Temporal Chaos and Sneaky Business (Prize Part II)

Prize Part II was the fourth story of this chronicle.

Dramatis Personae

• The Penultima
• Ultima Holdings
• Arachne
• Colossus
• Samuel
• Natalie
• Scarlet Die
• Excalibur

Plot

Solving Problems with White Phosphorus

As the result of the last story (The Thorn), Sojack was left imprisoned by Ultima Holdings and it was up to the rest of the cabal to save him. Maximus demanded that they kill a certain Arachne, a fellow Seer, and retrieve a grimoire for Ultima Holdings: the Codex Caeli. Maximus reveealed that Arachne and another member of her pylon, Colossus, would soon trade for the Codex Caeli with some local vampires. It was imperative to Maximus that while Arache had to be killed, Colossus had to survive. Face with this challenge, The Penultima played through multiple scenarios, but eventually settled on one of Arondight's ideas: Envelop the entire underground car garage where the meeting would take place with flaming white phosphorus. Colossus and the Codex would be protected from the mayhem via a Shielding of Matter, quickly dealing with any opposition.
Striking from the Shadow (thanks to Pénghoú) the cabal executes its plan.
Yet, when the cabal returned home, they found their soul stones taken and therefore their demesnes dissolved too. Magical inquiry revealed that members of the Scarlet Die had entered the sanctum while the cabal was busy getting the Codex and depopulating the car garage. Nestor used his magic to send the cabal back in time, but it is revealed that whatever the Scarlet Die had done, they made sure to protect their personal timelines' (and deeds) with a Shielding of Time that Nestor could not overcome. Later, it would be revealed that the Scarlet Die had learned of the Penultima's dealings with the Seers and -so they would claim at Consilium- wanted to defang the traitorous cabal by taking their soul stones for easy sympathetic retribution, should the Consilium find it necessary.

The New Timeline

In this new timeline, Maximus -oblivious to the time travel- thanks the cabal for at least having killed Arachne. The protagonists are left confused why and how she died in this new timeline, but Arondight manages to not tip his hand while talking to Max.
With at least one problem miraculously solved, the protagonist cabal decided to go the source for the Codex Caeli instead of grabbing it during the trade (which now was unlikely to even take place). They find the haven of one of the involved vampires -Samuel- and offer him a trade. Luckily, he seems to be part of a group of vampires dedicated to arcane research, as he agreed to hand them the Codex in return for help with various occult experiments. As part of these experiments, Arondight uses Matter magic to create Perfected Blood for Samuel to taste. Meanwhile, Pénghoú is left as collateral, to ensure compliance from the willworkers. During his stay, Pénghoú encounters the "Trash Man", supposedly a creation of Samuel's.
However, all of this was to no avail, as time was running out, now that the cabal's dealings had been found out: They had to help the Adamantine Arrow with raiding the pylon's sanctum. Sojack was saved, but all members of the pylon managed to escape regardless.

The Trials

Now the protagonists faced a new challenge: Having to explain their actions and collaborations with the Seers of the Throne before the Consilium. They made their case as best as they knew how, but in the end the worst was averted mostly by Hierarch Nike's favorable attitude towards the Penultima. Subsequently, she would unsubtly recruits the cabal to spy on Ultima Holdings. During the psychic reading as part of the trial, Janus Bifrons also learned of the cabal's involvement with vampires, and recruits Pénghoú as a double agent of sorts.
When the protagonist now tried to use their restored reputation to demand their soul stones back from the Scarlet Die, Eutychia declared Nemesis on the cabal and demanded the matter to be solved via Duel Arcane. Aware they would be outmatched by a Master in the Duel Arcane, Sojack -with a very heavy heart- for once agreed to ask Excalibur for help. She should stand as their champion in the duel against Eutychia. After a tense nailbiter, that could have gone either way, Excalibur did win, bruised but not beaten. However, in a separate Arrow duel between Arondight and Kerberos, the Moros loses the right to immediately have his soul stone returned, but as is Gold Law, the Die would have to give it back it after Arondight has rendered three services.

Backdrops

Locations

• The Penultimate Sanctum 
• Ultima Holdings Sanctum
• Samuel's Haven
• Mojave Desert