Chicago [Main thread until 11/28/15]

Cass looks at Crux and chuckles softly.

"If it's all the same I'll leave the blah blah sex stuff to her. Not that you're not attractive, eh. Just not my swing. As my friend though, you'll have my unconditional devotion."

He motions his head to Karen.

"I'm sure Karen will warm up to ya too, eh?"

He chuckles again. Realizing the absurdity in his situation. Making a deal with a devil along with a vampire and her all seeing all knowing stuffed otter in the middle of a burger joint. This is the best life. 

        To Cass: "You're a straightforward guy, Cass. I like that. Straightforward deal. The sight with which to pierce illusions shall be yours." Johann shakes Cassidy's proffered hand. "We have an accord."

        To Crux: "The ability to call me is inherent in every pact, as is my promise to come to your aid, if I can. Your personal gifts, now... I cannot remove your fear of fire. The Rotschreck is in Caine's blood. But I can ward you - and Karen, too, of course - against the damage fire can do. And your dream discipline, you shall wield it with more... finesse... than before." He shakes both Crux's hand and one of Karen's little paws. "We have an accord."

        To Cinnamon: "A simpler request than you may think; the fortitude to resist injury. I can certainly accomplish that... and I'll do you one better. In times of great need you'll be able to focus your will and shrug off such blows as you can't imagine." He shakes Cinnamon's hand in turn. "We have an accord."

        Now the moment you all seal the pacts, you have identical experiences. You are being metaphysically connected to a truly ancient entity. The weight of those eons cannot help but fall upon you, albeit briefly. You catch glimpses of a thousand scenes, flashing past in no particular order. Armies of angels arrayed against each other. Rome burning. A flaming sword sweeping across a beautiful garden. A blinding flash of light and heat engulfing Hiroshima. Pompeii consumed in volcanic rage. An ancient city beneath a darkened sun consumed by civil war. Guillotines slicing through neck after neck. Bombs falling across a war-torn London. A spear piercing the side of Christ. 
        The bond between you and Johann settles upon your soul as these images fade. You feel your new gifts awaken within you, and you feel something else, an energy you weren't aware you possessed until just now. That energy is tied up in your gifts, but also a small amount of it is drawn away through the bond. There is no sense of loss or emptiness, it's just siphoned away.
        Lastly, you become aware of a name now inscribed upon your memory; the name associated with this bond. You know that by merely speaking this name your benefactor will hear you, and know to contact you. It is the name of the celestial being beneath the vessel. 
        His name is Azrukhal.

( As you may have gathered, the connection between yourselves and Johann allows you a glimpse into his mind. For the Doctor Who fans in the room, think of the way Madame de Pompadour read Ten's mind in "The Girl in the Fireplace". Everyone is entitled to a Composure+Empathy roll to sort through what you are receiving. The otherworldly nature of the fae provides an unexpected bonus here: Cinnamon can add her Wyrd to this roll.

Now for my favorite part: Make the following changes to your character sheets!

    Cassidy: You now have +2 to your Composure attribute, with an associated +2 boost to your Willpower. You also have an ability called Resistance to Illusions. Whenever you are confronted with an illusion you can make a Wits+Composure roll to see through it - the degrees of success vs. the complexity of the illusion will determine how clearly you perceive the truth beneath. Spending a Willpower point will grant an automatic success. This can cancel a failure, but NOT a botch. This ability is always active.
   
    Crux: You now have +2 to Empathy, +1 to Persuasion, and +2 to Subterfuge skills- all abilities used when activating your Insomnium discipline. You also have an ability called Resist Fire. Whenever you take damage from fire, this damage is reduced by your Stamina - think of it as an Armor rating just for fire. This ability is always active. Spending a Willpower point allows you to add your Athletics dots to this 'Armor' for a scene. Activating the additional effect of this ability must be done on your turn. This 'armor' is an exception to the usual armor rules in the following ways - it cannot be bypassed by anything that bypasses normal armor, it stacks with any other form of armor you have, and it can soak Aggravated damage caused by fire.
   
    Cinnamon: You now have a +2 to your Stamina attribute, with an associated +2 boost to your Health. You also have an ability called Apocalyptic Fortitude. When activated, Apocalyptic Fortitude reduces bashing and lethal damage from all sources by your Stamina for the duration of the scene - functioning much like Armor. This 'armor' is an exception to the usual armor rules in the following ways - it cannot be bypassed by anything that bypasses normal armor, and it stacks with any other form of armor you have. This ability can be activated even when it is not your turn, as long as you are not unconscious, stunned, or disabled in some other way. Activating Apocalyptic Fortitude costs 2 Willpower points.

You all also acquire the following merits: Faith Potential 3, Pact 3, Attentive Master 2. Pact and Attentive Master cannot be raised with XP like standard merits. Faith potential can, but it the multiplier for doing so is New Value x 10. No, that's not a typo; Faith Potential determines how many gifts you can receive and how powerful those gifts can be, so it is FUCKING expensive. Additionally, you now know Johann's Celestial Name; Azrukhal. Speaking this name aloud will draw his attention to you, allowing him to hear what you say. How loud you speak does not matter, but you must actually speak aloud. If he is able to do so, he will establish telepathic contact in order to communicate.

I have made notations on the sheets in my possession; if you have backup copies, please make note of these changes. )

[rolled nat 18, i have forgotten what my stats were.but thats what i gots]