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In a small, empty apartment studio in a suspiciously non-descript building in a residential area of the city of Philadelphia. A message is passed around the awakened circle that the Thunderbolt Guardian, Esther, Is looking for additional hand to figure out some form of mystery related to the strange, Force-empowered Samoyed that Sirius and Rashida have captured a bit before the holidays.
The number of the apartment is given in the message, along with the adress.
Alexis has apparently either had no meetings today or time to stop by one of the places she lives, because she is in full on casual nerd mode when she arrives, complete with a tshirt from teeturtle.
It had been a hot minute since Jessie was seen in public, what with everything going on in the world. There was much to do for a reporter and more so to do for her after the last time she was really in the public eye. But despite all this she managed to make some time for a little drop off tonight.
The door opens easily when they approach and they're greeting by the Samoyed, a few very loud borks that soon subside into something more normal. The apartment is a bit bare, beyond the basic necessities, though it has a rather amazing dog bed and a few bag of dog food one could probably not find in a standard grocery store.
Esther herself is dress with a cozy winter hat, a loose hoodie and some jogging pants. She's packing her work out equipment into a bag as they arrive. "Hey, thanks for showing up, very appreciated!" have a seat. she point to the rather small table near the window.
Alexis gives the doggo a few scratches in greeting before walking over to the table and parking herself there, "Well, I'm still very curious about all this."
"Nice to finally see you both again, sorry for the absence as of late. But I think I'm back for at least the foreseeable future." She offers a small chuckle "Happy to be here and learn what's going on, I admit I'm curious too so what all are we looking at?"
"Rashida and Sirius responded to a call we had of some very strange activities at the central train station back in December." a beat "The dog, according to the studies and time spent with him, appears to be somehow 'merged' or empowered by a supernal source. In this case, the dog has the power to use limited telekinesis and to make sounds much louder."
A beat. "I tried finding some connection with Space and they've been completely scrubbed clean" She hold a finger up, sitting down with them at the table. "I have a lead that I'd like to help with, if possible."
"He does indeed have the power of great and mighty bork." Alexis nods, "how can we help track your lead down?"
"I am certainly open to a lead, best place for one to start, yeah?" she'd nod sagely, both to her statement and in agreement with Alexis "Whelp wacha got for us?"
"While I was studying the possible connection the dog had, I saw one form briefly and then disappear, I managed to figure out where that was. I'd like you to investigate the park and find out who's been trying to find the dog and maybe bring them here so I can have a conversation about that with them, before Gardener gets wind of this." Esther offers a warm smile. "I can show you where the park is and you could go there to investigate while I remain here and monitor." she points to the dog " The situation. I'm asking you to do it because I sincerely do not foresee any danger coming from this, just a strange mystery."
"Not a problem. Worst comes to worst I wind up having to run away and hide. But you wouldn't put us in a situation like that intentionally anyway."
"Worst case we poof right back here." she laughs "I'll make sure we both get back if something happens. But anyways you already have me hooked so as the doctor would say allons y!"
Esther smiles at the two other woman accepting the work and immediately gives them the location of said park on a piece of paper with a few numbers and streets on it.
"Be safe!"
The park they are led to with the indication is less of a neighborhood park and more of an activity zone for river side excursion and such. Penn Treaty Park is the name, bordering the Delaware River.
As they arrive in the area, something in both of the Magi's peripheral sight seems to alert them to the presence of some form of effect currently active.
Alexis immediately activates Prime mage sight, scanning the area for signs of the effect while pulling her dedicated tool from a pocket. She slides slightly closer to her more supernally potent companion, just in case.
Since Esther had mentioned "Space" Aletheia decides to use that arcana first to do a minor sweep for Space that might've been used recently. If nothing comes up she switches between Mind and then finally Spirit.
The Prime Sight easily reveal various residual spots in the park where magic's been practiced, but not exactly what it is.
With Space Aletheia recognize the odd inflection of the local area that indicate some kind of effect is ongoing in the park as a whole, the effect is obviously one of space too!
"Looks like someone has been doing a lot of work here. Any idea what the active effect is on your end?" Alexis said
""It's a ward casted against scrying and a few others. But I would need to delve deeper to figure out those ones. But the most prominent is scrying"
." Aletheia replied
"Well, that certainly sounds like it's our thing. Go inside and find our caster, y'think?" Alexis asks
"I could try and see if they're still here." she nods slowly
starts to take out a small tool and while speaking softly under her breath as the area is suddenly flush with her will while she searches out other minds nearby
The spell reveals mental patterns across the park, which is to say, at this hour, not anyone. However, there's a very specific oddity located in one of the tree in the middle of the park
"There's something strange with this tree over here, that's what I'm getting from what I used. You want to give it a go?" she motions to Alexis with a smile
"Let's get a little closer." Alexis trots over to the tree, giving it a once-over as she approaches for anything unusual. What is it with trees in this town, anyway?
"Symbolically a tree represents the physical and spiritual nourishment, transformation and liberation, as well as union and fertility. The thing inside is intelligent, animalistic but more on the spirit or similar creature level. It is supernatural, you'd guess you feel similarly about the Force Samoyed. And it seems hungry, or at least those are some of the thoughts emanating from it."
Their sight sense another effect and suddenly the thing in the tree is no longer in the tree, the effect vanishing from there and reappearing further into the park, in another tree.
"...aaaand it can use Tree Stride. Perfect. Excuse me, we want to talk!" Alexis shouts in the direction of the newly inhabited tree.
"I would prefer not to have to resort to containing the area." she sighs, speaking honestly
The words seem to be understood, at least in part, if not the tone of them. Down from the tree branch descend... The Fluffiest, Chunkiest Squirrel to ever Squirrel in the city of Philly.
It blinks out of existence. One of the spot on the ground that Alexis spotted earlier as residual magic, moves physically and then, the squirrel digs up of there with a chestnut in its mouth. The squirrel just teleported!
squeaks goes the squirrel
"Hello there." Alexis tilts her head, "Are you afraid of Mr. Bork? Is that why you keep scrying for him?"
Aletheia merely chuckles as she observes the squirrel creature for a moment and watches Alexis interact with it, then she turns her attention to the park to make sure no one is watching
Aletheia notices a few passerby but nothing of note at all comes to her attention while Alexis interacts with the Squirrel.
Squeaks goes the squirrel again and it starts chomping onto the nut between its paws.
"Well, we need to get treats for a squirrel. And also tell Esther that we have a space squirrel."
Both of them being mastigos it clicks. The squirrel likely has a sympathetic connection to the nuts it buried around the park and town. There seem to be several that appears as the residual spots of magic from earlier. It might be a part of how the park is warded.
Also, the squirrel in front of them seem to be mostly ignoring them at this moment.
'I really do not feel like digging up nuts, I just did my nails today . . . " she says playfully
"Well, its either that or you use their shared sympathetic connection to teleport them all here."
The nut is eaten and the remain dropped on the ground, another squeak goes and it seem to be to their attention, almost angry - like as it's puffy tail grows puffier.
"I could probably make the squirrel smarter so it could talk. That way we'd know exactly what it wants."
"I like that idea." Alexis said
Once again Aletheia starts to move a tool and mutter under her breath and suddenly the minds of Alexis, Aletheia, and the Squirrel are linked by Telepathy and universal language
"HUNGRY!!" is the first thing that gets scream into her mind. "Who are you?!"
"I'm Rashida, one of the Magi of the Consilium of the Martyr's Tree. What are you hungry for?"
"And I am Aletheia, now I'm glad I was able to make it so we can communicate."
The confusion from Alexis' question is rather significant, but is answered by a siimple twitch of its paw toward the discarded nutshell.
The squirrel tries to climb up on Alexis' leg, it's not an agressive gesture, but one of exploration. It's a heavy squirrel.
"I think it wants more nuts." a grin "We could probably stop at a store along the way and grab a few."
Alexis gives it a hand up, "I think so. Tell you what buddy, would you come with us if we got you a bunch of nuts and some fruit?"
"Where?" The question comes as the squirrel takes a seat on Alexis' shoulder, gripping on the woman's hair to not fall backward.
"We're gonna find that out, since I don't think you want to live with a really loud overly friendly dog?"
"I think we could probably stop by a Trader Joes or something like that and grab more than a few nuts there."
"I'm okay with loud dog. fun to mess with." imagery of memories of messing with various canines comes into their mind. "Food, hungry, yes!" the squirrel seems to understand that there is food in that space.
"Ok, you go into the Trader Joes while I warn Esther that we have a new squirrel friend?"
"Sounds like a plan. This counts as a business expense right?" Aletheia quipped.
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