She awoke.

Rajani Misra stretched her arms and scratched the sleepiness from her eyes. Her room had windows overlooking the harbor and sea. A room a british man had offered for her to stay in for however long she liked. A smile wisped across her face at that thought, men seemed so easy to convince of such things. Her dark obsidian eyes took in the scene of the sun beginning to set along the horizon in the west. The last glimmers of sunlight made her caramel skin grow duskier and painted a silhouette around her gentle curves.

The sky outside held the clash of fleeting colors among the clouds as the pure yellow slid away give rise to a flash of bright red; the sea greens of the sea and brown of the docks faded and faded of their tranquil colors; the slivers of blue were swept away as the white clouds turned grey; and the sun finally succumbed to the horizon. Above the ocean now in the darkening landscape outside, the singular orb reflecting pale light down shined above before the stars had time to reveal themselves. This was the time of the moon and Rajani had learned enough to know the ability it offered her.

Most days she slept during the later part in the day. The daytime hours had less to offer her and her dreams…well that was a part of the gift. Six years ago she had found herself able to have Waking Dreams. A world similar to the physical one, but of dreams and seemingly of dreamers. She had been too curious too quick in that world. Lack of caution had found her chased by nightmarish creatures in situations that felt too real for a dream. Eventually she learned to control this. And once she had control, confidence grew. More and more, the secrets behind these gifts would reveal themselves.

There would have to be names. She thought leaving the bedroom to head towards the modern living room. The british man was wealthy somehow and normally lived in Britain. All the better for her. Rajani had begun to think of herself as a witch. Not because of the Waking Dreams, although they were a part of it. More because of the other gift. The one given to her directly by the moon. When she was sixteen, it had first been there. A River of Magic. It was weak then. But has grown, every day it seemed to grow more powerful. And it was only through the moon, only at night that Rajani could embrace the River of Magic.

Turning on a laptop, Rajani closed her eyes. There were Taoist practices, her father’s religion, that dealt directly with such rivers of life such as the River of Magic took on, “Water is one of Lao Tsu's principle symbols for the Tao...He who lives the Tao acts in his life and dealings as water acts in nature. Water does not resist, yet it conquers all; it is tasteless - suggesting the invisibility of the Tao - yet life-giving. It moves through all that lives and in movement remains clear and pure. It is supple, flexible, and humble; it does not compete.”

And so Rajani embraced the River of Magic, feeling the pure pleasure of the moon’s blessing coursing through her. It had taken her some time to identify the various currents within the River of Magic. There was Fire and Earth, though both seemed more difficult to grasp when she attempted to. Water and Wind worked better to her cooperation. And the last was something she suspected would be the Void, but her four years of puzzling had given her little surety in all this. There was still some she had been able to uncover though and she spent many nights trying to master what she knew, while also having trials at what she could only fathom.

Still embracing the River of Magic, Rajani’s eyes of pools of midnight glanced across her screen as she searched for something. This gift making her into a witch could not have only touched her, there had to be others. In many days past she had heard rumors and discussion, random people speaking of magic and even a video but few centralized. Few that she could go to. She had to learn much and more about these abilities, had to uncover all of their secrets.

Moscow.

A man there claiming to use magic. A survivor of the Sickness. Calling for those like him to rally to him. Rajani pursed her lips, a fool. Like to be dead months before she would arrive, but the attention he would bring upon himself might give opportunity. She would have to be subtle, have a plan, but all this would need to be sorted from much closer. Glancing around the rich apartment that was not her own, she decided such elegance could be found elsewhere too. And a journey to Moscow perhaps could provide her with the knowledge she desired.

Name: Rajani Misra

Age: 20 (born 2026)

Whereabouts: Daro, Malaysia

Rajani was the daughter of a councilor in the small town of Daro in Malaysia. She is a dreamwalker and her wilder block is/was that she could only channel at night. Her ability to Dreamwalk began when she was 14 and has been the focus of her attention. Unwittingly (this is still not known to her) she began using small doses of compulsion on men to get what she wanted. But she assumed this was due to her beauty and not channeling. It was only when her mother confronted her about this two years later that Rajani threw her mother across the room without even touching her. That was when Rajani learned she could channel.

Leaving her home that night, Rajani took advantage of her beauty (and compulsion use) to be treated well and get by on her own at 18 years of age. From then Rajani devoted herself to studying Dreamwalking and the Power. Her father was Taoist and Rajani favoring her father (who had been overly generous to her because of her compulsion use), concentrated on using Taoist practices to open herself to the Power. She has begun to erode her block, being able to channel in dusk/dawn. But she is weaker channeling during the day than she is at night. Often she sleeps during the day, Dreamwalking, then uses the Power at night.

Rajani is ambitious and interested in learning more about the Power as well as Dreamwalking. She is a goddess reborn. Mani from norse legend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1ni . I would like her future potential channeling ability to be Level 38, but she is currently weaker at the age of 20 and not at her full potential yet. I'm not completely sure what year it is, haha. But Rajani is twenty now!

Continued from Looking glass


Sierra was right. There wasn't a real road for at least a kilometer off the river. Luckily, Stanislav brought snowmobiles. There weren't real paths per say to cover the distance, but experienced drivers maneuvered Jaxen, Elias and Sierra through the trees by riding second seat.

Comfortable SUV's with blacked out windows and generic markings waited to carry them to the city. Stanislav ceased his interrogation of Jaxen along the way, but the narrow suspicion in his eyes sent a chill through Jaxen. That look might as well be transplanted off his father's face, and when he met it, he wans't sure he'd be able to hold back the truth. Scion was likely to have his son sent to a mental hospital, or else banished to some dark room until he gave up the truth of where he'd been.

As such he was relatively quiet as they returned to civilization. In Jaxen's mind mere hours had passed, and it should be early morning after a night pissed away at Manifesto. Yet the trees had changed season, the sun was in the wrong place in the sky, and as he scanned a Wallet delivered by Stanislav, he found the headlines surprising.

"What's the deal with this Theo Andlain guy?"
He asked of the car. He glanced at Sierra, but ended up looking for answers from Elias since she made it clear she wasn't up on the latest breaking news story.

continued from here

20 minutes later they were on the road. 30 minuites after that everyone had their positions. Martin waited outside the rear entrances with Gunnar. Yoshimiro and Cross were out front taking up positions to make the surprise attack. Annemarie was in the comms van a few blocks away from the gentleman's club the man was sighted at. Martin hadn't been to this particular one, but it was high end and he made a note to check it out for other possible godlings. Surely if one frequented here there were others as well.

Fai was standing by in a near by safe house. She would only be called out if there were injuries. Hopefully today they would take out a god. It would be a spectacular day!

Martin sat in the shadows of the alley way. He could see the rear door. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up as he stood nonchalantly against the wall. He was dressed in meager gear on the outside, but he wore his thin armored suit underneath. A man like Volodin was likely to have a gun - he was a mobster after all. The armor would do nothing for power blows, but Martin hoped it could stop even projectiles from the godling from killing him. At least prevent them from piercing his body like they had that cop.

Now all they could do is wait and pray that no civilians got in the way. They apparently didn't have to wait long as Martin's wallet buzzed silently against his chest. He glanced at it and saw that the target had left their eyes and ears inside. It was only a matter of time now. Martin whispered into his coms, "Everyone be ready. He could show any time now."

News runs wild about a young MSU student named Theo Andlain, who claims to be a user of magic, survivor of the Sickness, and terrorist laying waste to Moscow life and property recently. His bold claims come on a private internet channel that has thus far been unable to lead to exact whereabouts. However he is not hiding. In fact, he calls for those of his kind to rally to his position - that he can save their lives, teach them their magic, and work wonders.

He, and those in his group thus far, won Moscow's attention this week when they coordinated public displays of their power, first on a city highway, at the airport, and finally directly in front of Custody police. Theo regrets the loss of life and property, but claims the extreme acts were necessary to win the attention he needed.

He says he will continue to organize terrorist acts until the government acknowledges the truth. Until then the entire Custody argues whether he is a villain or a hero.

PC's may encounter members of his group in play, and certainly encounter the results of their actions. The Atharim and Custody intelligence are certain to be hunting him down meanwhile.

Scroll article: Supernatural rattles Moscow, ends in violence

Scroll article: Fire tears through Moscow

<big>Fire tears through Moscow, local man claims responsibility
The Report, 2046

</big>

Today a man posted on a private internet channel claiming responsibility for the fiery vortex that surged down the Garden Ring road yesterday. He has been identified as Theo Andlain, twenty-three years old, originally of St. Petersburg and currently a student at MSU.

<table>
<thead><tr><th colspan="1">Theo Andlain</th></tr></thead>
<tr><th></th></tr>
</table>


In his statement, he claimed the vortex was a sign of coming plagues he would unleash upon Moscow for every day the government denies the existance of magic-users. According to Andlain, young people of his kind are killed or kidnapped on a daily basis although he does not directly blame the atrocities on the government. He says he can be the hope for those who are afraid of what they are.

As apparent proof of Andlain's allegations, the video shows a small vortex of fire whirl above one palm, a miniature of what tore through the streets of Moscow yesterday. He claimed to regret the deaths and injuries caused by his actions but was forced to make a profound statement in order to be taken seriously. He warned additional scenes will follow in the coming days.

Theo Andlain's whereabouts are unknown at this time. Custody Police say the threats are being taken seriously and any act of terrorism will be dealt with accordingly. The public is asked to provide any information that may lead to his arrest or capture.

Comments on magic go unacknowledged.

<big>The Report: Moscow
2046</big>




Three acts of the seeming supernatural weather rattled Moscow today, each ending in violence.

First, during the morning commute, a vortex of fire three-stories in height surged down the Garden Ring road over a kilometer causing innumerable traffic accidents that were the direct cause of no less than thirty-four deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Then, in mid-afternoon, a blinding cloud of dense fog suddenly materialized over the Moscow International Airport rendering the airport to a complete stand-still until the strange phenomenon lifted. A jet bound for Minsk was in mid-take off at the time, but despite the low altitude, crashed several miles away. Eight were killed and over ninety injured.

Finally, in the central district of Arbat less than two miles from the Kremlin, police pulled an unidentified man from a vehicle for routine search and seizure. Witness-provided video showed red lightning streaked from the man and struck each of the arresting officers who were subsequently found dead at the scene. The man in question is unaccounted for and is considered the primary suspect in these events.

In the wake of these tragedies, official Custody statement expressed grief and sorrow over the deaths and injuries of today. Such mysterious phenomena have occurred with greater frequency. The Kremlin has denied allegations of other-worldly interference such as what has been compared to footage from the Battle of Jeddah in Dominance V, but the public demands these broadly witnessed atrocities be addressed. Pressure upon the Kremlin has increased regarding the inexplicable events.

A recent New York Times article discussed what most regarded as a stunt undertaken by American politician Nicholas Trano as some unidentified branch of science that the public deemed magical. Regarding today's events Nicholas Trano was unavailable for comment.

Last night I dreamed I was Ascendancy in real life. I've dreamt I was various RP characters in the past, but I think this one was the greatest dream of my life. Asc has an awesome life! And is a terrifying hell of a channeler!

Am I the only one that dreams they're their chars?

Three days inside the sterile white walls under the scrutiny of doctors and shrinks and various other medical personnel. Aria felt like a guinea pig, it was even worse than the way the Atharim had treated her. And then one day she was blindfolded and taken out of the facility. The only bearings she had was that she was ascending up and the moment they left the sterile facility she had been kept in. The smells were different. The people she could feel were more and more the higher she went and when they finally removed the blindfold she was lost in the light.

Aria found herself blocks away from home, almost literally. Or what used to be her home. She was blocks away from Lucas. He was her first stop. Aria had two wallets now, both highly secretive in nature, their encryptions were different yet she was sure that with both of the devices a hacker could have fun. Not that she would do that again. That had proved devastating. Aria still wondered what happened to the girl and how she didn't know the girl was a godling. But she had died of the sickness.

Aria walked the few blocks to Dueling Dragons and found the shop near empty. Only Sergei sat at the desk, from the window he didn't look well. Aria tried to pull open the door and it was locked. She knocked on the pane glass to catch the man's attention. Something was wrong and Aria wasn't liking this one bit.

Anyone around these part have characters or NPCs that own telecommunications companies that may have assets in Africa? And if so, interested in a brief tie-in to the Sierra Leone thread? Jacques is planning to take control of the telecom towers in Sierra Leone temporarily (which will likely tun into weeks and months and possibly into more such towers in other countries over time).