IC: EVENT

[bossman]

A TERRIBLE THING IS HAPPENING

reference books detailing myths and legends stolen from libraries...
wikipedia pages wiped clean from the face of the internet...
ancient stained glass windows smashed and destroyed...
historical research centers burnt to the ground...

Someone out there is trying very, very hard to erase all of the possible sources of power and belief of the ancient gods and goddesses. And it hurts. Whilst the powers of the minders are unharmed by the attacks, the gods and goddesses will be certainly feeling the toll: it's now painfully clear that even the simplest of miracles are now becoming almost impossible to perform.

deities, you had better have gifted your minders with some decent blessings! Because now you're going to rely on them more than ever. Someone is out to get you.

Comments

PART TWO (text to ALL and action!)

[apreparescuer]

[The moment there had been reports through the military grapevine that the Novgorod Museum of History was under lockdown, Uriel knew there was no other option than to get out to that aged city with all due haste.

Russia's city of Velikiy Novgorod is teeming with churches, chapels, and structures dating back to the twelfth century, as well as a once unquestioned center for book production. Of course. How could he not have thought about it before? How had they missed this?

There was only one option for Uriel. Get down into the museum, throw his military rank from the United Kingdom around and find out just what the hell had been pulled. Lockdowns always meant one or both of two things: bombs and hostages.

The angel was lucky in one regard: no hostages. Every hall and building was devoid of people, and the city's policing forces, tactical teams, and specialists were all assembling outside to quickly organize how the situation would be taken care of. Uriel was alone in the archaeological wing with a room rigged to blow.

There wasn't time to get things out. There just wasn't time, no matter how desperately he wished there was. Nor was it safe. He wasn't risking this being another Kabul all over again. Eden would never forgive him. He wouldn't forgive himself.

At three minutes to 4am, Uriel's fingers bled from twisting and untwisting so many wires. There should have been a whole team on this, but he didn't have a choice.

At two minutes to 4, he heard a click across the room. Two seconds later, the entire museum detonated in a daisy chain of fire. He'd run out of time.

At 4:10 in the morning, Russian time, every deity and every minder with a phone gets this message:]

TO: [ emergency : ALL ]

we've got a big problem on our hands.

to every single soul: the gates of tartarus are open.
i was in the museum, trying to diffuse the network of explosives when it blew.
they knew. they knew all along.
i was distracted; the gates were broken open.

they. are. out.
cronus, the 200 fallen grigori, every soul imprisoned there is free to walk.

this is a call to arms.

[Then, a frantic text afterwards, intended for a select few, but sent to his entire house, arch and fallen angels alike, demons and mortals.]

TO: [ house ]

rafael, brother, i need you.

eden and magda- have faith. for all our sakes, have faith.

TEXT | URIEL and EDEN

[salvations]

[ The windows of all the great cathedrals may be smashed; the books may be burned, the tapestries lost. But Magdalena carries the word of God in her heart and so repeats them to herself as a sign of her faith — both in Uriel and his brothers. Her hands do not shake upon the keys.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. ]

we're going to need a bigger boat.
do we even have the ordinance to fight this?

TEXT | URIEL and EDEN

[apreparescuer]

TO: [ minders ]

we don't have a choice. if they succeed in wiping everything, faith in all could be lost, including Father.

His words cast them into the pit, my duty was to see they never rise from it, and i failed.

we must do everything to see that His words are obeyed. in my mistake, we must right it.

[Within the crumbling remains of the museum, Uriel whispers.]

Father, forgive me.

TEXT | URIEL and EDEN

[salvations]

[ Mags has seen what guilt does to an angel, what their seeming imperfection in the wake of God's word can make them feel — flawed and unworthy of a father's love or of heavenly light. There are times when she perhaps can understand why an angel would fall with such a weight pressing down on them. That they don't, every minute of every day, is a miracle to her.

Which is why, in the end, she believes in Uriel so fiercely and is willing to protect and help him so adamantly. Her answer comes quickly. ]

this isn't your burden to bear.
this isn't YOUR mistake.
understand?

faith will exist as long as i exist.
as long as eden exists.
you will exist and so will god.

so just tell me what i need to lock and load to against these things.
and i will.
alright?

[miscreantics]

[Hermes never expects texts from the angels, but right now? He expects anything.

Well, almost anything. Anything except that. He reads the text over and over at high speeds before groaning, burying his head in his hands for a good minute. Then, he shoots the Morrigan a small smile with an excuse me before sending out his own texts.]

To [Fam: Papabear]

We have to assemble, at least the Twelve. We can't wait on it anymore. I can run again, I'll be there asap, and I know that Ares, Artemis and Apollo are on their way from NYC too. Assembling can't be any less dangerous than this.

To: [Fam: Polly Pocket, Artemis, Ares]

Change of plans, going straight to London. See you there be safe. Tell Terpsi bye for me.

To: [ Minders ]

going straight to London, shit just got real. Meet me there ASAP, Cam find bring a wheelchair. I might need it.

text | hermes & renee

[ideas]

Got it. I'll meet you there.

text | minders

[miscreantics]

good girl. Also coffee. And red bull. gatorade. lots of water. icyhot and comfy socks.

text

[ex_repairen274]

[she can't get there as fast as you, Cam, but she's already made arrangements.]

I want to be updated every five minutes. Got it?

text | fucking encrypted

[ex_repairen274]

«Shit just got real» is a little vague, tiger.
Elaborate. Please.

text | back at ya

[miscreantics]

The gates opened. Titans and Cronus and the dead an the works. So yeah. shit got real.

text | house

[ecclesiastes]

You're hurt.

Is there anything the rest of us can do to help you heal?

text | house

[apreparescuer]

[Daniel... there are no words for how much this means to him.]

TO: [ Daniel ]

at this point, i don't know. i only hope that my brothers have enough strength to help me through with what i have.

i'm sorry daniel. prayers are all we have.
that and two hundred freed grigori to track down.

[attends]

TO: [ uriel; eden; magdalena; kathleen; crane ]

Brother, I will be with you shortly. Hold on

[apreparescuer]

TO: [ raphael and minders ] [ minders]

i am in the cathedral of st. sophia. staying was too risky.]

[Nevermind that moving probably won't make this easier on his body either.]

text

[ex_adiuto424]

[Oh, man. He can't just leave work. But he sure as hell can't just leave them. What a mess.]

What time?

text | uriel

[colubri]

to: [ uriel ]

first: good job.

second: don't know if you've noticed by now but your last message made the rounds of the infernal house too. don't know if this was intentional, but once again: good job.

third: still not quite running on full steam, but my faculties have recovered enough for me to make myself useful. not that I'm often one to get my hands dirty, but if ever there was a time to call for it, I guess this would be it. if you have any suggestions on where to point my sword before I copy this message to my infernal fellows, I'm willing to hear it. limited time only, some terms and restrictions may apply, &c &c.

fourth: I know you've been corresponding with my minder. super cute, you two.

text

[apreparescuer]

TO: [ astaroth ]

i bear the weight, responsibility, and guilt for what my actions caused.

the second message was obviously not intended for the infernals but they'll have to forgive the unintended spam while i recover from the whole museum being blown sky high while i was in it.

the help is appreciated; as i told magda, look for the major religious and spiritual sites that haven't been hit. now that those behind this are in full force, they'll be taking their larger strikes against us. rome should be protected, or at least a place to watch. depending on what we know of this scale of attack, we need to start deducing where they'd hide. keep our ears to the ground.

daniel is a good man, fallen brother. i may be swift to judge, but i am the first to approach any soul with my open palm.

two texts

[arenokami]

tartarus is open?


fuck. yomi is too

a text back

[apreparescuer]

TO: [ susano-o ]

i wish i could say otherwise.
we need to star making preparations for the worst. i'll join once i can
injury prevents me currently

text;

[battlelusts]

[ Sure, shit in Russia's blowing up, churches are toppling, Uriel's hurt, and oh yeah the Gates of Tartarus have been thrown wide open, practically unleashing Hell on Earth but hey. Ares is smiling. Grinning like a motherfucker. ]



TO: [ family; minders; everyone in his contacts??? HE'S EXCITED OK ]

call to arms?

[ You just wrote the magic words, my friend. ]

NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!#!

[horrifies]

TO: [ Ares ]
FROM: [ Phobos ]

You need me for this. Say the word, Father, and I'll be there.

PS Still no word from Deimos. The idiotic fuck is going to miss out on all the fun.

text;

[warblessed]

TO: [ares]

Hell yes. Tell me when and where.... I'll be there in a heartbeart.

text;

[apreparescuer]

TO: [ ares ]

glad to hear someone is springing to action.

you in trouble son.

[exinferis]

[Ring, ring. Fuck texting Uriel. She's going to bite your ear off with her voice, not stupid writing. Besides, she might be shaking too much to actually type well.

It's anger, not fear or concern. She's pissed.]

oh god does he know it

[apreparescuer]

[Uriel hits the 'answer' as soon as the vibrating starts.

He doesn't even have to look at the screen. He knows who it is, and how much of an earful he's about to receive, and how much he deserves it.

He probably should say something, but instead, he inhales, waiting for it.]