Chapter 1.1: Mission Briefing

It's a few days of onboarding, orientation, and training before the new field agents get their first mission.

In the conference room, Phoenix presents what she knows. "An administrator at Miskatonic University, Amanda Reinhart, has been calling in favors to find someone with qualifications to investigate a situation with a faculty member. There appears to have been a lab accident, of the weird kind, but, according to Ms. Reinhart, the faculty are being obstructionist about it, so she wants a credentialed third party to investigate. Which is where we come in."

Astraeus, the Director of Communications adds. "The social media chatter corroborates that something weird is happening. Weirder, I should say, Miskatonic has a reputation for pursuing outlandish or dangerous research, which leads to a frankly ridiculous amount of rumors. But in this case, there seems to be something causing contagious dissociative or psychedelic episodes in the area."

Phoenix nods. "Ms. Reinhart herself seems to be only vaguely Aware. Just enough that she was able to get in contact with the Commission." She looks at each of the field agents in turn, smile playing across her lips. "So how about it? Ready for your first mission?"

"I'm ready! Getting bored, in fact." Hope turns to Vesper. "You heard of contagious magic? Are memetic threats a thing?"

Lucian is eager to start. "Do we have any equipment to protect us? The magic equivalent of a hazmat suit or something?"

Phoenix frowns apologetically, "The gambesons you've been provided have some magic protections woven into them. I know of no specific magical mental protections that would not have significant downsides or take as much preparation as achieving enlightenment."

Lucian nods and has no further questions, he doesn't expect the Commission to have much more information than what was shared, that is kind of the point of why they are being sent in in the first place.

Alric nods. Been a while since he had his feet on the ground. The past few days Alric spent just doing good ol' fashioned reading and connecting the dots - he's actually looking forward to go out and take a closer look first hand. "I'll get my stuff, and we can get going."

The team gets a rental car for the mission and it is less than an hour drive north to Arkham Massachusetts and Miskatonic University.

There's a subdued mood to the campus, fewer people outside than the weather would seem to call for.

You have Amanda Reinhart's contact information. What do you do?

"Lucian, right? What brings you to the Dawn HQ? Mercenary work?" Alric knows the other two, but this one, not so much. Alric was busy reading during the car drive, but right now, reading is kind of difficult, considering that he's walking around. And looking around. To see if he can notice anything suspicious. There is a mystery here to solve for them after all. A lab with a mysterious accident and it's magical and weird even for magical people and also makes people weird and they're super mysterious about it and

There's somewhat of a spring in his step.

"Now is not the time," Inara said, interrupting Lucian before he could respond. "You can waste time with small talk after the mission is done. We should start by speaking to Reinhart and getting a better understanding of the situation." She glanced at the business card Phoenix had given her. "Building F, room 216. Follow me."

Inara strode off, not looking back to see if any of the others were following us.

Hope takes the rear, checking everyone in sight to see if anyone finds them interesting, or is armed.

Alric follows Inara, but keeps his tempo. "So I'm right on with the mercenary thing, correct?" he says in the direction of Lucian.

Lucian has is ears up listening intently for anything strange, he is in work mode but can answer Alric. “It’s what I did but I prefer this I think, I would like to talk more but Inara is right, mission first for now.”

"Relax. This is a university. None of these people will jump us."

Inara cast Alric a disparaging glance. "Danger lurks in the most unlikely corners. Keep your guard up."

Yeah, Lucian is clocking Alric as having no experience with anything that calls for being on guard because something magical might try to kill you. He really wishes he knew this before they started the mission so he could prep Alric better.

"Don't assume that everyone in a place belongs there. Also we're investigating possible mind-altering. But physical threats are my job; you can focus on investigation if you need to."

"Danger lurks in the most unlikely corners." Alric repeats with a highly ominous tone. "Okay, that's actually fun. I have to do that more."

"That's the spirit! If someone's got to do it, we may as well enjoy it."

One of the passing students, a tall redheaded boy gives the group a curious look. "In orthogonal shadows forever out of sight." He intones as he walks by.

"... Great. Vesper, does that ominous statement mean anything to you?"

Hope counts visible people in the area. 30 bullets vs how many potential zombies?

"No, I've never heard it before."

"Known magic that makes people babble ominous phrases without, apparently, noticing they are being weird?"

"Well, we were sent here to handle a memetic phenomenon," Inara said. "This could be related to that. Or it could be some mundane's idea of a funny line. Let's focus on finding Reinhart and getting some more information on what's going on."

"I am sure Amanda will have some answers. Lets keep moving."

Please please don't mind-control innocent people into attacking, what would I even do

The kid's friend is now talking with him, glancing back over her shoulder at you and rolling her eyes at him.

Amanda's office is cozy, lit by shaded lamps rather than the overhead fluorescents. Kitsch and crystal knickknacks adorn the filing cabinet, desk, and bookcase. A potted green flower sits on the windowsill.

"Oh! You're the investigators from the organization? Yes, hi, welcome, come in." She ushers you in, though there's only three seats in her small office. She offers her hand to the nearest agent. "I'm Amanda ah, Reinhart. And you are?"

"Dawn Commission agent Inara Sellain," Inara said. She gestured to the others as she continued. "This is Lucian, Hope, and and Alric. We're here about the incident at the lab — what can you tell us?"

Hope will stand where she has her back to a wall and can watch the door - and Amanda, just in case.

She nods, seems to notice that there are more people in the room than chairs, and offers her own chair too. "Yes, it started yesterday around the psychology lab. There was a string of episodes of people feeling dizzy or feeling like they weren't in their body. I've heard entire rooms of people were affected at once and the effect seemed to move around. I've spoken with the faculty about it, but the ones I got ahold of seemed hesitant to tell me anything. I need to know if it was some drug or something... something else so I can document it and mitigate the impacts."

"It seems odd that they'd be hesitant to talk about what seems to be a dangerous unknown phenomenon? Did the effect make people do particularly embarrassing things?"

"No, from most reports, it only lasts a few seconds."

"If the phenomenon is mildly antimemetic, that would explain their recalcitrance," Inara said. "Do you have a list of the affected?"

"Professor Carter's entire psych 306 class, Professor Helm's intro psych class too, then at least 100 students in various places around campus. I have a list of attendance for the classes affected, but not a complete list of the student's outside the first two incidents."

"You said 'most reports'. There are reports of long-lasting effects? Any of people randomly saying weird phrases?"

“Professor Carter seems… not altogether present. The students I’ve talked to seem fine. Most who where there doesn’t even seem to remember it. No one said anything weird to me.” She walks that back. “Well, nothing more weird than talking about the brief mass psychosis.”

"Sounds like we should examine Carter next, then. The pysch classes that were hit, were they adjacent in space and/or time?"

"Yes, one after the other, and they share a hallway."

"Dawn Commission agent Alric Jorgensen, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." There's too much seriousness in his voice. "Agent Hope is right, we need to establish a timeline. In what order have the effects been noticed, as far as you are aware? Exact date and time and location, if possible. You mentioned the classes and the hallway, but also other places around campus." This is the first time Alric seeing Inara having fun, and who is he to not yes-and her here. He has seen a few cop shows after all.

With a serious expression on his face, he scribbles into his notepad. Buy sunglasses.

Amanda gives Alric a perplexed look. "Oh, yes, I tried to document some of it." She squeezes by the agents to get behind her desk. She's not exactly a small woman, and it is not exactly a large office. She unlocks her computer, brings up her note document, and swivels one monitor to show her notes on the timeline

• 1:10 PM - Carter Psych 306 (Hmn Percep)
• students affected when Prof Carter entered class late
• not all students? Some say not affected, some don't remember?
• disorientation, disassociation, hallucinations
• moment to 10 minutes?
• 1:23 PM - Helm Psych 103 (intro psych)
• scream heard in hallway, then class affected.
• not all students? Some say not affected, some don't remember?
• fire alarm pulled 1:24 PM
• students affected during evacuation
• 3:00 PM ish, incident in quad
• 6:30 PM ish, incident at Chi Frap House

"Have there been any incidents since?" Inara asked.

Alric quickly copies the info from the screen into his notepad.

“Yes, I think there was a couple early this morning, and I’ve heard about another late last night, but I don’t have details for it.”

"And just to make sure: the two incidents yesterday evening, and the one last night, and those early this morning, they were all the same - dizziness and an out-of-body feeling?"

“Yes, as far as I know. Different people report different symptoms, but these and hallucinations are the most common symptoms.”

"Good to know. So the psych class was the first event? According to my notes there was also a lab accident mentioned, and I don't see that in your notes."

"Professor Carter was in his lab immediately before his class. And, well, his research is a collaboration with the Esoteric Mathematics department. And they have a history of accidents that no one holds them accountable for. I want evidence that it was a lab leak and they did have something to do with it. Something I can actually use in a report."

"I see. Are there any premises we are to consult you about before entering, or can we assume free hands in our investigation and expect full cooperation by any staff?"

Man, I really got this down, he thinks, tapping his chin with his pen. A pen that is black, wooden, and glittery.

"The faculty didn't much cooperate with the investigation I've done... I hope they'll be more cooperative with you. I don't have jurisdiction for the premises; I'm just a student services administrator. I'll file another request with the Dean now that you're here. But it might be a while before I can get you any access to locked doors." Her expression is tight and voice apologetic.

"Great," Inara muttered. "Just what we need, a bunch of mundanes slowing things down." Louder, "We'll start with Carter. Where can I find him?"

"And his lab." Alric chimes in.

She gives directions to his office and lab.

"Alright, I'm off to the lab. Lucy, want to come with? Then you two can check out the office."

Lucian snorts in amusement and nods.

"Splendid." He turns to the other two. Finger guns. "Seeeeee you laters, investigators." And with that, he's out of the door.

While making his way to the lab, he unpacks his polaroid camera from his backpack and hangs it around his neck. Ma-gic lab, ma-gic lab...

"Thanks for your help. We'll see what we can do." Hope heads to Carter's office, watching everyone she sees for unusual behavior.