[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "log on"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "sorry, divvy is my/kiz friend from college"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "working for the CIA"

[nobilis] GM says, "yow"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "we had brunch, now she is hanging out in the living room while i am in the study"

Chaz says (to Gerry), "Hey, there you are! We have a puzzle box for you."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "are we picking up from where we were in the last session, or has time elapsed?"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Of Casa Kizytere?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "that's right"

Stella says (to Gerry), "Take a look at this <handing him puzzle-box-o-7-locks."

Michel arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "no davey or alison today?"

GM says, "So when we left off, people were examining the remains of Chancel Astara's towers"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "I thought RoboGerry opened that"

[nobilis] Davey waves

GM says, "and doing some other stuff"

Miseri arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I figured we'd RP giving Gerry the box, then Fast-forward if necessary."

[Crows-Nest] Gerry asks, "It hasn't been brought back to the chancel yet, has it?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to davey), "oh hey, sorry, i missed you"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "no"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Since that's where I've been the whole time."

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "Stella and I just came back."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "oh aha"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to davey), "hope remote controlling me wasn't that troublesome last week"

[nobilis] Davey says, "nah"

Gerry examines the box in person, finally.

[nobilis] Gerry asks (of inky), "ANything tricky?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Gerry), "for most people, sure"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "just cast, er, whatever it was in Enchanter"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Well, sure. But by my standards, anything of note in the construction, or just a straghtforward pushme-pullyou-shazam deal?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Gerry), "and even you have ot watch your step a bit -- there's a bit where the box trembles slightly and seems ready to fall apart into pieces, and another bit where it begins to get uncomfortably warm in your hands"

Gerry carefully manipulates the various hidden triggers...

GM says (to Gerry), "but eventually the last lock slides off, and the box pops open, and .. it's empty"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "just like in NWN!"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says (to Gerry), "HA ha"

Gerry says (to Chaz), "This is yours, isn't it."

Chaz frowns.

GM says (to Gerry), "no, wait, I lie -- there's a little piece of paper that flutters out, like a fortune-cookie fortune"

Aisleen asks (of gerry), "empty?"

Chaz looks at it in mythic.

Davey says, "aw well"

Aisleen says, "or invisible"

Gerry reads he note.

Stella says, "Perhaps the magic was the box itself, not what was in it."

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "It's never good for the GM to say, 'no, wait, I lie.'"

GM says, "hmm, it's not in english -- or any other language you know, which is quite a lot"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I like the GM saying 'no, wait, I lie' as if he just happened to forget."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "unless the game is Paranoia"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "wasn't there a marquis of language or something?"

Chaz says, "Say, one of Vona's people could probably read that."

[nobilis] Michel says, "Penny"

Gerry says, "Either this is in another language, or these are some damn confusing lucky lotto numbers."

Aisleen asks (of gerry), "not encrypted?"

Chaz . o O (to astara) ( Hey, anyone awake over there? )

Aisleen asks, "like some kind of code, with each letter standing for something else?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Oops, Octavo."

(From Tyoka) Gerry says, "It starts with 'PK'..."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "i can get kiz if necessary"

Michel appears on the sky-highway on his Norton

[nobilis] Gerry says (to GM), "If it's encrypted, I'd notice, of course."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "can we talk to the paper?"

Davey appreciates the Northon from the fairgrounds

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

Davey carefully removes an h from his teeth

Gerry says (to Ais), "Nope. I'd see through that ploy in a second."

Michel putters down towards the middle of the chancel

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Is everyone at home, or are some still in Astara?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "so is there a noble of encryption?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "all home i think"

Michel appears to have a passenger riding pillion

Gerry asks, "This was found with some other magical objects, right? Could I have undone something in Astara just by opening this?"

Chaz exclaims (at Michel), "Hey there!"

Tyoka says, "we've already destroyed three towers there"

Davey says, "hrm"

Tyoka says, "but it IS possible"

Michel says, "Afternoon."

Gerry examines the mythic properties of the unfolded box.

Davey says, "there was that gateway too. We didn;t know the words to open it, or where it goes"

Tyoka says, "oh right"

Chaz says (to Michel), "Tell Raul his path was helpful--we destroyed the staging area for the attacks on our chancel."

Aisleen asks, "you think opening the box opened the gateway?"

Stella says, "It was with these <producing the crystal teardrop and the harp>."

Aisleen says, "sounds too easy (dubious)"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "The gateway that said 'Speak Friend and Enter'"

Davey says, "in fact, I have a feeling that those zeppelins had controls for the gateway"

Michel says (to Chaz), "I am sure he will appreciate that."

GM says (to Gerry), "in mythic the box is constructed of layers like russian dolls, but the layers are things like fire and snakes"

Michel says, "I'm kind of here to ask a favour..."

Gerry asks (of Stella), "The harp was linked to the defenses of the chancel, correct? This might be one too. ANyone see any fires or snakes in Astara?"

Tyoka says, "there were spider webs"

Tyoka says, "the only fire was breathed by me"

Davey says, "nah, the harp was for that mind-control music"

Michel helps his passenger off the bike, and removes her helmet

Stella says (to Gerry), "It may have helped make the music/webbing, along with the spider <shows spider>."

Aisleen asks (of michel), "who is your friend?"

Davey says, "too bad Alison's away"

Michel says, "This is my daughter Therese."

Gerry glances over at the newcomers.

Davey says, "hello l'il girl"

Michel says, "Vona gave me the impression that an excrucian was bent on attacking all we hold dear"

Davey blinks

Gerry says (to Michel), "I think that's the general point of Excrucians, yes."

[Crows-Nest] Gerry asks, "I haven't been keeping track of Vona's group. What's been happening?"

Michel says, "and I don't trust her mother to defend her against excrucians. Or to find her rear with both hands, for that matter"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen shrugs in confusion

Stella asks (of Michel), "A particular excrucian? Any information on him/her/it?"

Michel says (to Gerry), "yes, but it started out with more direct attacks"

Michel says, "our chancel's creation was sort of bait to lure it out, since we're comparatively large"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Gerry), "feel free to ask Michel about it -- this just happened last session"

Davey asks, "is the one givin' you trouble the same one that tried to cut us off?"

Michel says (to Davey), "I'm uncertain, but I would consider it very likely"

Chaz asks (of Michel), "So what did you end up luring?"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "How old is Therese?"

[nobilis] Michel says, "seven"

Tyoka asks, "And you want to ... hide her in this chancel, which was already attacked?"

Michel says (to Chaz), "direct attacks. the excrucian itself is searching for its mortal body, and to find it it has to discover the Lost chancel. and somehow he's achieving this by cutting off and corrupting chancels such as Lo's"

Michel says (to Tyoka), "it is better defended than ours, and more appropriate for a child"

Davey says, "hrrm"

Tyoka says, "You have a point there"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen asks, "i am confused. the lost chancel is Astara, right? so this excrucian needs to get to Astara?"

Davey says, "I thought there were a buncha lost chancels...I thought Lo's was oone"

Michel says, "even though Therese is very bright (despite the best her mother could do), I doubt she could stay in a library for long"

Michel says (to Davey), "there are many chancels that are cut off, but apparently only one Lost one"

Davey says, "well, we'll make sure she don't ruin her teeth"

Michel says, "I'm shaky on the details, I was in bad need of coffee when Vona was explaining this"

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "There are at least two lost chancels--Lo's and Astara."

Michel says (to Chaz), "those aren't Lost- they're still where they were, but most of their exits have been severed"

Davey says, "so I guess we oughta be trying to find the body too--maybe we can kill it"

Chaz asks (of Michel), "So you found Lo's?"

Chaz says, "Aha."

Michel says (to Chaz), "what was left of it, yes"

Tyoka says, "!"

Stella asks, "That's unfortunate. Any chance at it recovering?"

Gerry asks (of Michel), "Is this excrucian searching for other cut-off chancels, or only the 4-Winds'?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "maybe I *should* read the other group after all"

Chaz says, "We've been working on finding out how to restore Astara--it involves finding the heart, putting it back where it was, and re-connecting it."

Michel says (to Stella), "only if we can restore the chancel's heart, which would require finding the imperator's body"

Michel says (to Gerry), "I think it was him that cut them off."

Tyoka asks, "so why does he corrupt other chancels? just because?"

Stella says, "I don't think Excrucians need any more reason than that."

Tyoka says, "that (excuse the pun) makes me mad"

Gerry says (to Michel), "That's interesting, we thought we foind the guys cutting off the chancels in Astara."

Chaz says (to Tyoka), "maybe if he sees how we restore 4 winds and Astara, he can do the same for his own."

Michel says, "I assumed you would be involved, too, since Vona and Shagapir are cooperating against this excrucian"

Tyoka asks (of chaz), "why would we want that?"

Chaz says, "We want to restore 4 winds and Astara to help their nobles."

Chaz says, "He wants to restore Chancel X because that's where his body is."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "geez. skip reading a couple vona sessions, miss last week and not i am utterly lost"

Tyoka asks, "yeah, but why would we want him to emulate that?"

Chaz asks (of Michel), "Right?"

Michel says (to Chaz), "indeed"

Michel says, "we don't know how he intends to do this"

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

Michel says, "he was stealing chancels to use as bases from which to launch attacks"

Chaz says (to Tyoka), "We don't want him to emulate us, but, he's hoping to find out how to do it."

Tyoka says, "oh, of course"

Michel says, "Vona said he was called Ghin-aj, though I doubt that will be vastly helpful"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen tries not to translate that name in Farsi/sanskrit again

Chaz says (to Michel), "That would be Astara--we found chancel maps for lots of chancels, along with battle plans."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "please do"

Gerry asks (of Michel), "Excuse me, a moment, do you happen to recognize this language?"

Gerry shows Michel the fortune.

Aisleen says (to gerry), "good idea"

Michel says (to Gerry), "I know little more of languages than any nobilis"

Michel says, "but I could ask penny to have a look at it"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I wonder if I could Destroy Madness on the note to make it legible"

Gerry says (to Michel), "That would be helpful."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "ghin means something disgusting, something that is just beyond words disgusting"

Michel says, "but it's excrucian language"

Davey peers at the note

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Michel), "OOC, I know you saw that Excrucian script from Raul."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "in sanskrit, i think"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "id is in an alphabet we can sound out?"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "and -aj is a title added to people whom you respect"

Gerry says, "Hm. I was beginning to suspect so."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka asks, "literally that, or do you not want to say it?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "That's hilarious."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "wow"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "And appropriate."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "yeah"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "Mr. Eeeagh -> Cthulhu"

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "so he's so darn disgusting, he's got a title for it. geesh."

Gerry copies the fortune onto another sheet of paper, keeping the original with the box, and hands it to Michel.

Michel says, "In any case, I would prepare against indirect attacks rather than more obvious chancel invasions"

Chaz nods.

Tyoka says, "we (should) have good precautions"

Tyoka says, "thanks to Gerry here"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says (to tyoka), "literally that"

Chaz says (to Michel), "We also found the remains of two of the three original Astara nobles in the chancel, in boxes under three boulders. You might want to look for the same in Four Winds."

Gerry says (to Michel), "And I would be certain to watch for traitors among your ranks. Only one is needed ot be the linchpin of an assault."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "yay cthulgu"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "g->h"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "cthulghin"

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

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "Cthulh-Gin, the gin you only drink once"

[Crows-Nest] Davey exclaims, "because after that you're drunk FOREVER. Ia!"

Gerry asks (of Chaz), "Why don't you introduce Therese to your sister? Where is she, anyway?"

Michel says, "which brings me back to Therese. I've instructed her in Nobilis basics, and it's summertime so she can probably have a holiday from schoolwork"

Chaz says (to Michel), "Oh, and hey--we were thinking of trading you all some of our mages with spells for some of your monks with guns, to help with defense."

Michel says (to Chaz), "this is probably a matter too important for me to speak for the entire chancel, but I shall bring it up to the others"

Chaz asks (of Michel), "Oh, you want us to keep her entertained?"

[interludes] GM has removed Michel from the channel.

[interludes] GM has removed Raul from the channel.

[interludes] GM has removed Wilfred from the channel.

Aisleen says, "We can put her on the ferris wheel"

[interludes] GM has added Davey to the channel.

Aisleen says, "out of the way, but still fun"

Michel says (to Chaz), "this is a funfair, isn't it? I'm sure she can entertain herself"

Stella says, "Chaz can teach her to skateboard."

Chaz grins.

Chaz asks, "How old is she?"

Michel says, "she is seven years old, but very bright for that age"

[interludes] Davey feels a shiver of plot development

[interludes] GM says (to Davey), "meanwhile, you get a sensation of somebody trying to contact you -- it's your anchor, Beardog"

Chaz says, "Alison would enjoy having a playmate too, I'm sure."

[interludes] Davey says, "<hey, bro>;"

Tyoka says, "and... the clowns."

[interludes] GM says, "<where you been lately, man? we don't go racing together so much these days>"

Gerry says, "There are always more clowns."

Michel says, "in any case, I would greatly appreciate it if you would look after her here until we can judge how much of a threat the excrucian can exercise"

Tyoka shudders.

[interludes] Davey says, "<busy with the new gig...always somethin' crazy happenin.'>"

Chaz nods seriously.

Michel says, "and would be greatly indebted"

[interludes] Davey says, "<how's the road treatin' you?>"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of chaz), "who does the talking to papers in this chancel? would that tell us anything with gerry's fortune?"

[interludes] GM says, "<Could be worse, could be worse .. but listen, I got a favor to ask>"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Anyone can chat with it--go for it."

[interludes] Davey says, "<just name it>"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(Franklin is the Duke of Paper, in the other chancel, not that that helps right now ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Gerry's Fortune, directed by Rob "Franklin" Wheeler."

Aisleen asks (of gerry), "you still have the original?"

[interludes] GM says, "<One of our boys got to talkin' smack in a bar -- you know how Billy is when he's drunk -- and next thing you know we got a biker showdown>"

Gerry manifests the parchment.

Michel says (to Therese), "Now, cherie, if you would just give me back that stun-gun... thank you"

[interludes] Davey says, "<aw, heck. you'd think one shitkicking a year would keep him cool.>"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "sorry, I have to go for a while"

Chaz asks (of Therese), "Hey there, kid! Wanna go for a ride?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I'll be back, but I don't know when yet"

[interludes] Davey says, "<so, is this future tense or you need a bail out?>"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "pretend it's prayer time"

Michel says (to himself), "Must remember to teach the girl how to shoot, must remember to teach her how to shoot..."

Tyoka says (to chaz), "eeeagh! not a song reference, I hope."

[interludes] GM says, "<That's fine, we kick ass, especially against some wusses named after fruit -- but I was checkin' out their practice, on the sly like, and they're *good*>"

Tyoka says, "(http://www.purelyrics.com/index.php?lyrics=uujsqmkk)"

Chaz looks at Tyoka blankly. "Someone wrote a song about skateboards?"

Aisleen tries talking to paper, "Hey, what do you do?"

[interludes] GM says, "<I dunno if we're going to be able to pull this one off, man -- and you know you always were the best of us>"

[interludes] Davey says, "<okay, bro, I'm on my way. Wat's the name of this gang?>"

GM says, "(the paper doesn't say anything)"

Michel says (to Therese), "now I will come here to visit as often as I can get away from fighting the nasty excrucians. Don't forget to, er, brush your teeth or whatever kids are meant to do that they don't want to"

Aisleen says, "bah. a mute paper"

[interludes] GM says, "<The, uh, blackberries? No, that's not right. Black blueberries? Ok, right, I got it -- The black bilberries>"

[interludes] Davey says, "(can I tell where he is just from his Anchorness?)"

[interludes] Davey says, "<huh. Brits, maybe?>"

[Crows-Nest] (from Gerry) GM says, "(the paper doesn't say anything, you have to *read* it!)"

[interludes] GM says, "(Bilberry, you remember from your scraps of nobilis training, is actually a flower, representing Treachery)"

Chaz asks (of ink), "How about you? Do you know what you say?"

Michel gives Therese a hug, and clambers back on his bike

GM says, "(the ink is also silent)"

[interludes] Davey says, "hmm"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "But the ink has ink-spirits?"

[interludes] GM says, "(I think you can't locate him just from being an anchor, but presumably he can be wherever he is usually)"

[nobilis] GM says, "no"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "oh no! inky has lost his voice!"

[interludes] Davey says, "well , he's mobile by nature..."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Wow."

[interludes] Davey think think think

[nobilis] GM says, "both the paper and the ink are exactly the same in mythic as they are in normal view"

Davey fetches his motorcycle

Michel says, "I am extremely grateful for this... er, feel free to drop into Octavo any time... bah, this courteous thing really grates"

Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "there was nothing of relevance in the box, right?"

Davey says, "uh, I got a thing to do in the real world"

Davey says, "uh, hmm."

Chaz Here, kid, stand right there.

Davey says, "I think I'm bein' called into a trap, actually"

Gerry asks (of Davey), "Excuse me?"

[nobilis] GM says, "not besides the paper"

Michel waves, fires up his engine, and heads out of the chancel

Chaz flies around a bit with Therese.

Stella asks (of Davey), "What? Any details?"

Chaz waves to Michel from the air as he goes.

Davey says, "I got a call from my brother. He's been called out by another biker gamg. Only this one's named after a flower"

Stella . o O ( Damn traps, really! )

Michel fills the null-field.

Chaz asks, "Called out?"

Aisleen asks (of davey), "is this like a gang fight?"

Davey says, "so I was just gonna go and stomp some face, but I thought I should let you know."

Gerry says (to Davey), "Hm. That does sound very much like a thinly veiled Nobilis trap."

Davey says, "yeah, one of his guys got the gang into a fight."

Aisleen says (to davey), "one of us should go with you"

[nobilis] Aisleen tries to imagine herself in biker-chyk wear

Stella asks, "Shall we give the trap more than it expects?"

Chaz . o O ( What flower? )

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Rowr!"

Davey says, "so, uh, they're named after Bilberry, and that's Treachery, right? I don't know so much about the flower ritual stuff"

Stella asks, "When is the fight?"

Aisleen says (to davey), "you definitely shouldn't go alone"

Davey asks, "so, this is a biker thing, and I don't wanna either get anyone into anything dumb OR violate the gang's honor, but if I get horribly diead and heart-ripped out, maybe avenge me?"

Davey says (to Stella), "soon"

Chaz asks, "Maybe we could get Drake to make sure it's a fair fight?"

Chaz asks, "Is he still around?"

Gerry asks (of Davey), "Well, I don't think any of us would want to sully your gang's honor, but then again, if there's a special ritual attack on you, well that's different, isn't it?"

Aisleen . o O (to drake) ( hey you. are you still around? )

Stella says, "Or maybe we should all go keep an eye on things, and if it starts looking Excruciating, we pitch in."

GM says, "(Drake doesn't respond)"

Aisleen says (to chaz), "no answer"

Chaz says, "Hmm."

GM says, "(apparently not a good day for talking to stuff)"

Davey says, "uh...I kinda think he doesn't cover masssive assault and trashing of property. I kinda wanna keep this as mundana as I can"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen sticks her tongue out at the GM

[Crows-Nest] (from Gerry) GM says, "The tongue says nothing."

Davey says, "yeah, I think I'll go, see what it looks like on the ground, and give a holler if the miracles start flyin'."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Anything in the etiquette book on how best to contact people?"

Gerry asks (of Davey), "Where's it going to be?"

Davey says, "uh...St. Louis."

[interludes] Davey asks, "okay if I pull St. Louis out of my ass?"

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "by the water-front?"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, the most polite way is to send a message via a messenger"

[interludes] GM says, "sure"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Who was the messenger guy again?"

Stella asks, "Where in St. Louis?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Edmund"

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "I grew up there. Nice town."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "Meet Me in St. Louis"

[interludes] GM says, "Feel free to make up any details you want, and I'll step in if necessary"

Chaz . o O (to Edmund) ( You free? We have a message we want to send to Drake. )

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "I actually don't know the first think about that place, It just seemed a likely town to have an aging biker gane"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "gang"

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "And "When the People Beat Their Feet on the Mississippi Mud" though that might be a tad less popular."

Gerry says (to Chaz), "If we're going to talk to Drake, I'd rather ask him about the attack than ask him to supervise a rumble."

Chaz says, "That too."

Davey says, "some lot on the outskirts. Not like we send out engraved programmes"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "too bad one of us can't tag along in davey's pocket or something just as backup."

Stella says, "I'll cover your back, if you want."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Alison could, ofc."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "or as a friend of davey's on the back of the motorcyle"

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( Always happy to deliver messages -- but I've got some piled up for Drake as it is; nobody's seen him for ages )"

Davey says, "yeah, if you wanna do that light thing and watch, that'd be good."

Chaz . o O ( Edmund Really? When was the last time anyone saw him? )

Aisleen says (to davey), "I am okay with all of us not going, but definitely take someone with you."

Stella asks, "Sure. Is it during the day or the night?"

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( Gerry, here. Have his family members been missing as well? )

Davey says, "day"

Stella says, "Good, it will be easier to be hide."

Davey says, "unless they change their minds or the cops cause a delay"

Aisleen says (to stella), "have davey keeps the headlights on his motorcycle on, and you will always be able to stay hidden"

Stella says, "If this is a diversion, those that don't go with you should stay here to guard."

Davey says, "it could be they're doin' this because the gang's inportant to me...like Michel was just sayin."

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( I thought I was telling you guys about this -- maybe it was Vona's group )"

Chaz says (to Davey), "Do you have any anchors in the area? Or, hey, maybe one of the rest of us have one."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(Yeah, it was Vona)"

Stella says, "I understand. If someone was threatening me and mine, I'd be there, too."

Davey says, "doesn't take a lot to drag my man Billy into a dumb fight, they coulda planned it easily enough"

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( Amanda and Rike say they haven't seen him, but that they've been busy with side-projects )"

Davey says (to Chaz), "yeah, I got an anchor there"

Davey says, "so, I'm gonna heat on out, unless there's any last-minute stuff we need to do"

Davey says, "head on, even"

Chaz asks, "It's today?"

Stella asks, "Then let's, uh, rumble. Davey, is that the right term?"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Hee!"

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( Strange. Is their chancel all right? )

[interludes] Davey says, "<is it today?>"

[interludes] GM says, "It's probaly not for a week or so"

Davey focuses on the middle distance

Stella says (to Davey), "Here, I'll travel in the beam of your headlights."

[interludes] GM says, "He just saw them training and got nervous"

Stella shifts to elemental and Davey's headlights get brighter.

Davey says, "not for a week or so, but I wanna be there and sniff around."

Davey says, "if there's not much to do but train, feel free to head back"

Davey revs and rides

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( Actually, that reminds me -- Amanda's having a party in a week or so for her book. If you want to go check out the chancel, now's the time -- and it's not easy to get an invitation normally. )"

Chaz says (to Davey), "Let us know if you need anything, especially the day of."

Aisleen . o O (to ) ( Who is Amanda again? )

Davey . o O ( thanks, allayaz )

Chaz . o O (to Edmund) ( Amanda's book? She wrote one? )

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( Marvelous, Chancel [whatever we call ourselves] will definitely endeavor to be adequately represented. )

[nobilis] Davey says, "of course, if it's treachery they want, I can make their bikes stop working"

Chaz skates up to the mountains, Therese in tow.

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( You guys don't keep up on gossip at all, do you? She's got that best-selling series out -- "You Can! With Amanda Pym" or something. I think it's total crap, but it keeps her busy, so whatever. )"

Chaz says (to Therese), "Wanna see somethng cool? I'm gonna look into the past."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Wasn't our imperator's flaw that we had to trade gossip? We suck at that ;-)"

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( Total crap? You don't say! )

Davey rides out on the highway, lookin for adventure, or whatever comes his way

GM says, "Edmund . o o ( Uh, don't tell her I said that. )"

Chaz goes to a scrying pool, and tries to pick up Drake when he left the chancel.

Aisleen waves to Davey and Stella

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "I swear, I can't play this character without constantly having Steppenwolf in my head"

Gerry . o O ( Of course not. Wouldn't dream of it. )

Aisleen . o O (to edmund) ( is this like The Rules? )

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( No, it's like those successories posters -- actually, those were a side-project of her and Rike, too )"

Gerry . o O (to Chaz) ( Hey, try to keep the kid away from the dark magics for at least a few hours. )

Chaz . o O (to Gerry) ( Oh, come on, it'll be fun. )

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( It seems odd that those two would be more concerned with this book than with the whereabouts of their brohter. )

GM says (to Chaz), "you get a dim picture of Drake looking up as the zeppelins appear. He shades his eyes to study them more intently, and then strides away purposefully towards one of the roads sloping down from the highway. As he walks, he makes a gesture as if drawing a robe around himself and fades from view."

Chaz adjusts the water temperature, moves some rocks, chants again and tries to pick him up a few hours later, when he (Chaz) contacted him after the fight.

GM says, "Edmund . o O ( Well, he's only been gone a month or two -- I admit that's a little out of character for him, especially without leaving a note, but some nobilis projects have people out of sight for years. Jack, for instance, goes aay for months at a time. )"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "(upon telling kiz of Vona group's discovery of Four Winds) she says, "ebay, i tell you.""

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ha"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "hm. davey is gone with stella, chaz is at the scrying pool. tyoka, gerry and i are just essentially hanging out?"

[nobilis] Gerry tries his best to trade gossip with Edmund, despite knowing diddlysquat about other nobilis.

Gerry . o O (to Edmund) ( Fascinating. I expect he'll be at the party, though. )

GM says (to Chaz), "you get only a brief flash this time -- Drake is in a well-furnished room someplace, giving a dressing-down to what looks like a servant"

[nobilis] (from Davey) Gerry says, "And Tyoka, boy he can snore!"

Aisleen . o O (to edmund) ( Maybe I will try reading up..does she have any other titles? )

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Heh. There's a charred ceiling above his bed."

Chaz says, "Hmm."

Chaz tries scrying to find out where he is right now.

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Ha!"

GM says, "(nothng)"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says (to GM), "Oh, cut that out."

Chaz says, "Well, let's see."

(From GM) Edmund . o O ( I assume he'll be there, yeah. He's not much for socializing, exactly, but when you're in his realm he considers being the host his job. )

Chaz tries scrying on Chancel Astara, to find what was happening when those boulders got placed.

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says (to GM), "Oh, that was to Chaz. I thought you were being Edmund replying to Aisling."

Stella asks (of Davey), "Mind telling me a bit about what to look for? What's normal with the gang? Any names I should know?"

Aisleen looks around for Stella's who'swho' on Nobilis

GM says (to Aisleen), "Edmund . o O ( Well, she's got "You can too! with Amanda Pym" and "Make something of yourself, wastrels! with Amanda Pym". I don't think the last one is selling so well. )"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Oh, hey, did the servant look familiar? He wasn't the guy who showed up at the duel, was he?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(no)"

[Crows-Nest] Stella exclaims, "nobilis Ha!!"

[nobilis] Stella says, "wrong channel."

[nobilis] Stella says, "Ha!! to the joke, not the nobilis."

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Nobilis Ha sounds like something you say while doing Noble Karate."

Davey says, "well, my brother 'Beardog' is the head honcho. there's about 20 regulars and maybe 10 other guys that come an' go"

GM says (to Chaz), "here again, only brief flashes -- two men, their backs to the vision, lifting the boulders with brute strength and placing them over holes they've just finished digging"

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "Yup. The channel was supposed to be nobilis, not the stament. I'll try that next time I'm dueling."

Gerry says, "So, where do we go from here? We've still got some loose ends in Astara."

Davey says, "I haven't been spending enough time out on the road with them..."

GM says (to Chaz), "later, a man and a woman come and stare at the boulders"

Aisleen says, "I guess we can head back to Astara and see if we can get in to the gateway"

Davey says, "so I don't know too much about how they're doing"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of GM), "Either the same size as Bad Guy we chased away?"

Aisleen says, "but i am not sure i like going there when we are all split up"

Chaz memorizes the faces of the man and woman.

Aisleen says, "maybe we should join Chaz and see what he is learning"

[nobilis] GM says, "Any of the three men could be that man, yeah"

Aisleen flies to the pools and alights gently to where Chaz stands

Stella asks (of Davey), "Okay, that'll help. Do you know much about the other group?"

Chaz exclaims (at Aisleen), "Hi!"

Aisleen asks, "What did you find about Drake?"

Chaz says, "Didn't find out much about Drake, except that he was mad at a servant."

Stella asks (of Davey), "By the way, how did your brother get an intimidating name like Beardog, you didn't?"

Aisleen glances at the pool, "hm. Astara again?"

Davey says, "nah. Beardog only called me cause he said they looked badass and wanted another set of fists. But when he said they were called the Black Bilberrys I got worried"

Chaz says, "And that he left as soon as he saw the zepplins."

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Well, I've got to go to bed. Is there anything critical I should stay up for?"

Davey shrugs. "I never really went in for the grr, I'm a mad mean biker thing. I just love the road."

[nobilis] Davey says, "I just burned the hell out of my popcorn and the room is filling with smoke."

[nobilis] Davey says, "but that's probably not what you meant"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "(quietly) I don't mean to be overly suspicious, but can we trust Drake?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Tyoka would be proud."

Gerry asks (of Aisleen), "Trust him to do what?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Gerry), "nothing urgent, I don't think. you may miss the party."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "(from katre) Can't it be fixed with a miracle? who is the nobilis of popcorn?"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Eep! Party is the same session?"

Michel arrives, looking for booty.

Aisleen says (to Gerry), "I don't know. I just keep wondering at his disappearing just during the attack. Saying he was looking in to something, and now disappeared"

Michel walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Michel arrives, looking for booty.

Aisleen says, "i am being overly suspicious. as if maybe he might be a bad noble, if its possible"

Chaz says, "Edmund thought he was an up-front kinda guy. Scrupulously fair, and all that."

Gerry says (to Aisleen), "I think we'll have to find him again before we can trust him with or about anything."

Chaz says, "Not bad, but doesn't mean he couldn't work at cross-purposes to us."

Chaz says, "Hmm."

Chaz tries an experiment.

Chaz pulls out the teardrop, puts it into the scrying pool, and sees if it shows him anything.

Michel fills the null-field.

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "lag?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Wow, lag."

[nobilis] Chaz still hasn't seen anything since his teardrop line.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Also, on the off chance that any of this is getting through, I've logged on to backupMUD."

Gerry watches Chaz.

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Wow, lag."

[Crows-Nest] Gerry asks, "Is this the end?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Gerry), "well, it depends how much time we have. I don't know if we'll get to it now or in two weeks"

GM says, "the water glows, briefly, and there is the sound like the chime of a bell"

Aisleen says, "don't lose it"

[Crows-Nest] Alex says (to Stella), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Lag is what Iain always has."

Tyoka returns.

Davey has disconnected.

Davey goes home.

Gerry has disconnected.

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "whoo. we are back in business"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Whee!"

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "wow, did we lose gerry & davey?"

Davey arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "just davey i think"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen asks, "didn't gerry say he was going to sleep?"

Davey asks, "wah, what is wrong with mud?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "TS is going to bed and won't return"

Chaz says, "A bell, huh? Odd."

GM says, "and then the teardrop dissolves into the pool"

Aisleen says, "eep!"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "sorry, got kicked off & couldn't reconnect"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "did we just lose a noble?"

GM says, ""This is better," says a voice from the pool. "But I'm still --""

Chaz switches to mythic, tries to see where it got off to.

Chaz exclaims, "Oh!"

Chaz exclaims (at pool), "Hi!"

Aisleen . o O (to tyoka) ( we are over by the pool with chaz, if you want to join us. davey is off at a rumble with stella )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Someone was using 81% of the cpu on the MUD machine."

GM says, ""My chancel! I can't feel -- they'll take it!""

Tyoka . o O (to aisleen) ( Pool? )

Chaz says (to pool), "It's OK! They took it a long time ago, but we got it back."

Chaz says, "But it's been cut off."

[nobilis] markm asks (of lps), "How do you know?"

GM says, ""Yes, cut off -- I can't feel it--""

[nobilis] GM says, "(I told him)"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "inky told me on backupMUD."

Aisleen . o O (to tyoka) ( scrying pool )

[nobilis] markm says (to inky), "If that happens again, feel free to give me a buzz. I can always renice the offending process."

Chaz asks, "Are you the noble of Dew?"

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, next time I will"

GM says, ""Yes, yes, Dew""

Chaz . o O (to tyoka) ( I put the teardrop in the scrying pool. )

Aisleen asks (of pool), "do you remember what was the last thing that happened?"

[nobilis] markm says, "cool"

GM says, ""Gently on the grasses -- as the dawn rises""

[nobilis] markm says, "And now, since my #summon didn't work, I must return to entertaining relatives."

[Crows-Nest] Stella exclaims, "y'know, I tried to build a non-fighter character this time, but I keep going in that direction anyway. dunno why I'm so bent in that direction in rpg's. but hey, its fun!"

GM says, ""I-- a stabbing pain in my chest, my heart cut out -- and then somebody grabbing me, forcing me down""

Tyoka zooms over to the pool.

Chaz asks, "So you were cut off from your body, just as your imperator was cut off from its chancel?"

GM says, ""I-- I think so, yes""

Aisleen asks, "forcing down in to waht?"

Aisleen asks, "and were you alone, or were you with others?"

GM says, ""Into -- into *me*. I think I felt my brothers there -- I heard them cry out across the chancel.""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says (to pool), "don't give us the 'it was like a million voices...' line"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says (to tyoka), "hey, we finalyl find something that talks"

Chaz says, "We have your brother squirrels in a similar form as you, but the Excrucian who attacked your chancel stole infomercials."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "i am not going to quibble"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of chaz), "we do?"

Chaz says, "Do you know what the chancel heart looked like? We need to find it to put it back together."

[Crows-Nest] Davey asks, "I'm not hearing this conversation, but didn't the cottage guy say something about 'my heart cut out'?"

GM says, ""How strange -- I don't know what they would need him for--""

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "can we blame someone for destroying infomercials, really?"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "Yeah, so we assume."

Chaz says, "That's a good point."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of chaz), "what form do we have the brother in?"

Chaz exclaims, "Henderson!"

Tyoka . o O ( BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! Submit to Excrucian authority, and you'll ALSO get this ginsu knife set FREE! )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "A dustmop-type thing."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "i _think_ we established that the guy was a human, not noble, tho"

GM says, ""The heart, when I saw it, was a ball that glowed like the sun. But if I am transformed, shouldn't it be also?""

Aisleen watches Therese playing

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "yeah. and I had forgot the bad guy took something. Ignore me."

Aisleen . o O ( it would be too easy if the box we found is the box the guy talked about being pushed in to )

Chaz says (to Henderson), "Have some low-level mage wanna-be sign up to watch cable all day and all night, particularly the shopping channels. And report anything odd. And have someone else watch *him*, in case something wacky happens."

[nobilis] Aisleen laughs

Tyoka says (to Chaz), "I surrender. YOU should be the noble of madness."

[nobilis] Aisleen laughs and laughs

[nobilis] Davey says, "we need to set up great bennies for our mages -- no wonfer Jensen betrayed us"

GM says, ""Uh .. yes sir.""

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "the tilt-a-wheel is not enough?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "hey, free ice cream and cotton candy"

[nobilis] GM says, "and the squeaky rubber noses"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "can anything compensate for Shopping Channel?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "He was able to affect me with a miracle, and I don't think he was a noble, which means Excrucian."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, ">HONK HONK<"

[nobilis] Tyoka says (to Davey), "lobotomy"

Chaz exclaims (at Henderson), "Thanks!"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "do you remember when we were in Astara, we thought the heart was in a box?"

Chaz nods.

Aisleen says, "could the heart be transformed in to a box? instead of being in one"

Chaz shrugs.

Chaz says, "I suppose the guy could have stolen the heart and not infomercials."

Chaz says, "But, three boulders, three nobles..."

Tyoka says, "...three towers"

[interludes] GM has added Stella to the channel.

Aisleen says, "yet one gateway"

Chaz nods.

Aisleen says, "that sounds off"

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "But only One Ring."

[interludes] GM says, "meanwhile, back in saint louis"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "yay"

[interludes] GM asks, "what are you guys doing? just training for the biker meet?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "9 + 7 + 3 + 1 actually"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "recap. we found teardrop, harp, dustmop under the three boulders, right?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "where did we find the box?"

[interludes] Stella says, "I thought the biker meet was immenent. Like today."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "harp isn't a guy though"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "or maybe it is"

[interludes] Stella says, "We found the teardrop and a mop and a looted boulder in the forest."

[interludes] GM says, "it's about a week off"

[interludes] Stella says, "The puzzle box, harp and half cup of liquid were in the tower."

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "did we bring the harp back with us?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "The puzzle box, harp and half cup of liquid were in the tower."

[interludes] Davey says, "train the bikers, (get one night of quality drinking and bonding time in)"

[nobilis] Stella says, "The puzzle box, harp and half cup of liquid were in the tower."

[interludes] Davey says, "tweak the bikes up"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "so what were under the boulders?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "We found the teardrop and a mop and a looted boulder in the forest."

[interludes] Stella says, "Oh. Then sure, we train for the rumble, I guess."

[interludes] Davey says, "go eyeball the Bilberrys if possible"

Chaz nods.

[interludes] Stella says, "read up on flower magic."

Chaz asks, "Maybe the half-sphere is the heart? Or half of it?"

[interludes] Davey asks, "yeah, is there any Rite we should try to do to protect us from Treachery?"

[interludes] GM says, "The other bikers are of course all pleased to see you, and slap you on the back and say "Davey! How you been!" and things of that nature. Also some shoulder-punching may occur."

Aisleen asks, "can we try playing it again? or do you feel we got everything we needed from it?"

[interludes] Davey think think think

[interludes] Davey says, "possibly a belly bounce, even"

Aisleen . o O (to Henderson) ( can our mages try to recreate the other half of something, if given a half of an object? )

[interludes] GM says, "The Bilberrys are training, as is traditional, on the other side of town"

[interludes] Stella says, "I stay in the background, yay verily, background lighting."

Aisleen says (to chaz), "don't meant to pre-empt you, i realize you usually talk to our mages :)"

Chaz laughs.

[interludes] GM says, "They are rich young punks"

Chaz says, "Only because nobody else does it first."

[interludes] Stella says, "oh, great, with high-quality tattoos, no doubt."

[interludes] GM says, "The only question is what they were doing in the bar -- looking at them swagger it's obvious how they got into the argument once there"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says (to GM), "don't you even think about doing a Henderson does not reply"

[interludes] Davey says, "hmm"

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

GM says, ""We can try and form an image of the other half," Henderson says. "And possibly even locate it.""

[interludes] Davey asks, "I don't suppose the Sight reveals any non-mortal traits?"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "shall we try it?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "Also, I have realm 0, so no great authority."

[interludes] Stella says, "Perhaps there is a traitor/anchor there. Inducing them with aggression, or at least more aggression than usual."

[interludes] GM says, "Mm, well, there's definitely a tinge of magic around the whole thing"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "also, what harm can happen if we let Therese try playing the harp? i realize she is not nobilis"

[interludes] Davey says, "I hate the way our enemies seem to know what makes us tick."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "michel will *kill you*"

[interludes] Stella says, "Yeah, and we know next to nothing about them. Sons of bitches."

[interludes] Stella says, "You'd think they could at least introduce themselves, like polite folk."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "The harp was probably what lured people into the compound--what the guy in the forest was resisting."

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "but could that have been an infomercial?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "right, but we are out of Astara. would it still lure us back to Astara?"

Aisleen waits for Chaz and Tyoka

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "The glass half-sphere said that it knew where its other half was, until it suddenly winked off."

Chaz says, "And now it doesn't know any more."

[interludes] GM says, "The leader of the Bilberries, you eventually work out, is Everard Carmichel III, son of Senator Carmichel and related to half-a-dozen heads of industry and so on"

Chaz says, "Though we could try again."

Chaz pulls out the sphere again.

[interludes] Davey says, "ugh."

[interludes] GM says, "Ths is apparently his youthful rebellion but he's still wearing expensive leather jackets and hand-crafted leather boots and so on"

Chaz asks (of pool), "Does this look familiar?"

Chaz puts it in the pool, if necessary.

GM says, ""I don't think so," Anse says. "Where did you find it?""

Aisleen says (to anse), "in Astara"

Chaz says, "In your chancel, in the stronghold of the guy who took it over."

[interludes] Davey says, "grr. I don't know how to be smart about this."

[interludes] GM says, "The other bikers seem to be a combination of his rich friends and their drug-dealer buddies"

Chaz asks, "It doesn't... feel like a form of the chancel heart, does it?"

[interludes] Davey says, "suddenly I'm in the remake of "Shaft" and nobody ended up happy in that."

[interludes] Stella asks, "Can we dodge the fight, or do we have to go through with it?"

[interludes] Davey says, "yet they know how to ride and fight."

GM says, ""I don't think so -- it seems like it should be more, uh, something""

Chaz asks, "The heart would be more, or this sphere would be more?"

[interludes] Davey says, "the gang agreed to fight. Now they have to, unless we find out they're bringing tacnukes or something. Or the gang's honor will be gane and they'll all jsut be a bunch of punks."

[interludes] GM says (to Davey), "yeah. And that would be enough to suggest something was off even if the Sight wasn't picking up a trace of magic around them"

[interludes] Davey says, "they'll never drink beer in this state again"

GM says, ""If it were the heart, you would be able to tell it -- that sort of thing cannot really be disguised""

Chaz nods.

Chaz asks (of sphere), "You haven't figured out where your other half is, have you?"

Davey says, "<ugh, rich-boy biker wannabes backed up with some magic. That ain't right.>"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "does it know what it used to be able to do?"

Aisleen . o O (to davey) ( wait wha? )

[interludes] Stella says, "I think we should plan for betrayal, and create a couple of miracles in advance. I can work on the blinding miracle now, and have the flower trigger it then."

[interludes] Davey says, "they got some mojo on them. maybe we can get a counterspell from the chancel"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Need anything? We could probably get you some counter-spells. )

Davey . o O ( these Bilberrys -- someone's put a spell on 'em. Dunno what yet. )

GM says, ""My half isn't here -- it's around someplace, I just know it""

Davey . o O ( yeah, I was just thinking that very thing )

[interludes] Davey asks, "so this magic, can I get any feel for it -- is it just around their bodies? Does it have a color?"

Aisleen asks (of sphere), "would you knwo if your half is destroyed?"

[interludes] GM says (to Davey), "you yourself can probably win without the spells, of course, unless they actually blatantly cheat with their magic, but presumably the rest of your gang won't do so well"

[interludes] Stella asks, "Can we extend our auctori to cover them?"

Chaz tosses the sphere to Aisleen.

[interludes] GM says, "it seems like -- on closer inspection, it looks like there are acually two separate sources: the leather jackets they wear (with "Black Bilberry" and a picture of one picked out in silver studs, of course) and on their bikes"

Chaz exclaims, "Henderson!"

GM says (to Aisleen), ""I think I would -- we are designed as a set""

Chaz asks (of Henderson), "Davey and Stella need some counter-spells. Anything simple we can send 'em?"

[interludes] Davey says, "yeah, see, I was gonna fight like a mortal. These guys, it looks like, aren't gonna be so nice."

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "I can't help but assume Henderson always gets a near heart-attack when he hears Chau shouting"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "Chaz even"

[interludes] GM says (to Stella), "this is magic, so auctoritas won't really help"

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

[interludes] GM says, "(versus miracles, where it would)"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz exclaims, "He can't have a heart attack--he's already dead!"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "MR. WIIIIIILSON"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz exclaims, "Ha!"

GM says, ""What kind of spells are they facing? We'd work best against confusion spells but there are some other basic charms that can be used""

[interludes] Davey asks, "can I use my power over motorcycles to divine what's enchanting the bikes?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "right, that explains the stoicity (is that a word?)"

[interludes] GM says, "hmm, yeah"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "especially since chaz always has som random requests"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Henderson says he could help get some counter-spells if he knew what kind of magic you were facing. )

Davey . o O ( I'm still spying--I dunno what the spells are for yet. Just makes 'em punk-ass bikers, as far as I can tell )

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "though even death can't soften the horror that is watching QVC all day"

Chaz says (to Henderson), "Something that turns rich kids into punk-ass bikers."

[interludes] GM says, "it looks like they've been enchanted in a couple of basic areas -- the tires grip better than normal, the bikes are lighter than usual, they use less gas, they fly longer when making jumps"

Aisleen . o O (to davey) ( spells to make them throw up. that always takes out the meanness of people when they are bent over puking their guts out )

[interludes] Stella asks, "Davey, can you do that to your gang's bikes?"

GM says, ""Uh .. I guess that would fall under confusion""

[interludes] Davey says, "huh. just the latest in modding."

GM says, ""I'll see what we can work up. How soon do you need it?""

Davey . o O ( well, part of it is just enhancing their bikes. That much I can sense. The jackets are enchanted too. I bet it makes them strong and tough or something )

Aisleen asks (of sphere), "if we created another half to match you, would you be able to work with it? or must you have your true half?"

[interludes] Stella says, "How about we get something to make their leather jackets tougher, too. And maybe their leather gloves become harder."

Davey . o O ( tell henderson we need a counterspell against enhancement spells. Need it in a few days )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "what was Drake nobilis of again?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Competition"

[interludes] Davey says, "yeah, we got two options here. Wreck the bad moho, or even it up with good mojo."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""I could -- perhaps you could switch me over so I am joined to that sphere rather than this""

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "aw. he would have enjoyed a rumble"

[interludes] Davey says, "I think I can bring their bikes back down to earth, and I asked for a counterspell to try to mess with the jackets"

[interludes] Stella says, "Yeah, we don't want to make it too uneven. That other gang is probably somebody's pawn."

Chaz passes on the message.

[interludes] Davey says, "I want it to be even."

Aisleen asks, "hm. do we have enough mages to try this task?"

Aisleen says, "we don't want to overwork our mages"

GM says (to Chaz), ""I'll get on it, sir.""

[interludes] Davey says, "Billy was an asshead, even if he was provoked. So there oughtta be a fight. But they're not gonna slaughter us with magic"

[interludes] Stella says, "I think our mages can effectively counter their stuff. We oughta have an extra boost or two available, in case they pull out something unexpected."

[interludes] Davey says, "I'll tell Beardog about the bad mojo, but the rest of the bikers can't see any miracles, or even know about 'em."

[interludes] Davey says, "As long as I'm on my bike, I can throw us an edge if we need it"

Chaz says (to Henderson), "Thanks again--and make sure the guys get vacations when they need 'em, Jensen nonwithstanding."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "if no one has any serious objections i am going to add the sphere building to henderson's mages' todo list"

[interludes] Stella says, "sounds good. I'll stick close, and only intercede if you ask me."

[interludes] Davey says, "thanks"

[nobilis] (from Tyoka) Aisleen adds todo item #69,105

[nobilis] GM says, "har"

[interludes] Davey says, "it might not be totally nuts to train the bikers to 'count coup' against the jackets -- cut'em in passing, even smear'em with a Sharpie, to wreck the Bilberry picture"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Sure--though let's hold off re-attaching the sphere until we won't need it to find the original other half."

Davey . o O ( could someone relay a question to them hardworking mages or Octavo? )

[interludes] GM says, "interesting"

Aisleen . o O (to henderson) ( One more item for the mages. We have half-a-sphere that we found. Can you and the mages reconstruct the other half for it - but not attach it yet? )

Chaz . o O ( What do you need? )

Davey . o O ( can an embroidered flower have power like a real flower? )

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen has been wathing too much Three Musketeers, for she is suddenly envisioning fleur de lis (spelling?) on biker jackets

Chaz asks (of Henderson), "Uh, Davey has another question--can an embroidered flower have power like a real one?"

[interludes] Davey says, "ordinarily, tagging a gang's emblem'll make 'em crazy mad, but in this case--I don't consider these guys real bikers."

GM says, ""Not from what I know of nobilis magic -- but I don't know much about it. Normally an actual flower has to be used, and the design of one is just for symbolism.""

[interludes] Davey says, "bah. guess I'll ix-nay the tagging after all"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Apparantly, it's just symbolic. Normally. )

Aisleen pens a note to Vona's chancel and sends it nobilis mail, so that they can research whether it can have powers anyway, in "not-normal" circumstances

Chaz nods.

Chaz asks (of Pool), "Do you think you'd be able to sense your chancel heart if it was nearby?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "What's her name again? Anse?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "right"

GM says, ""I think it would call out to me, yes, even though I cannot feel it now""

GM says, ""I hope it would, at least, because that would mean it is not cut off completely""

Chaz asks, "And what about your body?"

Chaz nods.

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "not to abandon y'all or anything, but i am heading home soon."

GM says, ""And again with that -- or perhaps my body is destroyed, and this is all that is left of me.""

Davey tries not to think too much about how much mundane power might get leveled at Beardog if the Senator's kid gets really scraped

[nobilis] GM says, "we are ending soon"

Davey channels that

Aisleen tries to think if a body can also be regenerated

Chaz says, "Well, lets get you back to Astara--maybe something can be worked out."

GM says, "I think it can be rebuilt if the spirit has been preserved, yeah. certainly an imperator can do so"

Chaz asks (of Aisleen), "Wanna go back to Astara with me?"

Aisleen says, "yep"

Aisleen says, "it might be a sad place, but i kinda like it"

Aisleen asks, "tyoke?"

GM asks, "how are you going to move the pool?"

Chaz says, "Hmm."

Aisleen asks, "can we not put some of the water in a bottle and transport anse that way?"

Chaz says (to Anse), "Let's try it."

Chaz skates down to the town, borrows someone's pitcher from the village.

Aisleen . o O (to ) ( have a lid! )

Chaz . o O (to aisleen) ( Check. )

Chaz comes back w/pitche, lid.

GM says, "Chaz and Aisleen head off to Astara with Anse"

Tyoka says, "Ok. Justice has failed and must be dealed out. I will return to you later."

Tyoka flies off at breakneck speed.

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen asks, "?"

Chaz . o O (to tyoka) ( ? )

GM says, "meanwhile, we skip ahead a couple days to the biker face-off (and then Amanda's party is a few days beyond)"

Tyoka . o O (to chaz) ( explanations later )

[interludes] GM says, "So, it's the day of the match"

Aisleen says (to chaz), "i think madness is turned on"

[interludes] Davey brum

[interludes] GM says, "You've been training busily"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "IC setup for me missing the next two sessions"

[interludes] Davey asks, "do we have a counterspell?"

[interludes] GM says, "doing jumps and wheelies and races"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "ahhh"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "Aha."

[interludes] GM says, "yeah, Hendersen's made up a couple counterspell amulets that'll protect their wearers"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "I take it we didn't find the heart?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "on the day of the biker faceoff, are chaz and i already in astara? or just on the way?"

[interludes] Davey says, "okay, that should help a little, if those jackets make them hit harder"

[nobilis] Aisleen wants to know where she is hovering and resting

[interludes] Stella asks, "And I have a blindness miracle stored in a flower. How long does it take to regenerate those miracle points?"

[nobilis] GM says, "you did not. you and he can have gone to astara and back again, since this is a few days later"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "OK, I spent most of the time researching where it might have gotten off too, looking up stuff about Mr. Eeeagh."

[interludes] GM says, "Miracle points never regenerate on their own, so creating the flower is just the same as casting the blindness miracle then"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And playing with Therese ;-)"

Chaz . o O (to Davey) ( Hey, that face-off is today, isn't it? Need backup? )

[interludes] Stella asks, "oh, then nevermind. I thought i could regenerate. So I'm still down from two sessions ago?"

[interludes] GM says, "yeah, unless your limitations have come up since"

[interludes] Davey says, "I have my eyes open for that enhancement bike spell. If it's still in force, I want to try to to a lesser destruction on their bikes to dull their performance down to normal"

[nobilis] Tyoka sends a postcard from Texas.

Aisleen happily adds Tyoka's postcard to the chancel bulletin board

[interludes] Davey says, "I have an effective Motorcycles Realm of 1"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, ""TWO DOWN, THREE TO GO" with a decapitated head on the front"

Chaz blanches.

Aisleen says, "hm, we forgot to get postcards when we were down at Disneyworld"

[interludes] GM says, "a motorcycle destructon will be kind of pricey, then"

[interludes] Davey exclaims, "and if I get de-biked it will poof. So gripping firmly!"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "> X HEAD"

[interludes] GM says, "but yeah, ok"

[interludes] Davey says, "Domain, even, and, sigh"

[interludes] Davey says, "I guess there are always ghost miracles to intimidate them. But I'm trying to be subtle and fair and stuff"

[interludes] GM says, "There are three separate events -- the jumps, the dodges, and then the highway run"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "ITYM '>KICK'"

[interludes] GM says, "(are you going ahead with the destruction? or?)"

[interludes] GM says, "(I guess conceivably you could work out a way to do it with Highways instead)"

[interludes] Davey says, "oh, I thought we were just trying to kill each other. I really need to straighten this stuff out ahead of time"

[interludes] Davey says, "one moment"

[interludes] Davey says, "well, Changing my gang's bikes to make them equal is even pricier"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "do we still have the invisibility spells?"

[interludes] Davey says, "I think I will go ahead with the Destruction, and Ghost Miracle my guys just to make them seem spiffier and more righteous"

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "We can cook up more easily enough."

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "would it make sense to invisibly go see davey?"

[interludes] GM says, "ok then"

Aisleen says (to chaz), "i am guessing he has been too busy to check in"

[interludes] Davey says, "one Deep Miracle down"

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "Sure, let's head out."

Davey . o O ( it's the day to see some action )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Where are you? Need help? )

[interludes] Davey says, "see, if this is an attack on my Bonds, then losing honorably is fine by me. Losing bad or winning wrong would make me feel worse"

GM says, "The biker meet is a hot summer afternoon -- the air's shimmering a bit in the heat and it's not going to cool off for a couple hours"

Davey . o O ( don't need help yet, thanks )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Eh, I'm bored and it sounds like fun--I'm coming to watch, if nothing else ;-) )

GM says, "The Bilberries show up in their matching black leather outfits and black helmets (with the mirror visors, of course) and are probably sweltering, but they look slick"

Chaz goes invisibly, cruising above the action (well above) on his skateboard.

GM says, "especially with the "BLACK BILBERRIES" and the silver bilbery design on the back of the jacket"

Aisleen flies gently, and invisibly

Chaz also still has his laser gun he borrowed from Raul.

GM says, "the first part of the action's taking place in a parking lot that used to be a drive-in movie and now is abandoned"

Aisleen . o O (to chaz) ( hey, i am wind! :) )

GM says, "it's far enough outside of town to avoid hassle from the cops"

GM says, "so they've set up ramps for the jumps -- some closer together and some farther apart"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen hums the song from West Side Story

Chaz . o O (to aisleen) ( You are the wind beneath my wheels. )

Davey looks somewhat sadly at his gan'g dusty "Hell's Angels come to Frogtown" gear

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "good lord my typing stinks"

Aisleen . o O ( we need a nobilis of Illusions to enhance Davey's gang's gear )

GM says, "The first event is the jumps, and while the Bilberries come in looking tough, they go out looking whipped"

Aisleen cheers invisibly

Davey says, "awright"

GM says, "Even their trash-talking leader can't make all the hard jumps he tries for, and some of the other gang members are missing even easy ones"

Stella sparkles in enthusiasm.

Davey says, "not so much fun gettin' your kidneys punded on a normal bike"

GM says, "They hold a whispered consultation at the end and some of them talk a look at their bikes, but they can't tell what's gone wrong"

Aisleen . o O (to stella) ( heya. we are enjoying watching. hope things have been okay with you )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "eepers. did we just abandon Therese?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "Michel won't be happy to hear that"

GM says, "meanwhile, Davey's gang takes the jumps like pros, and Davey himself makes the longest jump of all and lands one-handed"

Stella . o O (to Aisleen) ( Yeah, its been all right. Kinda fun actually. )

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( You rock! )

Aisleen turns cartwheels mid-air

[nobilis] (from Davey) Therese says, "Hello? I'd like to get down now."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Nah, she's playing with Alison and Gerry."

Davey says, "arr"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Hee!"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "whew"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Hey, not bad for a biker. )

GM says, "but on the second event things turn around a bit - Davey's gang ought to be able to handle the corners better than these young punks but somehow folks keep slipping and knocking over the markers instead of looping around them"

Davey . o O ( you need to get one of these, buddy )

Chaz scans the area in mythic.

GM says, "The Bilberries aren't looking any more skillful than before but they're luckier"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Did you cast those counter-spells yet? )

Aisleen whispers to Chaz suspicious

Davey . o O ( they made us amulets. We're wearin' em )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Good. )

GM says, "at the end of round two, the score's exactly even -- it's all gonna be decided by the highway run"

Davey says, "awright"

Chaz does a sweep of the area for anything smelling of magics.

Davey will NOT cheat, but will do preservations if he sees sabotage

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I can see Gerry blowing her mind with evil puzzles"

GM says, "The rules are simple -- whoever gets to the end of the road first wins; anyone who leaves the road loses"

Davey says, "hmm"

Aisleen keeps her ears open for any whispering on the wind about anybody that shouldn't be there

Davey braces for decoys

GM says, "There are a couple of locals out watching the race, and one of them acts as timekeeper"

[nobilis] Tyoka says (to davey), "you could have Aisleen cheat for you :)"

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( This is tough to monitor - are you seeing anything untoward? )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Anything odd about the road itself? That should be in your purview. )

Davey . o O ( Stella, you with me? )

Davey does the Minor Divination thing on the highway

[nobilis] Aisleen can innocently just blow people off the road

Stella . o O ( Davey I'm in your headlights; whatcha need? )

GM says, "he's got a starter's pistol that he's tyring to figure out how ot operate, but eventualy he gets it worked out"

Davey . o O ( just be there, in case there's something to distract us and make us wanna stop )

Aisleen . o O (to stella) ( it's daylight. davey has his headlights on? )

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "I take it nothing looks odd?"

GM says (to Davey), "it's clean, although there are some nasty blind and/or sharp curves, and a few places where it gets real narrow"

Chaz . o O ( Hey, lights on for safety. )

GM says, "it's dropping towards dusk now, actually"

[interludes] Stella says, "motorcycles always have their lights on. At least, I think they do."

Davey says, "I'll take the lead"

Aisleen says, "ah"

Davey says, "everybody be careful. It's a twisty stretch"

GM says, ""You go get 'em, bro!" Beardog says."

Stella . o O (to Aisleen) ( Can you scout for ambushes? )

Aisleen flies invisibly and rifles the bushes along the road

Davey brum brum

[nobilis] Davey says, "I can't help but fell like I'm neing an idiot for playing this so straight"

GM says, "and the pistol's fired and they're off"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

Davey vrrrrrrmmm

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "see any snipers from where you are?"

GM says, "Davey takes the lead early -- he's got a killer bike and he's a bad-ass rider"

Stella divines light to see if anyone is where they shouldn't be.

Chaz . o O (to aisleen) ( Nope. )

GM says, "Chaz and Aisleen see the road's still clear ahead"

Aisleen cheers while scouting for ambushes

GM says, "although it's not clear behind with all the dust folks are kicking up"

Davey . o O ( guys? the lead punkass is a hyper-connected Senator's kid. we can't let him get hurt or it's my gang's asses in court and shit )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Noted. )

GM says, "Bear-dog and Billy fall into the middle of the pack, where the going's tough"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "who is Billy?"

[nobilis] Alex says (to Aisleen), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Billy is an Ikea shelving unit."

[nobilis] Davey says, "some guy"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, ""bear-dog""

[nobilis] Davey says, "who started this mess by mouthing off to a Bilberry"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alex), "hee hee"

[nobilis] Alex exclaims (at GM), "Awwwk! You're a great crowd! I'll be here all night -- try the tarte au chocolat aux cork nuts!"

[nobilis] Davey says, "Beardog is my brother Bart Willis"

[nobilis] Aisleen is still laughing at Alex's response

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I've quite a bunch of Billy shelves in this very flat"

GM says, "but eventually Beardog emerges out of the pack, with the head Bilberry hot on his tal"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "it's not a joke response"

[nobilis] Davey says, "cue P.J.Harvey in my head"

GM says, "er, tail"

Davey watches close.

Davey is ready to do a miracle if there's going to be an accident

Aisleen . o O (to chaz) ( that's the senator's kid. )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "er, ?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "song, "Come on Billy" or some title"

GM says (to Davey), "and, man, things suddenly get tough for you -- not that your driving's any less accurate, but you're suddenly hitting twice as many bumps as ought to be there and the curves are coming up just at the wrong time"

Davey exclaims, "guh!"

Davey says, "bad luck"

Chaz peers in mythic again.

GM says, "and speaking of coming up at the wrong time, Everard's gaining on you fast -- clearly he's not getting the same kind of bad luck"

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( What's wrong? )

Davey . o O ( they're lucky! )

Davey . o O ( I'm not! )

GM says (to Chaz), "it looks like something's going weird -- the road's grabbing at Davey's tires, and pushing Everard along"

Davey is actually relieved to be simply in trouble of losing

Stella . o O (to Davey) ( Is that bad or just inconvenient? )

Davey . o O ( I thought he was gonna try to murder beardog )

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( Someone's magicking the road--smooth it out again! )

Davey preserves the highway

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "i can't tell if it is a bad idea to talk to the highway at such a busy time"

GM says, "that seems to have helped some -- you're at least maintaining your posiiton ahead of him a few lengths now"

Chaz zips around, looking for someone who might be casting these spells.

Davey mutters, good highway, smooooth highway

Davey . o O ( it's the jackets, I think )

Aisleen asks (of wind), "are there any other invisible creatures around other than chaz and myself?"

Chaz . o O ( Oooh... )

GM says (to Chaz), "aw, hell -- you don't see anyone doing that, but you do see a truck barrelling down the highway coming towards them"

Davey exclaims, "gnrxx!"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka asks, "a mack truck?"

Chaz skates behind the truck, grabs ahold to stop it.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "also, I seem to have left too early"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen asks, "can i blow the truck off the road? or is that bad nobilis behavior, endangering humans and stuff?"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "er to #nobilis"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, it'll be bad for the driver"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Is grabbing it helping?"

GM says, ""I'm winning, I'm winning!" Everard shouts, suddenly shooting forward."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "but good for other nobles"

[nobilis] Stella asks (of Aisleen), "Can you blow against the truck from the front, to help Chaz slow it down?"

GM says, "And then "Oh shit!" as he sees the truck"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "also, why are you letting yourself be jerked around by Everard anyway?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of inky), "1 extra DMP?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "waiting for Fate to tip its hand"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "shouldn't he be a smoking pile of ashes already?"

GM says, "which is screeching hard, Chaz's heels leaving dents in the pavement"

Aisleen . o O (to chaz) ( also we can't let Everard die )

[nobilis] GM says (to Aisleen), "if you have domain 3, yeah"

Chaz . o O ( aisleen Blow it off the road! I'll get the driver! )

Aisleen whips up the wind hard to push the truck off the road

Davey getes next to Everard, in case he needs to get caught

Aisleen also pushes against the side of the truck to see if momentum will help the wind blow it off

GM says, "The truck tips sideways, sliding off the road -- and as it turns and the passenger's window comes around to face the road, Davey first glimpses the driver's face and then hears a gunshot"

Aisleen whip whip wind cmon!

Davey . o O ( shooter! )

GM says, "Everard flings his hands up in the air as if to ward off the blow"

Davey . o O ( Stella! gun! )

GM says, "the truck screeches"

Stella immediately solidifies the light around the gun.

GM says, "the driver shouts, and Davey realizes it's being drivne by Bessie Lou"

[nobilis] Davey says, "er, if we can locate the gun"

Davey exclaims, "Nooooooo!"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "can the same wind knock Everard off the bike?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka asks, "who?"

[nobilis] GM says, "it's not clear, because--"

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "An old girlfriend?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "that's the only way i can think of to make sure the bullet doesn't hit him"

GM says, "and Everard's bike swerves off the road and flips"

Aisleen . o O (to chaz) ( get the humans in the truck? )

[Crows-Nest] Davey exclaims, "Bessie Lou is the biggest-hearted trucker in all the land! with the blackest coffe and the softest bed! she is my Bog Rock Candy Mountain!"

[Crows-Nest] Davey exclaims, "I am cheesed!"

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "cheesed?"

GM says, "the truck screeches to a halt on the ground by the side of the road, not toppled, thankfully"

[Crows-Nest] (from Aisleen) Emily materializes, "You called?"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "s/bog/big/"

Aisleen flies back to Everard

Davey stops and whips his head from truck to Everard repeatedly

Chaz runs up to the truck cab.

GM says, "and then the two police cars that have been trailing the truck show up"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "I am so thoroughly fucked."

GM says, "and we'll find out what happens in two weeks"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of davey), "and you were worried about playing it straight?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Davey says, "wow, good game, you evil bastard"

Tyoka says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "you complain, but *I* will find out in four"

[nobilis] Stella says, "Good game, much fun."