The nexus is back to full power again and we start off the day deciding what we should use it for next. The consensus is pointing toward trying to unravel the hand blocking out the sun. Having the sun back would be nice for most of us and would deal a blow to some of Donovan's forces. Danno would warn the Kindred on our side that the sun would return so they could get to safety and hopefully we could catch Donovan's vamps unaware and fry most of them. Before we get into the complicated process of scrutinizing the hand we have some messages from Bowen to deal with. First was a couple messages from Detroit. Marcus the former Prince has been seen in the shadows. We had wondered what happened to him and we shall arrange a meeting. The other message was that the remaining mages from Helsinki had arrived and wished to speak with us about joining the resistance. The other message was from a small town not to far away from here and it was from Lord Fanus(sp?) of the Changeling Winter Court. We were all a bit surprised by that one, thats one group we have nod heard anything of since this all started. I figure since we are busy horsemen, and since I have the luxury of Lylith scaring the Abyss away, that we will hold these three meetings simultaneously from the comfort of Ahava. I create duplicates of us five and have them appear in th various meeting locations. With a little Mind magic we will be able to have separate trains of thoughts for each meeting. This is very efficient and safe.
Lord Fanus(sp?) informs us that the Winter and Spring courts have sided with each other and wish to help. Conversely the Summer and Autumn have joined forces and sided with Donovan. Ahh the Lost and their need for balance. Lord Fanus(sp?) also wishes to tell us about some rumors they have heard. Apparently the Fae were not happy with the death of the Lady of Autumn Sorrows and they were looking for us, me in particular. They wanted retribution. We thanked him for the warning and added the Fae to the long and distinguished list of those trying to kill us. There was also a strange fellow standing in the back with a smirk on his face. We asked Fanus(sp?) who he was and all the changelings said who? Apparently only we could see this guy so we asked him directly. He said to come outside and we will talk. We gave the Winter Court the usual spiel about being contacted when the time came. With that we walked outside to talk to this stranger. He said the warning about the Fae hunting us was very true. He came to tell us directly because he has a debt to pay to Lylith. Then we started to figure out who this guy was, he was there when Lylith championed the Padre. He had many names and titles but was commonly known as the Bane of Oberon. He said the Fae Lords had contracts out and were looking for myself and Malcothet. He said to be careful and not underestimate their power. They wouldn't be stupid enough to attack us as a group but they would definitely try top pick us off alone. The last thing we needed was the crazy ass Fae chasing around while we were trying to save the world. We needed to so something about this and soon an idea formed. Since I was on a roll with crazy ass ideas I asked the Bane if he could arrange a meeting between us and Oberon himself. Perhaps we could beat the Fae at their own game. We will use their love of contracts and political maneuvering. Maybe we can strike a deal and get these contracts removed or bought out. The Bane was startled by such a request but he thinks it might have merit. He says he will do what he can and will contract us through the Winter Court. And with that he slices open a hole in the hedge and vanishes.
The Helsinki mages meeting was fairly straight forward. They would remain in Detroit and help the Consilium and Samuel and await for our call. The leader was a Moros by the name of Quietus. He was a master of Death so we asked him what he thought about unraveling the hand covering the sun. Quietus thinks it will not be possible since there is something foreign woven into the spell.
Marcus shows up soon after our arrival. He wants to help but has been in hiding because of the black marks he still possesses. He does tell us more about the Kindred artifact underneath us. It was moved here from Chicago long ago and hidden. It has the ability to enhance any vampire magic greatly but it has the drawback of lowering the humanity of the user dramatically. Marcus kept it hidden because it was to dangerous but he didn't know what to do with it. We offer asylum to Marcus in Ahava so he can continue to help. He is wary about being in public with his marks but Danno ensures him that if any Kindred in Ahava attack him they will answer to Death. Marcus agrees and I pull Kat in to give him the now standard Kat-scan and I send him to Ahava. We go and tell Samuel about the artifact and tell him we have to hide it. He has noticed those who have been studying it have been a little stranger and he agrees it needs to go. Most importantly this can not fall into the hands of the Kindred who are working for Donovan. I figure the best place to hide it is in the Moros temple. The resonance of the obelisk will ring well with the temple and none but the horsemen can open the doors. We head down into the chamber and realize this thing is to big even for Hector to carry. So I place a portal right up next to the temple entrance and Taranis opens the door. Hector lays the obelisk down on a thin sheet of air created by Taranis and we push the thing in. Sometimes simple things escape us.
We return to Ahava. Taranis and I do our trick to contact Malcothet. We haven't talked to her in a while and now was a good time. We warned her about the Fae but she was already aware having dispatched a couple low level assassins just a few days ago. She mentions that Donovan has built five ziggerauts. They appear to be maintaining control of some of the spells about Chicago. They are guarded heavily and we compare their locations to that of the murder ritual we uncovered long ago and they matched. Donovan was using the ley lines and residual death to power these things. She also mentions it is getting quite busy up there and harder for her to remain hidden. She says she is going to lay low for a bit. I leave her and Taranis to privacy and go find Oopie.
I ask Oopie if he can sense Hedge Portals. He goes off on how dangerous they are and about not wanting to use them. I ask him to start doing a search of the whole area of Ahava to see if there are any present. Ahava is well guarded from the fallen world but could be wide open to the Hedge.
All this talk of Fae reminds me of Samiel and the Phoenix Gate. I think now is a good time to start figuring out how this thing works.
Cygin