(Champions)

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No Rest for the Watchman, Act 6

Harrisburg Lane South

This once middle class section of town has fallen into disrepair from the effects of aging and poor maintenance. The rows of two-story homes are mere ghosts of the past. Some of the vinyl siding on a few of them are cracked and faded after decades of neglect. Children play unsupervised in some of the now weed-strewn vacant lots. Graffiti along brick walls mark the territory of various gangs trying to claim the neighborhood as their own. The nearby elementary school is surrounded by a tall security fence, which has a guarded gate entrance. This is definitely the low-income housing part of Colonial Bay.

Wujen nods. "I know of several. One lives here in town. Seek out the owner of the Inner Light bookstore. He has several good references, and teaches people to use those very weapons. He has quite the collection, in fact."

Sidhe is perches on the side of a wall, across the street form the message. He has a pad and pencil in hand and seems to be sketchign not only the message, but the entire wall.

Guardian talks with Wujen about various subjects of interest.

Sidhe pauses his pencil and seems to be closely scrutinizing the pad in his hand and comparing it ott he wlal before him, seeing if he needs ot make any changes.

A warm, fetid wind sweeps down the street. Shadows dance and moan as a reddish light illuminates the street.

Guardian says, "I'm less interested in uh--*sigh*--I'm less interested in fighting with a sword, than in reforging a broken one."

Equinox looks around, familiar with this lightshow.

Sidhe blinkblinks and looks up and down the street trying ot see what's causing the red light as he tucks his pad and pencil away, his body beginning to tense.

Wujen sniffs the air. "That can't be good."

Watchman appears atop a nearby building and gazes eyelessly down at the gathered heroes.

Guardian turns towards the cast of red light, and quietly says, "Someone else wondering about the murders?"

Sidhe scans the street, almost missing the newly appearing figure, but not quite. He trains his big green eyes on Equinox and studies the figure closely, trying to recognise it.

Equinox moves closer to Guardian, "Be calm.. but that *is* the murderer.

Guardian says, "Be *calm*?"

Equinox nods, "Keep your wits about you and don't go blindly attacking him as so many other heroes would. You just might learn something."

Guardian takes two steps closer towards the Watchman, putting herself between the glowing figure and Equinox and Wujen.

Wujen looks at Equinox as if he's just announced he's God. "You're kidding, right?" Then his training kicks in, and the wisdom of his grandfather informs his actions. He drops into a ready stance, but does nothing. "Gods of my Ancestors, watch over me" he mutters.

Guardian says, "Why not? He's a murderer, I'm supposed to stop him."

Sidhe reaches back into his belt and withdraws the pad and pencil again, flipping to a new sheet. He starts to sketch the haunting figure.

The wind dies down and the light fades. The Watchman seems to become little more than a shadow. He drifts slowly down toward you.

Wujen says, "Not this time, young one. Something about this is not like other cases. In this, I ask you to bow to wisdom. Trust me when I tell you that Equinox knows more than you assume about such things."

Wujen thinks . o O (I hope. Let's hope all that knowledge is still there. Or at least a little? Please?)

Guardian calls to the ghostly figure, "All right murderer, come down here so I can--" and pauses as he starts to approach.

Watchman says, "Do YoU uNdErStAnD nOw?"

Sidhe hurries his sketching a bit more from his perch up on the wall as the figure approaches the heroes. wanting to try to finish it and check the details of hte sketch before the ghostly apparition vanishes.

Wujen steps forward. "Someone else called you back from the Yin world."

Guardian says, "Yes, I understand you're going to jail. Put the lantern down and surrender."

Equinox steps forward as well, even with Guardian, "Almost, but not all that I need to know. Tell me more, tell us how to help you!"

Sidhe winces at the mixed messages being given to the spectre...

Guardian turns slightly, almost shouting at Equinox, "Help him? Help him?! Are you out of your mind?"

Watchman moans, "fOrGoTtEn I wAs At PeAcE. ... JaIl... nO pRiSoN cAn HoLd JuStIcE, nO bArS cAn DeLaY jUdGeMeNt."

Equinox turns to Guardian very slowly, "And just how, my Golden Wonder, would you propose to hold a ghost?"

The Eye in the Watchman's icon gazes at Guardian.

Sidhe starts chcking a few details of his sketch against the wraithly form, statisfied he tucks the pad away again and disappear with a pop, reappears near Guardian, 'And can I be askin do ya actuayl be havin powers ta fight and contain one of hte spirit realm Miss Guardian because I'm knowing I dunna have them at least. whereas if we're helpin him ta be goin back ta the realm of rest peacefully we're achieving the same goal."

Wujen says to Guardian, "He is not alive. He has been called back to our world. He seeks only release to his fate." He turns to Watchman and says "How do we free you, Elder? How do we return you to your rest?"

Guardian starts slightly at Sidhe's appearance, barely keeping a punch in check. She says to Equinox, "Okay, I haven't had much success at that, but--"

Watchman writhes, "My CuRsE iS uNbRoKeN. mY nAmE sPoKeN."

Equinox nods at Guardian. "Yes, child, I know. This time use your mind instead of your fists. If we can find out what will lay the spirit to rest, the killings will stop."

[To Equinox] Wujen says, "If a spell holds him here, I could try to dispell it. But Wujen's Law number 7: Nothing's ever easy."

Equinox nods at Wujen, "It never hurts to try. I don't know if you can break the curse that holds him here."

Sidhe chuckles, 'Ya mean as easy as finding out his name which I'm presumin he canna be tellin us?"

Guardian says, "But what about the thirteen people killed last night? What do you tell their family? 'Oh, sorry, we managed to not to bring the killer to justice, we just got rid of him?'"

Wujen says, "What do you propose, we put the ghost on trial? The person you're after is whomever brought the spirit back, not the spirit itself. The blame lies there."

[To Equinox] Wujen says, "The Dragon's Supremacy only works on spellwork. If it's a curse, there's no way."

The Eye continues staring at Guardian.

Equinox nods, then looks at the Watchman, "Who do you come for tonight?"

Guardian looks at Wujen, and turns back to glare at Equinox. She says to the black and silver clad warrior, "You two had better be right."

Sidhe cocks his head and regards the ghostly figure, "I'm takin it that Watchman isnna the name we're ta be speakin... can you be pointin us ta your real name yourself or are your hands bein tied?"

Wujen smiles slightly. "Trust us. This is what we were born for."

Guardian stares back at the lantern, biting back whatever retort she might have for it.

Watchman sighs, "I hAvE aLwAyS bEeN tHe WaTcHmAn. ... I cOmE fOr ThOsE wHo PoIsOn, ThOsE wHo DeSeCrAtE... mY MeMoRy ... No. No mEmOrY."

Wujen says, "Has ... someone stolen his codename?"

Watchman asks Guardian, "ArE yOu An HoNeSt MaN?"

Sidhe says, "Honest she may be, I dunna think a man though..."

Guardian gulps. She says, "I'm a woman. And I haven't lied."

Guardian thinks . o O (Staying silent about the truth isn't lying, right?)

Equinox folds his arms and glances sidelong at Guardian...

Sidhe purses his lips as he looks over to Wujen, "I could be askin Connie, she's keeping better track of the heroes in town than I am, but I havena been hearing o another person caleld The Watchman..."

Watchman shudders, "I aM bLiNd. I cAn NoT sEe. My EyE sHatTeReD. i HaVe AlWaYs SoUgHt An HoNeSt MaN."

Guardian says, "What are you looking for? Why do you need an honest man?"

Equinox looks at the others, "We must find an honest man. Someone to be its eyes as it cannot see."

Equinox says, "If someone can be its eyes, it can find the source of the evil that calls it back to our world."

Wujen looks to Sidhe. "It may not be literal."

Wujen thinks, his sense warring with his inherited nature. His grandparents were very impulsive...

Wujen says, "How does he define 'honest?' That's a bit subjective, isn't it?"

Sidhe purses his lips, "Who's ta be foudn that's perfectly honest? I know I canna be claiming such, I try but I'm only human.. well as close as I can be gettin anyways..."

Equinox says, "These situations are always subjective. It's a curse, it can't come with a dissertation."

Guardian takes another step towards the Watchman. She stands up tall and straight, and says, "Tell me what you're seeking. I'll be your eyes. If I qualify."

Watchman gathers itself up and intones, "ThOsE tHaT wOuLd BlInD mY eYe ShAlL sHaRe My FaTe. I hAvE gAzEd InTo ThE vErY fAcE oF eViL aNd ThOuGh BlInDeD i ShAlL nOt LoOk AwAy."

Wujen nods. He prepares to step forward, but stops as Guardian does so. "Good luck," he whispers.

Guardian thinks . o O (Oh boy.)

Guardian whispers back to Wujen, "Thanks. If anything happens, get the sword to Joey."

Sidhe purses his lips as he ponders the latest verse, "the face of evil blinded him, therefor thos ethat would blind his eyes would be those touched by evil I'm thinkin... Sharing his curse.. that's just cruel.." he shudders a bit.

Watchman gazes at Guardian, "YoU hAvE tWo FaCeS."

Guardian says, "Because I wear a mask? I can take it off."

Sidhe says, "perhaps if you're having a hero identity and normal identity?"

Wujen nods to Guardian.

Wujen says, "He seeks someone with no secrets. To serve as his eyes, you'll have to reveal your Identity."

Watchman turns its gaze to Sidhe.

Sidhe blinkblinks.

Guardian says, "You're sure this will stop the killings, and find the person responsible?"

Sidhe says, "I dunna if any of us are sure of anything in all this..."

Wujen says, "Revealing yourself? I can't say. In order to meet his requirements, you might have to publically declare yourself. And mo... in sorcery there are no guarantees."

Wujen says, "If he finds the right person, then yes, I think we are correct. But I cannot guarantee just revealing your ID will make you the right person."

Wujen says, "In this, as in all things, it is a risk."

Equinox shakes his head, "We must truly find an honest man. Honest we may be, carrying secrets counts against us. But who..."

Equinox thinks . o O (Or perhaps.. an honest woman?)

Watchman wafts toward Wujen, "ArE yOu ThE mAgE?"

Sidhe whews a little at Watchamn stops staring at him... cursed twice in a month just wouldn't be fun...

Guardian takes off the golden helmet, and drops it. It chimes when it strikes the concrete, bouncing once and ringing again as it settles to a stop. She asks the Watchman again, "Will taking off my mask suffice?"

Wujen looks at Watchman. "I am /a/ mage. I am not the one you knew."

Watchman sighs and the Eye gazes at Guardian again, "YoU aRe NoT aN hOnEsT mAn."

Guardian says, "What makes an honest man then?"

Equinox averts his eyes, extending a hand towards Guardian's mask, causing it to return to her.

Watchman says, "I hAvE nEvEr FoUnD aN hOnEsT mAn, In AlL mY tImElEsS wAnDeRiNg."

Guardian eeps!

Equinox says, "Then we will find you one. The killings must stop, and we must see you end your watch."

Sidhe purses his lips, "Makes our helping you find one sound a little bit more difficult...

Guardian says, "I know a Mage who does not hide his face. Will you wait here for him?"

Sidhe says, "I think it'll take more than just not hidin your face..."

Equinox looks at Guardian, "Is this Mage an honest man?"

Sidhe rubs his chin, "I wish I was knowin everyone in town like Connie is bein.. Watchman, if we're finding someone we're thinkin might be suitable, how can we be findin ya?"

Guardian says, "He's always been honest with me. Even when it hurt him to do so."

Equinox thinks . o O (At least we've kept him from killing anyone...)

Wujen says, "How do we know that being his eyes doesn't mean having them ripped from you? Did the thirteen victims die because they weren't honest, or would they have died anyway?"

Watchman fades in and out, "I kEeP tHe WaTcH. i Am FoUnD iN tHe ShAdOwS, wHeRe EvIl LuRkS."

Guardian pulls a PDA from a pouch under her armor. She hastily punches at a series of buttons, whispering, "Please answer, Ned. This is serious."

Sidhe nods ot wujen, then looks to Watchman, "What will become of the honest one when you find them? an honest person would be a great loss if they were taken from us..."

Sidhe thinks . o O (I guess I could offer to try but... nah my accent isn't even real... he wouldn't be looking for me...)
Watchman-> Sidhe thinks . o O (I guess I could offer to try but... nah my accent isn't even real... he wouldn't be looking for me...)

Watchman wails and he vanishes in a consuming burst of flame.

Guardian says, "Damn!"

Sidhe blinkblinks

Sidhe says, "what drove it away? me question?"

Equinox sighs, "He didn't kill anyone. This time."

Wujen stands motionless a moment. "Well. As showdowns with vengeful spirits go, that was ... easier than it could have been." He looks to Sidhe and answers his question. "He left because we promised to find an honest man for him. I think the victims were people who either volunteered, or whom he tested without permission. Either way, we need to beat him to the punch and find someone willing and able to help him."

Sidhe breathes a sigh of relief, "I'm glad I wasna volenteerin then..."

Wujen thinks . o O (Dammit, where's Victor when you need him?)
Equinox looks at Sidhe, "He's not good at essay questions, to put it mildly. Those victims weren't volunteers. If we can't find what he needs, the killings may well continue. We can't stall him forever."

Wujen says, "What could have brought him back?"

Guardian says, "If we find one, how do we tell Mister Ghosty?"

Equinox looks at Wujen balefully, "The same thing that brought me back."

Equinox says [in Mandarin]: "Duty."

Sidhe says, "Well we should be getting lookin then. I know Connie is bein trying ta do a netsearch of the dates adn such in the writin ta find out who he is.. maybe she cna also go through her records and try to find someone she feels is honest... I'm just worried abotu the part of what happens ta them when we find them...""

Mage has arrived.

Mage floats down from the rop of a nearby building.

Wujen folds his legs up under him, almost lotus style, and floats there, several feet off the ground.

Guardian scans the skies, impatiently, looking for someone. When Mage appears, she runs over to him and says, "Thank you for coming so quickly."

Sidhe stands witht he others talk adn looking thoughful and maybe a bit worrie.d

Mage says, "Lord, I feel underdressed. What's... Eh... Going on?"

Guardian says, "Did you read last night's news? Thirteen people were killed here. Those two say the killer is some kind of vengeful ghost, and it wants an honest man."

Equinox summons forth his PDA again, a picture of the Watchman appearing on it. "What's the missing piece here?"

Wujen says, "Who was the Watchman? I think that's important. Anyone know?"

Mage looks in thought for a moment, "Well, knowing who the ghost was can be important, unless you just want to duke it out with him..."

Guardian says to Mage, "You are an honest man, right?"

Guardian sounds almost pained when she asks the question.

Mage shrugs, "As honest as the next bloke."

Wujen says, "The Guai Lo speaks truth. To understand his death you must understand his life. To do that, we need more clues than we have. Equinox, can you get me a copy of that file later? I'll hand it to one of my sources, get him to research it."

Equinox nods at Wujen.

Mage mutters to Guardian, "Who are these other blokes?"

Equinox turns to leave, wincing slightly at the familiar voice.

Sidhe says, "Well I can be letting ya knwo at least if Connie is finidng out who he is from the computer."

Wujen mutters to Equinox, "Shall... old... to..."

Guardian says, "Oh. The tall one in black and silver is Equinox. The Chinese guy is called Wujen, he says he is some kind of mage too. I don't know the other one."

Equinox mutters to Wujen, "... excellent idea,..."

Wujen mutters to Equinox.

Sidhe takes a flourished bow, "The spectacular Sidhe at yoru service."

Wujen gestures, fades from view, and is gone.

Guardian yells out, "Hey Watchman! I think I found your honest man!"

Equinox thinks . o O (All this time and still I haven't learned that trick...)

Sidhe says, "I think ya gotta take him someplace evil lurks..."

Equinox takes to the sky.

Sidhe says, "city hall?"

Equinox flies up into the sky overhead and disappears.

Mage is about to respond to Sidhe, then sees Wujen fade and sighs, "That's..." He pauses at Guardian's outburst, "Uhm..." Equinox leaves, "Wait, hold on a moment..." He finally shakes his head and sighs.

Wujen-INVIS thinks . o O (Do not worry, wizard. I will be watching.)

Wujen-INVIS flies up into the sky overhead and disappears.

Sidhe shrugs, "I should get ta Connie and see if she cna shed any light." he disappears with a POP.

Guardian says, "Damnit." swearing for the second time tonight.

Mage looks about, dumbfounded, "That was... Uhm... Okay... I hope there was more of an emergency you needed me for..."