The Andre Miller Saga

Andre Miller 7 The Enemy

It had been 5 days since the attack on Pumpkin Row, the city's magic district by over a hundred demons trying to capture or kill Frankie. At the offices of Miller and Murry, the group huddled up making plans against possible scenarios. Andre Miller, a summoner and effective leader of the group. Caleb Murry, a summoner, business partner, and longtime friend of Andre. Frankie Hernandez, a young man who Andre and Caleb had rescued two years previous and an apprentice defensive mage. Tilly Rhodes, defensive mage and owner of Tilly's Shield a shop on Pumpkin Row. And Kyle Rhodes, Tilly's brother, defensive mage, and instructor of Frankie.

"OK, we know it's a harbinger, so that means that whatever is happening is world-shaking." Said Andre, "Does anyone have anything on their radar that might be able to tip off something like that?"

The group collectively shook their heads. "There usually isn't any prelude to a harbinger event. They just sort of happen, there might be some background stuff that no one sees until it's too late, but the event itself isn't going to be in plain sight." Said, Tilly.

"When was the last time you checked in with the Celestial Union about our sleeping friend, Andre?" asked Kyle.

"Two days. Shirentavale said she would contact us if anything changed, I'm tempted to summon her and see for myself, but I know she has other duties with the Union."

"What about asking more about my karma thing? Maybe one of the big mojo celestials knows something about that." Asked Frankie. Frankie had a large pile of bad karma from spending 2 years in an infernal cult, but it wasn't the normal kind of karmic load according to a healing spirit they had dealt with.

"I'm not even sure who I would contact for that." Said Andre, "Another healing spirit maybe? One higher up the food chain, Jentria was a 4th host spirit of healing. Maybe a 2nd host, I'm hesitant to call any higher than that, it would be expensive for one, and those are the types of spirits that treat epidemics."

"I doubt the Elemental Courts would be able to help, karma isn't their forte." Said, Caleb. He dealt with elementals almost exclusively.

"OK, we'll go try and contact a 2nd host healing spirit and try and get some answers about Frankie's Karma. That's as good a direction to go as any other at this point." Andre said as he got up and headed for the summoning chamber behind the main office. I was a large equipped with a permanent summoning circle, shelves, and cabinets holding weapons, components, and the few treasures that the group had to trade with for the services of the spirits they dealt with.

The others followed him back and stripped off their shirt and Tilly stripped down to a sports bra. It was respectful to show a bare chest when summoning spirits.

Andre went to one of the cabinets with a lock on it. It held the particularly potent items that the group owned. He took out a plain silver chalice and a glass bottle of water and then closed and relocked the cabinet. He placed the chalice in the smaller offering circle off to the side of the main circle and filled it with the water, being very careful not to spill a drop.

"Is that?" asked Tilly.

"Yeah, a saint's chalice, Saint Beatrice of the Beatitudes, and sacred water from the fonts at the Vatican, blessed by Pope John Paul II himself. They are the two most powerful healing items we have on hand. I just hope they are enough."

He took his seat on a cushion and began chanting in an ancient language, "We seek a conference with a healing spirit of the 2nd host of the heavens. We seek their wisdom and counsel. We offer a sainted chalice and sacred water blessed by a pope. If any be available, we await their answer."

"Sumerian?" asked Kyle.

Andre answered, "Ancient Mesopotamia." They all sat and had a quiet conversation while they waited. Andre continued to chant quietly making sure that the contact point remained open.