Jim arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

Pete has connected.

Pete says, "Hmm. Feels like it's been a long time since we've played. Which it possibly has."

GM asks, "About 3 weeks?"

Jim says, "Hmm, yeah."

GM had a clever idea or two over the interval though.

GM hm, I wonder who else is coming

Dara arrives, looking for booty.

GM exclaims, "Yay!"

Jim says, "Storme is ill so Xaylia won't be here."

Dara says, "Aww."

GM says, "Perhaps she's sleeping in, in-game."

GM says, "When we last played, you were about to venture out into Skye, behind Vasya, to the lodging that had been arranged for you."

[nobilis] Pete says, "I was about to say that we'll have to get used to the time difference between Skye and the Chancel when I remembered that we still haven't gotten used to the time difference *in* the Chancel."

[nobilis] Jim says, "Heh."

GM says, "The trip through Skye itself kind of feels like a tour through a Renfaire with the budget of Disney-- though later in feel than most Renfaires. Many people sport pistols of some sort."

[nobilis] GM says, "I'm terrible with the time thing, I admit."

Eolo has connected.

Nathan says, "yarr"

Jim mutters, "Lovely, we're in NRAworld."

GM says, "It doesn't feel very exotic to the fantasy-hardened folk such as yourself. Though at one point you do pass a duel of some sort, with the pistols."

Jim resists the temptation to make the bullets hit each other.

GM says, "Each duelist passes his hand over the pistol and mutters something under his breath and the pistols glimmer faintly."

Dara listens with her super-hearing.

GM says, "One duelist is hit in the chest, the other, right in the skull. Both fall back, the second one's head a bloody mess. A young woman runs towards him."

GM says, "She knees down beside him, places her hands over the wreckage of his head and concentrates, and her hands begin to glow."

GM says, "And his head reassembles, and after a few seconds, he opens his eyes. Then the young woman goes to the other duelist, and performs the same service for him. The duelists shake hands, both looking pale and wan, and linger where they were dueling for a while."

GM says, "It seems to be a nonsense charm of some sort, Dara."

Dara . o O ( hunh. )

GM says, "It's the same one for both though."

Dara makes a note.

Jim says, "We should stock up on band-aids before we go back home."

Jim says, "I bet they make really good ones here."

Dara says, "Or those hands."

GM says, "Vasya, who stopped to watch with you, shrugs. "It's just a physician.""

Dara asks (of Vasya), "Are all physicians as skilled as she?"

(From GM) Vasya says, "Of course. Chirugeons have a lesser skill, but they can at least still close injuries."

Dara asks, "Are they in high demand, or do you think we might be able to hire one to come back with us?"

Pete says (to Dara), "We don't actually know that their abilities would work back home; we don't know what powers they draw on."

Dara says, "Yes, but I'd be willing to experiment."

GM says, "Vasya says, "They're very useful, but their services are expensive, for the rich or the noble, most of the time.""

GM says, "Vasya adds, "Some choose to spend their time elsewhere, of course.""

Dara asks, "Elsewhere?"

Pete says, "Speaking of money, I wonder if we should consider opening some kind of trade between our people, once we know each other better."

Dara surveys the crowds, trying to sense if this group produces the same hope crystals we're supposed to harvest as the humans back home do.

Dara says (to Pete), "Not a bad idea."

GM says, "Yes, Dara."

GM says, "Vasya shrugs. "Working for the churches. Donating their time to peasants. Joining the Veiled Guard." He smiles."

Dara nods.

[nobilis] Dara asks (of GM), "How finely-tuned is that sensing ability? Are there any people right now who are about to give up, and in particular, are there any physicians around who are about to give up?"

[nobilis] GM says, "You have no way of identifying the physicians, and you basically have to devote a lot of time to the sensing-- a casual scan won't do it."

[nobilis] Dara nods.

GM says, "Anyhow, so Vasya takes you on. In the distance you can hear the sound of the sea, and there's a faint salt tang to the air."

GM says, "Eventually, you're settled into a townhouse that is, well, much like you'd expect. They do have indoor plumping here, which is nice, and a bit unexpected."

GM er,, poumbing

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "I feel chubbier already"

GM plumbing

[Crows-Nest] Dara laughs.

GM says, "Ahem."

Nathan says, "nice place they've put us in"

Dara says, "Well, what now? There's the investigation of who's out to get Chiara, the possibility of setting up trade and/or hiring some of these people to go back home."

GM says, "Once settled into the house-- which is kept in meticulous order, with a woman's wardrobe and a man's wardrobe in the two main dressing rooms-- Vasya seems inclined to follow your lead, answer your questions, and so forth."

Dara asks (of Vasya), "What can you tell us about the efforts to find the assassins, and how might we help?"

Pete takes a look around, investigating signs of local culture -- art, books, etc.

GM says, "Vasya leans against a wall. "There's been suspicion on the Jitani, but no evidence, and no known motivation-- just ages-old prejudice. If it's something they arranged, they have made no ign since.""

Dara asks, "Who are the Jitani?"

GM says, "There are paintings on the walls, some abstract, some representative of such scenes as kings giving justice, or battles being fought. There are very few books, though there are a number of small sculptures that seem designed to be picked up and handled."

Nathan picks one up and inspects it, then

(From GM) Vasya says, "A southern family. They were... a source of trouble in the previous age. And ages previous to those, as well, now that I mention it. Brilliant sorcerers, very ambitious.

Dara asks, "And what exactly can sorcerers do here?"

GM says, "It's a horse, carved of a dark-grained wood. There are tiny symbols carved into its flanks, very basic ones: a circle with rays extending out, a cloud, a spray of grass."

[nobilis] Nathan asks, "they make pacts with nobilis, don't they?"

Nathan touches the cloud thoughtfully, trying to decide if it's a button or just a decoration.

Pete compares several of the tactile sculptures.

(From GM) Vasya says, "What do you mean, what can they do?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "The pact machine is like a sausage grinder, but that's not pork going in at the top..."

Dara asks, "What is the extent of their powers? What sorts of things have they done?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ew"

GM says, "It seems to be just a decoration. There's another horse sculpture with a sword carved into is flank. The wood is reddish, and stained in places. There's a hand next to the sword, tiny and precise in its detail. It feels unsettling to hold. Another one is a fish; there are shells and fronds engraved into the cool white stone, decorating the scales."

Pete peers into the Mythic.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Er. Or did you say there wasn't Mythic here?"

(From GM) Vasya looks flustered. "Heal, raise the dead, discern truth from illusion, summon Powers and make familiar spirits of them, become lovable, destroy objects, discern information about a person or an object or a place, create magical weapons or items or places-- though I suppose that is geomancy instead-- well-- here.

Nathan asks (of Vasya), "are these statues just decorations?"

[nobilis] GM says, "There isn't really a Mythic here though you can sort of attune yourself to the object-spirit level. Mostly, stuff here feels 'asleep'."

Jim asks, "Are there any good restaurants around here?"

Pete asks, "Are physicians sorcerers?"

GM says, "Vasya says to Nathan, "Yes. They last through the ages, unlike the written word." To Jim, he says, "Yes-- but there are things we must not discuss in public or we will attract attention.""

GM says, "He waves his hands around. "When a sorcerer attunes to the Powers, they pick a cardinal direction. To the west are the powers of combat and destruction. To the east, the powers of healing and repair. To the north are the powers of knowledge, to the south the powers of social interaction."

GM says, "He adds, "Physician magic is a highly derived form of geomancy.""

Dara asks, "So geomancy is not one of the cardinal direction thingys?"

GM shakes his head. "It is the magic of Mourn itself, though it can meld with High Magic." He fishes in a pocket, pulls out a silk bag with a deck of cards.

Pete tries to deduce how to read a statue that's meant to convey information.

---- No world ----