Magnus' Story S1E3

"Walking Among Us"

 

 Having received an urgent text from Elara Vane, but realizing he was in no condition to storm a secret hideout, Magnus pragmatically decides he needs to rest first. And being at A.C.I. to put his new found gear into the office safe (casting an arcane Alarm on it just in-case) and toying with his Fog Cloud spell, again, just in-case (thinking he might have a tail that is using Gaseous Form), The Analyst attunes to his new stiletto and then laying down to sleep. Waking in the morning, a bit more refreshed. Magnus eventually checks his phone to see that there are quite a few texts from Elara...

 "Are U Coming?", "Where R U?", and "R U OK?" are just a few of the messages on the half-breeds phone.

 Magnus reaches out. Seems Elara waited all night for him.

The two make plans to meet up at the spot Elara mentioned. But not before Magnus takes care of a few things.

First he calls Nyx regarding the surveillance path set-up. From the Glimmering Brew to Magus Row.

All is ready.

If someone is using a Gaseous Form to follow Magnus, Nyx should be able to see them.

Second, a call to Dumple Dorendip is made. Plans to leave the back door of Obscura Arcana unlocked for Magnus to slip in are made. 

Can't be to cautious.

Next, to the Glimmering Brew. 

Unfortunately, the Dragonberry scones haven't finished baking, so Magnus is left to drink his tea and then make his way to the Dumple's, by means of the back alley behind the shop.

Magnus, stealthy as a cat, enters Obscura Arcana by means of the unlocked door and is greeted by the cheerful gnome.

Dumple is told he doesn't want to know how Magnus has acquired the stiletto and gadgets he is being shown but that his opinion on what their presence in the city means. Magnus also asked Dumple if, while the P.I. is doing more investigation, he could do some research on the items. Stuff like quality, possible maker(s), and anything that might help Magnus figure out the mystery of their existence in the warehouse. 

Eventually, Magnus leaves Magus Row to go meet Ms. Vane. But being an hour early, he investigates the spot that the journalist want to show him. 

Just an alley.

Magnus looks around. but finding little to go on, goes and hides a block away, waiting to spot Elara, and, maybe, anyone who might be following her.

Time pass, and eventual Elara is spotted, but with a hooded stranger shadowing her. 

Magnus acts quickly, and after separating Elara and the stranger with a well placed Spike Growth at the entrance to the alley, he starts to pelt the stranger with barrage or Fire Bolts.

Surprised, and now wounded, the hooded strangers runs away. But Magnus easily catches-up with it due to his swiftness and the Longstrider spell he cast on himself earlier.  Still, the stranger, whips a gadget out of its pocket, triggers it, and is instantly teleport hundreds of feet away, down the block.

 Magnus decides to return to Elara and the alley, to make sure she's okay.

To his surprise, as he is leading her out the alley, she stabs him in the back with a Neon Stiletto.

A fight breaks out between the two, with Magnus mostly trying to subdue her and finally doing so by blast part of a hydrant with his Fire Bolt, cause bits to hit Elara square in the face, knocking her out.

And, as if our hero wasn't surprised enough, when he goes to restrain her with his zip-ties, he realizes that she is actually a Doppelganger. 

Magnus' mind races... Has she always been a Doppelganger? Was she captured while waiting last night and replaced?

Just then, Magnus notices people are starting to call The Authority. So acting fast, he calls Arcadia and tells her what has happened.

She tells him to sit-tight and her people will bring them both back to The Fang.

Once back with Arcadia, at The Fang, the Doppelganger is interrogated while Magnus looks on. The creature is speak gibberish, and little is made-out except one word, "Vorthaxis". 

Neither Magnus nor Arcadia, know what that is referring to.

But the creature's phone is eventually brought to Arcadia, and soon she discovers two strange messages. One referring to energy rerouting to The Gray Wards as well as some sort of sewer conduit.

The elimination of Magnus is also mentioned.

The other mysterious message is a file listing three prominent citizens of Æther City who have clearly been targeted by the Doppelgangers. The file says that both Edmon Alonn and Magos Lyra have been "replaced", while Victor Starken, the head of the city's defense, is "pending".

Reading this, Arcadia jumps into action, but is halted by Magnus' pragmatism. He tells her that they shouldn't act too rashly, and she instead decides to give Magnus 24 hours to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. 

They both agree he should head to The Gray Wards...