(:title Concordance:)
'''Module Name:''' Concordance
'''Author:''' Brendan Quinliva
'''System:''' New World of Darkness
'''Number of Players:''' 5
'''Blurb:'''
6.3 clicks NW of Al-Hillah, Iraq
0934hrs Arabian Standard Time
"What do you see, Diana?"
Private Rubreaux concentrated, focussing her will through the raging sandstorm column several kilometers ahead and onto the ruins inside. She let out a small gasp, and her eyes opened.
"It's not that bad inside the storm. But the ruins are littered with bodies, sir - women and children, a few men. It looks like they've all been shot."
Sergeant Marshall's face darkened. "Any sign of the cult?"
"No sir, none - just the bodies amidst the ruins."
"You OK?" Marshall could see Rubreaux's knuckles whitening.
"I'm fine sir," came the short response.
"Shit!" spat Lance-Corporal Andrews. "I swear, we're gonna get those Blood Dawn motherfuckers!"
"I agree. Ang, I need details on any Arabian magickal effects powered by the sacrifice of women and/or children, stat," Marshall said. "Tanner, you move ahead: confirm the severity of the sandstorm, and any noticable effects of HARMONY, and then broadcast. I'll pick it up."
"Yessir, Mr Sergeant-sir," Tanner said, and moved over the low dune and towards the localised storm.
"Fuckin' jackass," Andrews muttered under his breath. Marshall shot him a look, and Andrews said nothing further.
Corporal Ang looked up. "Sir, I've searched through the knowledge on magickal rituals, and it seems that human sacrifice tends to power curses and summonings, usually of a malign nature. There are also Aztec fertility rites that required human sacrifice, but given the locality, I doubt that branch of magick would apply. Arabian branches of magick that require human sacrifice tend to be very ancient: Mesopotamian, Babylonian, Sumerian and the like. Babylonian magick of this kind would revolve around the summoning of demons and ifrit, with the sacrifice both powering the summoning, and providing a vessel for the summoned being. I can only guess that the summoning must be quite powerful, given the number of victims hinted at by Private Rubreaux."
"OK, thanks. Keep dredging Babylonian magick for further details. Team, lock and load - we may meet company. Andrews, you ready to unleash?"
"Oh, I'm ready all right, sir." Andrews said with a grin, as he hefted his light machine gun off his back. "It's time to burn some shit."
Moments later, Marshall turned to his team. "OK, team, Tanner's found someone barely alive, so get ready Ang. He says the storm's tough but seems non-hazardous and mostly interfering. We're going in!" And with that, they moved toward the ruins.
They did not see the figure standing beside them, nor the look of concern on his face.
