THE CAB RIDE:

Grace can't believe this Nice Guy Eddie. "So Nice. Is that your first name? I've never heard that name before, what kind is is. Hmm, it sounds kind of made up to me."

"Jeez lady it's just my nickname," Nice Guy Eddie responds. "But as long as I'm being paid feel free to call me anything you want behind my back, how's that?"

Raven points out all the pieces of his luggage. He then starts grabbing whichever ones are most readily available. "Once we get all of our things ready I think we should adjourn to the hotel. We can do some quick unpacking, and meet up in the bar. I also have one test to run before we head off to see 'Jack the Ripper'. We can exchange information on the ride to the hotel." Once all of his luggage is gathered he waits for the driver to lead the way.

Dr. Hu picks up her baggage, and says, "Sounds good to me. First the hotel, and later I have a test or two that I would like to run by this Ripper fellow as well." Dr. Hu too, watches everyone gather their luggage, and heads out with them to the car, led by Eddie.

After getting hus luggage, Beowulf follows the group, taking a few pics of the local cabbies and chaufers. once in the car, he also fishes out his gun from his suitcase and puts it in its proper place (just in case some screwball doesn't want his picture taken)

Seeing everyone gather up their luggage, "Okay follow me folks. This is gonna be a tight squeeze for seven people but it's only a short ride to the Four Seasons hotel. Especially when you know the shortcuts like I do."

The luggage is crammed into the trunk and Jimmy Raven, the silent research assistant, Karl and Grace Clemence pile into the back seat. Dr. Hu and Jack Beowulf get into the front as Eddie slams his driver side door shut.

"Well we're off people. Hey you all don't mind if I play the radio while we drive? I find it relaxes me when dealing with this crazy ass backwards London traffic. Especially considering that I drive an American made cab," he says as he pulls out of the airport and into the streets. "Stinking brits...get out the way!" He curses as he turns the crank on the radio....

"So tell me whatcha want whatcha really really want!" "Well I tellya what I want what I really want!" "I wanna...I wanna...I wanna....I wanna...what I really really really want is zinga zing zow!" "If you wanna be my lover, ya gotta get with my friends!"

"Man I hate this country," Nice Guy Eddie remarks as he pulls a ham sandwhich on rye out of the glove compartment.

(OOC: Feel free to discuss those things which need discussin as the cab makes its way to the hotel)

Jimmy Raven: "Well I might as well get this ball of wax rolling. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. Since achieving official status as a mage, I have realized myself reaching a new plateau three times. I have available in my repetoire fifteen different spells. None of these spells would be particularly useful in destroying an opponent. I am proficient when it comes to ritual magic, but around 80% of the time I lose control of my spells and they go wild. I would say I have a lot of potential psychic energy for a human, but only a little more than the minimum starting amount for a night spawn. Thanks to the mirrorwall however, my spells only require half the normal energy."

"If I had to categorize my skills of note I'd label them as follows: divination; lore: demon and monster, nightlands, nightspawn, geomancy, vampire, and religion; english; computer: operations, programming, hacking, and repair; principles of magic; basic math; prowling; swimming; car driving; basic electronics; and best of all LAND NAVIGATION!"

"I'm mentally tough, but physically weak. I have a gambler's bag, a moonshine jug, and a lot of sand. I like walks on the beach, a good strong ale, and choking wrestlers at ringside. Oh yeah and I love working for our glorious newspaper. It's such a great experience."

Dr. Hu:

Dr. Hu, turns to Jimmy Raven, "Um, yea. Anyway... I am a scientist, doing work for the paper, I think I've met most of you all by now. I guess my personal skills would be labeled as follows: I can speak American and Spanish, am pretty handy with Math and I can do some computer: operations, programming, and hacking, as well. I can fix most any machinery and am a medical doctor, hence the name. I like running, and play the occasional athletic sports, and of course Gymnastics... I find that it really hones one's physical prowess. Unlike most women, I can drive, and I can do auto repairs too. Oh, and I have some connections too, if you know what I mean, though they aren't really reliable, especially out here in Europe. I can keep a pistol for self defense usually, but I don't think that anything will be needed in England here. I don't know about any magic or psionic power or whatever... I think that stuff is all hooey. But hey, we're all allowed our own insanities. Free world afterall. Oh, and here's what I brought that might be of use... A tape recorder, mini computer, mini still camera, toxic analyzer. Portable polygraph stress machine, Professional medical kit, belt radio, cell phone, of course, and a lock pick set and other tools of that sort.

Oh, and I love working for the newspaper too. It really is such a great experience."

Karl looks slightly unneverved and says "Are you guys always so blunt? Uh..I can punch people rather well. I'm decent in electronics? Oh, wait, almost forgot, I got this really neat cattle prod." Smiles happily as he shows off his prize prod.

Grace (Note that this is said in a very charming manner, I think it safe to say you have noticed Grace can be a very charming person. Oh yeah, some parts are said in more of an intimidating manner, I bet you can figure out which.)
"Great, why the hell do I gotta work with the psychos all the time? What the hell are you talking about?
"Hey, I'll bet this girl can drive a car better than you can. What the hell do you mean, drive better than any girl?
"Well, my father was from Africa, I've been there a couple times, and can speak African, and know a bunch of things useful in the wild, and some of their customs.
"I heard someone mention nightspoon. I know a thing or two about the spoons of the night, and would be happy to brief everyone on them, except I don't see it being very pertininent to the mission and hand.
"Oh yeah, and I'd like to say that the newspaper pays the bills, but it was Ronald's passion, not mine. It's a good job as job's go.

"You all are a rather weird lot I'll say that much," Nice Guy Eddie comments during a batch of stalled traffic. "Thank goodness we're only a block or two from the hotel and I'll be able to sign off and get some late dinner."

Suddenly those in the back seat notice Jimmy Raven remove a medium sized hand mirror from beneath his trench coat and start wildly waving his hands in front of it while chanting some crazy words in another language. There's several extremely bright flashes of light, (noticed by everyone in the car including Eddie) and then Jimmy is suddenly dead still in a statuesque pose with his fingers extended out towards the mirror which now lies on his lap.

"What the hell is going on back there?!" yells Eddie from the front seat as traffic starts to pick up again.

Wide eyed, but attempting to play it cool, Karl says "I think our friend here is practicing for a magic show maybe? Pay it no mind and head on to the hotel." He then begins to stare curiously at Jimmy in his trancelike state.

Grace says, in her sweet little voice, "I think it's self hypnosis. I don't go in for that sort of thing, but some people think you can do self improvement that way. Still, probably best not to disturb him till he comes out of it on his own."

"Hypnosis my ass! What was that freaky light show all about then lady? I've got half a mind to drop you all off right...," Eddie abruptly stops talking as a strangely distant voice permeates the inside of the cab.

"Hellllllooooo out there?" It sounds like Jimmy Raven.

"Please tell me I'm just hearing things," Eddie begs.

"You are just hearing things" Beowulf tells Eddie. "but tell me the minute you see something interesting. these photos willbe great for the inside spread"

Dr. Hu sits passively in the cab, watching out the window, while paying no mind to the "magical" hoo-ha going on within.

Eddie yells back, "Bullshit I'm hearing things! There was just a ghostly wailing in this cab and now...jeez!" Eddie looks back towards the road just in time to narrowly avoid hitting the stalled traffic in front of him. "What the hell is this? Why is none of these cars moving?" Eddie adjusts his rear view mirror and gasps as he looks at it. He quickly turns around to the back seat to see Jimmy Raven's frozen form and then back to the mirror. Mirror...Raven...mirror...Raven.

"Okay I'm tired of this weird shit. I want all of you people outta my cab pronto!" Eddie declares as he opens his door, turns the car off, and walks around to the back of the cab and opens the trunk.

(Those of you who've been staying in London for awhile (silent researcher, Karl, Grace Clemence) know that you're only about a block or two away from Four Seasons hotel. In fact it's just a quick jaunt shortcut through the park.)

Grace says to Eddie as she starts to get out, "Jeez, it was just the Aurora Borealis. Can't you cut a gal a break?"

Eddie finishes hurling the remaining luggage out of the trunk and to the nearby sidewalk. (A sickening crunch is heard from Dr. Hu's suitcase as it hits the pavement. Another much louder smash is heard as Jimmy Raven's bag lands on top of it.) "Wha...the Aurora Borealis? At this time of day, at this time of the year situated solely within the confines of my cab?"

Dr. Hu gets out the cab along with Jack Beowulf as traffic starts to move again in front of the taxi. Karl aids the silent research assistant in hauling Jimmy's frozen body out onto the sidewalk. They prop him up precariously against the small pile of baggage. Cars behind Eddie are furiously honking their horns.

"Shaddup you tea swilling aristocrats!" Eddie spits at the car directly behind him and then recoils as he sees Jimmy Raven's image reflected in its front window. As if on cue the ghostly voice of Jimmy resonates around the area, "Damn. My archnemesis must have used the Soul in a Bottle curse on me. My life essence is now trapped in the Mirrorwall, and my body is in a state of suspended animation. I know you can hear me Kanyon. When I get out of here I'm declaring Raven's Rules, and I'll get my revenge."

"Okay that's the final straw," Eddie declares. Pointing to the assembled party on the sidewalk, "Screw you guys...I'm going home." He finishes by pointing back to his cab and jumping inside.

OOC: As Eddie's cab revs its engine you see that you have been dropped off directly in front of the expansive park through which lies the shortcut to the Four Seasons hotel. The group composed of silent researcher, Grace Clemence and Karl know that to walk around the block of downtown London business districts would take 20 minutes what with the luggage to carry and all. The park would take half that time since it's a straight line to the destination.


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