[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

npc1 has connected.

Pete has connected.

Pete says, "Hi."

GM says, "Morning."

Xaylia arrives, looking for booty.

Pete asks, "Anyone confirmed to not be coming?"

Eolo has connected.

Jim arrives, looking for booty.

Xaylia says, "duchess, I think"

Jim says, "Hello."

Xaylia says, "(or rather, she said she wasn't sure since she had to make an airport run)"

GM says, "Hiya, kids."

GM has one specific thing planned for today, and historically one thing has not been enough to keep you all entertained. But since you're all nobles, I firmly believe you can make your own entertainment and I'll be as obliging as possible.

GM is also easily inspired.

Nathan says, "hee hee"

Nathan asks, "are we starting? or waiting?"

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "where are we? are we still all seperated?"

GM says, "Well, I promised the next game would begin after a good night's sleep, so we can discuss that sort of thing."

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Adventure ended. You found your aunt!"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Back at the chancel now. Wanna look at log?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "excellent. (and yes, I am just now reading the log)"

[nobilis] Pete says, "In the 'since last session' department, I'd like to have use my network terminal to learn about local chancel tech and set up the basic skeleton of a construction company (office space, equipment, etc.) by morning, if that's not too ambitious."

[nobilis] GM says, "Not at all."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I am assuming since last session someone has sat Xaylia down and patiently and repetitively explained the laws"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Excellent. Were my friends from the old company that I was trying to recruit in the group freed from the ghosts?"

[nobilis] Pete says (to Xaylia), "I think Nathan is good at that sort of thing."

[nobilis] GM says, "that's up to them. :-)"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I hope there were pretty pictures drawn to explain 'love'"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Woohoo."

[nobilis] GM says, "Ri exerted herself and made a little cottage for Mitrasama, and suggested that convincing the lost natves to eat and sleep would help them settle in some."

Pete locates Nathan.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I am quietly laughing to myself at the idea of someone explaining to Xaylia about how you anchor someone and do the nettle rite and so on"

[nobilis] Jim says, "You can't anchor without COOTIES"

Nathan is having some breakfast

Nathan asks, "pancake?"

Nathan says, "mind the crack in the floor"

Pete says, "Thanks."

Pete lays out some papers. "So I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. Do you have any particular plans in mind for the campus layout?"

Nathan says, "ah, excellent"

[nobilis] GM says, "You all have servants and stuff, unless you chase them out, and each of you has a large penthouse suite in the city, Xaylia's filled with some strange toys."

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "wow, I have a penthouse?"

Nathan says, "well, I was thinking it'd start out small -- probably a few buildings around a central grassy courtyard for classrooms, and some a ways away for metalworking and so on"

[nobilis] GM says, "People on the rural side have more varied lodgings arranged for them; Monkey has a treehouse, Thalia has an awning."

[nobilis] Pete says, "So long as they're well-paid, they can stick around. Speaking of, I wonder if Ren gets paid. I need to talk to him about that later."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I hope my building has a big waterslide spiralling around the ouside from my flat"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yup, but your aunt is in there with you."

Pete starts sketching.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "that's fine, as long as she likes waterslides"

Nathan says, "there'll need to be some room for expansion later, but I'm not sure how many students there'll be to start"

Pete asks, "Low-rise? Single-story, wide array affairs? Boxy institutional types?"

[nobilis] GM says, "SHe's pretty dazed about what happened and where she is now, but she can act as a reasonable adult companion. You'll have to figure out what you want her to think about your new status, as she's pretty impressionable in the first few days back."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "hm"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I was thinking I'd probably end up anchoring her, once someone explained how to do that"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Hmm. Did Graph explain anchoring to us?"

[nobilis] GM asks, "That's fine. Do you think empowered-Xaylia instinctively would be happiest with a parental figure, a nurse (below her in rank but still an advisor and guardian) or a sort of adult friend/big sister?"

Nathan says, "well, they should be reasonably pleasant to study in, naturally"

[nobilis] GM says, "I think so."

[Crows-Nest] Dara wakes up, waves.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "probably more like a nurse"

Nathan says, "it seems like we could work up something that's a couple stories high for efficiency reasons"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "woo"

Pete nods. "Probably lots of windows, open space...

Nathan says, "exactly"

Nathan says, "oh, and an observatory off a ways too"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "since the whole 'treat no beast as your lord' thing, combined with Xaylia's experiences with parents, would probably not make a parental figure-anchor a good idea"

Nathan says, "not too close to the lights of the other buildings"

[nobilis] GM says, "Okay. So, willing to tell you what to do, but not actually get angry if you ignore her."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "right"

[nobilis] GM tries to remember her name.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "Clara"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I tell you, I don't envy Clara trying to explain to my parents why I'm not going home when I'm expected to"

Pete sketches out a combination library/student center/administration building, with a skylight over the library and space for upper stories to be added above administration for extra classrooms.

Nathan says, "hey, not bad"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I would like to try to get in touch with that angel group--we've sent papers, right? Also, whilst I'm waiting on that, researching these shadow-ghosts in our chancel to figure out how to get rid of 'em."

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "also, are there child inhabitants of the chancel?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yep."

[nobilis] GM says (to Dara), "Well, you could give them somebody to ride/steal, and then kick that person out of the chancel."

[nobilis] Xaylia will be playing hopscotch with those children until she has reason to do otherwise, then

Pete says, "Let's see... we can contract out some of the landscaping -- some greenery here and here to give a secluded feel to these dorms over here."

[nobilis] GM says (to Dara), "Nathan already sent mail to Darkness a couple of games back; I'm just letting everybody get stuff settled now before dealing with that."

Nathan says, "ah, yes, dorms, good point"

[nobilis] Dara nods.

Nathan says, "especially if we'll be having any students from the rural side"

Pete asks, "Will you be open to admissions from outside? From other chancels, maybe?"

[nobilis] GM looks. Are we all urban chancel today? Maga said Monkey would eventually show up.

[nobilis] Dara says (to GM), "Kicking them out of the chancel is meen, and also against my code, and that of Jehelia."

[nobilis] GM (to Dara) -)

[nobilis] Dara grins.

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I don't think the code precludes sacrificing a few people to save the whole"

[nobilis] Dara says, "My thought is that they have to connect to reality at some point while feeding, so that's probably their weakness."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "although you might feel guilty about it"

[nobilis] Dara exclaims (at Nathan), "But everyone here is safe!"

Nathan says, "I guess I don't see why not"

[nobilis] Dara says, "And if we kick 'em into Chicago, they'll feed on everyone."

Pete adds a parking lot.

Nathan says, "in the future I'd like to somehow have people from Earth study here; I'm just not sure exactly of how to manage it"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Also, presumably they're still stealing more folks from Chicago."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "that's true"

GM says, "Xaylia, you're playing hopscotch on the sidewalk out in the city, when you notice a dark figure coming down the sidewalk. Floating, almost; the figure seems nothing more than a cloak and a hood drawn low, and moves very smoothly."

[nobilis] GM says, "Well, the ones here aren't."

[nobilis] GM says, "But the ones left in the dead chancel are."

Pete says, "Mmm. The city doesn't look that foreign, really. But then, the fact that it's not on maps anymore might be a bit confusing for them."

[nobilis] Dara says, "So, figure out how to kill off the 8 here, then go back to their home base and rout them out."

Nathan says, "well, I bet we could finesse that -- I wouldn't want them wandering too far off-campus, though"

Nathan says, "I suppose we could try and work out some kind of, I dunno, enchantment for incoming students? it all seems a bit fidgety"

[nobilis] GM says, "The ones here are mostly fluttering around trying to attack people and making a pest of themselves."

Nathan says, "anyway, what were you thinking about payment for your services? I'm not sure if we have any currency here anymore"

[nobilis] GM says, "(because people in both realms have the protection)"

Xaylia stops to watch the figure

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hmm yeah"

Nathan says, "and speaking of services, I don"

Pete says, "I'm going to be trying to run the construction business as a business, to help keep a supply of funds available for interacting with the outside world."

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "who else has realm of 2 or more on the urban side?"

Nathan asks, "er, I don't suppose you'd be interested in teaching an engineering course at the school once in a while?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "Dara"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "not me or Pete, IIRC"

Pete says, "But if the university is likely to show a profit in the future, I'd be happy to set up a payment plan that delays any billing until everything is up and running."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "and presumably Ren as well, but I don't know if I can contact Ren"

GM says, "People detour around the dark shape but they don't really seem to pay any attention to it."

Pete says, "Hmm, teaching. I've never tried it, but it sounds like it could be interesting."

[nobilis] GM says, "Technically Ren only has Realm 1 (right now, heh heh heh) but he's contactable by any cellphone."

Nathan says, "I wasn't planning on the university itself making a profit, but if all goes well it'll have spin-off corporations that I expect will have much the same effect"

Xaylia decides to follow the figure, and murmurs to her cellphone to tell Ren

Nathan says, "so I guess for that I'll find some people and have them work things out with your people"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I'm kind of thinking that Xaylia doesn't fully grasp the idea of phone numbers, so she has to ask her phone to do that stuff for her"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I wonder if slashy-guy could cut them."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "there she is now"

Thalia arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "The figure pauses for a moment, but doesn't turn around. Then it continues on to a hotel, where it turns in. At the reception desk, it murmurs and extends a pale white hand holding a card and piece of paper to the clerk."

Xaylia watches, trying to hide around the corner

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "I love the logs! They do the work of remembering details for me!"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "You and us both ;-)"

Pete nods. "You know, there's something that some of the researchers in the chancel that were working on that could be a big help with the observatory."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "I am become Death, checker-in to hotels"

[Crows-Nest] Thalia asks, "quick recap anyone?"

Nathan asks, "oh?"

[Crows-Nest] Thalia asks, "or at least, tell me where i am - chancel or am i on remote?"

Xaylia says (to phone), "So, um, Ren, I don't like this man, he looks creepy"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says (to Thalia), "we've just been hanging out in the chancel"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says (to Thalia), "so you're wherever you are after having woken up, I expect"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says (to Thalia), "Nathan and Pete are planning a university, Xaylia is following an odd figure into a hotel, and I'm pondering what to do with shadow-ghosts."

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "i am out in the park then"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "Darkness has showed up to come talk to us about the Lord Entropy guy, although we don't know it yet"

Xaylia says (to phone), "he doesn't move right, and he's wearing a black dress which isn't like Janice's dresses"

Pete sketches some kind of odd devices nearby. "It's a sort of concealment technology. It could probably be used to shield the observatory from most outside light, without having to position it away from the rest of the campus or even the city."

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "is the wizard still with me?"

GM says, "There's a delay before Ren responds. "Well, cutie, it looks like big brother Nathan invited her. She's got an invitation from him""

Nathan says, "oho"

Nathan says, "that sounds very interesting"

[nobilis] Dara says, "(I also retrieved the crystals, if they were still there.)"

[nobilis] GM says, "Probably not; it's the next day. You got to sleep in a pavilion and so forth."

Xaylia walks up to the figure and coughs politely

Xaylia asks (of figure), "Mr Nathan invited you, didn't he?"

Pete says, "If these sketches look good to you, I'll send them over to someone who can finish fleshing out the details, and they'll contact your people for confirmation when the plans are finished."

GM says, "The figure looks down at Xaylia; from below, X can make out a pale white, feminine face, though shadows cloud the edges and lines of the face and the eyes are dark from rim to rim. "Stars invited me. And who might you be, little one?""

Xaylia says, "I am Xaylia"

[nobilis] GM says, "The wizard probably spent the 'evening' brainwashing his staff. Which will last all of a few days, I'm sure."

Nathan says, "great, thanks -- I'll get somebody to draw up some details of the profit-sharing for later"

Xaylia says, "I can try and get Mr Nathan to come over here, if you want"

GM says, "Speaking of which, Nathan's cellphone rings."

Nathan asks, "Anyway, time for -- hey, what's that?"

Nathan answers his phone

Thalia wakes up and wanders about the chancel looking for chancel-mates

GM says, "It's not actually Ren, but a pleasant feminine voice informs him that his guest is waiting at the usual hotel."

[nobilis] GM says, "I need a name for this hotel, hm."

Jim says, "Hrm, I'm male, I guess it must be morning."

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "renaissance?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks (of nathan), "man, the 'usual' hotel?"

Nathan says, "my guest? but -- oy"

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "That's the AI!"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "oh right"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks, "I thought you'd met this person only once?"

Jim asks (of Thalia), "What's up?"

Nathan says (to Pete), "if you don't mind, can we get over to the hotel? I think Darkness showed up"

Thalia says, "nothing much. Slept like a horse last night, so I am still waking up"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "and already this sordid arrangements have happened"

GM says, "Ri is also out hanging out in the park, where she usually is, watching the place the seed was planted. It's sprouted at this point."

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

Jim says (to Thalia), "Heh."

Thalia asks (of jim), "what's going on around here?"

[nobilis] GM should actually put Jim and Thalia on an interlude for now to help me sort

Nathan, and Pete, presumably, head back to the hotel as quickly as possible

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

[nobilis] Jim says, "Sure."

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

[nobilis] Jim says, "Or we could just turn up at this hotel."

Xaylia is showing her dolly to Darkness, meanwhile

[nobilis] Dara says, "If nothing's progressing in the shadow research, I'll go with the Darkness meeters."

[nobilis] GM says, "Up to you. But Ri's there where you guys are, and so forth, so."

Pete says (to Nathan), "Of course."

Pete rolls up the papers, puts them in a cardboard tube, slaps on a label and then drops it in a mail slot on the way then.

GM says, "Darkness is watching the little girl warily; it's visible that she's a Power, but... well, best to be careful around children. Strange, alien creatures."

Nathan comes in through the front doors of the hotel. "Sorry I'm late -- you caught me during breakfast. You must be Darkness."

[nobilis] GM says, "The shadow research will take a while, yeah, though you've had some interesting ideas. You might need to experiment some."

[interludes] Jim asks (of Ri), "So how's little sprouty coming along?"

Xaylia says, "that's a pretty name"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Can I? I'll transform into bait ;-)"

GM says, "Pale white hand is extended again. "I am Eretal Chorani, Power of Darkness, yes. I understand Graph has been talking too much again.""

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says (to Dara), "hey, I'm getting permission denied on transcripts.html"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "Oops."

Nathan grasps it a bit nervously. "Lucky for us, I think."

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "There you go."

[interludes] GM says, "I'm not sure," says Ri. "I'm not actually much for gardening, and I'm not sure if I should meddle with it magically.""

Nathan says, "I don't know how much you are aware of about our situation .."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "cool, thanks"

GM looks around. "Mmm, introduce me to your family? I assume this little one is one."

[interludes] Thalia says, "don't look at me"

Nathan says, "er, yes, of course, pardon my manners"

[interludes] Thalia says, "all kinds of gardening involve getting it to an edible state and then eating"

Nathan says, "this is Xaylia, X; this is Pete, Wishes -- I'm not sure where Dara is"

Xaylia is trying to sit demurely, as befits a child amongst grown-ups, but she keeps wriggling in excitement

Pete nods.

Nathan opens his cellphone. "Ren, can you ask Dara to come to the hotel, please?"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Jim is yours, too, i believe, but he's off talking to horsies?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "oops, yes"

Dara at that moment wanders into the hotel. "There's someone foreign here--oh, there you are. Hi!"

Nathan says, "and, uh, Jim, I think, at the moment. Compromise"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Mmm. Jim's missing from http://www.bioc.rice.edu/~lpsmith/IF/7thSea/chrysoula/"

Nathan says, "ah, there's Dara. Dara, this is Darkness"

Dara says, "Pleased to meet you."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "yeah, that's why I'd missed him"

Eretal settles into one of the overstuffed chairs. There's a pale flash of skin here, and another there as she does so. "Please, call me Eretal."

[nobilis] GM thinks. I think Flute and Cara are also hanging around in the rural chancel.

Nathan says, "anyway, er, as I was saying -- Graph had mentioned your familia as one that could possibly help us with our current situation"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Cara's X's aunt?"

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Jim, are you aware of how Flute used and abused you last session?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Cara is Flute's wendy."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "Clara is my aunt"

[nobilis] GM says, "grubby little feral girlchild."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Aha."

[nobilis] Pete says (to GM), "So like X, basically."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "hey, I'm not feral"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "ha ha ha"

[nobilis] Pete asks (of Xaylia), "You do what Aunt Clara tells you?"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Er, uh."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Let me skim the log a little more closely."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "search for "screwed, blued, and tattooed""

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Goodness."

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to Xaylia), "no, but that's not the same as being feral"

[Crows-Nest] Dara asks, "What's maga's domain?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "mischief"

[Crows-Nest] Jim asks, "'steed'?"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "There, updated."

Eretal is quiet for a moment. "Yes. My lord Tenebrae can repair the damage caused, but only considers this worth his time in exchange for a consideration."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "'clutching', 'tugs', 'steed'."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "heh heh. Ahem."

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "however, *that* was the same as me talking ot myself. sigh"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "ilac"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "however, *that* was the same as me talking ot myself. sigh"

Nathan says, "..so I assumed. I was hoping we could discuss the nature of this consideration"

[interludes] Thalia looks carefully at the plant

[interludes] Thalia asks, "do you think it can be talked to?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "hi there plant"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hmm. I guess with Monkey one chancel over, it's hard to call X feral, true."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ha ha"

[nobilis] Dara laughs

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "feh"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I'm just uncivilised, not feral"

[interludes] GM says, "Ri says, "I suppose so. Does that help plants?" She looks up as a unicorn races in: this one is Meena, and on her back shrieking wildly is a grubby girlchild last seen tumbling through the gateway Monkey opened. Flute zips after them."

Eretal sounds amused. "So direct. How refreshing." She pauses, though.

Dara grins. "Eretal, I love the outfit. Where do you shop?"

[interludes] Thalia blinks

Nathan asks, "I contacted you because it seemed as though our two domains had the most in common -- if there was something that you personally would care for, in addition to anything for your imperator..?"

[nobilis] Nathan hastily replaces 'somebody' with 'something' before sending

[nobilis] Dara exclaims, "Ha!"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hee."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "also, I don't really know what I'm doing here, so feel free to start talking yourselves"

[nobilis] Dara says, "You're doing great."

[nobilis] (from Pete) Nathan produces a catalog of local love slaves of both gender's for Eretal's consideration.

GM raises her head to study Dara. "Oh, clothing just gets in the way, I find." She transfers her gaze to Nathan. "I noticed. There's an old saying that all the universe is contained in the stars and the darkness, did you know that?"

Eretal raises her head to study Dara. "Oh, clothing just gets in the way, I find." She transfers her gaze to Nathan. "I noticed. There's an old saying that all the universe is contained in the stars and the darkness, did you know that?"

[nobilis] GM says, "grrr"

[nobilis] Jim says (to Pete), "Hey, I resent that!"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Oh, wait."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ha ha ha"

[interludes] Thalia asks (of jim), "what do you say? follow or plant?"

[nobilis] Pete snickers.

[nobilis] Pete says, "Also, boo apostrophe."

[interludes] GM says, "Oh they're still in the park"

Nathan says, "...that's very interesting. I'm afraid there is still I have much to learn about the nobilis"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "I'm unable to read enough recap to figure out what the hell is going on here."

[interludes] GM says, "just a stone's throw away. The child seems to be urging the tall unicorn to do something."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "(er, delete a few of those words)"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "So I guess I just improvise."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "Darkness is here"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "I asked her to show up a while back"

[interludes] Jim asks (of child), "Hey, you there, what are you doing to that poor unicorn?"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "That much I got, yeah."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "because Graph said she might be able to help us fix our chancel"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "so that that guy from Lord Entropy won't blow it all up"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "I kind of liked that guy."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "(or, rather, her imperator could)"

[interludes] GM says, "The kid shouts, "Jumping! Come ON, Meena, let's jump! Flute will make you fly!""

[interludes] Jim experiences deja vu.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Invite him back! Or put off on fixing the problem; he promised to come back for a bribe tomorrow. :-)"

[interludes] Jim asks (of Fluter), "You want to fly?"

[Crows-Nest] Pete says (to Jim), "He might be nice to meet socially, if he can fix that ash thing..."

[interludes] Jim says, "Er, Flute."

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Heh."

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "I assume a solution will take more than a day anyway, so we'll probably have to bribe him regardless"

[interludes] Thalia says (to jim), "i think it's more of the *unicorn* not wanting to fly"

[Crows-Nest] Pete asks, "What day is it, anyway?"

Xaylia doesn't really follow this conversation, so she concentrates on staying still by subtly altering the wallpaper in the hotel room to a pattern of little X's

[interludes] Jim attempts to grab the little monster.

[interludes] Thalia asks (of girlchild), "hey, want to help figure out how to make this plant grow faster?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "(aside to jim) heaven knows she is grubby enough that some dirt won't hurt her"

[interludes] Jim says, "Heh."

Dara says, "So hey, between the two of you, you got it covered."

[interludes] Thalia says, "(continuing) or we should tell Meena to jump into the lake/river and give that child a bath"

Dara asks, "Although is that the universe from the Earth's perspective, or from the world-tree's perspective?"

[interludes] Thalia decides to talk to the plant. "Once upon a time, there was a grubby girlchild who came to visit a very special park."

[interludes] Thalia says, ""There were unicorns there and nymphs and monkeys and other many magical creatures.""

Eretal gives Nathan a mocking smile, and then leans over to look at Xaylia's dolly. "Oh, it's not a Noble saying at all. The stars are sacred to the Serpents, but they are not the whole of the world. Just something from my youth..." She trails off, and then shakes herself. "In this chancel, there is a gateway. It has not yet been opened."

Dara, now that she knows it's there, tries to sense it.

Nathan says "Oh?" while looking around at the others in a "there *is*?" sort of way.

[interludes] GM says, "Meena edges closer, and Cara practically falls off the unicorn in her effort to hear the story. Flute perches in Cara's hair. Cara looks like she's between 8 and 10; her exact age is unclear under all the dirt and hair sticking up."

Pete shrugs when Nathan looks his way.

[interludes] Thalia whispers to Jim, "help!"

GM says, "There's a sense of... something. Not a gateway, not an exit. A plug? Something unattached on the other side."

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "what's flute? a pixie?"

[nobilis] Thalia asks, "a fairy?"

[nobilis] GM says, "A tinkerbell-pixie"

[interludes] Jim says, "Er, well, the monkey was especially naughty and kept getting into trouble."

Dara cocks her head. "Hmm, you seem to be right, essentially."

Dara asks, "Where does it go?"

Pete asks, "We've had gaping chasms, a rift torn in the fabric of space, and a passage to a dragon's cave and mushrooms. Why not?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "that's right. the monkey was known to be a troublemaker, but he really had a big heart"

[interludes] Jim asks, "He did?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "(aside jim) i can't dis my chancelmate that blatantly"

Eretal says, "Nowhere, yet. It's a potentiality. Tenebrae has some... suggestions for where it should go, and we'd like to secure a treaty allowing us passage through the gateway in exchange for assisting you in your current troubles."

[interludes] Jim says, "You're a kind soul."

[interludes] Thalia says, "but whenever he got in trouble, which was often, all the other magical creatures worried about him and helped him out"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara says impatiently, "But what about the little girls?""

[interludes] Thalia says, "a little golden pixie became friends with the monkey, and the little girl was best friends with the pixie"

[interludes] GM says, "Flute says, "Yay!""

Pete asks, "Is this going to be a two-way portal?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "so one day, after the monkey had just gotten in trouble again, and his friends had bailed him out again, the little girl and the pixie started talking"

[interludes] Thalia says, "the little girl said to the pixie, "how come the monkey always gets to have fun? why do we always have to rescue him?""

[interludes] Thalia says, "the pixie got a little nervous, because she doesn't really like adventure that much. she does what she has to for her friends, but she likes playing and flying around"

[nobilis] Thalia asks (of gm), "how long are you going to have me talk?"

Eretal says, "Most portals to other worlds require activation energy to open from either side. Realm magic from the realm's side, and it's variable from the other side. But yes; otherwise nobody would be able to get home again, except by a long long long walk." That mocking smile is turned on Pete."

Dara asks, "How many suggestions will Tenebrae make?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "the little girl says, "i know! let's get a unicorn and go find an adventure! maybe we can find a monster or a dragon or treasure!""

[interludes] GM does fall off the unicorn now, and crawls across the grass. Then she stands up and attempts to leap on Thalia's back!

[nobilis] GM says, "I think your storytelling is wonderful."

[interludes] Thalia doesn't even glance at the little girl as she neatly sidesteps and watches the little girl tumble to the ground

[interludes] Thalia says, ""the pixie is very nervous but doesn't say anything as the little girl convinces an unicorn to come with her on an adventure.""

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Sorry, I will have to idle a bit."

[interludes] Thalia says, "unfortunately, this unicorn is afraid of heights"

[Crows-Nest] Jim says, "Or continue to idle, rather."

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "nice help you are dealing with a grubby munckin"

[interludes] Thalia says, "you see, when the unicorn went to unicorn school, she kept failing her gym class"

[interludes] Thalia says, "she kept refusing to the jumps because she was so nervous about leaving the ground"

Pete asks, "So what sort of destinations is Tenebrae thinking of?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "her friends hid her one day, and took her jumping final for her. that's the only way she passed gym"

[interludes] Thalia says, "but now, with the little girl child telling her to jump, she is thinking, "oh no oh no if only i had failed gym! then no one would me to jump!""

Dara says, "In general, that sounds like a very tenable offer. Here are the variables, as I see them: What suggestions will Tenebrae make, how often do you plan to use the portal, how do you plan to power the portal when you do use it, and, on our side, when can you fix the chancel."

[interludes] Thalia says, "the little girlchild however, was also magical"

[interludes] GM seems blase about falling, and instead squirms closer.

[interludes] Thalia says, "maybe she wasn't magical before she came to visit. but after being in the magical place for so long, she has begun to absorb a lot of the magical speciallness"

[interludes] Thalia says, "the only problem was, no one could see by looking at her, that she was magical"

[interludes] Thalia says, "she didn't know that she didn't need to go far away for an adventure, for monsters and treasure"

[interludes] Thalia says, "she could have it all if she stayed here."

Eretal tilts her head towards Dara. "We can conceal the chancel from the minds of mortals, protecting it from Lord Entropy. Fixing the internals of the chancel is your job, my lady. My lord Tenebrae has four worlds he is interested in linking to Earth through your chancel. We shall certainly work out a treaty for the use; I think four activations a year will be plenty for our needs. I should hope that as the hosts for the gate, you would power it for us when the time comes to use it.

[interludes] Thalia says, "the pixie tried to explain this to her, but the little girl couldn't understand. so finally, the pixie said in exasperation, "if people could see your face, then they will know you are magical, and then you can do stuff here!""

[interludes] Thalia says, "the unicorn, relieved at the thought of no more jumping, nodded. "Yeah! let's go for a swim in the lake!""

Nathan nods.

[interludes] Thalia says, "the little girl shook her head."

[interludes] Thalia says, "no! she said. there are monsters in that lake"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "What internals is she referring to?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "i hate the water"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "anything else being weird in the chancel, I assume"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara makes a puzzled face at this. "Oh, hey, swimming! I'm the best swimmer!" She subsides. "Well, maybe.""

[nobilis] Nathan says, "like the ghosts and stuff"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Oh, right."

[nobilis] Thalia thinks for a moment

[nobilis] Thalia says, "ilac"

[interludes] Thalia thinks for a moment

Dara says, "That sounds reasonable. Let me confer with my familia."

GM says, "Of course."

Nathan says, "Naturally, if Lord Entropy or his associates are not satisfied, then the portal will be sealed until such time as they are"

Nathan steps a bit away to talk to Dara and Pete.

[interludes] Thalia says, ""the pixie and the unicorn look surprised at the little girl's comment. the pixie says, "i know! i can sprinkle protection powder on you and we can go swimming and you will be the best one there is!" the little girl looks dubious as the pixie dances and puts powder over her""

Dara asks (of group), "Well? Any other particulars you'd like to work out?"

[interludes] Thalia makes airy motions over the girl, as if sprinkling powder

Pete says, "I'm curious how much it takes to power the gateway."

[interludes] Thalia asks (of girlchild), "want to show me how well you can swim?"

Dara cocks her head, tries to sense.

[nobilis] GM says, "3 RMP, but I can't say that IC. :-)"

Nathan says, "no -- we'll need to set up heavy guards around the portal, but I suppose it's no worse than the opening into Chicago"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara demands, "Where is this lake?""

Nathan opens his phone quietly. "Ren, did you hear all that?"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "there is a lake in the park, isn't there? it would suck if after all this time we don't have a lake or a river"

(From GM) Ren says, "Nope, what did I miss, boss?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Heh."

[nobilis] Pete says, "'A minimal miraculous contribution from three of you at once, or that amount combined from one person alone'."

[nobilis] GM says, "There's a river. If you want a lake, sure, there's a lake."

Nathan says (to Ren), "Darkness says her chancel can fix ours with Lord Entropy, but they want to open up a portal out that they can use"

[interludes] Thalia offers her hand to the child. "Come on, it's right there, behind that grove of trees. Can you see the sparkle of the water?"

Pete says (to Nathan), "It depends where it opens to."

Nathan says (to Ren), "is that going to make anyone flip out? it seems like our best shot"

Nathan says (to Pete), "good point."

[interludes] GM says, "Cara takes Thalia's hand. "I think so. Come on, I'll race you there!""

[interludes] Thalia says, ""okay!""

[interludes] Thalia paces her strides so that the girlchild wins

Pete says, "If it leads to a hostile area, or a war zone, or outside the wall, then the things trying to come through from the other side might be far more dangerous and persistent than cabbies and muggers."

Dara says, "She said 'four worlds'."

(From GM) Ren says, "Uh. I know what you're talking about and I think the big guy put it there for a reason... I'll see if I can look her up."

[interludes] Thalia asks, "why don't you try swimming out to that buoy there, that's not to far out, and back?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "if you need me, i will be there in a flash to get you"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara says, "Hah! I won! I'll show you how well I can swim!" She wades out into the water, looks down at her sodden clothes, and then unself-consciously begins stripping."

Pete says, "On the other hand, if it's someplace that could be useful to us, then Eretal's doing us a favor by letting us know how to hook up with it."

[nobilis] GM asks, "By the way, Thalia, I'm assuming you anchored Kanyaa between last session and this session, if that's okay?"

Dara says, "True, though it sounds like Jehelia had some ideas."

Pete asks, "By the way, does anyone know what Ren gets paid?"

Pete says, "He seems to be pretty good at what he does. He probably deserves a raise."

Nathan says, "hmm, I think he's programmed not to need any pay"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "yay"

Dara says, "We could give him time off in Ultima Online."

GM says, "Ren mutters, "What do YOU get paid? Huh? What about filial loyalty? Jeheila's my parent.""

[interludes] Thalia whispers to the pixie, "get some powdered soap and sprinkle it over her, as if you are sprinkling pixie dust on her"

Pete says, "I think we get paid with phenominal cosmic powers."

[interludes] Thalia says, "(as if you are pretending to)"

[interludes] GM exclaims, "Flute covers her mouth and giggles, and then zoops off, towards the urban side. Cleaning ladies, beware!"

Nathan says, "hmm, I guess that's one way of looking at it"

[interludes] Thalia takes the wet undergarments as they are stripped

[interludes] Thalia lays the clothes on rocks and tree branches to dry

(From GM) Ren says, "I'm two days old, and I can already cause a chancelwide blackout if I want to. Just imagine what I'll be able to do on my first birthday!"

Nathan says, "I'm trying not to"

[interludes] Thalia whispers to Meena - we should be able to coax some of the farmer's wives to give a little girl sized dress can't we? Can you take care of this?

[interludes] Thalia cheers the little girl on

[interludes] GM says, "Cara flails out towards the buoy, in what she imagines is a breast stroke. Meena nickers, and then turns and trots off towards the rural side."

Pete says, "Mmm. Good point."

Dara . o O ( Jehelia? Are you there? Is it OK if we trade choosing the destination of the gate for Tenebrae sealing off the chancel? )

[interludes] Thalia claps to encourage the child, and looks with glee as the child gets cleaner and cleaner

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "back from idle, but Jim'll still be idling for a while"

(From GM) Jeheila is suddenly standing at the doorway to the hotel, shimmering slightly. Eretal quickly stands up and curtsies deeply.

[nobilis] Thalia says, "i should throw jim in the lake"

Pete says, "Woah."

[interludes] GM says, ""Whee!" Cara makes it to the buoy, and clings to it, a faint glisten of soapy water around her."

Nathan takes a deep breath.

[nobilis] Pete says, "Man. Yesterday -- by which I mean several weeks to several months ago -- I had a full head of steam to go give him what for."

Xaylia wakes from her doze, and blinks. "Hello Miss... um, Miss."

[nobilis] Pete says, "But it's sort of petered out by now."

(From GM) Jeheila gives Eretal only a single look before walking over to the familia. He/She looks troubled.

Nathan says, "Jeheila, this is Eretal, who is visiting us to discuss -- oh."

Eretal remains in her deep curtsey.

(From GM) Jeheila says quietly, "I had a plan for that portal." She sounds irritated, and sad.

[interludes] Thalia calls out, "Hey, come on back! are you all right, or do you want me to come out?"

Nathan frowns.

Nathan says, "we have not agreed to the deal"

Dara says (to Jehelia), "Ok so if you don't already know lord entropy is threatening to destroy the place because it didn't sync with chicago or something and eretal here says that tenebrae can fix that but she wants to use the portal to go somewhere that tenebrae chooses but they'll give us like four options and we can pick and if we don't do something today we have to bribe entropy's minion tomorrow so we're running out of options"

Dara pauses for breath.

Nathan says, "but it seems to me as though the alternative is for the chancel to be reduced to ashes"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "hee hee"

Dara asks, "uh, maybe Tenebrae wants what you want? What *did* you want?"

Dara says, "er, do."

[interludes] GM says, "Cara waves her hand dismissively, but doesn't start swimming back yet. Then she says, "Hey, there aren't REALLY monsters, are there?""

Dara says, "do you want"

Pete says, "Then there's this whole mass murder thing we've got to discuss at some point. But this probably isn't the time."

Dara says, "with the portal, I mean."

Dara says, "I'll be over here if you need me."

[interludes] Thalia says, "no monsters, i promise"

[interludes] Thalia says, "there may be a nymph or two, but they are all friends"

[interludes] Thalia says, "and they like to swim along with you"

(From GM) Jeheila's face twitches, and then he reaches out to touch Dara's cheek. "There was a place where... the forgotten part of me was. I don't know where it is anymore."

Dara says, "Oh, crap."

Nathan says, "hmm"

[interludes] Thalia says, "so come on, come back. i want to take some water back to the magic plant and you can help me with your special magic to figure out what to do"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara takes a deep breath and ducks under the water to swim back. She's down for a disturbing length of time, but just when Thalia starts getting worried, she pops her head up a few yards from the shore. "Did I scare you?""

[interludes] Thalia says, ""whew! yes, you did!""

Nathan says, "well, if you don't know where it is, I'm not sure the portal will help any"

[interludes] Thalia says, "i can't believe you kept your head down that long"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara says, "Hah hah! So what's your name? And why are you half-horse?""

[interludes] Thalia says, ""I am Thalia, and I am a centaur"

Dara says, "But once we found out, we'd have a connection to it. I could go... home. Whenever I wanted."

[interludes] Thalia says, "in this magical place, there can be many magical creatures. i just happen to be one of them"

[interludes] Thalia asks (of gm), "can i assume meena is back with an outfit?"

[interludes] GM says, "Cara wades out of the water and pokes at her clothes. "Hah, this place is a heck of a lot better than that city.""

Nathan says, "hrm"

[interludes] GM says, "Sure"

Dara sighs.

[interludes] Thalia says (to cara), "instead of those clothes, why don't we get you in to this? (showing frock)"

[interludes] Thalia says, "meena found it for you"

Dara says, "But, I guess we'll just have to find another way."

Nathan says, "I think so"

[interludes] Thalia asks (of cara), "which city do you mean? the one where the monkey found you?"

Nathan says, "...clearly it's possible to get access to other people's portals"

(From GM) Jeheila shrugs and hugs herself. "I made you to make these decisions for me, so do what you want."

[interludes] GM says, "No, the one before that place." Cara looks dubiously at the dress. "I guess I can wear that." Luckily, farmer's kids wear quite sensible clothes, rather than frilly white things."

Dara says, "OK."

[interludes] Thalia helps Cara get dressed, gets a bottle out of her bag and puts some water from the lake in it, while asking, "what was it like?"

(From GM) Jeheila then glances at Pete. "That's Yasmina's idea. I wasn't in a position to argue with her."

Nathan turns back to Eretal. "We agree."

[nobilis] Pete says, "It occurs to me that it was actually Yasmina's chancel that B was trashing."

Dara asks (of others), "Are we agreed, then?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Well, he'd get around to both."

[interludes] GM says, "Cara says, "Scary. There were always bad people around and you had to be careful. And there were never any miracles, no matter what the priests said.""

[nobilis] Dara says, "Er, timing."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hee hee"

Pete softens a bit when Jeheila says that, remembering the condition Jeheila seemed to be in when they first met.

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I hope so, then"

Pete says (to Dara), "Alright. Assuming one of the suggested destinations is acceptable."

Eretal is still standing, her cloak pulled around her closely so that she's more cocoon than anything. "My brother has prepared images representative of each world that I can share with you."

Dara says (to Eretal), "If you can accomplish what you say this afternoon, and if it passes Lord Entropy's inpsection tomorrow, we will set up the portal to one from a list of at least four possible destinations Tenebrae provides. From then, you may use it up to four times per year, powered by us, and more may be negotiated."

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "Inside her cloak, Eretal goes "Woot!" and does a victory dance!"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Dara laughs.

Pete says, "One thing -- if we don't have the power to open the gateway, it shouldn't be considered breach of contract."

Dara says, "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can always sacrifice *something* to get what you want."

[interludes] Thalia walks back to the plant, bottle of water in hand, holdng Cara's hand, "what did the bad people do?"

Eretal says, "Agreed." She pulls her hand from her cloak, holding a sheaf of papers. "My lord will begin the great work even now. Will you look upon the images now?""

Nathan says, "please show us"

[interludes] (from Thalia) back at the plant, she gives the bottle to Cara to water the plan with

[interludes] Thalia says, "er plant"

Nathan . o O ( I see she had this all planned out when she came )

[interludes] GM says, "Cara says, "Oh, they'd try to kidnap us and put us in homes, or do... bad things to us." Cara pours water over the tree seedling very carefully."

[interludes] GM says, "Ri puts an ethereal fingertip under the flow. "I remember water... I remember floating on a great sea...""

Eretal says, "Do you have any paperweights? These were worked up my brother, who is the lord of Hallucinations, and an artist." She unrolls the first paper; it's nothing more than a pencil sketch of a number of images with notes beneath them. The entire sketch is labelled "Inhalya"."

Dara conjures up a few paperweights; a swirling mix of darkness and stars.

Nathan says, "...nice"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks (of Dara), "are you matchmaking?"

Eretal says, "Inhalya is interesting because there are two native sources of Imperial magic there, as on earth, but a third one fled there when the enemy destroyed their world and has since naturalized with its people."

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "Sounds very respiratory."

[Crows-Nest] Dara laughs.

Dara asks, "Er, you'll have to back up. Imperial magic? Sources? Naturalized?"

Eretal says, "Where Earth has the Light and the Darkness, Inhalya has the Emptiness and the Devouring. The third is the Touched. It is a strange place, with an orange sky, or so I've heard."

[interludes] Thalia asks (of cara), "did they ever do anything to anyone you knew?"

[interludes] Thalia says, "(GM: a description of the new cara and whatever is happening to the plant would not be amiss)"

Eretal says, "It's an interior world, and has not yet been much touched by the war."

Eretal tilts her head towards Dara questioningly.

Dara asks, "Light and Darkness like the codes?"

Pete says, "We're still pretty new at this."

[interludes] GM says, "The plant seems to be drinking in the water. It's not entirely clear if it's actually growing before your eyes, but it might be. The new Cara has reddish-brown hair that is still quite tousled. She's probably 9 years old, with callouses on her hands and a scar on her face over her right eye."

[interludes] GM says, ""Oh, kids would vanish all the time. Not like I was vanished, but to other places.""

Eretal smiles. "The Codes arise from the Imperators born from them. Don't you know the story? When Eve first bit of the apple, she understood self-preservation, and the Light was born. When Adam bit of the apple, he understood self-destruction and the Dark was born. And when Adam and Eve fled Eden, the Dark claimed it as a chancel."

[interludes] Thalia asks, "what do you now about the kind of places they got vanished to?"

Nathan blinks

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "ha ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "the first man as dark, the first woman as light"

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "i am translating this as good and evil now :)"

Dara says, "No, can't say that I've heard that version."

Xaylia looks slightly confused, as if she thinks she knows this story already

Eretal explains further. "Every world has its true gods, bound to the world itself, and some peoples have Imperial powers as well- whose power stretches wherever the blood of their people is. The Light and Darkness care about humanity, but also about the Lios Alfar, who have human blood, and live in Aelfscienne.

Dara says, "Humans have alien cousins? Crazy."

[nobilis] GM says, "lalalala I really must do stuff with X's parents and their connections sometime."

Pete says, "So, the Emptiness, the Devouring and the Touched would have their own associated codes."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "yes"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I figured that my parents would have been likely to tell me something like this, though"

[interludes] GM says, "Well, some were SLAVES. and some to homes. And some were killed. And some to other magical lands, I've heard. Nothing as cool as this." she pokes at the seedling again, and looks at Ri. "Are you dead?" Ri nods."

[nobilis] GM says, "Yep"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Oho."

Nathan says, "it seems like I can guess about the first two"

Nathan asks, "well, what are the other worlds?"

Eretal nods. "They do. And there exist Estates there that are not comprehensible to those of earth; simple things with a greater significance than on Earth, or strange things that can't exist here."

Pete says, "Would it be inappropriate to ask about Tenebrae's reason for being interested in each world? Just so we have an idea what sort of thing we'd be facilitating in each case."

[interludes] Thalia says, "how did you get that thing on your cheek"

Eretal opens up the next one. "We call this world Zare. It is a world where there are only plants, insects, birds. No people. I have heard all the people left aeons ago, but to where, and why, we do not know. But there are these." A long sparkly fingernail taps the paper, which has illustrations of ruins that are vaguely reminiscient of architecture found in Greece.

[interludes] Thalia asks, "?"

Nathan inspects this one with interest.

[nobilis] Thalia says, "i am off in about 10 minutes, sorry"

[interludes] Thalia strokes lightly the scar

[nobilis] Pete says, "Darkness has long sparkly fingernails? Wacky."

Eretal says, "It would be. Tenebrae is the Angel of Imagined Beauty; I know it is his dream to make the people of Creation able to truly envision the beauty of Heaven without being driven mad first. But he keeps his secrets and I do not know why each place has his interest."

Pete nods.

[nobilis] Thalia says, "mental telepathy works within chancel residents, right? so i can mentally send messages to Pete? (i think he is rural, right?)"

[interludes] GM shrugs. "My stepdad hit me and his ring cut me open. I don't wanna talk about it. Let's maybe see if we can get fertilizer for the plant or something?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "to Dara, at least"

[nobilis] GM says, "Nope."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "you can send messages to other people with realm 2 in your chancel, but you're the only rural person here"

[nobilis] Pete says, "I am Urban, and do not have anything telepathy-like aside from prayers."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "since she has 2+ realm, so if you do.."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "you can write them a note"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "oh right"

[nobilis] GM says, "To Dara, yep. And you can write anybody a note."

[interludes] Thalia says (to cara), "good idea, we can get some manure and stuff from the stables on the farms"

[nobilis] GM says, "I should note that talking to Dara across chancels feels very odd. It's bizarrely intimate."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "woo woo"

Eretal says, "There are native Powers there, I think, but not many. It is a puzzle, Zare is."

[Crows-Nest] Pete asks (of Nathan), "Bizarrely intimate is woo woo? Is that in the sense of 'hot centaur-housewife psychic action' woo?"

[interludes] Thalia says (to GM), "to clarify, is Cara talking about a Chicago? or a city before chicago? i am thinking the latter"

[Crows-Nest] Nathan says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Thalia says, "hey!"

Eretal says, "It is also not a front in the war, though some of the enemy do wander there."

[interludes] Thalia says, "since she found the monkey in chicago, right? and she was talkng about a place before the monkey (unless i missed something)"

[interludes] GM says, "She's talking about Chicago... she was a street kid, practically a runaway, with a bad homelife."

[interludes] GM says, "The monkey was in the bad place, the dead chancel where the ghosts came from"

[interludes] Thalia says, "ah. okay, i mixed the two"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "or something like that, yes. :-)"

Eretal looks up for any questions before moving on to the next scroll.

[nobilis] Storme asks, "when are we wrapping up this game? an hour and a quarter from now? quarter of an hour from now?"

[nobilis] GM says, "hour and a quarter, usually"

[interludes] Thalia says (to cara), "c'mon, there are granny sacks in the stable that we can use to get manure back"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "i am actually off now."

Nathan hums quietly to himself.

[nobilis] GM says, "ok"

[interludes] Thalia says, "(Jim is still at the plant) Jim will help you carry the stuff back"

[nobilis] Storme says, "I think Iain and I will have to go off in quarter of an hour"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "thanks"

[nobilis] Thalia says, "later all"

[nobilis] Storme says, "er, half an hour, really"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "byebye"

Thalia goes home.

[Crows-Nest] Dara reconnects, recaps, laughs.

Xaylia asks, "the war?"

Dara says (to X), "Remember that guy we chased out of our chancel? He's the type of guy we're fighting."

Eretal nods. "Against the enemies of Creation, child."

Xaylia says, "with the", she pauses, and making a face and clawing motions, "things that don't want existence?""

[nobilis] GM says, "Cityfolk have 'Principled' which means they can sense Excrucians and agents of Hell, btw."

Dara says, "Right."

Xaylia says, "ohh"

Dara frowns. "I don't remember explaining that to you."

Xaylia says, "I remember stories"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "we can? hunh"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "good work us"

Dara asks, "Stories?"

Xaylia says, "yes"

Xaylia says, "like cinderella, with the evil thing that didn't want love or dance to exist"

Nathan blinks

Dara says, "That's... not how I remember Cinderella."

Nathan says, "that's not how I heard that one either"

Eretal nods, and opens the next scroll. "This world is the Spindle. It is similar to Earth in some ways; there are people, cities, and so forth. The Light and the Dark have a presence there. The spirits of their dead do not leave them there, but linger on." She pauses to listen to Xaylia's story.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "What's Entropy's code?"

[nobilis] GM says, "It's a mystery."

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Much like Yasmina's is!"

[nobilis] Nathan says, ""don't fuck with me""

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to nathan), "ha"

Dara asks, "So what happened in the Cinderella version you know?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Codes are more of a Noble thing; for Imperators it's more 'what's they're nature'. It's commonly believed that Lord Entropy is a True God of Earth, who have less quantifiable natures than the other factions."

Xaylia says, "I didn't like that story much, but my motherwould tell it every so often because it had a good moral code"

Pete asks, "If the Light and Dark have a presence, does that mean humans do as well?"

Nathan says, "ha ha"

Dara asks, "What was the moral code?"

[nobilis] Pete nods. "Can we tell Hellions apart from Execrucians, or do they all just twig the Bad Guy meter?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Yes."

[nobilis] GM says, "er, yes you can distinguish"

Xaylia says, "that one should learn to distinguish good powerful beings and bad ones"

[Crows-Nest] Pete says, "(Man. My spelling of words I know how to spell is terrible today.)"

Xaylia says, "tsh, your parents can't have been very moral, if they didn't teach you these things"

Nathan frowns

Nathan says, "they didn't come up for me"

Dara asks, "What do your parents do? Like, do you know their jobs?"

Xaylia says, "but they captured the beast in a bubble of glass and sent it beyond the wall of the sky and then they all lived happily ever after"

Eretal addresses Pete, "Oh yes. That is, there are many inhabitants of the world, most of whom are human-like-enough to interest the Dark and the Light." She frowns at the paper. "There is a strange magic there, though, based around the creation and shaping of energy, and they interpret the cosmology of the universe strangely."

Xaylia says (to Dara), "they worked in the village"

Pete asks, "More strangely than a giant tree with worlds hanging off, or infinitely empty space filled with flaming balls of gas?"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "at this point I am assuming people are getting interesting ideas about Xaylia's upbringing"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "Oh, yeah ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "good, good"

Eretal asks, "Perhaps. The native Imperators of that world spring from a common source, I know that much. Shall I go on to the last one?"

Dara asks, "A village in Carbon County, Utah?"

Nathan says (to Eretal), "please go on"

Xaylia says (to Dara), "yes, but maybe we should let the nice lady in darkness finish talking first"

Dara says, "Hmm, OK."

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia asks (of Dara), "did you just go and check the logs?"

[Crows-Nest] Dara says, "Yeah ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Xaylia says, "because I can't remember if that is where I'm from... ah"

Eretal smiles at Xaylia and unrolls the final scroll. Rather than a sketch of interesting features of this world, there's a number of diagrams. "This is Mourn. I have heard here they have mastered a trick of raising mortals into Imperators, but only once an age. They do not have chancels or nobles there, but sorcerers who form pacts with the True Gods or the other Powers. The forces of Asura and Deva hold sway there, as well.

Dara asks, "Who are Asura and Deva?"

GM says, "Primal forces like the Light and Darkness, who I think may also have a presence there." She touches a diagram arranging Asura, Light, Deva, Darkness at four corners opposed."

Nathan says, "interesting"

Nathan glances over the four scrolls.

Pete asks, "Is the war being fought there by sorcerers?"

Eretal says, "Each Power is represented by a constellation in their stars. I'm not entirely sure how that works, but I know the sky is divided into these quadrants and the entire sky shifts." She glances at Pete. "I do not know. I do not know what the presence of the Enemy is there, though I know the discovery there of what they do inflames many, for good and for ill.""

Pete says, "Zare seems as though it might be the safest choice, of the four."

Nathan says, "or Spindle, perhaps"

Pete says, "Although some of the others might be a source of possible allies or foreign power that mgiht be useful."

Eretal thinks for a minute and then adds, "I think that there has been some great power worked which limits the non-terrestrial Imperators in what they can do without invocation by a sorcerer."

Dara says, "I'm somewhat inclined towards one with humans, on the theory that that might have the biggest chance of having a connection to what Jehelia and I lost."

[nobilis] GM says, "Yeah, keep in mind that this is YOUR gate and will hopefully be someplace you guys want to visit sometimes, as well as haveto potentially defend against big monsters. This is basically a forking-point for game direction."

Pete asks, "Those were the last two, right?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Jeheila is an Aaron's Serpent. :-)"

Nathan says, "yes"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "Er, meaning no connection to humans per se?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Also, we should save here so we can restore and find out what happens on the other branches."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ha ha ha"

[nobilis] Pete says, "To be honest, Spindle didn't sound that interesting to me. Very Earth-like, with the exception of undead, magic, and weird but unspecified cosmology."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I like the sound of Zare or Mourn"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "fair enough -- I picked it because it seemed safe"

[nobilis] Pete says, "I agree with Xaylia, I think."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "yeah"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "(if I am picking in terms of interest)"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Which we should ;-)"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "plus, hey, Mourn has the whole stars dealie going on, so, possible advantage for us"

[nobilis] Nathan asks, "so do you want one with people and potential danger, or archaeological exploration?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "true enough"

[nobilis] GM says, "Jeheila is more into sentient life as a whole, yes, and is not specifically associated with humanity."

[nobilis] Pete says, "The sorcerers seem interesting, as being sort of our counterparts except different."

[nobilis] Dara asks, "I don't have recap, due to save/reconnect. What were the four, again?"

[nobilis] Pete says, "And the ruins of Zare seem interesting, in an ancient mystery sort of way."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "Inhalya, Zare, Spindle and Mourn"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "first is in Inhalya, with the three kinds of imperators (emptiness, devour, touched)"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "second is zare, abandoned except for greek ruins"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Well, if Jeheila is into sentient life, we shouldn't do Zare, since, hey, no sentience."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "third is spindle, humans with weird cosmology and the ghosts stick around"

[nobilis] Pete says (to Dara), "Good point."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "fourth is mourn with sorcerers making bargains"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Though there was evidence of the older life, I suppose."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I say we go for Mourn"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "fine with me"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I was thinking Mourn was the least interesting ;-)"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Also, Mourn has star-linked stuff, which could be interesting with a Nathan along."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Ah, hmm."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "no nobles or chancels, just (rare) imperators and sorcerors"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "and with the asura and deva thingie"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "mourn might the site of some serious political stuff if they can create imperators"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "but I guess the other ones might turn out to be freaky also"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Oh, was the square set up with L and D opposite corners, or on the same side?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "same side, I think"

[nobilis] Pete says, "(Not that it affects my decision; I'm just curious.)"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "(or rather, I suspect)"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Hmm, now I'm leaning towards Zare again, just 'cause exploring ruins can be fun, and discovering stuff that was lost might be apropos to my own history."

[nobilis] GM says, "Um, yes, opposing corners, diagnaolly,"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "oh, hm, no... right, it implied opposed"

[nobilis] GM says, "The diagram has smaller words inbetween each of the major points so it looks like this, um..."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Anyway, I'm good with either Zare or Mourn."

[nobilis] GM says, "Starting in the upper right corner: Darkness, Stars, Asura, Sun, Light, Mirror, Deva, Void"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Clockwise?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

[nobilis] GM says, "er, upper left corner"

[nobilis] GM says, "stupid stupid left and right. I always confuse them."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "speaking as the power of X, I don't feel like any of these worlds is particularly one my character would be drawn to"

[nobilis] Pete turns his paper counterclockwise to put Darkness in the upper left, but now the words are all sidewise.

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "also, I guess I am voting for Mourn"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "but Mourn at least has the four-pointed diagram, and I can imagine a big X in the middle of it"

[nobilis] Dara laughs.

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "so I am voting for Mourn!"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Hmm. Speaking as the Power of Wish Fulfillment, my character might be drawn to Mourn. As Pete Russo, Zare."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hunh"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "tricky"

[nobilis] Pete says (to Nathan), "Cool buildings."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Ancient architecture."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ah yes"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "It's just the four of us, isn't it?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I don't remember which chancel Jim"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "is in"

[nobilis] Pete says, "I think Jim's ours."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "Iain is back, and reading scrollback"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "urban, I think"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Oh? OK."

[nobilis] Jim says, "Yeah, briefly."

[nobilis] Jim says, "(Dinner is being made.)"

[nobilis] Pete says, "Handy that the five of us here are Urban."

[nobilis] Nathan exclaims (at Jim), "quick, decide!"

[nobilis] Jim says, "I was actually just thinking I should pull out, rather than miss half the sessions, sorry."

[nobilis] Dara exclaims, "That's not much of a compromise!"

[nobilis] Jim says, "Ha."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "yeah, this time is not the best for us, since we basically lose our Saturdays"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "So Xaylia said Mourn, Nathan said which?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "Mourn, I guess"

[nobilis] Pete asks (of Xaylia), "Does that mean you're both thinking of pulling out?"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "So we've got at least two and a half votes for Mourn. Any objection?"

[nobilis] Nathan asks, "I dunno, would shuffling the time help?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "not really"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "(since if it's later in the day, we don't get to sleep until the early hours of the morning, and moving it earlier just means we lose afternoon instead of evening)"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Would Sunday be bad for people?"

[nobilis] GM says, "We could make it shorter, as well. three hours instead of four. since you guys are fairly timely and we're meeting every week."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Sunday I wouldn't be free until at least noon; probably later."

[nobilis] Pete says, "I would be OK with something like 1-4 or 1-5 US Eastern on Sundays."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Noon pacific is 3 eastern ;-)"

Pete says, "Mourn sounds interesting."

[nobilis] Pete says, "Oh, forgot you were Pacific."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Right, since the move."

[nobilis] Pete says, "That might be getting late for the UK'ers, yeah."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hrm, I'm not sure there's really going to be a time that's convenient for everybody"

[nobilis] Jim says, "I would feel bad about moving things around for our convenience, since the rest of you seem fine with the current structure."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "although making the sessions a touch shorter might be useful"

[nobilis] GM says, "I haven't been minding the missing of some games, but I guess it might be hard for you guys. But yeah, I really wouldn't mind 10-1 instead of ending at 2."

[nobilis] Dara says, "There's also the other rural chancel people who aren't here right now, of course."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Duchess/Sarge/maga/Rob"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "well, Sarge is out"

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Didn't Sarge mention something before about Saturdays having become bad for him?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Oh? Missed that."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "maga is, I dunno, maybe he forgot"

[nobilis] GM says, "You guys are more active, really. Sarge is already in mystery-space"

[nobilis] Nathan says (to Dara), "well, effectively -- baby's going to be here soon, right"

[nobilis] Dara nods.

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I thought he'd said that he was going to make these few saturdays before it did, but apparently not"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Not that I didn't game plenty with baby on lap ;-)"

[nobilis] GM says, "and duchess often has to leave at 1"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "yeah, in six months I assume he'll be more active again"

[nobilis] Nathan says (to GM), "right"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "and Rob is on an irregular schedule as always so there's no use trying to plan around him"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I thought he said he was going to make this but since he was just getting up at midnight (PST) yesterday maybe this turned out to be naptime"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "er, midnight today, I guess I mean"

[nobilis] GM says, "it took me a bit to get adjusted to having irregular players but now I'm fine with it, honestly, as longas people don't get bored."

[nobilis] Dara says, "One thing inky did whilst GMming was do a 2-weeks-on, 1-week-off schedule, which worked fairly well."

[nobilis] Dara says, "Not that individuals can't do similar things."

[nobilis] GM says, "likewise, while I haven't yet had a chance to do as much with Jim, I'm enjoying Xaylia's little plotlines... I guess I could still do some of them if she were offscreen."

[nobilis] GM says, "I don't mind an irregular weekly schedule; I've just been pretty hardcore about January 'cause of wanting to develop some momentum"

[nobilis] Dara nods.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "I forget, was that just because he was running twice as many session per week and needed a break, or was there a more schedulish reason for that?"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "um, the former was the original reason, but it was convenient for some things"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I think it was so he could have some Saturdays off."

[nobilis] GM says, "unfortunately, I don't think I can split into two time sessions."

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to Dara), "and sundays"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Oh, that's right. Whew."

Pete says, "And Zare. But some of you seemed more interested in Mourn."

[nobilis] Nathan says (to GM), "I think Dara just meant running this every other saturday or 2/3rds of saturdays or something"

Nathan says, "I think I prefer Mourn also"

Eretal hands the scroll with Mourn to Pete and then goes ahead and passes out the other scrolls to whoever wants them.

Nathan asks, "can we, er, use these to open the portal?"

Dara says, "Well, we have a little bit of time before having to decide."

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah."

Dara reads about Zare.

Pete nods to Dara.

[nobilis] Dara says, "Right."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "well, Jim and I won't be here the weekend after next, for reference"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "since we have to go do parental visits"

Eretal says, "Oh, no, ythey're just drawings. It'll have to be done by Jeheila, or perhaps by Dara here. [via spending the initial 3 RMP]"

Dara nods.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "So we could declare an on-on-off cycle starting with this week on, and see how it goes?"

[nobilis] GM says, "I'm fine with that."

[nobilis] Dara says, "No, the one after next."

[nobilis] Dara asks, "Right?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says (to Dara), "(he said this week on)"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "The 14th?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "the 14th off, I thought"

[nobilis] GM says, "Do we also want to shorten to running until 1? I'm unclear if that would help the UKers much but it would make things a bit more convenient for me."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "it would help a little, yes"

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "yay!"

[nobilis] Pete says (to Dara), "I meant, this week (right now) on, a week from now on, and a week after that off."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "since then we would end at 9 rather than 10"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "and thus could, eg, have dinner at a reasonable-ish time without having to go off to cook during the last hour"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Gotcha."

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Cool. Should we keep going until 2/5/10 this week, or break early with this conversation?"

Eretal says, "When will you open it? If you plan on using it on the initial opening, my brother might want to tag along. I... suspect I should stay away from Mourn until I understand how my estate is translated there."

Xaylia sits down with her dolly and starts telling it the story of Snow White and her seven anchors, quietly

[nobilis] Dara exclaims (at X), "Hee!"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "ha ha ha"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "also, this might be a good spot to break"

Pete says, "I guess as soon as Entropy's representative says the repairs are acceptable."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "(I probably don't say anchors, but it *means* that, dammit)"

[nobilis] Jim says, "That sounds good to me -- I'll re-read the transcripts and stuff to try to get back into the game next time."

Pete says, "He'll be returning tomorrow to check in on us, but I don't know if the repairs will be ready that quickly."

[nobilis] GM says, "Okay. I think this is a fine spot to break...."

[nobilis] Dara nods.

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "sure"

Eretal says, "Tenebrae's working will be complete by dawn."

Dara says, "Excellent! Thank you all again."

[nobilis] GM asks, "Next week, do you want to visit Mourn?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "I'm still not big on the Mourn idea, but am willing to be outvoted."

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "I know I want to go away and re-read Rebecca's blog to see if I can co-opt some of her little stories into Xatlia's fairytales"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "I'm only going to be here for the first half of next week's session, btw -- got to get downtown at noonish"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "er, Xaylia"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Well, okay, or whatever you decide?"

[nobilis] Pete says (to Dara), "I don't think Jim ever voted."

[nobilis] Dara nods.

[nobilis] Dara asks, "E-mail this week, possibly?"

[nobilis] Dara asks, "After we let people read the transcript?"

[nobilis] Xaylia asks, "you're really not keen on Mourn, are you?"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Yeah, that's what I said."

[nobilis] GM says, "Sure. Just make sure I have a couple days notice... 3 of the 4 worlds are from previously developed matieral, but will need some work all the same."

[nobilis] Pete says (to Dara), "Sorry, I thought you'd wanted one of Spindle and Mourn because of the humans."

Eretal smiles humorlessly. "Tenebrae is always pleased to thwart the schemes of Lord Entropy."

[nobilis] Dara says, "That was one of my thoughts, yeah ;-)"

Dara asks, "You mean he'dve done it for nothing?"

GM says, "Of course not. He wouldn't have wanted to insult any of you."

[nobilis] GM says, "(note that gifts that can't be returned is a problem for those of the Wild)"

Dara nods.

Eretal says, "But it doesn't mean he can't take pleasure in his work."

[nobilis] Dara asks, "?"

Nathan asks (of Eretal), "well, our thanks for your assistance in this matter -- is there anything we can do for you personally?"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "mm, I should check up on what the Wild codes actually say"

[nobilis] Pete is confused for a moment, before saying, "Oh, by 'returned' you mean doing a favor back, not rejecting the gift, right?"

Eretal gives Nathan a lingering smile. "I'll be in touch about that."

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

[nobilis] Dara says, "Ah."

[nobilis] Dara says, "OK, I should go vacuum."

[nobilis] Pete asks (of Dara), "Visiting our cutty friend?"

[nobilis] Dara laughs.

[nobilis] Pete asks, "Are we jumping to tomorrow for next week?"

[nobilis] GM says, "code of the wild: freedom is the highest principle, sanity and mundaniare prisons, give in kind with a gift recieved"

[nobilis] GM says, "I'll start with Baalhermon's reaction to the fix t'tomorrow', yeah"

[nobilis] Xaylia says, "yeah, I looked it up in the book"

[nobilis] Nathan says, "hmm, ok -- I'll deal with more university business for the rest of the day, then, after Eretal leaves"

[nobilis] GM says, "Okay."

[nobilis] Nathan says, "and now off"

Eolo has disconnected.

Dara has disconnected.

Dara exits stage left.