Chicago Chronicles - Session XXXVII and XXXVIII

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After finding out that Mars Electronics had succesfully applied for a licence to operate high amplitude equipment as part of an NSA/ATF joint operation - "Wuthering Heights" the trail went dry.

Then, on New Years Eve, came the circus. Colourful and joyfilled it stood in stark contrast to the streets of Gary. With some fear they, along with Riverthrush, entered committed to sticking together.

They soon split up, Reg checking the arcade machines in Aradeia, seeing Pentex-Tellus machines as well as a video game from Black Dog games.

Gideon went to The Hall of Oddities and to see the Freaks, and got vomitted on by Mr Bile - employing McTaggert the Dog faced Detective to help find Tamoszius.

Alberto asked questions, didn't get sufficient answers and engaged in murder. Before the main show in the Big Top- Alberto snuck back stage and found his Black Spirals, caged. They arranged to meet him later in the night (slash morning).

Danior found himself at Semiramis' loft where he met Tamoszius, nude, playing poker. Baffled - he played along trying to coax Tamoszius out, to no avail. Danior left and informed Gideon who came in for a peek, having a quick conversation with some doctors performing an autopsy first. Shocked - they spoke to Mr Smilie who told them that the House can grant desires, but was generally vague about exactly what that meant. Concluding illusion was involved they sought out Riverthrush and he was at the Big Top.

The show was spectacular - just about everything a circus should be.

When they left - Semirami's loft was no longer there. McTaggart told Gideon all about a suspected kidnapped vampire in the Hall of Mirrors. Danior spoke with a Cowgirl Carnie who seemed to know a few things and after besting her at shooting she told him that Semirami's loft only 'appears' to those who have been 'invited'. If you've been 'invited' you can see it.

Danior and Gideon set off for the Hall of Mirrors. Twas a place for dark reflections: Their own images were of savage caricatures of themselves, and imagery from their past flickered through. Dark thoughts crossed their minds and they began to argue, nearly coming to blows. In anger Gideon smashed a mirror and it revealed darkness with a single semi translucent mirror framed as a doorway with the imagery of snakes. They elected to walk through, and onto a deep spiralling stair case. Fear creeping up on them, they descended. The stone walls decorated with Egyptian text from the Book of the Dead, deeper down they went, the air getting hotter, the terror growing. Finally they happened upon a pit of black snakes. They began to wade through the pit - but found themselves becoming transfixed by their uncanny eyes. Danior broke free of the hypnosis and threw Gideon out of the pit into a room with two other mirrors. Remembering their vow to stick together they picked a mirror each and split up.

Danior was assaulted by an aweful intelligence -- quizzing him on his being. "Who are you? WHO are you? Who ARE you? Who are YOU?"

He fought to escape and did so, his mind gone, his identity blank.

Gideon encountered a kidnapped Tremere that sucked blood remotely. After apologising for the discourtesy, he introduced himself as Mortimer a tremere who was kidnapped by the circus and he pled for release - crucified as he was, to the floor. Gideon began to help, but realized his way out was closing behind him. As he pulled on the pegs driven into Mortimer's wrists he found himself becoming grappled by tentacles, thinking quick Gideon shot Mortimer in the face and dived through the exit.

By the time they got to the gambling tent Danior was back to his old self.

Inside Alberto tried to gamble on the Wheel of Fortuna for information regarding Tamoszius. Cavendish, who operated the wheel agreed but the spin came up that he would gain the information but have to perform a favour for the casino - help a big fish lose his cash. Alberto went about his task.

Gideon met up with, of all people, Trilobyte McJiggans who was working as a croupier on roulette. They agreed to meet later.

Gideon overheard Cavendish mention the House of the Dead. So he and Thomas resolved to go there.

Alberto got the fish to lose his money and Cavendish got the fish to sign a novelty contract handing over his soul for a sizeable fraction of his losses. Alberto would get his intel the next night.

Except he got intel from the Black Spirals. They wanted the Fanum in exchange for helping the Sabbat. They also said that it all hinged on Mars Electronics' experiment succesfully going ahead, despite some objections. There he got an address for Mars Electronics.

The House of the dead was operated by Baroque, a Caribbean Samedhi who gifted him with Dead Eyes Ashes and chatted about philosophy and dead things and stuff.

Thomas encountered Calabris who observed he had gotten lost and that he knew a shortcut to get back on the right road. Thomas freaked out, and killed Calabris. But Calabris came back, the very next day, Calabris came back - he thought he was a gonna, Calabris came back - he just wouldn't stay awaaaay. Thomas was having none of it, and picking up a convenient flaming torch began to chase Calabris down the way, catching up with him and burning him alive.

When they met up at the casino tent - they resolved to get to Mars Electronics.

They broke down the doors, and were confronted with a frickin' laser beam. Alberto tore it away with his claws and the piled in - only to be confronted with another frickin' laser beam.