Anael speaks to Humba'el

[Olaf]

Having been given the name of a fellow-Malefactor with a little more experience with complex technology by Onoskelis, Anael makes contact:

Anael: Humba'el? It's Anael. Do you have a moment?
[At first there's no answer, but about half an hour later a Slavic-accentend voice replies.]
Humba'el: Anael. Ah, sorry about that. I was slightly busy. What can I do for you?
Anael: I have a favour to ask. I'm looking to do some surveillance that might be beneficial to your ministry, but sadly I can't do it without the help of someone a little bit better with gadgets than I am.
Humba'el: Well, you come to the right man. What sort of surveillance are you thinking of?
Anael: A phone tap. I'd need a really, really good one, though. I don't want the bloodsuckers to find the thing. It would have to work with a mobile, too. Maybe if you could get location, calls made and received, and make it undetectable? Constant audio would also be amazing.
Humba'el: Bloodsuckers? Well... I don't have much practice with relics that affect the Second World but I am willing to try
Anael: Actually, Humba'el, I meant vampires. As far as I know they're not part of the Second World. I thought you'd know about them, being a Cryptic and all.
Humba'el: [There's a pause] My thought was that they are born from bodies taken by ghosts and then discarded This is how they have seeming of life but no soul as such I think your friend in my House has done some work on them. Perhaps he can tell you more?
Anael: Yeah, he's not really up on the metaphysical stuff. He just wants them to stop hurting people. He's told me that they drink people's blood and that kills people, which you can understand from my end is pretty bad. I figured if you make the tap, I'll plant it, and we both get the information we want.
Humba'el: This is understandable. I find the idea... unsettling, myself.
Anael: Assuming you're interested, of course.
Humba'el: Yes, I am always interested in these projects. So, you want a bug to put into a mobile, that will tell you who is called and maybe let you hear what goes on, yes?
Anael: Yes, I suppose so. I think the most important thing is that they don't *find* it, all that stuff about people changing if they know they're being watched, wouldn't be very useful information. If you can make it so there's a constant audio feed, I'd like that too. Oh and another thing... my friend says he's touchy about certain people seeing the stuff he's made. You can come with an install the thing yourself if you want, so I don't have to see it?
Humba'el: That is kind of you to offer, yes. Will I be able to retreive the device when the job is done?
Anael: Not sure about that, to be honest. The method of insertion might well be the best method for getting it out, providing it can be done quickly. Or you could make it to fail after a certain amount of time? Would that still be problematic?
Humba'el: Hmm. That would be possible, certainly, but difficult. Tell me Anael, do you happen to know any Scourges perhaps?
Anael: Not personally, but I think I might be seeing where you're going. But go on, just in case.
Humba'el: Well, it seems that the Angels of the Firmament could lend a useful hand to such an endevour This is something that has occured to me before Sadly I know of none with the requisite memory of their powers.
Anael: Neither do I, off the top of my head, but I'm sure I could find someone. Thing is, the information I'd have from them would only include their say so. It's not that the members of this court aren't trustworthy, but a Scourge might miss details out or give things more or less significance depending on their point of view. A bug is impartial. Unless, of cou rse, you're very good at what you do [mental grin]
Humba'el: I am sorry Anael, I don't quite get your drift. What do you think a Scourge might miss out?
Anael: Certain words, intonations thereof, that kind of thing. Obviously they'll mention the bomb that's about to blow up the city, they'll get the important stuff, but subtle stuff can be just as important. With the quality of things your house are able to make, I think they'd give me the chance to pick up that subtlety.
Humba'el: A chuckle. "Ah, yes. I do not disagree Anael. But I feel that our two Houses in concert could accomplish still more: a bug that can make use of the evocations of the Firmament would be most useful, yes?"
Anael: On that I am certainly in agreement. But I don't know of anyone who could make one of those, though sometimes my friend talks about being close. Maybe we should wait until he can, if he can... yeah, he probably can, right? You'd know...
Humba'el: I image so - if not now then with some work, yes. But we need a someone skilled in the Firmament to imbue the thing with its power At any rate - I will be glad to build for you this bug. I will speak to you when I have some success. And if you hear of any Scourges passing through you will give me a line, yes?
Anael: Sounds like a good idea, as it wouldn't just benefit us but the entire court. Thanks, Humba'el, I'll be waiting to hear from you.
Humba'el: With luck I will speak to you in a day or two, Anael. And good luck too with your... bloodsuckers.

[luke]

[If Jess asks Mark about the idea that the Vampires are bodies discarded by Ghosts, I'll say that I'm very skeptical of that idea, because they are quite clearly People, in the sense that they have personalities and intentionality, and I can't really see how that would happen to a body that was just abandoned by ghosts. Also, it wouldn't explain why they can't come out during the day, and how they can make Ghouls, and why they STINK OF CAINE!]

[luke]

[Mark probably won't use the word Skeptical, thought. He'd probably say comment that the Cryptic is talking out of his arse in an attempt to hide the fact that he knows jack shit.]