[[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 13|← Turn 13]] • [[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 15|Turn 15 →]]
__NOTOC__
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid black">
<ul style="list-style: none; margin-left: 5px">
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Aernoud| Aernoud van Nevel]] (josh_g)''': forest wanderer — FATE ▣▣▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Antheunis | Antheunis Opgieten]] (lpsmith)''': slippery urchin — FATE ▣▣▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Boudin_Verdonk | Boudin Verdonk]] (maga)''': bravo and expeditor — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Mattius_Rothmann | Mattius Rothmann]] (Fang)''': brutish warmage — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Willem_de_Vos | Willem de Vos]] (Jota)''': student magician — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Lazer_Dennis | Lazer Dennis]] (Rob)''': manic-depressive man out of time — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

[Ok, so here's the deal: I'd like very much to wrap this game up by the end of the month. I think that's doable, but it's going to mean jumping to the climax. So let's go to the ball!]

==Cutscene==

In the dark of the catacombs, Antheunis calls forth the mist, and one by one, the candles of Ruud's men wink out. Willem is alerted by the noise that something is going on, and he manages to run into Antheunis just as the two of them come into the glare of Ruud's lantern. Ruud shouts something and comes towards them, drawing a shadowy knife, but Willem summons up a distracting illusion and he and Antheunis flee past Ruud and out the catacombs, where they eventually join up with Lazer and Aernoud and compare notes about what Aernoud's been seeing at the workshop. Lazer is still intent that it's all going down at the masquerade, so you arrange for some costumes, while Boudin manages to lift a couple of invitations from a drunken young man -- they're not in your own names, but close enough.

==Masquerade Ball==

It's taken more time than you expected to arrange for the proper costumes (and Lazer was very particular about his false moustache), but this is the sort of thing everyone is fashionably late to anyway, so things haven't reached maximum party when you arrive at Lord Laurent's mansion. It's pretty impressive grounds -- gazebos, tents, ornamental ponds and streams and fountains, braziers to provide light (since it's now after sunset), waiters wandering around with delicacies, jugglers, singers, painters, sculptors, and a large fireworks display promised later on. It's starting to look like Lazer's hunch was in vain when you spot some familiar faces: Ruud in a feathered mask, playing dice with two lads from the East Arsebrouc Boys next to a low stone wall; and Griet, sitting in the driver's seat of a covered wagon, brightly painted and sitting near enough to a large corkscrew-shaped fountain to catch some spray.

==Griet==
''Lazer has been in a funk, waiting for the rest of the guys to show up, despite his fancy new doublet, and the new gadget he built in anticipation of the final showdown, which he has concealed in his upper pocket, waiting for its time. Still, not dancing with any of the girls he finds pretty, he keeps his sullen eye on Griet, not Ruud. Stalking the shadows of the masquerade, only keeping up appearances by chomping the merest of hors'd'oeurves, he dashes again outside to skulk within eyeshot of Griet. A covered wagon is too tasty to not be interested in, as depressed as he is, not dancing with any girls, not flirting with any ladies. He's used to not being used to it.''

''What's in that wagon? Where's the rest of the guys? Willem and Antheunis and Arny and Boudin and that guy who never showed up even though we all expected him? God. I'm depressed for a good reason, and a week ago I thought it was just my imagination. Ok, if I have to do this myself, I'll figure out how to do it.''

''[Lazer Stealth: <dice id="46" dice="2d6" result="5,1" total="6" /> to get into the wagon]''

Lazer is skulking over towards the wagon, trying to get into a strategic position and kicking crankily at the paving stones, when suddenly he trips. Griet is startled into glancing in his direction, and, much to Lazer's surprise, keeps looking. "Howdy, stranger," she says, after a pause. "Party not treating you right, even with that fine-looking doublet? Want to climb up here and tell me all about it?"

''[Lazer tries to pile on the charm, at which he has a -2 on his best days, being <Weirdo, Nobody Gets Me, I'm Sad> = Terrible with Girls (-9) on his best days. With +2 Resolve, and being a Man Out of Time who can be somehow intriguing, and he tries the best he can for a -5 roll on going where this girl is going: @@+2d6-5.]''

==Fountain==
''Aernoud finally arrives, a bit nervous. He's wearing the most formal ball-wear he's ever worn in his life, with a slightly fancy cane and Flicker right on his shoulder. Boudin assured him that nobles love showing off their exotic pets at masquerades like this, and it'll only score him points with guests, but Aernoud feels like he's walking around with an exposed secret. When he spots Griet and Ruud here, though, his nerves forget all about hiding Flicker. "That wagon's gotta contain something that Griet is up to ... and why does that fountain look so familiar?" (rolling a crazy untrained Academic roll to see if that fountain is what I think it is? <dice id="47" dice="2d6-1" result="4,3" total="6" />) (unless Willem comes in with his own Academic roll to fix that, or it's decided that I didn't need that roll just to recognize a crazy magic-boosting device we've all been learning about, I am boosting that with a Fate Point)''

''Aernoud spots Lazer moving in close to the wagon. "This might get interesting," he mutters as he moves in closer to Griet and the wagon himself. Rather than hiding, though, he just positions close enough to be prepared to spring into action.''

''Antheunis thinks, "Wait--corkscrew-shaped? That's no good..." He walks over upwind of the fountain (hence, on the other side of it from the wagon, if it's getting sprayed), and sits at the edge, leaning over to let his hand dip into the water. He closes his eyes, feeling his connection with the water deepen, 'asking' it what it's doing here, and what the purpose of the corkscrew is. [Nature: <dice id="48" dice="2d6+3" result="4,4" total="11" />]''

Antheunis feels the water, which is part of all the waters of the world, including the river of time itself, and so he swims upwards, seeing water rise up from the ground and into the clouds, then turn to mist which sinks down into the ocean, rushes back into the rivers, inland, and up into the mountains. Then he refocuses on just this water here, getting the sense of a channel only recently cut, new water come to rush over a surface long-dry and long-hidden, buried in some dusty place and unearthed now for the party, to be washed back to sparkling brightness, and no other purpose than to sparkle and charm, despite the magic that flows within the corkscrew's curves.

Aernoud, having come to part of the same conclusions in a more prosaic way, blurts out "Lady Bellaire's device!" Alarmed, he looks around to see if the words carried, but nobody seems to have heard -- but Ruud and the Boys are gone, a single feather forgotten on the ground.

''Aernoud quickly walks over and picks up the feather before it gets trampled by party-goers. "Flicker, here, see this feather? Find the owner! Go!" Flicker snatches the feather in its beak and flies up in the air, catching the attention of a number of nobles and their wives as he soars above the crowd, searching.''

It's getting dark, but Flicker eventually finds its target. Aernoud sees the tiny figure circling over .. the fireworks tent? And what could well be Ruud slipping inside.

''"Oh, this can't be good," mutters Aernoud to himself as he hurries after Flicker to the tent. "Where is everyone else? How am I going to stop them? This is crazy! They're crazy! How am I going to stop these thugs from sneaking around - from - waitaminute, THEY'RE the ones who have to hide here! I don't have to stop them, I just have to expose them!" Aernoud calls Flicker back to his shoulder as he gets to the tent entrance, flinging open the doorflap. He stands in the entrance, looking for Ruud but staying where other guests can see him.''

''Antheunis still has no idea what this device could realistically be doing here, but hey, it must be bad if the villains control it, enh? He starts to will the water to do its natural job of eroding, only on a slightly faster scale. [Let me know if I need to unlock an advanced technique for this, but, Nature: <dice id="49" dice="2d6+3" result="2,1" total="6" /> Aiee! 2,1? Oy. Fate point for a partial success!] [Also, I'm a bit confused by the logistics of the above description, a feeling I might share with Antheunis, but if not: the long-hidden place is now unearthed for the party for everyone, so it's an open place now that partygoers can get to? Or is it more a sense of 'they wanted a fountain here, so they opened an old sluice'? Also, what's the approximate scale of the fountain itself? If someone simply took an axe to it, how long would it take to disable/destroy? Is it made of wood?''

[The fountain, to give a little context here, looks somewhat like [[http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/fountain_photos/fountain_catalog.jpg this picture]], but the central spire of the fountain is this bronze corkscrewing bit mounted on a tiered stone platform, roughly as tall as a person (only higher because it's on a platform). You could theoretically destroy it but since it's metal it'd take a bit of doing -- on the other hand, bending or banging it up pretty good it doesn't seem out of the question.]

[Anyway, let me know if you want to do something else given that, but assuming you're still trying to use the water to destroy it:]

The water swirls around the base of the fountain, foaming and almost seeming to sizzle. Minutes tick by, and finally there's a creak and a crack as the corkscrew becomes partly unmoored from its base -- it tips over sideways, still attached to the base but tilted to a forty-five degree angle.

''Antheunis darts an eye at the wagon, where Lazer is talking to Griet. Frantically, he gives him the universal, "Keep her distracted while I finish this off!" hand signal, then jumps into the fountain. He pushes the fountain back upright as if trying to right it, but actually twists it as he does so, to try to continue to break it off at the base. [Athletics! <dice id="50" dice="2d6+3" result="4,1" total="8" />]''

[[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 13|← Turn 13]] • [[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 15|Turn 15 →]]

Low Estate/MUDchat4

2013-07-29T21:18:00Z

Jrw: /*Turn 14 */

Low Estate/Turns/Turn 14

2013-07-23T12:20:59Z

Jrw: /* Masquerade Ball */

Low Estate/Turns/Turn 14

2013-07-23T12:19:29Z

Jrw: /* Masquerade Ball */

Low Estate/Turns/Turn 14

2013-07-23T12:18:48Z

Jrw: /* Masquerade Ball */

Talk:Low Estate/Turns/Turn 13

2013-07-14T00:04:16Z

Jrw: Created page with "[It seems like Lazer wants to talk the masquerade; assuming you are intending to go, one obvious point is how to get an invitation or, barring an invitation, how to get into L..."

[It seems like Lazer wants to talk the masquerade; assuming you are intending to go, one obvious point is how to get an invitation or, barring an invitation, how to get into Lord Laurent de Koningh's mansion.]

Lazer says (aside), to the gods-magnificat controlling all our fates, "Assuming I am intending to go? Whose idea was the new doublet? Who made me say, 'Consider!' four times, the other night? I know it is not my place to question thee, oh Gs.M., but what am I doing buying a new doublet for if there is not a path for me into this masquerade from whenst I am'th now? Or howeverth thou'st dost talk'eth?"

Low Estate/MUDchat3

2013-07-11T04:18:56Z

Jrw:

''Current time: Thursday, 27 Jun 2013: Turn 11''

[LowEstate]/Thu 00:44 inky says, "hmm, maybe Lazer should have a crazy inspiration"

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:44 Rob says, "I wondered about that"

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:44 Rob says, "it's somewhere on the char sheet"

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:45 Rob says, "I was almost going to write it like that but you weren't around for a consultation"

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:45 Rob says, "like he says 'I don't know what it means. But if I had to take a crazy fricking guess, how about it means blah'"

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:46 Rob says, "I could spend a fate point or something if that seems relevant"

[LowEstate]/Thu 01:58 inky says, "ok hopefully that will be funny and not useless"

[LowEstate]/Thu 07:32 Rob says, "hee hee"

[LowEstate]|Thu 07:33 Rob says, "excellent"

[LowEstate]/Thu 09:39 * NewsBoy hollers, "Extra! Extra! Rob has posted message 16, about 'Current turn MUDchat archive', to the bulletin board! Why oh why can't I find a nice NewsGirl on this mud?"

[LowEstate]|Thu09:40 Rob says (to Jota), "hey willem, howyadoin"

[LowEstate]|Thu 09:41 Jota says, "Not bad. At work, so theoretically not paying much attention to the MUD, though."

[LowEstate]|09:43 Rob nod

''Current time: Thursday, 27 Jun 2013, 10:05:04 AM EDT''

[LowEstate]/Thu 10:44 Rob says, "blarf, got totally confused trying to make a new chat-archive post, and link to it from GM latest-post. I think I got it all figured out. nuances I had in mind lost, but I think the general gist of it is there"

[LowEstate]/Thu 22:22 lpsmith asks, "So, are we also going to the University in turn 11?"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:22 lpsmith asks, "Or is that waiting for 12?"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:23 inky says, "if you want to open up a university thread, that seems totally reasonable"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:23 inky says, "at this point the masquerade ball is still "off next week", I think"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:24 Roger says, "I'm authentically impressed at the pace of this; well done to all y'all"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:27 inky says, "hunh, interesting"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:28 inky says, "I think what we've done in three weeks is about equivalent to a four or five hour session"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:29 Roger says, "The games I've been in, you probably wouldn't even be out of chargen yet"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:29 inky says, "ha ha"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:29 inky says, "I guess it helps to do some live chats here"

[LowEstate]|Thu 22:29 Roger says, "Yeah between that and the pre-existing social bonds, I think it helps a lot"

[LowEstate]/Fri 21:54 lpsmith asks (of inky), "Hey, do you need more input from us on anything?"

[LowEstate]|Fri 21:58 inky says, "I don't think so, I'm going to get something together tonight"

[LowEstate]|Fri 21:59 lpsmith says, "Cool."

[LowEstate]/Sat 09:54 Jota says, "Oops."

[LowEstate]|Sat 09:54 Jota says, "I wonder if I want to use a Fate Point for that."

[LowEstate]|Sat 09:59 Jota asks (of Rob), "If you log in and recap, what do you think: spend a Fate Point to turn this into a partial success, or let it slide and try to use Stealth to sneak in?"

[LowEstate]/Sun 19:16 Jota says, "I had been hoping to hear from Rob on his opinion about the sneak question, but I guess he's not around much this weekend."

[LowEstate]/Mon 01:55 Rob says, "oh, sorry... I guess I'm for trying to sneak"

[LowEstate]/Mon 13:00 lpsmith asks (of inky), "What the deal with Stealth? Should everyone who wants to sneak roll for it, or does only the 'leader' need to do so; can others help, or...?"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:05 inky says, "I think the correct answer is to prod at more story detail until it becomes clear, but in general everyone has to roll if they're all, I dunno, sneaking by the same guard one by one"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:06 inky says, "but I still need to work out what happens as a result of Willem's failed roll"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:06 inky says, "(probably I shouldn't have had a roll there without deciding what the deal would be)"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:10 lpsmith says, "I was thinking it would mean that the guy would become suspicious of Willem's motives and decline, with the net result being that it is now harder than ever to get into the catacombs."

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:11 inky says, "yeah"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:12 inky says, "but I'm also allowed to make another unrelated move which is bad for the players, so there may be something juicier"

[LowEstate]|Mon 13:15 lpsmith says, "Oh, interesting."

[LowEstate]/Tue 15:19 Jota asks (of inky), "Should I infer that Willem is otherwise occupied while the others are sneaking about?"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:31 inky says, "I figured you would be sort of out for this first bit and then could show up again when they get into the catacombs or something, yeah (or they could wait for you if nobody's in a hurry)"

[LowEstate]/Tue 15:54 inky asks, "oh, speaking of Willem, what his equivalent modern-day academic position?"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:54 inky asks, "like, is he like an american undergrad? or like an american grad student? or a post-doc?"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:54 Jota says, "I think an undergrad upperclassman."

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:54 inky asks, "or more like a uk undergrad?"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:54 Jota says, "I don't know the difference between a US undgrad and a UK undergrad."

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:55 Jota says, "(Also, probably one with a high GPA, for whatever that may be worth reputation-wise.)"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:55 inky says, "I guess I get the vibe UK undergrad life is more like US grad life (fewer classes, more direct relation with a tutor)"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:55 inky asks, "ok, but socially still pretty distinct from the professors?"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:56 maga says (to inky), "that's only really true of Oxbridge"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:56 inky says, "good point -- I really have no idea what other uk universities are like since they never show up in books"

[LowEstate]|Tue 15:56 Jota says, "Mmm. Possibly more like the UK style, but yeah, socially distinct from the professors. Like, he knows a lot of them, and many of them probably think highly of him as a student, but he's not likely to be hanging out with them extra-curricularly."

[LowEstate]/Wed 01:52 lpsmith says, "Hmm, I'm not sure what to do here other than say 'we go in'."

[LowEstate]|Wed 01:52 lpsmith says, "(cf turn 12)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 01:53 lpsmith asks, "Do you want us to tell you what we're looking for?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 01:58 inky says, "yeah, I'm not actually sure why you're here"

[LowEstate]|Wed 02:00 inky says, "if you're checking it out as a place of power, then I remember Willem has that wand and Aernoud spent some time studying Lady Bellaire's notes on ley lines"

[LowEstate]/Wed 08:53 Jota asks, "Man. The GM gives us a mysterious scrap a paper with an address on it, plus the key to the entrance, and when we go check it out, he says he's not sure why we're here?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 08:53 Rob says, "heh"

[LowEstate]|Wed 08:54 Rob says, "maybe there's only a mysterious scrap of paper because someone made a really kick-ass roll"

[LowEstate]/Wed 09:30 Rob says, "there was a strong sense that what we should be doing is going to the masquerade as the next big scene that is due to happen"

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:31 Jota says, "Yeah. Which I suppose we'll do. But it's not really apparent that we've got a clear motivation to do so."

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:31 Rob says, "just a manic flash of insight"

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:31 Jota says, "Aside from OOC knowledge that masquerades are places where stuff happens."

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:31 Jota says, "And, right, that."

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:31 Rob says, "well I guess the idea is that the main bad guy has some powerful reason to be there"

[LowEstate]|Wed 09:32 Rob says, "and we want to figure out what that is, and so the thing to do is to be there and catch him with his hand in the cookie jar or whatever"

[LowEstate]/Wed 11:41 inky says, "#belated oh, I know exactly why you guys were at the warehouse"

[LowEstate]|Wed 11:41 inky says, "I just don't know why you're at the catacombs"

[LowEstate]/Wed 13:22 Jota says (to inky), "Oh, ah."

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:22 Jota says, "We're at the catacombs because Lazer wanted to go to the catacombs."

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:22 Jota says, "(I.e., the exact same reason we're considering going to the masquerade.)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:24 inky says, "hee hee"

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:24 inky says, "well then"

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:25 Jota says, "(I had thought he'd had some specific in-game reason for it. But perhaps I was jumping to conclusions?)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 13:25 Jota says, "(Or perhaps it was a matter of Rob thinking 'Catacombs are interesting. Let's see if we can get inky to make them relevant to the story.')"

[LowEstate]/Sun 12:26 Jota asks, "IC, is there any indication that the ball next week has anything whatsoever to do with anything involving us?"

[LowEstate]/Mon 14:40 Jota asks (of inky), "IC, is there any indication that the ball next week has anything whatsoever to do with anything involving us?"

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:49 inky says, "I don't think so, except that wosshisface showed some mild interest in Boudin getting him tickets"

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:49 inky says, "(and if you don't want to go that is fine, I just like masquerade balls)"

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:50 lpsmith says, "Ha"

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:51 lpsmith asks, "Oh, right--I take it the Death Nexus and the Under-warehouse areas are two different places? Are they not very close to each other?"

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:54 Jota says, "Oh, I am interested in going. I am just trying to figure out why Willem would care."

[LowEstate]|Mon 14:56 Jota says, "(Or more accurately, what sort of goals we might have if we do attend.)"

[LowEstate]|Mon 15:01 lpsmith says, "Hmm, I wonder if I should spend a fate point here for a regular success."

[LowEstate]|Mon 15:02 lpsmith says, "Enh, I'll go with the more interesting option ;-)"

[LowEstate]|Mon 15:03 Jota says, "Also, as a side note: I don't think I would have thought of 'oily coldness' in a TSD sense on my own..."

[LowEstate]|Mon 15:07 inky says, "well, it just seemed like in context with waving this wand around"

'''Recapped 65 of 65 lines from games/roleplaying/LowEstate (09d19 to 02h02 ago)'''

''Current time: Monday, 8 Jul 2013, 05:09:48 PM EDT''

[LowEstate]/Wed 17:57 lpsmith says, "Ha, both of my partial successes coming back to haunt me ;-)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 17:58 lpsmith says, "OK, so. I assume that 'I wait around until they leave' is probably not a plan that is destined to work, given the rolls involved."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:01 lpsmith asks, "But can we, perhaps, say that my problem is that the henchmen are hanging around while Ruud leaves, so my problem is that my best source of information is likely to disappear again unless I do something clever? Or should I take some other tack?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:08 inky says, "I think the situation hasn't ruled out following them back eventually (though I also think they may not be going anywhere interesting, if they were just here to size up the warehouse and crypt)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:08 inky says, "but you have this new more immediate problem that they're starting to search the crypt for you (and Willem and the others, I guess)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:09 lpsmith says, "Ah, OK. Who all is here, then? I thought more, and it has sort of dwindled to Willem and I."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:10 inky says, "yeah, if other people want to claim they were never there that is fine I guess"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:11 lpsmith says, "I guess Lazer and Aernoud were trying to sneak earlier and found the locked door and porter."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:12 inky says, "true"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:12 inky says, "it seems like it might behoove you to find a solution other than just dodging around them, then"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:12 inky says, "(since that doesn't help the others out any)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:15 lpsmith says, "From the description of the place, I thought it was actually pretty large--especially with Ruud following explicit directions to the under-warehouse bit."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:15 inky says, "yeah"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:15 inky says, "I think if you're in the dark and there's just two or three of them, there wouldn't be much difficulty to elude them in the darkness"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:16 inky says, "but if you're the only one who knows they're there, it seems like their chances of stumbling on Willem or Lazer or Aernoud aren't bad"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:16 lpsmith says, "So I at least have to go warn them or do something clever."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:16 inky says, "yeah probably"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:18 lpsmith think think.

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:19 lpsmith asks, "They have a single lantern + individual candles? Or a lantern each?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:20 inky says, "I think they only brought the one lantern and then probably grabbed candles the way you did as they headed in"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:23 lpsmith asks, "Might it be possible for me to make the lantern go out with a Control The Mist technique? Like, gradually cause the wick to get too wet to burn properly?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:24 inky says, "it doesn't seem out of the question"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:25 inky says, "I imagine it'd be easier to snuff the candles that way than the lantern"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:25 inky says, "but not impossible"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:25 lpsmith says, "I don't know how that translates to a one-TN-to-rule-them-all system."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:26 inky says, "possibly it would take an advanced success to snuff everything, then"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:27 lpsmith asks, "Oh, maybe partial would be the candles, full the lantern, advanced everything?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:28 inky says, "yeah, something like that"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:28 inky says, "or maybe the degree of success is also about whether/how they spot you"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:29 lpsmith says, "Yeah, I was thinking at least fail would be 'they see me first'"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:30 lpsmith says, "Sure, I'll try that, then."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:40 lpsmith says, "Hmm, another partial."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:43 inky says, "man"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:43 lpsmith says, "Wondering whether to spend a fate point to up it, but am sort of inclined not to."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:43 lpsmith asks, "Man what?"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:44 inky says, "oh, just you're suddenly hitting a string of them"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:44 lpsmith says, "Well, I should get them half the time-ish."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:45 lpsmith says, "But I also just rolled a 6,6 again, so I'm not complaining ;-)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:46 lpsmith says, "(I guess I get them on 4-6, for a +3 skill)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:47 lpsmith says, "Which looks like is ~32%."

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:47 lpsmith says, "(plus failures, for another 8%)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:48 lpsmith says, "I'm mostly inclined to keep the partial because it makes you work more ;-)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:50 inky says, "ha ha"

[LowEstate]|Wed 18:56 lpsmith says, "OK, I'll give other people time to chime in if they think this is a bad idea, but if they don't, I'll let it stand."

[LowEstate]/Wed 19:33 lpsmith says, "Hey, I'm still intrigued by the 'lucky numbers' thing--can I try it out? I'd roll 2d6 on my character page or something, and those numbers in that order would by my lucky numbers, and those numbers in the reverse order would be my unlucky numbers. Any time anyone rolled either set, something unusual would happen in the scenario related to my character somehow--either to our benefit or to our detriment. Er, are we playing with Scene Aspects? Because this'd be a perfect Scene Aspect thing. We talked about this before and now I've forgotten exactly what my suggestion was."

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:36 inky says, "sure, if you want to start doing lucky numbers I don't see why not, although I'm not sure how much dice rolling there's left in this game"

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:37 inky says, "(I guess if it's anyone rolling it, it's more likely to happen)"

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:37 lpsmith says, "Wow, really? It feels like we've barely begin."

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:37 lpsmith says, "begun."

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:38 inky says, "yeah, but I think that's more due to me mispacing it"

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:44 lpsmith says, "Hmm, interesting."

[LowEstate]|Wed 19:44 lpsmith says, "OK: http://inky.org/wiki/index.php?title=Low_Estate/Characters/Antheunis#Lucky_Numbers "

[LowEstate]|Thu 00:12 Rob asks, "what have I missed? is everyone waiting on me?"

''Current time: Thursday, 11 Jul 2013, 12:15:27 AM EDT''

[[Low Estate/MUDchat2|← MUDchat page 2]] • [[Low Estate/MUDchat4|MUDchat page 4 →]]

[http://inky.org/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=Low_Estate/MUDchat3 search the related logs],
or [http://inky.org/wiki/index.php?title=Low_Estate/MUDchat3&action=edit edit this page].

Low Estate/MUDchat3

2013-07-08T21:15:36Z

Jrw: *Turn 11 - 13 *

2013-07-04T13:06:53Z

Jrw: Created page with "[LowEstate]/Wed 11:41 inky says, "#belated oh, I know exactly why you guys were at the warehouse" [LowEstate]|Wed 11:41 inky says, "I just don't know why you're at the cataco..."

[LowEstate]/Wed 11:41 inky says, "#belated oh, I know exactly why you guys were at the warehouse"

[LowEstate]|Wed 11:41 inky says, "I just don't know why you're at the catacombs"

Low Estate/MUDchat3

2013-07-04T07:33:06Z

Jrw:

Low Estate/Turns/Turn 11

2013-07-01T05:58:58Z

Jrw: /* University */

[[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 10|← Turn 10]] • [[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 12|Turn 12 →]]
__NOTOC__
<blockquote style="border: 1px solid black">
<ul style="list-style: none; margin-left: 5px">
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Aernoud| Aernoud van Nevel]] (josh_g)''': forest wanderer — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Antheunis | Antheunis Opgieten]] (lpsmith)''': slippery urchin — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Boudin_Verdonk | Boudin Verdonk]] (maga)''': bravo and expeditor — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Mattius_Rothmann | Mattius Rothmann]] (Fang)''': brutish warmage — FATE ▢▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Willem_de_Vos | Willem de Vos]] (Jota)''': student magician — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
<li>'''[[Low_Estate/Characters/Lazer_Dennis | Lazer Dennis]] (Rob)''': manic-depressive man out of time — FATE ▣▢▢▢▢ • Stress ▢▢▢ • Consequences unused (2), unused (4), unused (6)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

==Deductions==
"Aha," Lazer says, and then hands the paper back to Aernoud. "Let's go," he says, starting to walk out, before he realizes everyone's staring at him. "Is it still stuck in my teeth?" he says self-consciously, digging around with his toothpick.

"What did you mean by 'Aha'?" asks Willem.

"When? Oh that, just now," says Lazer. "Hmm."

He pauses for a moment, and then his eyes light up. "I see it all now! Obviously it is of utmost importance that I buy a new doublet. Quickly, to the costumier!"

"Er, what?"

Lazer comes to a halt as he is heading for the door again, and then raises his finger. "Consider: Maldeghem has started a bloody gang war. Why? Maldeghem has been attempting to seize control of the orphanage, the very same land which was owned by a magician and scientist interested in magical ley lines and developing a magical apparatus for the exploitation thereof. Why? Maldeghem is very interested in the nobility yet is seemingly completely disconnected from them. Why? Maldeghem is preparing for a massive digging operation near the university. Why? Maldeghem possesses a piece of brass inscribed with magical runes. Why? Maldeghem wants to go to the masquerade party next week. Why???" He stops here mostly because he is out of breath, but eventually manages to recover himself. "Clearly we must go to the party ourselves! And that means I need a new doublet. There's no time to waste!"

This time he makes it all the way out the door before halting for a third time and sticking his head back in the room. "Oh, and I haven't figured out what you guys should wear, but I'm sure it's only a matter of deduction from first principles."

[I am ([[Low Estate/MUDchat3|with Lazer's buy-in]]) charging him a fate point for this based on his academics roll; meanwhile, Willem can ask one question about the brass piece. ''Fate point unlocks: 'Crazy inspiration!' (logged on Lazer Dennis char page).]''

* ''What sorts of magical effects would a brass ruler with markings like these be used for?''
On inspection (or I guess on description) it's not actually a ruler, but a component of a larger piece of machinery. The runes suggest this part is used for moderation of a flow of energy.

''[Based on what we've seen so far of Lady Bellaire's work, does it look like it might be related? --Jota]''

==University==

After the enlightening discussion with Lazer, everyone heads to the University, the University catacombs, and the address Antheunis pilfered. Antheunis keeps his eye out for iron keyholes.

''The address turns out to be a warehouse, not actually on the university grounds but nearby. It appears to be abandoned, with boards over the few windows, but there's a large -- and new -- metal padlock chaining the doors shut. The chance is too good to miss, and there seems to be no one around, so Antheunis tries his key -- it works! Inside the warehouse is mostly empty with cobwebs in the rafters, but there are a few cryptic marks on the dirt floor: circles and long lines that don't seem to mean anything. A few candle stubs and lengths of string complete the tableau.''

Assuming Willem and Lazer are around, Antheunis gestures to the lines on the floor. "Can you guys make out anything from those?" he asks.

[On that assumption, an Academics roll for Willem: <dice id="35" dice="2d6+3" result="5,3" total="11" />]

While they're looking at it, he climbs up to one of the boarded-up windows in a shadowed corner of the room, and loosens one of the boards so that it still looks closed, but can be easily swung aside from the outside to permit spying and entrance. With no oil about, he applies some wax from a discarded candle to the nail so that it swings silently. After that, he rejoins the group, ready to try to sneak in to the catacombs if need be.

''Meanwhile, the University crypts are off-limits to outsiders (except during funerals) and technically also off-limits to students, but for them it's possible to get in with a good reason. Do you want to try to sneak in? Or does Willem want to ask a professor to get him access?''

Willem spots Professor Annullis walking through the quad. "Professor!" he calls out. "That was a great lecture you gave the other day, the one on reading bio-etheric echoes. I'm actually thinking of doing some related research in that area. Say, you wouldn't happen to have a key to the catacombs, would you? I'd love to bring some lab equipment down there and try taking a few sensings." He grins and adds, "And if I find anything interesting, maybe you and I might even be able to publish it together!"

[Community (Academia): <dice id="34" dice="2d6+1" result="2,1" total="4" />]

''Assuming this means that option is off the table, Antheunis looks around for possible ways to sneak into the crypts.''

''Assuming this is possible, Aernoud goes sneaking along to help. Stealth: <dice id="36" dice="2d6+3" result="4,2" total="9" />''

''[Lazer Stealth: <dice id="37" dice="2d6" result="5,3" total="8" />] Lazer says, "Sneaking isn't my speciality, but I'm for having a go at it. I'll try to keep my pockets from clanking."''

[[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 10|← Turn 10]] • [[Low Estate/Turns/Turn 12|Turn 12 →]]

Low Estate/Turns/Turn 11

Low Estate/MUDchat3

2013-06-27T14:07:23Z

Jrw: /* Turns 11+ */