GM says, "yes indeed"

Michel greets the GM

[nobilis] GM says (to Michel), "the gift you mailed me about should be fine"

[nobilis] Michel says, "yay"

[nobilis] Michel says, "as ever, my suppressed GM instincts lead to irritating detail"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "Oh yeah ... can I get a fountain pen that shoots a stream of red tape?"

Kori has connected.

Michel sniffs

[nobilis] GM says, "sure"

[nobilis] Wilfred exclaims, "Yay Sekrit Weppin!"

[nobilis] GM says, "I guess that would be a creation of bureaucracy and a focus"

[nobilis] GM says, "so you get an extra miracle point for it"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "I do?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yes, since a focus is a limitation"

[nobilis] GM says, "worth 1/3 of the points invested"

[nobilis] GM says, "unless you want the gift to be that you can make any fountain pen do that"

Franklin arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "Oh ... I was just thinking some sort of weapon ... like Michel has his guns."

Michel nods vaguely to Franklin

[nobilis] Franklin says, "oops, I opened the window but forgot to login"

Franklin nods to Michel.

[nobilis] Michel says (to Wilfred), "those are the chancel's guns. It's just I'm the only one who takes full advantage of them."

Franklin seems slightly soulful and glowy.

Michel says (to Franklin), "amateur"

[nobilis] Michel says, "oops, IRTA 'soulful and gloomy'"

[nobilis] Wilfred actually isn't ready to spend any points yet.

Kori says (to Michel), "he said glowy, not gloomy"

[nobilis] Kori says, "timing and lag, sigh"

[nobilis] Michel says, "which is my department"

Wilfred . o O ( ...clearly one foot further into the grave.... )

[nobilis] Michel prepares yet more gingko tea in preparation for insomnia

[nobilis] GM says (to Wilfred), "if you wanted to construct the pens as normal technology (normal for your chancel, that is), you could also do that, but you'll be limited to doing what you could realistically do with tape fired out of a pen"

[nobilis] Michel says, "storme and iain said they might be a bit late"

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, we'll give raul a few more minutes and then go ahead"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "I think for now I'll keep the red tape conjuration as a miracle."

[nobilis] GM says, "alrighty"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "Hmmmm ... with Domain 4 I won't need to spend any miracle points for creations, right?"

[nobilis] GM says, "that is correct"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "Okay, putting 1 point into Domain to get Domain 4, saving the remaining point."

[nobilis] Wilfred IS the paperwork.

[nobilis] GM says, "no, wait -- it's 3 points to raise your domain"

[nobilis] GM says, "(three character points per domain point, that is)"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "Oh. Well. Never mind then."

[nobilis] GM asks, "or do you have some saved?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I confused him with my extra 1"

[nobilis] GM says, "ahHA"

[nobilis] Wilfred points at Franklin. "It's all HIS fault."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "franklin was created with only 24 of the 25 points used, or whatever one less than the umber we started was"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "number"

GM says, "ok, Raul & co can join in when/if they arrive"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "that plus the two we've earned is 3"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "(Franklin is now 5 Spirit)"

[nobilis] Michel says, "woo"

[nobilis] Michel says, "I keep buying silly little Gifts which are quite cool but I will never use"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "nothing's getting through my auctoritas without a fight, consarn it"

GM says, "so when we last left our heroes, various things had happened, but the most notable were probably Raul and Michel and Wilfred returning from the much-changed Chancel of the Four Winds, and then Vona making a reappearance to elucidate some things"

Wilfred has written up a full report and left it in Vona's mailbox/pigeonhole/what-have-you.

Alexandra was, er, babysitting. Also travelling around studying adoption of the euro. But mostly babysitting.

Michel has all but covered the floor of the central garden in piles of typed paper, and has a taskforce of monks scurrying back and forth among them

Wilfred has also checked up on his brothers. And looked into newspaper delivery.

GM asks, "newspaper delivery?"

Wilfred says (to GM), "Making sure I get my daily paper."

Michel says, "These monks would be perfect for creating an index if they didn't try to illuminate everything"

Wilfred says (to GM), "I simply *must* begin the day with the Times over a cup of coffee."

GM says, "ah, I see"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "That's my line."

Michel asks (of Wilfred), "ah, excellent. give us a hand, would you?"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Right. First, let us get a filing cabinet ... and start up a filing index system."

Michel looks ever so slightly troubled

Franklin has been mostly sitting by himself and gazing and thinking and worrying a lot.

Michel says (to Franklin), "that's my line"

GM says, "it's odd that you mention newspaper, because it's a week or two after Vona leaves that Franklin sees something surprising in the paper"

Franklin says, "Huh."

Michel has been popping in and out of the chancel quite frequently.

GM says, "Specifically, "SERIAL ARSONIST AT WORK? THREE NEW ENGLAND PAPER MILLS BURNED IN LAST WEEK -- The Merriman mills have a long tradition of ... ""

[nobilis] Michel says, "hooo boy"

Franklin's jaw muscles clench and roil, but otherwise he looks like he was expecting to hear this.

Wilfred explains the filing index to the monks. "...so 1- is the chancel, and then you have the first three letters of the originator's name, then the document's number, then the year. So, for example, my third report on chancel activities this year would be 1-EDW-003-2002.

Franklin shows everyone the newspaper without comment.

Michel asks (of Wilfred), "what if you produce over a thousand documents in a year?"

Michel says, "as seems entirely likely"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Then you simply have a slightly longer index number."

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

Kori says (to Franklin), "I don't suppose this feels like a coincidence..."

Alexandra says (to Franklin), "Oy. So much for 'subtle.'"

Franklin says, "I don't, no."

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "seems ominous."

Franklin gets his hat and coat.

Michel grabs the newspaper and looks for details

Franklin says, "It's ridiculous for me to go there, but I should go there."

Wilfred checks his own paper.

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "Why is it ridiculous for you to go there?"

Michel says (to Wilfred), "Some FBI documents would be nice about now. There'll be an arson investigation, we'll need to get everything they've got."

Kori says (to Franklin), "if you want company, I'll come along"

Alexandra says (to Franklin), "Want company? I need to swing by New York again soonish, and checking this out is along the way."

Franklin says, "I'm not sure what all of this is supposed to prove. What burns me is the arrogance behind all this."

Franklin says, "Yes, please, come along."

GM says, "It's mostly just a short interest piece -- it discusses briefly the location of the mills (reasonably near each other), their history, how they were owned for a while by Franklin Merriman, and some comments by the locals on how this will affect the already-high unemployment rate"

Franklin says, "A lifetime building those mills. All those folks out of work, or in the hospital."

Franklin says, "Bah."

Wilfred isn't sure why the FBI would involve themselves (though he could *make* it their business with a judicious use of Create Paperwork) but checks (divines) their files anyway.

Alexandra gets mildly grumpy over the unemployment bit

Michel says (to Wilfred), "I mean IDs. So we can take over the investigation."

GM says (to Wilfred), "so far this seems pretty much a local matter, although you get the feeling if it continues it'll be referred up the chain"

Kori shoulders a pack and a stun weapon, and declares herself ready to go

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Sure ... although, you know, all this twisting around the System can't possibly be good for it."

Michel says (to Wilfred), "How about going straight to the authorities and saying, 'Hi, we're demigods and we'd like to know which abyssal horror's burning down our factories?'"

Franklin puts on his hat.

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Listen. I don't think we need to take over officially ... yet. Franklin has a vested interest here, and we'll just follow along as his friends."

Michel says (to Wilfred), "as you will."

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Just keep quiet about who we are really in case we need to pull badges or somesuch."

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "Who's in charge of the mills now?"

Michel stands up, figuring that it's probably safe to leave the monks in charge

Franklin says, "You know, I've lost track."

Wilfred gives the monks the Codex Indexicus and prepares to follow.

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "Do you at least have some sort of investment there?"

Franklin says, "I retired a number of years back."

Franklin says, "I own the real estate."

Michel says, "dear god, I'm going to have an index that outweighs my book by several volumes"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "So stop writing pamphlets."

Franklin heads on out to some sort of nearest exit and so forth.

Michel says (to Wilfred), "are you kidding? there's five volumes just on translation issues"

Michel follows.

Wilfred looks as inconspicuous as he can, following.

Kori goes too

Alexandra snags her new usual weapon, a future-tech combo real gun/stun gun, and also follows

GM says, "it's early afternoon in massachusetts when you arrive"

Franklin snurfs the fresh air nostalgically.

Michel says, "ah, time for my second mid-early-afternoon coffee"

GM says, "stepping out of the stacks in a public library in boston, maybe an hour drive away from where the mills are"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "mmm, fresh charles river scent"

Wilfred says, "Ah, Boston. "...forever applying first principles to trifles". I like Boston."

Franklin says, "We're not staying in Boston. We're going to Fitchburg."

Wilfred asks, "Where?"

Michel exclaims, "Taxi!"

Wilfred says, "Well, lead on."

Kori says, "somewhere that doesn't have its own library, evidently"

Wilfred asks, "Small town, eh?"

Franklin says, "Used to be, used to be."

Michel says (to Kori), "oh, god. the space after the fences begin and before the libraries start..."

Michel says, "for some reason there's rather a lot of it"

Franklin says, "Faster to get there than it used to be. You can take the highway now, instead of bumping around on dirt roads."

Kori asks, "so you don't care for it either?"

Franklin looks like he misses bumping around on the dirt roads.

Michel says (to Kori), "it's indicative of all that's sick about humanity"

Wilfred appreciates the efficiency.

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "Hmm. Like Franklin, I had a character point left after creation. So, I think I'm going to use that plus the two gained ones to crank domain up to 5 and max it out."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "yow"

Michel says, "But I like dirt roads..."

Kori looks as though she is going to pretend that she does like it, just to spite Michel; then decides it's too much effort, even for her.

[nobilis] GM says, "not bad"

Alexandra says, "destruction sounds like a useful thing to be able to do without spending additional points :>"

[nobilis] Michel says, "eek, we have a Regal"

[nobilis] Alexandra exclaims, "lac!"

Franklin stares out the taxi window at the trees, and doesn't say anything else for the next hour.

Michel glares at the highway, and thinks about erosion

Wilfred says (to Michel), "How can you possibly? They're practically impossible to keep track of ... you never know where Lilac Lane begins and Ivy Row ends, and very likely there are two or three of each scattered around."

GM says, "the taxis eventually arrive"

GM says, "welcome to Fitchburg"

Michel says (to Wilfred), "oh, yeah, it's a lot nicer when there are no roads at all"

Wilfred takes stock of the town.

Wilfred says (to Michel), "That, or at least have them properly labeled."

GM says, "well, it's not really as small as all that"

Michel says, "mumble mumble give something a number and you kill it mutter gripe"

Wilfred blisses out on the thought of giving something a number.

Kori shoots a bemused glance at Michel and Wilfred

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "hee"

Michel has a cigarette to soothe his nerves.

GM says, "it's -- well, it's the sort of town you'd expect that once had flourishing paper mills and now is slowing down a bit"

[nobilis] Michel says, "and on fire"

GM says, "there are fancy houses up on the hills around the town for the executives, and a large industrial area in the city"

Franklin continues his quiet introspection.

Michel's skin goes all crawly as he thinks about the Industrial Revolution

GM says, "unlike when Franklin used to own mills here, the river isn't the color of the paper the plants are making today"

GM says, "and, in fact, the plants seem mostly quiet"

Franklin says, "It's quiet."

Michel asks (of Franklin), "so where's this- er, where was this mill?"

Wilfred asks, "Or the head office?"

GM says, "it's not quiet up on the intersection ahead, though, where two men are having an argument"

Franklin says, "By the river..."

GM says, ""And I say we close 'em all down!" one says. "I can't guarantee their safety, and you know if any more go the whole city is likely to catch on fire!""

Franklin hobbles on over to the men.

GM says, ""You can't close me down!" the other says. "I don't know why you can't get in shape and catch whoever is doing this, but --""

Michel wanders over to the river

GM says, ""Unless you've got some reason for," he adds."

Wilfred stands at the corner looking unobtrusive.

GM says, ""What are you insinuating, Tom?" the other man breaks in. "My men have been out here three nights running, and --""

Franklin says, "You there!"

GM says (to Franklin), "as you get closer, you see the one who is not Tom is in a police uniform"

GM says, ""Eh?" The two men look around."

GM says (to Michel), "it looks rather nice, although any river running this close to a town is bound to be a bit grubby"

Franklin says, "Whatever you're talking about, it concerns me, too."

GM says, ""And who're you, grandpa?""

Franklin says, "And if it isn't Tommy Briggs."

Michel stares into the moving water

GM says, ""Wha- why, are you -- I thought you were -- Mr Merriman, is that you?""

Franklin says, "Of course it's me."

Franklin asks (of Tom), "And who is this?"

GM says (to Michel), "the water drifts on slowly. there's a faint oily sheen on bits of the water, again as par for the course by a town"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "While that's going on, I'm going to try the divination-to-trace-if-$-changed-hands trick again, to see if anyone was paid for the arson"

[nobilis] Michel says (to GM), "hey, I was only doing that for effect"

[nobilis] Michel says, "not as if I was expecting to find anything"

GM says (to Franklin), ""Why -- uh -- This here's Chief Ferguson. The guy that's supposed to be keeping an eye on the security of the mills.""

Franklin says (to Cop), "I'm Franklin Merriman. Perhaps you've heard of me, since my name is on half the buildings around here."

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "our GM is very well implemented"

[nobilis] Michel says, "hee hee hee"

GM says, ""Why, you -- I don't know what you're insinuating, Tom, but my men are working hard -- and everybody knows you've got these mills insured up to the hilt, so I don't think I'm the one who stands to benefit from them burning""

Franklin asks, "So you're watching the buildings and they're burning down anyway?"

GM says (to Franklin), ""Why, that Merriman? I thought you were -- well, pleased to meet you, sir."

[nobilis] GM says (to Alexandra), "it doesn't look like anybody was paid to burn the mills"

Wilfred tries a divination of insurance claims and police reports

[nobilis] GM says (to Alexandra), "more generally, you can feel the undercurrents of a town slowly dying from lack of demand for the paper and folks moving out and onto other jobs, conflict over where the town is going financially and how to budget and try and perhaps change industries"

Franklin says, "Yes, yes, everyone thinks I'm either dead or cuckoo. Well, I'm not either one, and I'm here to find out who's destroying my mills."

[nobilis] GM says (to Wilfred), "well, the mills are indeed insured for quite a bit, and Tom's recently filed claims for the three that burned. inspectors are due out in a week or so"

Alexandra says, "<fwiw, doesn't seem anyone was paid or otherwise compensated for the arson. so, whoever wanted it done, did it themselves.>"

Michel says (to Alexandra), "<give you three guesses who>"

Franklin asks, "Is there any actual evidence of arson? Or does it seem all to be vaguely mysterious and unexplainable?"

Wilfred says, "<Rafe the Handless Wonder?>"

GM says, ""That's just it, sir. I mean, we're short-handed enough -- what with the mills lobbying the town council to divert the police budget into environmental cleanup, so they don't have to foot the bill themselves -- but I have had men watching all night, and so far as I saw, nobody's been by the mills -- but the second night we were watching, one of them caught on fire!""

Franklin frowns and grumps.

Michel says, "<or his boss King Revolting>"

Franklin asks, "Would you mind if I -- and my friends -- took a look around at one of the mill sites?"

GM says, ""We called the fire department, of course, but we've only got the one and it takes some time for Clarence to get going in the middle of the night. And anyway, when he got there, it turned out the fire had been burning inside the building for a while before it showed up outside""

Franklin asks, "Inside?"

Franklin says, "Inside..."

Franklin furmfs.

GM says, ""Uh .. that'd be up to Mister Briggs here -- they're still his property.""

Wilfred wonders how diligent the cops have really been ... divining contents of police inter-departmental memos and reports.

GM says, "Tom raises his hands. "Anything you want, Mister Merriman""

Franklin claps Tommy Briggs on the shoulder. "Thank you."

Franklin says, "<Come on. We're going to look at the mills.>"

[nobilis] GM says (to Wilfred), "well, as mentioned, it appears much of the budget has been diverted away from the police department onto other stuff, some of which is essentially welfare for the mills. but they do appear to be scribbling memos like "what in hell's going on?" and "detail two men to watch all night -- overtime costs?""

Franklin tips his hat.

Kori follows Franklin

GM says, "The two men look on, still a bit stunned, as Franklin leaves."

Michel moves after them

Wilfred says, "<well, the police do not appear to have been secretly working for the Other Side.>"

Michel says (to Wilfred), "<since when did excrucians write memos?>"

Wilfred walks along after everyone.

Wilfred says, "<They might not, but their human pawns might. The pawns don't exactly have telepathy.>"

GM says, "It's not hard to locate the mills -- just follow the scent of burned wood"

[nobilis] Michel says, "From: Ghiz-aj Re: Destruction of universe. Hey flunkies, destroy more stuff."

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

Michel asks (of Franklin), "How many more mills are there around these parts?"

GM says, "the three appear to be burned various amounts; from what you read in the paper, and what Franklin knows, you can deduce that the earliest one was burned only a small amount (relatively -- burned on the inside but the walls and so on are all still standing), the next one is burned some more with some serious interior damage, and the third, only a few days ago, was burned so seriously that the parts of the ceiling which hadn't been destroyed had collapsed, and some of the walls had collapsed as well"

Alexandra says, "Yikes"

Wilfred asks, "And where do we go first?"

Michel says, "someone's developing essential life skills"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "like, "getting outta here before the Flaming Death falls on head"."

Franklin wipes his eyes a bit.

[nobilis] Alexandra asks, "which mill are we standing near at the moment? or are they all quite close together?"

Franklin's attention seems to turn to rocks and trees that are still recognizable.

[nobilis] GM says, "they're relatively close together (although not close enough for fire to leap from one to the other); you can be standing by whichevcer of the three you want"

Michel heads for the most ruined one

Franklin says, "Well, if they wanted to hit me where it hurts, they did it."

Alexandra steps gingerly into the least-burned mill for a look 'round

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "Well, mills can be rebuilt...."

Wilfred . o O ( ...people can't, whatever the 6-million-dollar man says. )

Franklin sags against a big rock near a sluice.

Michel says, "ah, ruins"

GM says (to Alexandra), "man, it's sooty in here"

GM says (to Alexandra), "the ceiling is covered with the stuff, and the walls too"

Michel does a minor divination to sense if there's anything interesting in the ruins

Penny arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "I summon the Power of Detective Stories."

[nobilis] Penny says, "late, but hello"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "hello hello"

Franklin says, "I still remember the day -- I was fresh out of the service, and I jumped up on this very rock, spread my arms, and I shouted, 'I'm going to own all of this!'"

Franklin says, "Of course, all the workers laughed."

[nobilis] Michel says, "hey hey"

[nobilis] Penny says, "sorry we are late, but we were out drinking with Jon 'Spitfire' Ingold"

Franklin says, "I laughed too."

Alexandra peers at the soot, looking to see if there's anything notable while also trying not to mess up her clothes

GM says, "but some of the equipment relatively undamaged -- the wood-chipping machines are basically still ok, if dirty, and ditto the water purifiers"

Franklin takes off his hat. "I guess you had to be there."

GM says, "the paper screens are melted in placed and burned in others, and many of the vats are a total wreck, however"

Franklin taps the rock with his cane.

Wilfred pats Franklin awkwardly on the shoulder.

[nobilis] GM says, "woo"

Franklin nods grimly at Wilfred.

[nobilis] Penny says, "I just like saying 'spitfire'"

[nobilis] Wilfred says (to Penny), "heh"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hey guys, watchi this! pfweeehoooooshhh"

Alexandra says (to Franklin), "<well, some of this looks salvagable ... some ...>"

GM says, "and the loading equipment outside where the trunks are taken off trucks and brought inside is basically unharmed on this one"

[nobilis] Franklin says (to penny), "anyway, franklin's paper mills have been burned to the ground"

Franklin says (to Alexandra), "<sigh>"

Michel kicks some ashes about. <Can't see much in this one.>

Gaston arrives, looking for booty.

Gaston says, "Bonsoir."

Wilfred says (to Gaston), "about time...."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "mental note: do not type '@newch' in the wrong window when that character has not @newched since february last year"

Franklin vaguely looks around with the Sight.

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "excuse me while I disconnect to stop one-line lag"

Penny has disconnected.

Penny goes home.

Penny arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Gaston asks, "Quick recap, someone?"

[nobilis] RogerCarbol has joined the channel.

[nobilis] Michel says, "we haven't found out anything yet, apart from that three of Franklin's mills got torched"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "merriman paper mills destroyed by arson, group goes to fitchburg massachusetts to investigate"

[nobilis] Michel says, "hilarity ensues"

GM says, "there's nothing magical or miraculous that you can see in the mill -- in mythic, of course, the spirits are lying around scorched and unhappy"

[nobilis] Wilfred smacks Michel with a trout.

Alexandra heads out of the sooty mill to rejoin the group

Alexandra says, "Well, one more left to check ..."

[nobilis] Penny says, "I'll assume we are staying behind to look after the chancel for now, then"

Franklin says (to special rock), "Hello again."

Alexandra heads into the second-most burned mill

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Yeah, we can research and stuff."

GM says, ""Why, I remember you," the rock says"

[nobilis] Michel says (to Gaston), "there was a slight pause between the 'research' and the 'and', in which you raised your eyebrow"

GM says, ""It seems like just yesterday that you stood on me and I said "He's going to own this place someday"""

Franklin smiles.

Franklin pats the rock on the head.

[nobilis] Gaston says (to Michel), "You are most perceptive."

Michel sits on a charred beam and watches the ashes fondly.

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hee"

Wilfred leaves Franklin for now and follows Alex into the building.

Franklin asks (of rock), "I don't suppose you know who burned up your neighbors?"

GM says, ""I didn't see anybody," it says. "I mean, we rocks aren't real perceptive. But I didn't see anyone come past me into the mill.""

Franklin doesn't feel like we're going to learn anything helpful here.

GM asks (of Wilfred), "are you looking around for anything in particular?"

Franklin pushes away from the rock and puts his hat back on.

Michel says (to Franklin), "<How many other mills are there around? I say we hide and wait>"

Franklin says, "<We could do that.>"

Alexandra says, "<so long as we don't hide *in* a mill>"

Michel says, "<Well? Are there few enough for us to cover them all?>"

Alexandra says, "<anyone know how long apart the torchings were?>"

GM says (to Alexandra), "it seems like a few days"

Franklin says, "<I don't know. The police chief seemed to suggest that the fire started inside one of the mills while his men were watching the outside.>"

Wilfred asks (of GM), "I dunno ... clues? Footprints?"

Michel says, "yeah, it'll be easier to catch 'em if we're inside"

Alexandra exits toward the group

Alexandra says, "joy"

Wilfred says, "I agree with Michel. Inside would probably be more effective."

Wilfred asks (of Alex), "Yes?"

GM says (to Wilfred), "hmm, nothing of note -- you don't see any of the usual things you might expect for arson, paint thinner cans or gasoline smells or that kind of thing. but, I guess, it might have been consumed in the fire"

Alexandra asks, "sounds like there's a chance these fires are being set magically, though. I mean, did the fire department turn up any signs of a incendiary device?"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "timing"

Wilfred says, "Let's see what their reports say...."

Franklin says, "If I were going to torch a paper mill, I'd start it where there's lots of sawdust and pulp and powdery bits that go up like that. <snap>"

Franklin says, "The investigators haven't been through yet."

Wilfred Divines, and hopes that the local bureaucratic measures are carried out faithfully.

Michel says (to Franklin), "But surely there'd be automatic fire systems in a place as high-risk as that"

Franklin says, "I thought maybe we'd see something, but we haven't."

Franklin says (to Michel), "Not in the older mills."

Michel says, "the atmosphere in a mill has a lot of wood dust in it, right? So anywhere there's moving machinery a spark could set everything alight"

Franklin says, "Standards were different. Codes were more lax. Maybe they had to update them, but maybe they didn't."

[nobilis] GM says (to Wilfred), "well, the fire department has done a basic inspection, in fact -- they didn't find any kind of igniter"

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "but but but don't you have to upgrade to bring them up to code?"

[nobilis] Alexandra asks, "are the fires completely out? no sparks or embers left?"

Franklin sighs.

Franklin says, "Deals can be made to skirt certain issues, when the bottom line is all that matters."

[nobilis] GM says, "it looks like they're burned pretty thoroughly, yeah"

Gaston says, "<Are there ashes around? You could ask them when they were burned. The oldest ashes must be where the fire was started.>"

Wilfred says, "The fire department didn't find anything by which to start the fire, by the way. Which is in itself suspicious...."

Wilfred says, "I mean, if I were going to start a fire in a paper mill, I'd prefer to do it from a safe distance. And not actually inside."

Franklin says, "But Tommy Briggs has been running them latel, and he's a good man. I'm sure they were as safe as he could make them."

Alexandra heads for the third mill, where things burned the hottest, to question some mythic ashes

Michel says (to Wilfred), "all you'd need is a match, or taking the safety guard off the right machine, or overloading some electrics"

Michel says, "actually, let's have a look at those machines"

Franklin says, "I'm somewhat interested in the least-burned building, actually."

Wilfred says (to Michel), "it's the match theory that worries me the most."

Michel asks, "Franklin? These anything like the ones you used to have?"

GM says, "in the least-burned building, Michel checks out the machinery"

GM says, "while in the most-burned building, Alexandra checks out the ash spirits"

Gaston says, "<By the way, where exactly are you? Should Penny and I come to assist you, or just stay here and keep an eye on the chancel?>"

Wilfred heads over to the most-recently-burned building.

Franklin says, "These are the very same, with some minor changes."

GM says, "who are really wood spirits lying on the ground, badly burnt"

Alexandra asks (of ashes), "Can you tell me anything about the fires that made you?"

GM says, "one of them still seems to have a breath of life -- it's coughing out ashes"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "awwwwwww"

GM says, ""close .. embrace .. burned .. so hot""

Michel asks (of Franklin), "Could any of 'em be tampered with to make them more likely to spew out sparks?"

Franklin says, "Hmmrmm."

Michel asks, "And what's the wiring like in this place?"

Franklin looks around.

GM says (to Michel), "but you do see the fire (in this building, anyway) isn't centered near the wood-grinding machinery"

Alexandra says (to ashes), "I'm so sorry. We're trying to find out what caused this, so no more wood and paper will be burned."

Wilfred says (to Gaston), "<Fitchburg, Massachusetts.>"

GM says (to Michel), "the racks where the pulp is poured out and dried, and the vats where it's mixed, have burned badly, though"

Michel says, "Hmmm. I suppose it makes sense to burn the paper rather than the wood"

Franklin winces.

Michel says (to vats), "Hey."

Franklin says, "Yes, a lot more sense."

Gaston says (to Wilfred), "<Hmm. I think I will wait here -- if you come up with any leads, it will probably be quicker to travel from the chancel than from the mills.>"

Michel says (to Franklin), "hell, you talk to 'em, they might remember you"

GM says, "the vats are almost completely torched -- the vat-spirits are laid out and groaning much like in the other mill"

Franklin says, "I wonder -- if they burned actual paper, if I could divine what sparked it."

GM says, ""did somebody get the number of that fire?" one says"

Franklin asks (of vats), "How did the fire start?"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says (to GM), "Heh."

Michel blows smoke rings

GM says, ""I -- I didn't see," the vat says. "I was just lying here, minding my own business -- sometimes I doze off a bit when it's night and no mixing's going on to attend to -- and then I was feeling a bit warm, and I turned over to Boris there (indicating the neighboring vat-spirit) and fire was leaping out of his pulp!""

Michel says (to Boris), "<What happened?>"

Franklin looks at Boris.

GM says, ""Uh .. I caught on fire?""

Michel smirks widely

Franklin tries a divination on the ashes of Boris's pulp.

GM says, ""I was just lying here, minding my own business -- I guess I was thinking about what kind of paper they'd be making tomorrow -- and then Elmer said I was on fire. And I looked over, and so was he!""

GM says (to Franklin), "hmm"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "elmer and boris"

GM says (to Franklin), "it's wood pulp, but there's some vague oddness about it"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "Hey, it's your paper mill."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "I probably named them myself, come to think of it"

Franklin says, "Odd."

GM asks (of Franklin), "maybe some kind of chemical undertone that shouldn't be there in proper paper?"

GM says, "it's hard to tell since they're so thoroughly burned"

Franklin asks, "Does anyone have high-Aspect super-smell?"

Wilfred says, "<not I>"

Michel says (to Franklin), "maybe if we got samples back to the chancel we could get a chem analysis"

Franklin says, "We could also look or smell around for something funny in an unburned mill's vats."

Michel says (to Franklin), "mmm, point"

Franklin says, "In fact, I'm of a mind to go do that right now."

[nobilis] Michel says (to GM), "I assume the chemical undertone that shouldn't be in proper paper isn't 'ash'"

Franklin says, "Except we need to wait until the mills close for the night."

[nobilis] GM says, "right"

Gaston says, "<Ask Boris what kind of paper he had been making for the last few days.>"

Michel collects a bit of paper ash

Franklin asks (of Boris), "What was the last kind of paper you were making?"

Gaston says, "<Also, are there records which Wilfred could acquire? Or were they burned?>"

GM says, ""Just started a new run of the 100-pound cardstock in three different shades," Boris says"

Wilfred says, "<I think this might be a work of malice, unconnected with the business of the mills themselves. I've checked the police and fire records."

Gaston says, "<I was thinking it might be an inside job, by someone who infiltrated the mill.>"

Franklin says (to vats), "Well, thank you."

GM says, ""Anytime, Mr Merriman!""

Wilfred says, "<Hmmm ... employee records....>"

Franklin doesn't have the heart to tell the vats that they'll probably be sold for scrap metal soon.

Michel says, "You know, I think there's probably no big subtlety to this... Franklin's fond of it, excrucian dispatches a flunky to torch it."

[nobilis] GM says, "aww"

Franklin says (to Michel), "Yes."

Franklin leaves the mill.

Wilfred asks (of Michel), "Does this make you worry about the things you're particularly fond of?"

Alexandra heads out and rejoins everyone

Michel says, "So looking for evidence won't help us much - we should be trying to prevent more"

Wilfred divines employee records. Recent hires.

Michel says (to Wilfred), "oh, I do"

Kori says (to Wilfred), "I doubt he's troubled with any"

Michel says, "I've been taking a few precautions"

Michel says, "fortunately students are generally too wet to set on fire"

Wilfred . o O ( Maybe if I ensured that somehow all reviews keep misprinting Rupert's name.... )

Kori says (to Michel), "alcohol burns."

Franklin asks, "Is hurting the things a Nobilis cares about part of another of those dang-fool rituals, or is it just something you do if you're evil and you hate good guys?"

Michel says (to Kori), "as do libraries, I just thought"

Kori frowns abruptly.

Michel says, "we need some sort of fire defence in the chancel, otherwise one match and we'll be a fireball"

Gaston says (to Franklin), "<I believe it's a ritual, though I'm not sure of its ultimate goal, other than to inflict pain on the Noble in question.>"

Franklin says (to Gaston), "<Hrm. Mhmm.>"

Michel says (to Gaston,Penny), "<I'd really appreciate it if you fitted out the chancel with high-tech fire extinguishers>"

Penny says (to Gaston), "<the inflictee can get some of the inflicted-upons power that way>"

Wilfred says, "We'd probably best exceed the code requirements ..."

Gaston says (to Michel), "<A very good suggestion.>"

Penny says (to Michel), "<good call>"

Franklin says (to Penny), "<They can? Grr, confound it.>"

Wilfred says, "<I've probably got a copy of various fire codes from Hammurabi onwards sitting around somewhere.>"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Hmm, last time I got the monks to install some funky gas-emitting devices."

[nobilis] Penny says, "(assume we are busy getting the monks to make extinguishers from water cannons)"

Franklin asks, "Well, I'm at a loss. What do we do next?"

GM says, "(so, are you going to stake out a mill and wait for dark? or head to the chancel?)"

Alexandra says, "<Halon gas, not water. That'll stop a fire without hurting the books>"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Is there any way to put out fires that doesn't also involve -- aha, timing."

Michel says (to Wilfred), "<If there's a fire, throw Nubian slaves on top of it until it goes out?>"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Okay, I'll get the monks to enhance the funky gas system with Halon."

Penny says (to Alexandra), "<sure thing>"

Franklin says, "I feel compelled to wait it out at one of the mills."

[nobilis] Gaston says, "With conventional fire extinguishers as a backup."

[nobilis] Penny asks, "can any of us not hold our breath for long periods of time?"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "<Don't be silly. They weren't Nubian.>"

[nobilis] Michel says, "But nicely hand-crafted ones so as not to spoil the decor. those red shiny ones are such a fucking eyesore"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "If think you're fine if you have pretty high Aspect, or if you're Immutable or Immortal."

Alexandra says, "If y'all think it will be useful, we might as well stake out the mills"

[nobilis] Franklin has Aspect 0

[nobilis] Gaston says (to Franklin), "Hmm."

GM asks, "ok, Franklin picks out a mill to wait in -- are you going to ask permission from Tom? or wait until after dark and bust a window?"

[nobilis] Michel says, "yeah, I'm immutable"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "Halon gas doesn't harm humans"

Franklin says, "I'll get Tommy to let me in."

Wilfred says, "<We could easily let Michel sneak in during business hours and have him let us in at dark.>"

Franklin says, "Even though this might alter the course of events."

Alexandra picks out a mill as well, and reluctantly picks a perch inside

Michel says (to Wilfred), "<And wait that long without smoking?>"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "er, after the getting-in has been sorted out"

[nobilis] Penny says (to Alexandra), "sure, but it'd be nice to be able to breath while the place is flooded with non-oxygen"

GM says, "ok then"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "<Oh, I have faith in you.>"

GM says, ""Billy, this is Mister Merriman," Tom says. "Gosh, Mister Merriman? Really?" "That's right, Billy -- he's going to be staying here tonight to see what he can do about the fires." "Gosh! That's incredible!""

GM says, ""I'll let you in any time you like, Mister Merriman!""

Michel says (to Wilfred), "<if so, it's misplaced in that respect>"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "<Isn't that Kori's line?>"

Franklin says, "Thank you, Billy."

GM says, ""Gosh!""

Michel says (to Wilfred), "<she's just not making the effort today>"

GM says, "so we cut ahead to evening, unless anyone wants to do something"

Franklin says (to Billy), "I'll need a good chair to sit in, by the vats. Something comfy."

Kori says, "<conserving my effort, since you two seem to be entertaining each other so well>"

GM says, ""You bet, Mister Merriman! I'll get you something from the head office!""

GM says, "and Billy comes back with the chair, and time passes"

Franklin says, "Good lad."

Wilfred wants to know where his brothers presently are exactly and what they're doing. Probably just a minor divination thing.

Franklin waits and waits.

GM asks, "anyone else in the mill here? or in other mills?"

Michel says, "I'll find another mill"

Kori says, "me too"

Alexandra says, "I'm in another mill"

Kori says, "a different one from the one that Michel is in."

Michel says, "not the one Kori's in"

Wilfred says, "I'll have the paperwork done to allow me into another mill."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin laughs

Kori sticks out her tongue at Michel.

[Crows-Nest] Gaston asks, "Is Raul here?"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "no. dunno why"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "We should get him to confuse their paths so that they accidentally end up spending the night in the same mill."

Wilfred says, "<so, basically, one person to each mill? Do we have enough people/mills to go around?>"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "I can see this is going to turn into bad comedy where we both keep walking into the same mill, turn around on seeing each other and walk out, ad infinitum"

GM says (to Wilfred), "Rupert seems to be keeping up on his bills and so on, which I guess is a good sign. John is showing up occasionally on the records of hostels in africa"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says (to Gaston), "matchmaking is a bad idea around flammable materials"

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

GM says, "there are some mills left unattended -- but it doesn't seem to matter, as around 9 or 10 pm, all four of you begin to notice a faint burning smell"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "yeah, and their arguments do tend to be heated"

GM says, "(Michel sooner than the others, being higher aspect)"

Wilfred sniffs.

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "More often ice-cold, I thought."

Wilfred says, "<uh oh.>"

Michel follows his nose

Wilfred follows the smell.

Kori looks around for the source

Franklin says, "Preservation."

GM says, "following your respective noses, it appears to be coming from the vats"

GM says, "(which are covered for the night, and also so the soaking process can continue)"

Michel says, "<Someone's put a chemical in the vats that conflagrates when it dries out>"

GM says, "but there air-holes punched in the tops"

Wilfred hurries over to the vats.

[Crows-Nest] (from Franklin) GM research research

Kori . o O ( if they're covered, how do they have enough air to burn? )

GM says, "er, ^are"

Kori . o O ( aha )

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

Michel looks around for a fire extinguisher

Wilfred says (to Michel), "<Good heavens! The bounders!>"

GM says (to Michel), "there are some around, so you grab one off the wall"

Kori concentrates on the air holes, willing them to become smaller and smaller and snuff out.

Wilfred seals up the air holes with tape.

Michel checks to make sure it's the right type of extinguisher, and that it hasn't been tampered with

[nobilis] GM says (to Kori), "I guess that'd be a level-6 change miracle, or, I dunno, maybe a level-5 destruction"

GM says (to Michel), "looks right -- it"

GM says, "is for chemical fires"

Michel sprays away

Alexandra does likewise with the extingushers in her mill

[nobilis] Kori says, "well, I'll go with the destruction, then"

GM says, "I should point out there's no visible fire as yet,a lthough you can spray in the holes if you like"

Alexandra says, "<shit, something seems to be catching here>"

GM says, "but it'll be bad for the pulp"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "Or on second thoughts, probably less effort with the extinguishers. Doing that instead."

Franklin says, "<Here too.>"

[nobilis] Michel says (to GM), "sob sob, the paper will be RUINED, oh my breaking heart"

Wilfred asks (of GM), "Wait ... is there a water fountain or hose of some sort around?"

Alexandra sprays a bit, then cautiously pulls up a cover

GM says, "there are hoses for filling the vats, yeah"

GM says, "(since it's a combo of water and chemicals and wood pulp)"

GM says, "(which then gets drained into the river after the pulp is removed, hence the coloring of the river)"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "(What Franklin said)"

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

GM says (to Alexandra), "the pulp is bubbling, and smelling not-very-pleasant"

Wilfred says, "<Right. If this is a chemical that catches fire on drying, I'm going to try getting the pulp wet again."

GM says, "and as you lean over, you feel a faint wave of heat drifting up from the pulp"

Wilfred turns the hose on in one of the vats.

GM says (to Wilfred), "it's actually liquid as it is"

Gaston says, "<Mythic vision, anyone?>"

Michel asks, "<good idea?"

Michel switches

Alexandra switches

GM says (to Wilfred), "although the top part has dried out some, admittedly, since the mixing machines are off"

GM says, "in the tanks the wood spirits are twined around each other"

Alexandra asks (of plup), "Um, I don't know much about pulp ... anything odd going on with you?"

GM says, "hugging tightly until their bodies glow faintly red"

[nobilis] Kori says, "wow, wood porn"

Wilfred turns the mixing machine on for one of the vats.

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "that's both sweet and yet faintly disturbing as an image"

GM says, ""close embrace," they say "closeer and closer""

Gaston says, "<So far our enemies seem to be attacking mainly mystically, even when mundane physical effects might be simpler.>"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "yow"

GM says (to Wilfred), "it grinds on -- "eeep!" the spirits say, as they are pulled apart and churned around"

GM says (to Wilfred), "but on the bright side, this seems to kill the burning smell, at least for the moment"

Michel turns on his mixers, too

Wilfred says, "<turning the mixers on seems to help>"

Kori hits the switch on hers

Wilfred turns the other mixers on.

Kori says, "<so now what? We can't leave these on permanently, I presume>"

Alexandra does likewise

Michel says, "<there's this technology known as a bucket. we drain the vats>"

Wilfred says, "<How long did it take for this to start? We presumably have that much time to rest the mixers.>"

GM says, "more switches get flipped on and this seems to fix the problem for now"

Gaston says (to Franklin), "<Can you preserve some of the material in this state, so that we can study it?>"

Alexandra says (to pulp), "if you can think of anything I could be doing to help yoy, let me know ..."

GM says, ""whoah whoah whoah whoah" the pulp says as it spins around"

Alexandra says, "<we might want to give the Tom or the fire department a yell, to check on the mills we're not at"

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

Wilfred gets a bucket and scoops out a bit of the pulp from Vat 1.

Franklin says (to Gaston), "<That was the very thing I attempted to do when I first noticed the smell.>"

Gaston says, "<Aha, good.>"

Wilfred says (to Alex), "<Of course! I'll call them right away>"

Wilfred runs to the phone and calls the police.

[nobilis] Franklin says, "<Never quite heard feeback from GM about it though>"

Michel says (to Franklin), "<Is there any way of emptying the vats?>"

Franklin says, "<Yes.>"

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "sorry, right"

Michel says, "<pray tell>"

Franklin calls Tommy Briggs, too.

[nobilis] Penny says, "okay, sloping off to sleep. feel free to get me to do research or appropriate miracles or whatever"

GM says, "Franklin's vat stabilized when he preserved it"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "<I dunno, the GM is the one who researched this>"

[nobilis] Wilfred says (to Penny), "sweet dreams"

[nobilis] Michel says, "night"

[nobilis] Penny says, "g'night"

GM says (to Michel), "well, I mean, you could kick in the vat drains and dump the mess into the sewers"

[nobilis] GM says (to Penny), "g'night"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "It's important that we have exactly the correct noise for pulp being swooshed around."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "night"

Penny has disconnected.

Penny goes home.

Michel says, "mmm, and set every crapper in the town on fire. nice idea"

GM says, "meanwhile, the police are hurrying to the mills"

GM says, ""What are you doing here?" Ferguson demands of Wilfred, not entirely pleased about being woken up."

Kori says, "<I dunno, flaming toilets have a certain je ne sais quoi>"

GM says, "and Tom Briggs shows up at Franklin's mill"

GM says, ""You've turned on the mixers?" he says. "Whatever for?""

Wilfred says (to Ferguson), "I'll explain it all when I fill out my report."

Michel says (to Kori), "<they also give the bidet a much more significant purpose>"

Franklin explains the chemical-drying-arson theory as best he understands it.

Kori says, "<bwahaha ew>"

GM says, ""But but --" says Tom. "Who could have done this? And how did they get the chemicals in?""

Franklin says, "Good questions."

Michel says, "<I say we run a sample of this off to the chancel>"

GM says, ""But if leaving on the mixers is all we need to do to stop the mills from burning down, by golly, I'll have workers here every night to leave the mixers on""

Wilfred says (to Michel), "<aye>"

Franklin says, "<We'll get that from my vat.>"

GM says, "He shakes Franklin's hand enthusiastically. "You always did have a way with paper, Mister Merriman!""

Gaston says, "<I'll start researching for chemicals which might cause this effect.>"

Gaston does so.

Franklin says, "Thank you, Tommy!"

Gaston says, "<And yes, a sample for the monks to analyse would be good.>"

[nobilis] Franklin winks into the camera.

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Heh."

Michel looks around for some container to fill with paper glop

GM says, "ok, so everyone heads back to the chancel with a sample of wood pulp"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hooray"

[nobilis] Wilfred has a sudden hankering to go watch the Andy Griffith Show.

[nobilis] Franklin says (to wilfred), "I think we just watched it"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "yes, it's everyone's hero, PAPERBOY"

Franklin takes a long nap at some point in here.

Wilfred is checking over the recent hires at the mills with a fine-toothed comb.

GM says, "analysis suggests that some of the common bleaches added to the pulp combined with another substance that was in there to form a compound which ignites when left sitting for too long"

Franklin says, "Substance X."

GM says, "you can identify the other substance but this doesn't, of course, say how or when it got in there"

Franklin says, "Hrm."

Gaston asks, "We can identify it? Well, what is it?"

Michel asks, "is this substance widely commercially available, or would you have to get it through specialist suppliers?"

GM says (to Gaston), "substance X"

Gaston asks, "Or more to the point, how is it made and where does it come from?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Franklin) GM says, "I've done enough research already"

GM says (to Wilfred), "interestingly, nothing's changed with the in-plant personnel in the last five years or so"

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

GM says (to Gaston), "it'"

Gaston asks, "And why did the arsonists bother using this strange chemical rather than a few gallons of kerosene?"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "Hmmmmm."

GM says, "er, it's not something that occurs naturally anyplace, although it wouldn't be massively difficult for a chemist to cook up"

Wilfred grimaces and turns to the personnel reports.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "maybe katre is behind this"

Michel asks, "hmm. at what point in the paper-making process does the bleach get added?"

GM says, "when it's dumped into the vats, and then soaked"

GM says, "er, it = the wood chips"

Franklin says, "Maybe the substance is in the wood they're using."

GM says, "eventually the pulp is extracted and flattened and dried and you get paper"

Wilfred asks, "So now we'll have to check up the logging companies too?"

Franklin asks, "Poisoned trees?"

Michel asks, "Is this substance a liquid or solid in its pure form?"

Franklin says, "This is all strangely elaborate."

Michel says (to Franklin), "okay, now I'm pissed off"

GM says, "liquid, yeah"

Michel says, "so it'd have to be added fairly late on in the process- you'd have to put it straight into the vats"

Michel says, "so it has to have been put in the day before, or it'd have combusted the last time the mixers went off"

Michel asks, "or have I missed something here?"

Franklin says, "The vats we talked to didn't seem to think anything unusual had gone on."

Franklin says, "No, I think your logic is correct."

Gaston asks, "Is it something about the 100-pound card stock after all, then?"

Gaston says, "Whatever that is."

Michel says, "I still think the question about why all this elaborate chemistry when a match would do the job just as well is the important one"

Franklin scratches his forehead.

Kori says (to Gaston), "that shouldn't be anything out of the way"

Kori says, "it's just heavy paper for printing... oh, business cards or something, I guess"

Wilfred divines employee records, looking for possible turncoats. People who seem too dissatisfied ... people who seem much too diligent after a period of dissatisfaction....

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "or elaborate feelies"

[Crows-Nest] Kori says, "shush"

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

Michel says (to Wilfred), "any nobilis or similar worth his salt could sneak in unnoticed and dump chemicals in, one way or the other"

Kori says (to Michel), "I don't know -- I bet it's not that easy to set pulp on fire in its wet state"

Michel says (to Kori), "there's plenty of other flammable stuff about, and no reason to prefer the pulp"

Franklin says, "Four different mills, simultaneously, but during the working day today because they didn't burn up last night."

GM says (to Wilfred), "nothing .. nothing .. really, you couldn't have picked a more dedicated set of employees, to judge by their records. of course, this may just be that the pulp mills are practically the only job in town"

Gaston says (to Wilfred), "Also check for unusual recent contracts."

Kori says (to Michel), "true, but you know, maybe it's because they're determined to strike through the paper itself"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "I'm hoping this is the work of some pawn, as it was with Penny's abduction."

Kori says, "as more of an affront to Franklin"

Franklin says, "That is true."

Franklin says, "And it worked."

Michel says (to Kori), "mmm, point"

Franklin says, "Michel also had some pains at one point, before we went to sinkhole-land."

Wilfred . o O ( so, what, John's going to find his official documents "insufficient" to get him into Burkina Faso? )

Franklin paces restlessly.

Franklin says, "There just doesn't seem to be anything to *do*."

Michel says, "difficult to say... but I'd guess someone's broken in during working hours, unseen, and dumped the chemicals in- or maybe they replaced a chemical that should be in there with chemical X..."

Wilfred says, "What we've done, probably, is tell the enemy that we know what's happening there. This means they'll try something else next."

Michel asks, "Are there any chemicals missing from the analysis that should be there in a normal mix?"

GM says (to Michel), "no, it looks like it's purely in addition. the only unusual thing Franklin sees is the wood fibers seem a bit weaker than usual"

Franklin says, "I'm still thinking it starts in the wood."

Michel says, "the poisoning-trees idea? seems a bit far fetched..."

Michel asks, "could chemical X, in theory, bioaccumulate in wood?"

Franklin says, "We've eliminated pretty much everything else."

Michel says (to Franklin), "well, apart from the invisible man walking in with a watering can, which is quite possible"

Franklin says, "The employees are loyal, the vats run all day, the chemical is already there by the time the pulp dries out."

Gaston asks, "Do the records say where the wood came from?"

GM says (to Michel), "well, in theory -- if it was there for too long it would probably kill the tree, but if a reasonably high concentration was in the wood, then yeah, once the wood was ground, you can imagine the substance X concentration getting high enough in the vats"

Michel says, "Let's do a chem analysis of the wood they're using, before it goes into the vats"

Franklin says (to Michel), "Okay, I grant you that an invisible man is a possibility."

GM says (to Gaston), "yeah, Wilfred can point out which bits of the forest they're currently logging"

Michel says, "that'll give us some idea of when X is added"

Gaston says, "If they're suddenly using a new source of wood, that would be very interesting."

Michel goes and swipes a few logs

Gaston says, "Otherwise it may be a red herring."

Alexandra says, "or a power that's able to manipulate from afar"

Franklin says, "Now we're cooking."

GM exclaims (at Michel), "aha! substance X!"

Franklin takes another nap.

Gaston says, "In the logs? That was quick."

Michel says, "invisible man ruled out! let's see those forests"

Wilfred points out which bits of the forest they're currently using.

GM says (to Michel), "oddly, not distributed evenly all through the wood, but looking more like, hrm, it'd been injected at various points, and then spread out from those points"

Gaston asks, "What kind of wood is this?"

Michel asks (of GM), "Before or after the wood was cut down?"

Gaston asks, "And where does it come from?"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "together, we FIGHT CRIME"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "Yay!"

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

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "I like it when we get all forensic."

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "It's like Quincy, only with super powers and wood sprites."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "this is pretty cool in a different way from other sessions"

Michel says, "it'd be hell to go around a whole forest with a tree syringe"

Michel says, "but then it'd also be hell to go around a whole lumber yard"

Michel says, "maybe they're using poison woodpeckers"

Wilfred asks, "Could it simply have soaked into the wood?"

Michel says (to Wilfred), "if so, it'd have done so evenly"

GM says, "You do more analysis on the wood -- it looks like the substance-X treated wood comes from a particular couple acres"

Michel says, "oho"

GM says, "the mills don't get all their wood from the same area"

Gaston says, "Well, let's go and have a look."

Michel says, "time for a walk in the woods"

Gaston asks, "Wait, should we be surreptitious about this?"

Wilfred asks (of GM), "who has the property rights to those acres? Merriman Mills?"

Franklin says, "Hm. The wood hit one mill, but didn't entirely burn it down. A few days go by, a second mill burns more than the first. A few more days -- voom, the whole place goes up. And then, four mills all have the bad lumber with sufficient concentration of substance X to torch all of them."

GM says (to Wilfred), "right"

Michel takes a portable chem-testing kit

GM says (to Michel), "the monks work you up something clever to detect substance X"

Wilfred asks (of Gaston), "We're taking a walk in the woods. How un-suspicious could that be?"

Franklin says, "With the property owner."

Michel says (to Franklin), "bioaccumulation? we'd better check where the other places were getting their wood immediately before the fires"

Michel asks, "it'll be on record - Wilfred?"

Gaston says, "We should also take a testing kit to the mills, and find out which stock of logs they have to dump."

Gaston says, "But let's have a look at the forest first."

Michel says, "sure, you go to the mills, I'm going to the woods"

Wilfred checks the wood-collection records of the various mills.

Franklin says, "I thought it sounds more like they did some testing to see what concentration was necessary, then went full-out."

Michel says, "oh, jesus, I bet these are planted forests with all the trees in neat rows"

Michel shudders

GM says, "You can't take a taxi into the forest, of course, but you can presumably borrow a truck and take the logging roads out there"

GM says, "and walk from there to the acres .. which appear to look more or less the same as the rest of the forest"

Franklin will get testing kits to Tommy Briggs at some convenient point soon.

Gaston says (to Franklin), "Maybe only some logs were injected with X, and the amount in the vats gradually built up."

GM says, "except, of course, much of them are clear-cut"

Michel asks, "chem-X in the soil?"

Franklin says, "The injection points, remember."

Michel asks (of GM), "is it planted nasty forests, or are they cutting old woods?"

GM says, "and yeah, these are trees in rows, but it's still fairly nice -- birds sing in the treetops, squirrels hop from branch to branch, ivy twines up some of the trees"

Michel says (to Franklin), "yeah, but worth a shot"

Gaston says, "I can't imagine anyone comes here except when planting or cutting down."

Michel tests the soil

Gaston asks, "Can we look for footprints, and other traces of human activity?"

GM says, "sunlight filters down widely in the more cut areas and dimly in the areas not yet cut"

GM says (to Michel), "the soil seems fine -- no traces of substance X at all"

Michel says (to GM), "it doesn't really count as my domain if it's planted for a purpose, though"

Franklin hollers (to trees), "Hallo! Have any of you been stabbed lately?"

Wilfred brushes down his suit a flicks a bit of dirt off his leather shoes.

GM says (to Gaston), "you see plenty of footprints in the clearcut areas, of course"

GM says (to Gaston), "and a few random footprints in the area you're in, but it's hard to tell who from"

GM says, "not a lot of footprints here, though"

[nobilis] Alexandra starts humming 'I talk to the trees...'

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Hee hee."

GM says, ""Ooo ... " mumbles the trees around Franklin. "I don't feel so good ...""

Michel looks at all the neat little rows of trees and thinks of stormtrooper marches.

Franklin looks around for queasy tree.

Michel examines the tree's trunk

GM says, "Franklin looks at the tree right in front of him. "But nobody's stabbing me -- well, not besides the termites biting, and the birds pecking, and the squirrels gnawing." It sighs. "But that's life as a tree.""

Franklin says, "Hmmmm."

GM says (to Michel), "hmm -- there do seem to be a few odd little bald patches where the bark has been scraped off, maybe an inch or two square and scattered over the tree"

Michel asks (of GM), "Can I tell what's been doing the scraping, and how far up the trunk do they go?"

GM says, "they seem to go up to the very top of the tree, perhaps a dozen spots on this tree and (on closer inspection) on several other trees around as well"

Michel says, "now, it'd be lunacy to go around the whole forest scraping the trees and sticking X in them. unless our excrucians have no life at all"

GM says, "you can't really tell, although there's also scrape-marks and gouges on the wood beneath -- it looks like somebody's been filing it, perhaps, or biting"

Michel exclaims, "poison beavers!"

Franklin says, "Or squirrels."

[Crows-Nest] (from Gaston) Michel says, "Wait, that would be an attack on Gaston's domain."

Michel says, "Hmm. I'm coming up empty here... if it's a biting animal, surely enough X to contaminate a whole tree would kill it quite quickly. There'd have to be a huge swarm of them for it to be effective without killing the original hosts."

Michel says, "unless they were bioengineered to be resistant or something, which to me seems like a hell of a lot of effort to save money on matches."

Franklin asks, "Didn't something recently happen to the Baronet of Squirrels?"

Gaston says (to Franklin), "Do you know, I think you might be right."

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "what?"

Franklin says, "Raul mentioned it."

Michel says, "weird."

Franklin says, "That chancel he found for Shagapir's group -- Astara. One of its Powers was the Baronet of Squirrels."

Michel says, "okay, let's look around for squirrels"

GM says (to Michel), "there's one now -- scampering along the branches"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "unfortunately, I didn't get to read any farther than that in the sunday logs so I dunno how that panned out"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "I am afeared that there is a Power of Squirrels"

Gaston becomes a squirrel, and starts mingling.

GM says, "it turns its head to scold you and then runs down the trunk of a tree"

Michel asks (of Franklin), "do we talk to it, or just shoot the tree-rat and cut it open?"

Franklin says, "I'm not sure."

GM says, "Gaston runs up the trunk to meet it, and so he sees it suddenly grab onto the bark and start chewing"

Franklin says, "It is the squirrels!"

Gaston asks (of Squirrel), "Hey! You! Know where I can score some decent nuts around here?"

Franklin says, "How peculiar."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin laughs

Michel says, "I think it's in evil company. and if the Baronet turns up to protect it, it'll be an opportunity to laugh loudly at the fact that he even exists"

Gaston asks (of Squirrel), "Why the hell are you chewing bark, you fool?"

Wilfred says, "right. mutant squirrels."

GM says (to Gaston), "the squirrel seems to have its mouth full -- it looks up at you and wiggles its nose in a just-a-minute way"

GM says, "when it's dislodged an inch or two of bark (pulling at it with its paws, too)"

Michel says, "okay, we need to shoot one and do chem and DNA samples"

Gaston says (to Michel), "<Wait.>"

GM says, "it does a bit more gnawing on the wood underneath, and then spits something from its mouth onto the wood"

GM says, "it looks like some kind of greenish putty"

Franklin says, "Gack."

GM says, "then it turns and runs back up the tree"

Wilfred says, "good heavens."

Gaston follows.

Michel pulls out a small rifle and plays with the sights while he's waiting for Gaston to finish hitting on the squirrel

Gaston exclaims, "Come back, you fluffy-tailed beauty!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "yay"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin laughing and laughing

Wilfred tries not to laugh.

GM says, "the squirrel wiggles its tail saucily at Gaston but keeps running across the branches"

Michel tracks the squirrel with his rifle scope

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "it occurs to me that gaston has a pepe le pew accent"

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

GM says, "he keeps up with her, and eventually arrives shorter after her at a hole in the tree"

Wilfred says, "<I don't know about you guys, but it might be a good idea to get that ... putty out.>"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "Oh, now it's a 'her'."

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "Good idea."

GM says, "which seems to be filled with the green stuff -- and there are other squirrels running over to it, picking up some in their mouths, and then running off again"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Franklin), "absolutely"

Gaston says, "<My.>"

Michel says, "Gaston? Sample."

Gaston says, "<There is plenty of it.>"

Alexandra says (to Wilfred), "if that's happening to every tree in the forest, that's an awful lot of putty to try to remove"

Michel asks, "So how does the putty get there in the first fucking place?"

Gaston asks, "Presumably I'm a high-aspect squirrel, right?"

Gaston tries to stop the squirrels from getting at the putty.

Kori asks (of Michel), "genetically engineered woodpeckers fly it in?"

GM says (to Gaston), "you're high aspect for a squirrel, sure"

Michel says (to Kori), "someone's got waaaay too much time on their hands"

Kori says (to Michel), "My thought exactly."

Gaston says, "I'll defend the putty cache."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "somehow some of this needs to go in the nobilis quotebook, but I'm at a loss as to choosing which one"

Gaston says, "And switch into mystic vision, and try to communicate with the squirrels."

GM says, "they seem pretty single-minded, though -- you can't really stop all half-dozen of them, although you can hold off most of them"

Michel says, "maybe it's the Power of Really Lame Convoluted Plans"

Michel asks (of Gaston), "Can I shoot a few? Can I?"

GM says, ""mustgetpastemustgetpaste" they say"

Wilfred says (to Gaston), "<Where are you? I'll see if I can seal up that hole.>"

GM says, ""mustchewtreesmustchewtrees""

Gaston says, "<Somebody has brainwashed these squirrels.>"

Franklin says, "I didn't know squirrels had brains to wash."

Gaston says, "Hmm, I guess I pick a likely-looking squirrel and freeze it into a rapture of self-reflection and introspection."

Wilfred says, "<Right. Use an animal what hasn't got properly documented orders that I can play with.>"

GM says (to Gaston), "zoinks"

Michel climbs the putty tree

GM says, "(at least, I assume that's the paralysis noise)"

GM says (to Michel), "ok then"

Gaston says, "<Now, how can we go about determining how this squirrel is being controlled?>"

Gaston says, "<I assume the Power of Squirrels is the most likely suspect.>"

Michel asks, "and where does the putty come from?"

GM says (to Michel), "you see Gaston (as a squirrel with a little beret-shaped fur tussle on its head) squabbling with some other squirrels"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "Ha ha ha ha ha"

Wilfred tries to get the putty cache in his sight.

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

Michel shoos the other squirrels off, and shoos Gaston off for good measure

Kori has disconnected.

Kori has connected.

GM says (to Michel,Wilfred), "it looks like it's been poured into the hole here"

GM says, "or dumped or something"

Michel says, "okay, so this is where our evil dude dumped it"

Gaston says, "<We could see if this tree knows anything.>"

[nobilis] Michel asks, "can I empty the hole?"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Good thought, as long as we keep a sample."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "get a sample tho"

Michel fills an empty cig box with goo, then empties the hole

Gaston says (to Wilfred), "<Do you think you could divine where this squirrel's orders originated from?>"

GM says, "pop, the putty vanishes"

Michel says, "now I'm going to get mobbed by squirrels, I know it"

Gaston waves the inert squirrel at Wilfred.

GM says, "the squirrels on the tree shake their heads dazedly"

Michel chem-tests the putty (as if there's any question)

GM says, "yeah, it appears to be substance X, plus some kind of carrier substance to help it insinuate into the wood"

Gaston switches to mythic vision and talks to the tree.

Michel says, "there must be other putty sources scattered around the place"

Gaston asks (of tree), "Hello! Do you have any tasty nuts for me?"

GM says, ""Not another squirrel! You guys go find some other tree to bother!""

Michel asks (of Wilfred), "did you check the records of the burned places to see where they were getting their wood just before they burned?"

Wilfred says (to Gaston), "<I'll try>"

Gaston asks (of tree), "Yes, I saw all the squirrels chewing bark. When did that happen?"

Michel clambers down the tree

Gaston asks (of tree), "And what is this nasty green stuff?"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks (of GM), "Well, can I divine the origin of the squirrel's orders?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "squirrel bureaucracy"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I'm sure they keep clean paperwork on their comings and goings"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Well, they got the wood from here."

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Hee hee."

Michel says (to Wilfred), "all of 'em? right"

GM says, ""A few weeks ago, you all started chewing on me like never before -- what is it, squirrel mating season making you crazy?""

Michel says, "I thought you just checked the one we got a sample from"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "although maybe there was some kind of.. transaction or something"

[nobilis] GM says (to Wilfred), "sorry, right. no, you can't trace it back anywhere with a straight divination -- but if it's a nobilis at work this'd fall under direct miracle"

Gaston says (to tree), "Were there any humans around before that? This kind of thing is always the humans' fault, in my experience."

Michel says, "I find it hard to believe that five or six mills would all be getting wood from the same couple of acres"

GM says, ""No kidding -- if they aren't tearing branches off for walking sticks they're chopping you down to make into toothpicks""

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "I'm jumping to the conclusion that it's the power of squirrels at work."

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Or somebody controlling the Power of Squirrels."

Michel asks, "How's about someone prays to the power of squirrels?"

Franklin says, "Well, Merriman Mills and Merriman Acres are all kind of -- well, see, vertical integration..."

Wilfred says (to Michel), "No doubt the lumber company mixes up all the wood they get and the wood goes out at random."

GM says, ""Now that you mention it, there was somebody out here a while back -- climbing all over me and then he brought out some kind of little bucket or something""

Michel says (to PowerofSquirrels), "<Hey there. I've got a beady-eyed tree-rat in my cross-hairs right noooow...>"

GM says, "(there's no response from the power of squirrels)"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Franklin), "hee hee"

Gaston asks (of tree), "Despicable! Always up to no good, those humans. What was this person like?"

Michel says, "maybe we'd better ask around to see if he's okay"

Alexandra says, "sounds like a gossip job for Edmund"

Gaston says (to Alexandra), "<Mmm, yes.>"

[nobilis] GM says, "hmm, nobody around from sunday group, is there"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I think the last two sunday sessions talk about it, but I haven't read them yet"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "yeah, no"

GM says, ""He was -- let's see --""

Gaston says, "<Something about this still feels wrong.>"

GM says, ""I think he was older that most of those ones on the ground -- except that one there""

Gaston says, "<Why go out of your way to use a very specific and identifiable Power, when a box of matches would do almost as well?>"

GM says, ""He had, you know, that colored bark they all do""

GM says, ""And a bucket full of stuff""

Michel says, "maybe it's the Power of Abysmally Convoluted Plans, like I said"

GM says, ""I've been feeling ill just having it in the hole there -- I'm glad it's finally gone""

Kori says, "<I'm thinking that it's meant as a perversion of the Squirrels power -- upset two people at once>"

Wilfred asks (of Gaston), "We've got brainwashed squirrels planting what amounts to a timebomb in trees destined for papermills dear to the heart of a demigod ... and you think something "feels wrong"?"

Gaston asks (of tree), "Was he alone?"

GM says, ""Just the one of him, yeah""

Gaston says, "<I can't think of anything else to ask this tree.>"

Michel says, "hmmf."

Gaston says, "<But we have a date -- a few weeks ago.>"

Michel asks (of Franklin), "still getting the cramps?"

Franklin asks, "What did the man with the bucket look like?"

Franklin says, "Oh, old you said."

Franklin says (to Michel), "Hmm."

Gaston says (to tree), "Thank you! I think I will try to track this human down and teach it a lesson."

GM says, ""Uh .. as a squirrel? Ok, go on, bite his ears off""

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "not just any squirrel... this is a FRENCH squirrel"

Gaston skips down to the ground, captive squirrel tucked under his arm.

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "You have no idea how vicious French squirrels are."

Gaston turns back into a human again.

[nobilis] Franklin says, "anyway, it is worth the time at least skimming through the Sunday group logs, because their plotlines and ours are intertwined"

[Crows-Nest] Alexandra says, "this seems a good time to mention again that david considers baseball and squirrels the US's only redeeming features"

Michel says, "so, it appears that we've reached the usual 'okay, we know how they did it but they got away again' part"

Gaston says, "Hmm, I don't suppose this little one can help us much."

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "but you have evil grey ones. that kill our nice red ones"

Michel says (to Gaston), "but he will make a very nice stew"

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "I should also mention that I know a guy who is regarded by most of our mutual friends as the Undead Lord of the Squirrels."

Franklin is ready to head back to the chancel and get some rest.

GM asks, "ok, so what are you doing about the squirrels and/or the existing trees and/or the existing lumber with substance X in it?"

Gaston asks, "What are the squirrels doing now that the hunk of X is gone?"

Wilfred says, "I could alter the paperwork so that the lumberjacks head to a different part of the forest tomorrow."

Franklin says, "Well, I'm going to get the mills equipped with the ability to test for it."

Gaston says, "It seems unlikely that staking out this area would help much. I imagine the villains have been and gone."

GM says (to Gaston), "looking a bit confused, but they're starting to return to normal squirrel activities (ie, running up and down trees)"

Franklin asks, "Did I read to much into it, or did removing the putty break the spell on the squirrels?"

Gaston says, "Something of the kind, it looked like."

Gaston says, "Oh, wait, I wonder if the cache gets renewed every so often."

Franklin asks, "Now how does that work, I wonder?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Michel) Squirrel says, "And I'd have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for you pesky gods."

Gaston says, "Somebody could have told the squirrels to keep chewing until all the goop was gone, then forget about it."

Franklin asks, "The substance seems to just be the chemical igniter plus something to make it soak into the wood. How is it that it is the brainwashing element as well?"

Gaston says, "And Michel accelerated the process."

Franklin says (to Gaston), "Ohh."

Franklin says, "Hmmmm."

Michel says (to Franklin), "well, it doesn't need to be a perpetual process"

Michel says, "once all the mills are burned down, they won't be in a hurry to build new ones around these parts"

Gaston realises he's still holding a squirrel with a very thoughtful look in its eyes, and releases it.

Alexandra asks, "Could we get the trees to notify us if the goop gets refreshed?"

Michel says, "and arson doesn't need to be a sustainable industry"

[Crows-Nest] Alexandra says (to Gaston), "aww, you could have brought the monks a souviner"

Michel exclaims (at Gaston), "hey, my stew!"

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "In my brief foray as a squirrel I cam to realise how much of an anathema captivity would be to their little souls."

[Crows-Nest] Gaston says, "Er, came."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "aww"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "I am sooo tempted to just shoot that squirrel now"

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

GM asks, "ok, so what now?"

Franklin asks, "Can Michel empty all the gooped-up trees in one big swoop?"

GM says, "hmm"

GM says, "I don't think so, but he can probably do it in a series of medium swoops"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "now we go back to the chancel and break until next week, I'm sorta thinking"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah"

[nobilis] GM says, "I just want to find out how the last details here are handled"

[nobilis] Gaston says, "Yow, yeah, it's late."

Michel yomps around the wood for a few hours removing goo

GM says, "ok then"

Wilfred says, "I think, once this is done ... I shall go catch a play."

Franklin says, "Good man."

GM asks, "and the lumber at the mills? and checking if the putty reappears?"

Gaston says, "I'm somewhat at a loss for ways to follow up on this investigation."

Wilfred asks, "How does everyone feel about Shakespeare?"

Alexandra says (to Franklin), "lumber: it'd probably be best if you can arrange to have the current batch scrapped"

Kori says (to Wilfred), "just as long as it's not Coriolanus"

Michel says (to Wilfred), "depends largely on who's playing"

Franklin says, "Old lumber at the mills will be scrapped. New lumber will be checked by Tom Briggs and Billy and the whole team of loyal workers."

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "Cast of unknowns."

Wilfred says (to Kori), "Hm, let me see ... I think it's The Merchant of Venice."

Kori says, "Sounds good, then."

Michel says (to Wilfred), "if they're crap, I will not be kind"

Wilfred says (to Michel), "I don't expect you to be kind."

Alexandra says, "And as for seeing if the putty pops up again .. might be easiest to just come back here and query the trees once a week or so. Until we can come up with a better system for keeping an eye on things"

Kori says (to Michel), "you're never kind"

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "hee"

GM says, "ok then, back to the chancel, unless anyone else has anything they want to do"

GM says, "next week, less squirrels (probably)"

Michel says (to Kori), "not to bad actors, certainly"

Franklin says, "Right-o."

Kori quirks an eyebrow, but doesn't add anythign.