Encounterlogs
Nehas Odd Encounter Sr Irene 241107
The tale unfolds in the early hours within a grand, Edwardian bedroom, where Neha, a young and conscientious doctor residing in the mysterious town of Haven, finds herself entangled in an extraordinary situation far removed from her usual professional duties. On this particular morning, rather than receiving updates about patients, Neha is greeted by a cryptic notification featuring a lotus flower, the inception of a bewildering exchange with Dr. Tom Brodsky. Tom, an acquaintance whose memory barely lingers in Neha's mind, plunges her into an unexpected quest surrounding an underground auction for an artifact claimed to possess magical healing abilities. Despite her skepticism and the comfort of her warm bed beckoning her to disregard the plea, Neha's inherent sense of responsibility and a nudge from her financial predicaments compel her to consider attending the auction on Tom's behalf, teased by the promise of a potential reward.
As Neha grudgingly makes her way to the auction, hosted by the enigmatic Golden Shadow organization and attended by a motley array of Haven's factions, the setting shifts to a lavishly appointed town hall. Neha, who feels starkly out of place among the well-dressed attendees and their supernatural underpinnings, is steered through the crowd by a seemingly friendly but mysterious blonde woman wearing a brooch suggestive of the Golden Shadow's influence. This encounter underscores Neha's isolation in a world where her medical expertise and skepticism of the supernatural are overshadowed by the tangible realities of magical artifacts and obscure entities. The doctor's journey, motivated by a mix of altruism, financial need, and a dash of curiosity, brings her face-to-face with the hidden depths of Haven, challenging her understanding of healing and the forces that govern her enigmatic town. As she navigates this unfamiliar terrain, Neha's story intertwines with the broader tapestry of Haven's secretive communities, setting the stage for a confrontation with the unknown.
(Neha's odd encounter(SRIrene):SRIrene)
[Wed Nov 6 2024]
In a regal, Edwardian bedroom
Brimming with historical charm and elegance, this expansive bedroom has high ceilings and large, sash windows that allow the natural light to pour in to the spacious bedroom. The interior lighting is soft and warm, emanating from strategically placed lamps with fringed and beaded shades as well as a central chandelier of brass and crystal that serves as an absolutely stunning focal point. Embellished with Damask-patterned wallpaper in shades of burgundy and gold across the walls' upper halves, it is beautifully complemented by the richness of dark wood wainscoting below. Matching hardwood flooring is highly polished, enhancing the herringbone pattern and its natural grain, and a few antique, Persian rugs with intricate designs tie in with the room's colour scheme.
It is night, about 41F(5C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. There is a waxing crescent moon.
(Your target and their allies find themselves in a deadly race against members of The Golden Shadow for a powerful artifact rumored to be hidden in Haven. The artifact is said to have the power to strengthen or weaken supernatural forces. The Golden Shadow mercenary group, ever the opportunists, are seeking to acquire the artifact to sell to the highest bidder. In this high stakes chase, the target must use their wits and strength to outmaneuver the group and secure the artifact first. Along the way, the target will have to navigate through intricate traps and possibly even negotiate with the mercenaries. The fate of Haven could very well depend on the outcome of this encounter.)
It's early in the morning in this burgundy-walled bedroom; far too early for most of Haven's residents, whilst night-stalkers are just about getting their last meals in for the night. But a young doctor like Neha isn't allowed much sleep, and it's time to rise and shine, princess.
Usually by now she'd be getting updates on her phone about any interesting new patients. Today, however, it seems the Clinic is quiet, and instead the most pressing notification she gets features an image of a lotus flower. In comes the accompanying flurry of texts.
> Hey Neha, you seen this?
> [pic]
> They're saying it's some kind of Hindu healing magic, what do you know about it?
Bleary-eyed and barely-awake, Neha squints down at her phone, peering at it amidst the darkness of her phone and the cozy, warm blanket that she's cocooned in. Her phone also sees fit to notify her that she's not currently trying to chat with or meet with anyone just as the message rolls in. Thanks, MyHaven.
The response whoever-it-is gets is first a Who is this and then, once Neha's actually looked at the image, a wrinkling of her nose followed by a sigh. Fine, two-handed typing it is.
It looks like a flower, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at more than that. There's a lot of symbolism around all sorts of flowers, lotuses are usually associated with rebirth and purity.
She'll give it another... three minutes before she gets out of bed. Just three minutes. Just... three...
Neha's eyes start to drift closed again.
> Dr Tom Brodsky ...
This is the only explanation Tom offers Neha in reply as to his identity. Apparently he just expects Neha to remember him. Was there some Tom Brodsky at a medical conference she went to? There are probably a lot of Toms, a lot of Brodskys, he just has one of those names, one of those faces. Though the ellipsis at the end of that text suggests he's probably a little put out she doesn't have his number saved.
> You said you work in Haven right? They're holding some underground auction for it. Listed as having magic healing properties.
A pause, with the dot dot dot of typing and untyping, and then in comes another text:
> I'll buy it if you don't want it?
In her sleepy, slowly-loosening grip, the phone goes fwomp face-down upon Neha's blanket-cocoon, and it's only the next buzz-buzz-buzz that rouses her again, the woman letting out a big yawn and peering at the screen again. There's a slow blink, trying to figure out if she knows a Tom Brodsky. There really are a lot of Toms out there. Oh well.
Oh, right, sorry I had to get a new phone. Wiped my contacts, Neha types back. Convenient excuse, surely. Who's gonna know? I just started working in Haven, yeah. Are you sure about this? It's probably a scam. They wouldn't need doctors if there were magical healing property flowers going around.
Neha has to shake her head a little at her fellow healthcare worker. She expected better. Seriously?
At least digitally, Tom is insistent. Maybe if he had this kind of energy when he actually met Neha in person, she'd remember him better. But he's a shy little wallflower himself, who buries himself in academic excellence and, perhaps, a passing interest in the occult. A tale as old as time. So he tries to convince her in the only way he can: by flooding her with a series of journalistic articles she probably won't have the time to do more than skim. From the link alone, it's immediately clear that they don't come from any journal with integrity enough to be accessed via PubMed or Elsevier. (And that's saying a lot!) But depending on Neha's familiarity with Network666, and some corners of the supernatural dark web, they do in fact look to be reputable sources on supernatural science.
Then, he tries to ply her more directly.
> If you can get it for me, I will pay you good money for it.
And tries his luck, because he may not get another chance before she next decides to wipe her contacts.
> And buy you dinner? :)
This time, Neha does actually groan out loud as the links start flooding in, sinking back into her sheets and staring up at the ceiling. Rent is due in literally three days, and she does /not/ have the spending money to be bidding on some stupid scam for someone whose face she doesn't even remember, much less his name. How do auctions even work, actually? Neha's never been to one. Fucking hell.
I've got work in an hour, she types back, not opening a single link. They can remain blue.
...
... she can't leave it at that. Her upbringing won't allow it. Neha curses herself and starts typing again. Why is it so hard to just say no?!
I'll see what I can do if you've got a link or something, and a budget?
She's ignoring the last question entirely. Surely he can catch a hint. Surely. SURELY.
Gods only know what's going through Tom's head right now. This might be the most interaction he's ever had with a woman who wasn't either a colleague or there for a mammogram. (If she does end up remembering him, though, he is a practicing oncologist. Not at any prestigious hospital, though, nor even in one as supernaturally prestigious as Haven's.)
But he does send her a link -- to the auction, not to a dinner reservation. Seems it's taking place in the Town Hall, with various representatives of Haven's cults, sects and factions in attendance; even some organisations from out of town. If this is a scam, it seems to be a very, very successful scam -- but it appears to be run by the Golden Shadow, and they're not above successful scams, either.
> 20k budget. But if you can get it for less than that, I'll give you 50/ of the difference? And you can test it out until I can come pick it up.
Neha squints down at her phone. 20k budget?! What the hell is this man doing? Does he have his life figured out already? Student debt paid off? Does he live at work and get paid in gold coins?
The woman oozes all sorts of 'I don't want to do this' energy as she musters up the courage to climb out of bed. There's an idle check of the auction time before then - does she have the time for a shower? She'll take one if so. Otherwise, it's just becoming presentable enough to be in public before she goes off into her shitty car to drive off.
If I get it, I can mail it to you or something so you can get it faster :) Neha types back to Tom on the way to the car - definitely not while driving. She doesn't text and drive. Whatever means she doesn't have to entertain a guest she doesn't even know in her apartment. You can never be too careful around men these days.
There is just about enough time for a shower, if Neha's willing to risk missing the opening ceremony, where there will be an opportunity to meet, greet, and grab some refreshments. (Also, this is Haven, so the refreshments will definitely include blood.)
Tom doesn't reply to Neha's text for a long, long time. He's probably sitting there and agonising on the best way to segue this into some kind of a chance, and in the end, the best he can come up with is:
> OK
Well, whatever he's doing right with his life, it's obviously not due to an overabundance of charm.
A quiet susurrus fills the town hall when Neha arrives. Shower or no, the chatter abounds; plenty of people have arrived early for the auction. She's greeted by the needlessly attractive venue staff, who despite their likely low-rung position in the organisation they represent, are wearing stylish designer suits and dresses. The only possible clue as to their position is the fact that these expensive clothes are not bespoke. (There are collar gaps.) "Right this way, Dr Neha Pandit," a petite blonde woman whom she's definitely never met in her life ushers her in, smiling like they're old friends. Pinned to her dress is a brooch depicting a golden dagger, plunged through a shadowy globe. Ominous.
Neha is a vegetarian, so she'll pass on the blood. She's also not a vampire, so she'll doubly pass on the blood. She does get that shower, and misses the opening ceremony while she's at it, her poor car chug-chug-chugging along the road on the way to the town hall aaaall the way across town.
The doctor is very obviously out of place when she finally arrives to the auction hall. Her clothes aren't bespoke either, so she'd fit right in with the staff if she was maybe just a little curvier and a lot less tired-looking. Unfortunately, she's been blessed with a resting bitch face so all she can do is stand out and feel poor amidst this throng, while emitting all her 'I want to go home' desires into the void. Please let this be over soon, god.
"Oh, hello," Neha mumbles to the blonde woman, blinking at her as though she's trying to figure out if she knows her from somewhere - the answer is looking like a nope - while she follows along. "Uh... thanks," she adds belatedly, and waits to see what's going to happen. Maybe she should have read one of those articles and actually figured out what's going on here.
As Neha grudgingly makes her way to the auction, hosted by the enigmatic Golden Shadow organization and attended by a motley array of Haven's factions, the setting shifts to a lavishly appointed town hall. Neha, who feels starkly out of place among the well-dressed attendees and their supernatural underpinnings, is steered through the crowd by a seemingly friendly but mysterious blonde woman wearing a brooch suggestive of the Golden Shadow's influence. This encounter underscores Neha's isolation in a world where her medical expertise and skepticism of the supernatural are overshadowed by the tangible realities of magical artifacts and obscure entities. The doctor's journey, motivated by a mix of altruism, financial need, and a dash of curiosity, brings her face-to-face with the hidden depths of Haven, challenging her understanding of healing and the forces that govern her enigmatic town. As she navigates this unfamiliar terrain, Neha's story intertwines with the broader tapestry of Haven's secretive communities, setting the stage for a confrontation with the unknown.
(Neha's odd encounter(SRIrene):SRIrene)
[Wed Nov 6 2024]
In a regal, Edwardian bedroom
Brimming with historical charm and elegance, this expansive bedroom has high ceilings and large, sash windows that allow the natural light to pour in to the spacious bedroom. The interior lighting is soft and warm, emanating from strategically placed lamps with fringed and beaded shades as well as a central chandelier of brass and crystal that serves as an absolutely stunning focal point. Embellished with Damask-patterned wallpaper in shades of burgundy and gold across the walls' upper halves, it is beautifully complemented by the richness of dark wood wainscoting below. Matching hardwood flooring is highly polished, enhancing the herringbone pattern and its natural grain, and a few antique, Persian rugs with intricate designs tie in with the room's colour scheme.
It is night, about 41F(5C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. There is a waxing crescent moon.
(Your target and their allies find themselves in a deadly race against members of The Golden Shadow for a powerful artifact rumored to be hidden in Haven. The artifact is said to have the power to strengthen or weaken supernatural forces. The Golden Shadow mercenary group, ever the opportunists, are seeking to acquire the artifact to sell to the highest bidder. In this high stakes chase, the target must use their wits and strength to outmaneuver the group and secure the artifact first. Along the way, the target will have to navigate through intricate traps and possibly even negotiate with the mercenaries. The fate of Haven could very well depend on the outcome of this encounter.)
It's early in the morning in this burgundy-walled bedroom; far too early for most of Haven's residents, whilst night-stalkers are just about getting their last meals in for the night. But a young doctor like Neha isn't allowed much sleep, and it's time to rise and shine, princess.
Usually by now she'd be getting updates on her phone about any interesting new patients. Today, however, it seems the Clinic is quiet, and instead the most pressing notification she gets features an image of a lotus flower. In comes the accompanying flurry of texts.
> Hey Neha, you seen this?
> [pic]
> They're saying it's some kind of Hindu healing magic, what do you know about it?
Bleary-eyed and barely-awake, Neha squints down at her phone, peering at it amidst the darkness of her phone and the cozy, warm blanket that she's cocooned in. Her phone also sees fit to notify her that she's not currently trying to chat with or meet with anyone just as the message rolls in. Thanks, MyHaven.
The response whoever-it-is gets is first a Who is this and then, once Neha's actually looked at the image, a wrinkling of her nose followed by a sigh. Fine, two-handed typing it is.
It looks like a flower, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at more than that. There's a lot of symbolism around all sorts of flowers, lotuses are usually associated with rebirth and purity.
She'll give it another... three minutes before she gets out of bed. Just three minutes. Just... three...
Neha's eyes start to drift closed again.
> Dr Tom Brodsky ...
This is the only explanation Tom offers Neha in reply as to his identity. Apparently he just expects Neha to remember him. Was there some Tom Brodsky at a medical conference she went to? There are probably a lot of Toms, a lot of Brodskys, he just has one of those names, one of those faces. Though the ellipsis at the end of that text suggests he's probably a little put out she doesn't have his number saved.
> You said you work in Haven right? They're holding some underground auction for it. Listed as having magic healing properties.
A pause, with the dot dot dot of typing and untyping, and then in comes another text:
> I'll buy it if you don't want it?
In her sleepy, slowly-loosening grip, the phone goes fwomp face-down upon Neha's blanket-cocoon, and it's only the next buzz-buzz-buzz that rouses her again, the woman letting out a big yawn and peering at the screen again. There's a slow blink, trying to figure out if she knows a Tom Brodsky. There really are a lot of Toms out there. Oh well.
Oh, right, sorry I had to get a new phone. Wiped my contacts, Neha types back. Convenient excuse, surely. Who's gonna know? I just started working in Haven, yeah. Are you sure about this? It's probably a scam. They wouldn't need doctors if there were magical healing property flowers going around.
Neha has to shake her head a little at her fellow healthcare worker. She expected better. Seriously?
At least digitally, Tom is insistent. Maybe if he had this kind of energy when he actually met Neha in person, she'd remember him better. But he's a shy little wallflower himself, who buries himself in academic excellence and, perhaps, a passing interest in the occult. A tale as old as time. So he tries to convince her in the only way he can: by flooding her with a series of journalistic articles she probably won't have the time to do more than skim. From the link alone, it's immediately clear that they don't come from any journal with integrity enough to be accessed via PubMed or Elsevier. (And that's saying a lot!) But depending on Neha's familiarity with Network666, and some corners of the supernatural dark web, they do in fact look to be reputable sources on supernatural science.
Then, he tries to ply her more directly.
> If you can get it for me, I will pay you good money for it.
And tries his luck, because he may not get another chance before she next decides to wipe her contacts.
> And buy you dinner? :)
This time, Neha does actually groan out loud as the links start flooding in, sinking back into her sheets and staring up at the ceiling. Rent is due in literally three days, and she does /not/ have the spending money to be bidding on some stupid scam for someone whose face she doesn't even remember, much less his name. How do auctions even work, actually? Neha's never been to one. Fucking hell.
I've got work in an hour, she types back, not opening a single link. They can remain blue.
...
... she can't leave it at that. Her upbringing won't allow it. Neha curses herself and starts typing again. Why is it so hard to just say no?!
I'll see what I can do if you've got a link or something, and a budget?
She's ignoring the last question entirely. Surely he can catch a hint. Surely. SURELY.
Gods only know what's going through Tom's head right now. This might be the most interaction he's ever had with a woman who wasn't either a colleague or there for a mammogram. (If she does end up remembering him, though, he is a practicing oncologist. Not at any prestigious hospital, though, nor even in one as supernaturally prestigious as Haven's.)
But he does send her a link -- to the auction, not to a dinner reservation. Seems it's taking place in the Town Hall, with various representatives of Haven's cults, sects and factions in attendance; even some organisations from out of town. If this is a scam, it seems to be a very, very successful scam -- but it appears to be run by the Golden Shadow, and they're not above successful scams, either.
> 20k budget. But if you can get it for less than that, I'll give you 50/ of the difference? And you can test it out until I can come pick it up.
Neha squints down at her phone. 20k budget?! What the hell is this man doing? Does he have his life figured out already? Student debt paid off? Does he live at work and get paid in gold coins?
The woman oozes all sorts of 'I don't want to do this' energy as she musters up the courage to climb out of bed. There's an idle check of the auction time before then - does she have the time for a shower? She'll take one if so. Otherwise, it's just becoming presentable enough to be in public before she goes off into her shitty car to drive off.
If I get it, I can mail it to you or something so you can get it faster :) Neha types back to Tom on the way to the car - definitely not while driving. She doesn't text and drive. Whatever means she doesn't have to entertain a guest she doesn't even know in her apartment. You can never be too careful around men these days.
There is just about enough time for a shower, if Neha's willing to risk missing the opening ceremony, where there will be an opportunity to meet, greet, and grab some refreshments. (Also, this is Haven, so the refreshments will definitely include blood.)
Tom doesn't reply to Neha's text for a long, long time. He's probably sitting there and agonising on the best way to segue this into some kind of a chance, and in the end, the best he can come up with is:
> OK
Well, whatever he's doing right with his life, it's obviously not due to an overabundance of charm.
A quiet susurrus fills the town hall when Neha arrives. Shower or no, the chatter abounds; plenty of people have arrived early for the auction. She's greeted by the needlessly attractive venue staff, who despite their likely low-rung position in the organisation they represent, are wearing stylish designer suits and dresses. The only possible clue as to their position is the fact that these expensive clothes are not bespoke. (There are collar gaps.) "Right this way, Dr Neha Pandit," a petite blonde woman whom she's definitely never met in her life ushers her in, smiling like they're old friends. Pinned to her dress is a brooch depicting a golden dagger, plunged through a shadowy globe. Ominous.
Neha is a vegetarian, so she'll pass on the blood. She's also not a vampire, so she'll doubly pass on the blood. She does get that shower, and misses the opening ceremony while she's at it, her poor car chug-chug-chugging along the road on the way to the town hall aaaall the way across town.
The doctor is very obviously out of place when she finally arrives to the auction hall. Her clothes aren't bespoke either, so she'd fit right in with the staff if she was maybe just a little curvier and a lot less tired-looking. Unfortunately, she's been blessed with a resting bitch face so all she can do is stand out and feel poor amidst this throng, while emitting all her 'I want to go home' desires into the void. Please let this be over soon, god.
"Oh, hello," Neha mumbles to the blonde woman, blinking at her as though she's trying to figure out if she knows her from somewhere - the answer is looking like a nope - while she follows along. "Uh... thanks," she adds belatedly, and waits to see what's going to happen. Maybe she should have read one of those articles and actually figured out what's going on here.