[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on, BTW."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Hmm. Who's missing, aside from Aisleen?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Stella, Chaz..."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "Gerry"

Stella walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Stella arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Davey says, "whew"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I didn't want to go through this whole fight scent with just the three of us"

Kori has connected.

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "we're fighting someone?"

Stella exclaims, "'Allo!"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "If Stella's here, does that mean Chaz's en route?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "(sorry)"

Alison waves, "Hi hi."

Chaz arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Stella says, "yup, he's login' on, as we speak."

[nobilis] Stella says, "timing."

[nobilis] Stella asks, "so, quick recap?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Duchess said she wasn't coming, and TableSaw is sick, so may not be coming, but we can give him another minute or two"

[nobilis] Davey says, "Okay...Stella, Davey and Aisleen were in a tower. Stella and Davey were just discovered. Tyoka was flying around looking for something"

[nobilis] Davey says, "we have identified a high muck-a-muck and Stella may have some important objects"

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, right, guess no gerry"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And Alison and I were following a key's directions to a chest."

[nobilis] Davey asks, "didn't Gerry stay behind anyway?"

GM says, "to further recap what Davey said, last time folks went to Astara and started exploring, after briefly interrogating a guy on the outskirts before something happened to him"

[nobilis] GM says, "good point"

GM says, "most folks, except Tyoka I believe, had ended up inside the three towers"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Kori,Raul), "One of you want to play Duchess? Pending GM approval, of coruse."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Does Duchess want to be played by someone else?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "how do I get re-involved?"

GM says, "Chaz and Alison had followed the directions of the keys to a room with a cabinet the keys unlocked; Stella had investigated somebody important's apartment at the top, only to find him coming after; Davey and Alison were hanging out invisibly watching some mages lecture on heart-cutting, but apparently they had just been discovered, as one of the mages was grabbing for a wand (causing Davey to shoot him with a stunner)"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "When I suggested it two weeks ago, I think she said it was OK."

[nobilis] GM says, "I think let's see how it goes with the current number of players and we can decide if somebody needs to step in for Aisleen later"

[nobilis] Alison asks (of Tyoka), "What do you mean? WHen did you become uninvolved?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Tyoka), "you can smash in the windows any time you like"

Alison asks (of Chaz), "..Key Is that the cabinet you unlock?"

[nobilis] Chaz nods.

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Mrm, that came out wrong.)"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "oh, I should have mentioned I'm eating dinner right now and will be here in 10-15"

GM says, ""Yes, see, I jingle""

[nobilis] GM says, "ok then, people can grab you then"

GM says, "one of the mages crumples with Davey's stun blast and falls to the floor -- the other two are apparently voluntarily diving under the table"

Alison asks (of Key), "Sounds like fun -- Chaz?"

Chaz opens the cabinet with said key.

GM says, "out in the streets, Tyoka sees some troops running from the barracks"

Davey hisses, "Stay down and no funny stuff. This ain't personal, unless you wanna help us free your chancel"

GM says, "There is a surprised noise from under the table"

Davey looks under the table to see if he can grab what the mage was grabbing for just now

GM says, "The cabinet is similar to the one Stella found earlier; it has some large scroll cases and some small silver figurines"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is that our table or theirs?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(Davey's)"

Chaz scans the scroll cases, pockets the figurines.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "What are they figures of?"

GM says, "a blast of energy flies out as Davey as he sticks his head under the table (aspect 2 to dodge it)"

Alison says, "Wonder if these cases have magic spells in 'em."

Davey pays the point to dodge

GM says, "the silver figurines are of men, wizards, orcs, dolphins, ships, airplanes, etc"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "well, we've found the game room"

Chaz looks at them with The Sight, and in mythic.

GM says, "Under the table, the two conscious mages are apparently wrestling over the wand -- "give him a minute!" one says"

GM says, "They have a faint magic aura but no actual miraculous one"

Alison whispers (to a Wizard figurine), "Who are you?"

Davey asks, "I know Astara wasn't always like this. Do you want to go back to the way it was?"

Chaz . o O (to others) ( Well, we found some magic figurines, though they're not miraculous. What's up with the rest of you? )

GM says, "the scroll cases contain large maps of what appear to be various chancels -- you don't spot many you recognize, but you can deduce ones for Bronwynn's and Cecily's"

Davey says, "<I'm negotiating with some Astara mages>"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Cecily was Treasure? But I don't remember who Bronwynn is... was she the Noble Registrar?"

GM says, ""I -- it's useless." the mage says. "They can't be resisted." "Dammit, let me kill him!" the other mage says. "Leggo this wand!""

[nobilis] GM says, "(Bronwynn is Duchess of Oceans -- you probably haven't met her, just heard of her via the other group)"

Davey says, "sorry you feel that way, bub."

Davey stuns the hostile one

GM says, "The wand clatters to the floor"

Davey says, "He'll be okay."

Davey snatches the wand and stands up

GM says, "The other mage looks down at him, nervously, and starts backing out from under the table"

Davey says, "I know you can't risk fighting them direct"

Davey says, "and we don't wanna get you killed."

Davey says, "But we're trying to save you. Tell your friends."

GM says, "(The wizard figurine doesn't talk)"

Alison tries to peer around the room -- say, at the table.

GM says, ""Save us?" his eyes dart around. "But they can't be resisted!""

[nobilis] Stella asks, "I'm still beaming away from Important Dude, and trying to get out a window. Do I make it, or do I have to fight him?"

Davey asks, "who are they? They got names?"

Davey says, "<Aisleen, we probably wanna fly outta here in a minute>"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, lemme come back to you in a sec"

GM says (to Alison), "nothing else of interest in your room -- it's some kind of meeting room, looks like"

GM says, "(and hence pretty sparse)"

GM says, "(unless you like chairs)"

Chaz taps the back of the cabinet, listens for any echoes that would indicate a secret compartment.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(figuring that for an Aspect 3 skill)"

GM says, ""There's the Silver One and the Bright One -- ruled us for hundreds of years""

GM says, "(No hollow spaces)"

Davey asks, "Hundreds? We have your men. Treied to cut off our chancel. They remembered a time before the towers. Are you from here?"

Alison asks (of Key), "You helped us lots. Anything we can do for you?"

Alison says (to Key), "If you want, you can lock and unlock and lock that cabinet some more before we go."

GM says, ""I like unlocking! And locking!""

Alison exclaims, "OK!"

Chaz closes his eyes, sniffs the room for traces of self-importance pheromones, trying to track the most important person to come through here.

GM says (to Davey), ""I -- it's been so long before the towers. Hundreds of years. Can't be resisted.""

GM says, "Meanwhile, upstairs, Stella hears the guy's footsteps hurrying towards the room"

Davey says, "<I got a mage here who hasn't shit himself quite yet. Anybody have any questions?>"

Alison climbs up the side of the cabinet and plays with the lcoks while Chaz sniffs around.

Chaz says (to Davey), "<Who's in charge, maybe?>"

GM says, "Stella turns to light and flashes at the window -- only to find herself not passing through"

Alison . o O (to Davey) ( Where're the nobles from here? )

GM says, "The window is still transparent but somehow not letting you through"

Stella . o O (to ) ( $%^@#$% )

Davey . o O ( good one )

Chaz says (to Stella), "<What's the problem?>"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "can mortals contact us by praying?"

Stella . o O (to Chaz) ( can't get through the window - I'm heading down! )

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

[nobilis] GM says, "if you identify yourself in some way"

Chaz says (to Stella), "<Can't open the window physically?>"

GM says, "(the study door starts to swing open)"

Stella tries another direction, to get down the stairs and out that way.

Chaz says (to Stella), "<Or kick it?>"

Stella . o O (to chaz) ( beaming down the stairs is faster then breaking the window. )

Davey says, "we're gonna go now. You think you want my help here, pray to me. I am Davey Willis, Marquis of Highways. I will help you if I can. If you got the stones to try."

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Davey), "you should give away leather jackets"

GM says, ""I -- I -- I'll think about it.""

Davey . o O ( help's on the way )

Davey sees about sneaking out

[nobilis] Davey says, "I want to try to back up Stella"

GM says, ""Uh, guys?" Tyoka thinks. "There are troops in the streets heading for the tower.""

Davey . o O ( I think we should GET OUT OF HERE )

GM says, "Stella flashes out the door and down the stairs"

Stella . o O (to Chaz) ( If I can't get away from this guy, I'll take him on. I *think* I can handle him, at least for a while. )

[nobilis] Davey asks, "can I direct Aisleen a bit?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

GM says, "Catching a surprised look in passing"

Davey and Aisleen head out, trying to discreetly get closer to Stella's location

Stella . o O (to ) ( Whew! )

[nobilis] Davey says, "I guess we used up out invisibility spells"

GM says, "people are spilling out into the corridor -- everyone in the tower hears the noise level kicking up"

Davey . o O ( you're out? then we'll get out too )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We each had two to begin with."

GM says, "and yeah, people with invisible spells have them sputtering about now, so you can kick in your second or go vis"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "I am returned"

Davey becomes small and plastic and hopes Aisleen can find an exit

Alison asks, "Should we go do something to Tyoka's troops, or do you think they got them all taken care of?"

GM says (to Tyoka), "you see uniformed folks spilling out of the barracks, pulling on weapons and running for the towers"

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( perhaps we should reconoiter for a moment. Any progress with your group? )

[nobilis] Alison says, "Also, some of us haven't had to use our own invisibility yet, so we've probably got spares."

Tyoka . o O (to all) ( We have company! )

Davey . o O ( I hadda stun two, and the third was too scared of his masters to make sense )

GM says, "Stella is flying down the stairs, still, I guess, and Davey and Alison making for the stairwell to meet up"

Tyoka kicks in second invisibility spell, then.

Chaz picks up Alison, fly/skates into the hall over everyone's heads, yelling, "Whee!"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I was actually going to have Aisleen fly us out the way we got in"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "How far up the tower are the two of us?"

[nobilis] Alison asks (of GM), "When you say 'Davey and Alison', that's 'Davey and Aisleen'?"

Stella joins the group in the hallway, and it brightens noticeably.

[nobilis] GM says (to Chaz), "you guys are near the middle; Davey and Aisleen (yeah, sorry, not Alison) are towards the top, and Stella's at the top and coming down"

Stella . o O (to group) ( Greetings! )

Davey asks, "hey. Time to go?"

Alison says (to Chaz), "Let's go running through the halls! We gotta find something good that way."

Chaz exclaims (at Alison), "Yeah!"

Tyoka . o O (to all) ( Do we destroy them? Please? )

Alison says, "Running around without looking where you're going is *always* the best way to run into something int'resting."

Stella . o O ( I think we've stuck our hand in the ants nest. They may not know what is going on, but they're on the alert now. )

Davey . o O ( uh, can we take on an army? )

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( We can try. )

Chaz skates around and up, watching for anything interesting, and generaly increasing the whimsy of those around him with random ghost miracles.

GM asks (of Chaz), "does a crackling energy barrier appearing in the corridor in front of you count as interesting?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "what're the troops like?"

Davey asks, "anyplace else in this tower worth seeing? Should we try to kidnap that snotbag?"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to GM), "That'll do in a pinch."

Chaz flies right into the barrier, full speed.

[nobilis] GM says, "they're the ones you've seen in the barracks -- white uniforms, black-barred on the shoulder, handguns"

Alison exclaims, "Wooo!"

Chaz protects doll-Alison, on the way through, though.

GM says, "ow ouch zap"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka removes GM's mask. It's Rob!

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "But we make it through?"

GM says, "it crackles all around you, the energy curling around your limbs and jerking them around, but Immortal has got to be good for some things"

Chaz exclaims, "Freee-ow!"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is it nasty enough to be protected from by the Holy Fire?"

GM says, "On the other side is the stairwell"

GM says, "From up and down you hear footsteps"

Tyoka . o O (to Chaz) ( Need any help? )

Chaz keeps going, following the path of most resistance. Up, for now.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, ""bulldozer goes against the grain""

[nobilis] GM says, "it's a spirit-2 thing"

Chaz . o O (to tyoka) ( Well, looks like we're running into some company. We're in the stairwell, goin' up. )

Chaz keeps an eye out for windows.

[nobilis] GM says, "but in your case, Chaz protected you since you're in doll form"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Cool."

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "can I make out the nearest window?"

GM says, "no windows in the stairwell, but you are going to bump into the other group in a sec"

[nobilis] Stella says, "afk poopy ellric"

[nobilis] GM says (to Tyoka), "yes"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "*smash*"

Chaz increases his speed.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is the other group coming down?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "ne'er mind, ellric wanted Lucian. fine by me."

[nobilis] Tyoka barely escapes being run over by Chaz

Davey . o O ( we got a plan? we leaving or doing mayhem? )

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( I'm for mayhem. Let's do some! )

Davey . o O ( righty, then )

Davey reverts to human

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( got a grenade or three? )

Stella . o O (to group) ( think we should aim to damage the buildings or keep them safe for now? )

Alison imagines that our group won't be stopped by the other group, so we'll be plowing past unless they turn around to join us.

Davey . o O ( just this shotgun )

Tyoka follows Chaz, Alis

GM says, "ok, so most of the way up the tower, Davey and Aisleen are hanging out, Stella's flying down, Chaz and Alison are flying up"

Davey . o O ( these towers are alien. let's wreck what we can )

Tyoka . o O ( THAT'S what I wanted to hear )

Davey . o O ( maybe there're furnaces? )

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Was your group being chased by anything?"

GM says, "and Tyoka's smashed into the tower"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "Oh, man, Madness on a rampage"

Tyoka says, "this is where I wish I had Aspect 4 so I could bring it down by doing it"

[nobilis] Chaz back.

[nobilis] Davey says, "I'm not really property-damage man from inside a building."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says (to raul), "just through a window, not actually into the tower"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "yet"

Davey . o O ( (to Tyoka) Maybe it's time for the troops to get a little confused? )

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Is this one of those circular stairways you can see up and down?"

GM says, "the footsteps and the shouting have calmed down some -- leaving you free to hear the armed footsteps from below"

Tyoka . o O (to davey) ( mwa ha ha )

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah"

GM says, "(armed footsteps? army footsteps)"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "plan: turn on madness full force and sweep over the troops"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "will that work while I'm invisible?"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "okay, someone please explain the 'think' syntax--how do I think to someone?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "think *=*"

[nobilis] Alison says, "think name = messaage"

[nobilis] Davey says, "thanks"

[nobilis] GM says (to Tyoka), "sure"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Tyoka), "now's not the time for anime smileys"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "then I'm doing it"

[nobilis] Tyoka turns the dial to 11.

Chaz zips back and forth up the very middle of the staricase. If there's room, he goes straight up the middle to the top.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We could adopt the Vona style of <enclosing thoughts in brackets>, if that's simpler."

[nobilis] Tyoka goes back out the window and 'delights' the troops by projecting madness

Alison waves a tiny, mitten-fingered hand, on way through.

[nobilis] Tyoka says (to chaz), "hey, just because they can't handle the commands..."

[nobilis] Alison says, "(...on the way...)"

GM says, "Tyoka swoops down over the troops and they erupt in a flurry of shouting and gunfire"

Tyoka says, "at, I hope, each other"

GM says, "sometimes, yeah"

GM says, "they aren't really worried about aiming"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Tyoka), "No, at the flock of pink elephants bearing down on them from the northeast."

Tyoka does a second swoop, this time involving fire-breathing.

Davey says, "dammit, why didn't we bring any high explosive? Even as a tank I can't do real damage to buildings this big."

Davey says, "let's go down and see if we can start a gas fire"

GM says, "meanwhile, Chaz flies up the middle of the staircase only to be brought up short by another energy barrier"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "who has the highest aspect? Chaz?"

GM says, "this one solid"

Alison exclaims, "Oof!"

GM says, "the troops scatter down below"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Yeah."

GM says, "some of them on fire and not seeming to notice"

Davey says, "man, I don't wanna kill all these people. they're slaves."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "If it's made of energy, does it fall under 'impulse'?"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Ha!"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "are we surrounded by milling office drones yet?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Probably not, but I might as well check :) )"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "with high Aspect, couldn't you just destroy the tower single-handedly?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Davey), "everyone seems to have holed up in their rooms"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "like, dismantle it, for example?"

Stella . o O (to group) ( I think I can explode the building, but it will be expensive. I'd like group consensus though before I do. )

[nobilis] GM says, "with high enough aspect you could kick it over, yeah"

[nobilis] GM says, "or throw it"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "if you think it does, sure"

Chaz switches to mythic.

GM says, "in mythic it's a wall of flame"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "how high is "high enough"?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Nifty. Lesser destruction, then, to open a gap in the field."

Chaz says (to barrier), "Get out of my way, or I'm smashing through you."

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "also, how do the towers themselves look in mythic?"

Davey says, "we can't massacre everyone in these towers"

[nobilis] GM says, "level 7 aspect to do it at one blow -- level 5 to do it if you're willing to spend the time"

Davey says, "we gotta stop them at the root"

GM says, "A gap opens up in the wall at Alison's command"

Alison exclaims, "Poof!"

Tyoka . o O (to davey) ( I think our government calls this 'collateral damage' )

Chaz swoops through.

Tyoka does another fire-breathing swoop.

Davey . o O ( if we're gonna bring this thing down I wanna tell the folks to evacuate )

Alison says, "There's gotta be something neat up here, 'r else they wouldn't put their best zappy wall up here."

Chaz exclaims (at Alison), "Yeah!"

Chaz keeps on going.

GM says (to Tyoka), "the troops are pretty much scattered -- you can hunt them down and kill them if you wan"

GM says, "t"

Davey . o O ( besides, there's still information and artifacts that might be better than a pile of rubble )

GM says, "but, like, it'll take a while and involve flying into the barracks and people's houses and stuff"

Davey follows the kids

Tyoka says (to GM), "not worth it, then"

Davey . o O ( where are the bosses? I'm surprised I'm not skinned alive yet )

GM says, "up at the top of the tower four mages are standing in the short hall outside the guy's study"

Alison exclaims (at Mages), "Hi!"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Who's The Guy?"

[nobilis] Alex says (to Alison), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that guy is somebody who likes a monkey. Furthermore, Jota is a guy. Also, Raul is a guy. Also, Bruce is a guy."

[nobilis] GM says, "(the guy being the one Stella was running away from -- you don't know this is his study yet, but it is)"

Alison asks (of Mages), "What's in there?"

GM says, "The mages look up in surprise"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "It's the penthouse apartment, basically?"

GM says, ""Dammit, I thought --""

[nobilis] GM says, "mmhmm"

Chaz skates at them, top speed.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "back in the window, up the stairs."

Chaz exclaims, "Yaaaaaaaaa!"

[nobilis] Raul says (to Tyoka), "You know, if you made the building crazed enough in mythic, it might tear itself apart"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I like the way Stella sneaked all around eavesdropping on people and trying not to be seen."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "hmmm"

Davey while running up stairs, thinks to look at the wand a little

[nobilis] Alison says, "And then Chaz and Alison come in, shout 'hi', and then charge them."

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "was my question about the towers in mythic answered?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "I think I have to agree with Davey , that destroying the building now would not be best. Let's take out the bosses."

GM says, "The mages dodge to either side"

[nobilis] Davey says, "we could at least massively disrupt their plans againt the chancels"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Are any of them carrying stuff? Like wands or whatnot?"

GM says (to Davey), "I dunno, it's a wand -- your mages could presumably tell you how to operate it"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I'm still for trying to restore the proper nobles, personally."

[nobilis] Stella says (to Alison), "I may have them in my pocket."

[Crows-Nest] (from Tyoka) Chaz inscribes "SHAGAPIR" in the ground near the doorway.

Davey sticks the wand in his pocket and makes sure his stunner is ready

GM says, "the door to the study flies open"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "Yay"

GM says, "A tall dark-haired man comes out. "Enough of this!" he says."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "tell me when I've caught up with Chaz and Alison"

Chaz zaps him with a stunner.

Chaz exclaims, "I agree!"

Tyoka says, "Yay!"

GM says, "He flinches slightly at the blow but otherwise ignores it"

Alison looks at him with the Sight.

[nobilis] Davey says, "fighting Chaz must be like being in a superhero version of Home Alone"

GM says (to Alison), "he is a column of acid and fire"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I am still laughing"

Alison exclaims, "You're the bad guy!"

[nobilis] Rob says, "heh"

GM says, "and he gestures with his hand and the wind smashes you back into wall behind you"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "What about auctoritas?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "No auctoritas defense?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

GM says, "(Davey and Tyoka (and Stella, if she wants) arrive up the stairs now)"

[nobilis] GM says, "(I know)"

Chaz uses the momentum to smash right through the wall, again protecting Alison.

Tyoka _hisses_ and (tries to) smash(es) into the bad guy at max speed.

GM says (to Tyoka), "you slam into him (ow) and the two of you are carried back into his apartment"

GM says, "slamming with the bed, which is smashed"

GM says, "(er, slamming into)"

Tyoka . o O ( this is where I need someone stronger than me, and quickly )

Alison jumps down from Chaz's arms, and tries to run into the apartment.

Chaz . o O ( OK, coming back around again... )

Tyoka flies out backwards, trying not to smash into anyone

GM says (to Tyoka), "the man rises again, throwing you to the floor (except you're flying, so)"

GM says, "(ah, good)"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Er, unless that was an outside wall we went through...)"

[nobilis] GM says, "(it wasn't, no)"

[nobilis] GM says, "(small side room on the top floor -- empty except a small platform)"

GM says, "the man steps over to the desk"

Chaz says (to Alison), "I'll drop you off when I get in."

Chaz zooms back into the room.

Alison says (to Chaz), "'K."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Should we go turn-based at this point?"

[nobilis] GM says, "probably be easiest"

[nobilis] GM says, "go ahead, then -- one miracle and one normal action per turn"

Davey runs up stairs

[nobilis] (from Tyoka) GM says, "Turn 1 - YOR ALL DEAD"

Alison, after Chaz drops her, drops and rolls behind a piece of furniture (hopefully while the Bad Guy's distracted with Tyoka and Chaz).

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "The man's at the desk? Doing anything there?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(waiting for his action)"

Chaz flies at the guy, trying to scoop him up and smash out the window.

Alison also looks around the room, if there's time as part of that action.

GM says, "(The room has a bed (smashed), a desk, a rug, and a mirror)"

Tyoka says, "(who all gets to go?)"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "A standing mirror, or a wall mirror?"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "mirror (tentative togetherness)"

GM says (to Tyoka), "you and Davey can still go"

[nobilis] GM says, "wall"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "Hm, I don't know what to do"

Davey hut hut hut

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "frontal attack not a good idea"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Guess I'm behind/under the pieces of bed, then."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "though I could cooperate with Chaz in trying to smash him through the wall..."

[nobilis] GM says, "(ok, you can go after him, then)"

GM says, "The man lifts up the desk and interposes it between himself and Chaz"

GM says, "Grunting slightly, he tosses it forwards a short distance, and then flies backwards himself, out through the window"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "what's Davey's action?"

[nobilis] GM says, "I don't know, but he and you can do it now"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "have I reached the action yet?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "ok, I cancel my action, as it no longer makes sense"

[nobilis] Stella says, "I beam after him."

Davey arrives, gasps for air, unlimbers shotgun

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "He's flying?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(yes)"

[nobilis] Davey says, "unless I can sit on him and turn into a truck stop, I'm not sure how to help"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Stella says, "I suggest you do that."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee."

[nobilis] Tyoka sings *that* Monty Python song.

[nobilis] Raul asks (of Tyoka), "'I Bet You They Won't Play This Song On the Radio'?"

[nobilis] Stella asks, "do I catch up with him, or is Important Dude to fast for me?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(Tyoka, Davey, you guys do anything? otherwise we'll go ahead with next turn)"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, ""sit on my face"

[nobilis] GM says (to Stella), "you're out the window"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "not me"

[nobilis] Davey says, "go ahead, I'm at sea"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Tyoka), "Ah, I was thinking 'I like Traffic Lights'."

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, go for it, Chaz"

[nobilis] Stella says (to Davey), "I thought you were in the tower. ;-)"

Chaz . o O (to Stella) ( Maybe it would be best to just follow him; see where he goes. )

Chaz catches the desk, follows the guy out the window.

GM says, "(with the desk?)"

Chaz says, "Yup ;-)"

GM says, "(uh, window too small)"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Darn, I wanted to search that desk..."

Stella . o O (to Chaz) ( I was going to try to bring him to ground, where we could deal with him as a group. )

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "am I right in assuming that invisibility is no help against this guy?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Oh, I was picturing picture window."

[nobilis] GM says, "it's a biggish window, but it's a biggish desk, too"

[nobilis] GM says, "I guess if you smash part of the edges it'll go out through"

[nobilis] Davey says, "he could see us just fine"

Chaz does that, then.

Raul has disconnected.

GM says, "Desk smashes out the window with Chaz"

[nobilis] Davey says, "didn't even bother with us, though"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Alison?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "On the one hand, he at least can't tell we're Nobilis by the Sight. On the toher hand, he probably can tell by the fact that we're flying and throwing desks."

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

Alison looks around the room, normally and with the Sight, searching for anything Special, Signficant, or Magical.

GM says, "nothing on the bed or the mirror, but there are faint traces of magic from the corridor where the mages were, and then the room with the platform"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Maybe that's the platform they stage attacks from."

[nobilis] Davey asks, "wait, room with the platform?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "The room I smashed into."

[nobilis] Davey says, "ah"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Tyoka? Davey?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "after him, I guess"

[nobilis] Davey says, "hrrrm. I sorta think we should try to kidnap some mage and see if we can break the binding on them so we can learn more about their methods"

Chaz . o O (to Stella) ( I'm gonna chase him if he flies away, but 'lose' him if possible--but you keep up with him to see where he goes. )

Davey rushes to the window to see if there's anyhting he can shoot at

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Davey), "Well, there's 4 in the hallway."

GM says (to Davey), "there's Stella, Chaz, the guy, and now Tyoks"

GM says, "er, Tyoka"

Davey sighs. "I need better powers."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "The last guy who called me 'Tyoks' is now at the bottom of Lake Michigan."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "and a few other lakes"

Stella . o O (to Chaz) ( I think we can ground him, between the two of us. )

Tyoka . o O (to Stella) ( Almost... there... )

[nobilis] GM says (to Davey), "no move? okay"

Chaz . o O (to stella) ( Maybe, but I'd like to know where he's going. )

[nobilis] Davey says, "oh, sorry, that was my move"

Stella . o O (to flyinggroup) ( So, are we going to spy, or try to take him out? Both have their advantages. )

Tyoka . o O (to Stella) ( Might as well take him out now while we cna )

[nobilis] Stella says, "timing - just now read Chaz's suggestions."

Tyoka . o O ( oops, thinko )

GM says, "The guy gestures at the tower, and the midsection explodes in a shower of stones and fire"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I'm on D&D time, where going to a window actually does tire you out"

GM says, "then he starts flying off"

Davey . o O ( SHIT )

Chaz . o O (to everyone) ( Get outta there! )

Davey grabs Alison

Stella . o O (to guysintower) ( MOVE IT!! )

Tyoka does a 180 and races towards Davey

[nobilis] Alison asks, "This is the tower we're in, which is about to become highly unstable within a few actions?"

[nobilis] GM says, "right"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "(or can Davey fly?)"

Alison struggles to get free from Davey.

[nobilis] Davey says, "I can't"

[nobilis] GM says, "not clear what'll happen to the other two -- depends which way this one flies"

[nobilis] GM says, "er, falls"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I'm picking you up then"

Davey . o O ( we're gettin out, quit squirmin )

Alison . o O (to Davey) ( Hrmph. I coulda got out on my own. )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And Aisleen can fly, too."

GM says, "(Chaz, Stella?)"

Chaz . o O (to stella) ( You follow him, I'm gonna save the people in the tower. )

Davey has no appropriate retort for the sassback

[nobilis] Stella says, "I'm tailing Important Dude."

[nobilis] Stella says, "And trying to be stealthy about it."

Tyoka . o O (to chaz) ( I'm working on it! )

GM says, "Stella streaks after the guy"

Davey climbs the windowledge and waits for Tyoka

[nobilis] Alison says, "Someone should cover Chaz's eyes, then."

GM says, "Tyoka and Chaz charge back for people in the tower, the floor of which is tipping and swaying"

Chaz tosses the desk, swings around and tries to catch the tower, set it down.

Davey says, "woh"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I'm letting Tyoka save the nobles; I'm trying to help those holed up in their rooms."

Tyoka grabs Davey and Alison and flies them out a few dozen feet before landing

[nobilis] Alison says, "I had planned to quickly search the pedestal room for the source of the magic before I left, but I didn't get the chance..."

[nobilis] GM says, "(I guess this is a level-5 aspect miracle)"

Ghogg arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "the remaining non-insane folks in the streets look up in horror as the tower sways and starts to topple"

Ghogg gives Banana to GM.

Ghogg disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

GM says, "meanwhile, the man is flying out across the forest"

GM says, "whether he's aware of Stella or not is unclear, but he suddenly dips down towards the trees"

[nobilis] Stella says, "does aspect 4 give you info from your domain? I'm unclear how I can ask light to follow him for me, even if I lose him for a moment."

[nobilis] GM says, "you can use a divination on him, but you'll have to overcome his auctoritas"

[nobilis] Stella says, "sorry, not aspect, domain."

[nobilis] GM says, "hrm, and even then, I guess you can't do a direct divination"

[nobilis] Ghogg says, "you could follow his footprints or something"

[nobilis] GM asks, "but if you say "hey, is there a power in the forest" who else are they going to find?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "for now, I'll just try to keep him in my sights. I dim as much as possible to follow him."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Would a Major Div tell if light were fakking on him?"

[nobilis] GM says, "mm, yeah, I guess"

Chaz . o O ( Oh, wait--could this guy be an Excrucian? )

GM says, "Stella dives down towards the trees also"

Davey . o O ( yeahp )

[nobilis] Davey says, "or a Shard of one, if I understand that right"

GM says, "just as she's about to break the line of treetops, though, the trees around her burst into flame -- red and gold and blue"

GM says, "it's fierce -- and beautiful"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "germany! no, wait, that's red, gold, black"

Stella pauses to look at the flames.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Well, if nothing else, I think we can assume that this isn't the Power of Informercials."

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "Fire! It slices! It dices!"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "It fries Julienne!"

[nobilis] GM exclaims, "how much would you pay? but wait, don't answer yet -- it also cooks food!"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "good old Prometheus TV"

GM says, "(and the fire dies again, but the guy is no longer visible)"

Stella . o O ( oooo, pretty. )

GM says, "meanwhile, Chaz has paid two aspect and brought the tower safely to earth"

GM says, "dazed and battered people emerge from inside"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "If the tower's safely down, does that mean the pedestal room's still intact?"

Stella says, "$%^#$ I lost him! I'm going to quarter the area."

[nobilis] GM says, "albeit sideways"

Alison squirms away from Davey -- shifting into a cloud, if necessary -- and goes to see what was so special about that place.

Davey puts her down without a fuss

GM says, "well, it's an otherwise bare room, although it does have two windows"

GM says, "there is a pentagram inlaid in the floor around the pedestal, and some runes inscribed at its five points"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "There are still two other towers, right?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, which are standing"

Alison inspects the pedestal from all sides, then crawls on top of it.

GM says, "(nothing happens)"

Chaz . o O ( I'm gonna check out those other towers. )

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is there any way to trace the magic that's here?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Also, are people being hostile, or just dazed, or what?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Or that was here."

[nobilis] GM says, "you'd need to bring in a mage, probably -- there are no real traces of miraculous power"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Alison), "That sounds like a place to summon Stella, actually."

GM says, "People in the streets wander around dazedly, trying to figure out what's going on"

Alison says, "Hrm."

Alison asks, "Can we get any of those mages running around to help us?"

Alison asks, "Maybe if Chaz hits 'em or something?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "duhr"

[nobilis] Davey says, "mind is blank"

Kori has disconnected.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "we should evac and destroy the other towesr"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "towers"

[nobilis] Davey says, "okay"

Chaz enters another tower, heads to the top.

Davey tries to walk into a tower

[nobilis] Alison says, "If Bad Guy chose to voluntarily trash his own tower..."

Stella continues flying over the area in a systematic search pattern, extending herself as much as possible.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Does that mean he doesn't need them? That there's something in them he'd rather see destroyed than have us get?"

Chaz . o O (to stella) ( Check out that tree we came in by. )

Alison looks -- well, climbs, what with the floor being a wall now -- around the 'top' levels of the broken tower, to see if there's anything else important around there.

GM says, "The other towers are much like the main one -- partly meeting rooms and partly study chambers"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "And the penthouses?"

Davey walks the halls looking for cabinets to ransack

GM says (to Stella), "eventually you come across something in the area where he was last seen -- three boulders placed in a rough triangle, except that one has been moved out of the way"

[nobilis] GM says, "the other two's top rooms are reasonably lushly decorated also, yeah"

Stella examines the area minutely.

Davey is also looking for a PA system

GM says (to Davey), "yes, actually"

GM says, "in the side room in one of the other two towers' top floors"

GM says, "it's connected to some kind of complicated stereo system at the moment, but you could use it to broadcast also"

Davey tries to talk into it, saying, "There is an emergency situation in the tower. It is under control, but all staff are advised to evacuate in an orderly manner and return to their homes."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Does that mean there's nothing else in the 'top' levels of the first, broken tower?"

GM says (to Stella), "well, there was something in the pit below the boulder (since it has an additional depression below the boulder's depression), but it's gone now"

[nobilis] GM says, "right"

Alison goes to the bottom part of the broken tower, to search it for lower levels. Basements. Cellars. Dungeons.

Stella looks under the other boulders, too (assuming she can move them or get around them in some way).

GM says, "uh, can you? aspect 2 to move them, I think"

GM says, "at the PA system's announcement, the people in the streets (and the other towers) seem to perk up, or at least calm down"

GM says, "they start filing outside the city walls and back into the houses outside"

[nobilis] Stella says, "any way I could move them would involve miracle points. If an aspect 2 could drop by for a visit, that wwould be great, otherwise I'll miracle them out of my way."

Chaz says (to Davey), "That's... odd."

Davey . o O ( well, that eases my mind a little. But I think I just used their brainwashing machine )

Tyoka . o O ( that must be what 'controls' them )

Chaz watches for signs of that thread we were fighting last night.

Davey . o O ( now we can do mayhem some more )

Tyoka . o O ( YES )

GM says, "(no threads visible)"

Tyoka switches to mythic

GM says, "(also, I should point out, for those looking to loot the towers, Stella already picked up some stuff from the guy's desk)"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "What time is it?"

Davey does a last checkthrough of upper offices for trinkets or damning paperwork

Tyoka says (to Tower), "hey"

GM says, ""Urr," says the Tower"

Chaz flies over to where Stella needed help.

Tyoka asks (of Tower), "have you (full madness ON) ever considered life isn't really worth living anyway?"

Chaz asks, "Boulders, huh?"

Stella asks (of Chaz), "Can you move these boulders, please?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is that from the Noble version of a Speak-N-Say?"

Chaz says, "Stand back, just in case."

Chaz lifts one of the other boulders.

GM says, "The tower trembles"

Stella moves out of the way, and watches somewhat enviously as Chaz tosses the boulders with ease.

GM says, "then trembles a bit more, then full-on quivers, and then stones start falling from the top"

Tyoka asks (of Tower), "I'm serious. It's pointless. We all die... why wait?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "I assume everyone has evacuated already?"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "um, is the tower I'm in suddenly shaking?"

GM says, "Tyoka concentrates and a crack runs up the tower"

[nobilis] GM asks, "Good question -- which one did Tyoka pick?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "one of the still-standing ones"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "but not the one anyone's in"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is the first tower completely sans basements, then?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "whew"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "er, I thought tower 2 was already looked through and everyone had moved on to #3"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "if not, I'll wait until that is so"

Davey leaves to tower

Davey says, "er, the tower"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "ok, continuing then"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, no basements in these towers"

[nobilis] GM says, "except the foundation, which is basically solid"

Alison says, "This is weird."

GM says, "as Tyoka continues to concentrate, the shaking of the towers increases, and slowly, it falls completely apart into a pile of rubble"

Alison says, "Why isn't there anything cool around here? Super evil villain lairs are supposed to have cool stuff in 'em."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Anything under the other boulders?"

Alison says, "And dungeons or bomb shelters or whatever."

Tyoka smiles contentedly.

Stella . o O (to Alison) ( one of the towers had 3 interesting items in the desk in the room at the top. )

GM says, "(there is, I should say, a bunch of paperwork and misc stuff from the towers it'll take some time to look over)"

GM says, "under each of the other boulders is a small box"

GM says, "perhaps a foot on a side"

Stella examines one of the boxes

Alison asks (of Stella), "Yeah? What's that?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Er, thinking that, I guess."

Tyoka says, "whenever tower #3 has been searched, I'll ... talk to it as well"

GM says, "and the last tower collapses at Tyoka's conversation as well"

Davey clambers up the stairs to do just that

GM says, "(presumably he goes over great at parties)"

Tyoka says, "I *suck* at small talk"

Davey doesn't, actually.

Tyoka says, "timing"

Stella says (to Alison), "In reality, then in mythic, I've got a puzzle box locked with seven locks; a crystal hemisphere (a cup of liquid); a harp (a tiny metal spider)."

GM says, "the boxes have, respectively, a crystal teardrop and a small, fuzzy dustmop-like thing with a tail"

Chaz asks (of teardrop), "Hi! What are you?"

Stella asks (of Gm), "does the mop with tail resemble a squirrel?"

Chaz asks (of teardrop), "Uh, are you Dew?"

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "do the dew!"

GM says (to Stella), "perhaps vaguely"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Dew-wop."

GM says, ""An...se""

GM says, ""So...far""

Davey says, "whoa"

Chaz exclaims (at teardrop), "Wake up! We need to save your chancel!"

GM says, ""Bo...dy""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "dammit, mop/that one senator who's now in jail with the wig joke fails because I can't remember his name"

Chaz asks, "You need to find your body? Do you know where it is?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "traficant"

GM says, ""So...far""

GM says, ""It...hurts""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "yes"

Chaz says (to teardrop), "I'm so sorry."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "this is where we need Raul again"

Chaz . o O (to dew) ( Is it easier to talk this way? )

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Who's with Stella right now?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I am."

GM says, "(there's no answer that way)"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "or do we know where this goes?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "This is probably not the case, but I'm tempted to wonder if the guy we found at the start was Infomercial's body."

[nobilis] Alison says, "If so, then the other two might still be in the woods someplace."

Chaz says (to teardrop), "OK, I'm going to see if you can sense your body. Or whatever it is you need. I'll aim you a direction, and you lean that way or talk if it's the right one."

Chaz holds out the teardrop, slowly turns around.

GM says, ""Cut...off""

Chaz . o O (to gerry) ( Gerry? See if Henderson's worked out how to restore the heart. And get him working on restoring a noble's soul to its body, too. )

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "oh, it's not a chancel heart?"

Stella says (to Chaz), "Here this might help. Stella produces the cup of liquid."

Chaz exclaims, "Oh!"

Chaz exclaims, "What if those items you found were for *us*!"

GM says, "Gerry . o O ( He says he thinks he -- or rather, some other mages, since he is bound to the chancel -- should come and investigate this chancel in person. )"

Chaz . o O ( Good idea. )

Tyoka . o O ( we so need teleportation )

Chaz . o O (to ) ( They can come here the same way we did. )

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "are we waiting for mages?"

[nobilis] GM asks, "I don't know, are you?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "I don't know, are we?"

Alison asks, "Why are we just standing here?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "it looks like we can hang around here indefinitely. No other resistance has appeared"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Can we assume we've reasonably searched the towers?"

[nobilis] GM says, "basically at this point you have stuff to look at salvaged from the towers, mages to come and investigate various things about the chancel or the pedestal or whatever, those things that Stella found, both in the desk and under the rock"

[nobilis] GM says, "um, plus anything else you have"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "let's do all of these then!"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "and free ginsu knives!"

Alison looks at the stuff that was salvaged from the towers.

[nobilis] Davey says, "so we should have our mages look at all this stuff. May as well head home"

Davey says, "I still vaguely want a local to question"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "there's a fair amount of stuff here -- if there's something specific I can tell you about it, otherwise you can delegate it to underlings and get a summary"

[nobilis] Davey says, "but bah, they'll just die"

GM says, "lots of locals still around"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Anything magic, or anything that twigs in the Sight?"

Stella says, "I still haven't located the Important Guy. Can anyone divine if he's in the area? *That's* the local I'd like to question."

[nobilis] GM says, "nothing strongly magical, no"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Anything that might be a map of *this* chancel?"

[nobilis] GM says, "but some ritual supplies, yeah"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Or that might contain notes/info about this chancel?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah -- that's one of the things salvaged from a penthouse"

Alison pulls one of the maps out of its tube and unrolls it on the ground.

GM says (to Alison), "it's got the city marked out, with the surroundings. some notes about possible troop movements, with arrows guiding the path out"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "what, nude pix? oh wait, not that penthouse"

Alison says, "Huh. I guess this," she points, "is where we are."

GM says (to Alison), "there is a spot in an open field outside the side marked as "GATEWAY""

GM says (to Alison), "as possibly a separate thing, there are light concentric circles, centered on one of the towers, sketched over the whole map"

Alison says, "That's the forest, and these are paths, and... and that's a 'gateway'. Gateway to where, I wonder."

GM says, "with annotations like (100, 50, 10, 1, 1/10th, 1/20th ...) on the different rings"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Does 'outside the side' mean outside the city?"

[nobilis] GM says, "er, yeah"

Davey looks over Alison's shoulder

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Also, are the rings evenly spaced, or logarithmically, or what?"

Davey says, "the road said something about a gateway. Didn't know where it led to, though"

Alison asks, "Hrm. Which one of the towers is it the rings were around?"

[nobilis] GM says, "roughly evenly"

[nobilis] Stella says, "lpsmith is afk. ellric is resisting sleep."

[nobilis] GM says, "the rings are around the tower with the PA system"

Stella asks (of Davey), "Is that the tower (pointing to the one the circles are centered on) where you found the pa system?"

[nobilis] GM says, "there's also a spot on the map labelled "quarry""

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Wait, did Stella come back here?"

[nobilis] Stella asks, "is the quarry where the boulders are?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "oh, sorry. Yes, Chaz and I came back to the group."

[nobilis] GM says, "no, the spot with the boulders isn't labelled ont he map"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Did you tell us what you found, yet?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "no. fixing that -"

Stella produces the harp, the crystal ball and the box. I found these at the top of the tower I searched, in the desk.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I wonder if we could use the PA to announce that the PA has no more power over the citizens"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "a la Sphere"

Davey says (to harp), "hello"

Stella says, "Chaz has the crystal teardrop and the moppy thing we found under the boulders. The third boulder's item had presumable already been taken./"

Davey asks (of harp), "who are you?"

GM says, ""Sing, sing, listen to me sing, come and hear""

Alison says (to GM), "Hrm."

Davey says (to harp), "okay, I'm listening"

Alison asks (of Harp), "You weren't the one singing last night, were you?"

Davey . o O ( oh, whoops, I forgot about that guy )

GM says, ""I sing every night! Come and hear!""

Davey says, "huh"

Alison says (to Harp), "Hrmph."

Davey says, "so it's a harp spider. Made those threads"

Chaz says, "Oooh, they hook this guy up to the PA system."

Chaz says, "Right."

Stella says, "I wonder if this is the and the spider are the source of the threads we encountered last night."

Alison asks (of Harp), "Can you sing any other songs? Ones that don't confuse people and fight them and try to drag them out of their homes?"

GM says, ""I sing my song -- touch my strings, let me sing""

Davey asks, "what about those silver figurines--any ideas what those were?"

Chaz says (to Davey), "I think they might just be playing pieces."

Alison says (to Harp), "No way. Nuh-uh. I don't think so."

Chaz says, "Used to illustrate troop movements."

Davey says, "mm, yeah"

Alison asks (of Ball), "And what do *you* do?"

GM says, "(the crystal hemisphere?)"

Chaz says, "Gerry would be able to open this puzzle box."

Stella . o O (to Gerry) ( what do you think of this puzzle box? )

GM says, "Gerry . o O ( If you bring it here, I'll take a look )"

[nobilis] Alison says (to GM), "Yes."

GM says, ""I look," says the hemisphere. "You look back.""

Stella . o O (to Gerry) ( It looks like <insert detailed description of box-o-seven-locks>. )

Stella . o O (to Gerry) ( I'll bring it back with me in a bit. )

Chaz exclaims (at Alison), "Hey, a crystal ball!"

Alison says (to hemisphere), "OK, let's look together."

Alison looks into it.

Alison says (to Chaz), "A half a crystal ball. Wonder if it works the same as a whoe one."

GM says, "The hemisphere flickers slightly, and then a dot of light appears in the center, dancing around."

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Are we looking at the curved or flat side?)"

Alison keeps watching.

GM says, "the light winks out again, and the ball is silent again"

[nobilis] GM says, "also, again"

Alison asks (of Ball), "OK, what were we looking at?"

GM says, ""Light, sight, vision -- look!""

Alison asks (of Ball), "Look at *what*? Can you help us look for the man whose desk you were in?"

GM says, ""All I see is the other half -- but not now""

Alison says, "Hrm. I wonder which half is the other one, and which one is the one one."

Davey says, "huh. I guess you put the other half somewhere and spy through it"

Alison says, "Hmm."

Tyoka says, "palantnr"

Alison asks (of Tyoka), "What are pal and tear?"

Chaz tries to recall what that dancing light looked like, and if there were any distinguishing features in/around the area.

Tyoka says (to Alison), "oh, there was an old writer who had invented something like this crystal ball"

Tyoka says (to Alison), "except all you saw was a large eyeball that drove you mad"

Raul has connected.

Alison asks (of Tyoka), "Oh. What did the writer do with his crystal ball?"

Alison says, "Anyway, I think we should go find what the gateway is a gateway to."

GM says (to Chaz), "no, just the light in the ball"

Chaz thinks, shrugs.

Chaz says, "Hey, I wonder if that guy in the forest is OK."

Chaz heads back out.

Alison says (to Chaz), "He wasn't very OK before."

Chaz says, "Right, but he might be better."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "SHould we split up?"

Stella asks, "Did anyone divine whether Important Dude is still around, or do you not think it is worth it?"

Alison asks, "Some of us to the cottage, some to the gateway, some back home to Gerry and Henderson?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Er, that was supposed to be here.)"

Davey says, "I'm interested in knowing more about the gateway"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "You can say that IC."

Alison says (to Stella), "He looked tough. i don't think we could magic him very easy."

[nobilis] Alison says (to Chaz), "Yeah, but Alison'd phrase it differently."

Tyoka says (to Alison), "I'll give you the book when you're older."

[nobilis] Alison says, "I.e. by just running off."

Tyoka says, "not because you wouldn't understand it, but because it's so long"

Alison says (to Tyoka), "'K."

Chaz asks (of Stella), "Is light shining on him?"

Stella says (to Alison), "Ah. I think I'll ask Light if there is a power still around, at least."

Alison says (to Stella), "OK."

Alison makes some marks on the map, for 'That Guy's Cottage', 'The Tree We Came In By', and 'Stella's Rocks'. Then she gets bigger again, so she can pick up the map more easily.

Stella concentrates for amoment and proceeds to do just that.

GM says (to Stella), "no powers in the area besides you folks, or at least nobody that light is id'ing"

Stella says (to Group), "Since were the only major players around, we can take our time."

Alison says, "OK, I'm gonna go find the gateway. 'bye for now."

Davey says, "yeah, I'm on that. I miss roads."

Alison trots off, turning the map this way and that.

Chaz checks out the cottage.

GM says, "in the cottage, the guy seems to have slipped into sleep, up from the unconsciousness of before"

GM says, "the thing labelled gateway is, as mentioned, out in a very large field"

Stella asks (of Group), "I think I'll take these trinkets home, and have the mages look them over. On the way I'll drop by Rip Van Winkle, and see if he responds to any of these. Anyone care to come with?"

GM says, "there are five large ovals of yellow grass in the field where something rested for a while"

Alison asks, "Crop circles?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Five concentric ovals, or in a ring, or four surrounding one...?"

Davey asks, "like a swing set?"

GM says, "ahead of them (further from the city), are two ash pits that presumably once held fires"

GM says, "with about fifteen feet between them"

Davey says, "looks like the gateway's been stonlen"

Davey says, "hmm"

[nobilis] (from Alison) Alison says, "Eewww, feet!"

[nobilis] GM says, "five ovals in a row, next to each other"

Davey says, "gathers a bit of firewood"

Alison walks over the ovals. Sniffs.

GM asks, "dead grass?"

GM says, "they're probably each as long as a bus"

Davey says, "okay, somethin' big"

[nobilis] Alison says, "No smell of diesel or oranges or ozone or tin or anything, then."

Alison looks around with the Sight.

Davey starts fires in the ashpits

GM says, "the flames leap up high (slightly tinged with magic, to the sight)"

[nobilis] Stella says, "So I'm alone en route to our Chancel? That's fine; I just wanted to confirm."

Chaz . o O ( Alison Try asking the grass what was on it? )

Chaz . o O (to stella) ( I'll go with you. )

Davey lights a chunk of cigar he fishes out of his vest

Alison nods. "Hey, grassy!" Tap-tap, with a toe. "How are ya?"

GM says, ""Go away," says the grass. "I'm busy growing.""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says (to grass), "not when I've singed your ass."

Stella and Chaz head out towards our home, stopping by Rip Van Winkle on the way.

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "Tyoka getting mad at grass is of course where the grass from the intro to Trinity came from"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz laughs.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "yay"

Alison says (to Grass), "OK. We'll go away as soon as we can find out what used to be sitting here."

Davey says, "hrm"

Alison asks (of Grass), "You wouldn't know anything that could help us find out quicker?"

GM says, ""Oh. Some heavy thing. Especially heavy in the middle -- all that metal and cloth""

Davey says (to fire), "hey. you're not normal fire"

GM says, ""I'm a special ritual fire!""

Alison asks (of Grass), "A big magic thing? Or a big machine thing?"

GM says, ""Say the magic words and I open the gateway!""

Stella . o O (to ) ( The zeppelins, perhaps? )

GM says, ""I don't know -- you can't expect me to keep track of all your silly human things -- I don't know why you want to leave the ground at all, anyway""

Tyoka asks (of fire), "um... 'please'?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Isn't Stella, like, not here?)"

Alison exclaims (at Grass), "I thought you *wanted* us to leave!"

[nobilis] Stella says, "sorry, got carried away. I'll be a good girl."

Davey says (to fire), "wow. Where is the gateway, anyway? I don't see it"

[nobilis] Alison says, "No prob :)"

GM says, ""That's because I haven't opened it yet!""

Davey asks (of fire), "oh, okay. So...what are the magic words?"

GM says, ""I don't know, that's your job -- you're supposed to stand around and chant, and then I help open the gateway""

Alison asks (of Grass), "Hey, did you happen to notice what the people said right before the big machines went away and left you alone?"

Davey . o O ( hmmm. gateway to anywhere. Big enough for zeppelins. )

[Crows-Nest] (from Tyoka) fire says, "What's the password? I can't let you in without the password! And don't try ZORK, cause I know it's not that! I tried it, *I* couldn't get in! I'm all confused now... I... can't let you in without the password, so you must have already said it!"

Ghogg arrives, looking for booty.

Davey . o O ( it takes magic words though. More questions for the research pile. )

Alison says (to Davey), "Prob'ly."

Davey says (to fire), "right you are. Thanks."

Alison says, "We could go ask their mages."

Ghogg watches from the Goodyear Blimp hovering overhead

GM says (to Alison), ""I don't keep track -- I was busy being squished still!""

Tyoka asks (of Ghogg), "so Ice-T is in fact a pimp?"

Alison says (to Grass), "Yeah, I can see how that'd keep you busy."

Tyoka says, "Ice Cube. Also, channel."

Alison shifts to a cloud, to hover a few feet over the ground.

Davey turns into a jeep for the ride back to the city

GM says, ""See! There you go again, leaving the ground! I don't understand it!""

Davey . o O ( so what are folks doing? )

Alison says, "Just trying not to squish you..."

Alison rains on the grass for a bit, just to be nice.

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( We're heading back to the chancel, but we're bringing back mages. Someone should stay there to make sure Mr. Happy doesn't come back. )

GM says, ""Ooh! Nice!""

Alison says, "What do we want to do now? Maybe we can find out if there's anyone else in the woods, like that other man..."

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "If at some point we run out of immediate stuff to do, we can presumably press the "fast-forward and summarize" button."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Can we have Aisleen check if anyone else is sleeping/dreaming in the woods?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "good idea."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Also, AFK a sec."

[nobilis] GM says, "well, it's daytime, I think"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Yeah, probably noonish."

[nobilis] Davey says, "I guess we could rustle up a mage to question, but I'm getting kind of tired."

[nobilis] Alison says (to GM), "Yeah, but the guy from the start was awake at night, and is sleeping now that it's day, so I wasn't sure if it was a regular pattern for forest hermits."

[nobilis] GM says, "good point"

[nobilis] GM says, "I think since we're kind of winding down here and folks are going to have to research, I'm going to end the session here except for any immediate stuff people want to do"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I'd like to know what's in the puzzle box once we get Gery to open it."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeah, I'm up for that stuff too."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Though we can RP that when he's here, if you like."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Unless we want to start the next session with a big sequence of revelations of all the stuff we were fast-forawarding through now."

[nobilis] GM says, "I think I'd like to wait for him to be around, yeah"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "that'd be fine"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "So, interrogating local mages, maybe searching the woods for stragglers/hermits, getting the box to Gerry, and getting our own mages here?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "checking out Rip Van Winkle."

[nobilis] GM says, "and having the mages research the area and study the documents"

[nobilis] GM says, "you can wake up the sleeping guy now if you want"

[nobilis] Alison asks (of Stella), "Thought you and Chaz just did that?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Oh, OK."

[nobilis] GM says, "(and there aren't any other hermits in the area)"

[nobilis] Stella says, "no, we hadn't RPed it yet, but we were going in that direction."

Stella shakes Rippy.

Stella exclaims, "Hey! Wake up!!"

GM says, ""Hunh? Whuh?""

GM says, ""Who're -- I remember a girl, and choking, and --""

Stella says, "Does this look familiar? (flashing the items)"

Stella asks, "A girl? Was the girl choking, or were you?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Wait--I think Stella is thinking of the Ferryman, not the guy in the cottage."

GM says, ""I -- then so small""

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(that's who I was thinking of, at least.)"

[nobilis] GM says, "er, yeah, I thought we meant the guy in the cottage"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "Oh!"

[nobilis] Stella says, "Yes, the guy by the river."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "But Chaz was with the guy in the cottage, right?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "don't pay him!"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "but we can stop by here first ;-)"

[nobilis] Stella says, "In that case I"m not hollering at him and shaking him."

GM says, ""What happened?""

Chaz says (to Guy), "Well, the towers are destroyed, and we found the thing that made music, so you shouldn't have to worry about that, either."

GM says, ""Oh. Well.""

Chaz says, "But we wanted to know if you remembered anything more about the way things were before the towers got here."

GM says, ""It's hazy .. I think we were working -- lifting -- chopping trees and nailing""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "and doing endless infomercials"

GM says, ""Long lines of people, cutting, stitching -- then the towers rose and the ground shook and troops spilled out""

GM says, ""It seemed like I recognized them, but ..""

Chaz says, "Hmm."

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "shall I try the destruction of madness trick again?"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "No!"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeesh. Poor guy. It"

Chaz says, "Well, the immediate threat is past, but there's still work to do to restore things to the way they were."

Chaz asks, "You'll help us, won't you?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(was bad enoguh the first time.)"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Also, are you with them, or with us?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "with you, actually"

GM says, ""Help -- I -- of course. Yes, I'll help. What do you want me to do?""

GM says, "He struggles weakly to his feet."

Chaz smiles.

Chaz says, "Looks like you mostly need a nap."

Stella . o O ( Poor man. )

GM says, ""Mm, nap.""

Chaz says, "Just think about the past, and if you remember anything that might be important, tell one of us about it. You can pray to Whimsy, and I'll answer. Here, try it."

GM says, "Man . o O ( Uh, hello? )"

Chaz . o O (to man) ( Boo! )

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "for a second I thought "are you with the bad guys?""

[nobilis] Davey says, "we leave no mind unsnapped around here"

Chaz . o O (to man) ( Also, that's perfect. )

GM says, ""Aie!""

GM says, "The man jumps backwards"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee hee."

Stella exclaims, "Chaz!"

Raul has disconnected.

Chaz looks innocent.

Stella says, "Charles Reynold, don't you do that again. That was uncalled for."

Chaz says, "Uh, yes ma'am."

Chaz says (to man), "Sorry. But that's it."

Chaz asks (of man), "Do you remember doing that before, to Dew, or Squirrels, or Infomercials?"

GM says, "The man scratches his head. "I don't -- I remember Anse and Tomas and Seldon now, yes.""

GM says, ""I don't think I was ever important enough to talk to them directly -- I listened to all Tomas's announcements, of course.""

Chaz nods.

Chaz says, "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better."

Chaz says, "You had us worried for a while last night."

GM says, ""I was -- it was a strange night. I was choking, and then pulled away.""

Chaz asks, "Do you know where?"

GM says, ""I thought I was -- I don't know. In a box? And then the box broke, and then I was back here""

Ghogg disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Chaz nods.

Chaz . o O ( Anyone have something they wanna ask cottage guy? )

Chaz asks (of man), "What's your name, anyway?"

Chaz says, "I'm Chaz."

Chaz says, "I'm Alison's brother."

GM says, ""Harold.""

Alison . o O ( Is he OK? )

GM says, ""Alison? The little girl?""

Chaz . o O ( alison Yeah, he seems to be fine. And remembering more, too. )

Chaz says, "Yeah--she's doing great."

Alison . o O ( Tell him Hi! And that I'm happy he's feeling better! )

Chaz says, "In fact, she asked me to tell you she's glad you're feeling better. She'll probably be by to check in on you later."

GM says, ""Oh -- that'd be nice. She was very nice to me""

Chaz smiles.

Chaz says, "She's an OK kid."

Chaz exclaims, "Well, we'll see you around!"

GM says, ""If you want me to do something, just say so -- in the meantime, I think I have some work to do here""

Chaz nods.

Chaz heads out to talk with the other sleeping guy now.

GM says, "The other sleeping guy is gone"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Is the ferry running?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "OK, then--sounds like we're done."

[nobilis] GM asks, "anything else?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "nope"

[nobilis] Stella says, "I don't think so."

GM says, "Ok then -- same time next week"

GM has disconnected.

Stella waves.

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Whee!"

Chaz heads out, too.

Chaz exits stage left.

Davey says, "thanks"

Davey goes home.

Tyoka has disconnected.

[nobilis] Gunther says, "so I was wondering"

[nobilis] Gunther asks, "can a mortal harm a Noble at all?"

[nobilis] Gunther asks, "eg by whacking him over the head with a 2x4?"

[nobilis] lpsmith says, "Yes."

[nobilis] lpsmith says, "Though not one of sufficiently high spirit whose done that Fire rite thingy."

[nobilis] Alison recovers from a system crash, finds the session over.