyrm prone to giving her an opinion.

She taps the side of the coffee cup and smirks, hiding behind it. The drink is quite satisfying, an unhealthy amount of caffeine now settled into her veins, and that will be enough. The drink ends up on the nearest table for the moment, and she hooks her arm around Stephen's waist almost carelessly.

"Distraction is powerful, da? The rest of it, you have the tools to use for your disposal. Or two Asgardians beating on thing from both sides, always good."

Abcde Prescelta has posed:
    Abcde relaxes her shoulders a little. Her plan wasn't terrible and they've given her even more ideas to bring to the table. More preparation, but she's a witch - preparation is 90% of the job. She says, "Thank you both. I need to get back to Starling City and talk to the others and make a few potions. Also, wow.. I can't believe I actually got to meet you both."

    She smiles and gives another awkward sort of bow curtsey and says, "Thank you." She knows their time is precious and standing here in their hallway will only make her feel smaller yet than she already does. But her mind is ticking over with ideas and potential. She draws the broom out from its holster on her back and heads to the door. Openingly it, she then gives a wave back to the pair, mounts the broom, and flies off.