Magnus' Story S1E8

 

 

 

"A Rogue Robot And A Plan" 

 

Waking up in the morning in his office, Magnus, after a tearful night vowing to Dara Voss that her brother Pell would be avenged, goes on The Flow searching keywords in hopes of tying the red threads together in this Vorthaxis case.

 

The doppelgangers have been slowed, but not stopped. And now there is a link to Auranthos Magetech. What does and elusive C.E.O. and his ubiquitous corporation have to do with Mass Suggestion, a Modulation Sphere and doppelgangers?  

 

Finding little, but still digging, Magnus is disturbed by a pounding on the agency's door. Four officers from The Authority with a warrant to search the office for documents pertaining to Auranthos Magetech are there. Once let in, the officers show total disregard for the detective's agency and trash it looking for incriminating proof that doesn't exist. 

 

Our hero watching as best he can to make sure the officers aren't there to plant evidence, eventually watches as the agents depart, empty handed.

 

What the hell is going on?? 

 

... 

 

Magnus, taking time to clean-up, and reach-out to Nix for info on the judge who signed-off on the warrant, is eventually pinged by Elara, checking-in, and alerts Magnus that he shouldn't use and computers or smartphones that have been made by Auranthos Magetech. The two decided to meet at the Glimmering Brew in a half hour's time. 

 

The rain, a light drizzle, falls from the sky above as Magnus walks to the cafe. As he come to a busy intersection, a commotion is heard before the sight of a out-of-control, rogue sanitation automaton is seen.  It is about to bear-down on a young devlin mother and her child. 

 

Our hero springs into action, casting Fog Cloud as he closes the distance, past fearful pedestrians and  stopped vehicles. 

 

A kobold, with impressive power gauntlets is seen sprinting into action and entering the cloud of fog as part of the crosswalk and intersection are no obscured.

 

The sounds of battle can be heard from inside the white mist.

 

Magnus makes a lucky grab and pulls the mother and child from the fog to the sidewalk nearby, out of harms way, and drops concentration on his spell to flank the crazed robot and now battered kobold. 

 

Using his new combat strategy, Magnus heavily damages the construct with his arcano-tech short sword and magic stiletto.

 

Servos, wiring and plating rendered nonfunctional by our hero as the good samaritan kobold also punishes the robot, knocking it of its feet and to the asphalt.

 

The rogue construct lays "lifeless". 

 

... 

 

Curious about who this good Samaritan is, Magnus invites him to recharge with some tea and a scone. But only after the detective heals the wounded kobold. 

 

The rain continues to fall as the two make their way to the cafe where Elara Vane is waiting at a window table.

 

She seems surprised by the appearance of the kobold, noticeably shy and reserved in her communication. 

 

Magnus does find out the the kobold is named Jinx and he is some sort of lab tech at Taxian University. But realizing that Elara is uncomfortable. Jinx decides to take his leave. Scone in mouth, smiling, and takes Magnus' business card.

 

Back to the matter at hand.  

 

Elara breaks down the situation for Magnus before relaying a message from Aldrich Fenn. Fenn believes that Magnus can infiltrate Auranthos Tower and retrieve proof from their archives about the plans to brainwash Æther City's inhabitant as well as finding out who exactly has been replaced by the network of doppelgangers.

 

Vane passes a slip of paper across the table with an name on it as well as a number and address in Blackrise Hill.

 

The name is for Eradell Jessel, a former disgruntled employee who should be able to advise Magnus on how to sneak into the tower.

 

Magnus has reservations about this plan, but trusts the trust Elara has put into Aldrich Fenn. 

 

He decides to head to Dumple's, to check-in.

 

... 

 

Nix pings Magnus' non-Auranthos burner phone and confirms that the judge who issued the warrant to search A.C.I. might be a replacement.

 

Magnus warns Arcadia.

 

...

 

At Arcana Obscura, Dumple is entertaining a well-appointed kiff woman who seems to be looking for a Deck of Many Things.

 

A strange item to be seeking.

 

Our hero listens in and gets a stony stare for his efforts as the woman leaves the shop.

 

Soon Magnus is making sure his gnome friend is okay and promises to have dinner with Dumple and his wife, looking forward to tasting her meatloaf soon as the threat to the city is addressed.

 

...

 

Magnus next heads to the near-by Mystic Market to purchase some Potions of Healing.

 

As the day reaches the mid-point, the market is bustling. Members of the upper and lower castes are here, and all of the species as well. It is one of the few spots in the city where almost anything can be found, and people know it. But choosing to ignore the first few stalls that have potions, hoping to find a better deal, Magnus moves towards the center of the market. 

 

He soon spots a seller that might be worth haggling with. A crooked and hunched old man, a half-elf with white hair, but with a spark in his eyes and a smile on his face.

 

His name is Selvyn Rogg and he turns out to be a decent man who makes a deal with Magnus for two Greater Healing Pots, a Climbing potion, and a Jump potion.

 

Part of this deal is a barter for some of the gear the detective has looted from his opponents, but he also spend shards on a "Jitterbug Charm", something that will boost his reactions against known threats.

 

Magnus is content with his purchases and wishes Selvyn a good day and heads to the El to travel crosstown to Jessel's address in Blackrise Hill...

 

To be continued.