Alignment with Marbas.

Runner read about Ars Goetia, and came to understanding that Marbas is Demon, Great President of Hells that Governs 36 Legions of Spirits.

Marbas holds sway over diseases, can cure or make ill; He can reveal and speak truthfully about things secret or hidden; He holds great knowledge of Mechanical Arts, including the Mechanics of the Human Body - Medicine.

Being mentally ill, Runner suffered from disrespect of many and develped powers to both protect from insanity, as well as to send insanity at a human target.

Insanity is brain illness, caused by wrong function of synapses that connect neurons - the brain cells. Medicines, narcotics & herbs can regulate brain or make it stop functioning so properly.

Marbas holds sway over Medicine, so he surely can send illness or cure illness of someone.

Caty learned of Runner's pursuits and decided to 'Align' her Court with Marbas Influence, with a proper Powers in Hells.

Being Daughter of Ether Scientist, a Professional Physicist & Chemist - mechanics was also a boon to her. It was similar with Runner, who excelled at Computer Sciences, and was interrested in Electronics, Robotics & Mechatronics to some degree.

Political decisions were made, power shifts occured.

Caty also had plans for Mint, a Verbena Witch who shared knowledge about Hallucinogens & Mind Calming Herbs with her.

Court's future was more soldified now - but at least internally consistent, and still very strong opening.

- 'Let's not forget that Demons are obstacles in Reaching Liberation & Enlightenment, should be defeated as well' - Runner kept mentioning during whole process.

Caty acknowledged that and spoke:
- 'In this Hell you can only earn favours from Marbas and hold sway over him that way, we won't fight',
- 'Future shall tell how things will develop, but we'll fight him sooner or later' - he answered,
- 'Perhaps we'll have more talks in future then' - Caty concluded this mind-session.

Threat Averted.

Proximity intrusion alarm woke up the Chantry. Tank with beastmen were close enough.

Caty initiated a mind meeting.
- 'i've sent soldiers on the wall, Runner should create that corrosion now' - she summarized,
- 'i'll be ready in two minutes' - he spoke,

Quickly dressing up & clearing eyes with water took him a little under a minute. He filled his silver chalice with water, put on a magickal altar in his home and gazed in, summoning the vision. In his mind appeared an arid-hell with anti-infantry tank incoming, surrounded by beastmen with rifles & missle launchers.

- 'Matter-Energy Form, over Court - initiate' - he opened with an invocation. Air around the Court blurred, as miniaturized robots started to move in a circular expanding direction. Mists fell away, as Caty assisted.
- 'Now arming & visualizations, please be quiet' - Runner spoke.

He commanded Matrix around Court to arm chemicals, then visualized a task force to extend, to move in the tank direction. Robots followed, barely seen - surrounded the tank & entered in, to the engine.
- 'Release' - he commanded.

A loud noise could been sensed, as tank stopped ... then beastmen took defensive position, communicating with tank's crew.

- 'Missles, fire' - Caty's force commander ordered.

- 'Beasts, fall' - Caty herself finished invocation.

A six of fire & smoke trails in air, from the Court's wall to the tank. Some shooting in a short series, as demonic beasts fell on the beastmen from the Hell's skies. Then explosion, tank was rendered nonfunctional. Sharpshooters from the wall fired as well, beastmen were massacred in a very short time.

- 'This should be an adequate lesson' - force commander summarized, looking at the field from binocular.
- 'Indeed' - Caty was pleased - 'i am fine as well, how's paradox with you, Runner?' - she communicated.
- 'Seems it was subtle enough, thanks for concern' - Runner reported.
- 'Let's send scouts & scavengers to the battlefield, then ...' - Drake suggested.
- 'Indeed, let's.' - Caty agreed.

A flock of black ravens flew from the Court, then motorcycles & jeeps left the Court, leaving dust in their trail.

Caty sipped her wine, Runner smoke a cigarette.

- 'We'll keep combat alert for three more hours, let scouts scour the area then return' - task commander ordered.

Chantry went sleep again, if something happens they will be woken up.




-=- Tank Explosion. -=-

-=- Credits: Unknown. -=-

Lesser Ways.

Since years Runner had insights.

Thoughts appeared in mind, thoughts with ideas to consider.

From where they came?

Some ideas have proven false, misleading - so he learned to check in books or in the Internet for their validity, before he did trust them.

Other ideas were helpful - explained him many things about Buddhism, Computer Sciences & about many things he did not have a clue about before - such as Philosophy of Arts or Abstract Strategy.

Perhaps it was telepathy, perhaps his own subconscious creativity. He learned to live with a big question mark about this hanging around.

One of ideas was to collect 'lesser ways' of magick - spells, magical abilities & magic items in computer games.

These could been used as a source of inspiration for developing real powers, and as a small power increase - he invested money & his time, it was an act of will.

He could use these lesser ways as a distraction when someone investigated a cause of something happening, as well.

--
Runner was often a target of malicious magick & other supernatural attacks in past, so his Sangha - by Black Mala's wish - granted him ability to 'switch target' of a malice aimed originally at him. Target was chosen at random, and Sangha shared this ability as well. Goal of this move was to enforce 'if they attack any of us, they eventually attack all of us' mindset in Sangha. It had to be automathic, working every time - because people would not activate it ever, not wanting to put others in the trouble.

Today one of attacks was diverted this way, at someone from Runner's Sangha.

He felt responsible, and wanted to protect - so he did choose a few of his lesser ways, a 'Daze' spell from a computer game, augmented by 'Eagle's Splendour', 'Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment' & 'Extend' tricks and enhanced this with power of one Ruby.

Resulting confusion & headache should prove adequate warning & inconvenience for the attacker, he thought.


   

-=- a 'Daze' & 'Eagle's Splendour' spells. -=-
-=- increased charisma makes spells harder to defend against. -=-


   

-=- an 'Extend' & 'Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment' tricks. -=-
-=- 'Extend' trick doubles spell's duration. -=-
-=- 'Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment' makes Enchantment spells, as 'Daze' much harder to defend against. -=-