Following the Red Balloon

This little mission is just for Clarise Midnight, and happens at the same time as My Friend From the Deep South

Tuesday, February 12th, 1935

Clarise Midnight finds herself unable to sleep, and can't help but think about the predicament she and her brother are in. As dawn draws closer, she silently leaves her room to head off in search of information. Of knowledge.

The sort of knowledge that they don't have in school books. The sort found in the voodoo shops in dark alleys, that the tourists never see. If the Black Hand hasn't burned them all out.

She starts in the outer districts of the city. Asking, questioning, cajoling, scaring her way through the ranks of the Red Sect. She is seeking the old voodoo practitioners. By noon, she knows she is close, and heads into an Algiers neighborhood, following a lead from a small minded young man who wishes he had kept his hands to himself. Almost at the edge of the city, she walks into a shanty town, and finally reaches a shack in the heart of the dilapidated buildings. A small boy sits at the door, and his small hands bar the way inside. Clarise shows a flicker of power, and is answered by the boy in turn. But a soft hoarse voice stops the conflict. She walks inside.

A small figure sits in a large chair, a middle aged woman attends the figure. The wizend figure introduces herself as Mami Thibadeaux. She claims to have seen Clarise coming to her today. And she has seen that Clarise is one half of a whole. That her half is fated for a great evil today, and Clarise must make a choice to stay and learn what she can here, or to try and stop the events already set in motion. And, if she leaves, Mami will not be here again, for Mami has seen her own time is almost up. And with the coming dawn tomorrow, she will be gone.

This sets Clarise back. She isn't sure what to do. But if there is a chance to learn a bit of lore that could help her situation, or her brother, she is obligated to stay and find out. Toph is a big man who should be able to pull through with the group's help to her way of thinking.

She agrees to stay, and Mami's assistant begins to prepare the room, closing windows and curtains, drawing a circle on the ground in chalk, then moving over the circle with a mix of red brick dust and sea salt. And, then hands Mami a bowl, and a wicked looking knife. Mami motions her assistant over, and makes a cut on her arm, then Mami cuts her own arm. She motions Clarise over, and asks her to donate something for this offering. Clarise holds out her arm, and Mami slices it. The three women let their blood trickle into this gold bowl, their blood mingling together. The nameless assistant takes the knife and the bowl, and drips the blood into the salt circle. And, as she does this, Clarise can feel the power gathering in the room. When the assistant girl has completed the circle, an invisible wall can be felt surrounding the room emanating from the circle.

Mami's voice rises in volume, and she speaks. "This circle cannt be broken by one of us, only by all of us. We who gave our offering are bound to this place until the spirits are done and we all set ourselves free."

Mami, with much effort, climbs down from her chair. she starts to gather books from a table in the room, while her assistant, whom she just calls 'Less, takes two chicken crates, a board, and some cloth and makes an alter. Mami brings her books over and puts them on the table, and 'Less brings candles and the golden bowl, still holding some of their mingled blood. She adds salt and red brick dust to this mix, and has 'Less stir it for her. With less holding the bowl, she takes an artist brush from her robes.

Mami takes her time going through the books, sometimes stopping on a page, studying a symbol, then drawing it on the floor using the brush and the bowl's contents. The end result, has the floor inside of the circle covered in symbols, including the cloth of the alter.

Mami then pulls out a woden box, and opens it to reveal a soft cloth covering a tattered book. She says, "The one who taught me is long gone. She left this here long ago, and claimed that if I ever used it, that the pages would turn to dust soon after. She was a powerful woman, so I have no doubt of her claim. Them pages will let me take in an ancient spirit, and you two youngsters will anchor me to this world while we talk with it. Don't know if this will even work, but since my time is almost done, I was willing to take the risk. If I parish, Will you take my girl in, take care of her?

Clarise agrees. And Mami sighs in relief.

She delicately opens the thin and brittle pages and begins to read them aloud in an unknown language. One of the few words and phrases that stands out is a name. Istasha, Mistress of Darkness.

That is a name of one of the Forgotten Old Ones!!!

The candles turn black, their flame extinguished. Mami seems to swallow the smoke, and twists and wriths from it. She sits quietly looking at the two. Waiting...

I have been called, and in this vessel am bound. For now. Ask carefully, and I shall answer as I can. But know that after three questions, I am no longer obligated to speak the full truth. And, for every question that I answer, I shall ask one of you after it. AND YOU ARE BOUND TO TRUTHFULLY ANSWER ME IN KIND. Know that this vessel is passing, and there is little time that I can be in this world without my ancient foes finding me, and sending servants to kill all of you...

Our next adventure involves the fate of the still and some ruffians called The Brother's Donovan and Black Donnelly.