[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

Xaylia says, "he was on the mud earlier"

Pete says, "I know that Jacq's talked to him."

Janice arrives, looking for booty.

Ferris arrives, looking for booty.

GM asks, "Also, I haven't heard one way or the other from lpsmith; has anybody else?"

Pete says, "I haven't heard anything."

Janice says, "Not me."

GM hmmm.

Ferris says, "I haven't seen him in ages"

[interludes2] GM says, "X, I think once you get to the new and have a good time for a while, you eventually find the Tasmanian devil display and Birralee gets... distracted. And right nearby you can hear interesting sounds, tinkling water and laughter and so forth. There seems to be a park of some sort nearby. Just around that corner up ahead."

[interludes2] GM says, "er, get to the ZOO"

[interludes2] Xaylia skippety skip clutch dolly into park

GM hm, okay. Well, for some reason after lunch, Nathan ditches Pete and Ferris-- maybe he gets into a really not-very-interesting discussion with Graph of the intracacies of managing a communications network.

[nobilis] Pete says, "I guess my OOC attempt to communicate with Xaylia failed. Oh well."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "la la la look at the pretty animals"

[interludes2] GM says, "Hm. Not a park after all. Looks like one of those botanical gardens you see in zoos sometimes, with early autumn roses blooming everywhere, and the occasional bench. It's really kind of maze-like for somebody who's only about 3 feet high."

[nobilis] GM asks, "What was this?"

[nobilis] Pete says (to GM), "Scribbling on a piece of magic memo paper, putting 'X' near the top, and then crumpling it and throwing it aside."

[interludes2] Xaylia wanders around for a while, occasionally jumping to see over roses

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "hee hee. It /might/ have worked. But somehow I doubt X is going to be very responsive to a piece of paper with written stuff on it blowing in the wind!"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "it does seem unlikely, yes"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Heh. Fair enough."

[interludes2] GM says, "There's another tinkling sound ahead, and a *ziiiiip* and, oh, up ahead there's one of those statue galleries, with a paved path and weather-worn statues nestled between the hedges. Some of them are talking to each other, while others lounge on their pedestals looking bored."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "lovely"

GM says, "Janice: You were separated from Pete in the last session by being invited to try out a VR system one of the engineers had cobbled together."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I guess I will go talk to the friendliest looking statue"

Janice says, "Cool."

Janice asks (of Engineer), "Got any particular scenarios for this thing, or should I just play around and see what it's got?"

GM says, "You ended up being shown a demo of how to do the Harvest the chancel needs: apparently you can stalk people who are in the process of giving up on ever getting anything better than what they have now, and at the moment they finally do give up, you can see a little crystal fall out of them. Your job, and the job of your Familia, is to catch these crystals and bring them back to the chancel. If they hit the ground, they shatter and all the potential energy crawls away into the sewers. Literally."

GM says, "Apparently if these crystals aren't given to Jeheila on a regular basis, the chancel will start falling apart and eventually Jeheila will get even more sick, and then die."

Janice says, "Wow, and I thought Tetris was hard."

Xaylia says, "high-aspect tetris"

Janice . o O ( Hmm, maybe we should hang around LA and stalk faded movie stars. )

[interludes2] GM says, "Hm. There's a little marble girl with a big dress and an apron watching you curiously. Everybody else is adult-sized."

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of statue), "hello! what's your name?"

[nobilis] Janice asks (of GM), "How frequently do we have to do this?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "(also, very brief idle)"

[nobilis] GM says, "It occupies somebody's time for a session. Conveniently, one or mroe of you is gone a session. Though I guess it may also show up onscreen."

[nobilis] Janice says, "Aha."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "heh, that is convenient, isn't it"

[nobilis] Janice says, "I wonder if I could combine this with a bit of anchor-hunting."

[nobilis] Janice says, "I may have a useful contact who could tell us about possible candidates."

Thalia arrives, looking for booty.

[interludes2] GM says, "The little girl smiles. "My name is Alice! It's been a very curious day today, you know. You don't have a cat, do you?""

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Yay Thalia!!"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "so sorry"

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "You could, yup. You can always decide to go do it IC and so forth, and you can seek to combine such adventures on your own and I will respond! Your immediate duty is to go forth! and tell the others what you have learned!"

[nobilis] Janice says, "Hee hee."

[nobilis] GM says, "Thalia, um, I think you spent the last session hanging out with some unicorns relaxing and napping after the previous session's adventures. I don't have a clear plan on how to hook you up with the others yet."

[nobilis] Thalia says, "okay"

Janice says (to Thalia), "Hey, hi there."

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "so feel free to be self-motivated!"

Thalia says, "Hi!"

Janice says, "You should see this computer game some guys here are working on."

Thalia says, "been chilling with some of my new friends...they were teaching me how to jump and stuff"

Janice says, "Er, or simulation, whatever."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "no, I don't. Oh, oh, but I did have a little furry tasm-amiam friend"

Thalia asks, "a game? these aren't one of those blow 'em up games, are they?"

Janice says, "Kind of an edutainment thing, in fact. Turns out we have to collect these crystals to keep Jehelia ticking over."

Pete asks (of Ferris), "So what's with this kid you were looking for?"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "who has the game? so i can trot over for a look"

[nobilis] maga asks, "hey, we have a session today, right?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "right now"

[nobilis] Janice says (to maga), "Indeed."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Right now, even."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "it is sessioning"

[nobilis] Janice says (to Thalia), "This is the urban chancel, I guess."

[nobilis] maga says, "ach. stupid me"

Monkey arrives, looking for booty.

Janice says (to Thalia), "The thing is, it's not just a game, it's for real."

Thalia says, "that sounds scary"

Janice says, "Hey, there's the monkey-man too."

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Also, can/must the harvesting be done virtually, or is that jsut a demo of something that's done in the real world?"

[nobilis] Monkey says, "sorry I'm late, guys. forgot in post-Jacq weirdness"

Thalia asks, "do the games give the clue on how to find crystals?"

Janice says, "You find someone who's just about to give up hoping for anything more than he or she already has."

Janice says, "And just at the moment they give up, a little crystal falls out of them, which we have to catch."

Janice says, "And use the special crystal energy to feed Jehelia. It's a bit kind of new age-y."

[nobilis] GM says, "It's got to be done in the real world."

[nobilis] Monkey says, "presumably I have been, um, sitting in a tree scratching my balls for some time"

Ferris asks, "Wouldn't it be nicer to convince them not to give up hope?"

Thalia asks, "any kind of hope?"

Janice asks (of Ferris), "But then where would we get crystals?"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "they must be pretty raw by now"

Thalia . o O ( what's that line? Abandon all hope, something enter here )

Thalia says, "how depressing"

Janice says, "I figure we need to find people who've just crested the peak of their careers and are starting a slow downward spiral."

Janice asks, "Anyone else thinking movie stars?"

Ferris says, "How sad."

[nobilis] Monkey says, "as a monkey I am highly skilled in the art of bollock-scratching and also have protective fur"

Thalia says, "or someone who wants a baby really badly and keeps going to fertility treatments"

Ferris says, "Movie stars are too vain to give up hope"

Janice says (to Thalia), "Aw, hell."

GM says, "A scientist suggests timidly, "Um, well, the hope isn't destroyed if you catch it before it breaks. They don't have it anymore but as long as Jeheila's around it could return someday. Er. If it doesn't break, I mean. As I understand it, for most people, it breaks. Er. Um.""

Ferris says, "oh, well, that's different, then."

Janice says, "Hey, good point, Einstein."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hrm. If Ferris is talking to Janice et al., I guess that means Ferris and I have met up with them somehow."

Thalia says, "i think it would have to be a normal kind of person, who is struggling with the decline of a career, not anyone rich or famous"

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to statue), "so, um"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yeah, I figure you went back to the shop to share the good word about the paper and other exposition."

[nobilis] Janice says, "We're just hanging out in the chancel common room."

Thalia says, "since baseball players and movie stars and such don't really survive on hope"

[nobilis] Monkey asks, "paper?"

Thalia munches on a granola bar

[nobilis] Monkey says, "ah well, this will help my cluelessness IC"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "have you lost your cat?"

Pete says, "Oh, hey, we've got stuff to share too."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "I was going to pretend I wasn't there, but since Thalia wasn't supposed to be in the same room as Janice either, I figured there was no point in not joining in the conversation"

Pete asks, "Anyone want some magic paper?"

Janice asks, "Magic how?"

[interludes2] GM says, "She smiles more. "I met a fairy today! What is a tasmaniaamam friend?" She shakes her head. "There's an annoying cat that visits sometimes. And the little fairy was asking about a cat, I think.""

Monkey scampers up, clutching an armful of fruit

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I am going to start missing you guys soon, I think"

[nobilis] Ferris asks, "what shop?"

Janice asks, "Is it like flypaper for monkeys?"

Pete says, "This Graph guy says you can use it to send messages to other nobles, if they're in the system."

Pete gives some to Janice.

Monkey says, "Hey, look what I got look what I got! Bet you're all sorry you've been wasting your time in non-fruit-related activity"

[nobilis] GM says, "the upstairs factory-lab thing. with a balcony for thalia. sort of generic term 'shop' there."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "the tasmaniaamam friend looks like a rat, but he's very sweet and nice"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "i just figured i wandered in. sorry if i confused"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "ok"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "a fairy? oooh, fairies are pretty and good, aren't they?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I wonder if the fairy could help me find my aunt"

Janice writes 'Hey, Xaylia -- how's it going? Don't let Birralee eat your lunch! --J'.

Janice asks, "Like that?"

[nobilis] Ferris says (to Thalia), "actually it started with Janice saying 'hi there' to you"

[interludes2] GM says, "this one seemed awfully worried. Maybe! She was looking for somebody lost, I think."

Pete says, "Yeah. Then you throw it or something."

Thalia asks, "at whom?"

Janice asks, "Hey, can I send her a blank piece of magic paper?"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "which way did she go?"

Janice asks, "Or just leave a blank space on this sheet for her to reply with?"

Pete asks, "I don't know. Maybe if you fold it up inside the one you're sending?"

Pete asks, "Does she have a pencil?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "maybe.. maybe she could help me find my friends, too"

GM says, "When it's finished being written, the letter to Xaylia fills out with header information for Xaylia, including her rank, station, and Immortal status and then pulls out of your hand, folds itself into a throwing star, and whirls off over the balcony."

Janice says, "Yow!"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "everything seems different, somehow"

Thalia says, "now that's what i call instant messaging"

Janice asks, "How much of this stuff do we have?"

[interludes2] GM asks, "What do you mean?"

Pete fans up the stack. "About twice as much as this, since Nathan still has a bunch."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "well, like, if I try and pick a rose, it probably won't hurt me, and it should, and that's different"

Janice says, "I guess we shouldn't waste it."

Janice says, "Er, like I just did."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "and maybe if I hit my head again like before it'll go back but I don't think I can do that again"

Pete says, "Graph is probably still around someplace if you want to ask him how hard it is to get more."

[interludes2] GM says, "It's a very unusual day, but not everything's different! Oh, I see. The roses don't hurt me, either. Maybe you're a statue?" The statue waves an arm and for a moment Xaylia can see sort of a ghostly overlay, as if there's a shadow made of white just under the statue's movements."

Monkey looks utterly confused

Janice says, "Anyway, I was going to look up some contacts of mine who might know about over-the-hill stars."

Pete says, "He told us a bunch of other things too. Weird stuff."

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "what has been unusual for you today?"

Pete asks, "Want the run down on fairy crack-land?"

Janice says, "If you guys want to hunt for over-the-hill boring people be my guest."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I don't think I'm a statue, but maybe I am"

Janice says (to Pete), "Sure."

Thalia says (to pete), "weirder than what we've seen so far? sure"

[interludes2] GM exclaims, "I don't see fairies everyday! Maybe if we clap our hands, she'll come back. And have cakes and tea with us!"

[interludes2] Xaylia claps her hands

[nobilis] GM asks, "Rob, you still interested in tracking down the questing kid in the forest?"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "...did it work?"

Pete says, "For one, he says that science is something that Earth made up because the dinosaurs died, and that there's no such thing as outer space."

Janice says, "Groovy."

Janice asks, "So the moon landings really were faked?"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "I think so, yeah"

Pete says, "For two, that Earth and Narnia and Spock-with-a-goatee universe, or whatever other worlds are out there, are fruit hanging off of a humongous tree in the middle of nowhere. Or everywhere. I didn't really catch the 'where' part."

Thalia says, "okay, that's crack"

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "can i tag along with ferris?"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "forests are good"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "please do"

Janice asks, "Wow, Spock is real?"

[interludes2] GM says, "The statue also claps her hands. Several of the adult statues look over, irritated. A moment later, there's a zipping of light inbetween several of the statues and the point of light comes to a halt between the two of you. Inside there's a tiny teeny lady in a dress."

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to fairy), "hi!"

Janice asks, "How about Mary Poppins?"

Janice says, "Er, as a random suggestion."

[nobilis] Thalia says (to ferris), "you just don't want to walk"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "Alice said you were worried and looking for a cat"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "it is true I admit"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "and I am worried and looking for everyone"

Thalia asks, "can we split up some of those magic papers?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "you guys get spock and narnia, I get alice in wonderland and tinkerbell"

[interludes2] GM says, "Good afternoon!" says the fairy, and curtseys. Then she zips a bit closer to you. "Alice, this is not a cat, but it's almost as good!" She curtsies again. "My lady, I need your help!""

Pete says, "For three, outside the tree there's a wall, and outside the wall there are bad things that want to destroy everything yadda yadda."

Ferris says, "I have to go. There is some kind wandering around in the forest, thinking he's on an important Quest"

Janice says (to Thalia), "Good idea."

Thalia says, "it might be handy to use between ourselves"

Ferris says, "(er, kid)"

Thalia says, "i will go with ferris as backup..."

[interludes2] Xaylia blinks. "You need my help? I don't know if I can help a fairy, because you're magic and stuff"

[Crows-Nest] Monkey says, "ach. I totally need to read logs"

[Crows-Nest] Monkey says, "or maybe I'm just too dozy"

Pete says, "But instead of wanting to destroy things like 'The Twin Towers' or 'Mount Rushmore' or 'Tokyo' like a normal villain, they want to destroy things like 'the color red' or 'grapefruit' or 'angst'."

Janice says, "Huh."

Thalia says, "destroying angst is a good idea"

Janice says, "What if they destroyed 'belts'? We'd be in real trouble."

[interludes2] GM says, "The fairy crosses her arms and straightens up. "You are a child! Children are magic!" She adds, "Also, you're one of the Nobilis. Also useful. What is your name?""

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "one less channel for us to worry about"

[Crows-Nest] Ferris says (to janice), "har"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I am Xaylia"

Thalia asks, "what if there is a nobilis of grapefruit though?"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "what is your name?"

Thalia asks, "does he die then?"

Janice says, "I dunno, but he probably gets to spit in the villain's eye with his dying breath."

Pete says, "And for four, there's a war going on between them and some kind of powerful magic good guys. Which is supposedly what the snake kid and the crazy lady are."

[interludes2] GM says, "The fairy bows a third time. "You may call me... Flute, Princess Xaylia." Alice blinks, and then bows hastily herself, her eyes very wide."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "princess? don't be silly, I'm not a princess"

Janice asks, "Who were the heavies who wanted to tear this place apart a while back?"

Janice says, "I don't remember them saying they wanted to destroy angst."

Pete says, "And so they decided to kill tons of people so that they could build a new millitary HQ and draft us, putting each of us in charge of one of those things the bad guys want to destroy."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I'm Xaylia Wellden and I live in a house not a castle"

Pete says (to Janice), "I *think* those are supposedly good guys."

Pete says, "I never promised this would actually make sense."

Janice asks, "Okay, so we're good guys currently at war with other good guys, but there are also bad guys that we haven't met yet?"

Janice says, "This is all starting to sound much more realistic."

Monkey runs out of fingers, starts on toes

Monkey asks, "Why is nobody interested in all this cool fruit?"

Ferris asks, "what kind of fruit?"

Janice says (to Monkey), "Some filthy animal's been pawing at it."

Pete says, "Ash tree fruit, I guess."

[interludes2] Xaylia sits down on the floor

Monkey sulks

Ferris says, "ok, I'm heading back to the greener side"

Janice says, "Okay, I have people to see."

[interludes2] GM says, ""Perhaps you've only just become a princess?" The fairy's eyes glow green. "I've lost my Wendy. In looking for her, I've found other humans are also vanishing! Into thin air! Fading away when nobody's looking!""

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "people are vanishing?"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "how?"

Pete checks his watch. "I think I'm late for work."

[interludes2] GM says, "I'm not sure. I've heard there's a creature that lives under the city who knows all the ways to enter and leave and watches all the doors, but I don't know how to find him."

Pete heads off to the construction offices, to see if they still exist.

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "but how can I help you?"

[nobilis] Janice says (to Pete), "You still work? Sheesh."

[interludes] * GM has added Ferris to the channel.

[interludes] Janice asks, "Er, should I be here?"

[interludes] GM exclaims, "Nope! Get outta here!"

[interludes] * Janice has left the channel.

[nobilis] Pete says (to Janice), "'still' in the sense of within the last 24 hours, yes."

[interludes] * Pete has left the channel.

[nobilis] Pete says, "Since I think it's only been about that long since the Incident."

[nobilis] Janice says, "Wow."

[interludes2] GM asks, "Are you scared of monsters?"

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "really?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Uh, yeah."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Well, I think it all started when it was afternoon in the city."

[nobilis] GM asks, "Who is going with Ferris?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "okay, so I'm no longer quite as mad at you guys for leaving a small child alone with an anthropomorphic animal for days"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "me"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "switching computers. i am lagged"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "...maybe"

[nobilis] Pete says, "And then we had a picnic lunch when it was noon in the country/midnight in the city."

[nobilis] Thalia says, "but ferris, i am attached to you, so remote me while i am switching"

[interludes] * GM has added Thalia to the channel.

Thalia goes home.

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "maybe we should find some grownups to look after this. grownups are good at being strong and stuff"

[interludes2] GM says, "The fairy looks puzzled. "Most grown-ups can't see me and the ones who do-- SWOOSH! They chase me with nets. Do you have some grown-ups you trust?""

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "my aunt! and maybe some friends"

GM says, "I do not think the construction company actually still exists."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "there were some people that me and the tasmamam.. the furry rat-person were with, they seemed nice"

[interludes2] GM says, "Where is your aunt? Did she come to the zoo with you?" A folded up piece of paper shaped like a star comes zooming out of the sky, bonks Alice on the head, and then falls to the ground at Xaylia's feet, fluttering open."

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of Alice), "are you okay?"

[interludes2] Xaylia picks up the paper

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Is there anything where it used to be, or has its location been folded out of space?"

[interludes2] GM says, "Alice rubs her head. "That stung! But I am okay. What is that strange thing?""

[interludes2] Xaylia stares at the paper. "I think it has writing on it."

[nobilis] GM says, "I think it was totally lost in the space-folding."

[interludes] Ferris says, "I guess I'll walk back to the vicinity of that cottage and then try to suss out what's going on and where the guy is"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Will the same be true if I try to visit the homes of people I used to work with?"

[interludes2] Xaylia shakes her head. "these words are too long for me"

[interludes2] GM says, "Flute and Alice exchange looks. "I can't read." "I can only read a little. Maybe we could get one of the grown-up statues to read it?" says Alice."

[nobilis] GM says, "Hm. For the most part, but if you have Plans, you could probably track down one who lived in a big apartment complex that was left mostly untouched."

[interludes2] Xaylia glances at the grown-up statues for someone who looks nice and can read. Any male statues that look friendly?

[nobilis] Pete says, "Partly Plans, but mainly Bonds."

[interludes] GM asks, "So, you guys head back to the forest. Are you grabbing Monkey along the way?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "In that they were a three-point one."

[nobilis] GM says, "That's cool. So, sure, you can find the home. Though nobody seems to be there... a lot of people are... missing still."

[nobilis] Pete says, "But I guess I can take the penalty and come up with a new one or ones."

[nobilis] Pete says, "OK."

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Does my bank still exist?"

[interludes2] GM says, "There's one with a book! And glasses, and sort of robe-type things."

[nobilis] GM says, "Sure."

[interludes] Ferris says, "if he wants to come along"

Pete goes to his bank.

GM pokes Monkey. Are you going with the other treehuggers?

[interludes2] Xaylia walks up to the statue, and tugs gently at the robe. "Sir? Sir, can you help me?"

[interludes2] GM says, "The weatherworn face lifts. "What is it, child?""

GM says, "The bank is busily reorganizing. New computers are being installed. "They justed showed up today," says one woman absently to Pete as he pauses to look around."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "Sir, this paper just came out of the sky and hit Alice and I think it has words on it"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I think we're meant to read it but I can't"

Pete smiles. "Hi there. I'd like to speak to a loan officer."

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "so, sir, could you read it out for us, please?"

[interludes2] GM says, "He takes the paper and reads it to Xaylia. "It begins with: To The Immortal Conflagration Xaylia, of Locus Jeheila, and continues..." he reads it all aloud."

[interludes2] Xaylia frowns.

[interludes2] Xaylia says, ""well, it's to me, but I don't understand what that was before my name"

[nobilis] GM says, "So, since I'm dealing with a lot at once, please do remind/poke me if you're waiting on something from me."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I wonder how I say that I'm okay"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "and ask them to come help us with flute's monster"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I am enjoying being totally bewildered IC and OOC"

[interludes2] GM says, "The scholar shrugs and hands the paper back. Flute, flittering at your shoulder, says, "Could you call them? Grown-ups use phones sometimes.""

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to Flute), "oh, maybe!"

[nobilis] Monkey says, "sorry, phone call"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "I wonder where I'd find a phone... can you show me, perhaps?"

Monkey follows the treehugging crew.

GM says, "Pete, you are shown to a loan officer. He looks at you, his eyes widen, and he looks at something behind you, and then bows hastily."

[interludes] * GM has added Monkey to the channel.

[interludes2] GM says, ""I could steal you one, if you'd like," Flute offers. Alice waves from her pedestal. "Come back and visit me someday!""

[interludes2] Xaylia waves to Alice. "I will!"

Pete nods politely, and glances behind him.

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of Flute), "stealing is wrong, but maybe we could borrow one?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks, "I wonder how much it costs to make an earth-chancel phone call?"

[interludes] Monkey says, "ook"

GM says, "There's a nice frame over the door, containing photographs of each person in Pete's familia. Xaylia's picture is a hand-drawn rendition, but there's everybody else, smiling out. For Pete, it's his driver's license photo."

[interludes] GM asks, "So, Monkey, Thalia, Ferris, trotting back to the greener side. Ferris, maybe you could explain what you saw and how you saw it, since they weren't here last time?"

[interludes2] Xaylia wonders if the phone will know how to call the chancel

[interludes2] GM says, "The fairy flickers for a moment. "I suppose. I'll be back!" She zooms off. A couple of minutes later, a cellphone bobs into sight, carried by the much much smaller fairy. Nobody gives the zooming cellphone a second glance."

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of phone), "hello?"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "can you help me?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to phone), "I need to phone some friends but I'm not sure how I do that"

[nobilis] Janice is having vague ideas about pushing somebody into a situation where they lose hope and shed a crystal.

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "I am trying to convince a phone to call someone whose number it can't possibly know"

[nobilis] Janice says, "Not for anything as petty as revenge, of course."

[interludes2] GM says, "The phone crackles. "I'm a cellphone," it says. "A Nokex 1999. We're top of the line, you know. I call people. You can even talk to the internet on me." A screen flickers to life on the cellphone. "We can look up phone numbers on the internet. All you need is their name.""

[nobilis] Janice says, "(prod GM)"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I need to phone, um, the horsey-lady, or the man who turns into a woman, or the man made of iron"

[nobilis] Pete says, "(Internet connection getting wonky... if I go silent, that's what happened.)"

Pete turns on Aspect 3 charm.

Pete says, "I'm interested in setting up a business loan."

GM says, "Janice, you make a phone call or two. It is /trivially/ easy for you to convince the people you talk to to give you a certain person's exact location, which is on a sunny beach in SoCal right this very moment."

Janice says, "Nice."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "or, um, the guy who seems to be normal but glows a bit, or, ooh, the woman who turns into springs and helicopters and stuff"

GM says, "The loan officer stacks some papers a bit nervously. "Of course, of course. For what purpose?" It is also pretty darn easy to get this business loan, at extremely good rates."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "or even the monkey, but the others would be better"

[interludes2] GM says, "The phone pauses. "No names?""

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "um, Jehehella?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "no, that's not right"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "also she's kind of sick, so I shouldn't call her"

Janice hums 'Going to California', books some suspiciously cheap plane tickets.

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "the horsey lady is called Thalia, I think"

[interludes2] GM says, "It takes a deep breath. "I can do this. Really, I can. I'll just... have to ask for some help.""

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "sigh, why did I choose to play a character who can't really remember names very well"

[interludes] Ferris says, "that's assuming I remember"

[interludes] Ferris says, "I seem to recall communing with the chancel's heart"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "also why haven't the majority of you guys actually told me your names"

[interludes] Ferris says, "then looking at something that gave me an overview of the whole forestland, and that's when I noticed someone who didn't belong there wandering around"

[interludes] GM says, "Meanwhile, trotting to the forest, gallop, gallop. It's dark in the forest. Yeah, something like that, Ferris. The chancel's heart was accessible sort of like the MUD is... virtual space, and then... yeah, you've got it."

[nobilis] Janice says, "I'll happily spend some time dozing on a plane, to let other people get their scenes done."

[nobilis] GM asks, "Okay. We'll pick up with you in a bit. Did this guy have a name?"

Pete says (to GM), "I'm setting up a construction company. I've been in the business for the last six years, but the company I was with recently dissolved due to... reorganizational issues."

[nobilis] Janice says, "Oh, let's say Larry Bull."

Pete signs whatever needs to be signed.

[interludes] Monkey chatters his teeth

[interludes2] Xaylia looks pleadingly at the phone

[interludes2] GM says, "Thalia. Right. Okay. Give me a minute." There's sort of a background muttering as it talks to itself. "Nokex, you show-off. You're so doomed. But no. You've got to do it. Go ahead. Tap in." Flute lwoers the phone to the grass, inviting to Xaylia to sit as she fiddles with it."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I guess they'd be at" -she shows the paper to the phone- "the locus place mentioned here, if that helps""

[nobilis] Pete says, "After I have the loan, I'd like to recruit whatever people I can from the old company to work for me, since presumably any of them still around will now be out of a job."

[interludes2] Xaylia sits down, sighs

GM says, "Oh, excellent," says the loan officer. "I'm sure the entire city will benefit." A bit more financial chatter, and Pete is given a few papers to sign. A bit later, he has a check. Simple as that."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "wow, next time *I'm* trying for a loan"

Pete smiles. "Thank you. I'd like to deposit the money directly into a corporate account, for now."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "'I want some money for ponies and candy, please!'"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hee."

[interludes2] GM says, "The screen flashes for a bit. There's a scary flash of red light from the screen and then panicked chirping from the phone and then something else happens and the screen glows, and then it doesn't, and then it glows, and then there's more text, and it scrolls, wheeeeee, and then the screen is dark. Then it lights up again."

[interludes2] Xaylia looks more and more alarmed

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of phone), "hello? are you alright?"

[interludes2] GM says, "There's a strange shape, a rune of some sort, glowing in the center of the dark screen. Out of the speaker of the phone comes a pleasant unfamiliar voice. "Xaylia. They've been wondering where you are.""

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Should I try to RP the recruiting now, or should I leave it for a later session or in between sessions or whatever?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Inbetween sessions would be good, I think."

[nobilis] GM says, "I think actually building stuff is more fun."

Pete goes to the City Hall, or the chancel equivalent, and files incorporation papers and so forth.

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to speaker), "hello! I'm in a park with a fairy and she's worried about a monster and I don't know where birraerumly is but he's probably with his friends"

[interludes] GM says, "In the forest, pausing and taking a divination moment directs the trio towards a clearing in the forest where a young man is being harassed by rusalka."

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Wah!"

[interludes] Monkey asks (of rusalka), "Who's this?"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "but I think I need the grownup people for a real monster because I'm scared of the dark and flute said it was underneath the city"

[interludes] GM says, "The young man continues trying to tug away from the rusalka gripping his arm. She looks uneasily at monkey. "Just somebody we found. Can we keep him? He did come into the forest!""

Pete wonders where Janice found the people developing new technologies, and sets off to find them.

[nobilis] Janice says (to Pete), "Er, not exactly sure."

[interludes2] GM says, "I'll connect you to one of them."

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Maybe later! We're in charge, so we get him first!"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "so, um, I'd like to find them if that's okay but I don't know how to"

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "thankyouverymuch"

GM says, "Whee, a cellphone for either Pete or Janice rings."

Xaylia says, "(and neither of them answer, apparently)"

[interludes] Monkey says, "struts up to the young man"

[nobilis] Janice says, "Probably not me, because I'm on a plane."

[interludes] Monkey says, "(emotes)"

Xaylia says, "RING RING DAMMIT"

[interludes] GM says, "Cyzarine looks sulky. "Fine. I'll just go back to the river. You clearly want me to have a TERRIBLE LIFE!" She flounces off, releasing the young man, who looks warily at the centaur, the monkey and the iron man."

[nobilis] GM says, "Actually, I think this is before you get on the plane."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "I am guessing that I am hearing soothing hold music"

[nobilis] GM says, "Simply because of time passage or lack thereof."

[nobilis] GM says, "It is probably when you are buying tickets."

Jim wakes up to stern glares from other people waiting in the departure lounge.

[interludes2] GM says, "Yup."

Jim says, "Er, uh, what? Oh, er, phone, sorry."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Hmm! So what might you be, then?"

Jim asks (of phone), "Hi, it's... er, me. Hello?"

Xaylia says, "*crackle bzzt* hello? it's Xaylia!"

[interludes2] GM says, "You're connected."

Jim says, "Xaylia! Hi there."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Do you not know the penalty for wearing pants in my realm?"

Xaylia says, "I'm in a park with a fairy and she says there's a monster under the city and the nice furry rat person went off with his friends and I don't know how to find you all"

[interludes] GM looks suspiciously at the monkey. "I'm Alex Johnson. I'm on a quest!"

Jim says, "Oh, dear."

Xaylia says, "and the phone was really nice and worked out how to call you"

Jim says, "Hmmm."

Jim asks (of phone), "Hey, you, can you tell where this call is coming from?"

Pete answers his phone, if it's still ringing.

Xaylia says, "but I haven't found my aunt and I think I'm lost"

[nobilis] Pete says, "(Except I probably missed the call by getting distracted.)"

GM says, "Pete, you're connected into a conference call! A rune flashes on the screen briefly before the connection is established."

Pete asks, "Hello?"

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Outrage! Do you not know correct etiquette? Remove your pants and stand on your head when speaking to a lord of the realm!"

Jim asks, "Pete?"

Xaylia asks, "hello it's Xaylia and I'm lost with a fairy and monster under city and help?"

Pete asks, "Hello? Who's this?"

Pete says, "Oh, hi Xaylia."

Jim says, "Pete, this is Jim, Xaylia seems to have called us both because she's in some kind of trouble."

Xaylia says, "the phone called you both"

Pete says, "Ji--? Oh, Janice."

Jim says, "Er, Jim being Janice. I think I fell asleep again."

Jim says, "Also I forgot to change clothes again."

Xaylia says, "*whimpering noises*"

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "Hee."

Pete asks, "Where are you, Xaylia?"

[interludes] npc1 says, "Alex looks worriedly at Thalia and Ferris. Worriedly, hopefully. "Um, I think the lack of pants would interfere with my quest. A goddess appeared to me when I was in my bedroom and sent me on it! After the Great Change!""

Xaylia says, "I was in the zoo with the tasumium person but now I'm in a park near some statues who are very nice"

[nobilis] Pete tries to remember what condition his vehicle was in the last time he saw it.

Xaylia says, "there are roses"

Jim asks (of Xaylia), "Xaylia, can you ask your phone what its number is? And what network it is?"

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "A goddess appeared to you in your bedroom and you are still wearing pants? For shame!"

[interludes2] Xaylia asks, "can I?"

Jim says, "We might be able to trace it."

[interludes] npc1 says, "This guy, while he's dressed in questing rural farmboy clothes, complete with pack, was clearly a /nerd/ before the change happened. A big scifi fantasy geek nerd. Not that Monkey knows what that is, but to give maga some context."

[interludes] Ferris says, "hmmm"

Xaylia says, "a nice lady answered before and connected me to you two"

npc1 says, "The rune flashes on the cellphones again, and a voice that, um, Pete and Xaylia have talked to before says, "She's at the Lincoln Park Zoo.""

Pete says, "She's probably in Chicago, since I don't think we have a park with statues near our zoo."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "What is your quest, impudent peon?"

Pete walks to where he left his truck, while he's talking.

Jim sighs and leaves the departure lounge.

Xaylia says, "I should give the phone back now"

[nobilis] GM says, "That may be entirely incorrect, but hey, it's a Chicago zoo name."

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Is that the voice that was breathing in the dial tones before?"

Jim stops to buy a suit, however

[nobilis] GM says, "Yep."

Xaylia hangs up

[nobilis] GM says, "It's gotten better at talking since then, but it's still recognizable"

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to phone), "thank you very much, you were very helpful"

[interludes] Monkey says, "And it is only that I have pity on your pasty white features that I do not strike you down this instant for such a breach of honour."

Pete stops to change his flat tire, though. (Damn monkey.)

[interludes2] Xaylia asks (of flute), "can you give the phone back now?"

[interludes] GM says, "I must rescue the lost," he declares, striking a bit of a pose. "Many were lost in the Great Change.""

[interludes] Ferris watches, pretending to look stern instead of amused.

[interludes2] GM says, "The phone says tiredly, "No problem, kiddo. Not every day you talk to a god." Flute takes the phone back."

Jim leaps into a cab that some other guy is about to put his luggage into.

Jim says, "Sorry!"

[interludes2] Xaylia says (to flute), "I guess we should wait here for my friends. they're on their way"

Jim says (to cabbie), "Lincoln Park Zoo, please, and don't spare the horses."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "(and I idle)"

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Who is the goddess of whom you speak in a manner so unpleasing to the ear, ungainly one?"

GM says, "Whee, zoom, you all meet up at the Lincoln Park Zoo gardens."

[nobilis] Jim says, "Yay quick change of scene."

[interludes2] Xaylia says, "(or not)"

[interludes] GM says, ""He looks embarassed. "She didn't leave her name. But she was clearly a goddess!""

Xaylia says, "hey, it's my friends"

Jim says, "Pete, glad you could make it."

[interludes] Ferris says, "Hmmm."

[nobilis] Jim asks, "Xaylia is right here?"

[nobilis] Jim says, "I thought she was lost!"

[interludes] Ferris asks, "So what makes you think the lost people are out here in the woods?"

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Speak more and in detail, lest I strike you down utterly with this pleasingly weighty section of metal piping!"

Xaylia says, "friends, this is Flute and she says there is a monster under the city"

Jim says (to Xaylia), "There you are!"

GM says, "There's Xaylia, in a shady area, with a bobbing speck of light near her head."

Pete says, "Hi, Flute."

Jim asks (of Flute), "Under *our* city?"

[Crows-Nest] Ferris asks, "under the city or at the end of the book?"

[interludes] GM says, "Alex says, "Oh, they're not. But on the other side of this dark forest is another place, and that's where my quest truly begins.""

[interludes] Monkey stands on his head.

[interludes] GM exclaims, "But that... woman... was trying to stop me!"

Xaylia says (to Flute), "you explain. these are nice grownups"

[interludes] Monkey says, "See? It's easy. Now tell us more about what you're going to do."

[Crows-Nest] Ferris says, "Well, she lives here! You can't just go tromping on through and expect her not to grab you."

[Crows-Nest] Ferris asks, "Besides, don't you know that Quests are fraught with peril? With giant red guys and talking super powered monkey kings?"

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "(Ylac.)"

[Crows-Nest] Ferris says, "blah, channel"

[interludes] Ferris says, "Well, she lives here! You can't just go tromping on through and expect her not to grab you."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Hee hee."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Actually, I'm bored with this prat. Can we throw him in the river? Can we can we can we?"

Jim says, "I'm all ears."

Jim says, "Practically corn, even."

Flute flits over to inspect Jim and Pete. Then the tiny woman with the green glowing eyes and the skimpy dress bows deeply in her globe of light. "More Sovereign Powers!"

[interludes] Ferris says, "I don't see why not..."

Xaylia says (to Jim and Pete), "(she called me a princess, and I don't know why)"

[interludes] GM says, "Alex says uncertainly, "I'm not sure. But you don't exactly disobey when a goddess tells you to do something, do you?""

Pete says, "Yeah. That's us."

[interludes] Ferris rubs his chin. "Hmm..."

Pete asks, "So is this monster under Chicago, or under Chancelville?"

Flute says, "My Wendy vanished. When I was searching for her, I discovered other humans are vanishing, as well! So I thought people would be concerned. I'm not sure where they're going, but I know they fade away."

[interludes] Ferris says, "There has been a lot of that going around lately, as a matter of fact. But you -- hmmm."

[interludes] Ferris asks, "Where did you say you were going, again?"

Flute says, "Under this city, there is a creature who knows all the exits, all the doors, and I thought if we could find this creature we could ask it if it knew how the people were vanishing away, and where they were going."

Pete frowns. "Does this vanishing apply to any real people too, or just fictional ones?"

Jim says, "She's ficti -- oh, of course."

[interludes] GM exclaims, "On the other side of the forest, I've been told there's a gulf of space, and beyond it there's... a place where I can start looking. She told me I'd have help." He brightens. "Maybe that's you!"

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Or maybe we're the guys who throw you in the river!"

[interludes] Monkey exclaims, "Aren't these ambiguities of life just fascinating!"

Flute looks indignant! "She's not fictional! She's a real little girl! Her name is Cara. And yes, other REAL people are vanishing as well. But they're not stopping to exist. I'd know."

Dara arrives, looking for booty.

[interludes] GM says, "Alex looks between Ferris and the monkey, and then attempts to sprint away, deeper into the forest, rather than out."

[nobilis] Dara exclaims, "Hello!"

[interludes] Monkey chases him down.

[nobilis] GM says, "(I expect he fails, but I'm waiting to see how.)"

[nobilis] GM says, "Hullo, Dara."

[interludes] GM asks, "Leap flying tackle monkey on his back?"

Jim asks (of Flute), "Okay, can you take us to this creature?"

[interludes] Monkey says, "nah, I'm just grabbing the nearest limb and pulling"

Flute says, "It's under the city, but I don't exactly have a map! That was why I as so happy to see the young Princess."

[interludes] Monkey says, "hopefully with a 'yoink' sound-effect"

[interludes] GM says, "You grab him and pull. He falls down but begins to fight back furiously, completely ineffectively."

Xaylia says, "I don't have a map either"

Pete says, "Maybe it has a cell phone too."

[interludes] Monkey says, "climbs a tree and dangles Alex by one leg until he calms down."

[interludes] Ferris says, "something tells me this guy didn't get suddenly ennobled the same way we did"

[interludes] Monkey says, "argh. emotes"

Pete asks (of Phone), "Can you call the creature that knows all the exits that lives under the city?"

Xaylia asks, "maybe we could find a map?"

[Crows-Nest] Dara asks, "Recap? Are we stuck?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "I don't know"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "We're doing various mini-quests."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Ferris and Thalia are off doing something on #interludes."

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "Ah, OK."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "Xaylia, Jim, and I are in Lincoln Park in Chicago, talking to a fairy called Flute that looks like Tinkerbell."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "And what Jim said."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "And Xaylia just found an elf or something who told us about people disappearing, and Pete and I just turned up to help."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "I think Monkey's with Ferris and Thalia."

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "I think the othes are in the chancel"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "er, others"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Also, if you read last week's transcript, some friendly Noble gave us magic paper we can use to send notes to each other."

[Crows-Nest] Dara nods.

[Crows-Nest] Dara asks, "Has anyone contacted that potential ally group yet?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks, "who which now?"

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "With Darkness et al.? I got the impression they were supposed to contact us."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "Also, it's possible that you might be able to still locate Nathan and Graph in the chancel, if you wanted."

Flute says, "Pete's cellphone blinks at him. Then it dials. A rune fades into existence slightly over the display, and the bell-like pleasant voice says, "Hello, Pete. I don't think the phone network is very advanced yet, although I'm interested in Graph's advancements. Also, unless the target has a phone, I can't yet see how they could contact it; the cellphones are rather snobby." The cellphone itself shivers in Pete's hand."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "(They being people with paper, thus letting you contact people IC if you wanted.)"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Paper can be acquired. Also, the urban crew is well-equippeed with phones."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Darkness has not responded yetto Nathan's message."

Xaylia asks (of Flute), "can you think of a way to find out how to get to this creature?"

[interludes] GM says, "The kid eventually settles down, in that he's too scared to move anymore. But there's an oddly resolute expression on his face as well."

Thalia arrives, looking for booty.

Pete says (to Phone), "Is it possible to talk to Chicago's own telecom system itself? If it has cabling running under the city, it might pass near the creature. Maybe it knows something."

[nobilis] Thalia says, "grrr. i am so sorry. the DSL died"

[interludes] Monkey scampers back down the tree, not releasing his grip.

Flute says, "The rune pulses thoughtfully. "I can do that, although it will take some processing time, a few moments.""

[interludes] Ferris says, "oh well. we might as well let him get on with it, and make sure he doesn't get himself into trouble (even though that seems like exactly what he intends to do)"

[nobilis] GM says, "Y'all found a geeky kid claiming he's on a quest from a goddess. Monkey has been teasing him."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Now. The way I look at it is sort of like this. We're much tougher than you, so if this would have helped us the goddess would have asked us instead of you, right? So it wouldn't help us. Right?"

[nobilis] Ferris says (to Thalia), "urgh"

Jim writes a quick magic note to the others.

[interludes] Monkey tickles Alex mercilessly.

[interludes] GM gasps out, "Maybe she thought you were too busy? Or maybe she expected you to help me? This is a test, isn't it?" he wails.

Pete says (to Phone), "Sure thing. Thanks."

[interludes] GM exclaims, "I can do it on my own, though! I can prove myself!"

[interludes] Monkey says, "Okay, whippersnapper. Go."

[interludes] Monkey releases him.

[interludes] GM stumbles to his feet and begins to stagger off into the forest.

[interludes] Monkey whispers (to Ferris), "Now I'm gonna follow him sneakily and see what he does."

[interludes] Monkey sneaks after the hapless geek.

[Crows-Nest] Dara reconnects to the internet (sigh)

[nobilis] Dara asks (of Jim), "Is one note to me?"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Indeed."

[nobilis] GM asks, "Is there another for the rural folks? What do they say?"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Just call me covering-up-the-gaps-man."

[interludes] Thalia asks (of ferris), "do we follow?"

Dara brushes away a piece of paper from her face, then, startled to notice her name on it, plucks it out of the air and reads it.

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "The note to Dara folds up into a bird! The potential note to the others folds into a paper airplane!"

[nobilis] Dara asks (of Jim), "What's it say?"

Jim writes: if you feel like investigating a mystery, we have some vanishing people in the region of Lincoln Park Zoo. Also some creature hiding under the city that might know where they went.

Dara . o O ( Better than patching up this gap into our chancel. It's mostly disguised by now, at least. )

Jim asks (of Pete), "Getting anywhere?"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "Lincoln Park Zoo is in Chicago, I presume?"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Yeah."

Dara creates a motorcycle and biker-chyk clothes, roars off to the LPZ.

Dara . o O ( Have to remember to get back before 24 hours are up, or my pumpkin disappears. )

Xaylia introduces flute to her dollie

[interludes] GM says, "Once the kid thinks he's out of sight, he brushes himself off, takes a moment to lean against a tree, mutters to himself encouragingly, and then sets off deeper deeper into the woods."

[nobilis] Jim says (to Dara), "Heh."

Jim says, "I wonder if it'd be worthwhile just going down into, I don't know, the sewers,. and just looking around for this thing."

Dara includes a digital watch in the paraphenalia.

Flute inspects the doll. "She'll make a courageous guardian someday."

Xaylia says (to flute), "until then, I'll guard her"

[nobilis] Thalia asks (of ferris/granola), "anyone hear what he just muttered?"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Did you say you were mailing to the rural crew or no?"

Pete says (to Jim), "It says it'll try, but it might take a little while."

Flute smiles. "Good girl." She flits around and then perches on Pete's shoulder.

[interludes] Monkey sneak sneak sneak

[nobilis] Pete says, "I think he said he was."

[nobilis] Jim says, "Er, yeah."

[interludes] GM says, "Okay. Ferris, you're hit by a paper airplane, which unfolds."

[nobilis] Jim says, "I'm just giving people an excuse to follow what's going on in the main room, essentially."

[nobilis] Dara says, "(Tell me when I arrive.)"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yeah"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Also, just for clarity: are the dial tone, the shimmer under the factory, the voice on the phone, and Ren all recognizably the same entity?"

[nobilis] GM says, "The screensaver that was introduced as Renaissance does look a lot like those runes you've been seeing, yeah, now that you mention it. :-)"

[interludes] Ferris says, "Whoa."

[interludes] Ferris reads it.

[interludes] Thalia reads over the shoulder

[interludes] GM says, "He mutters, "Come on, Alex, you can do this. This is your big chance." and so forth. Deeper deeper into the forest. It's so dark it's practically night here. Finally, he pauses. Monkey can sense that the edge of the chancel is about where he's standing."

[nobilis] GM says, "I'm sure you still have some paper if you want it, Ferris"

[interludes] Ferris says (to Thalia), "Hmm. Apparently there's vanishing people and monsters under the city."

Jim asks (of Flute), "Who is this creature you're talking about, anyway?"

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "To the Batmobile, Girl Wonder!"

[interludes] Thalia says, "hm"

Jim says, "Not that I'm impatient with Pete's search or anything."

[interludes] Monkey continues following.

[interludes] Ferris says, "I guess you could send a note back to them"

Flute kicks her feet. "I've heard it called Mitrasama, the guardian of pathways."

Jim says, "There we go."

Jim says, "Hmm..."

[Crows-Nest] Dara exclaims, "Hey, it's Raul's successor!"

Jim tries writing a magic note to Mitrasama, asking for help investigating mysterious disappearances.

GM says, "Mitrasama does not appear to be In The Network, as the note simply flutters to the ground."

Jim says, "Not sure if this person is at the right level in the supernatural caste system to receive this... oh, damn."

[interludes] Ferris writes a note to Jim that says 'What people are vanishing? What kind of creature? When's lunch?'

[nobilis] Pete says, "Sounds almost like it wants to be a subway."

Dara appears in a cloud of dust, skidding to a halt.

Xaylia picks up the paper, plays with it

Dara flips up her helmet. "Hey, guys! What's up?"

Jim says (to Dara), "Hi, you're just in time."

GM says, "Dara arrives just as the phone chimes and lights up again. "I've interfaced with the telco system. There's an area with many doors that can not be entered under the city that may be the lair of this creature.""

Pete says, "Hi. Dara, Flute. Flute, Dara."

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says (to ferris), "hee hee"

Pete asks (of Phone), "Nice work -- can you give us directions to its location?"

Dara exclaims, "Hi Flute!"

Jim says, "The fellow we're trying to track down is called Mitrasama, apparently."

[interludes] Thalia asks, "if it's under the ground, we should be able to hear something, can't we? the ear to the ground thing?"

Dara asks (of Flute), "Er, can everyone see you, or just us?"

Jim asks, "Hmm, 'cannot be entered'?"

Flute says, "A note in the shape of a spaceship zooms up and lands neatly on Jim's head. "Opened, it reads, What people are vanishing? What kind of creature? When's lunch?" It's from Ferris."

[interludes] Thalia kneels on the groudn and puts ear to the ground

[interludes] Ferris says, "hmm, I'm not sure I can hear what's going on in the city from way over here..."

Flute says, "Just you! And children, of course."

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "i mean if indians could hear the cowboys coming...."

[interludes] Ferris tries it too, after letting the note fly away.

[Crows-Nest] Jim says (to Ferris), "Hee hee."

[interludes] Ferris listens intently

Dara says, "So Xaylia is doubly-qualified. Excellent."

[nobilis] Pete exclaims, "Ferris just ate lunch!"

Flute bows a big big curtsey from a tiny tiny woman to Dara. "See, that's the Queen, and you're the Pricness," she says to Xaylia.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "he's a hungry man"

Pete looks around to see if anyone's seen them talking to something that doesn't exist.

Xaylia says, "she keeps saying that"

Jim says, "Queen and Princess of our, what was it, chancel, I suppose."

Dara says, "What, calling you a Princess? You're an excellent princess.""

Xaylia says, "I'm Xaylia Wellden of Rosemont Street..."

Dara toussels X's hair.

Xaylia says, "but I'm not a princess!"

Pete says, "I thought kids weren't supposed to give out their addresses to strangers."

Pete says, "Or to fairies."

[interludes] GM says, "There's interesting stuff to hear underground, but it does seem unlikely you could hear something under Chicago from here. It's an excellent idea, though."

Xaylia says, "I'm just me, and I wish I could find my aunt"

Flute asks, "Your aunt has vanished as well??"

Xaylia says (to flute), "I don't know, maybe. I didn't get a chance to really look for her"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Did I miss Ren's response to the question about location, BTW?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Nope, I did. Sorry, hold on"

Dara asks (of phone), "Hey, Rennaisance, is that you? How do we get to this door place?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "sorry, I just figured that it's been a whole day and I'm very young and I miraculously haven't thrown a strop yet"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "strop?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hey, you're American. You don't have a strop."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "well, the local equivalent"

GM says, "There's a limit to what I can display on this screen, I'm afraid. I can give you verbal directions, however." If they're wanted, Ren does so."

[nobilis] Dara asks, "Is that like a gasket?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Probably a fit or tantrum, I'd imagine."

Jim says, "That's great."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "more like a tantrum mixed in with a sulk"

[nobilis] GM says, "Five year olds need naps! heh"

Jim aside (to Pete), "Er, is this Ren as in Stimpy?"

Pete turns up the volume enough for the others to hear.

[nobilis] Pete says (to Jim), "I don't actually know it's called 'Ren' IC, yet."

[nobilis] Jim says, "Oh ah."

[interludes] Ferris gets kind of caught up listening to the ground

[interludes] Ferris asks, "hey, where'd Monkey and the kid go?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I just called him 'Rennaisance'."

[nobilis] Pete says, "(Well, I can guess form Dara's using the name, but she's presumably the one you'd be directing the question too.)"

[nobilis] Pete says, "TIming."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "actually, Ferris hasn't eaten at all during the game yet"

[nobilis] Jim says, "But he has an iron stomach so he's fine."

[nobilis] Jim says, "I've had lunch and beer and at least two naps."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "right"

[interludes] Monkey says, "me, I'm just following"

Dara fires up her motorcycle. "Lead on, McGurk."

GM says, "Nobody seems to be paying the little group much attention, fyi. Just a couple of men, a woman and a kid at the zoo park."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I haven't eaten or slept"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "one of my gifts makes it so that I don't need to eat, but that doesn't mean I can't have lunch if I want to"

[interludes] GM asks, "The kid takes another deep breath, and steps off the edge into darkness. Are you still following?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "We had lunch that one time."

[nobilis] Pete says, "I've had two lunches, and am trying to remember if Immutable should be keeping me from being tired or not."

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to Dara), "I didn't eat"

[interludes] Ferris says, "shrug, I guess we're following quietly, farther behind than Monkey is following"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "since, hey, no hunger"

[nobilis] GM says, "You don't need to eat or sleep, I think. But you probably don't know that yet. Yeah."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Heh."

[interludes] Ferris says, "you had lunch that time, but Ferris didn't eat"

[interludes] Ferris says, "er, channel"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "you had lunch that time, but Ferris didn't eat"

[interludes] Monkey says, "yes. following."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "we're all crazy people who don't eat unless we need to, clearly"

[nobilis] Pete says, "(Hmm. Three lunches, if you count the one before the first session started.)"

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to pete), "time to hit the nobilis gym"

[interludes] Thalia follows, trying to keep things quiet

[nobilis] Jim says, "Locus Treadmillus."

[interludes] GM says, "heh, I guess it's actually night in the rural chance, getting close to dawn. Anyhow. Okay! You step off. You have Worldwalker, and you are actively trying to follow him, so you end up on a stone path going up a mountainside. He's trudging ahead of you."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "hee"

Pete sets up conferencing on the phones and gets in his own truck.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "aie, sudden images of the noble of aerobics instruction"

Jim asks (of Pete), "Er, hey, got some spare seats in that thing?"

[interludes] Ferris says, "I forgot we had mountains"

Pete says (to Jim), "Sure thing. Hop in."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "legwarmers all over the place"

[interludes] GM says, "That's not in the chancel anymore"

[nobilis] Ferris says, "mmm"

Jim does so.

Dara asks (of X), "You want to ride with me, or in the truck?"

[interludes] Ferris says, "No wonder I didn't recognize it"

Xaylia says, "I don't mind"

Xaylia asks, "which is comfier?"

[interludes] GM says, "Eventually Thalia and Ferris reach the chancel edge. There's just inky blackness beyond, no sign of the kid or Monkey."

Dara says, "Probably the truck."

Dara grins.

Xaylia jumps in the truck, then

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "let's keep going. they have to be ahead of us somewhere"

[interludes] Ferris says, "Okay."

GM asks, "So, you guys are going first to a parking garage. From the parking garage, you have to access some maintenance tunnels. This is easily done-- what's a mundanely locked door to the mass of you?"

[interludes] Thalia heads into the darkness

Pete says, "Good thing Jim had that hair pin."

[interludes] Monkey scuttle scuttle

Dara brings up the rear, clinking along.

[interludes] GM says, "You guys step off. You don't have Worldwalker. You're still in a forest, but it's a forest someplace in northern Europe. Both of you are aware as you exit that if you circle /that/ tree four times, you can get back into the chancel easily enough."

[interludes] Thalia asks, "got a knife?"

[interludes] Thalia asks, "or something to mark this tree?"

Xaylia tries to find somewhere in the truck to sit where her teeth don't rattle

[interludes] Thalia says, "otherwise, we might not be able to find the tree to get back home later"

[interludes] Ferris bonks off some bark with his pipe.

[interludes] Thalia says, "wait a minute. i am talking to iron man. i am sure he has something sharp :)"

[interludes] Ferris says, "I suppose I could carve it with my finger if I wanted to be delicate"

[interludes] GM says, "It doesn't look like anybody's walked out here for a long time. There's an untouched growth of mushrooms near the tree that show no signs of being trampled."

[interludes] Thalia wonders if centaur-stomachs can handle wild mushrooms

GM says, "Once in the tunnels, you go this way, you make a turn here, you makea turn there, you end up in sewers, and you begin to slog through water trickling down from gutters above."

Dara says, "Good thing I have boots."

[nobilis] Dara asks, "Did Flute come along with us?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "She was on my shoulder, last I knew."

[interludes] Ferris says, "I dunno, wild mushrooms can be dangerous"

[interludes] Ferris says, "I just want to make sure not to step on them"

[interludes] Ferris says, "maybe we should ask the mushrooms if they saw Monkey come this way earlier"

Dara keeps an eye out in mythic for anything odd, but generally keeps on going.

[nobilis] GM says, "Now is a fine time for Xaylia to decide She's Had Enough, possibly. If you want to. Poor kid."

[nobilis] GM says, "And yes, FLute did."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Hee ;-)"

[interludes] Monkey sniffs the air.

Xaylia stops, slumps down into the water

Dara asks, "Hey, kid, you OK?"

[interludes] GM says, "The mushrooms rustle."

Xaylia says, "I wanna go home"

Xaylia says, "it's cold and dark and wet and we're going to find a moster and I want to go home and eat cookie dough with my auntie"

Xaylia says, "*snf*"

Dara says, "I can take you back, if you want. We're here to help people, if you want to stay, though."

Dara asks, "Want me to carry you?"

[interludes] GM says, "Tromp tromp tromp goes Alex and Monkey. The path on the mountain circles up the side until it reaches the top, where there's a big cave. Something inside the cave reeks of predator to Monkey. Something big and much smellier than him."

Xaylia looks up at Dara. "I want to find my auntie

[interludes] GM asks, "Are you guys actually talking to the shrooms?"

Xaylia says, "and then I want to go back to my mother and father"

Dara scoops Xaylia into her arms. "I know, I know."

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Any chance of me circling around Alex, outpacing him and going in first?"

[interludes] GM says, "Sure. Even he can smell it and he's slowed enough to look very thoughtfully at the cave."

Dara flips open her phone. "Rennaisance? You there?"

Jim says, "We're not looking a monster, we're looking for somebody called Mitrasama."

[interludes] Monkey says, "clambers swiftly up rockfaces."

Jim says, "And this is a *helpful* monst- er, person, remember."

[Crows-Nest] Monkey says, "CHRIST"

[Crows-Nest] Monkey says, "I just can't emote today."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Maybe you should eat more fibre."

GM says, "There's not a whole lot of signal under the phone. After a moment, a crackly breaking-up voice wheezes through. "What is it, Dara?""

[interludes] Thalia (self-consciously) "Anyone come by this way?" to the mushrooms

GM er, under the ground

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "you know, i can't get used to talking to things"

Dara says, "Hi! Can you find Xaylia's relatives for her? She's lost them. You said you were connected to the city's phone network."

[interludes] GM says, "The mushrooms have very high-pitched squeaky voices. "Oooooooh a talking HORSE. I've heard of horses. They're like DEER. DEER. We haven't seen a TALKING THING except STUPID PLANTS in SO LONG. DEER.""

[interludes] Thalia says (to mushroom), "i am not a deer!"

Dara smiles at Xaylia and wiggles her pierced eyebrows.

[interludes] Thalia says (to mushroom), "but we are looking for moving things, not necessarily talking things"

Xaylia hugs her doll and sniffs.

Dara says (to Ren), "She's particularly looking for her aunt and her folks."

GM says, "A pause. "Xaylia's aunt is one of those that was misplaced in the reshaping. Her parents are in Carbon County, Utah.""

[interludes] GM exclaims, "The WIND moves. Oooh, and a bunny. Little fluffy tail. Bunnybunnybunnybunnybunny. We're hungry. Bunnybunnybunny yum!"

Pete says, "'Misplaced.'"

Xaylia asks, "what does that mean?"

[interludes] GM says, "Meanwhile, Monkey, you skirt around the kid and peek into the big cave. The first thing you see are heaps of treasure. The second thing you see is the big draconic head just beyond the heaps of treasure."

[interludes] Monkey exclaims (at dragon), "Hey!"

[nobilis] Jim says, "I need to make dinner, but Storme can prod me if I'm needed."

Pete says, "It means that you should find your parents first, and worry about your aunt later."

Xaylia says, "oh"

Dara asks, "The people we're looking for are differently-lost?"

GM says, "Rennaissance says, "I was under the impression you were looking for those who had been misplaced?""

Pete says (to Dara), "You'll have to ask Flute that one."

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "let's keep going. these are odd mushrooms"

[interludes] Thalia says, "(although i am thinking, mushrooms eat bunnies?)"

Pete asks (of Ren), "We're new to this, remember. Is faded out the same thing as misplaced?"

[interludes] GM says, "The dragon's head rears up. It snorts a bit of fire across the hills of treasure. It flares its nostrils. "I smell you, little voice, but I do not see you.""

[interludes] Monkey asks, "I am Handsome Monkey King, a powerful Noble! What is your name and who do you serve?"

GM says, "Renaissance says, "I do not know. I'm only 18 hours old, you know." There's just a tiny hint of petulance in the chiming voice."

Pete says, "Oh."

[interludes] GM exclaims, "NoNono don't step on us! Nobody has trampled us! If we get big enough, the Fun Guy will come to our next party!"

[interludes] Monkey says, "(I take it that's the mushrooms rather than the dragon)"

[interludes] Thalia says (to granola), "hee hee"

[interludes] Thalia says (to mushrooms), "i know. you guys are psychedelic mushrooms! you guys have been smoking yourself"

[interludes] Thalia asks, "Can we go the other way?"

[interludes] GM says, "The dragon raises the spikes along his neck. "I am Hiyaseijin! I serve nobody! Come out where I can see you, Monkey King!""

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Is Ren still giving us directions to follow?"

[interludes] GM says, "OOC, I suggest sending a note to Monkey asking where he is."

Dara asks (of Xaylia), "That means that the person we're looking for might know where your aunt is. Do you want to come with us, or should I take you home?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yep."

[interludes] Monkey says, "<hey, guys, any idea what a Hiyaseijin is?>"

Xaylia stands up, tries ot wring some water from her skirt, and marches forward

[interludes] Monkey bounds out into view.

Xaylia says, "let's keep going"

Dara smiles.

Dara gestures to Pete to carry on.

[interludes] Monkey asks, "Tell me, O Hiyasingin, what do you know of the Goddess and the Lost?"

Pete asks (of Ren), "Where to next, kiddo?"

[interludes] Thalia scribbles a note to Monkey, "Ferris and I are trying to catch up with you...can you give us a hint as to where you are?"

[interludes] Thalia asks (of mushroom), "do you know what a hiyaseijin is?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "doesn't hurt to try, i guess"

[interludes] GM says, "The dragon looks down at the Monkey. Then it settles down again. "Very well. What brings you to my hoard? Not theft, I hope." It blinks, long and slow. "There are many goddesses, and many lost things. Many more lost things after I've been through." It blinks again, looking self-satisfied."

[interludes] Ferris says, "Hmmm"

[interludes] Monkey says, "One comes, sent by a Goddess, to seek the Lost."

[interludes] Monkey stands on his head.

[interludes] GM says, "Hiyahiyahiyahiaylulululu. We like the horsey." One shroom leaps up to swing on Thalia's tail. "Hiyahiyahiya gift of fire seijin. Wrong way! Wrong way!""

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Ping?"

[nobilis] Alex says (to Pete), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Ping is liza's leopard gecko."

GM says, "Ren gives some basic directions and onwards you go. Down a set of wide stairs. Is there a subway in Chicago? If not, obviously there was at least a train station underground once. Down a bit more. Into grills and grates. It looks a bit like the underside of the factory, but lacking the surreal graffiti. There are rats, though."

[nobilis] GM says, "Sorry, was playing some fun guys."

[interludes] Thalia adds a PS to the note she began writing to Monkey. Gift of Fire seijin. What are you getting yourself in to?

Xaylia is not happy at all about the rats.

[interludes] Thalia asks (of mushroom), "okay, which way is the wrong way?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "And we're not fun? Aww ;-)"

[interludes] GM says, ""I will scorch him if he comes to steal from me," says the dragon."

Pete kicks any rats that get too close to Xaylia.

Dara shapeshifts into exactly what she was before, except now she emits a pheromone that says, "Rats! Get away! Danger!".

[interludes] GM says, "The one swinging on Thalia's tail says, "Take me home! Take me home and eat me with river water, a fine meal!" The others shout, "No! No! Don't do it!" to the first."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Er, says that *to* the rats."

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "um. help"

[interludes] Monkey asks, "May Monkey observe?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Man, I hope you guys are having fun. So surreal."

[interludes] Monkey bows extremely low

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "hm, how muchlonger will this session be?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "I've got to leave by five."

[interludes] GM says, "The dragon looks at Monkey consideringly, and then turns to admire his scales. "You must keep silent, and in my view. On that shelf up there." He points at a inset bit of the cave high above."

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "I have to leave at 2:00, yeah, so we will stop then. I don't expect to be done. Many sidetrips this game!"

[interludes] Monkey darts up to the shelf.

[nobilis] Dara says, "(that's in half an hour, to those in other time zones)"

[interludes] Monkey takes the opportunity to roam a speculative eye over the various treasures.

[interludes] GM says, "There is gold and jewels, of course, and caskets, and many tubes of the sort that might hold maps, and some art, and some more esoteric things: a chalice, a jeweled trio of door frames."

GM says, "Down another corridor and you reach a closed door. "This is it," says Renaissance."

Pete knocks.

GM says, "No answer."

Xaylia hides behind Dara

Pete tries the handle.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Is there a visible lock or keyhole?"

[nobilis] GM says, "There's a panel and a lock, yeah."

[interludes] Monkey snatches up a gold coin, juggles it from hand to hand, rolls it over his head, down his back and along his tail, sticks it up his nose and extracts it from his ear, bites it to make sure it's still genuine, dusts it off very very carefully and replaces it in precisely the position he found it in.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Panel in the sense of metal plate attached to the doorknob/lock, or as in a keypad?"

[interludes] Monkey turns away and trips straight over a casket.

[interludes] GM says, "The dragon watches the entire display very very closely. There's crunching from outside, and then a pause; Monkey can see a tousled head peering in very very carefully."

[nobilis] GM says, "metal plate attached to doorknob"

[interludes] Monkey darts back to his shelf.

Pete uses the tools they used on the last lock to pick it.

Pete asks (of the door, loudly), "Anyone in there?"

GM says, "The door says, "Um. Yes. Are you going in?""

Pete blinks.

[nobilis] Dara laughs.

Pete says, "Er. Uh, yeah, we were thinking about it."

[nobilis] Pete asks, "What was the name again? Mitrasama?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yep."

Pete asks (of Door), "You're not Mitrasama, are you?"

GM says, "No. That's inside. Um. I'll break if you open me. I won't close again."

Dara asks, "What?"

Pete asks, "Oh. Is there another way in?"

Dara asks (of door), "What if someone opens you from the inside?"

GM says, "I still break. Sorry." It sounds really apologetic. "I know it's not convenient. But I'm not happy with it either. A door's not meant to be closed for all eternity, it's just not natural."

[nobilis] GM says, "I need to write up the Alchemy rules this week."

[nobilis] GM pokes at Ferris and Thalia

Dara asks, "What about the wall next to you? Could that be re-closed?"

[interludes] GM says, "Alex creeps into the dragon's cave, nervously looking around. He looks up. He sees the dragon looking down at him. He swallows. "Uh, hi. Do you have a gateway here I could use?""

Dara asks, "Or, I dunno, what if we squeezed through your keyhole? Or made the keyhole larger?"

GM says, "Walls aren't meant to be opened." "Uh-huh," the wall agrees."

Pete says, "Hmm. Let me try something."

GM says, "I mean, go ahead and open me. It's only natural I be opened, even if it will break me. You just won't be able to close me again. I wanted to apologize. Because it's inconvenient.""

Pete closes his eyes, and tries to dissolve into something that can pass under/around/through a gap in the door.

Dara asks, "But why were you supposed to be closed?"

Dara says, "If you know, of course."

Flute says, "The door says patiently, "Because if I open, I'll break. I don't entirely understand it.""

Dara grins.

Dara says, "That's OK."

GM says, "SmokyPete can slowly trickle around the door if he wants."

Pete does so.

Dara says (to Pete), "I can come through, too, but we might all want to come."

Dara says, "And hey, if we're breaking things, let's break the wall. As he said, walls aren't meant to be broken, which means they're more likely to be fixable."

[nobilis] Pete asks (of GM), "What's your call on talking while shifted into a form that doesn't have organs for it?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "If you have high enough aspect, you could wiggle the air in just the right way."

Flute says, "On the other side is a very bright light. Behind him is the door, which wails plaintively, "I want to be opened!" It rattles in its frame."

Dara says (to door), "Aww. Maybe later, when we find out why you're closed."

[nobilis] GM says, "Not in theme for the djini, though you could probably be partially smoke and thus have your tail stuck in while your top bit is a genie"

Dara says, "If nobody objects to the through-the-wall idea..."

[interludes] Thalia says, "(for sake of not having any idea of what to do, i guess ferris and i are still wandering about trying to track down the monkey)"

Xaylia says, "I think we should open the door"

Xaylia says, "because it seems like it would.. hurt the wall more, to be opened"

[interludes] GM asks, "Did you take the shroom that wanted to be eaten in the chancel?"

Dara says (to Xaylia), "I'll be gentle. Or I'll try. I'm just not big on the irrevocable actions. Er, actions you can't undo."

Xaylia says, "I don't think you can fix the wall after, though, either"

Dara says, "Maybe."

[interludes] GM says, "for future reference, the reason you're in different places is because of the Worldwalker gift Monkey has, which lets him do a controlled skip between connected locations."

Pete forms the top part of himself as soon as he can on the other side and looks around.

GM says, "Big sparkly glow."

Dara *shifts*, and her hand and arm extend and morph longer and longer, thinning until you can't see it anymore. She extends the resulting monofilament at an angle through the wall next to the door, sweeping out a large circle. When the circle is complete, her hand re-forms on the other end of the filament, and she pulls the wall into the corridor.

Pete asks (of Glow), "Hello?"

Dara gestures to the hole. "After you guys."

[interludes] Thalia says (to GM), "yeah, the shroom is still hanging on to my teail"

[interludes] Thalia says, "er tail"

[interludes] Thalia says, "once it drops, i will put it in my bag"

[interludes] Monkey waits for the dragon's reply

[nobilis] Ferris returns from dealing with frustrating real-life issues

Xaylia tows Jim through the hole

[nobilis] Dara says, "Aww."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "erf"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "aw"

GM says, "There's a CRACKING sound on both sides of the door. On Pete's side, the glow brightens and then vanishes. Instead, there's a six-armed woman made of crystal sitting at a loom, in a six-sided room, with six doors. Dara's cut out a corner. The room is filled with tiny glimmering crystals, each one showing a door, somewhere, opening or closing, and also, it shows windows. Which are, after all, holes in walls."

[nobilis] Thalia says (to ferris), "it's okay. we now have a suicidal mushroom"

[interludes] Ferris says, "(uh oh, I think I missed a lot)"

[nobilis] GM asks, "I think that's a FINE stopping point, don't you?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Ferris, I need to give you Alchemy rules, since your chancel has it."

[interludes] Thalia says (to ferris), "not really...granola has been busy, i have been busy trying to make head or tail out of a mushroom"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Heh."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "oh, fair enough"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "interesting session"

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Yay!"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Definitely."

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "next week?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yep."

[nobilis] Thalia says, "ok"

[nobilis] Monkey says, "huzzah"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "sure"

Thalia goes home.

Monkey fills the null-field.

[nobilis] GM says, "for ref, monkey, you can take people with you when you skip between locations if you actually cross with them."

Xaylia has disconnected.

Xaylia goes home.

[nobilis] maga says, "aha. okay."

[nobilis] GM says, "But I got to play amusing mushrooms, which was a whole lot of fun."

npc1 has disconnected.

[nobilis] Ferris asks, "Alchemy rules?"

[nobilis] Dara exclaims, "Alchemy *rules*!!! Go TMU!"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yup. Starting out, you get special extra senses and you can develop it into more special powers. It's part of playtesting bits of Society of Flowers."

[nobilis] Ferris says, "gosh"

[nobilis] GM says, "I have been waiting for an opportune moment to introduce/teach it and I was thinking your listening-to-the-earth was a good method for you"

[nobilis] GM says, "and if Thalia nibbles her mushroom..."

[nobilis] Dara asks (of GM), "Do you want #interludes generally viewable?"

[nobilis] Chrysoula says, "Yes please."

[nobilis] GM says, "Er, yes. Stupid multiwindows. I'll close this one."

GM has disconnected.

[nobilis] Chrysoula asks, "What are you going to call this log?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "For the filename, I'll probably go with the highly-creative nobchrys5.html ;-)"

[nobilis] Chrysoula says, "Not what I meant!"

[nobilis] Dara grins.

[nobilis] Dara says, "I usually read through it before I name it."