[center][hider=Cast][img]https://i.imgur.com/tr72nnt.jpg[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/9rCf9HE.jpg?1[/img] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/217175409903534080/310907722625318914/cooltext243099446643387.png[/img][/hider][/center] [center][h1][i]Fire and Brimstone[/i][/h1] [h3][i]Part 1[/i][/h3][/center] [center][b]Location: Shadow of the Moon Occult Curiosities – Chinatown, Lost Haven Time: Post Hound Attack[/b][/center] [hr] [i]Wild, Wicked, and Wretched be . . . [/i] Madalena inscribed the words in a delicate script around the iconic crown of vines and thorns, a tribute to the visage of Puck that stood posed within this plaited circle. It had taken hours to get the lines just right, all the little details and intricacies numbing her nimble fingers, more so than working with actual vines. The subtle incantation was a minor addition to a more ancient spell, both a reminder of what lie beyond the threshold, and a deterrent to an unscrupulous few. Fascinating and strange, Maddi thought, how a simple phrase spoken with conviction could lend such power. When the last word had been successfully burned into the wood, Madalena took a step back to admire her work. Her task was simple enough: inscribe the back door of Shadow of the Moon with the symbol of Puck, though she hadn’t accounted for the arduous and highly meticulous nature of etching a door with a hot, metal stylus. It was a miracle she managed such definition given she’d neglected to sketch the symbol beforehand. But as with many small endeavors filling up her free time, Madalena found success. The next step, however, would prove more difficult. It was one thing to form the glyph that gifted access to The Red Devil, but another entirely to actually gain entrance. [color=e3243b]”Here goes nothin’,”[/color] she let out with a hefty sigh, letting loose her fatigue and breathing in the strength she needed to activate the seal. Traditionally, Puck’s door was conjured via a symbol sporting his likeness, carved, etched, or drawn onto any surface. One need only knock and the arms of The Red Devil would swing wide open, welcoming the weary traveler, needy supplicant, greedy witch, and anyone else who had the means to enter. Given recent events, however, Puck saw to it that only his permanent doors (those scattered in forgotten places the world over) and those bearing the new inscription could access the tavern; and these portals required more than a paltry knock. Fortunately for Madalena, she had a closer connection to Puck than most. Rather than go through the full ritual to activate to door, she need only fan the flames of her inner spark, the cunning flame imparted to her by Puck . . . which was easier said than done. Still a novice, albeit a rather knowledgeable one, Madalena had considerable amounts of difficulty in igniting the witch-fire when she needed it most. She rolled her shoulders, stretched her neck, took in a few more deep breaths, then touched her hand to the door, feeling for some sort of shift in its structure. There was a twinge of something, the smallest speck of warmth cast adrift in the air, waves of aromatic smoke that seemed to dissipate the longer she tried to place them. [color=e3243b][i]Come on . . . [/i][/color] her mind raced with frustration, pleading for whatever link she held to that place to be established. Another minute or so passed with no sign of success, only strings and visions of what lie beyond. And then it clicked. An audible “click” like a lock or a door bar being removed or lifted sounded in her mind. Mouth stretched in an eager smile, Maddi opened her eyes to a welcome sight. The door, once wrought with knicks and scratches from all the sharp-cornered tables and shelves she’d brought through it, was a crimson beauty, and the symbol she’d burned into the center was now golden and embossed. It worked! Wasting no time, Madalena pulled the door open with force enough to pry it from its hinges, or so she’d like to believe, and shot through, slamming her quaint little store in Lost Haven behind her. [center][h2][i]*****[/i][/h2][/center] [center][b]Location: The Red Devil – Lost Haven?[/b][/center] [hr] The Red Devil’s atmosphere had changed considerably. Puck had always run a highly profitable and booming business, but the sheer volume of patrons now filling the ground floor was immense. Expensive round tables of rich dark wood were replaced with longer variants and low benches. The round stage at the far end of the tavern had been moved into a corner to accommodate the new seating arrangements, as had the bar, whose counter was pushed closer in. Wall lights were removed in favor of chandeliers to make room for a greater number of shelves and cases housing associates wares. The place was packed. And yet, the mystery and mystique was still there, hidden among the wealthy decor in the form of odd centerpieces on each table, eerie paintings that lined the walls and structural beams, the earthy tones that accompanied accents of scarlet and gold here and there. It was ominous and beautiful all at the same time. Which says nothing about the wealth of patrons, all sinister, seductive, and strange in their own way, seeking refuge from the Hounds, booking passage back to whatever world they originate, looking to capitalize on the fear of the unknown, some just having the odd drink before passing through. Madalena had never seen such a display. Not in her wildest dreams could she imagine such a bustling and beautiful scene. It gave the streets of New York a run for its money. Waltzing down a large spiral staircase was Puck, dressed in dark finery and towering above most of the tavern’s patrons. He took a few moments to mingle before motioning for Madalena to follow him upstairs. She clumsily trotted down the haphazard rows of tables, dodging the obstacles she could see and apologizing to the ones she couldn’t. The first floor was home to the workroom and several offices used by the contract holders under Puck’s employment. Maddi caught a glimpse at an ornate plaque sporting “The White Witch’s” moniker at the far end of the hall, but was rushed into the workroom before getting a second look. Maddi’s eyes lit up at the contents of the space, a smorgasbord of witching tools and accoutrements lining every wall. On her first pass she noticed three working altars with alchemical apparati atop and small fire pits fitted with dark cauldrons and kettles, a counter full of divinatory tools, eight shelves scattered throughout the room stocked with old texts and scrolls, three desks littered with research notes and experimental writings, an open area with a variety of ritual implements and the leftovers of a goetic summoning, and a massive wardrobe seated next to a spinning wheel, distaffs, and other spinning and tailoring instruments. [color=A52A2A][b]”So,”[/b][/color] Puck’s cold voiced echoed off the walls, sending a chill up Madalena’s spine despite having heard it multiple times before. [color=A52A2A][b]”Judging by that eternal grin of yours I assume everything is to your liking? Is it as you imagined?”[/b][/color] Maddi shook her head, forcibly closing her mouth to display a little less awe, but her eyes betrayed her. She knelt down by one of the kettles, running a hand over the cold iron, inhaling the remnants of a long dead flame. [color=e3243b]”No . . . it’s a helluva lot better than I was expecting! Honestly, how old is this?”[/color] Puck might have thought it strange that a cauldron had captured her so had he not been through this with over a dozen other witches. To be in the presence of one’s art, to feel the pulse of the craft run through a place, he knew the power that held. He couldn’t help but smile, kneeling down with her and resting a hand on her arm. [color=A52A2A][b]”It was a gift from a brief tryst in the late 18th century, but that’s not why I’ve asked you here.”[/b][/color] Puck stood and led her over to the wardrobe, skillfully dodging questions about his love life. [color=A52A2A][b]”I realized after my last visit that I’ve put quite a strain on you, and for that I must apologize.”[/b][/color] He took Madalena’s hand in his, catching her off guard with his show of sincerity. [color=e3243b]”I-It’s nothing,”[/color] she stuttered, taken aback. [color=e3243b]”I mean, I’ve been onboard for a while now so I know what’s expected of me.”[/color] [color=A52A2A][b]”Even so,”[/b][/color] Puck continued, turning his back to open the wardrobe. [color=A52A2A][b]”You are more than a simple employee of mine, Madalena. You are my gift to the world, the first witch I have sired in over a century. I have placed you at the forefront of my operation against The Winter Court without taking the necessary steps to ensure your safety, and for that I apologize. So I present you with this . . .”[/b][/color] Puck stood aside, revealing a beautifully crafted gown made of fine, crimson velvet with a high collar, and a low, seamless hem. With it was a similarly colored hat with a short, curved brim, tall crown, and beautiful plume as an accent, as well as a pair of silken gloves that stretched up below the sleeves of the dress. [color=A52A2A][b]”The finest garments crafted for one such as yourself by the finest seamstress I know.”[/b][/color] Maddi’s mouth swung open once more, her eyes shining brighter than before. She stepped forward, taking a sleeve in her hand and feeling the soft fabric on her skin. It was more comforting than it should have been, she thought, as if some piece of nostalgia had been sewn into it. She silently dreamed of wearing clothes like this as a girl, playing the part of princess or duchess. It was high on a long list of impossibles that had suddenly become reality . . . but why? [color=e3243b]”It’s beautiful,”[/color] Madalena graciously replied, turning and looking up at Puck’s black eyes, her own welling with joyful tears. [color=e3243b]”But I don’t understand. What his this . . .”[/color] [color=A52A2A][b]”I’ll tell you,”[/b][/color] Puck interrupted. [color=A52A2A][b]”When a certain Marie Heartford worked in The Red Devil, she insisted on going by The White Witch, even wore a charm about her neck to mask her appearance. I thought it silly until I realized how ingenious it was given our current predicament. You now have power, power that the Witchfinder General knows nothing about. Should he discover, however, that you have been harboring a piece of the cunning flame while working with his men, he would surely visit his wrath upon you. Thus, I have devised a way for you to work with him, and with me in secret.”[/b][/color] Madalena grinned, catching Puck’s not so subtle hints. [color=e3243b]”You want me to have a secret identity, right?”[/color] [color=A52A2A][b]”Precisely! In your normal guise you shall be Madalena Hawthorne, an unassuming citizen of Lost Haven with an interest in all things strange and a flair for the dramatic. But in secret, you shall be an agent of mine free to use her gifts without fear of discovery. You’ll just need a name . . .”[/b][/color] [color=e3243b]”Hex!,”[/color] Maddi blurted out as soon as he could. [color=e3243b]”I’ve been thinking about this as soon as The White Witch hit the scene, silently pretending I was out working my magic like her . . . although not exactly like her because of the whole ‘lost memories’ thing, but maybe a little bit because her meeting with the Witch Father was sort of close to ours when you think about it, though I guess . . .”[/color] Maddi caught herself before she trailed off any further. [color=e3243b]”Anyway,”[/color] she said with a cough, reeling herself back in. [color=e3243b]”I’d like to go by Hex. A little cliche but in an outfit like this I think it’ll have a certain effect on people.”[/color] Puck shook his head with a grin and a low chuckle. [color=A52A2A][b]”As you wish, Lady Hex. But do not be captured by illusions of the grandiose. I’m not grooming you to become one of those costumed imbeciles who do good. This is for your continued safety during our fight against The Winter Court, and a valuable business investment when you start taking on contracts.”[/b][/color] Maddi blinked. [color=e3243b]”Wait, you want me to be one of your contract maker, holder, whatevers?”[/color] She wasn’t entirely put off to the idea. Afterall, it was part of her gifts as Puck had explained them. Given that Maddi held a piece of Puck’s power, she could weave binding contracts with only her words, though she never stopped to consider what that meant. [color=A52A2A][b]”The terms of our agreement were far different to most. You are not required to work for The Red Devil like others I employ past your efforts against the Witchfinder. However, I would ask that you consider it. There are only so many gifts I can offer in a singular exchange, but if I had your continued service . . . well, then I might be persuaded to relinquish a few secrets early.”[/b][/color] Maddi needed to pace herself. In just under a week, she’d been cast headlong into a world she knew nothing about, gained unimaginable knowledge and power, became intertwined with the Hounds and their plans as a ploy, and was staring down a dangerous path that involved her jumping even further into the shadows. But if that was the case, why not, right? [color=e3243b]”What the hell,”[/color] Madalena shrugged, [color=e3243b]”Might as well take what help I can get, and if I’ll be here all the time anyway, why not get something out of it?”[/color] Puck’s impish grin spread ear to ear. [color=A52A2A][b]”Spoken like a true witch. You’re learning rather quickly, but even with all the knowledge you’ve been granted and all the materials at your disposal, there are a few ‘tricks of the trade’ you’ll need if you wish to work in the shadows like your predecessor.”[/b][/color] Puck turned his back again, walking over to a shelf piled high with magical implements of all shapes and sizes. Madalena cocked her head, her awe filled smile never fading, though his words struck her as odd. [color=e3243b]”Y’know, every time you mention Marie, it’s like you’re walking on eggshells.”[/color] Madalena thought aloud as she trailed behind. [color=e3243b]”She’s not in trouble, right? I mean, she’ll be back at some point, won’t she?”[/color] The corners of Puck’s mouth turned downward with Maddi’s audible concern. Truth was, Puck knew so little about Marie’s current path, he couldn’t accurately predict any future involving her. Secretly, he hoped The White Witch might once again grace the halls of his tavern, but with Gwyneth’s ambitions set so high, he doubted that he and Maddi would ever see the Marie they once knew. [color=A52A2A][b]”She’ll return in due time,”[/b][/color] Puck called back as he rummaged through the collection of items, his uncertainty marking the statement as less than the truth but not quite a falsehood. [color=A52A2A][b]”Aha! There you are.”[/b][/color] He turned back around holding a beautiful scarlet cane in his hand, shaped to look like rose vines with thorns jutting out at uneven intervals, the top fashioned into the shape of a rose and more vines to make up the handle. [color=A52A2A][b]”Another gift, a cane crafted from elder, an important tree for our kind. Beneath its branches devils, spirits, and witches dance. It is a powerful tool in your craft and can greatly improve the quality of any work, but so too can it hinder or halt our movement and command forces over which you hold dominion.”[/b][/color] Madalena took the cane into both hands, marveling at the craftsmanship. It was so sleek and smooth. She could feel the power emanating from it, the reaction it had to her touch. [color=A52A2A][b]”That isn’t all,”[/b][/color] Puck spoke before Madalena could thank him, reaching into his vest and pulling out a small, worn, leather journal. [color=A52A2A][b]”This is my last gift to you, but you mustn’t read it now. There is a matter that requires your attention first. You’ll need a particular set of skills to unlock the secrets this journal holds.”[/b][/color] Madalena took the journal, turning it over in her hands a few times but refraining from taking a look inside. [color=e3243b]”Wanna give me a hint at what that means, bossman?”[/color] Maddi requested, trying to riddle through Puck’s ambiguity to no avail. Puck smiled. [color=A52A2A][b]”No, my dear. I’m afraid that would be too easy. Worry not, I shant leave you to wonder for too long. Though I cannot tell you what I mean, I can certainly show you.”[/b][/color] Before Madalena could question what he meant, Puck waved a hand and away she went, swallowed by shadow and ethereal mist, away to a distant, yet familiar place. [center][h2][i]*****[/i][/h2] [b]Location: Sherman Square – Lost Haven[/b][/center] [hr] The heroes began to move away into Sherman Center, Charlie felt a mixture of surprise and noted the other arrivals some chick with a metal mask and looking like she walked out of a biker gang. Charlie probably stared for too long. She hung back a little deciding this was probably her only chance to make a call. Let someone know what’d she be doing. Digging around in one of her pockets she produced her cellphone, beaten up and fixed way too many times to count. She clicked through her contacts scrolling past her mom’s cell, home, and even Carrie’s cell. They all would, reasonably of course, tell her to turn her ass home. Charlie needed some nerve not a voice of reason. She stopped on Madelena’s number, hitting the call button. Holding a tight grip on her staff. The line rang for several minutes until the default voicemail message played. It seemed strange that someone like Maddi hadn’t taken the time to make a custom one. Not long after, however, the air shifted, carrying that same ominous chill as before. Shadows began to dance and coalesce, ushering a crimson figure into existence. But what followed wasn’t what Charlie expected. From behind the mist, Madalena stepped forward, ruby heels clacking on the cobbled street of the square. She was dressed in velvet fine, adorned head to toe in eloquent shades of red, a cane at her side. Her hair was pulled neatly back into a tight bun, and around her neck was a simple charm, a black stone at the end inscribed with a strange symbol. Madalena looked around, then looked herself up and down, staggering slightly from the jolt of realization that she had been sent halfway across Lost Haven, catching herself with the cane. [color=e3243b]”What in the . . ,”[/color] Maddi whispered to herself, making sense of her situation. She looked up, though maybe she should have been looking down, and yelled. [color=e3243b]”I still don’t know what this means! And why the heels?”[/color] Charlie looked to her phone and then back up, “[color=honeydew]. . .Maddi, that you?[/color]” Pocketing the phone again she approached. “[color=honeydew]How the hell did you get here?[/color]” Madalena looked at Charlie, recognizing her voice and the staff at her side. [color=e3243b]”Charlie!”[/color] she exclaimed, lowering her voice a little once she remembered Charlie was wearing a mask. [color=e3243b]”Hmm, so that’s what Puck meant? Guess he figured you could use some help doing . . . whatever this is.”[/color] Madalena felt good with that response until she realized she hadn’t answered Charlie’s question. [color=e3243b]”Right, how did I get here . . . Puck sent me, and check out the new digs!”[/color] Madalena modelled the costume briefly, posing her arms with the most awkward high fashion looks in mind, swinging the cane a couple of times before almost throwing it at Charlie. [color=e3243b]”Sorry, getting used to all of this. So what are you doing here?”[/color] Maddi questioned, looking around to see a couple of men and women in costume quickly shuffling away inside a building. “[color=honeydew]Puck, how’d- you know what, I’m assuming it’s something I’m not gonna understand. You look great but your face looks different and your voice sounds weird.[/color]” Charlie said, stepping up little closer. “[color=honeydew]Uhm. I-I’m going to help the metas. You know, destroy the satellite thing.[/color]” She pointed with her chin to the backs of the heroes. “[color=honeydew]I was just trying to call you, actually.[/color]” “[color=honeydew]Have you seen the news?[/color]” Maddi nodded, turning her head down and fumbling with her cane. [color=e3243b]”Yeah . . . I heard just before I spoke to Puck. I knew some people in Philadelphia once upon a time. Hope they moved before all this happened. That’s probably why Puck sent me here like this. He wanted to make sure I could work without the Witchfinder knowing who I was. Thus,”[/color] Maddi motioned to her clothing. [color=e3243b]”Lady Hex was born.”[/color] her voice picked up slightly, a small smile creeping up on her crimson lips. [color=e3243b]”And I think you mean [i]we[/i] are destroying the satellite thing! Puck told me I was needed somewhere else before we could continue tracking down the General, which must mean that one, even Puck is a little upset about the Hounds recent attacks and two, the General must be operating independently to the other groups. But this should take them all down a peg.”[/color] Charlie held her staff in both hands, “[color=honeydew]Maddi, I. . .I-[/color]” “[color=honeydew][i]Fuck.[/i][/color]” Charlie swore. “[color=honeydew]Are you sure? I’m only here because these metas can’t do a job right. And I can’t go home knowing the satellite is pointing at Lost Haven. This- this is really dangerous. It’s going to be like it was at the university.[/color]” She reached for her hand. “[color=honeydew]Please be sure.[/color]” Madalena stepped closer, taking Charlie’s hand in hers. [color=e3243b]”Puck told me that my powers are, for better or worse, fueled by mischief. The uncertainty and entropy of events, the possibility of multiple outcomes, small acts of chance and pieces of luck, I have power over them. Now, can you think of anyone more apt to take control of this chaos than me?”[/color] Maddi laughed, tightening her grip. [color=e3243b]”Besides, as far as I can see it, we’re the only ones like us with a foot in the door. I don’t see any other witches, magicians, or alchemists nearby. I promise you I’m sure about this. In fact, you have my word that no harm will come to either one of us on this mission. OH! Look at that, gave you my word and we’re in a handshake, looks like I’m bound to keep my promise, so long as you agree.”[/color] Charlie shuffled her mask down and nervous laughter bubbled out of her. “[color=honeydew]I guess so, you’re the expert Lady Hex. I agree.[/color]” “[color=honeydew]Yeah we’re the only ones, but I’m really glad you’re here. I was calling ‘cause I thought I’d lose my nerve.[/color]” She admitted looking at Icon’s back. “[color=honeydew]I knew if I called anyone else they’d tell me to go home.[/color]” “[color=honeydew]I didn’t want to go but I don’t want to die either.[/color]”