Owner	Pose
Thea Queen	The day had finally come for the Egypt trip. Thea had gotten to decrypt the files that showed possible places, businesses owned by Al-Fidr, where the Idol could be. And so it was time for a trip. Messages had been sent. To gather at the airport in a couple of days. As for clothing and such necessities for that kind of trip? Thea did mention she'd provide as needed. Got to put that fortune to a use after all! At the airport Thea had revealed she had employed the uses of a private airplane belonging to Queen Consolidated to bring the 'gang' over and so the trip had began. And quite the long trip it was. Eleven hours later they are starting to approach Cairo, the desert in sight along with the magnificent view of the Giza pyramids. Thea is looking at them from a window, "It's my first time here. Those look beautiful." she states, taking a sip from her cold water, the AC on and offering a gentle breeze even if it's torrid hot outside. It's good to travel 1st class!
Sif	~How can anybody stand travelling so slowly?~ Sif wondered to herself, all the while keeping a pleasant (albeit somewhat distant) face pasted on. Probably not fooling Vintridr for an instant. Of course, to be fair, she's used to 'cheating' with her brother. To his eternal resigned consternation. Compared to the Bifrost, the fastest modes of transport on Earth were slow. On the plus side, naturally, it was a fine opportunity to relax with friends. And the witch. The pyramids were a sight! "What happened to the cladding on them?" Sif wondered aloud. "I can't believe that it would have ... vanished so quickly." Show-off.
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde downloaded a bunch of videos on how to do sleight of hand magic tricks with cards and dice and coins. She mostly watched those and chuckled every time she figured it out. It's a whole different perspective when you can really do magic. Then again, she admires their skills being able to fake it and make it seem impossible the way they do. When the pyramids come in to view, she peers out and says, "This is my first time out of the country too. I've always wanted to travel to Italy.. to Rome.. see where my ancestors came from." Her sweet Appalachian drawl marks her as from West Virginia the moment she opens her mouth. She is a good ol' country gal there's no doubt about that. Except for the witchcraft bit - that's generally frowned upon in those parts. She packed a lot of stuff. She pre-brewed a lot of potions too. Thanks to her conversation with the Sorcerer Supreme she perhaps over-prepared. But this is the first time she's ever faced off against something so truly evil before. It's had time to gather its forces and amass magical energy too. Nothing about this is going to be easy. "Cladding? What cladding's that? Do you mean the golden bit at the top that they found in the depictions? or is this more like Star Gate where a big alien space craft lands on the pointy bit."
Vintridr	Vintridr yawns and stretches her arms before opening her eyes. "We're almost here, then?" she asks, looking out at what drew Thea's attention. "... Ah, yes. A great deal of effort went into making them -- and even after the civilization that made them is long gone, they stand as a monument, telling all who have eyes and ears to listen 'This is who we were. Once, we lived here.'"     She smiles slightly indulgently at Sif. "The outer layer was much more delicately crafted than the core, and Midgard's children have not yet mastered the weather; a few thousand years of exposure to the elements stripped it away."     She glances at the young witch. "The Pyramids used to have an outer cladding of limestone smoothing their surface. It weathered away over time when those who were supposed to maintain it were no longer able to."     She turns back to Thea with a bit more seriousness. "I take it you've a contact waiting when we make landfall?" she asks.
Thea Queen	For her part Thea is dressed like a rich tourist. Because she may as well enjoy this trip too! Sleeveless black and white top, designer jeans with sandals. Large sunshades on her eyes. Just a little jewelry because a girl should never leave home without some and she was ready to go. Of course that her suit and weapons are stowed away safely. The benefits of private airplanes, they let you smuggle whatever you want ..., as long as you got the right connections, and the right kind of money. "Rome is great, love it's streets. I didn't know your ancestors were from there." Thea says, gaze turning from the pyramids to Abcde, a brow arching with curiosity. A grin then comes to her expression at Sif's comment, she winking over her shoulder at the Goddess of War, "Showing off, are you?", she comments with a laugh, then to Vin, "Sometimes I forget how old you *both* are." a small shake of her head to herself. Yea, she is used to hanging out with more mundane people, not Asgardians, and witches and .... "And yes, I do have a contact. Well, not exactly *my* contact but it will do..." It's her brother's contact. But that's details! She brushes it away as they approach the landing strip, the announcement on comms from the pilot over the front that they are arriving and soon enough the wheels are hitting the ground and the plane slowly coming to a stop. She gets up with a stretch. "Mmmmm, lovely 12 hours of a trip?" ugh.., muscles hurt.
Sif	"When last I was here, these edifices gleamed in the sunlight from far away," Sif says, dreamy-eyed. "And yes, it is true they looked weathered, but now ... it is brown. That is different stone entirely. It is disappointing. They were quite magnificent." Her eyes too pierce the witch. "I know nothing of a 'golden bit', but heard people describe it as if it had been there. I'd always assumed it to be a falsehood used by those trying to puff up a legend." At talk of business, reminiscence fades--seemingly unwillingly--and with a sigh Sif focuses on the task at hand. "If an army is needed, it will take some preparation time to arrange, Thea Queen. A warband could be arranged much more quickly. I know this is not necessarily what you want, but the field of battle rarely delivers one's desire. Just be aware of the resources available should the need come." Then, an odd thing, as Thea stands, Sif, too, stands and holds the young mortal at the shoulders, gripping gently (for an Asgardian) and looking at her eyes. "Keep yourself hale and healthy, Thea Queen. Do not take unnecessary risks." She then releases Thea and stands aside, letting the young human take the lead.
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde packed a broom as well as a big backpack full of stuff. Only two books though, she packed light on that account. The overhead storage she takes out the backpack and then the broom and then takes a wand out of the pocket of the backpack and slides it in to her pocket. "Egypt. Well." She smiles, "Let's hope nothing undead decides to take offence at our arrival. At least we came in a fairly conventional manner, it won't attract the wrong kind of attention." Than say, teleporting via Asgard. "Limestone. Huh. Weyell, you live and learn." She says and stretches out, "Let's go stop some bad guys from ending the world or whatever." She offers high fives all around. She pauses, "A warband? Heck I don't have enough potions for more than the four of us, may be a fifth if needs be. I wouldn't want to send people in to be slaughtered. Sorcerer Supreme was particular about us having a good game plan against this thing."
Vintridr	Once the seatbelt light goes out, Vintridr unbuckles herself and stands up, rolling her shoulders once to shake her muscles loose, then quickly removes and reapplies her hairtie to retrieve some errant strands that had escaped the ponytail, and she seems fresh and ready to go.     She gives Thea an encouraging smile as she watches the younger woman wince at her muscles' protests. "There's an art to relaxing while traveling, best learned with experience. Try to keep your shoulders relaxed and don't attempt to force yourself just yet - your body will adjust."     When Abcde speaks up Vin turns to look at her. "A good plan is always wise. What else could the Sorcerer Supreme tell us of our foe?"
Thea Queen	Sif catches Thea mid-stretch. It leaves the young Queen sort of ..., puzzled. Not exactly the usual type of bold discourse from the Goddess of War! So she eyes her just a touch suspiciously for a split of a second before eventually the caring she sees on the other woman wins over and she smiles up at her. "I shall. And that goes for the all of you." a glance over at both Abcde and Vin. "-Everyone- is coming back in one piece. We know what we are dealing with is dangerous, we got proof of it with those rage spirits we faced against. If the idol is here it means they will be even more powerful, but now we are ready, and know what to expect." a beat, "And that's half the battle, mmm?" High five then given to Abcde and then a shake of her head, "Don't encourage Lady Sif or she will get a warband here in no time.." She reaches over her seat to get her bag out. Heavy one, most likely with her gear and weapons. She slides it over a shoulder and chuckles at Vin, "Leave it to you to be the wisdom of our little 'gang'.." a pause and she looking at Sif, "How many till we are considered a warband, mm?" is she teasing the Goddess? But then they are getting out of the airplane, and onto the scorching heat felt in Cairo these days.
Sif	"Honestly with just Vintridr and myself we already are a warband but for the lack of area in which we could press the foe. A good warband needs at least twenty warriors, however. Shield and spear, ideally." Sif isn't getting the teasing. She's treating it as an instructional moment. Only ... Wait. What's that glint in her eye? Face is deadpan. Voice is serious. Eye is suspicious... The change of temperature gets a reaction. A short pause. A blink. Then a blithe continuing forward. "Does this remind you of Muspelheim at all, Vintridr? I get a distinct feel of that place." Her outfit was selected for the task and, for a change, well-selected. A comfortable, loose, light set of hemp and linen khakis. And a hat made of pith. And those red sunglasses. Likely to Thea's amusement and Vintridr's annoyance. Shouldering her own equipment which looks deceptively light in her hand, but has muted sounds of metal clanking within she walks alongside Thea, looking around. "It's changed so much!" she murmurs. "Magus, what is your status in this venture? Are you the variety of magus that needs separation from the foe while you work your magics, or do you have all prepared and fight alongside? I would have need to know before we engage in conflict."
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde steps off the plane and in to the heat of Egypt, "Hoooee.. hotter than a Sunday brunch with the local football team." She waves a hand in front of her face and adjusts the straps on her backpack. She doesn't mind looking like the nerd she is. It's an odd little group though. Big strong women, rich woman, nerdy woman. But that's what it takes to stop the monsters. "Sorcerer Supreme had heard of the idol," she explains, "But didn't know much more 'bout it than what I had to tell. Mostly we strategised about how to deal with the person using the idol - what with all the crazy magical powers they might be in possession of." Very awkwardly, she manages to wedge her broom between her back and the backpack. It's not comfortable looking but at least her hands are free. She lifts up a finger to Sif and says, "Puhlease, I'm a witch not a mage. Very different. Look if I have to go mano-e-mano with some big bad then we've stumbled off the plan significantly. I'd prefer not to have to deliver blows directly. I've prepared a number of potions to protect us from the harm that might be coming our way. Magical harm that is - the physical harm, I figure ya'll three got that handled."
Vintridr	"Someone should be," Vintridr replies drily, then sobers. "... I always disliked that phrase. It's charming in its own way and it encourages the young that it's addressed to to reach for comprehension. But all the knowledge in the world will avail you nothing if you don't have the power to act on it. You need both if you wish to have any hope of victory."     She shakes her head at Sif's comment. "Muspelheim was drier," she replies after a moment, then slips on sunglasses of her own. "... And less annoyingly bright."     She nods at Abcde's response. "That seems wise. Stay close to the Young Queen; she should be able to guard you against anything that might slip past us -- or to cover your escape, should we be overwhelmed."     She glances at Thea next. "Survival is always the plan, yes. Only fools and those tired of life entirely go into battle expecting to die... But all of us who go to war know and accept that death is a possibility -- the Norns claim who they will, without favour."     No trace now of 'Vinnie', the easygoing and casual barista; this is the Chooser of the Slain who has seen more battlefields than Thea has seen warm dinners. "... And sometimes, a warrior must choose between survival of the self and survival of their comrades or success of the mission. Understand this, if you wish to learn to lead: A mortal's life is precious beyond price... But sometimes, it is the coin you have to spend, and all you can do is to make sure it's spent well."     With that, the Valkyrior slings her own - suspiciously small - bag over one shoulder and follows Sif down the ladder.
Thea Queen	"Oh, this won't do ..." Thea casts a look up at the blazing sun with a tsk and reaches for her bag, hand in to retrieve a crumpled up hat. She takes a few moments getting it 'up and running' by smoothing the edges and then gets it on her head. Still a bit crumpled but it will do the job until they arrive their destination. Whatever it may be! A quick look goes to Sif and those red sunglasses and she shudders briefly to herself. Is she remembering something? Yes, she most likely. But at least she does look amused. Not that she makes any comment on it, moving on across the tarmac to where the airport's exit is. "You actually spoke with the Sorcerer supreme?" she looks somewhat impressed, eyes resting on Abcde and her brow up, "How do you believe would be the best way to deal with whoever is holding it?" she is curious. And they might as well start strategizing already! They step out onto the airport corridors, apparently some kind of VIP passage because there's no one to stop them from going, or even any kind of security to check their bags for smuggling. Apparently money can buy a lot! "Have you ever been in a fight that odds were so turned against you that you walked into it expecting to die?" she then asks Vinnie at those last words she speaks. But before she can speak much further on her line of thought there is a man approaching, large, long beard, affable grin on his expression. He doesn't even say an hello and the next moment he is picking Thea up from the ground in a bear hug. "Little Thea!" with feet off the ground and her face against the man's chest she has to suffer this indignity in silence, her feet struggling a bit and her eyes somewhat wide. She mmfs in complaint!
Sif	"That's standard Valkyrior training," Sif says dryly. "They are so venerated among the Aesir and Vanir for good reason. The Valkyrior, when unleashed in battle, are some of the most fearsome weapons in our arsenal. They know no fear and they work as one body in many." She looks at Vintridr and something unusual is in her face. Respect. "I have taken their training. I have trained them. I have their title as a mark of respect for this. But I am not one of them and do not account myself worthy to be one of them. Individually I am the equal or superior to all but their captains, perhaps. But in battle I would not face even three and be certain of retaining my life." Her gaze takes in Thea. "Our friend Vintridr knows the feeling well, in short. And has prevailed. More than once." And, unusually for boasting culture, she doesn't talk up her own experiences in that regard... The witch gets her attention next while Thea is greeted with indignity. Keeping her face grave despite the best efforts of her sense of humour, she ignores the ignominity and says instead, "We will keep you shielded, witch, while you perform your magicks, then. It is best we knew this before trouble. Thea Queen and you will be between my body and Vintridrs. Should this not be sufficient our quest was doomed from the start."
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde does a few quick steps to catch up with Thea when questions are asked. "Yeah. I was surprised myself. I thought may be they'd send a lacky or just say no right then and there - but not only did I meet and speak to the sorcerer supreme, but also a second sorcerer supreme. So.. two for the price of none." tShe smiles, "Oh. Yes. The mage who dun doing the bad thangs. Confusion. I'm going to shift reality - we might need to drill. I'll offset where we really are from where everyone thinks we are. It'll be very off putting. That and I will mask our emotional and mental signatures with potions."     "This should render most magic ineffective. So long as they don't figure it out before we've damaged the idol and made it useless... I reckon our Asgardian friends can keep any minions busy long enough for us to get the job done. You could may be shoot it with an arrow of some sort while I do a bunch of hand wavy magic type stuff."     "And if that fails - I pull out my wand and hope the universe isn't going to be too cruel if I let my magic get vulgar."
Vintridr	"Preferably, strike him down before he realizes we're there and can bring its power to bear," Vintridr answers without missing a beat. Either she's already considered the issue, or Valkyrior have a standard procedure for dealing with sorcerers. Probably the latter.     She remains silent a Sif sings her praises, then speaks up after a few moments more. "... Vimur River," she replies to Thea eventually. "Our mission was to ambush a Jotun force as they marched upon Asgard, but we'd been deceived - it had been a trap all along. We won - but of the fifteen of us who'd departed, only five of us came home."     She looks up and tenses slightly as she notices the large man approach from the corner of her eyes, but allows herself to relax again as she reads his body language.     "You are our contact here, I take it?" she asks mildly while Thea still struggles to breathe.
Thea Queen	The indignity continues for a small time longer until Thea is released and put back down on her feet again. Of course that her nice hair is ruffled though! Hmph! "I haven't seen you since you were this wee." the man placing his hand at hip level to show how big she actually was but before he continues talking Thea interrupts. "Everyone, this is Faati al-Sallah. He will graciously keep us at his place while we are here." The man then speaks up, "Anything for Oliver's little sister. I was sort of expecting him to come?" a shake of her head from Thea, "Just me and my friends on this one." a gesture, "This is Lady Sif, Lady Vin and Abcde." The man wisely doesn't try the same move he did with Thea, instead smiling and taking his cap off while grinning and opening his arms, "Well, friends of Thea's are my friends too. I am sure you will enjoy our hospitality here. Come come! I have my car outside. And you will have to tell me all you have been up to, little Thea!" he starts walking a bit ahead though so as to give them privacy. Enough time to talk in the car! Thea looks over to the others and offers a nod. "Been a few years but he's a good man. And he owes my brother so ..., we should be able to trust him." keyword 'should'. "And seems like we have a good start of a plan. But first things first, getting settled and *then* finding out where the idol may be. With some luck we might be able to use the same tactic we used to discover that rage spirit in Starling." her eyes shifting to Abcde with a grim look. "And we should cross blades sometimes Vin and Sif. I am curious about the kind of skill you two possess."
Sif	"You have seen my skills on display, Thea Queen," Sif says, taken aback. "You wish to spar?" She goes uncharacteristically silent, her eyes flicking briefly to Vintridr. "I will use blunted weapons with padding. I do not wish to cause you lethal harm at this time." Pause. "My wording is poor. I do not wish to risk causing you lethal harm at this time. You are too important for our mission." Good save. Go team Sif! Still, her furrowed brow reveals some concern. "What weapons would you spar with?"
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde can't help but snicker at the way Thea is being lifted and squeezed by the man. She watches with a slight bemusement, "Back home we used to call that the Sunday Best, 'cause you best be keepin' ya distance from the big huggin' men on Sundays else they mess your dress and hair up real good."     But back to business. Thea is good at switching modes like that. Abcde nods her head, "That's what I figured. I brought the supplies to make some more detecting fluids. Let's just say it's a good thing we're not going through customs and immigration."     A knowing little nod from Abcde to the other three .. and then the man too. She smiles and waves to him when she's introduced. "Thanks for your hospitality Faati. We really appreciate it.." and to Thea, "Nice of your brother to lend his favours out to you."     There's a nod to Sif and Vintridr. When it comes to battle plans? it's everyone else in the team that she's going to lean on. "I believe I am in more than capable hands. I've seen the way you three handle yourselves. You two with the first guy when we met.. and Thea.. well. The Starling incident."
Vintridr	"You honor us with your hospitality," Vintridr replies to Faati, her voice no less warm for the formal response and bow. She nods at Thea as they follow Faati to his car. "We'll see what we can do after we've dealt with this," she replies. "We'll also need to figure out how to tone down our usual sparring - I intend no disrespect, Young Queen, but you simply do not heal as quickly as we do, and injuries we'd consider barely worth noticing could lay you low in a hospital for weeks..."     "... But for now, let's see what Faati has for us. Hopefully we'll learn enough to make more specific plans."
Thea Queen	"I have." Thea assures Sif with a brief nod, "But there's a difference between watching and actually doing. You know what I am talking about." a faint grin to her expression, "How can I improve if I shy from testing myself no matter how different our skill may be?" fearless! "And good, that means you accept?" that puts a bit of a bright grin on her expression. It makes her forget all the indignity too! "And swords, of course. After the bow it's my weapon of election." She laughs when Abcde speaks about the Sunday Best, "Really? And I thought *my* upbringing in Starling had been rough..." what's she talking about? Isn't she some rich girl?! "Hopefully it won't happen too often. Faati has always been very uh .., open." by her tone it doesn't seem like it was the first time that kind of thing happened. "I have had enough of hospitals for a lifetime.." She murmurs up at Vin with a slight shake of her head, but she doesn't press the issue further about the sparring. Because they step out of the airport and come face to face with Faati's 'car'. It's more of a truck. Old. Ancient, really. Does it even run? But at least it can bring them all 'comfortably'. "Isn't this the same truck you had, like, over ten years ago? And it was old already.." Thea points out, a touch frustrated. Faati looks proud. "Such a beauty, isn't it? Hop on! Let's get moving, we still have a ways to go!" Thea shrugs and moves to get her baggage in and then hops into one of the seats. "I bet it doesn't even have air conditioning..." she complains in a low tone.
Sif	Sif tests the truck carefully after dropping her baggage in, listening to its suspension squeal in agony as she starts applying her weight to the door jamb. "I think Vintridr and I shall run," she says with a smile. "The weather is delightful and we need the exercise." Diplomacy at its finest. Certainly better than breaking the host's truck. "Do not worry about us. We can keep up indefinitely." A strange look on her face. "It's barely an inconvenience." Wait, was that a reference!?
Vintridr	Vintridr smiles almost fondly at Thea. "We'll start with hand-to-hand techniques, I think," she replies, slinging her pack into the back of the truck before chuckling at Sif's boast. "That might be for the best. The exercise will do us good and allow us to acclimatise to the weather," she agrees, then turns to Sif with a smirk. "Last one there does the dishes?" she challenges.
Thea Queen	As expected there's no AC inside the truck. Which means Thea just opens the side windows wide, elbow resting on the sill and she lowering her sunglasses just a notch when the two Asgardians suggest they will run there. Really? "I hope you don't expect me to join in on that..., and we might go through some residential areas." which means it won't be too subtle. But hey, she did notice the 'creak' they did on the truck. So maybe that's for the best. Faati just laughs out hertily. "Your friends are funny. They want to run in this heat? They might die!" he taps the side of the truck. "It may look old but it still purrs like a kitten!" he boasts, "Finest truck in this side of Cairo." yet with them two actually appearing to be serious about running he looks at Thea, then to Abcde, "They are serious?" another look. "Well, if you are sure just follow the truck and we will get there. The house is on the outskirts of the city, but we still need to go through part of Cairo." he explains, head out the window. "And uh ..., better to bring some water bottles or three with you.." see? Good suggestions. "And when you get tired just hop in." he clearly expects them to get tired soon enough! Thea just grins and lifts her shoulders at Faati, "What can I say? I have interesting friends." but then they are off, the truck sputtering a bit in complaint before starting on the way through, beginning to enter into the city proper. And yes, it gets hotter in there. But also a lot more activity with people and cars.
Sif	Sif, unladen by equipment, finds the run easy. Light. Enjoyable. A good warm-up for later serious effort. She runs alongside the truck lightly, like the chariot runners of old, running alongside advancing chariots to be ready to exploit gaps caused by charges. The sights. The sounds. The smells. The feeling of muscles rippling under her skin. This is so unlike the life of the court she was brought up for. The life she was so rudely sent away from. The life she no longer misses. But then there's Vintridr. Valkyrior are swift strikers. She's a threat in this footrace. Sif keeps her position in her awareness at all times, along with the truck and obstacles (most of which she clears by just leaping over them: clusters of people, oncoming vehicles, small buildings). And all the while secretly enjoying the amazed gasps as she does so. "Vintridr: how certain are you of victory? I propose an additional stake. The loser gets a new tattoo ... of the victor's choosing!"
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde laughs, "I'm not running, you must be mad." She smirks and gets in to the truck. Her back pack between her legs and her broom propped up against her leg and side. "Those two are warriors in the trust spirit of the word, I've no doubt they can handle a little run through Cairo heat..."     Abcde buckles up to enjoy the ride and take in the sights. She has all but forgotten the various mystical creatures and secret societies that might be on the look out for someone like her.. someone like them. Right now she is in full on tourist mode and she is loving it.     "Notes.. I should be taking notes" She takes out a small note book and begins to write down things that catch her eye - notes for her next book, not notes for the fight ahead. Priorities.. the fight ahead she's already planned for.
Vintridr	Vintridr favours Faati with a grin that probably isn't at all reassuring as she paces the car on the other side. Her pace is the easy, almost relaxed and unhurried stride of a marathon runner... Who just happens to be going a comfortable 30 miles per hour.     "Interesting, but the thought of marring your lovely shoulders breaks my heart, Lady Sif," she calls back with a tone of laughter under her voice -- Sif clearly isn't the only one enjoying herself right now.     She outright chuckles at Faati's expression. "Perhaps when we get to these outskirts you can show us what your truck can really do," she replies easily, not even breathing hard.
Thea Queen	The streets are exactly as most people imagine it, full of people, activity. The buildings a mesh between the old and the new, some resistant to change in their old faded yellow colors, traditional, alongside the more new buildings that boast influences from the West. Tourist hubs where not even a McDonald's is amiss. They take a turn to another street, an ancient, magnificent mosque visible to one side where some faithful are starting to gather and Thea slips her head out of the window. "Put your heart into it, ladies. One two, one two. And I am totally behind a tattoo for the loser. And maybe for the winner too, would be a reminder of this trip!" she teases, adjusting her sunglasses, then points. "Look at this, Abcde!" she points to the mosque, and indeed she having entered full on tourist mode now. It's easy to slip into that mode when you are in this city! Faati casts a look at Vin. Yes, he sees her running at 30mph, "Not sure if my truck has the kind of horsepower to rival you." he is perhaps a bit nervous. He wasn't told about superpowered people! "You have known little Thea for long?" he asks conversationally, another glance to the rearview mirror. "Oh, how curious.." he states, "It's almost like a little parade, those cars behind us have been following us since the airport." though the light hearted way in which he says doesn't seem to imply he believes anything to be wrong. It does make Thea look over and towards the following cars though, a small little frown on her fine features. "I wonder if they may have been scouting the airport.." Behind them, a few cars back there's a couple of black mercedes trailing in.
Sif	Tactics are tactics. Strategy is strategy. No matter what the time. What the equipment. What the quality of soldier. Things have not changed in tactics and strategy in thousands of years at their core. "Vintridr, prepare for manoeuvres." First command issued tersely. "Faati, if you would, please make two turns at your convenience. Any direction. Ensure that the second turn happens before our guests, if they are guests, see it." "Thea Queen, prepare for ranged oversight. Be on the watch for aerial snooping." "Lady Witch, if you could perhaps check your magics for mystical attack." Then her attention is back on Vintridr. "When the chariot turns we turn with it. When it makes its second turn, you proceed straight, splitting off from the vehicle, and find cover. Observe the behaviour of the followers. I will turn with it on its second turn and also seek cover for flanking. If they turn and then look for where the second turn might be, we know they are following and can ... dissuade them. Capturing at least one for questioning." The game is afoot. How well does the opponent know the pieces on the board?
Vintridr	"As the Young Queen commands," Vin replies to Thea's comment, then grows slightly more serious - without breaking or changing her stride - as Faati points out the tail. "... It /could/ be a coincidence, I suppose. Is there anything down this direction that might interest ordinary tourists?" she asks, glancing at the next storefront she passes to catch a glimps of the possible pursuers in the reflection.     She nods at Sif's instructions. "Regardless of their intentions, it would be preferable not to engage them while still within the city," she cautions. "Too many bystanders, and even if by some miracle we avoid any collateral damage law enforcement would be obligated to investigate and question us, and we haven't the time to deal with that in a way that won't cause multiple diplomatic incidents."
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde has spy friends. Abcde has spy friends who think she should join them in their spy stuffs. She was given many many manuals to read. So after Thea has pointed out the mosque that Abcde stares at for a while, Faati's words fall in her ears and she turns her head to look in the rear vision mirror.     What Abcde has not done is been told how one shakes a tail. "Great," she says sarcastically. "We're being followed. I'd say this is my fault - but Thea you're famous and those two are .. well, they are who they are. So it could be any one of the four of us who has attracted the attention."     She taps her fingertips against the broom as she ponders doing something foolhardy.. but she doesn't know any one in this city besides who are with them in and around the car. There's no backup here. There's no Melinda May, no Daniel Sousa, no Daisy Johnson, and definitely no Peggy Carter.     "Faati can you lose them? discretely? as in, don't hit pedal to the medal.. metal? medal.... metal." She blinks at Sif gives instructions. "Check for mystical attacks..." She pats herself down, "Everything still there." A joke obviously, she glances at Faati and then at Thea. "Hmm.. well I hope you're okay with having a bad day Faati."     From her pocket she takes out some bone dice and her hands begin to glow blue. "Intelligunt de fata mystici," she says. The blue magical flows over the dice which she rolls in to her lap.     Much to Abcde's displeasure the dice begin to burn hot and she flicks them off of her clothes. They instantly start to cool down once out of her vicinity. "That's a yes on mystical weirdness. I'm not too sure on the particulars though. Odds are they will play the game and not jump us til they think they can avoid spectators - else they'd have done it already."
Thea Queen	Faati looks a bit alarmed as they seem to go into full being-in-pursuit mode. "What kind of trouble are you in, little Thea? Oh, don't tell me you are back to your old ways..." he sounds disappointed. What old ways are those though! And then he follows Sif's instruction, taking a turn to the left so as to get into s side road, a glance to Abcde, "I can try, these streets can be a labyrinth to those who know them.." and he seems to! "Wait, you got magic? Oooo.." he is looking at the glowy blue hands instead of the road so gets a *honk* for his troubles from another car. And then some cursing in Arabic between the two. But finally he answers Vin once the cursing is done, "There are a few on the main road we were, but not on this one as we are on our way to the outskirts. Lets try not to bring them to my home though! I do have a family you know?" Thea now keeps her attention up on the sky, maybe people on buildings. Or drones. She does have a keen eye, a small frown creasing her features. "Losing them seems the best way to handle this." Of course that this is when the cars start stepping on it, taking that turn they did earlier at speed. One of the men starts sliding out the window with what appears to be a machine gun. "Oh great..." Thea mutters.
Sif	"Your counsel is wise, Vintridr. Amendment to plan. We do not dissuade. We disable. Attack the conveyances with an eye toward halting their progress, then we chase after our host's vehicle and rejoin the party. I have found quite by accident that if we merely leap in front of one of them the collision tends to break them. If this is not enough, I have no doubt that a downward strike in force will remove its 'engine' from its 'mounts' and render the vehicle immobile." The hostiles step up their game, leaving little time for subsequent discussion. "Fly, Master Faati! We will find you at need. Lose yourself, protect our friends and your family!" And around the second corner, as planned, Sif waits, this time taking a position higher up, leaping to a balcony and waiting to leap back down in front of the trailing car. This is the part of life she enjoys. That racing heat. That burning blood. The war chants start forming in the back of her brain.
Vintridr	Vin has been keeping track of the pursuers without looking back by checking reflections in passing store windows and glances into Faati's rearview mirrors. She's also scanning the buildings and roofs ahead for a good point to break off and vanish as per Sif's instructions -- but the moment the gun comes out, all the plans go out the window.     Vintridr hears Sif's changed instructions, but even as she moves to obey her scout-trained mind warns her of another possibility. "Override!" she yells at Sif. "This may be a distraction to draw us both off so they can take the Queen unimpeded. Stay with the truck; I'll handle these and catch up after."     Matching deed to word, she uses the roof of the next passing car as a springboard to get up on an awning which serves to give her a handhold on the roof's edge she uses to pull herself up with her right hand even as a bow appears in her left in a shower of rainbow light. As she draws back the string an arrow forms in mid-air, a faint mist drifting away from it as the sun's heat batters against its chill. A moment to aim, and she releases, sending the arrow into - and through - the first car's engine block, where the sudden drop in temperature to well below freezing of the radiator fluid will undoubtedly present some serious issues on top of the structural damage...
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde notices the machine gun in the side mirror and her eyes widen. The thoughts drift through her head, 'damn these guys aren't messing around'... but she doesn't have the where with all or the time to say them outloud. She ducks down and gathers up her bone dice.     "The one with the longer name might be right, they could be trying to lure out to big hitters away. Do you have a go-go-gadget camera arrow you can shoot up in the sky and give us a view of what might be coming?" Abcde asks Thea. It's unsurprising she has no idea what Thea and the Asgardians are capable of; but that street goes both ways.     "Faati you're doing great mah man. Don't crash us I have very sensitive things in my backpack... better to fight them than to crash in to something yeah? .. and what do you mean, ... do you do magic?" She raises an eyebrow not quite having expected that response from him. "Or do you know people who do magic?"
Thea Queen	Fly? That's hard to do on this truck! But hey, Faati tries. Which means he goes, like, from 35 to 40mph. The truck is starting to complain a lot more! And nope, not fast enough to evade those speeding, approaching cars. They do start getting closer, the man with the machine gun levelling it towards the poor truck. Oh darn, that makes Faati go all the way up to 45 mph! "Hold on!" he says, taking a turn into another side street! At least there aren't as many people there. The arrow through the engine block seems to do the trick. At least it stops them from shooting at the truck, in fact the one that was holding the machine gun being tossed out the window as the car skids one way and the other before starting on a collision course to a street store entrance where a man and a woman are looking terrified at the oncoming, uncontrolled car their way! The other car skilfully gets past the one out of control, one of the men popping their head out the window with a small pistol, shooting at Vin as they pass by. But their aim appears to be the truck. "Not me, but I know people I do!" Faati answers Abcde while they continue on. As for Thea, she points up. "Yea, there's a drone coming for us.." and perhaps a mistake that she put her big bag in the back of the truck. Not easily reachable! So she searches the glove compartment for something. "Really? What do you have a flare gun for?!" she eyes Faati and takes it out. Ah well, it will have to do. "Think you can boost this?" she then asks Abcde, sticking her head out and pointing up at the drone...
Sif	Less successful armies would have officers who get upset at countermanded orders from subordinates. Asgard's armies are some of the finest warriors in existence. Officers know their subordinates are capable warriors and that initiative is often a 'time is of the essence' situation. Sif smoothly jumps back down and takes her place beside the truck, running close, now, and scanning ahead with her legendary senses, said to rival her brother's. (There's a reason that she's slated to replace him should he ever fall.) Eyes. Ears. Nose. All are brought into play as she focuses on where the truck is going instead of where it has been (knowing Vintridr has that covered). The sight of suspicious people or vehicles. Or the outline of weapons. The giveaway glint of scopes. The scent of gun oil or gunpowder. The sound of clanking steel or roaring engines. She runs in deadly earnest and watches, ready for action. "This was a good greeting, Master Faati," she says, running alongside his window. "Very entertaining. A good warm-up for the main event. Have no worries. Your pursuers will be ended long before you reach home." And that's when she shows off. Fall back. Low leap over the back of the truck, picking up two packs: hers and Thea's. Hit ground on the other side and push Thea's pack through the open window. "Thea Queen, your equipment!" Then leap back up and ... into the back of the pick-up, facing backward, reaching into her pack for her equipment. Pulling out a 3 metre long spear from the 1.5m high pack. Followed by a 1.6m diameter round shield. And such the strange cavalcade goes: pickup truck with a spear and shield-carrying woman standing on the back, out-of-control car, chasing car being attacked head-on by an unarmed woman. "Let them attack now!" she shouts, staring at the drone in the sky. "They only give away their position!"
Vintridr	Vin curses under her breath as she sees the civilians in the path of destruction.     Not enough time to get them out of the way; no way to divert the vehicle that won't likely endanger someone else. ... This might actually sting a bit.     She leaps from the roof, dismissing her bow and calling her shield as she drops to the ground and sprints across the street to come to a halt a meter or two in front of the couple, bracing her shield to meet the oncoming impact square on.
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde stares at what Thea has procured, "A flare gun??" She tilts her head as if to say 'well okay then'. You work with what you've got. "I'll try.. then I'll get you your arrows." She shuts her eyes for a moment and thinks about the best way she can work with what exists to make this happen.     Her hands begin to glow blue and her wand snaps up out of her pocket and in to her hand. The blue energy flows down the wand and she points it at the flare gun. "Fly true. Strike as hot as the sun." The magical energy flows out and wraps about the flare gun giving it a strange tingle and it starts to feel hot.     "I highly recommend you shoot that sooner rather than later," she warns. The rear vision mirror tells her a tale of woe for some civilians. She knows this is going to be a terrible idea - but people could get really really hurt if she doesn't.     She opens the car door and hangs out the open door, clinging to the car frame with one arm and the other with her wand aloft. The blue magical energy that is usually so reserved from Abcde wells up and her eyes glow blue. It crackles over her arms and shoots up through her wand as she shouts out, "murus venti!"     The dusty street of Cairo whips up in a fury and a wall of wind blasts down to knock the two civilians out of the way of the car barreling toward them. She can feel the repercussions almost instantly. That smell of ozone before the storm - the air did not like being rumbled like that unnaturally and the skies begin to darken threatening a sudden and violent storm.     The wind has not ceased whipping about, but it is no longer from Abcde's spell, it is from the consequences of forcing her will upon nature. Nature does not abide. Abcde looks up at the darkening skies and then slips back in to the car looking slightly mortified and staring straight ahead so as not to think about the weather event she's just created. She did a bad thing. A bad bad thing. There's no undoing it now.
Thea Queen	A lot happens at the same time. The drone up on the sky explodes in a shower of sparks and illuminates the whole block for the split of a second almost as if a small sun had impacted against it. Overkill much? But it works! The two innocent bystanders are whisked away by Abcde's spell, a yelp of surprise given just as they spot the towering Asgardian landing in front of them before they are pushed to the side. The impact comes right after on Vin's shield and body. And yes, it's massive. A speeding car, hitting against the Asgardian on it's side. There's the sound of metal bending, of screams inside, the men either being outright killed with the sudden impact or knocked unconscious, pieces flying everywhere as it's broken apart. What's left standing? An Asgardian. As Sif takes position on the back of the truck to protect it the men inside the pursuing car open fire, small firearms in this case which won't have too much impact on that shield. But of course that Faati starts steering away trying to get away from those bullets. "They are shooting at us!" eyes bulging wide. "Thanks for the gear!" Thea then says to Sif, digging through it to get her bow out and starting to shoot up at a few more drones that are coming in. "Sif, handle that car! I will keep the truck safe!" then a glance up at the wind starting to pick up. Ominous? She casts a look at Abcde. "What did you do?"
Sif	The car's handling is begun even before Thea says anything, in the form of 3m of Asgardian steel, backed by an Asgardian wielder, leaping from the back of the truck, grounding the butt of the spear, crouching behind her shield, and aiming its 3m length through the engine block to pin the driver. As the racing car approaches, bullets flying from within, she braces herself for impact, and just before the tip meets the grille, she steps forward, as if part of an advancing shield wall, letting the impetus of the car do the work. The tip easily pierces the grill and radiator like a sewing needle through paper. Then the engine block hits. The best Midgardian mechanical engineers vs. the greatest of Asgard's craftsmen. This is more like a sewing needle through cold butter. In far less than a second, far less time than it takes for the driver to register that something has changed, the spear erupts from the centre of the steering wheel, transfixing him, pining him to his seat, projecting bloodied from behind said seat to stop just shy of the passenger in the back, letting that passenger see the dripping blood and strips of gore. Then the car hits the shield and stops. Dead in place. The shield angled to drive the nose straight into the ground. The rear passenger is thrown forward against the spear, the tip tearing through his neck and out the back, severing the carotid and making a mess. The driver and the passenger behind him got off lightly. The front passenger went through the windshield and impacts Sif's shield. The rear right passenger... ...will live. He'll just wish he hadn't. Assuming the leaking fuel doesn't cause a fire. Without bothering to retrieve her spear, Sif turns and chases back to the truck, running alongside it once more. "The immediate threat is over unless the Lady Witch has found more mystical ones."
Vintridr	Once the noise has mostly died Vintridr lowers her shield and looks out over the destruction. It had been /something/ of a gamble, but not a risky one -- most modern vehicles are built to withstand or absorb impacts from the front or sides, not from 'beneath'.     She stays a moment longer to look behind her to see how the couple has fared. Seeing them on the ground she walks over to them and kneels beside them, looking them over for injuries. "I apologize for my carelessness. Are you well enough to stand?" she asks, trusting the All-speech to bridge any possible language gap. "I regret I can't stay; more enemies pursue my comrades and they may need me."     With that, she stands up and bolts, sprinting away after Faati's truck at a speed no human can hope to match.
Abcde Prescelta	Abcde tucks her wand away. She's possibly done more than enough damage today. The sky rumbles as the reflections of her magic cause the air to rub together. Thunder. This isn't the doing of Thor though. No, he has actual control over things.     "Sometimes... magic hits back." Abcde calls out to Thea. "On the plus side, they probably won't be pursuing us for much longer if the storm hits." Bullets wizzing by has her duck her head down though and she says, "I'm only going to make things worse..." ...if she keeps on trying to fight against reality by doing impossible magical things.     "Back home momma used to say if you wanted to water the crops, you beg the sky for water - you don't demand it," she shouts trying to stay about the sound of bullets and car engines and the growing storm. "I dun demanded it, though for good purpose. This storms likely gunna haunt us the rest of the night."
Thea Queen	The destruction wrought on both cars is ..., rather spectacular. And if there was any intent on pursuit on those that stay alive on the car Sif 'impales' it quickly dissipates, the survivors looking terrified, and also bloody after the impact. But seatbelts *do* save lives! Faati mutters to himself. "I won't hear the end of it if I arrive home and my wife sees bullet holes in the truck..." he is clearly more afraid of his wife's wrath than catching a stray bullet! But drive he does and soon enough they are starting to leave the residential area. A few more drones are struck down by Thea but with the gathering clouds and that ominous thunder in the distance soon they start getting a good cover of rain and wind. Unusual to have these here this time of the year but ..., sometimes the world is just like that. Even if they all know this started through mystical means! As the group finally gathers up Thea lets out a sigh of relief. "Seems we are safe for now, but they know we are here. We will have to be careful." "Now it's time to get to Faati's home and rest from the trip. We have had an exciting day already!" Thea says with a faint smile. "Thank you all for having joined me in this trip."