May 26, 2014
The Necromancer’s ghosts prove to be formidable opponents. Using Postcognition the group determines that Diego, possessed by the General, has dragged the Necromancer’s nearly dead body back to the motel where another ghost, the Surgeon, possessed the motel owner and began tending to his master’s wounds. The General then hopped into Hondo’s van and headed to town. When this is discovered, Hondo has Abel take control of the car and the General breaks the window and jumps out. The General resumes his trip into Mexico City by having the ghost of the Necromancer’s mother possess a passing trucker.
Meanwhile, using ghost-damaging weapons kitbashed by Quinn and enchanted by Hondo, the group subdues the Surgeon and takes control of the Necromancer’s unconscious body. After a quick night’s sleep (fatigue and Paradox were threatening to overwhelm the group) they soak the Necromancer’s clothes in gasoline, create a key-word triggered flame spell then load him into the van and head out looking for the General who Hondo tracks through Diego’s cell phone.
They eventually catch up with the General who is now driving a truck and heading back to the motel. The group drives him off the side of the road and confront their possessed friend. Soon the Necromancer’s mother drives up in a stolen ambulance. The group offers a trade - Diego for the Necromancer. The General agrees and after the Necromancer is loaded into the ambulance and driven off he abandons Diego’s body. As soon as Diego is freed he creates a portal to the ocean and throws the only new item that he is carrying through. It is, as he had hoped, the General’s anchor (now in two senses of the word). Meanwhile Hondo triggers the spell that ignites the Necromancer in flames. The ambulance screeches to a halt and the Necromancer’s mother throws herself against the group in mad grief but is ultimately defeated.
While Anya, Hondo and Quinn pursue the possessed Diego, Ted and Sylver remain at the Temple to keep an eye on Gimp while he performs the Aztec ritual. Five days later the vampire emerges...Awakened. Back home, the Consilium is displeased that the Necromancer was not brought back alive, but is happy with the results of the Aztec ritual on the vampire.
Highlights:
- In the process of preparing for combat against ghosts Hondo performs 5 vulgar spells in a row. The last spell goes badly and permanently transforms his teeth into shark-like forms.
- Hondo begins stockpiling mana in the form of chicken nuggets
- Ghosts prove particularly difficult because when their host body is nearly dead they tend to move to another teammate.
- Diego exorcises the pendant which anchors the ghost of the Necromancer’s mother.
- Gimp begs to not be taken back to the Consilium after the ritual, to no avail.
- The Consilium tells the group that they will be able to perform the Aztec ritual on themselves over the next two weeks. After that, the site will be “locked down.” It appears that the ritual increases one’s skill in the Death Arcana.