[Event Post] The 2nd Incident At The Church Of Starry Wisdom

[arknpcs6]

::Onni there's a woman in a violet-purple suit fit for a woman. She's smoking from a long cigarette holder outside the Church of Starry Wisdom, thinking.

She's wearing a very immaculate suit but it is very clearly too small for her chest.

The Church itself is a Brutalist style church, all concrete and bizarre angles. With a main window with a circle with a triangle with 3 circles inside the triangle in the style of eyes.

Puff puff puff...::

Comments

[arknpcs6]

::Hands yo the card. Whoever the Princess is... or rather "Madam Grand Guignol", she has immaculate graphic design sense.

It lists today and within the hour.::

As the card itself says, she plans to steal the Shining Trapezohedron and our other relics from the Holy Sepulchure within the Church Inner Sanctum, our Qoḏeš haq-Qŏḏāšim, essentially.

We would very much appreciate the police's involvement in protecting at least the Trapezohedron.

[becomeanwarrior]

[ Definitely a professional, whoever this thief is... Grand Guignol, Puppet Princess, Galatea the Pandora... she goes by many titles. ]

Give me the tour of your security as we walk, then, Lady von Eibon.

Can you explain what this Trapezohedron does, and why she might be targeting it, alongside any other relics of note? Sector Security has noted she tends to be targetting magical artifacts of certain power rather indiscriminately.

[arknpcs6]

The Trapezohedron. Pragmatically? Nothing. It's a relic. Like the Crown of Thorns. Or the bone of a Saint. Or the Tooth of Buddha. It's an object of veneration. We believe seeing through how it reflects images, we can see like the Haunted of the Hidden, who knows all and sees all as servitor of the Outer Forces.

If it has any power it is a window into other worlds.

::Gives you a tour it's mostly snipers and bodyguards and some lightly armed private security with firearms. The church has cleared the gunsmen to use said guns through proper legal channels.::

[becomeanwarrior]

[ 'It's another fake-out, assuming my hunches are correct...' ]

Hrm. Extremely curious.

I will note, Lady von Eibon, that we are likely dealing with a supernatural burglar. That they should want to pilfer a simple object of veneration does not... exactly match my investigation.

Are you sure there are no powers you are unaware of? Or, barring that, any artifacts you might have sealed away that she might be targeting while committing the bulk of your forces to the Trapezohedron?

[arknpcs6]

If you had a chance to steal the Holy Grail, the True Cross or The Spear of Longinus or a Sokushinbutsu, wouldn't you? But let me see...

There's the "Shining Trapezohedron", "De Vermis Mysteriis", the "Liber Ivonis", The "Fragments of G'harne", a small ornate chest with two silver daggers, a few pages on "The Babalon Working" one of my priests brought after he-- she now, met with a wizard. The "Book of Thoth".

And my personal take on the "Al-Azif".

[becomeanwarrior]

Of course, but a detective's job is to cover all the angles, Lady von Eibon.

[ 'The Babylon Working, there's a phrase I haven't heard in quite a while... I know what those notes have to be. And that means both here and the estate of the Mudoji's associate had...'

He nodes to himself. Taking out a quick paper and pen and scribbling something down.]

Quite a collection, all told. I would have whatever guards are protecting the other artifacts and texts on high alert and not to abandon their post, but I presume they already know as much.

Is there any reason the Puppet Princess might seek to disrupt your ceremonies, aside from it possibly being the best time to secure the Shining Trapezohedron?

[arknpcs6]

Immediate thought: We're perceived as being a cult.

I'm told you've had interactions with... let's call them the Reconquista faction. Of the Church.

[becomeanwarrior]

Yes, back before Sector Security had been formed, I ran afoul of a ritual that was... shall we say a bit concerning, and many of the members were somewhat pushy about their beliefs.

[ I guess even a church this small has its sects... ]

That was what feels like a lifetime ago, now. So it's more or less water under the bridge. I'll admit that I'd be surprised if anyone was acting on information that old, at this point...

[ It could be the rationalization of a guilty mind, but it's worth not appearing totally paranoid about this situation. ]

[arknpcs6]

Yes. Those were most like hardliners that opposed my family's faction. And yes, that would be a rather absurd axe to grind.

::Takes a deep breath.::

I as the Arch Priestess of the Church and its head, I want to normalize and expand the faith.

[becomeanwarrior]

[ Gives a reassuring smile. ] Well, Lady von Eibon, I can safely say no major incident reports have crossed my desk anytime recently. Barring my own checkered past with the organization, it seems like you'd done a good job of rehabilitating the Church's public image. I'm sure followers will soon follow.

Honestly, it's almost enough to make one wonder if the real reason you requested me specifically was to tie up loose ends with the damage the old faction had done.

[ He laughs it off like a joke. ]

[arknpcs6]

I mean I wouldn't mind...

::Laughs herself.::

It's not a dead faction, it still exists, my faction has mostly supplanted it because shocker. Most people like moderation...

[becomeanwarrior]

[ She's saying everything I want to hear... ]

Honestly, it's like you studied up on how to appeal to me specifically. [ He laughs a little bit. ] I'm always saying stuff about how the gentler hand perseveres, and a lot of friends of mine don't buy it, given the current administration.

Still, I think you're largely right. Most all things in moderation, eh?

[arknpcs6]

Yes, or else you vomit and that's rather not a good time, is it?

::Chuckles.::

[becomeanwarrior]

Definitely not. And then you find a psychological aversion to what you overindulged in, in the first place. [ Chuckles alongside you. ]

No, moderation is key, even if you live an indulgent lifestyle — you have to mix up your indulgences or risk getting sick of them in mind and body.

Well, we have spent a lot of time gabbing, but I suppose with your security forces already primed, I should ask what part you expect me to play in all this - am I simply on standby for if your forces fail, or did you have a spot you would like me to lend my services guarding?

[arknpcs6]

... Make sure she doesn't leave with the Trapezohedron. And capture her.

I know you were at what is now Lady Mudoji's summer estate to investigate her. Friends of mine were there.

[becomeanwarrior]

[ Rubs the base of his jaw with one thumb, thinking. ]

Hrm. You're well informed. Yes, I've taken matters into my own hands regarding the Puppet Princess. I'd like to see her captured alive if at all possible — her pilfering of artifacts of mystical significance or potential power is obviously of interest to my previous station at head of OOPARTS, and I don't mind admitting that we don't have better leads on the whereabouts of her stolen goods short of capturing the woman herself.

[ '...Don't we? Hrm. No, only a theory without sufficient evidence, Onni. Don't worry about that now.' ]

I can post up near whatever the Inner Sanctum is, if you'd like. If you seem certain that she'll abide by her calling card and specifically target the Trapezohedron.

[ 'It will also give me a good chance to check the ritual for any irregularities, juuuust in case.' ]

As long as that's amenable, Lady von Eibon.

[arknpcs6]

I do. Hopefully we'll be able to capture her, and I am no slouch as a Duelist.

::Chuckles.::

[becomeanwarrior]

Nor am I! I've kept up with the times, at least. Even if I think the field is too competitive for me to have do even semi-pro work these days. I did dabble a bit once I had my feet under me from graduation, and I was certainly no slouch in my Academy days.

[ He chuckles. ] Besides, you can tell a lot about someone by dueling them. Perhaps I'll get a chance to identify the Puppet Princess by how she treats the duel.

[arknpcs6]

Oh is that so?

Would you be willing to explain it to me later?

[becomeanwarrior]

What, figuring someone out based on how they duel?

Sure. It's no trade secret or anything. I'd be more than willing to explain.

[arknpcs6]

Then after the incident resolves.

[becomeanwarrior]

My schedule is pretty jam packed... but I'm sure we can pencil that in.

[ I presume you're leading me to the ritual site at this point, as we've been talking shop while I get an eyeful of the defenses. If this weren't someone with an Illusion Witch moniker, they might be enough, but... ]

[arknpcs6]

::The innermost sanctum looks like something that took a chapel from Christianity, placed it in a grove, tried to scrape off the Christianity, and did an eclectic kit-bashing on Shinto Torii, Egyptian Obelisks, Hermetic and Alchemical Symbolism and neo paganistic witchcraft.

You're not sure whether to be impressed by likely synthesis or annoyed by possible appropriation.::

[becomeanwarrior]

[ Hrms, thoughtfully. I wonder if I can deduce what they're trying to do here... ]

...An eclectic ritual sanctum, to say the least. I presume you've done all the work needed to make the esoterica talk to each other? Converting a monotheistic sanctum to a place of polytheistic energies isn't easy without large-scale renovations.

[arknpcs6]

We can trace our faith, at least in some premise back through witches in Europe, alchemists in Europe, Arabia and Egypt, and Greek-Egyptian magic.

I think it makes sense if you sit down and read our books.

[becomeanwarrior]

[ ...Something about this feels weird and off but maybe I'm just used to Noriko's own shenanigans... ]

I'll have to make time for it later, then. But as long as you've made sure nothing catastrophic happens, it's not really a worry for me.

Now, where do you expect the Puppet Princess to come in from, if the sanctum is a target?

[arknpcs6]

The front door. Supposedly that's what she does with every robbery.

She literally blows up the front door and bowls everyone over.

[becomeanwarrior]

Charmingly forthright, for a Phantom Thief.

Well, I can promise no explosion will get the better of me, so as long as the rest of your group are ready, I think we have a good chance.

...Though, I would exercise caution. Things are liable to get weird.

[arknpcs6]

Of course, and I'll be at the front. In the name of the church, I'll be the first to take up arms.

What we want from you, Chief of Sector Security, is to hold the last line. And if need be.

Run with the Trapezohedron.

[becomeanwarrior]

With all respect, Lady von Eibon, are you sure that's wise? I will not try and dissuade you if you're adamant you must be at the forefront, but I really cannot stress enough that the Puppet Princess is quite dangerous.

I will, of course, secure the artifact per your request should worse come to worse, but I do want to make sure everyone gets out of this alright, as a priority.

[arknpcs6]

A leader should be at the forefronts, always.

[becomeanwarrior]

...Very well, I can see belaboring the point would be a poor use of both your time and mine. But please do make sure to secure your own safety if you do not believe you can stop her further intrusion.

[ He'll look around the sanctum and find a spot to take up his post, folding his arms and planting his feet somewhere close by the artifact. ]

In which case, I can only wish you luck.

[arknpcs6]

Appreciated.

::Marches off.::

[becomeanwarrior]

[ Exhales. ]

Militant, as far as sect leaders go, but even still...

[ He's got time, at least, so he'll inspect the ritual, see if he can make any sort of sense of it. Whether it's actually harmless or something he'll have to file a report with Akae later... ]