[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on."
Eolo has connected.
Ferris says, "maybe it'll be an exciting three-man session"
GM giggles.
GM asks, "D'yall remember what you were each up to at the end of the last session?"
Ferris says, "I have absolutely no idea"
Nathan says, "I was in an elevator under the factory"
Ferris says, "I guess I should look at the logs"
Ferris says, "oh yeah, my connection went out in the middle of the last one, and I couldn't reconnect, so that's why I don't remember"
Nathan says, "heh"
Pete says, "I was mildly intoxicated, and on my way back to the chancel with Ji-- Jan-- er, that person in the catsuit."
Ferris says, "I'm trying to skim the rest of the log, but it's not sinking in exactly what happened after I left"
Nathan says, "I think what happened is we broke up and some of us went out of the chancel"
Pete asks, "At what point did you leave?"
Nathan says, "(after the excrucian fled/chose to leave the chancel)"
Pete says, "Ah. WHat Nathan said, then. The kid and the fuzzball went looking for the wrong zoo, while Nathan and Dara I think (and probably others) chatted with the Imp and met our landlord to be."
Pete says, "Pete made some phone calls and got a bit drunk, and Janice stole some clothes and later joined Pete."
Ferris says, "and now we need to grow food for some reason"
Ferris asks, "oh, city landlord?"
Pete says, "Yeah."
GM says, "Renaissance, AI under construction by Jeheila."
Pete says, "Although I don't know if they know that's what he's going to be yet or not."
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Who said they would/wouldn't be able to make it, BTW?"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "I don't know that anyone who isn't here is likely to show up"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "lpsmith, Sargent, Storme, and Iain have all said they can't or probably can't"
[nobilis] GM says, "lpsmith, Iain and Storme, and Sarge."
[nobilis] Nathan says, "and I don't know what maga has been up to lately"
[nobilis] GM says, "Duchess is often late, and didn't say she wouldn't, I think."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "Storme and Iain are at a movie right now"
[nobilis] Ferris says, "hm, maybe I shouldn't have admitted that"
[nobilis] Pete says, "Although Duchess missed last time, so it's possible that might carry over."
[nobilis] Pete says, "And maga hasn't been on the MUD since a couple hours before the last BB post was made, and therefore wouldn't encessarily know that we're even scheduled for today."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "hmm. looks like the spirit and morale has kind of dissipated"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "aw"
GM says, "Nathan, the underside of the factory is extremely creepy. Lots of rusted  grate floors and long echoy tunnels and burned out electric lights. The elevator deposits you in one of them. There's graffiti on the walls in a language you don't recognize, if it's even a language. At one dead end nearby, there's a rough picture of a stick figure with x's for eyes and mouth, against a field of blue."
[nobilis] Pete says, "(And people thought I was joking when I made the comparison to Ghogg's game, a month ago.)"
[nobilis] GM says, "It's hard to keep 10 people moving. It's one reason why I'm doing this today, with three people. Trying to keep what I can going."
Nathan blinks and looks around
[nobilis] Ferris asks, "what was ghogg's game?"
Nathan . o O ( man, I hope I had a good reason for coming here )
[nobilis] Pete says, "7th Sea. It was the first on-MUD RPG campaign, I think."
GM asks, "Ferris, I think you were in a deep commune with the spiritual iron at the heart of your chancel. What do you think your representation at the Realm's Heart looks like?"
Ferris says, "Gee"
GM says, "Pete, I think you make it back chancelwards and J* is distracted by some people having a furious argument over the potential use of some obscure element in constructing cloaking technology."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "I don't know how to answer that question"
Pete bangs on the factory door as he goes in, and looks for that imperator who was here earlier.
[nobilis] Nathan says, "some kind of iconic representation of yourself, I guess"
Nathan asks, "...Yasmina?"
[nobilis] Ferris says, "I can't think of anything more iconic than what I already look like, I guess"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "hee hee"
[nobilis] GM says, "That's okay. I figure mechanically your commune has gone ahead and left the iconic representation of you in the Realm's heart. It can be something that can move around and talk down there. Sort of an avatar for yourself in Yasmina-land. An iron statue of yourself, for example."
[nobilis] Pete says (to GM), "Which is what Ferris himself looks like, IIRC."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "I think mostly the same, only taller, and with a hat"
[nobilis] Ferris says (to Pete), "exactly"
[nobilis] Pete says (to Ferris), "Yay, hat."
GM says, "There are no Imperators to be seen, but there are at least a dozen people having conversations at little corners and scurrying across the factory floor. They all glance up at Pete and then nod a greeting before returning to their work."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "a warden's hat"
Pete asks, "Anyone here know where that Jeheila kid is at?"
[nobilis] Ferris asks, "what is there to see in Yasmina-land?"
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Did we ever get Baalhermon's name?"
GM says, "Nathan, you turn a corner and on the wall there's stick graffiti of a feminine figure. Long flowing hair, a skirt, a sword in her hand. The grate that serves as a floor has rusted entirely away in front of that image, though."
Nathan kneels down and looks down through where the grate was.
GM says, "The primal Yasmina-land is, well, a primal place. It almost seems like a land beneath the land. The sky is surges of color like a whacked out screensaver, and there's a sea of liquid iron that rims the place. There's a ghostly tree off to one side on the island."
[nobilis] GM says, "Yes, I think so."
Ferris goes to look at the tree.
GM says, "One fellow offers, "It went downstairs, I think. You know.""
Pete frowns, and doesn't know, but goes downstairs to see for himself.
GM says, "There's only darkness below the grate, though when you're still you can hear a distant... sighing? Like scales moving across one another. As you look through it, though, you feel a tickle in your head, as if somebody is looking at you."
GM says, "The ghostly tree is only a sapling, and its leaves are still tightly curled."
GM says, "Pete, you have an exhilarating elevator ride, and are eventually deposited in the same place as Nathan."
Pete asks (of Nathan), "Where is he?"
Pete says, "Or she. WHatever."
Nathan shrugs
Nathan says, "Down there, maybe -- or, well, something is anyway"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hmm, my friend hasn't sent me the maps for Spellslinger yet, and I can't reach him on his phone."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hope nothing happened."
Pete shouts down the hole. "Hey, you!"
GM says, "Boing-boing-boing. Pete's voice echoes unpleasantly. The graffiti on the wall opposite fades away and a new sketch unfolds: a stick figure with either spines like a porcupine, or impaled by lots of spikes."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "Maybe he's trying to give you time to get the runners redone and letting you blame it on him."
Ferris says (to tree), "hi little tree"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Heh."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I left him a phone message last night to email me those maps."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "He's a really reliable guy, too."
Nathan says, "hrm"
[nobilis] (from Ferris) GM says, "It's a whopper!"
Nathan says (to Pete), "look at that"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I'm more worried that something happened to him than about the maps."
[nobilis] Pete asks, "This is on the other side of the hole, or right next to us?"
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Also, does the corridor end here? Were there any other side-corridors or doors or anything?"
[nobilis] GM says, "the other side of the hole."
Nathan says, "possibly nobody's pleased to see us"
[nobilis] GM says, "there is more corridor leading past the hole."
Pete asks (of Nathan), "It's a stickman. So what?"
Nathan says, "yes, but it's a different stickman than -- oh well"
Pete goes on past the hole.
Nathan shrugs and follows
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hmm, well, nothing I can do about it at the moment."
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Have you looked at chapter 3?"
Nathan eyes the stick figure as they go by
GM says, "The tree trembles in response to Ferris. From here, Ferris realizes he can sense the activities of much of the rural chancel... like watching the patterns of a city from high overhead. He can see the connection of the little sapling to the yet-unsprouted tree in the park, as well as to Ri, the ghostly landlord. And he can sense the human and nonhuman entities slowly discovering their new world."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Ah, nuts."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I've got a couple errors in the steelheart writeup."
Ferris says, "wow"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "There."
GM says, "The two round a corner and there's a disturbingly-shaped lump ahead. But, oh, it's only a pile of trash. Clank, clank go their feet on the grate. Behind them, their footsteps have scuffed away some of the dirt and shine rust-red in the flickering electric lights."
Ferris looks to make sure everything is going peaceably.
Pete kicks the trash crankily as he passes.
Nathan . o O ( just like hansel and gretel )
GM says, "Things seem to be going reasonably well in the rural chancel. There's some interesting things going on, but nothing very pressing: Ri is visiting a cottage where there seems to be an exit from the chancel, and a young man is already venturing into the forest of the rusalka. Some gnome or dwarf like figures seem to be digging up to the surface, but they too are part of the chancel."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee hee"
Ferris says, "oh yeah, that cottage. I forgot we almost stopped by there on our way back to the seed."
GM says, "Round another corner, and faced with a four-way intersection: there's a plib of water to the east, and a soft shimmering to the west."
Pete exclaims, "Jeheila! This is no time for games!"
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Which direction did we come from?"
GM exclaims, "The shimmering drifts closer. You came from the south!"
Nathan shrugs, and goes to meet the shimmering.
Pete goes that way as well.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hmm, let's see...skills and feats."
GM says, "It's just a shimmering, a soft light twisting in the air. It forms a glyph of some sort, and then lazily another one, as if trying them out."
Nathan pokes it experimentally.
Ferris wonders who the guy entering the forest is.
GM says, "There's an older lady who lives in the cottage, just the sort to bake cookies and have milk on hand. It's disturbingly pleasant. Her house has many many closets. The guy entering the forest is a young man in search of adventure! Once... he was a geeky sort of guy in the real world and now, refreshed by the transformation of his home, he's off to find adventure. He seems to have some specific quest in mind, too."
GM says, "The shimmer twists away and then drifts forward curiously. There's a bell tone, and another one, lower pitched, and then a higher one, inquisitive."
Ferris says, "Hmm."
Nathan asks (of shimmer), "um, hello?"
Pete asks, "Bong? Do you speak English?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "As I was saying, skills first, I reckon."
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Does this fall under our panlinguism?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I'll do the class skills chart to start."
GM says, "Another glyph is formed; the shapes are reminiscient of the language that graffiti was written in back at the entrance. Then, in a bell-voice, it says, "Spoken language.""
Nathan says, "yeah, that"
[nobilis] GM says, "Nope. Not yet, anyhow."
GM says, "The glyph holds steady. "I understand.""
Pete asks (of Shimmer), "They said the snake was down here. You know where it's at?"
Ferris guesses he should go see what the young guy is up to.
GM says, "I have not yet been given that information," says the glyph. "But there is somebody here to see you. I have been sent to find you. It is my first task.""
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hmm."
Pete asks, "Both of us?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Should I list the brand class skills on the chart?"
Nathan asks, "somebody who?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "It seems like overkill, since they're one level long."
[whiz-games] inky asks, "that doesn't matter if you're trying to figure out which are your class skills, does it?"
GM says, "Yes. You are most appropriate.  One such as yourselves has arrived, from outside. He carries messages. He carries a visa."
Nathan says, "um, ok, better lead on, then"
Pete frowns. "Fine."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Well, a class skill is only a class skill when you advance in that class."
[whiz-games] inky says, "oh, it is? whoops"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "So, after my single level of magi, its class skills never matter again."
[whiz-games] inky says, "never mind then"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Well, except for thos * skills that are always class skills."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Maybe I'll list them on the chart."
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "So if you ever want to buy any magi skills without paying extra for cross-classing your skills, you've got to do it at character creation with your level one points?"
GM says, "Ferris, you leave the heart and find yourself back on the surface, in the park where the seed was planted. The urban chancel looms on the other side of the park. Kanyaa is grazing there."
Ferris says, "oh yeah, kanyaa. howdy, kanyaa"
[nobilis] GM says, "I think accessing the rural heart is a lot like logging onto a hyper-real MUD."
GM says, "The shimmering glyph shifts again and says, "On the surface. Here." It stretches and displays a nice little holographic map of the city. A hotel-like structure near the border lights up."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Right."
Nathan says, "hunh"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Except like I said, for a couple of skills that become permanent class skills."
Nathan asks, "and can you give us a route from here to there?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Those are still fluctuating a bit at the moment, though. Once I see the chart all laid out, I'll better be able to shuffle stuff around."
Ferris wonders where everybody else from the gang went.
GM says, "There's a pause. Then it says, "East, and then north, there is an elevator. Take it up. You will exit here:" another building lights up, this time a parking garage. "Then you can take this route." A path lights up, only a few blocks."
Nathan says, "Thank you -- that looks good"
Nathan eyes the map for a bit, and then starts walking.
Pete asks, "I didn't bring a compass, but I assume that's the elevator we came down?"
Pete doesn't bother waiting for an answer.
GM says, "For the low low price of 0 MP, you can detect a grazing centaur and a wandering monkey doing monkey things. The devil, he is missing. I hope I'm not forgetting anybody."
[nobilis] GM says, "Actually, it's not! It's a new one."
Nathan says (to Pete), "I dunno, it seems like I've got a better sense of direction than I used to"
[nobilis] GM says, "What, you think these are MAGIC elevators? Sheesh! :-)"
[nobilis] GM asks, "Wait, do centaurs graze?"
Pete says (to Nathan), "I'll follow you then."
[nobilis] GM says, "I have trouble imagining it. Maybe she's lounging watching others graze instead."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "because yeah, I guess they have human mouths"
[nobilis] Ferris says, "but they have equine digestive tracts!"
[nobilis] GM says, "You also have a very vague awareness of the urban chancel. Like spots of light in shadow."
GM says, "Kanyaa munches a bit and then whickers. "Are we going on another adventure in the city?""
GM says, "She seems awfully eager to visit the city again."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "hmmm"
Ferris says, "if you give me a ride, sure..."
GM snorts. "Of course. I'll poke a stupid human who asks for a ride, but carrying you is an honor." She stomps a hoof, waits until the iron dude is settled, and then trots toward the city.
GM says, "Kanyaa snorts."
GM says, "I simply sniff in a dignified manner."
Ferris hums a tune.
Nathan walk walk
GM says, "The pair of Nobles make their way to the hotel. It's small, but it's in pretty good maintenance. It's also clearly quite luxurious. Inside there's a front desk, but there's also a gentleman reading a newspaper in the posh lobby. He lowers his paper to get a look at Nathan and Pete as they enter; he's got bright red hair and is dressed in kind of run-down clothes."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Hmm, dang."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The gunfighter doesn't have any class skills that are his alone."
Nathan asks, "pardon me, are you the messenger?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I'd tale intimidate away from the maverick, but that doesn't make sense to me."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "take, even."
GM says, "Are you musically inclined, my lord?" asks Kanyaa as you trot along."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Also, I think I'll roll search into senses."
Ferris says, "Gee, I dunno. Never much thought so before."
npc2 has connected.
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "What does the vanilla Fighter that's his alone?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Nothing I guess, but it's still not a good design."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Niches are the whole key to class-based RPG design."
[whiz-games] Jota nods.
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Hmm, should the Maverick get Senses as a class skill?"
[whiz-games] Thrax likes the idea of class-based RPGs
Graph folds his newspaper up quickly. "Of a sorts. I'm Graph. My sister heard about this, so I thought I'd come by and give you a stack of messages." He fumbles in the messenger bag at his feet as he scoops it up.
Nathan asks, "um, your sister?"
[whiz-games] Thrax asks, "perhaps a 'lackey of the bourgeoisie' character?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Also, should the Gunfighter get Survival and/or Use Rope as class skills?"
[whiz-games] Jota says (to Whizz), "The Tb needs Senses, but I don't know if the Maverick necessarily does. Unless you're giving the Maverick some of the Rogue's bag-o'-skills thing."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I was thinking the Gunfighter and Tb would get Senses."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "(But I imagine the Tb actually gets the bag-o'-skills, since there's so much more that fits him.)"
[whiz-games] Jota nods.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Since I see Mavericks as a bit more oblivious."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Well, mavericks get the most skills."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "But they specialize in more city-based stuff."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "Use Rope is probably handy for Sheriffs, and any fightery type who wants to keep enemies alive for questioning or delivery to authority. So, good for Gunfighters."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Right now, the skills that everyone gets as class skills are: Clamber, Handle Animal, Profession, Ride, and Swim."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "And the skills that none of the get are Concentration and Spellcraft."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The other skills the Maverick is excluded from are: Heal, Senses, Survival, and Use Rope."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The Tb is excluded from: Chat, Deceive, Heist, Intimidate, Knowledge, Sense Motive, and Tumble."
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Anything seem out of whack in there?"
Graph smiles. "My sisters Wisp and Liz and I serve his Imperial Majesty, the Source of Spring, Tavaat." He pauses, and then adds helpfully, "Like you serve its Imperial Majesty, the Walker on the Horizon?"
Nathan says, "um"
Nathan says, "yes, I think that's right"
Nathan asks, "so, er, what were these messages you had to deliver?"
Pete says, "I'm not as sure as Nathan seems to be, but I'll take any mail you want to deliver."
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "Heist is the devices/traps one?"
GM says, "Ferris and Kanyaa poke around the city a bit. Kanyaa sticks her nose into everything at first, before discovering that lots of things in a city stink. Slowly you end up in a nicer part of the urban chancel, where pretty little hotels and cafes dot the streets. People stare at Kanyaa, of course, but she doesn't seem to care."
Ferris says, "Hmmm."
Graph laughs. "I think maybe there was a miscommunication when I registered." He pulls a thick sheaf of papers out of his bag. "My sisters and I have made it our purview to administer a communications engine between Nobles. Otherwise it's such a pain learning anything or getting anywhere in the early days." He passes a stack of the paper to each man. Each one looks like nice stationary, though not yet personalized. Some are decorated with floral images, and some with tarot card imagery, and some with norse runes, and some with astrological symbols.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Build/Repair is."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Well, wait, lemme look./"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "My bad. You're right."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Oh, and I'm gonna roll Swim into Clamber and call it Athletics."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "It's such a waste to have to spend skill points on swimming."
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Blank?"
Pete flips through the papers.
Nathan says, "nice"
[whiz-games] inky says, "heh"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I want to make sure each skill is general enough to get used a lot."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "Charles Algun would agree with you."
[whiz-games] Whizzard watches ref whoosh by overhead.
[whiz-games] Jota says, "My first 7th Sea character."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Ah ha."
Graph says eagerly, "Go ahead, try one. Address it to one of your fellows."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "So, 20 skills, even."
Nathan says, "hmm, okay"
[whiz-games] Jota says, "Who not only paid points for swimming, but also sadly had to buy it as an advanced skill, at (I think) triple the cost. <sniff>"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "That's oddly satisfying."
Nathan writes "Hello Ferris" on the paper.
Nathan writes "This is a very strange place."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "John Wick had some weird notions about RPG design."
Nathan writes "Yours truly, Nathan"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The whole knack thing was his fault. I just wanted to have skills."
[whiz-games] inky says, "hunh, that would have been a change"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I still think it would've been a simpler, cleaner design."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Also, the whole defense thing always creeped me out."
Pete looks for something a bit manlier than flowers or tarot cards. Steel girders or masonry, perhaps.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "But, anyways."
Ferris asks, "bwoing -- huhh?"
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "The fact that you bought defense as skills/knacks/whatever, or the way you had separate active and passive defenses?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Both."
GM says, "As Nathan writes on it, the header fills out with Nathan's name and station-- perhaps the first time he's ever seen it. When he's done, it pulls itself out of his hand, folds itself up, and in the shape of an origami bird, flaps out of the room and runs into Ferris down the street. It then unfolds itself and flutters into his hand."
[nobilis] GM exclaims, "I'm trying to think of any symbol sets involving steel girders. You'll have to invent one, I think!"
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "So, the class skills sound okay?"
Ferris says, "Hmmm!"
Ferris asks, "Where'd this come from?"
[nobilis] Pete says, "I'd settle for megaliths, a la Stonehenge, if there are any."
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "Nothing like "Of course the Maverick should get Underwater Basket Weaving as a class skill. This game sucks!"?"
Ferris starts hollering, "Hellooo! NATHAAAAN!"
Pete says, "Apparently it works."
Pete asks, "What happens if there's a Ferris somewhere else in the world?"
Nathan says, "wait, I think I can hear him yelling from here"
Nathan walks out.
Nathan waves.
Ferris says, "HEY HOY"
Ferris asks (of Nathan), "What's going on?"
Pete says, "Or in another world. Or however this sort of place works."
Nathan waits til Ferris gets closer, and then says "We've got a visitor inside -- he gave us, um, some kind of magic paper"
Ferris dismounts.
Ferris says, "Magic paper. hmmm."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "I think that as long as Trailblazers can be cowboys and braves, and gunslingers can be sherriffs and outlaws, and mavericks can be card sharps and snake oil salesmen, it should be OK."
Nathan says, "C'mon back inside -- he said he had some other messages, I think"
Ferris says, "Ok."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "Oh, and that other class (brawler?) can be mountain men and farm-hands-looking-for-adventure."
Ferris says (to Kanyaa), "stay here"
Ferris follows Nathan.
Graph says, "Well, first of all, it only works on those we've created a forwarding address for in the Word Abacus. Nobles, usually, and some spirits. Folks you can't usually reach with cellphones."
Ferris asks (of Graph), "Hi! Who are you?"
Nathan says, "this is, er, Graph"
Nathan says, "he, um, apparently serves Tavaat, the Source of Spring"
Pete asks, "So how is it that everybody knows us already, when we just barely got here?"
Nathan says, "I think like us and Yasmina or Jehiela, only less confused"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Heh."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The brawler got rolled into the Tb."
Ferris pretends it all makes perfect sense.
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "Are there only three classes now?"
Graph blinks. "Who else has visited you? My sister considers herself the mistress of gossip; she'll be put out to learn somebody has been here first."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Yeah."
Pete says, "Some leather punk who walks on ash and says our honcho is a murderer."
Pete says, "This other guy who apparently likes ripping holes in worlds. But at least did us the favor of making a hole to Chicago."
Pete says, "A fleet of unicorns and skinny dippers, but I assume they came with the geography, so they probably don't count."
Nathan says, "I think he said he serves Lord Entropy"
Nathan says, "not the other guy, the first guy"
Ferris says, "that guy was a bad guy"
Nathan says, "I don't think either of them were very nice"
Pete asks, "Speaking of, have you got any tips on fixing a broken 'chancel'?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "The brands add more variety. There are six of those."
Graph says, "Hmmm. That. I suppose I might be a bit premature in handing these out, but I'd understood that the angel Tenebrae was going to make an alliance with Yasmina. I'm sure it will be worked out." He flashes a quick grin. "Lord Entropy-- such a control freak! I'm not sure about this other fellow, though." He considers the three. "Your imperators haven't given you very much information, have they. Tsk."
Pete says, "'Shield' a 'scar'."
Ferris says, "There's also some young kid wandering in the forest right now, thinking he's on some sort of quest."
Pete asks (of Ferris), "Is that good or bad?"
Nathan says, "I guess it depends if he gets killed or not"
Nathan says, "I'm not sure the forest is really all that safe"
Graph says, "Um, I'm not sure about fixing a broken chancel; Wisp is our Warden and I let her handle all that stuff. What is this about shielding a scar?""
Pete asks (of Nathan), "Yeah, but is *that* good or bad?"
Pete says, "The last few things we found running around in the forst were things we were supposed to *stop*."
Pete says (to Graph), "Ash said that Jeheila and Yasmina were supposed to murder a hundred people to build this place, but they decided to murder a thousand instead."
Pete says, "And that planet Earth can't get over it until the fairyland's been trashed."
Graph nods. "I can believe that is true. Usually there's a forwarning to the birth of a chancel; certain sorts can detect the death a day for 100 days that a chancel requires. This, though, it just came from nowhere, no warning." He considers. "There are other ways around it-- I mentioned the angel Tenebrae previously? I'd heard from Liz that he was interested in resolving that problem. His children are Darkness, Hallucination, and Addiction, roughly, so I imagine he could."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Ok, that's mostly got that then."
Nathan says, "er"
Pete asks, "Liz?"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "(his sister)"
Nathan asks, "resolving which problem? that Earth isn't happy?"
GM says, "Liz is the Duchess of Awareness; she's got connections with hundreds of spirits in the mythic world. Quite a spy network, really." He nods. "Helping the world forget what happened. I don't know what he'll want in exchange. Something, of course.""
Pete asks, "Is Tenebrae any better at conversation than ours, or should we try calling one of his... his 'nobles'?"
GM says, "Mmm. I imagine once he's ready, one of his nobles will come visiting. It's not wise to speak casually to an Imperator other than your own without being spoken to first; we're this big to them some days." He holds two fingers close together."
Nathan says, "hmm"
[whiz-games] Jota asks, "How are you on pages?"
Pete says, "Thanks for the info. And the paper."
Graph says, "Hey, no problem. If you have anymore questions, I'm not really in a hurry to leave."
Nathan says, "well, er, you could explain what's going on"
Pete says, "Like 'what are we?' 'what happened to the world'?' 'when did magic become real?'"
Nathan says, "since I have been pretty much non-stop confused since the asteroid or whatever hit town"
Nathan says, "and then people were trying to beat us up"
Pete asks, "How the hell did *we* become magic? Why does everything from outside with the singular exception of you so far either have a remarkable talent from destroying our apparent home? And is all of this likely to stop any time in the future, or should we start trying to get used to it?"
Graph says, "Hmm, sure. I can give you my angle, anyhow. Is there someplace around here where we can get lunch?" He pauses to scribble a note on a piece of paper of his own, and they can see 'Viscount of Symbol' appear in the header. Then he folds it into a paper airplane and launches it at the dignified person behind the registration desk. It shimmers and vanishes just before it'd hit his shiny head."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Mmm, not so hot."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "All this skill shit is for one chart."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "So I'm still on page 25-26 or so."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "But the skill entries themselves should eat space quickly."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Lots of carriage returns."
[whiz-games] inky says, "heh"
Pete says, "Sure, uh..." He sticks his head out the door. "I think there's asomeplace over that way.""
Nathan says, "hmm, lunch"
Nathan says, "it seems like in a city we ought to be able to handle it"
Pete leads the way to someplace that looked like it'd sell subs that they passed on the way here.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Still, I'll prolly stay up all night Sunday."
[whiz-games] Jota says, "You need a section on 'invisible runes', with lots of examples."
Graph slings his bag over his shoulder and ambles after the others. After acquiring subs, he says, "So. You've figured out that everything has animate spirits, yeah? You can talk to stuff and it can answer back?" He makes a face at his sub. "Sometimes you don't want to, of course."
[whiz-games] Whizzard asks, "So, am I the only one who still pulls all-nighters now that college is over?"
Nathan eyes his sandwich nervously.
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Cuz if I am, I'm gonna be sad."
[whiz-games] katre says, "I've done the occasional all-nighter at work"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Well, thank god."
[whiz-games] katre says, "ofc, unlike in college, I usually get a comp day out of it"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Ah, comp days. I've heard of these things."
Pete says, "The first part, yes. I hadn't thought about talking to anything."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "I don't get them, but I've heard of them."
Graph nods and takes a bite of his sandwich. After swallowing, he says, "Well, the world is a single giant spirit. But-- I guess I should start bigger. The metaphor, as I understand it, is that all of Creation is a tree. And attached to that tree are fruits, which are worlds. And around this tree is a fence, called the Wierding Wall. In the last age or two, guys from outside the fence want to come in and chop the tree down.
Pete asks, "What kind of tree?"
Ferris says, "More bad guys."
Nathan says (to Pete), "he said it's a metaphor"
Graph says, "They're a lot smaller than the tree-- everything is a lot smaller than the tree-- so they sort of have to start small, by taking out key elements of the tree, like the color red, and the concept of size." Graph blinks at Pete. "Um, an Ash, I hear. A really really big one. Called Yggdrasil.""
Nathan says, "I don't know how it can be, but hey"
Nathan says, "...oh."
Graph says, "So, basically, there's a war all over the tree between the invaders, and the defenders of the tree. You've just been recruited to be soldiers in this war."
[nobilis] Pete says (to Nathan), "Hee."
Nathan says, "hmm"
Nathan asks, "why us?"
Pete asks, "So, if they win, we lose red, we lose size, we lose Earth, and we lose people? All of them?"
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Ah, finally done with the chart and updating the class skill lists."
[whiz-games] Whizzard says, "Now to make some time."
Graph says, "You each have a piece of Creation you're responsible for. Your Imperator is sort of the solidified essence of part of creation and it's been divied up into coherent chunks. You-- because your Imperator liked you, I guess. Because they thought you would be able to handle it. And yeah, if they win, we lose all that.""
Graph says, "It gets complicated, though, 'cause you're here on Earth."
Ferris says, "Huh."
Graph says, "I hear on the other worlds, the battle is open, and the commoners-- ordinary people-- help out as best they can. But our Earth, she was hurt back before the invaders came. Some angel got pissed off at the dinosaurs and wiped them out, and this fractured Earth. It couldn't handle it."
Nathan says, "wait, I thought the dinosaurs were wiped out by an asteroid"
Nathan says, "or global warming or something"
Pete says (to Nathan), "I thought they were wiped out by an ice age."
Graph says, "So it invented meteors, and outer space for meteors to be in, and, well, pretty much all of scientific history, as an explanation for being violated."
Nathan says, "wow"
Ferris says, "the dinosaurs must have done something pretty annoying to prompt all that"
Graph says, "Anytime an angel or a demon or any of the other Imperators does their mojo, it can explain it away as science. But when you or I do our mojo, because we're part Earth, it can't explain it away, and pieces of it stop being able to talk to the rest of it."
Graph gives Ferris a look. "It'd be nice to think so, yeah, but from what I hear, it just took a dump. Angels, easily upset."
[nobilis] Chrysoula says, "heya, Sarge"
Pete asks, "So how do we figure out what kind of things we can do, that we're not supposed to do anyway??"
[nobilis] Sargent says, "sorry I wasn't able to make it today"
Graph says, "Well, all Nobles I've met can speak any Earth language, and can see both the Mythic World and the Prosaic Reality... other than that, the special powers are... well.. individualized."
[nobilis] Chrysoula says, "'Soky. It's wacky adventures in infodumps day."
Pete asks, "So, we don't find out until we accidentally do them?"
Pete asks, "Like forgetting to touch the ground when you're running?"
Graph says, "Well, if you're an introspective sort, you can probably delve them in advance?" He points a finger at Nathan. "He's the Noble of Stars. I might come to him with any favor I needed regarding the stars, and rightfully expect he could do almost anything, for the right price." He points at Ferris. "The Noble of Iron. Same thing.""
[peanut-gallery] Jota asks, "Oh, this is the guy that wanted to talk about movies, isn't it?"
Ferris says, "Favor regarding stars... hmm"
Ferris says, "Oh wait, maybe you don't mean that kind of star"
Nathan says, "I don't *think* I know anybody in Hollywood"
[nobilis] Pete asks, "So if we ponder deeply enough, we can discover our abilities and gifts without needing to find out from the Imperator?"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "I can"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "but I don't have anything complicated"
[peanut-gallery] Rob says, "I don't remember him having any particular focus"
Graph laughs. "He'll have to work that out on his own." He sobers. "So, 'they'-- the Imperators in the war-- needed somebody to oversee the war on Earth, because if it was prosecuted as it was on other worlds, the bad guys-- Excrucians-- would be able to create total chaos.
Graph says, "For no reason I understand, it ended up in the hands of Lord Entropy. He wanted it, he took it, and nobody really argued with him at the time. And now he's entrenched."
Pete asks, "Chaos, he's the one who sent the guy to destroy the chancel, right?"
[peanut-gallery] inky says, "ha ha ha"
Pete asks, "Wait, is Chaos the same as Entropy in this world?"
Graph says, "He's the very essence of corruption. Which can occasionally work in your favor, if you're willing to go that way. But mostly means he's totally irrational and unpredictable."
Graph says, "Chaos is somebody else."
[peanut-gallery] Trent asks, "Who complumented him?"
Pete says, "Oh."
[peanut-gallery] Ellison says, "there's a guy on the joltcountry message boards whose inability to spell rivals this guy"
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says (to Ellison), "YM 'spel'"
Graph says, "A guy involved with the weather and natural disasters. Entropy-- that's just his name, I think. His Nobles are Desecration, Devastation and Scorn."
[peanut-gallery] Trent says, "I think he's doing it on purpose."
Graph says, "Meon, Baalhermon and Joktan. Total assholes, all three."
Nathan asks, "so, er, which is the one who leaves ash behind?"
Pete says, "Devastation, that's what he said."
Ferris asks, "How do we get him to stop bothering us?"
Nathan says, "oh -- I guess that's Baalhermon then"
Nathan says (to Ferris), "well, apparently Tenebrae can help"
Nathan says, "although I am not sure that dealing with Darkness, Hallucination, and Addiction is any better than Desecration, Devastation and Scorn"
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says, "HM 'frend'"
[nobilis] Pete says, "It occurs to me that if we keep switching between sides of the chancel, we'll never get around to sleeping."
[nobilis] Nathan says, "ha ha"
[nobilis] Pete says, "Since this is definitely the second lunch we've had."
Ferris asks, "Where are Sugar, Sweetness, and Chuckling when you need them?"
[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "Powerpuff Girls Chancel!"
[nobilis] Pete says, "Third, if you count the fact that Ferris and I had probably already eaten lunch earlier in the day before the Big Mess happened."
[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "ha ha"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "mm, lunch"
[nobilis] Sargent says, "you are making Birralee all sad to be missing the food"
[nobilis] Pete says, "(And I assume the rest of you too, but you didn't bring lunchboxes, so you don't count.)"
[nobilis] Pete says (to Sarge), "You could join us if you wanted."
[nobilis] Pete says (to Sarge), "Hot pastraaaaamiii..."
[nobilis] Sargent says, "mmmm"
[nobilis] Sargent says, "tempting, but I have to leave again in about thirty minutes"
[peanut-gallery] Ellison says, "we know it was the friend because 'pizza' was spelled correctly"
Graph says, "He's kind of like a petty traffic cop. I'll send over a list of his 'laws' later. Like in the real world, it's more not getting caught flagrantly breaking the stupid ones than anything else."
[peanut-gallery] Jota says, "The last time I remember seeing him, we had fun (or I did) trying to convince him that X2 didn't exist."
[peanut-gallery] Jota says, "And that he was really mixing it up with the Matrix sequel or something."
[peanut-gallery] Jota says, "(I forget the details.)"
Nathan says, "at last something I can relate to"
[peanut-gallery] Whizzard says, "Ah, Aargain. That explains it. I've got him gagged."
Pete asks, "So, we're soldiers in a war against the lack of red. Fair enough. But what can we actually do to make sure red -- or stars, or iron, or whatever -- keeps existing?"
Pete asks, "For that matter, how can you make something like red *stop* existing?"
Nathan asks, "paint over it?"
GM considers. "More stuff you may not know about. You can form a bond with ordinary people, giving them some of your power, or at least the ability to channel your power. We call 'em anchors. It only works with somebody you care deeply about, or really hate, and you have to make them drink some of your blood or tears. Once they do that, if your spirit is strong enough, you can channel your power through them, see through their eyes, that kind of thing."
Graph says, "Oh, well, see, the Excrucians have this ability to unravel those concepts. They have to do rituals involving the concept being warped, and they use some of its symbology-- flowers, usually-- and if the event happens as planned, the concept is weakened or even destroyed.""
Pete asks, "And we try to stop the rituals?"
Graph says, "Pretty much. You'll know when something is happening. Something inside you will hurt."
Graph looks thoughtful. "What else, what else..."
Pete asks, "So if we're working for the imperators, and they've given us extra abilities to make us more powerful than normal people, does that mean the normal people around here are working for us? Or are we supposed to be working for them too? Or are we supposed to try to still be normal, and just moonlighting as mythic warriors?"
Graph says, "There's a society of Nobles that the paper is just a gateway to. The Society of Flowers, it's called. There's a number of different organizations and conspiracies within it... Oh yes, chancels! I'll forget my own head next."
Nathan says, "I'm not sure my old job is around any more"
Graph says, "Here on Earth, when an Imperator decides to fight or hide here, they create a chancel. It's sort of like a tiny little world usually connected to Earth via these chains, but not actually part of Earth anymore, if you can imagine that. And, well, it can depend on the Imperator, but pretty much, to the people in the Chancel, you're a representative of their God. So, yeah, they work for you. Though well, it's easiest to tell from how they react to you. You can do what you want-- living a normal life and having a normal job is kind of goofy when, well, you can pretty much do anything you've ever wanted to do in the real world, but whatever floats your boat."
Xaylia arrives, looking for booty.
Graph says, "You may find that sometimes the inhabitants of the chancel want you to make decisions for them, or come to parties or whatever. I have to assume that since your Imperators didn't give you any 'rule them wisely' kind of instructions, you can do what you want. Tanaat considers us his viceroys, and rules the chancel himself, directly. He's the Emperor, we're the Princes. And Princesses."
[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Birralee and Xaylia, sitting in a tree, chased by alligators three!"
[peanut-gallery] Thrax says, "this conversation has a certain David Lynch quality when you have Aargain gagged"
[nobilis] Xaylia says, "whu-oh"
[peanut-gallery] BrenBarn says, "ha ha"
[nobilis] GM says, "Okay, I'm just making that up."
[nobilis] Pete says, "That is your job, pretty much."
[nobilis] Sargent says, "yikes"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "hee hee"
[peanut-gallery] Storme says, "I was reading scrollback wondering what you were all talking about"
[peanut-gallery] Storme says, "and then realised I left the lounge earlier"
Nathan says, "hmm"
Nathan asks (of Graph), "I was told you had a, er, "visa" to come here -- where did you get that from?"
Pete starts absently scribbling some architectural notes on one of the sheets of paper. Skyscraper, corporate headquarters. Copter pad, penthouse apartment on top, lots of open plan office space.
Graph looks embarassed. "It's something my lord empowered me with after I'd served him reliably for ten years. It lets me open doors and walk roads, even into chancels."
Nathan says, "ah"
Nathan asks, "so do other people need that to come in here? or can anyone come in?"
Pete adds a few equations, for materials strength, square footage of available rooftop, etc. X = something or other at the top of the page.
GM shakes his head. "Not Locus Jeheila. You've got a wide-open connection to the city of Chicago. People could wander in here by mistake. Locus Yasmina is more protected, but even then, if people know the entrances they can find them." He glances at Pete's drawing curiously.
[nobilis] GM exclaims, "ARGH!"
% You have new mail in /var/mail/jota
[nobilis] Pete asks, "Argh?"
Pete realizes what he was doing. SLightly embarrassed, he crumples it up and tosses it aside.
Nathan says, "hmm"
[nobilis] GM says, "I guess we can end soon if y'wanna take some time to digest stuff. Hopefully next week we can find out how X and Birr got chased into a tree by alligators."
[nobilis] Xaylia says, "oh dear"
[nobilis] Sargent says, "I was probably trying to feed one while holding X's doll, and then child welfare showed up"
[nobilis] Pete says, "I was hoping the scribbles might be delivered, but oh well."
Nathan says, "well, if anyone can come in, I'm going invite that Darkness person over"
[nobilis] Pete says, "(Hoping OOC, that is.)"
[nobilis] GM asks, "the rules?"
[nobilis] Alex says (to GM), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that The Rules are a set of antiquated maxims, the social equivalent of blue laws, designed to help women get husbands by preventing them from speaking except when spoken too. Binding the feet also helps."
[nobilis] Xaylia says (to Sargent), "I'm willing to wager money on X calling an alligator 'horsie!'"
Pete says, "Might as well. I'm starting to think we probably won't get much opportunity to talk to Jeheila soon."
[nobilis] Xaylia says, "or possibly 'doggie'"
[nobilis] Sargent says, "hee hee"
[nobilis] Xaylia says, "also I'm indestructible"
Ferris makes a paper airplane.
Nathan writes "Dear Darkness -- We wish to consult with you on an issue of mutual benefit. If you are able and willing, please inform us of a time when you could come to our chancel, or of a location you would rather meet. Yours sincerely, " He pauses to think for a moment. "--Stars."
[nobilis] Xaylia says, "Alligators wouldn't scare me"
Nathan folds the paper and tosses it upwards.
GM says, "It folds itself into a star and whirls up into the sky. "Well done," says Graph."
Ferris unfolds it, writes "Hey Kid in the Forest, Where do you think you're going? Signed, the Warden", refolds it, and sends it sailing.
Ferris watches it fall sadly to the floor.
[nobilis] Nathan says, "awwww"
Nathan says, "I think he said it has to be listed in the register."
Ferris says, "Dang"
Nathan says, "um, if there is somebody you would like to go see in the chancel we could presumably just go find them"
[nobilis] Ferris says, "it will have to wait for next time"
[nobilis] GM says, "yeah."
[nobilis] GM says, "I think it is almost naptime for me."
[nobilis] Ferris says, "it's almost 4pm here now"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "right-o"
[nobilis] Nathan says, "in that case, I will see folks next week"
Eolo has disconnected.
Ferris has disconnected.
Ferris vooms himself somewhere else.