Anarchists Log - Apr. 10, 2018
Cloaked and covered head-to toe, with a full-faced mask, Hafiz speaks in a breathy, low tone. It's obvious he uses amplification in his mask to make himself heard. He explains the situation as Nalan drives the team to the entrance to Akicilik.
"A few of my brethren were harvesting our crop when they heard something on the wall behind them. It turned out to be sledgehammers - breaking through the wall. It seems we have been discovered - we're unsure by whom, but there has been some recent construction on the street level."
Upon arrival to Akicilik, the team observes that the "brethren" includes a number of ghouls - and given his covering, they conclude that Hafiz is likely one as well.
They check the hole, now abandoned, and Tiku's newly-summoned earth spirit starts to patch it up. As they further discuss the situation. Hafiz all but begs them to help make sure they are safe; to check on the team that found them, and to hide them if necessary.
Melon, finding it difficult to connect from underground, moves back to the street and snoops on the communications and cameras around the construction site, finding that there is some vague chatter on the subject, and a good amount of personnel and machinery on site.
Kix informs Jotun of the situation, his conversation with Nalan having been interrupted by the arrival of Melon (and her new-found infatuation - or maybe confusion - with the Technomancer). Jotun is, understandably angered by all of it, as Tiku is doing the opposite of hiding - he's patching the hole, and has just started warding the area.
Almost on command, the chatter blows up about the new, and rather powerful, astral presence. Security may be on its way, and the team decides evacuation is the best idea. Kix, of course, had suggested this at the beginning and lets the team know that.
In hopes of a distraction, Jotun calls Ivar and asks for some violence directed at the construction area. Iron Legs tells him to give him a minute but comes back soon with a question: "How do you feel about mortars?"
The Akicilic are getting more nervous by the minute, but are drilling into the nearby sewer in order to form an escape route. They are waiting for the signal from The Security Team, but preparing admirably. Some are gathering what crop they can, others are gathering what posessions they can.
Melon's various hacking attempts are unsuccessful - it seems there is more security presence than when they began. However, he still has access to the communications - and finds that the Corporate Strike Team is one minute away.
Tiku makes the call to evacuate, Jotun calls in the mortar strikes for Ivar's contacts, and Hafiz turns up his amplification to inform the rest of the commune. Chaos ensues, but the evacuation goes well for the moment. The Akicilik start through the sewers along with Tiku, and Kix. Melon and Nalan start back toward Yeni in the van, Melon trying to convince her to head back in order to better his connection in his current battle with a security decker - from Mitsuhama.
The strike team arrives just as the mortars do, and Jotun decides it's finally time to abandon his guard post in the commune's tunnels. He rushes through, collapses the escape route behind him, and runs after the group of 60+ individuals.
There is something brewing, however. A large, dark, powerful magical presence some distance away has started growing tentacles. They extend quickly, and detach, becoming some form of serpent, and they're coming for this group.
Tiku throws up a quick-and-dirty ward, while Kix takes cover and readies her AK. Jotun walks calmly into battle, axe glowing, and the serpents arrive.
The first engulfs and traps Jotun, while the rest attack the ward, unable to get through for the moment. Gunfire, axes, gnashing maws and lightning are the order of the day, damaging the nasty unknown enemies while the ward holds true until the last moment.
The team is victorious, but the Akicilik are shaken. They cower, scream, and cry, unsure of what just happened, but they follow the team and Hafiz to their new home - an abandoned subway station.
They will have to rebuild. But they are safe. For now.
