Resurrection, Part 2
Resurrection, Part 2
Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and all characters from the
show are the property of Joss Whedon. The Cthulhu Mythos material
is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game
(copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by
Daniel Harms. SAVE is based on the organization in the Chill
Roleplaying game (copyright Mayfair Games Inc.) and the earlier
version of the game (copyright Pacesetter, Ltd.). The character
of Hector Gonzales is loosely based on a sample character in the
Mayfair version of Chill. The character of Melissa Johnson is my
own invention.
March 31: Los Angeles
Hector met Melissa at the airport. The 36 year old SAVE envoy
greeted her cheerfully and made small talk as they waited for her
luggage. He avoided talking about their mission until they were in
the car then asked "So what do we know about the people we'll be
working with?"
Melissa replied "Most of them are high school students. One of whom
is the current Slayer. The core group has been actively confronting
various Hellmouth denizens for over two years. My initial contact
was Rupert Giles. We're going to stop at his place before we meet
the others."
Hector shook his head "We're supposed to involve kids in this?
Still, I suppose they'd have been dead long before now if they didn't
know something about what they were doing."
March 31: Sunnydale
Giles and Buffy entered the library. Melissa and Hector followed,
Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Willow, and Xander were already there. Oz
was in the book cage in werewolf form.
Giles began the introductions, pointing to each of the group in turn
"This is Angel, Willow Rosenburg, Xander Harris, Wesley
Wyndham-Pryce, and Cordelia Chase. The werewolf in the book cage is
Oz. He's safe as long as he's locked up on the nights immediately
before, on, or immediately after the full moon."
Melissa added "I'm Melissa Johnson, and this is Hector Gonzales.
We're SAVE envoys. In our mundane lives, Hector is an FBI agent
based in Los Angeles and I'm a buyer and seller of antiquities."
Hector grinned "Which gives her a perfect excuse to poke around all
sorts of odd places."
Willow asked "SAVE?"
Melissa answered "Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata. Founded by
Charles O'Boylan in 1844. The international headquarters is in
Dublin, Ireland. We investigate and, when necessary, deal with
supernatural events. We're allies, more or less, of the Watchers,
although we've always had a rather prickly relationship with the
Watcher's Council."
Wesley commented "I thought that SAVE didn't involve itself with the
Hellmouth."
Melissa nodded "Usually that's true. For that matter, we aren't
actually here as an official SAVE team." Melissa sat at a nearby
table and waited for Giles to proceed.
Giles reported "We've briefed Melissa and Hector on what we've
learned and they've provided us with some new information. Melissa
discovered a prophecy regarding Chorazin in the Dee translation of
the Irem Codex. It said that he will be 'struck down by a Watcher's
daughter and her guardian'. Just below that passage was a note by
John Dee suggesting that the Twelfth Sathlatta be used. A book which
may include this spell is here in Sunnydale. A version of the
Celaeno Commentaries is in the library. Unfortunately there were
several editions, and I don't know if we have the right one. We can
divide up the research chores. There are several other books that
are worth checking out, in addition to the Commentaries. Meanwhile
Hector can help Angel and Buffy with patrols. Remember, don't try to
confront Chorazin directly. He is too powerful for a direct attack.
He probably also has most of the local vampires working for him."
April 1: Sunnydale
Melissa and Willow sat in the library in front of a pile of books.
Giles and Wesley were in Giles' office going through another pile.
Willow looked up from the Celaeno Commentaries with a tired
expression on her face. "I may have found something. Haven't any of
these people ever heard of an index?"
Melissa smiled "Most of them didn't bother. They were mainly writing
for themselves. The Commentaries are different. The translators
were writing for other Watchers, so I had hoped the books would be
organized better, but ..." She studied Willow's page "That seems to
be the Sathlatta. It's written a bit obscurely."
Melissa and Willow spent a few minutes sorting through the wording.
Finally, Melissa commented "I think I've figured this out. It calls
an avatar of Hastur. The avatar channels Hastur's power to perform a
single task. There are two casters, one of them a primary caster and
generally five assistants. The problem is that the avatar possesses
the primary caster and may not leave after the task is finished. If
that happens, the only way to prevent catastrophe is to kill the
primary caster. There are also additional comments about the
ritual." She shook her head. "We have to find another answer, and
soon."
Willow nodded. "We'd still better go over this first, we may need
it later."
After a few more minutes Willow looked up thoughtfully "My father's
name is Ira. Did you know that Ira means Watchful? Which means I'm
the primary caster. That makes Xander the secondary caster, I think.
He is really NOT going to like this." She paused and continued "We'd
better tell Giles about this. How long do we have to find something
else?"
Melissa considered "About two days. Hector found an energy siphon
that Chorazin is using to pull power from the Hellmouth. Before
long he'll have gathered enough for whatever ritual he plans."
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