[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "I have log."

Alison is still waking up, at the moment.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hmm. I'm not sure if I ever finished reading interludes last time."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "That was where Stella and I broke into the central sooper-sekrit area and found nothing at all."

[nobilis] Chaz says (to GM), "Hey, I'm gonna start checking in with my anchors ona regular basis. Like, a quick 'Hi', once a day, just to make sure they're OK."

[nobilis] GM says, "good plan"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Chaze), "Nothing except for a mysteriously sealed inner area and a mention of Silver."

[nobilis] GM takes down little notes.

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Alison), "Right."

(From Alison) GM says, "They don't answer."

[nobilis] (from Alison) GM says, "They don't answer."

Alison says, "(Ilac.)"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Davey says, "darn, I meant to reread the Anchor rules at some point, but I forgot"

[nobilis] Chaz checks the familia.png picture.

Aisleen arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "apologies for delay"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of GM), "Hey, I presume the etiquette book lists the rest of these people? Like, who's Rachel?"

[nobilis] GM says, "good point"

[nobilis] GM says, "Rachel is the Viscountess of Waves"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Aha."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Hey, an actual themed chancel."

[nobilis] GM says, "hey, sometimes it happens"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Though Olympus has a good theme, too."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, I guess we can go here -- I figured Gunther'd be showing up but apparently not"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is Gunther playing this week since he's back, or is he not playing since he just barely got back?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Timing."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Okeedokee."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Also, I'm surprised we don't have bunches of Vonafolk here to party."

Davey is very hungover and probably has forgotten any important recent finds

GM says, "so when we last left our heroes, they had been investigating a new tv program"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to alison), "especially since they have been missing their own sessions"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeah. I guess they're just inherently untrustworthy."

[nobilis] Chaz chuckles.

Aisleen says (to davey), "i can give you a really cool antidote to hangovers, if you are really really brave to try it"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Not that our own attendance is 100%, of course."

GM says, "before that they had been tangling with the senator of the guy involved in the motorcycle crash, although with Wilfred's help that bill appears to be stuck in committee and unlikely to make it out before the end of session"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "Shh!"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to chaz), "ah but we aren't session-crashers."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "we are consistent that way"

Davey says, "urngh, that guy. Lose-lose situation. Mess with my anchor or with my Domain. I wonder which was the real aim of all that."

GM says, "but there was still the question of what was going on at the motorcycle shop, what was up with the business card labelled Silver, and how much fun Amanda's party was going to be"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Aisleen), "I presume that a tasteful cameo is different from crashing a session? :)"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "of course :)"

Alison . o O (to Eddie) ( Hey! I gotta job for you. )

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Eddie?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "edmond i think"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "or the messenger guy"

Alison . o O (to Eddie) ( Ever heard of Egbert the Octopus? )

[nobilis] Alison says, "Nah, anchor."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "oops"

Davey asks, "has anyone asked Amanda yet about all that self-improvement-lookin' stuff on that kiddie show, or are we waitin' for the party?"

[nobilis] Aisleen wonders how old a 7-year old's anchor would be :)

Aisleen says, "party, i think"

Davey says, "fair enough"

Davey says, "gives me time to polish my good vest"

Chaz says (to Davey), "It looked more like infomercials to me, but you could be right."

GM says, "Eddie . o O ( Uhh .. yeah, but I haven't been watching for a week since I got grounded )"

Aisleen says, "I mean, I am sure she is quite distracted and frazzled from running around getting the party ready"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Well, this nine year old does have a nine year old anchor."

Aisleen says, "oh, no! What am I going to wear? I need ot talk to Stella"

Davey says, "yeah, but it was infomercials about improving your vocabulary and all that"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to alison), "sorry, wrong age"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Ailseen), "Also, the teacher we met last time was an anchor."

Alison . o O (to Eddie) ( Grounded? Hmph. I want you to -- hey, wait. *You* watch that stuff too? )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of chaz), "miz bailey?"

GM says, "Eddie . o O ( (guiltily) only when my little brother has it on! )"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Right."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of GM), "do our mages generate reports when we set them to watch TV?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "alt: have the mages found anything?"

[nobilis] GM says, "oh yes, the reports"

GM says, "Henderson drifts in, followed by one of the mages with a large stack of paperwork."

GM says, ""We've just finished the preliminary analysis," Henderson says"

Alison . o O (to Eddie) ( <sigh> I want you to do some poking around for me. I think it may be bad for kids, and not just because it tells 'em to eat brussel sprouts. )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of alison), "do we know what you and Eddie are discussing?"

Davey says, "mmm, magical clown spreadsheet"

GM says, ""We've prepared a little presentation here, with (cream) pie charts and everything""

Aisleen tries to look seriously grave, and fails

[nobilis] Alison says, "Nah. But if you want to ask why she's staring off into space, feel free."

Chaz exclaims, "Neat!"

Aisleen asks (of alison), "Hey, what goes?"

GM says, ""It looks like there have been some slight trends noticeable on television over the weeks we've been watching, and further back insofar as we can get them from tv guides and so on""

Chaz says, "Hold that thought--I'll be right back."

Alison says (to Aisleen), "I'm talking to Eddie. He's a little brat in Miss B's class."

Chaz whooshes off, comes back with a bucket of Anse.

Alison says (to Aisleen), "And an anchor." She makes a face.

Aisleen asks (of alison), "ah. About the octopus?"

Chaz asks (of Anse), "These guys might have some information about Tomas--tell me if anything sounds familiar, OK?"

Davey shakes his head and mutters, "man, we gotta do something better for that guy."

Alison . o O (to Eddie) ( Can you talk to some little kids and stuff, and try to find out what kind of weird stuff it's doing to them, or making them do? It's for Miss Bailey, so I want you to do a good job. )

GM says, ""The number of infomercials hasn't risen overall, but there have been a few shifts -- less advertisement for hair-cutting products, more for job fairs, more for those where you can get a free vacation for listening to a seminar on owning a time-share, less for salad shooters and ginsu knives, and more for "You can!" with Amanda Pyne""

Aisleen asks (of alison), "if he watches the show, would his brain be altered too? or is this just for little kids?"

GM says, "Eddie . o O ( Uh, ok Alison -- I'll grab 'em at lunch and make 'em tell me! )"

Chaz exclaims, "Less salad shooters and ginsu knives? The genre is falling apart at the seams!"

Davey says, "it's almost like someone *gave* Amanda Infomercials"

Aisleen asks, "Hm. Amanda's books too?"

GM says, ""And of course more advertisements for halloween-related merchandise -- candy, masks, fake vampire teeth""

Chaz asks (of mages), "Any specific companies involved? Like int he time-share?"

Aisleen says, "Is there a cliff notes for Amanda's books? Or at least, a nice synopsis? I would like to read it a bit"

Alison says (to Aisleen), "Yeah, about the octopus. I wat him to get a kid's-eye-view, if he can. He's got a little brother, and his brother's got friends, and so he knows lots of little kids."

Davey says, "<I don't wanna upset Anse with this, but what would happen if someone drank him? What can you do when you have a Power boiled down to a symbol like these guys?>"

GM says (to Aisleen), "these are very definitely the sort of books where they have the ten-minute summary for the busy executive, yes"

Alison says (to Aisleen), "I dunno. If being immature is the same as being young, then it might work on him too."

GM says, "and in her case that doesn't result in the loss of very much content"

Chaz . o O (to davey) ( That's a good question--let's experiment a bit after the report. )

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "how would our chancel go about getting a book?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "You could have an anchor buy it."

[nobilis] GM says, "you could send one of the residents to earth, head to an airport bookstore, and buy it there"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And read it through their eyes."

[nobilis] Davey asks, "sens a carnie to buy one, or pop over to Octavo?"

[nobilis] GM says, "or that"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Or that, yeah."

Chaz says, "Hmm."

Chaz asks (of mages), "Anything else of note?"

GM says, "The mages flip through their notes. "Um .. it looks like the advertisements are from several different companies, but many are coming from this 'Sun Valley Living'""

Aisleen asks (of mages), "California?"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "oh man"

[nobilis] Alison says, "We could try to open an on-chancel bookstore"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "I just went back to my character sheet to remind myself of my 3rd anchor's name, and I's forgotten about my handicaps"

[nobilis] Alison says, "But it might just carry comics."

GM says, ""Well, they have a 1-800 number to find out the office near you, but their time-shares are in california, yeah""

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "which fortunately have not come up"

GM says, ""I think that's it, except -- oh, yes, and the psychic readings are up too.""

Alison asks, "Who owns Sun Valley Living?"

Aisleen says, "look in to timeshares, or call psychic network. i love our choices"

Davey asks, "what are those again?"

Chaz asks (of Anse), "Did Tomas have any interests in companies like those?"

Davey . o O (to Phelps) ( hey, weasel. I want you to do something for me )

Davey . o O (to Phelps) ( Buy one a them Amanda Pyne books and read it. Do you some good. )

GM says, "(burble, splash) He kept his hand in everything -- I think he was fondest of the flowbee, but he was always busy with the timeshares and psychic network too. "just call now and I'll fix everything!" he was always saying."

GM says, "Phelps . o O ( What, you want me to *read*? Aw, c'mon. I got enough trouble working the register here. )"

Davey shudders and rubs his beard at the mention of the flowbee

Alison stage-whispers, "What's a ... flowbee?"

GM says, "Phelps . o O ( But you're the boss, I guess - I'll check it out after my shift is up. )"

Davey . o O (to Phelps) ( see, that's my point. Enlarge your goddamn life a little. Jesus. )

Davey . o O (to Phelps) ( thaaank you. )

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "For a moment, I thought Davey was switching to spam."

Chaz asks (of Anse), "Hmm. Does 'T&C Productions' sound familiar?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz exclaims, "Yay anchor abuse!"

Davey says, quietly, "It's this thing you put on your vacuum cleaner...to cut your hair. I hooked it up to a shopvac...oww."

GM says, ""Well, no, but Tomas had a whole bunch of companies he supported or ran indirectly -- this could be one of them. It *does* have a T in the name.""

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

Chaz says, "Oh, huh."

Alison says (to Davey), "Eww."

Chaz gets on the internet, and tries to find out what the T and C stand for.

[Crows-Nest] (from Alison) Mythic Internet says, "Ow, ow! Get off! You're hurting my backbone!"

GM says, ""But it's not that hard to start up a new tv show and keep it going if you put a lot of direct effort in - what's hard is to get it to work when you're not there to keep a direct hand on it""

Chaz says, "Hmm, right."

Alexandra arrives, looking for booty.

Chaz asks (of Anse), "OK, I have a question. You're able to keep yourself in one 'area' of water, right? Like, there's not bits of you left up in the pool on the mountain?"

Aisleen . o O (to alexandra) ( Hey. Can you loan me a copy of Amanda's latest book? )

GM says (to Chaz), "nothing, but that's not unusual -- the organization's website is pretty close-mouthed, saying only "T&C Productions is a new dynamic corporation dedicated to producing high-quality, education television shows that benefit the family and raise the level of national discourse. T&C Productions: today in your town, tomorrow the world.""

Alexandra says (to Aisleen), "<sure, let me poke around for it>"

Alexandra starts digging through the stacks

Chaz raises an eyebrow.

[nobilis] Davey says, "when Phelps does get around to reading I'll drop in on his consciousness for a distillation"

Aisleen says, "Tomorrow the world? that sounds quite world conquest-ish"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to davey), "great. we can compare notes then"

GM says (to Chaz), ""I'm not sure about this form -- I don't think I've heard about anyone being like this before. I think that this is basically symbolic: it feels like I barely have any of my power here.""

Alison asks, "Has Amanda made any books about TV?"

Alison asks, "Or any books for kids?"

GM says, "eventually Alexandra comes up with the book (in the "new books" section, natch), and Aisleen and Davey check it out"

Chaz asks (of Anse), "And you need your body back, you think, in order to be functional again?"

Aisleen says (to alexandra), "thanks"

Alexandra says, "sure thing"

[nobilis] Alexandra says, "idling on this window, but I'm still logged in as Kiz, so just let me know if I'm needed again"

GM says, "it appears it's a combination of guided personal affirmation ("Step 1: Remember everyone can be loved."), mantras ("Love. Love. Looooooove."), and suggestions for self-improvement ("Like how the Chinese all worked together to jump up and down and move the course of the Earth out of oncoming asteroids, if we just worked together, we could recycle 11 metric tons of aluminum or hold a fund-raising drive to get teddy bears for everyone.")"

Alison goes to look up whether or not Amanda has made any kids books or books about TV.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "the transcript does not seem to say anything on the business card and that baby-sitting co-op thing. was that a dead end?"

Chaz asks, "When did the Chinese do *that*?"

Davey starts drinking NOW

Franklin arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We missed Franklin, so... hey, here he is."

GM says (to Chaz), ""I think I need my power back -- I am still the essence of Dew but it feels like I am no longer in control of it. I don't know if the control resides in my body or elsewhere""

Alison asks, "Wow. But couldn't the Power of Rocks just move the asteroid out of the way?"

Davey says (to Franklin), "don't look at this book. It's a crime against paper."

Chaz says (to Anse), "Hmm."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "What's going on?"

Aisleen asks (of anse), "so as of this moment, you can do nothing about dew?"

Chaz says, "Frankie! We keep missing each other! I wanted to ask you about this card."

Chaz fishes it out of his pocket.

[nobilis] Alison says, "We're trying to find out what sort of connection Amanda has to the Evil afoot."

GM says, "Looking through the book more, it appears that she claims that an asteroid was going to hit the planet in 1999, but concerted effort by the chinese people led to the planet's course being shifted just in time"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "Where are we?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Our chancel."

Davey asks (of Anse), "hey, I wasn't there when we got you into the pool...do you remember where your body could be?"

GM says, ""And it all started with one person," she adds, "who knew he could make a difference.""

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "I take it we have no memory of this occurence?"

Davey reads on to see if she, like, names the person.

Franklin stumbles dizzily off the merry-go-round.

Alison brings Davey some cotton candy.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Er, Franklin."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Davey probably already has as much cotton candy as he wants."

GM says (to Davey), "no, but, like, presumably you'd have remembered this if it actually happened, so this is probably aimed at a demographic not real inclined to fact-check"

Davey thinks "man, Phelps is gonna be even more of a putz after he reads this stuff."

Franklin gets cotton candy stuck in his mustache. "Mmm ffuffa foo."

Davey says, "okay"

Aisleen yawns in boredom as she reads along

Franklin asks (of Chaz), "What's this card? Who? What?"

Davey says (to Alison), "Thanks, darlin'"

Aisleen asks (of davey), "maybe you should spare your anchor this particular suffering?"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "It's from the Escrucian who's been bugging us. ."

GM says, "Oh, and there's a note at the back. "Amanda Pyne, Inc. is a proud sponsor of the 2004 olympics""

[nobilis] Alison asks (of GM), "Did I find anything re: Amanda's past involvement with TV and/or kids?"

Davey says, "hmm. Athens."

Franklin asks, "And you want to know -- what? Just anything extra there is to glean from it?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "yeah, it looks like she's in negotiation for some kind of "Amanda A+!" talkshow, but nothing yet. And there was a failed attempt to market to kids a while back ("You can! ... at school! with Amanda Pyne") but that didn't catch on."

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Yeah--our mages say there's something magical about it, but are unclear on the details. And it presumably spent some time with Silver, so if you could figure out where the card was made, where it spent time, that might help too."

Franklin says, "Silver, eh? Well, let's see..."

Franklin fidgets with the card and concentrates.

GM says (to Franklin), "it looks like it's an ordinary business-card printed up by a business-card printing company .. pretty high-quality paper, nice embossing, good pulp. then it's been overlaid with some kind of spells -- apparently something to identify it specially, and maybe to trigger something else -- there's some kind of faint hint of triggered recognition or intellect associated with it."

Franklin says, "Huhhmmrm."

Franklin asks (of GM), "Can I focus in on that intellect business?"

Aisleen asks, "like a touch pad they have on sci-fi movies to scan for fingerprints and stuff? a magic recognition device?"

Franklin asks (of GM), "Or is that beyond paper-ness?"

GM says, "the card seems not unlike a magical fingerprint, yeah, and with a spell someplace else to recognize it"

Davey says, "maybe the bearer can get in through a door or use a magic whoozis"

GM says (to Franklin), "you get a faint hint of catalogs nearby -- let's see -- aha, motorcycle catalogs"

Franklin asks (of Chaz), "Who did you say this was given to?"

Alison says, "Ooh, I wanna magic whoozis."

Chaz says, "A kid to whom he was giving some magic motorcycles to mess with Davey's gang."

Franklin says, "Hmm."

Franklin says, "So it was a 'give them this card, and you'll get special treatment' deal, but in two different ways."

Alison asks, "So if the card triggers the thing that made the motorcycle place give Third the motorcycles, does that mean it'd work for somebody else, too?"

Alison looks idly at Aisleen.

Aisleen looks surprised. "What?"

Davey says, "no, no, it was just to show the dealer to let Third get the special bikes"

Franklin gives the card back to Chaz.

Alison says (to Aisleen), "Nothing."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "Third is senator's kid?"

Alison says (to Davey), "Oh. I thought maybe it turned on some kinda spell on the dealer, to make him go all weird."

Chaz looks at it thoughtfully.

Chaz asks (of Franklin), "Was the magic human-style magic, or more nobilis rites?"

Franklin says, "Hmm. Good question."

Raul has connected.

Davey says, "hrrm. I'm still thinking about dragging that guy down a half-mile of dirt road and see what he has to say afterwards."

Aisleen smiles shyly at Alison

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hey, we could ask Raul"

Franklin says, "I don't think it was Nobilis-specific."

GM says (to Franklin), "human-style, although with precision that suggests it may have been worked by a nobilis or similar"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeah, Everard Carmichel III."

Aisleen . o O (to Jura) ( hey girl. In all your work, have you heard of Amanda Payne? )

Franklin says, "We've been coming across various human-style magickings in our investigations lately."

[nobilis] Raul says, "I'd be happy to join in (though I'm far behind the stories) since I'm not going to be able to play next Saturday, or the one after that"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Hmm."

GM says, "Jura . o O ( I've heard of her, of course -- lemme check out what I've got in my files. )"

Franklin says, "Although, it was precisely crafted, perhaps suggesting Nobilis-level skill in spellcasting."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Feel free to wander by. Free cotton candy for Vonafolk."

Franklin says, "Although what a Nobilis would be doing dabbling in such is beyond me."

[nobilis] Raul asks, "What's going on?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "dagnabbit, Raul!"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "If you need any more mages to help you investigate 'em, we can send over a few more."

[nobilis] Raul says (to Franklin), "blame my incipient move"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Well, this is from an Excrucian, of course."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Dagnabbit incipient move!"

[nobilis] Alison says, "We're researching weirdness -- specifically, a kids show that's behaving like a self-improvement infomercial."

Franklin frowns.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "are we playing the party today? or is that postponed again?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "We're also looking into a business card left behind by Silver, a bad guy, in the previous substory."

GM says (to Aisleen), "Jura . o O ( It looks like she's pretty big news lately -- she got invited to some white house dinner recently after some, I dunno, charity movement she got involved with, helping inner-city kids raise their self-esteem or something. And her books are shooting up the best-seller charts and staying there. )"

[nobilis] Davey says, "see, we'd like to find Silver and hurt him a lot"

Franklin asks, "What I'd like to know is, what are we going to do when this Excrucian fellow finally wakes up and starts smashing things about?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "and we still need to find the bodies of these 2 Nobilis we rescued and the one we didn't"

Chaz exclaims, "He already was doing the smashing thing--he was the guy that invaded our chancel!"

[nobilis] Raul says, "I've been off researching ways to preserve miracles until specified times, as well as the map of the chancel. Feel free to contact me and bring me in -- at this point I'm probably wandering somewhere."

Franklin says, "Because as fast as we investigate, we always seem a few steps behind, and I doubt we'll be able to prevent it."

Aisleen . o O (to jura) ( Have you read any of her stuff? )

[nobilis] Alison says, "He seems to have an MO of helping people whose then make trouble with our anchors, it appears."

[nobilis] Alison says, "s/whose/who/"

Franklin says, "There's minions, and then there's evil overlords."

Davey says, "well, those were his, uh, Shards? servants anyway. The real guy is probably a lot more trouble"

Franklin says, "Right."

Chaz says, "Hmm."

Alison asks, "Execrucians don't have chancel-thingies, do they? Where do they live?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "same thing with our group"

Chaz says, "Oh, right--the excrucians have familia just like us."

Chaz says, "Which would probably be 'The silver one' and 'the bright one'."

Davey says, "they have something like Chancels, if I understand right. Call 'em Breakthroughs"

Chaz asks, "And their imperator-equivalent is the Shin-aj guy? Or whatever his name was?"

Alison asks, "Should we invade them?"

Franklin scratches his ear. "I've never been entirely clear on that, except that I keep hearing that this Ghin-aj is currently housed in the Lost Chancel."

Aisleen asks (of alison), "are we strong enough?"

Davey says, "and Ghin-aj's got lost somehow"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Or his body, at least."

Franklin asks, "Is there any way to find the Lost Chancel the way the Four Winds Chancel was found?"

Davey says, "his body went missing. A lotta that going round."

Alison says (to Aisleen), "I dunno. I guess maybe we should try to get someone to sneak in and see what they're like first."

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Yes, but we probably don't want to find it."

Franklin says, "Oh, right. Presumably his spirit is -- out there, someplace."

Davey asks, "well, you guys followed someone, right?"

Franklin waves his hand suggesting outside-everything-ness.

Davey says, "Silver don't even know where it is"

Chaz says, "And actually, all these things are probably distractions while Silver and Bright go find the chancel on their own."

Franklin asks, "Wasn't it when Raul was with you?"

Aisleen nods uncertainly

Franklin says, "If only Raul were here!"

Chaz says, "Yeah, Raul helped us find it."

[Crows-Nest] Raul laughs.

Davey asks, "I still don't get why they thought cutting off our chancel would help find theirs. Fewer places it couldn't be?"

Franklin says (to Davey), "That's concerned me as well."

Chaz says (to Davey), "I think they wanted to find ways of finding lost chancels by making us do it."

Franklin says, "I remember hearing a good theory, but I've forgotten it. Oh, that was it."

Davey says, "urgh."

Chaz says, "And Raul discovered..."

Franklin says, "Which leads one to conclude that if we found the Lost Chancel, we would personally bring about the end of the world."

Chaz . o O ( ...that the Mythic world makes those types of paths naturally, even when it's cut off. )

Davey says, "we should send someone back to Astara and try to figure out where Anse's body is, and the others"

Franklin asks, "So what's the scheme here? Egg us on by zapping our anchors and invading our chancels until we get annoyed enough to track down Ghin-aj's body ourselves?"

Alison asks, "Have we even checked on Astara at all since we left it?"

Davey says, "uh, guess not."

Chaz says (to Alison), "I've been back a couple times."

Alison asks (of Chaz), "How are they?"

Aisleen asks (of Davey), "would the body be back at Astara? they would have moved it, no?"

Chaz says, "Nothing since the last time I checked. I guess it's been a little bit since then, though."

Chaz says, "We told the folks there to pray to us if anything happened, though."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "what was it that was found when the guys rode the goat?"

Davey says (to Aisleen), "probably, but I don't know where else to start looking"

[nobilis] GM says, "the chancel of the four winds"

Franklin finishes his cotton candy.

[nobilis] Davey asks, "Four Winds, no?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "That was Locus Four Winds."

[nobilis] Raul says, "We found the four winds chancel"

[nobilis] GM says, "which was lo's old chancel"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(timing)"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "we rode a goat?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "heh"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "no, serious, what was it?"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "No, Vona did."

[nobilis] Raul says (to Aisleen), "Me, Wilfred, and Michel"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Okay. So there's Astara, and there's Four Winds."

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "I wonder if I should have made http://www2.dicom.se/fuchsias/alisonreinoldsannika.html one of my flowers..."

[nobilis] Chaz nods.

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Four Winds is Lo's chancel."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Astara is infomercial-squirrel-whoozis chancel"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "cf http://www.steveswebpage.com"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(grr)"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "http://diden.net/nobilis/familia.png"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "There we go."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "back to astara? or try to track down T&C Corporations/ Sun Valley?"

Chaz . o O (to Raul) ( Hey, Anse here (Dew) needs to find 'the source of her power', which may be her cut-off body. If we went to a dewy place, do you think you could find the path back to that? )

Aisleen asks, "back to astara? or try to track down T&C Corporations/ Sun Valley?"

[nobilis] GM says, "there's also Amanda's party, which I've been putting off for not enough people, but possibly we should just go ahead and schedule that in anyway"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Unless we know of something explicitly useful to do at Astara, we might as well keep visits there to between-session times."

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "I don't think Anse's body is in Astara--we searched it pretty thoroughly when we first revivified Anse."

[nobilis] Alison says, "But, Chaz's body suggestion might not be bad."

Davey says, "and their Imperator's gone too. I keep forgetting that. I bugs me."

Aisleen says (to davey), "(aside) I have no idea how I am supposed to be enthusiastic about this book at the party"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "you may not get as many people as this for a while"

Davey says (to Aisleen), "I hear ya"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "we can get Alex to step in if we need numbers"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Yeah, now sounds like a good time for the party."

[nobilis] (from Alison) Alex awwwks. "Word on the street is that I'm the Baron of Corknuts!"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] GM says, "ok then"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of Raul&Alexandra), "You guys awake?"

Davey snines up his leather accouterments

[nobilis] Raul says, "You bet"

GM says, "(and a day or two later, it's the day of Amanda's party, nominally for her new book, but probably just because she wants a party)"

Aisleen surreptitiously re-reads the book

Alison wears a new red party dress. And shiny shoes.

Chaz laos has speed-read and memorized the book.

Chaz tucks in his T-shirt.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Er, also, not vietnam."

Davey peers at Phelps' brain to see if reading the book had warped it

Aisleen smooths down the fabric to her dress from Paris.

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "being rich makes for a great wardrobe"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "Alexandra will be here in a bit"

Chaz does take the time to shine up his skateboard, however.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Party's at Olympus, right?"

GM says, "and eventually Edmund shows up to escort everyone one over. He's wearing a cravat"

Alison exclaims (at Edmund), "Hi!"

GM says (to Alison), ""Why, I see you're all dressed up for the party""

Aisleen pats her hair in place.

Alison exclaims (at Edmund), "Yeah! I got thirs dress *brand-new*!"

Aisleen . o O (to chaz) ( generous brother )

GM says, ""Well, shall we get going?" Edmund says. "Right this way, please.""

Franklin shines his spats.

Alison says, "And the shoes are new too. And I even got new stockings. With little pink bows on them."

GM says, "He opens up a door in a nearby tent and gestures for folks to step in."

GM says, ""Little pink bows, eh?""

Alison says, "Uh-huh. On the ankles."

Alison steps in.

Aisleen mutters, "It's just a party. I can do parties. I have been to parties with bigwigs before. It's not a big deal" as she follows Alison

GM says, "Locus Olympus is -- fancy"

Davey is uncomfortable

Alison asks (of Aisleen), "You've been to parties in wigs before?"

Raul is already there, resplendent in an ice-cream suit. And boots.

Aisleen says (to alison), "yeah. British judges"

Alison nods, sagely.

GM says, "Edmund's door opens in what turns out to be a cloud-bank -- the cloud-ground runs for what looks like several blocks-worth of distance before they halt outside these massive golden gates (currently open)"

Aisleen looks around for St. Peter

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Ice-cream suit?"

GM says, ""Drake has the whole chancel warded against intrusion," Edmund confides. "I can't open a door anyplace inside.""

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "i took it to mean white"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "it's lickable. try it!"

[nobilis] Raul says, "White suit, often linen"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Just pray he doesn't get hot, or it'll melt."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "oooh."

Davey gulps

GM says, "There's no St Peter, but there is a Yajpelapel-sized giant acting as doorkeeper, dressed in giant-sized armor"

Alison asks (of Edmun), "Cool! How'd he do that?"

Aisleen asks (of Edmund), "is this Drake's normal security, or something new?"

Chaz says, "Hmm, maybe we should do that."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Oh, well, it's been like that since I've been around -- I hear he put it in to stop Jack popping in""

[nobilis] Raul says, "Like http://members.aol.com/mbeve10258/images/icecream.jpg but without the sparkles. Or the scary hangers-on"

Franklin cranes his neck and stares around.

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "a giant with clown noses?"

GM says (to Alison), ""Personal favor from the nobilis of Security, is what I hear""

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Hee!"

GM says, "Edmund proceeds onwards to walk inside the gates, glancing around in an I've-seen-this-all-before-but-it's-still-pretty-cool sort of way"

Franklin says (to Chaz), "We've got one of those. I think."

Chaz says, "I meant the warded-from-intrusion thing."

Alison follows Edmun, not even trying to conceal her gawking.

Chaz says (to Franklin), "But you guys have a giant? Cool."

Franklin says, "Must spend a fortune on fog machines."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Hey, was there an invasion map of this place?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(although this can also be done as a major realm preservation)"

[nobilis] GM says (to Chaz), "nope"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "seems pretty darn secure I guess"

[nobilis] Davey says, "you know, I've been wracking my brains over how our enemies know all about us all the time. Squirrels."

[nobilis] Davey says, "I know, we have the fuzzly thing, but still."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I think there are rites that vcan give them that info."

[nobilis] Alison says, "And they also stole one of our mages."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Isn't that what the 'flower rite' is?"

Alison pokes the floor, trying to figure out if the clouds are solid, or if there's something under them.

GM says, "They're vaguely spongy -- they split when you push them hard enough but it looks like it's just clouds below"

GM says, "although in one place there's a gap, maybe ten feet across, through which you can see blue sky"

Alison says, "Oooh, pretty."

Aisleen says, "Wow this place must have some amazing breezes"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Anything under the sky there? Water, land?"

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "Well, you'd be able to tell."

Chaz grins.

Davey feels reeeal weird

[nobilis] GM says, "just sky as far as you see (well, sky and clouds, which is why you can't see forever)"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Cool."

Davey says, "no ground. brrrr"

Raul sees Franklin and waves.

GM says, "beyond the gates there's a white marble road inlaid into the clouds that leads a short distance, splitting up to lead to various buildings"

Chaz troops on in after Edward.

Davey says, "whew, road. Nice road."

Aisleen asks (of edm), "hey is Drake back?"

GM says, ""I think the reception's over in that building," Edmund says, leading the way to a what might be a cottage elsewhere."

[nobilis] Raul says, "Whoops, maybe delay my wave until everyone shows up *in the building*"

Alison exclaims, "OK!"

Alison runs over to that building.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Rachel can do that with a minor creation."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Not that I've heard," Edmund says. "Maybe he's going to make a surprise appearance today!""

[nobilis] Franklin says, "doh"

Chaz keeps an eye out for the servant he saw in the the pool that Drake was yelling at.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin asks, "Drake was yelling at a pool?"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "I think Chaz means Chaz watched Drake through our scrying pool."

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "I used a scrying pool to find where Drake was after he left the duel, and he was back at his home, yelling at some servant."

GM says, "and then inside the cottage it appears a cocktail-party-esque thing is in full swing"

Aisleen says, "yay, no nobilis carding"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "yeah humor get it ha ha sigh"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Hey, did we ever find out if it was Jack that crashed the duel? The one Drake looked surprised to see?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz exclaims, "Oh, whoops. Hee!"

GM says, "Bronwynn and somebody who must be Eric are there, as are Armande and Cecily, Wendell, and Leona"

Franklin waves to Raul, the ice cream suit man.

[nobilis] Alison says, "I don't think we know for sure, but I think he looked like we would expect Jack to look."

GM says, "not to mention Raul"

Davey heads for a beer and a corner

Alison exclaims, "Hi!"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin digs out iain's diagram again

Chaz heads to the crackers and cheese table.

Alison waves to Eric and Armande and Cecly and Wendell and Leona and Raul!

GM says, "Amanda is there, and seems to have cornered some people by the fireplace and is gesticulating excitedly"

Raul wanders over to Franklin, a glass of something green in his hand. "I hear things've been busy lately."

Davey nods to Wendell

GM says, "Other people are standing around eating sushi and grapes and little things on sticks"

Raul looks around and lowers his voice. "Oh, and all of you might want to stay on opposite ends of the room from Amanda right now. She's in full swing."

GM says, "Wendell looks morosely at Davey. "It hardly seems fair," he says. "Look, she's getting published! Why can't I?""

Raul massages his ear.

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

Davey says (to Wendell), "guess she's shootin' for a less intellectual audience than you, buddy."

Franklin says (to Raul), "Oh, quite busy, quite busy. We've missed having you around."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yay, Wendell."

Davey says, "but I never said that"

GM says (to Davey), ""Oh, you think so?" He seems to cheer up slightly"

Franklin eats a little thing on a stick.

Raul says, "Sorry about that. I got caught up in some other business. I've been working on the map some."

GM says, ""Hey, these canapes aren't bad.""

Raul sips his green drink.

Davey eats something.

Franklin says, "Oh good, the map."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Has anyone asked Cecil (or Galer or Armande) about Jack?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "VonaGroup has been talking with Jack directly."

Alison grabs a half dozen little things on toothpicks, then goes over to hear what Amanda's talking about.

Franklin says (to Raul), "Are your anchors okay? We've all been having trouble with that."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Oh? I'll have to catch on on transcripts then."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "brief chat in yesterday's"

Raul says, "So far, yes. That's part of what I was checking on."

Raul says, "I heard about your problems with the mills. I'm sorry."

Franklin swishes a drink. "Mmm. Yes. Well."

Franklin says, "Squirrels, you know. Hypnotized. Very strange."

GM says, ""Four weeks on top of the new york times best-seller list!" Amanda says. "Here, I just happen to have my album of press clippings handy. 'Inspiring!' 'Noteworthy!' 'Another success from Amanda Pyne!'""

Franklin drinks.

Raul asks (of Chaz), "Have any of your group been having problems like that?"

Franklin wonders if she's thought of improving herself through humility.

Alison stage-whispers (to someone in the Amanda group), "Is this her new book?"

Chaz says (to Raul), "Davey's anchors have been under attack a lot, recently, but I think we mostly have them dealt with. Something weird's happening with Alison's teacher's rival kid-TV company."

Alison munches on a something-onna-stick.

Aisleen mingles casually to Cecily to engage her in casual conversation

Franklin eats something he thinks is a cracker with cheese on it.

Raul squints, trying to untangle the possessives in Chaz's sentence, then decides to have another sip of his drink instead.

GM says, ""Ah .. here's someone who hasn't heard about your book yet, Amanda!" the person Alison whispered to says. "Here, you let her know all about it!""

Chaz asks (of Raul), "And hey, maybe you can help us later. WAnse, who's dew, needs to find the source of control for her power--it's like she's been disconnected from it. Maybe you can find a path to where it is?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Anse."

GM says, "The man dodges behind Alison and then away to the food table"

Raul says, "Disconnected from her power? That sounds extremely unpleasant."

Alison exclaims (at Amanda), "Hi!"

Raul says, "Sure, I'll be happy to help."

Chaz says (to Raul), "It happened when Astara was cut off--everything's still pretty wonky over there, though the Excrucians no longer rule, at least."

GM says, "Cecily is talking to a short guy with glasses. "Yes, that could be nice -- little wings on the side, you think?" he says"

GM says, ""Yeah, and all in gold -- now that's quality -- maybe a little silver filigree too," she says"

Raul nods and helps himself to something garnished with parsley flakes.

Aisleen eavesdrops shamelessly on all conversations while listening to Cecily describing treasure

GM says (to Alison), "Amanda beams down on you. "Oh, and you must be Alison -- I don't know if we've ever had a chance to meet formally.""

Franklin looks for something stiffer to drink.

Davey peers around cautiously

Raul says (to Chaz), "After the party we can work out the details."

Chaz says (to Raul), "That's be great."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "That'd. Sigh."

[nobilis] Raul says, "I'm just chalking it up to your whimsical use of tense."

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to chaz), "it's all right. you are talking like a kid"

Alison asks (of Amanda), "Not yet -- it's nice to meet you, Miss Pyne. Do you make TV too?"

GM says (to Franklin), "whatever you want is probably on a table someplace here or obtainable from a waiter"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "it'd how all the kids am talkin' now"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Franklin), "Yay"

GM says, "Cecily continues to chat to the man. "Well, Rike, this has certainly been useful -- I think this venture could really help us both--" she turns and sees Aisleen. "Oh, Aisleen! I didn't see you there!""

Davey mutters, "Thank heaven for little girls."

Franklin finds a snifter of extremely good brandy.

Franklin says, "Ooh."

Raul, having finished his drink, goes for another mixed drink he's never tried and mingles.

Chaz wanders over to Alison and Amanda.

Franklin says, "This'll warm your toes."

Aisleen says (to Cecily), "hi. I just wanted to say hi, and thank you again for all your help the last time"

GM says (to Alison), ""TV? Well, not exactly -- you know, I've got this talk show I'm planning on introducing soon." She sighs theatrically. "But handling all the legal aspects are so tiresome.""

Chaz says, "You should get Wilfred to help you! He's great with legal stuff."

Alison says (to Amanda), "Oh. But no kid TV shows? That's weird."

GM says, ""Wilfred?" she glances around. "Is he here?""

Chaz says, "Hmm, I don't see him."

Chaz says, "Maybe he'll show up later."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Oh, yes," Cecily says. "I was glad to help -- I'm sorry about that whole situations. Tell me, have you found anything out about the perpetrators? I've been busy myself -- some problems with the price of gold dropping through the floor and governments cracking down on piracy -- but I hear through the grapevine there was some kind of invasion.""

Alison whispers (to Amanda, and probably not all that quietly), "Do you have other nobles doing self-improvement kinds of noble miracle stuff too, or do you only like to do your own stuff yourself?"

Aisleen says (to Cecily), "yeah, the gold bit is a pain. My father has been ranting every morning when he opens the paper"

Wilfred has connected.

GM says, "Amanda looks down sternly at Alison. "Young lady, I certainly *hope* that anyone--" glancing at you "--who wished to venture into my Estate would have the courtesy to inform me first.""

Aisleen says (to Cecily), "we have been busy...invasion, odd people passing through. It has been quite a mess lately"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "speak of the wilfred"

Alison exclaims (at Amanda), "That's what I thought! Someone ought to tell the Egbert people that!"

Aisleen says (to Cecily), "so we are quite happy at the thought of getting a chance to relax at this party"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Wilfred), "Cocktail party at Locus Olympus in progress."

Franklin munches on some more stick food things.

[nobilis] Franklin says (to wilfred), "bust on in here"

[nobilis] Wilfred is shuffling papers until such time as he is summoned.

GM says, ""Ah .." she pauses. "Egbert people?""

[nobilis] Franklin says, "you're invited"

Alison says (to Amanda), "Yeah! Egbert the Octopus. It's a kids TV show, and it's all about 'you should do things like homework and exercise and stuff', like you do."

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "I am?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "If Franklin and Raul are, I don't see why Wilfred wouldn't be."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Yeah, everyone is."

[nobilis] Raul says (to Wilfred), "C'mon. I've gotten the bartender to save a mixed drink for you. a Bahama Mama"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "I might have to blink out in a few minutes, but sure."

GM says, ""Oh," she says. "How interesting. I had better take a look into that.""

Wilfred is there somewhere in the background.

Chaz exclaims, "Hey, there's Wilfred!"

Chaz points him out to Amanda.

Aisleen slowly moves away from Cecily after politely saying goodbye, and keeps mingling

Wilfred . o O ( not inconspicuous enough, i see.... )

Alison says (to Amanda), "Yeah." She whispers again, this time for real. "It might not be a normal power doing this though. Be careful. It might be a bad guy. Y'know."

Raul starts talking to someone who turns out to be the Nobilis of Utensils.

GM says (to Alison), ""Yes .. er .. I'll take a look at that. But look, there's Wilfred! I'd better go talk to him!""

[nobilis] Alison says, "Ha. Nice turnabout."

GM says, "Amanda picks up her clippings and hastily walks over to where Wilfred has been pointed out."

Wilfred sips sherry and watches the approach.

Raul says, "...no, I didn't really realize there were specific utensils for eating h'ors d'oeuvres besides toothpicks."

Alison finishes munching on her toothpicks, and goes to get more of them.

Wilfred says, "Good evening."

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "whoops, extra apostrophe in there"

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Ah, hrm, I had been meaning to speak to you .. did I mention I'd written a book?""

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "YM hors d'oeuvre's"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "heh"

Alison says, "I like how they put the bacon around the little hot dogs."

Wilfred says, "You might have, but not to me."

GM says (to Raul), ""Well, there are several major classes, you realize -- but even in just the single-tine family there are the small plastic swords, the decorated toothpicks, and the toothpick-with-crossbars -- oh, and of course there are the umbrellas," Leo says."

[Crows-Nest] Raul exclaims, "yay!"

Chaz asks (of passing_servant), "Hey, I'm looking for a servant I saw earlier, but I didn't catch hisname. About 5'10", short black hair, maybe Asian? Works with Drake, I think?"

Raul shrugs. "Unfortunately, beer weiners on toothpicks was as fancy as I was used to.

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Ah, well then -- I just happen to have some clippings handy. 'Amanda Pyne' is my pen-name.""

Wilfred says, "Aha"

Wilfred looks over the clippings.

Franklin is looking slightly oiled.

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Wait, pen name?"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "We really should get Amanda and Penny together."

GM says, ""You could perhaps flip through these while I chatted--" She hands the folder to you. "I'm told you have a certain amount of influence in the business aspects of the publishing world?""

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "Amanda is not her name?"

[nobilis] GM says, "(well, Pyne isn't)"

[nobilis] Alison says, "It's really Amanda Can."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "ha!"

[nobilis] Raul laughs.

[nobilis] GM says, "or Hugankiss, yeah"

[nobilis] Raul says, "'Heywood? Is that you?'"

Franklin claps Wendell solidly on the back. "Word on the street is that you're a writer!"

Alison walks around, munching on her snacks, and looking around the room.

Aisleen narrowly avoids bumping in to Alison on her own mingling

GM says, ""Eh? Which? What? Why, why, yes I am!" Wendell says."

Raul makes his excuses to Leo before feeling compelled to stab small utensils in his eyes.

Wilfred says, "You flatter me. My influence is limited to the clerks and secretaries. You know, the people who actually see that things gets done properly."

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "How is it furnished? Any neat abstract sculpture to play with, or draperies to peek behind or stuff like that?"

Franklin vigorously shakes hands and introduces himself to Wendell.

GM says, ""Ah, see, exactly -- the hard worker is the backbone of the industry!""

GM says, ""Ah er what?" says Wendell"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Also, is this a new Leo, separate from Leona?)"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of gm), "or even better, can we leave this room?"

Wilfred says, "You could say that."

Franklin says, "Paper and writing go together like, erm, like bacon and teeny hot dogs!"

GM says, ""Paper, eh? I am the Duke of Writing, so I guess that makes us - uh, the simile will come to me -- there we are!""

Franklin eats one, to make his point.

GM says, ""Perhaps I'll just jot that down.""

Franklin asks, "So how is the writing going?"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims (at Franklin), "Yay!"

GM says, "Wendell pulls a pen out of his sleeve. "Oh, dear, I don't have anything to write on.""

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Hey, did the servant know who I was talking about?"

Franklin asks, ">voip< Will this do?"

GM says, ""Why, that's quite good!""

Franklin says, "It's all in the wrist."

GM says, "Wendell scribbles down the simile and shoves it in his pocket (in which are many other scraps of paper)"

Franklin asks, "What are all those?"

Davey gets another beer and watches the hobnobbing

Wilfred asks (of Amanda), "Now, you said you were meaning to speak to me ...?"

Raul says (to server), "Do you have any flautas? I'd prefer chicken, but frijoles refritos would be fine."

Aisleen wanders over to Amanda and Wilfred to listen to their publishing conversation

GM says (to Chaz), "The servant bows apologetically. "I'm afraid Arthur is no longer with us -- he resigned his position about a month ago.""

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "who's arthur?"

Aisleen continues to eavesdrop on all the other conversations

GM says (to Franklin), ""Oh, you know, notes for this and that -- I'm writing a novel, I forget if I mentioned.""

[nobilis] Franklin says, "ohhh, pool yelling guy"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "the servant Drake used to yell at"

Alison finishes another handful of toothpicks, and mumbles something about dresses that don't have pockets.

Franklin asks, "Mmm! What's it about?"

Aisleen . o O (to alison) ( carry a purse :) )

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Yes, well, you know, exposure is so important -- getting written up in all the right publications that really know how to get the message out. Do you think it's possible we could arrange some sort of mutually beneficial relationship here?""

Davey pssts to a server. "'Scuse me, is Drake going to attand, do you know?"

Franklin pokes Wendell in the chest. "Make sure your publisher uses acid-free paper." Poke poke poke. "Acid-free."

Alison . o O (to Aisleen) ( But then I won't have any hands left to hold the food with! )

GM says (to Wendell), ""Acid-free, eh?""

GM says, "(er, ..Franklin)"

Franklin asks, "Didn't I just say that?"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Franklin), "you sound like the graduate school"

Chaz asks (of servant), "Oh? Why'd he do that?"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "only with more poke poke poking."

GM says, ""I'll make a note of that .. anyway, it's about a schoolteacher who takes on a secret life as a spy""

Franklin hmmmmms.

Wilfred raises an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind...?"

Franklin asks, "Is there a robot in it?"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "Who's Amanda, do I know?"

GM says (to Davey), ""His lordship hasn't been around for some weeks, sir. I believe her ladyship explained he was off arranging something for the olympics.""

Aisleen . o O (to ) ( Anyone see Edmund after he brought us here? )

Alison exclaims (at Wendell, from behind, when he's not looking), ", Spy? Neat!"

Chaz . o O (to Aisleen) ( I think I saw him by the cheese dip. )

GM says, ""A robot? Well, not yet -- I was working on the chapter where he duels the seven ju-jitsu masters .. I suppose they could turn out to actually be robots""

Davey says, "aha, I see. Thanks"

Aisleen escuses herself, not that Amanda even noticed and finds Edmund by the cheese dip

Franklin claps Wendell on the arm. "See? Now you've got something."

Franklin winks and wanders off to find more of that brandy.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin asks, "how come there aren't any books like that?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "not enough brandy"

Aisleen says (to edmund), "i noticed in the book amanda is sponsoring the olympics"

Aisleen asks (of edmund), "how did that happen?"

Chaz asks (of Servant), "Do you know where he went?"

GM says, "Meanwhile, Rike wanders up to Davey. "Ah," he says, coughing politely. "I don't believe we've met.""

Alison goes over to sniff the punch, to figure out whether or not it's good to drink.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "She's the reason for the party--wrote a book."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Also, http://diden.net/nobilis/familia.png"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Chaz), "Olympics, she said. Not Olympus."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Well, I doubt she's sponsoring the whole thing -- but since Drake is the one who been arranging the Olympics, oh, since they started, naturally his family mebers take an interest. This out-and-out sponsorship is a bit new, but perhaps with her publishing enterprises going so well, she feels like she can take a larger hand.""

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "Wow. Drake's old."

GM says (to Chaz), ""Not that I know, sir. But their lordships and her ladyship are often away for long periods of time, I believe.""

Chaz says (to Servant), "Oh, I meant Arthur."

Raul wanders over by Amanda to listen, this time sipping from a glass sporting a small but jaunty umbrella.

GM says (to Chaz), ""Oh, I see. No, I couldn't say, sir. He just handed in his resignation one day -- you could ask her ladyship for more details.""

Alison fills a cup, if the punch doesn't appear to be spiked.

GM says (to Alison), "there is spiked and non-spiked"

Chaz asks, "Hmmm. You say this was one month ago?"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "off to the scrying pool! <cue Batman music>"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz laughs.

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Well," Amanda says. "Perhaps you could arrange a little story in, say, the new york times book review thing -- 'local authoress makes good in touching rags to riches story', perhaps, and maybe another in USA Today, just to make sure all the bases were covered in the US""

GM says (to Chaz), ""About, sir. I don't recall exactly -- I didn't work all that closely with him.""

Chaz nods.

Chaz exclaims, "Thanks!"

GM says, ""Of course, sir -- did you want an appetizer or a drink?""

Aisleen asks (of Edmund), "does Rike handle the medals for the Olympics?"

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "I could grease the wheels so that reviews are scheduled. I can't really promise what the reviews will say, though ... not without some further creativity. Let me think ...."

Aisleen says, "mm. this cheese dip is not half bad"

Chaz asks, "Do you guys have any ginger ale?"

Alison tucks the dolly under one arm, so she can grab some more toothpick things while still holding her drink.

GM says (to Aisleen), ""I believe Drake consults with him, yes -- Drake has rather a habit of wanting to handle everything personally if possible.""

Aisleen . o O (to ) ( wilfred : major creativity. )

Raul asks (of Wilfred), "Ah, applying your knowledge of bureaucracy to book reviews now?"

Raul sips, contriving not to be poked by the umbrella in his drink.

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "That'll be a lesser preservation of Noses."

Chaz wanders over to Rike.

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "I was afriad to specify because then it'd be OW MY EYE before I knew it"

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

Chaz says (to Rike), "Hey--nice place you have here."

GM says, "Rike is chit-chatting with Davey but breaks it off as Chaz walks over."

Aisleen says (to Edmund), "Drake must get really busy every four years, then"

GM says, ""Oh er--" he adjusts his glasses. "Yes, yes it is rather. I quite like it.""

Davey says, "belt buckles, mm-hmm. Yes, shiny...oh, see you later."

GM says, ""It's a bit on the *large* side.""

Chaz grins.

[nobilis] Davey asks, "what's Rike look like?"

Chaz says, "Plenty of wall space to hang the medals."

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Well, every two years, in fact. But when I say himself, of course most of the work is done by his officials -- and wasn't he furious about the whole Utah thing! I think he would have skinned Jack if he had managed to find proof it was him behind the affair""

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Was there ever any response about features of the room?"

Wilfred thinks that the periodicals probably carry a schedule of books-to-be-reviewed. That could be altered or ... hmmm ... wonder if there are any reviewers who were friends of the family? So many literary hippies end up in the book reviewing business.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Decorations, exits, furniture/"

Aisleen asks (of edmund), "so Drake did suspect Jack?"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "After all, mom and dad named their three sons after WW1 poets."

[nobilis] GM says, "It's set up like a living room/den -- there is a fireplace (lit, although t's not really needed), a bunch of sofas and chairs, and some scattered table with food. Two exits plus the one you came in through."

[nobilis] GM says, "decorated with a few paintings on classical themes mostly"

Chaz says (to Rike), "Hey, I was looking around for one of your servants--Arthur, I think his name was?--but one of the waiters said he had resigned."

GM says (to Wilfred), "quite possibly, yes"

Franklin settles in a comfy chair by the fireplace.

GM says (to Aisleen), ""Well, yes -- this sort of calculated plot against Drake is something that Jack seems to spend far too much time on. But this latest thing, well, it seems like Jack is going a bit far.""

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "Hmm ... come to think of it, I might know one or two people in the right places."

Aisleen says (to edmund), "hm thanks."

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "Yay, a favour done from mortal backstory rather than from noble domain."

Aisleen gets more dip and starts mingling again

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

Alison looks at a few paintings, but is quickly bored with that, so she sneaks through the other exit to see what's hidden back there.

GM says (to Chaz), ""Oh, yes, hrm." Rike rubs his chin. "I believe Arthur was in Drake's retinue, so I'm not exactly sure of the circumstances - I think he said he had developed other goals in life.""

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "I'll give them a call, and maybe alter their reading lists."

GM says, ""I can't say I'm so accomodating with my servants but Drake would have wanted to let him go, so.""

GM says (to Wilfred), "Amanda smiles. "Excellent.""

Chaz says, "So retired back to Earth, I guess."

Wilfred . o O ( one of these days, and this day may never come, i may require a favour of you...... )

GM says (to Wilfred), ""If there is anything I could offer in exchange ...?""

GM says (to Chaz), ""Yes, exactly -- I don't recall where, but Drake usually sets his servants up someplace in the mediterranean ..""

[Crows-Nest] Alison asks (of Wilfred), "How many BMPs (Backstory Miracle Points) did it cost?"

Chaz smiles. "Hometown Athens, I take it?"

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "I do have a brother who could do with some improved acting skills. But, at the moment, getting better at what he does is probably not a good idea ... it might draw unwanted attention, you see."

GM says (to Alison), "well, one exit is to the kitchen, and another is to what looks like a den, with a few more people standing around chatting. "Can you believe?" "Well, I'm not surprised he didn't show up, with a thing like--" They break off as you come in."

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Surely you jest -- improved performance should always be rewarded!""

Wilfred says, "Not when the reward is a dangerous homicidal stalker."

GM says (to Chaz), ""Sometimes, yes, or other spots on the coast""

Chaz nods, sips his ginger-ale.

Alison waves, "Hi! I'm Alison."

GM says (to Wilfred), "(begrudgingly) "Well, I suppose. Actors do get their fans.""

Raul asks (of Wilfred), "I'd heard he's been having problems. Is he still okay?"

Wilfred says, "On the other hand, a stage-name (for good luck) and a new start with slightly altered performance habits might not be a bad thing."

GM says, ""Ah, Alison .. let's see .. you'd be .." "Impulse," one of the others supplies."

Chaz, who picked up traces of the conversation rom across the room, thinks (to Wilfred) (Hey, maybe you could ask for improved self-defense skills.)

Wilfred says (to Raul), "A different brother. John, after having two stand-ins killed, is now sitting unconscious in my office."

Alison grins. "Yeah! You're good at that!"

GM says, ""Oh, well, you know my brother," the woman says. "Always bringing home the gossip.""

Alison asks, "I do?"

Davey thaws enough to make chitchat

Raul asks (of Wilfred), "Goodness. And you'd set up the stand-ins' backgrounds?"

Wilfred says (to Raul), "Only one of them. The other one was an identity thief who stole the wrong identity."

Davey says, "Cloth. Mmm-hmm."

Raul asks, "Only one...?"

Raul thinks of some documents he happened to get Wilfred's help with a while back, tries not to look nervous, sips his drink and gets an umbrella in his left eyebrow.

Wilfred asks (of Raul), "Remember Darren, who helped kidnap Penny?"

GM says, ""Goodness yes -- Edmun's mentioned you enough.""

GM says, "^d"

Raul says (to Wilfred), "Of course I -- oh, no."

Alison asks, "Oh! Does that make you Leona?"

GM says, ""Why yes! See, you're not so bad at this yourself.""

Davey exclaims, "and then there were zeppelins!"

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "Damn. Wilfred is getting to be bloody cold & ruthless."

Alison says, "It's nice to meet you!" And then plops down in a comfy chair.

Wilfred sips his sherry.

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "he is bureaucracy"

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "True"

Chaz wanders over to where Amanda is again;

Raul asks, "Hey, Chaz! Have you met Amanda?"

Alison exclaims, "Wow. I bet with Edmund around, you get to hear stuff about *everybody*!"

Raul says, "She has a book, or so I hear."

Chaz exclaims, "Yup!"

Chaz exclaims, "I read it!"

Chaz exclaims (at Amanda), "In fact, I meant to ask you--that bit about the Chinese was fascinating. They never told us about that in school!"

GM says, ""Oh, yes, a certain amount. Of course, Edmund hardly seems to care what's true or not -- but this thing about Jack certainly seems plausible enough." She turns back slightly to the others she was talking to. "But you were saying, Fritz?""

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Alison), "I'd kick her in the shins, if I were you"

[Crows-Nest] (from Chaz) Iain says, "Noooo! Not a new character!"

GM says, "Amanda coughs, slightly. "It's, um, possible that -- well, some of the things were included more as *symbolic* representations of what could be achieved than actual, er..""

Alison pops another mini-eggroll in her mouth while listening to what Fritz has to say.

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "In any case, don't worry about me. Consider this a favour between friends."

GM says, ""Oh, well," says Fritz. "I don't really want to repeat rumors, but it *is* true Jack was around at the time, and I think --""

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "And clearly Giancarlo is leaking over."

GM says (to Wilfred), ""How very kind of you -- well, if you ever do need anything, just ask--""

GM says, ""Now, if you'll excuse me.""

Wilfred says (to Amanda), "Of course."

GM says, "Amanda turns and makes a bee-line for Wendell"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says (to Raul), "Feriarum's chancel code doesn't let us kick anyone who shares good gossip."

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "Must run away and make phone call. May or may not be back."

Davey says, "so, Eric, I don't think we've met. I'm Davey, of Highways"

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred says, "'bye"

GM says, ""Well, Jack's around in a lot of places," another woman says. "Yes, but not usually in *person* -- and you'd have to be there in person to take down Drake, I bet -- not even Jack could--""

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "Back in a second, CRB"

Raul has disconnected.

GM says (to Davey), "The man coughs, looking a bit embarrassed. "Well, not recently, anyway.""

Wilfred slips away to give "Uncle" George (with the tie-dyed ties and the secret hash stash) a call.

Wilfred has disconnected.

GM says, "He shakes your hand. "I'm Adaptability. Bit of a jack-of-all-trades, you might say.""

Davey says, "Adaptability, huh? You must get called on a lot these days"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "Did we meet Eric? I'm being an ass again, aren't I?"

GM says, ""Heh, well, Bronwynn certainly keeps me busy getting into scrapes""

[nobilis] GM says, "um"

[nobilis] GM says, "Eric was in the very intro scene before you guys became nobilis"

[nobilis] Davey says, "oh"

Raul has connected.

[nobilis] GM says, "I don't remember if you were actually there for that or not"

[nobilis] Davey says, "no, I was late"

[nobilis] GM says, "(but your character was there, so)"

[nobilis] Davey says, "ah, well. Davey's a klutz."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Wait, he was in the intro scene?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "The guy with the water?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yes"

Alison asks (of Fritz and Leona), "Has anyone tried to ask Jack about what happened?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Huh."

[nobilis] GM says, "this was explained in some transcript which you may or may not have read, but in any case, you recognize him"

GM says, ""Oh, well, of course he says he wasn't responsible, and that he was just at the duel to watch his sister -- but what else would he say?""

GM says, ""And I heard there were some shadows that appeared in the combat arena right at the end -- that'd be a perfect time""

Raul wanders by in time to catch this last bit of gossip about Jack.

Alison nods. "Yeah -- when the zeppelins appeared."

Aisleen is coming closer to hear this, after catching this conversation

Alison asks, "You don't think there's any way Jack could have been working with the people who owned the zeppelins, do you?"

GM says, ""Well, I suppose it's possible -- somebody had to arrange and train them.""

GM says, ""But frankly, it's hard to track down who's behind this stuff -- usually you have to trace them back to their source and look around there""

Alison nods. "And even then sometimes they just run away when you do."

GM says, "Leona sighs. "Isn't that the truth? It once took me a year to track down exactly who was trying to muscle in on the ziploc market.""

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee."

GM says, ""But once I figured out it was dear Theodore I reasoned with him personally.""

GM says, ""Now he sees the error of his ways.""

Raul asks, "I'm new to this sort of intrigue -- does this kind of thing go on a lot?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Chaz) Raul says, "And if so, where do I sign up?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "People too look up in the Big Book of Nobs when we get home: Fritz, Theodore."

GM says, ""A certain amount, a certain amount. But normally there's nothing so crude as direct force. It's so wasteful.""

GM says, "Meanwhile, in the outer room, a servant has come over and whispered urgently to Amanda."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Hey, I memorized it--ask me."

[nobilis] Raul says, "That way, he can ask the GM, then tell you what the GM says."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Drat, another party going to be interrupted by a emssage urgently whispered by a servant to the host."

Chaz listens in with his super-hearing.

GM says, ""Milady, there are attackers at the gates!""

Davey exclaims, "Hot damn! I mean, who dares?!"

GM says, "Amanda takes a step back. "Surely you jest? Attackers? Here?""

Chaz . o O ( vona,shag Uh, heads up--servant says there are attackers at the gates!" )

Alison . o O (to Chaz) ( Hey, you read the Nobbly book, right? D'you know who Fritz and Theodore are? )

Raul's ears prick up at the word 'attackers'.

GM says, "This last was not as quiet as it might be, and the other guests nearby take a step back."

Alison . o O (to Chaz) ( Ack! )

Chaz thinks.

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Davey), "heh"

Chaz, as he's thinking, skates out to the gates.

Davey shoulders to a window

Raul goes to look as well.

GM says, ""If you all will excuse me," Amanda says. "A situation has come up that I had better attend to.""

GM says, "Amanda sweeps out the door, following the servants"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Is this visible from the side room?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "the last bit you can hear, yeah"

Alison says, "I hope it's not more of the same kind of trouble."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "What do I see at the gates?"

GM says, "Those heading out the room see Amanda standing in the center of the road, concentrating (possibly sending orders). At the gates, some distance away, there seems to be some fighting going on -- the guards there clashing with people trying to force their way in"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(timing)"

GM says, "beyond the gates you hear roaring, perhaps from the giant there"

GM says, "and the faint buzz of planees"

GM says, "(-e)"

Alison looks out the window, if there is one in this room facing the right way.

[nobilis] Davey says, "we're the Red Death of Nobilis -- we ruin every party"

[Crows-Nest] Raul exclaims, "we're being dive-bombed by plantains!"

GM says (to Alison), "you see similar, yeah"

Davey grits his teeth helplessly

Chaz flies up over the fighting to see if he can see what's going on.

GM says, "and shortly afterwards, you hear marching troops from inside the gates"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Like, white uniforms?"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims (at Davey), "Hee!"

GM says (to Chaz), "you can't actually fly out over the gates -- they're apparently spanned with invisible force between the bars -- but you can sweep over the troops fighting in the gateway"

Alison goes behind the couch, and ... shrinks. Just in case there's trouble.

Chaz does so, then.

Raul follows Chaz, only on foot.

GM says (to Chaz), "and yes, it looks like white-uniformed soldiers are fighting with the spartan-esque warriors at the gate"

GM says (to Chaz), "outside you see the giant batting, a la King Kong, at tiny one-person fighters that circle around his head"

Chaz . o O (to all) ( It's the same uniforms as the guys who attacked us! )

GM says, "(and a la Sammy Sousa when he connects with one)"

Chaz . o O (to rike) ( Hey there--if these guys are after the same thing as the ones that attacked us, you better go guard the chancel heart. )

GM says (to Chaz), "as you fly out the gate, you see some of the planes attempting to fly in -- there's just barely room but they might fit over the attackers"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Chaz), "Now just hope that he's not too busy to tune into radio CHAZ."

GM says (to Chaz), "( Eh? Which? Ah, right, that seems like a good idea -- I will send some troops over there at once--)"

Raul says (to Chaz), "<I'm going to try to find the heart and guard against a second-front attack.>"

Chaz starts zapping plane engines with his laser gun.

Raul says, "Which way to the heart? I think Chaz is right, and you may need help."

Davey tanks up and hopes the clouds will hold him

Chaz takes up a position right above the fighting to ward off the planes.

Alison . o O (to Henderson) ( Send our zeppelins here! With guns and stuff! )

Raul unlimbers two very discreet pistols which hardly broke the line of his suit when we was concealing them.

Davey rumbles to the melee and shells defender-poor areas

Alison . o O (to Henderson) ( Olympus is under attack! )

[Crows-Nest] Davey exclaims, "call Xena!"

GM says, "Rike isn't around anywhere to be asked personally. Amanda is busy directing, but she opens her eyes long enough to say "Rike took some troops and heading that way (pointing)""

[Crows-Nest] Chaz laughs.

Raul sets out after Rike, doing a minor divination to help him follow the path.

Aisleen sprints in the direction of Raul and Rike

GM says, "Chaz starts taking out planes with his blaster"

Chaz exclaims, "Ba-deeu! Badeeu! Keeeeeerumph!"

GM says, "and Davey, though the clouds sag beneath his weight, makes slow but steady progress -- and the defenders fall back as they see something big come to help them out"

GM says, "and then the attackers fall back too as they see what it is"

Raul, on his way, sets one pistol to 'stun' and the other to 'something much stronger than stun -- perhaps char'

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Can I make the enemy soldiers forget what they're doing with a lesser destruction of impulse?"

GM says, "...but then outside, apparently they have tanks of their own, with big soft wheels to roll on clouds"

Davey says, "arrgh"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, you can stun a dozen or so of them for a birt"

GM says, "but Davey's bigger"

Chaz exclaims, "Go davey! You can get 'em!"

GM says, "and, apparently, their armor's weaker"

Davey boom rummble

[nobilis] Alison says, "OK. I'll aim for whichever ones look like they're causing the most trouble."

Davey attacks the incoming armor

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "probably the planes, actually -- the giant would be a big force if he wasn't distracted"

Raul says, "<Next time, I'm just going to wear fatigues to the party. Saves time.>"

GM says, "ker-pow boom bang"

GM says, "meanwhile, in the race for the heart, Raul is tearing off"

GM says, "along with Aisleen"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz exclaims (at his), "mask. It's yor frend!"

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

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "heh"

Alison mutters to herself, "Zip, zip -- where you going, flyboys? This way, thataway, which way..."

GM says, "the two of them round the corner, and suddenly come upon a big grecian temple, nice wide flight of steps rising up to the entrance -- and a pitched battle taking place there"

Raul says, "Uh-oh."

Raul says (to Chaz), "<Good call. There's a battle going on here.>"

Aisleen says, "nice place. now let's just blow these people away"

GM says, "Rike and a small group of spartans are surrounded -- Rike seems to be dropping trophies on the enemy people around him but it's not helping a whole lot"

Chaz . o O (to raul) ( Woo! )

Raul looks to see who's wearing white hats and who's wearing dark ones.

GM says, "as some of the enemy conspire to keep them in place and others sweep past Rike and co and into the temple"

GM says (to Raul), "of course, it's the bad guys who are in white here"

Raul exclaims (at GM), "Except for me!"

Alison climbs out the window to see better.

GM says (to Raul), "aHA"

Raul sets his second pistol back to 'stun' and starts picking off attackers.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of gm), "since this place is in the clouds and there is plenty of breeze around here, can i just increase the strength of the wind to blow some of the people off the steps?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Aisleen), "absolutely"

[nobilis] GM says, "that would be a level-4 creation to make more wind"

Aisleen says (to wind), "come on, turn in to a gale!"

Chaz . o O (to raul) ( Need help? )

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "as opposed to just strengthening the existing breeze? huh"

Raul says (to Chaz), "<Not sure yet. If the front gate battle's going okay, it probably wouldn't hurt.>"

GM says, "Seeing Raul fire at them, some of the enemies turn to fire back -- but stun blasts don't get deflected by wind like bullets do"

Raul exclaims (at Aisleen), "Good going!"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Aisleen), "Well, a Change is harder than a Creation."

[nobilis] GM says, "well, strengthening the existing one would probably have to be a change miracle (to make it stronger than it is now). you can sometimes do it with a preserve but only if the force is there already"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "ah okay."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "not a problem then"

Chaz flies over to the battle at the temple, following the sounds of a fight.

GM says, "With this support (and some hurled medallions snapping around people's necks), Rike and his small squad manage to force their way up the steps and into the temple, where the sound of fighting continues"

Raul follows, pistols a-stunnin'.

GM says, "outside, Davey has the enemy in full retreat -- two of the cloud-tanks are smoking rubble with a third on the way to being there"

GM says, "Davey's armor is scorched but it's, thus far, only surface damage"

Aisleen makes sure pockets wind pick people up and blow them away too

Alison follows discretely after the bunch who seem to know where they're going, at a safe distance.

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "what about the airplanes?"

Aisleen flies in to the temple over people's heads, inside

Chaz, if he can, flies intyo the temple, zapping white shirts.

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "I love the award-fu"

[nobilis] GM says, "they're still there -- some of them are swooping into the gate and around inside the chancel, shooting stuff"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "No crashes?"

[nobilis] GM says, "some of them seem to be dropping incendiaries"

Raul says (to Chaz), "<Not me! Not me!>"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "is there any reason that the airplane wings can't turn into, say, paper?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "yeah, sans the ones you took out, who veer into walls"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yay"

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "uh"

[nobilis] Aisleen makes a note to self. I don't care if it is a party! Don't go anywhere without the grenades!

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "the short answer is that you only control stuff in your domain, so you can't turn things not in your domain into things in your domain"

[nobilis] GM says, "but if you want to wrap their wings in paper or something, be my guest"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Okay, let's try that."

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to franklin), "wallpaper their windshields with paper instead"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "that blinds them and has them crash"

[nobilis] Raul says, "or clog their jet intakes"

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

GM says, "meanwhile, back in the temple, Raul and Chaz and Aisleen swoop around"

[nobilis] Raul says, "do little origami birds"

[nobilis] Franklin says (to Raul), "that was my next thought"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I like Aisleen's. Unless they have radar."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "but I wasn't sure what kind of planes these were"

GM says, "There are guards in here and they're putting up a fight against the intruders, but they're apparently not as battle-trained as they could be -- the intruders are forcing their way inwards"

GM says, "Franklin snaps his fingers and the attacking planes inside suddenly turn into neat UPS packages"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Just filling the cockpits with stacks and stacks of recyclable newspapers would probably make piloting a bit harder, too."

GM says, "which has bad effects on, like, steering"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "ha!"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "whee"

[nobilis] Raul asks, "Okay, I think the path inwards to the heart should be a lot harder and twistier to traverse. Can I do that inside a domain, this close to the heart?"

Aisleen . o O (to alison) ( do you have those toothpicks that you were gathering up inside? I can probably use them as stakes with this wind )

[nobilis] Alison asks, "What's the giant doing?"

Franklin takes the last sip of his drink and tosses the glass in the fireplace.

GM says, "Raul and Chaz's blasts winnow down the attackers but they're slowly making their way into the inner sanctum"

GM says, "now that Franklin cuts down on the number of airplanes, the giant manages to swat the last -- and then he walks over, picks up the last tank, and drop-kicks it across the horizon"

Alison sneak-sneaks over to where Aisleen is, and gives her the punch glass filled with a couple dozen (slightly used) toothpicks.

Aisleen says (to storm/wind), "heck with the temple, come inside and sweep some of these people away"

Davey rumbles to the inner fight

GM says, "and the wind blasts into the temple"

Franklin then starts to make his long slow way to the inner temple.

[nobilis] Raul says (to GM), "(I don't know if you saw my question above, so I'll point to it)"

Chaz walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Chaz arrives, looking for booty.

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

Aisleen releases the toothpicks. Shish-kebob the invaders!

[nobilis] GM says (to Raul), "I think, mrm, the heart is off-limits to people's miracles not from the chancel, but yes, you can change the paths outside -- but the attackers are almost at the heart"

Aisleen . o O (to alison) ( much thanks )

GM says, "Yow, ouch, attacker skewers"

Alison . o O (to Aisleen) ( Sure. I didn't need them any more anyway. )

[nobilis] Raul says, "I'll chalk that up to a great idea that I had too late."

[nobilis] Raul says, "I'm sure there'll be another party and another attack on a heart. I'll save it for then"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "man, i wish i could draw. i would love to draw a scene of toothpicks skeweing attackers"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Hey, I'm Protective. Anything spring to mind about protecting this place?"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "'Ow! My eye!'"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "hmm, if they make it to the heart, are we going to end up stranded somewhere lost inside this chancel?"

GM says, "because indeed, you turn the last corner in the temple and there's the heart -- a flame burning without fuel above a marble platform"

[nobilis] Alison asks (of Franklin), "THen we can figure out how to rescue a lost chanel from the *inside*?"

GM says, "and the attackers are running towards it, pulling out wands from beneath their uniforms and starting to point them"

Davey hovercrafts for speed

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "I've got splinters in places I didn't even know I had places!"

Aisleen directs the wind to blow the wands out of their hands

[nobilis] Raul asks, "How much Aspect would I need to be able to run past them all, grabbing their wands as I go, before they're successful?"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Or I can wait for Aisleen to remove them. :)"

GM says, "but then, of all people to do something useful, Rike steps forward and shouts"

GM says, "and the flame blasts out wide"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "sorry for pre-empting you"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "(to raul)"

[nobilis] Davey says, "go Realm"

[nobilis] Raul says (to Aisleeen), "No, no, not at all."

GM says, "and little bits of ash and burned wands drop to the ground"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Ack, ellarm"

Aisleen says, "whee"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "woo!"

GM says, "and it's all quiet except for planes crashing into buildings outside"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hmm. I'm guessing the zeppelins, if they arrive, will be a bit too late to help with anything."

[nobilis] Raul exclaims, "Rides home!"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "the music of the air war"

GM says, ""Well," says Rike, "Normally I feel uncomfortable at parties but this one was quite invigorating.""

Raul takes advantage of the lull to finish stunning the invaders.

GM says, "the remaining non-scorched invaders drop as they're stunned"

Franklin, still outside the temple, blinks as things go quiet.

Raul can be heard muttering, "and THAT and THAT and THAT and that's enough practice."

GM says (to Franklin), "Amanda pulls up to you, leading some more troops. "What happened?" she says."

Aisleen assists in clean up by directing the wind to blow the ashes and bodies out the temple

Aisleen . o O (to franklin) ( bodies coming your way. )

Franklin says, "Well -- I'm not sure. There was a lot of noise in the heart of the temple, then sudden quiet."

Alison asks, "Is it all over now?"

Franklin says, "Pfuff! Cough!"

GM says, ""Let me ask Rike," she says, and concentrates. "What? You did? They did? He did? She did? Oh really?""

Davey says, "more of Bright's"

GM says, "and then she breaks off coughing as ashes sweep over her."

Aisleen . o O (to amanda) ( sorry! )

Franklin says (to Raul), "<Did we win?>"

GM says, "Brushing herself off angrily she stands to one side."

Raul says (to Franklin), "<We did. Rike finished off the invaders' wands with a Realm miracle.>"

Franklin brushes off his suit.

Raul looks down at his suit, now speckled with ash and soot. "I'm betting this isn't coming clean. How do the action heroes do it?"

GM says, ""I hope nobody's going to forget to buy my book because of this!" Amanda says"

Alison gets up, and up, and stops being so little now that there isn't anyone to hide from.

Franklin says, "Hmmm, so we were all here to witness Rike saving his own chancel. Well, good. I think."

Alison says (to Amanda), "Maybe you can write a book about defending yourself from attack."

GM says (to Alison), ""What an interesting idea .. "You can ... kick! with Amanda Pyne", perhaps.""

Aisleen says, "so we essentially provided color to the defense, but nothing particularly effective, since the heard did it all"

GM says, ""Maybe I could get Raul to write a testimonial.""

Alison says (to Amanda), "Yeah. Um. Maybe."

Raul joins the others, shaking soot from his hair. "What?"

Davey murmurs to Franklin, "Good eye."

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "On the contrary, I think we whittled down the attackers to where they *could* be taken out by a single realm miracle."

GM says (to Raul), "Amanda spreads her arms expansively. "'You can .. achieve self-worth through self-defense! by Amanda Pyne.' You could write the marksmanship chapters and we'd split the proceeds.""

Wilfred has connected.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee hee... Wilfred has the most convenient timing."

Raul says, "My goodness."

[nobilis] GM asks (of Alison), "a bit suspicious how he disappeared right before, eh?"

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "Did I just pick up "summonable"?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Yeah! Think he's in league with Jack?"

GM says (to Raul), ""It was Alison's idea," Amanda explains modestly."

Aisleen ensures the temple has been cleaned up properly before wandering out

Alison hides behind Aisleen.

[nobilis] Wilfred asks, "Okay, what just happened?"

Davey gets himself tidied up

Raul says, "She's certainly bright."

[nobilis] Alison says (to Wilfred), "Olympus was just attacked."

Aisleen whispers to Alison, "eep. Another Amanda book?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Soldiers, planes, tanks."

Raul says, "I wonder how Penny would take to having another writer in the chancel. Though any work of mine could hardly measure up to her quilting articles."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "there are weenie dogs everywhere"

Alison whispers (to Aisleen), "Well, it makes her happy."

Aisleen says (to Alison), "(still whispering) I would hope she won't dedicate it to you..."To Alison, who gave me the idea for this book.""

[nobilis] Alison says, "And Wilfred conveniently managed to show up just after everything had settled down and become perfectly safe again."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "snrk"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "jack did say there was an excrucian traitor nobilis among us"

[nobilis] Raul says, "He's here to file damage reports and issue tickets for violation of restricted airspace"

Chaz says (to Rike), "That was a handy trick wit that flame."

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of Franklin), "Wait, what?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "well, among nobilises, not among us in particular"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "I am Eastland, Department of Government Conspiracies. There is no mess. There is no Illuminati. There is no Santa Claus."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "someone's a dirty sneak"

GM says, "Rike blushes modestly. "It just, you know, came to me-- I guess I couldn't have done it anywhere else.""

Alison exclaims (at Amanda), "Don't forget to look into Egbert, to find out who's trying to get in on your domain!"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "but no one knows who"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "whoa. which chancel?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "no one knows"

[nobilis] Alison says, "It could be that Infomercials isn't so much in need of being saved by us as being caught by us, for all we know."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "jack only had vague suspicions, which he shared with wilfred and alexandra"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Or Amanda herself could be Evil."

[nobilis] Franklin glances around suspiciously.

[nobilis] Aisleen agrees with Alison

[nobilis] Alison says, "But, not having read the transcript, I still sincerely distrust Jack."

GM says (to Alison), ""I'll, um, look into that, yes.""

Aisleen looks around, sees stuff have been cleaned up, directs the wind to pile all the bodies in a nice pile outside by the door

Aisleen says, "Cleaning up is always the hardest part"

Franklin glances at his watch.

GM says, "Rike glances over at Alison, then back to Amanda. "What *is* she talking about, Amanda?" "Nothing, *dear* brother. I'll tell you later.""

Franklin says (to Amanda), "Well, lovely party. Must do it again."

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "didn't you say this chancel was not on the invasion map?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hey, that's right, he did"

Alison says, "Yeah, good party. Good little hot dogs. And I liked the round eggy cheesy things, too."

Chaz says (to Aisleen), "Yeah, there were maps of a lot of chancels, but not this one."

Franklin says, "Oh? Hmm."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hmm. Someone should interrogate their prisoners next week."

GM says (to Franklin), ""Yes, absolutely -- at my next book release, or perhaps sooner. In fact, perhaps I could speak to you soon about negotiating some kind of lower price for paper pulp .. but I'll get in touch with you. So much to do now.""

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Wonder if we can get Raul to do another path-follow to find out their new HQ?"

Franklin tips his hat.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "think we can take some of them home?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "maybe I can try to"

[nobilis] Raul says, "In theory I'm supposed to meet with Jac"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "maybe raul should shift to sundays"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hey, good idea."

[nobilis] Raul says, "though no one's told me yet"

[nobilis] Davey says, "the info part of traveling isn't as central to me, but it seems to come in handy"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to davey), "go for it"

Franklin says (to Raul), "<Which is the best way back? And by the way, you're supposed to meet with Jack.>"

Chaz says (to Rike), "When these guys attacked out chancel, we tracked them back to a lost chancel., where they were planning a variety of invasions of other chancels. But not this one. Which means that this invasion must have been planned somewhere *else*, along the same lines."

GM says, ""Ah, there you all are," Edmund says. "Couldn't imagine where everyone had gotten to.""

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "was it planned? or just another attempt to attack us?"

Raul says (to Franklin), "<I was planning on checking in with the chancel, so I can lead -- oh, really? Hm.>"

Chaz asks (of Raul), "Hey, last time the invaders were attached to their old chancel, and you were able to folow that connection. Can you do that again?"

Franklin says, "Yes, planned without plans. On a super-guarded chancel. Where even Edmund can't make a door in. Very clever."

Alison says (to Aisleen), "They had to have planned it, because they knew all about where the heart was and stuff."

Aisleen says (to alison), "good point"

Franklin says, "Don't mind me, I'm just muttering."

Raul says (to Chaz), "Hm. I can certainly try."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "Actually I suspect Drake most. Although destroying his own chancel is still a dumb thing to do"

[nobilis] Davey says, "unless he's been offered a new home"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I dunno. Going missing seems like a suspicious thing to do, if you're trying to be a sneaky bad guy."

[nobilis] Davey says, "he's a Regal. The only way he can climb is to do Unspeakable Things"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I wonder if a Regal can try to create new domains."

Chaz says, "I want to know how the invaders got past the gates to attack the heart, too."

Alison goes back inside to check on the people who didn't run out the door (or window) when all the fighting started.

[nobilis] GM asks, "as usual, interrogation and path-tracking will be next week, I think. is there other shorter stuff for now?"

Raul says, "Actually, hang on."

[nobilis] Raul says (to GM), "I'd like to do a quick divination to see what path the invaders took to get to the heart from within the domain"

[nobilis] Raul says, "if there's time for it"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "can we just search their bodies?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "since they are in a nice pile by the gate"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Boy, are they going to be all bruisy when they wake up. Like overripe bananas."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "along with the ashes and stuff"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I'd like to grab some more things on toothpicks."

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to alison), "hee hee"

GM says (to Raul), "it looks like the path went from the outer wall more or less straight to the heart"

Raul asks (of GM), "but in a way that we didn't see them going past? Or were we just distracted by the guys at the gates?"

GM says (to Raul), "not through the gate"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "was it a second force that came in the back?"

Raul asks, "aha, two-point entry?"

GM says, "so presumably, yeah, they showed up earlier before the fight started"

Raul says, "or, er, one-point entry plus second group at gates"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hm, sneaky"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Note to Octavo: better defenses of the heart"

[nobilis] Raul says, "also, total eclipse of the heart"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I think we looked into that at some pint, maybe"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "er, point"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of GM), "was that a yes or a no?"

[nobilis] Raul says (to Franklin), "In theory that's what I"ve been doing in part these last play sessions I missed. Looking into how to preserve miracles for defense, that sort of thing"

[nobilis] GM says, "wrt searching bodies, nothing special -- they have guns, they have dog-tags with their names and identification codes, and they have flashlights and some other pieces of equipment"

[nobilis] GM says, "but no personal items"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Same type of stuff as the Astara white guys had?"

[nobilis] GM says, "right. maybe a bit less well-supplied"

[nobilis] Raul says, "It'd be easier if they came with memos from the head baddie. 'To: Attacking Force. From: Excrucian Traitor M_____. Re: Grabbing the heart.'"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Raul), "In this case, it's probably Arthur."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "But I shall follow up on that later ;-)"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "so who are Fritz and theodore?"

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

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to chaz), "hm. good point. our mage disappears, we get invaded. Arthur disappears, they get invaded"

[nobilis] GM says, "oh yes"

[nobilis] Chaz consults his memory.

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "*nod*"

[nobilis] GM says, "Fritz is the Baronet of Lamps, and is in Wendell's chancel"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Are we hanging around this chancel for next week's interrogations and stuff, or going home tonight, and then just coming bck tomorrow or taking prisoners with us or whatever?"

[nobilis] GM says, "Theodore is the Duke of Zippers"

[nobilis] Aisleen votes for going home and taking bodies with us

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen asks, "Zippers? There is someone to blame for everytime someone's fly is open?"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, the other guests seem to be making their way out"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says, "Theodore probably keeps a lesser preservation in place at all times, just to prevent that from happening to himself."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "heh"

[nobilis] GM says, "and going home, and Amanda and Rike seem to be expecting you to do so as well -- but presumably you could take some prisoners back with out, and/or come back later"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Also, should I be at all concerned that I never noticed a response from Henderson?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "no, sorry, insert a "yeah, I'll get them out as soon as I can, but it won't be for a bit because zeppelins are slow" back there"

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

Alison says, "The zeppelins are too late to help out, but we can use them as prisoner transports, so that we can help house some of them at our chancel, if you like."

Davey warns Amanda that her prisoners may all die from that spirit-linking spell soon

[nobilis] Alison says, "Next time we go to a party, I suggest taking the zeppelins with us."

Davey says, "if it's on these ones. They seem to me prepared a little differently"

GM says (to Davey), ""Oh, really?" says Amanda. "Well, in that case, you should pick out some to interrogate, and I should keep some here and see what I can do to help them .. improve their ability to stay here.""

[nobilis] Alison says, "They're invisible, so we can leave them parked out front, and no one will notice."

Davey says, "all right"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "zeppelins and grenades. check"

[nobilis] Alison says, "And Granade. He seems to come in handy, too."

GM says, "right then"

Aisleen looks down at her dress. Sigh, another dress ruined

[nobilis] Raul exclaims, "Do I ever!"

Aisleen says, "nobilizing is hard on the wardrobe"

GM says, "so you load up some prisoners and head back, Raul making sure there's a path"

Raul exclaims (at Aisleen), "and my suit!"

GM says, ""You could talk to Armande," Amanda suggests."

Chaz says, "Hey, this is the same T-shirt I was wearing when Ferarium got attacked."

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to alison), "heh. i had to check i spelled grenades correctly just now"

[nobilis] GM asks (of Chaz), "ie, the "I defended a chancel from invaders and all I got was .."?"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

Alison asks, "Can we get a 'little things on toothpicks' stand?"

[nobilis] Raul says, "yay"

Alison asks, "Next to the burger stand and the candied apples guy?"

Chaz says (to Alison), "Sure thing, kiddo."

GM says, ""I could start selling popcorn on individual sticks," the popcorn guy suggests"

[Crows-Nest] Davey says, "we must be the fattest damn chancel"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "nah. we work it all off with all this fighting and flying we do"