[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "there're 2 good bjork songs as far as i'm concerned"

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "army of me and bachelorette"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I seem to recall Iain logging in and saying, 'so are we not playing, then?' and everyone saying, 'we're in the middle of it, man!'"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "ok then"

[nobilis] Raul asks, "Can I get a quick recap on where things stand now?"

GM says, "last time we had a brief but colorful episode"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I've read all the logs but I have no idea"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

GM says, "wherein Alexandra's anchor Karin was having strange dreams and creating bizarre and foreboding paintings"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "people's anchors and such are being attacked one by one"

GM says, "and folks chatted to her about this and what it all meant"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "kori and michel traced down these leads somewhat"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "and currently something bad is brewing with alexandra's"

GM says, "while meanwhile some other people were going to London to see Wilfred's (other) brother's dramatic reinterpretation of shakespeare"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "something really bad, but kind of unknown"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Aha, that's right. I was there for the early conversations w/Karin"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "michel was researching it, and it seemed to be something akin to the way a chancel reappears when its imperator is killed"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Franklin), "I have a theory about it, which is why I'm here ;-)"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "and the bad vibes that surround such an event"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "'dramatic'"

GM says, "before this, attempts to kidnap Michel's daughter Therese had been traced back to a French crime leader who was semi-foiled and some paperwork and a few strange artifacts were recovered from his house"

[nobilis] Gunther says, "my theory is that there's this guy named GM, and only if he knows who the anchors are, they get attacked"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "snrk"

[nobilis] Gunther says, "so I never told him"

[nobilis] Raul laughs.

Wilfred says, "yay paperwork"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Hollyhock God likes a sneaky beaky"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "he was partially wrapped in aluminum"

GM says, "and before that, other things of importance to people had been being attacked, sometimes via squirrels"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Oh, right--there was a glass half-sphere in that loot, wasn't there?"

[Crows-Nest] Gunther asks, "who, al?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "no, a solid metal ball, I think"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "you guys are the ones with the half-spheres"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Ah, OK. Thought there was a connection. May still be, at that."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I forget what we determined the ball to be, apart that it was not uranium 235"

[nobilis] Kori says, "it seems not to be radioactive"

[nobilis] Raul asks, "but was it funkadelic?"

[nobilis] GM says, "actually, it was a hemisphere, although it's black"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "A-ha."

[nobilis] Kori says, "but there were indications in the guy's notes that it was some kind of opening device"

[nobilis] Kori says, "or ... something."

[nobilis] Kori says, "mysterious."

[nobilis] Kori says, "probably bad."

[nobilis] GM says, "I don't think you determined what it was and somebody put it away somewhere"

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "You connect it with a white hemisphere and then gaze into it with Aspect 5 intelligence."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

GM says, "so, ah, Wilfred was just watching the end of the play, as Rupert was going off to a cast party"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Is anyone at the chancel now?"

GM says, "Penny and Gaston had begged off"

GM says, "while I think everyone else was back at the chancel"

Wilfred will of course go have a chat with Rupert....

GM says, "the triumphant actors are finishing up their beers and then piling into taxis to head off to the cast party -- you could probably just squeeze into Rupert's, or grab the next one"

(From Chaz) There's a loud 'whump' and you hear a few books fall off their shelves. Chaz skates around the corner. "Whoops, sorry about that."

Chaz says, "Those Greek librarians are strict."

Chaz reshelves the books.

Wilfred asks, "What, share a cab with a bunch of drunk liberal-living actors?"

Franklin glares.

Raul says, "Oh, hi, Chaz"

Wilfred takes another cab.

Chaz says (to Raul), "Hi! Thanks for that lead in Olympus."

Raul asks, "You bet. What did you find out about the cottage?"

Chaz says, "It was Drake's. Or, Drake's servant."

Wilfred assumes that John is being "taken care of" by Penny.

Raul asks, "Has anyone talked to Drake about it?"

GM says (to Wilfred), ""Where you going, sir?" the cab-driver asks."

Chaz says, "Nobody can *find* Drake."

GM says, "(meanwhile, the other actors are heading off in their cabs)"

Wilfred says (to cab-driver), "Follow that cab."

Chaz says, "We think that he's either behind a lot of this, or a Excrucian mimicing him is."

GM says, ""Right-o, sir!""

Franklin says, "Drake hasn't been present since the duel, if I remember correctly, which I may not."

GM says, "your driver screeches off after them"

Franklin says, "Mimicking! Hmmmm."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(yay)"

Franklin says, "Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that. I didn't know it could be done, of course..."

[interludes] GM has removed Kori from the channel.

[interludes] GM has removed Raul from the channel.

[interludes] GM has removed Chaz from the channel.

[interludes] GM has added Wilfred to the channel.

Chaz asks, "Hey, you guys probably have stuff about this--do you know if Excrucian mimics gain the noble's power over just their domain, or if they also assume their power over realm, aspect, and spirit?"

Raul frowns. "Not even Drake's chancel members know where he is?"

Franklin paces back and forth as always, although he seems to be favoring one leg more than usual.

Chaz says, "No, and they don't much care--he often takes off."

Raul says, "Huh."

Chaz says, "But this seems different."

[interludes] GM says (to Wilfred), "apparently urged on by the passengers' cries inside, the taxis zip on through the back streets"

Raul says, "Well, I don't know off the top of my head, but we ought to be able to find out."

Chaz says, "Oh, and Rike disappeared, too."

Raul's eyebrows climb further up his head at this news.

[interludes] Wilfred hopes no laws are being broken.

Chaz says, "Something large and invisibe clunked him on the head, we think."

[interludes] GM says, "Bent, possibly, but not broken"

Raul says, "Let me pull anything I can find on mimics while you talk about the invisible, large thing."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "that reminds me that aisleen kept saying the saturday group met some giant invisible thing. what was she referring to?"

[interludes] GM says, "But then somebody does break the law -- or at least, bend it pretty severely, as their truck pulls out of a side street at the last possible minute, forcing the driver ahead of you and then your driver to hit their breaks to avoid a collision"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "oof"

Chaz says, "Well, it leaves large footprints, and dropped this sprig of laurel. Which is drake's flower."

Franklin says, "You'd think something monstrously giant would have the courtesy to be visible when it waylays you."

[interludes] GM says, "Eventually after some yelling from the driver ahead, the truck keeps on going, and then the taxis continue, but the rest of the taxis are now out of sight"

Chaz says, "And this thread was on it, from clothing of some sort."

[interludes] Wilfred looks. whose taxi was that right in front?

Franklin says, "Thread and laurel? Hmm."

Raul says, "Did anyone try feeding it books? That worked for our invisible thing."

[interludes] Wilfred also gets license number of truck

Franklin says, "I suppose some monks could analyze the thread."

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert's taxi, since you were trying to follow him"

[interludes] GM says, "also a few other actors"

[interludes] GM says (to Wilfred), "that's odd -- license was covered up"

Chaz says, "Oh, and we found this glass hemisphere."

[interludes] GM says, "The taxi ahead moves on, a bit slower now, as if unsure of where it's going. Your driver takes his foot off the brake and follows."

[interludes] Wilfred feels hackles rising

[nobilis] Franklin says, "oh, that invisible thing. I remember it as being more elusive than invisible for some reason"

Chaz says, "Trapped by someone with Realm power in Olympus chancel, I bet."

[nobilis] GM says, "it wasn't invisible at the end"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Oh?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "yeah, its appearance left a strong impression on me"

[nobilis] GM says, "it = the book thing"

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

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hideous book eater"

Chaz asks, "So what's been going on around here?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Raul), "well, let's see"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "libravore or logovore or something vore"

[7thsea] GM says, "er"

[7thsea] Raul asks, "Um, arr?"

Franklin says, "Systematic attacks on anchors, mostly."

Chaz frowns.

Chaz asks, "What kind of attacks?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Raul), "there are a few reports of this kind of thing -- apparently some Excrucians have the power to steal the appearance of a nobilis they have slain"

[nobilis] GM says, "Excrucian shards, I should say"

[nobilis] Raul says, "mmhmm"

[nobilis] Raul asks, "do they get their powers as well? Also, any way of telling them? Like perhaps the hot wire trick from the remake of The Thing?"

Franklin says, "My lumber mills were attacked by hypnotizing squirrels into seeding trees with poison that would conflagrate in the vats, for one thing."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Since I know this OOC, we don't have to RP it to bring my character up to speed, if we like."

Franklin says, "Michel's daughter was threatened with kidnapping -- foiled in time, fortunately."

[nobilis] GM says, "there are rumors about Excrucians themselves doing this, but, well, Imperators are already pretty inexplicable and it'd be hard to tell if one was a disguised Excrucian or just their normal self"

Franklin says, "And something nasty seems to be brewing in Seattle."

Raul says, "Which, let me say, was an extremely convoluted plot."

Franklin says, "But it hasn't come to a head quite yet."

Chaz says, "Oh, right--he dropped Therese off in Ferarium."

Chaz asks, "What kind of nasty?"

Franklin says, "And Wilfred's brothers have been in continual trouble."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Wait, they have to kill the original?"

[nobilis] GM says, "They normally get a weak approximation of their powers, yeah, but usually this has been the main way of finding them out -- they have to supplement the noble's power with their own normal one and eventually they screw up and do something the noble themselves couldn't have done"

[nobilis] GM says (to Chaz), "(yes, some of this is non-canonical)"

Franklin says, "Amorphously nasty. From a slightly orthogonal dimension. Hard to say."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Aha."

[nobilis] Raul says, "oho"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "ehe"

[interludes] GM says, "And then just to make it better, the fog's rolling in"

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of cabdriver), "where do you think we're headed?"

Chaz asks, "Orthogonal dimension? Like, say, the chancel where Ghin-aj's body lies?"

[interludes] GM says, ""Bad part of town, that's where -- I don't know where your crazy friends are going, but I wouldn't be going here on my own""

Raul relays what he's found to Chaz.

[interludes] Wilfred says (to cabdriver), "never mind. Here's 50 quid ... you do not remember anything about what's going to happen in the next 10 minutes."

Franklin says (to Chaz), "Hmmmrmmmrrmrrrm."

Chaz says, "Oh, crap."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "Oh, and keep driving. Try to stay as close to them as possible."

Chaz says, "That means the squirrel guy's dead, then."

[interludes] GM says, "His eyes bug. "Absolutely, sir!""

Franklin says, "Oh? Oh. Mff."

[interludes] Wilfred opens the cab door and swings himself up onto the roof of the cab.

Chaz says, "And possibly Drake."

[interludes] GM says, "The driver speeds up a bit until he's close behind Rupert's cab."

Franklin says, "Quite possibly."

Raul says, "I wonder which would be worse: Drake as a traitor, or Drake dead and replaced."

[interludes] GM says, "This isn't hard as Rupert's cab is going slower than before."

[interludes] Wilfred leaps onto the roof of Rupert's cab.

Franklin says, "It might be worth contriving to unmask a fake Drake, but no Drakes at all seem to be present."

Chaz asks (of Raul), "So they get some of all their powers, then? Including Realm?"

Franklin says, "You might want to be very careful if, say, Rike turns up again."

Raul says, "Good question."

[interludes] GM exclaims, "Ker-thump!"

Raul flip flip flip.

[interludes] GM says, "A nice leap, and in evening dress, yet."

Chaz says, "Also, Silver et al may have found a way to mimic full powers, not just partial."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "does it require something particularly fiendish to kill nobilis?"

Chaz says, "Which might mean..."

[nobilis] GM says (to Raul), "yes, although again, weaker"

Chaz says, "Whoof."

[interludes] Wilfred pretends that he looks nothing like Sean Connery

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "or just like a good karate chop?"

Raul says, "A weak version of their realm powers"

Chaz says, "Maybe they can use the chancel hearts they've stolen to bring back Ghin-aj's chancel."

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "it depends on the nobilis and whether they're durant or immortal or what"

Raul says, "which means they could probably stroll right into the departed noble's chancel."

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "and what's Drake?"

[nobilis] GM says, "for a nobilis with nothing, a few machine gun blasts and they'll die like everyone else"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Noble of Competition."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "and/or Rike"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "in terms of durant or immortal or what"

[interludes] Wilfred reaches down and raps on Rupert's window. "Here, let me in ... it's getting cold and damp out here."

[nobilis] Franklin says, "Aspect, I guess"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Rike is his chancel-brother, power of awards."

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "well, you don't know, but you do know that Drake has survived for, like, several thousand years"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "The third in their chancel is Amanda, power of self-improvement."

[interludes] GM says, "The cab screeches to a halt"

[interludes] Wilfred braces himself against the "taxi" light thingy.

[interludes] GM says, "(so they can't see you?)"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "I think my brain is getting confused about the difference between a nobilis like, say, us, and imperators, and what all the NPC nobilis are in these terms"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(so I don't go flying off the cab.)"

[interludes] GM says, "The window rolls down and somebody sticks their head out. "Who is that? 'Ey, Rupe, it's your brother! Up on the roof!""

[interludes] GM says, "Laughter and a vague beery air drift from the cab."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "All the NPC nobilis are like us. The only imperators we know are our own; Vona and Shagapir."

[interludes] GM says, ""C'mon, we're practically here anyway.""

[nobilis] Franklin says, "hm, ok"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "and all of the imperators are off somewhere doing something too lofty to be knowable?"

[interludes] GM says, "The two men and two women pile out of the cab and fumblingly pay the driver."

[nobilis] Raul says, "fighting the war against excrucians"

[interludes] Wilfred. o O ( Perhaps I was a bit paranoid.... )

[interludes] GM says, ""C'mon down and we'll walk the last bit -- I could do with a little fresh air after that ride," Rupert says."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Ghin-aj:Silver & Rafe::Vona:you all."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(is a good bet, at any rate.)"

[nobilis] Raul says, "I always had a hard time with that section of the SAT"

[interludes] Wilfred slides down and dusts himself off, straightens tie and carnation, looks perfectly prim and proper.

[interludes] GM says, "The two cabs head off hastily as you guys start walking."

[interludes] GM says, "You have to stay close to the others to not lose them in the fog, and it's not entirely clear they know where they're going."

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of Rupert), "Are you absolutely certain this is the right place?"

Chaz says, "If I'm right, we need to find those chancel hearts before they use 'em to bring back Ghin-aj."

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert stares a bit fuzzily at the door you've stopped in front of. "Let's see .. I've got it on a bit of paper here somewhere ..""

[interludes] GM says, ""Nope, must have dropped it," he says."

[interludes] Wilfred looks at the door and listens.

Franklin says (to Raul), "Thank goodness you're here, path-tracking man."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "I should think there would be party noises if it were the right place."

Raul says, "It does seem to be my calling."

[interludes] GM says, "It looks like an ordinary door in a run-down portion of town -- it might have been a nice part of town once but not any longer"

Franklin asks, "What can we work from, though?"

[interludes] GM says, "You don't hear anything on the other side, and (looking at the window) the place inside is dark"

[interludes] GM says, "No, wait -- there's a slight, muffled noise from inside"

Chaz says, "We could work from where they were originally."

Franklin says, "We do have our funny black rock and the vial of Elathcor evilness, as well as Chaz's laurel, thread, and crystal."

Raul asks, "Do we have any objects related to them -- pedestals, that sort of thing?"

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "hold on."

[interludes] Wilfred listens harder.

[interludes] GM says, ""Eh? What?" Rupert's having a bit of trouble climbing the stairs anyway, so he desists."

Chaz asks, "Didn't one of you say something about a buddha statue?"

Franklin asks, "Did we?"

[interludes] GM says (to Wilfred), ""...few more minutes ... expect them any time now ..""

Raul says, "We did, though I'd forgotten about it in all the recent events."

Chaz says, "Something you found in Four Winds."

Raul says, "I think it's stashed somewhere around here."

Franklin asks (of monk), "Say, where's that buddha statue?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "It doesn't *sound* like there's a party in there."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin assumes exciting adventures are happening on #interludes

GM says, "The monk bows to Franklin and heads off, eventually returning with the buddha head"

Franklin says (to monk), "Thank you."

Raul says, "This may be as good a place to start as anywhere."

[interludes] GM says, "The wind whips down the street, knocking a few cans along, and making one of the men yelp in surprise."

[interludes] GM says, ""It's cold out here! I'm going in!""

Chaz exclaims (at head), "Hi!"

[interludes] Wilfred stands between Rupert and door and knocks on the door.

Franklin looks it over and hands it to Raul.

[interludes] GM says, "(no answer)"

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

Chaz asks (of head), "Hello?"

Chaz waves his hands in front of the eyes, snaps his fingers.

[interludes] Wilfred pushes the door open.

Raul says, "At least the head is smiling at you."

GM says, "It's about the size of a baseball and broken off at the neck."

[nobilis] Raul asks, "What do we know about the 4 Winds's heart?"

[interludes] GM says, "It's not locked, and slides open easily, revealing a short hallway and a dark room beyond."

[nobilis] GM | Vona says, ""But yes, that buddha head seems significant -- it must have come from the chancel's heart.""

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Also, http://www.bioc.rice.edu/~lpsmith/IF/7thSea/nobilis/nobilis14.html and search for 'buddha'."

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "I have a bad feeling about this."

[interludes] GM says, ""Come on, let's just go in," one of the women says. "Where is everyone? They said they'd meet us here," says the other."

[interludes] Wilfred checks out the address.

[interludes] GM says (to Wilfred), "with the door open, you can hear a very quiet giggling from the room ahead somewhere"

Raul says, "Let's see what this head can tell us."

[interludes] GM says, "And also some heavy breathing"

Chaz says, "Not much from it's mouth, at any rate."

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "Yarr, 'its'."

Raul concentrates, trying to use the head as a conduit for finding a path to the chancel's heart.

GM says (to Raul), "there is a long, faint thread out from the head and into the stacks"

[interludes] Wilfred tries to determine if it's a "heehee imagine the looks on their faces" giggling or a "oo, time to be evil" giggling.

[interludes] GM says, "It sounds more like the former, now that you mention it"

Raul follows the thread, concentrating but squinting one eye open so he doesn't run into any stacks.

Chaz exclaims (at Franklin), "Guess we're off!"

Franklin hobbles after Raul.

Chaz follows.

[interludes] Wilfred relaxes a bit.

[interludes] Wilfred steps inside.

GM says, "The thread winds between the shelves and eventually leaves the chancel, emerging out in .. the unversity library in Seattle."

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of Rupert*co), "Maybe your other friends got lost...?"

Franklin library-whispers, "What, again?"

Raul says, "Oh, hell."

[interludes] GM says, ""Well, I don't care, I'm going in," Rupert says, and he steps through the hallway and into the main room. There is a pause."

Raul says, "Seattle really *is* the home of all evil."

[interludes] GM says, "and then"

[interludes] GM says, ""SURPRISE!""

Raul says, "We should just have all of our exits point at its university."

[interludes] GM says, "The lights flick on, and the rest of the actors pop up from behind the couches."

Raul hopes the students don't think he's stealing from the rare book-and-buddha-head room.

[interludes] Wilfred looks appropriately surprised.

Franklin's mustache frummoxes more than usual.

[interludes] Wilfred. o O ( I really am being paranoid ... what could possibly go wrong.... )

[interludes] GM says, ""Ha ha ha, the looks on your faces," one of the other actors says to Rupert. "Man, I wish I'd had a camera but boy, can you believe how Daphne looked?""

Franklin asks, "Great gadfrey, what's going on here?"

[interludes] GM says, "Daphne says "Well, I was behind Rachel, and when she jumped--""

[interludes] GM says, ""Hey, wait a minute," Daphne says. "Where's George?""

Franklin says (to Raul), "<Okay, where next?>"

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "Who's George?"

GM says, "The thread winds out through the library and then, it seems like, into the heart of the city."

[interludes] GM says, ""You know," Daphne says, "he was in the cab with us.""

[interludes] GM says, ""Rupert, he did get out of the cab with us, didn't he?""

[nobilis] Wilfred says, "Damn my one-track mind ... once I'm in #interludes I have no idea what's happening outside of channel."

[interludes] GM says, ""Sure, I heard him yell outside when those cans kicked over -- I thought he came in right behind us, though""

Franklin says, "<Hm, if it leads us back to that place we all met the first time, I'll have a stroke.>"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Hey, is Kori just idle, or is she doing something?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "so we're even"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "she is seemingly idle"

[nobilis] GM says, "$5 says she is napping"

Michel arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says (to michel), "hey"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "Perhaps we should go take a look."

Raul says, "<That would be terribly inconvenient, since I was hoping you'd help carry this head eventually.>"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "In nobilis-land, that could literally be true."

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "sorry about that... hope message via storme got through okay"

Chaz says, "<It's OK, I know CPR.>"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "elle n'est pas ici"

Raul says, "<Hm. CPR from Whimsy.>"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "er, she'd logged on"

GM says (to Franklin), "funny you should mention that -- as you guys walk on through the city, eventually you find yourselves on a familiar street, and then outside a familiar shop."

[interludes] GM says, ""What, out there? In the cold?""

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred imagines getting CPR from Kiki. Ooo, shiny!

Franklin says, "Hkkkk!"

Franklin says, "<Just kidding.>"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "okay, where are things at? sorry about that, college network was down"

GM says, "Although the curio shop is now labelled "Relics of Antiquity -- just opened""

[interludes] GM says, ""Oh, c'mon, he's probably gotten lost on a side street or something, you know George""

Franklin says, "I'm waiting to hear someone yell, 'My papers! My papers!' Except he's supposed to be -- hmm."

Franklin says, "Well, I'm going in."

[interludes] GM says, "A few of the men pull on their coats and step out the front door to look."

Franklin barges on in.

Raul follows, carrying the buddha head as nonchalantly as possible.

[interludes] Wilfred hovers behind.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "Wilfred is on an interlude adventure of his own"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "Raul, guest-star Chaz and I have discussed where we stand for a bit"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "we're now following the 8-fold way, which seems to lead to Seattle"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "then we decided that we needed to track down where chancel hearts are going"

GM says, "Most of the wares seem to have been retained -- the weird bits of bronze, the romance paperbacks, and the sticks with skulls on the end"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "and where we all were scoopedup from"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "we have one bit of evidence, the buddha head recovered from 4 winds"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "er, to where"

[Crows-Nest] Michel asks, "is anything being done about this chancel manifesting thing?"

GM says, "Alert shoppers that you are, you do notice some turnover, including some potted plants and a rather nice clock"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "and yeah, so it led out to the univ. of seattle library (again) and to the shops where we all first met in the prologue"

[interludes] GM says, "(are you going outside? or hanging out in the doorway?)"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says (to michel), "not yet"

[interludes] Wilfred will step outside.

[Crows-Nest] Michel asks, "hmm. 'sokay if I step in?"

[interludes] GM says, "One of the men goes out into the middle of the street and starts hollering, "George! George, where are you?""

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "I blustered about how evil it sounds"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "but not too far from door"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "leap on in"

[interludes] GM says, "There is a pause, and then a faint "I'm over here -- I got stuck""

Michel wanders into the chancel. "Contrary to popular opinion, Kashmir absolutely delightful this time of year"

[interludes] GM says, ""Oh, that is so typical," one of the other men say. "He probably stepped in a puddle.""

Franklin pretends to casually browse, while giving everything the Eye.

Raul asks, "And here's Michel, just in the nick of time. Hold this, will you?"

GM says, "The proprietor looks up from her book. "Ah, can I help you?""

[interludes] Wilfred says, ". o O ( stuck? on what? )"

Raul offloads the head for a minute.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "hey, he's in chancel, not in curio shop"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "whoops"

[interludes] GM says, "They stumble down off the step, and they walk in the direction of the voice, off into the fog"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "I read 'chancel' as 'strange store where we first were ennobled'. Funny, that."

[interludes] Wilfred waits

Franklin says curtly, "Who are you, then?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(be right back)"

[interludes] GM says, ""Ah, there you are," you can hear, very faintly. A pause. "C'mon, George, upsy-daisy. Come inside the nice warm house." Another pause. "George?""

Raul lets Franklin deal with the proprietor and switches to mything vision.

GM says, ""Er, the owner?""

Franklin asks, "What happened to the previous owner?"

GM says, ""There's a funny story in that," she says."

GM says, ""I didn't hear all the details myself, but apparently a gas main exploded in the earthquake and flooded the street""

GM says, ""It must have broken a pipe or something""

Franklin, looking like he hasn't laughed since 1950, says, "Hilarious so far."

GM says, ""Anyway, so the previous owner walked away from his shop -- I guess, I don't know, you know how these old guys wander -- er, I mean, anyway""

Michel finds the chancel deserted, and is extremely pleased

Franklin asks, "'These old guys'?"

Kori halfway pokes her head out from behind stacks, sees that it's Michel, and withdraws without comment.

GM says, ""Next thing you know, his only daughter gets a letter from him from Florida saying 'Having a wonderful time, please sell the shop'""

Franklin roads, "What, like me, you mean?"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "er, roars"

GM says, ""Er .. ah .. heh heh""

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "roads are Davey's business"

GM says, "The woman takes an involuntary step up and back behind the counter"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(back)"

Michel fails to notice Kori, and decides to catch up with some essential motorcycle maintenance

Kori continues making notes for school.

[interludes] GM says, "There is a "hey!" and then the voices go quiet."

[interludes] Wilfred tenses and strains to hear

Franklin asks, "And so you bought it. From the owner?"

[interludes] GM says, "After a pause, there is a faint scraping sound, a clang, and then silence."

GM says, ""Well, from his daughter.""

GM says, ""A deal like this you couldn't pass up -- I mean, it came with all this stuff""

[interludes] Wilfred blinks

Franklin says, "I notice the merchandise is largely the same, yes."

GM says, ""Business has been pretty slow lately, I'm afraid, although I did pick up that clock""

GM says, ""Also a rather nice bit of statue there, under the plant""

Franklin asks, "Statue?"

Franklin asks, "May I see it?"

GM says, ""Oh, sure, just lift the plant out of the way""

Raul sidles over to the statue and looks at it in mythic.

[interludes] Wilfred cautiously ventures forth to take a look, feeling all the while like a character in a bad slasher flick.

Franklin says, "I'm afraid I'll need help. You know how we feeble old men are."

Michel spreads greasy motorbike parts all over the chancel garden

Raul says (to Franklin), "Cranky, that's how you are."

Franklin says, "Hurmph!"

GM says, "She eyes you warily, and then sidles out from around the corner to move the plant."

GM says, "In mythic the statue is very faint -- if it hadn't been pointed out you wouldn't have noticed"

GM says, "It looks, curiously, even fainter than a normal thing in mythic"

Raul says, "What an interesting statue. I wonder what story it could tell."

GM says, "But it is certainly headless"

Raul says (to statue), "hint, hit"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "hint"

[interludes] GM says, "You step down the steps and into the fog, following where their voices came from, which seems to be an alley off the main street"

Franklin asks, "It's missing its head. Where did you get it from?"

Michel lovingly reassembles

GM says, "(if the statue has anything to say, it's keeping quiet about it)"

GM says, ""There's a funny story about that too," the woman says."

Franklin says, "Do tell."

GM says, ""See, I used to run a 7-11 before I decided to take up the antiques business""

[interludes] Wilfred pauses to tie an end of red tape to the stair railing before moving on out.

Franklin asks, "What's a 7-11?"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Good thing the proprietor hasn't noticed the STATUE HEAD I'm carrying"

GM says, ""You know, a convenience store -- where people get Slurpees""

Franklin looks around. "Slurpees?"

[nobilis] GM says, "I assumed you were carrying it unobstrusively -- it's only baseball-sized"

[nobilis] Raul says, "aha."

GM says, "She rolls her eyes, semi-unnoticeably"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "he's been bouncing it on his elbows and playing hacky sack"

[nobilis] GM says, "if you want to make it more obvious that's fine"

[interludes] GM says, "Step step step"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Well, while Franklin's distracting the proprietor, I'm going to see if the head matches the statue, preferably without her noticing."

Franklin says, "All right, for the sake of argument, I believe you that there are such things."

[interludes] GM says, "Around the corner, back towards the end of the alley, where you see a humanoid figure lying on the ground"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz is laughing and laughing.

GM says, ""Anyway, my close-up guy Juan, he's got a brother who's a janitor up at th university""

Michel purrs the engine

Franklin's eyebrows go up, then down again.

GM says, ""So one day he found this really great statue in one of the bins, only it was missing a head, so he didn't want it, and he told Juan about it, and Juan told me""

[interludes] Wilfred peers through the fog, approaches cautiously. Mm, paranoia

GM says, ""I figure this is just the sort of thing an antique shop would want"

Franklin says, "Indeed."

Franklin asks, "What does that have to do with Slurpees?"

GM says, ""If I can find the head, great, I'll super-glue it back on or something and sell it as a Roman antique. And if not, doesn't that plant on top add a nice touch of color?""

[interludes] GM says, "The figure doesn't move, nor does the dumpster next to it"

Franklin asks, "Well, I'm sold. How much do you want for it?"

[interludes] GM says, "Step, step, step"

Franklin digs out a fat looking wallet.

[interludes] Wilfred wonders idly how the Ripper's victims must have felt. step step step

GM says, "Her eyebrows fly up. "A hund-- sorry, two hundred fifty.""

Franklin says, "For a headless plant pot?!"

GM says, ""It's an *antique* headless plant stand""

GM says, ""Genuine, ah, atlantean. Or greek or something.""

Michel is thoroughly satisfied with his work, and sits down with his saxophone

Franklin says, "I'll bet you haven't the faintest idea how old it is!"

Franklin says, "I'll give you eighty-five, and that's more than it's worth!"

[interludes] GM says, "Hrm, nothing. You reach the body, and see it's sprawled out on the ground."

Franklin says, "And you can keep the plant."

[interludes] Wilfred prods it with his foot.

GM says, ""Fine, fine. But only because I like you.""

Franklin plunks down cash.

GM says, ""And I'm not going to deliver it to your house!""

Franklin says, "You needn't bother!"

[interludes] GM says, "The head tilts, slightly, and you can see the face is all over blood"

[interludes] GM says, "You do, however, recognize it as one of the men from the cab"

[interludes] Wilfred checks for signs of life.

Franklin says, "And I'd like a receipt!"

Raul asks (of Franklin), "Sir, shall I carry the statue for you?"

GM says, "The woman prints one out and pops open the register to stick the cash in"

Franklin says (to Raul), "Why, thank you, yes."

[Crows-Nest] Kori laughs and laughs

[interludes] GM says, "Nothing."

Raul smiles his best hired-help smile and hoists up the statue.

[Crows-Nest] Chaz also is laughing.

Franklin shoves the receipt into his wallet.

[interludes] GM says, "And then suddenly you have more pressing problems, as something lands heavily on your back"

Franklin says, "Good day!"

Franklin holds the door for Raul.

Raul heads out into the street.

[interludes] Wilfred twists around under the ... thing and tries to face it.

Franklin pointedly does not tip his hat as he leaves.

GM says, ""Thank you for shopping at Sally Jo's Relics of Antiquity! Do come again!""

[Crows-Nest] Kori says, "bwahaha"

[Crows-Nest] Kori says, "ahem"

Franklin says, "Well, I hope that was worth it. I don't think I can deduct this on my taxes."

[interludes] GM says, "Ow, it's got claws that rip your coat as you turn"

Raul says, "Talk to Wilifred and see."

Franklin says, "Ooooh."

[interludes] GM says, "And, as you face it, you see it's got teeth, too -- it looks more or less like a lizard-cat crossbreed"

[interludes] Wilfred exclaims, "Dammit, that cost money!"

Raul says, "So is this where the Excrucians swoop down on us and snatch this from us? I'd feel better back in the chancel."

Franklin scribbles a note to himself on the receipt and puts it back in his wallet.

Franklin says, "Let us away."

[interludes] Wilfred leaps back and prepares to wrap it red tape.

Franklin wraps it in paper.

Michel gets into an exceptionally complicated, lengthy and miserable-sounding sax solo

(From Kori) from behind the stacks: "OH FOR GOD'S SAKE"

[interludes] GM says, "It hisses at you angrily as you pull away from it."

Chaz says (to Raul), "It looks like it's already been drained."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "laughs"

[interludes] GM says, "Then it crouches as if about to leap at you."

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

Michel's saxophone suddenly sounds snarkier

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

GM says, "you guys head back to the chancel with the statue, not being stopped by any Excrucians on the way"

Wilfred says, "<um, urgent research. lizard-cat crossbreed. main weaponry: teeth and claws. approximate <height> tall, <weight> weight....>"

Franklin says, "Hello, Michel seems to be back."

(From Kori) Muttering about people who desperately need to get a grip and or a life.

[Crows-Nest] Franklin asks, "wait, how tall and how weighty?"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Gracious, what kind of cast party is this?>"

[interludes] Wilfred twists some red tape into a stronger length of tape

Chaz says (to Raul), "If they threw it away, they probably already used it in some ritual or something."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(or into a noose, rather.)"

[interludes] GM says, "It tenses, then springs."

Franklin grumbles about not getting a moment to rest his legs, bustles off to look up Wilfred's request.

Raul sees if the head will fit on the statue.

[interludes] GM says, "All the while silently, except for its occasional angry hiss"

GM says, "Yeah"

GM says, "clearly this is the head of the statue"

Michel nods vaguely to Franklin and Raul, without stopping playing

Franklin says, "<Lizard-cat? Abominable.>"

Raul says, "How about that."

Raul says, "But no fwoomph, no flash of light."

GM says, "But just as clearly, something's been drained out of the statue"

Franklin says, "Liza, Lizard, Lizard-cat... see Cat-Lizard..."

[interludes] Wilfred whips out the tape and tries to entangle the creature as he slides to one side to avoid it.

Franklin stomp limp stomp limp stomp.

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "Its! Grah, twice the same hour."

Raul says, "Hm hm hm."

Wilfred says, "<you're telling me. quick, any obvious weaknesses?>"

Raul furrows his eyebrows and focuses.

[interludes] GM says, "Your aspect 1 is just enough to grab it -- you dodge to the side as the loop slides around its body and it is brought up short in the leap"

Michel switches to upbeat (but no less self-indulgent) jazz

Franklin says, "<I'm looking, I'm looking!>"

[interludes] GM says, "This time it hisses like a kettle overflowing"

[interludes] GM says, "Its eyes flash red, in the manner of all good demonic creatures"

Michel gets bored almost immediately and has a cigarette instead

(From Kori) There is dead silence from behind the stacks, as Kori has put on headphones and turned them all the way up.

GM says (to Franklin), "no, wait, here we go -- demonic lizard-cat -- found in dark and cold places, summoned as an assassin to hunt one's enemies"

[interludes] Wilfred quickly wraps more tape around it... hog-tying if possible.

Franklin asks (of GM), "weaknesses?"

GM says (to Franklin), "loud noises and bright lights, apparently"

Franklin asks (of GM), "Light and heat, maybe?"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "It hates loud noises and bright lights!"

Franklin says, "<>"

Wilfred says, "<pity I haven't got either, eh?>"

Raul exclaims (at Franklin), "Shh, I'm concentrating!"

[interludes] GM says, "It struggles in the tape, then falls quiet for a bit."

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Heat also, possibly, as it likes the cold!>"

[nobilis] GM asks (of Raul), "wait, on sometime in particular?"

Franklin asks (of Raul), "Do you want Wilfred to be Lizard-Cat-chow?"

[nobilis] Raul says, "trying to see if I can find where the essence went"

[interludes] Wilfred throws more tape around it for good measure (hog-tying in triplicate).

[nobilis] GM says, "oh, sorry, missed that line"

Raul says, "He's a clever fellow; I'm sure he'll find a way out of trouble."

[Crows-Nest] jnc has left the channel.

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Who's line is it, anyway?"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Perhaps running for dear life, then?>"

Michel says, "I am disconsolate. Therese's marksmanship is decidedly sub-par for a girl of her age"

[interludes] GM says, "It's now just lying there very stilly, although the air around it seems a bit foggier than usual"

Wilfred says, "<actually, it seems fairly tied up at the moment.>"

Michel says, "evidently I have been neglecting her upbringing"

[interludes] GM says, "small bits of frost start to coalesce on the ground around it"

Chaz exclaims (at Michel), "What? She hits the bulls-eye with the pie every time!"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<At least clap your hands and stomp and shout.>"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says (to chaz), "heh"

[interludes] Wilfred notes the dumpster and slams its lid a couple of times.

[nobilis] GM says (to Raul), "it's hard to track the essence as it seems to have spread out in a variety of directions -- there's clearly some path starting from the UW campus again"

Michel says (to Chaz), "few threats can be eliminated by thrown pie"

[interludes] Wilfred then looks about the body for ... a lighter, maybe.

Chaz says (to michel), "You haven't met the right pie."

Chaz says, "Or perhaps the right threat."

[interludes] GM says, "The body twitches a few times as you slam the lid"

Franklin stomps back over to the others and flumps into a seat nearby Raul.

[interludes] GM says, "Arr, of all the people to be -- no, wait, this actor isn't a non-smoker after all"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(wait wait ... the body? Or the creature?)"

[interludes] GM says, "You come up with a small, half-full lighter"

Franklin says, "Ahhhrr. Urh. Ahh. Phoof."

Chaz says (to Franklin), "You OK? It seems like you're limping."

[interludes] GM says, "(sorry, the creature)"

Michel says, "and she is considerably less accurate with an automatic"

[interludes] GM says, "But meanwhile the frost is spreading up from the ground onto the tape"

Franklin says, "My arthritis has kicked up recently, I'm not sure why."

Chaz asks, "An automatic pie-thrower? What's the fun in that?"

Franklin says, "Maybe too many extra rounds of golf."

Raul says (to Chaz), "So there is a faint trace of where part of the essence might have gone"

Raul says, "One guess as to where the trail starts."

Michel says (to Chaz), "something tells me we're failing to connect on some level"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "breathes a prayer of thanks and lights the tape."

Franklin says, "University of Seattle."

Chaz asks (of Franklin), "Your estate isn't under attack, is it?"

[interludes] Wilfred breathes a prayer of thanks and lights the tape.

Franklin says, "No... I don't think so."

[interludes] Wilfred also starts a constant wrapping-the-thing-in-tape routine.

Franklin says, "It's probably just one of those things."

[interludes] GM says, "You lean forward slightly to light the tape and the tape bursts"

[interludes] GM says, "A cold snap, as it were"

Raul says (to Wilifred), "<Do you need us in-chancel? If not, we've got a lead on where some of the chancel heart essence from the Four Winds might have gone.>"

[interludes] GM says, "Then more loops of your tape settle down around it"

[interludes] GM says, "But just too late, as it zips out of the alley and back towards the main street"

Franklin asks (of Raul), "Just 'some of'?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "dammit."

Raul says (to Franklin), "It feels dispersed, yes."

Franklin says, "Bah."

[interludes] Wilfred sets off after the thing, hoping it's not headed for the party.

Franklin asks a passing monk to get him some strong coffee.

GM says, "Somebody comes by with a steaming mug"

Franklin says (to monk), "Ah, thank you."

Raul takes a cigar break, making sure to keep the flame clear of books.

Franklin sips at it and burns his tongue.

[interludes] GM says, "It's streaking down the street and away -- past the door where the party's in swing, looks like"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "thank heaven for small miracles."

Franklin says, "So, no rest for the weary today, it seems like. But I'd just as soon continue the hunt."

[interludes] Wilfred goes back in to the party, to make sure.

Raul says, "Me too."

Raul asks (of Chaz), "You have time?"

Franklin asks, "What are we guessing is going on here, though, with the statue?"

Chaz says, "Sure."

[interludes] Wilfred says, ". o O ( now ... question is if the creature was after Rupert or me.... )"

Franklin asks, "That it was used in some ritual and then discarded? A ritual related to the chancel's being dislocated?"

Chaz says (to Franklin), "My guess is it has something to do with getting Ghin's chancel back."

Franklin asks, "How did the head end up at the spire in the Four Winds?"

Michel sniffs the coffee, and tries not to look too amused by its pathetic weakness

Raul says, "I wonder if it's being used to help power the shards."

Franklin says (to Chaz), "I believe you are right."

[interludes] GM says, "(Oh, and I should mention that you got a glimpse of something in the dumpster when you opened the lid)"

Chaz says, "In fact, everything probably has something to do with that."

Franklin asks (of Raul), "Oh, hm. Shards need to be powered?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(I'll bet it's the other actors.)"

Chaz says, "Wasn't Penny going to be sacrificed? That, too."

Franklin blows on his coffee thoughtfully.

Raul says (to Franklin), "No idea. I'm guessing wildly."

Franklin says, "And the Penny ritual was at the University as well."

Franklin says, "Hmmm."

Franklin finishes his coffee.

[interludes] GM says, "Anyway, meanwhile, back at the party, you are greeted with a hearty cry. "Wilfred!""

[interludes] GM says, ""Wait, where are the other guys?" Rupert asks. "Did they find George?""

Franklin creaks and snaps back to his feet.

Raul puff puff puff.

Chaz stands up, too.

[interludes] Wilfred says, "uh, we just had a minor complication ... stay where you are, party on, you all earned it. And turn the music up a little louder: it makes it easier for m -- us to find the place in the fog."

Franklin stares at the statue.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(man, Wilfred is such a bastard)"

Franklin says, "Hmmm."

[interludes] GM says, ""you bet! music up!""

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "I look forward to reading the context for that"

[interludes] GM says, "Somebody cranks up the music and soon the opera is rattling the windows."

[interludes] Wilfred looks to see if Rupert is there (he better be!) and leaves.

GM says, "The statue stares back at Franklin"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "One might say the same thing about a certain someone giving cryptic hints."

Franklin stares right back.

[Crows-Nest] Kori says, "he means, Wilfred is Major-Creationing a marriage certificate for his parents right now"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "yeah, but that's part of my job"

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

Wilfred asks, "<right ... hi, me again ... any ideas on how to track this lizard-cat-thing?"

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

[Crows-Nest] Chaz laughs.

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "yay"

Raul asks, "Michel, Kori, interested in a chancel-heart hunt?"

Franklin fortunately brought that book with him from the stacks, and opens it again.

Michel says (to Raul), "sure"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Well, it will stay in cold and dark places, for one...>"

Kori says (to Raul), "I'm game"

Franklin flip flip flip.

GM says (to Franklin), "well, it says 1) they don't leave tracks 2) they don't make noises 3) they never give up on their targets 4) but they can only be summoned for one night"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "< 1) they don't leave tracks 2) they don't make noises 3) they never give up on their targets 4) but they can only be summoned for one night >"

Wilfred asks (of Franklin), "Like, say, London on a November night?"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Who is it tracking? You?>"

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "<aha, excellent. Thank you.>"

Michel asks, "this chancel, or someone else's?"

Franklin blinks confusedly. "<Er, glad I could help...> <??>"

Raul says, "The Chancel of the Four Winds."

Franklin closes the volume and leaves it on the refiling cart.

GM says (to Franklin), "oh, and 5) they grow stronger as it gets later"

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "<and I'm not sure if it was tracking me or Rupert, but one of us is going to be spending the night in a loud and obnoxious party full of hot actor bodies.>"

Kori looks as though she's sort of dazed, but it's just that she's been working.

Michel says (to Raul), "I sort of assumed the big spire would have been in the general area"

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Wait! Very important! It grows stronger as it gets later.>"

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "<does it avoid noise and heat any less?>"

GM says, "(yes)"

Raul says (to Michel), "This statue here seems to have once contained the chancel's heart, but it's been drained."

Kori stands on the other side of Raul from Michel with her arms crossed and foot tapping

GM says, "(although not a lot less)"

Franklin says, "Okay, unless Wilfred needs something else, I'm ready to go on the hunt."

Franklin says (to Wilfred), "<Yes, although not a lot less.>"

Raul says (to Franklin), "You should maybe take that book."

Wilfred says (to Franklin), "<I see....>"

Franklin takes the book.

Franklin fashions a sort of paper sack to carry it in.

[interludes] Wilfred goes to take a look in the dumpster.

[interludes] GM says, "The bodies of the other actors have been crammed in there"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "...efficient worker...."

Raul says, "Hup, hup, hup."

[interludes] GM says, "The necks are slashed"

Raul heads for the university.

Franklin says, "Hup."

[interludes] GM says, "And there are puncture marks in the bodies, but it looks like it's the neck wound thta did it"

Michel wanders after, chainsmoking and muttering to himself

GM says, "back to the university, then"

Raul stubs his cigar out in an ashtray outside the library.

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(perhaps the puncture marks are totally unrelated to the events of the night. I mean, you'd have to be on crack to get involved in a play like that...)"

GM says, "And specifically, to the English department"

Franklin says, "Here we are. Again."

[interludes] GM says, "(ha)"

Michel says, "...maybe talk to the monks more about recoil... drop-hammer... little hands"

Raul says, "We should have Wilfred make us up University passes."

Chaz asks (of Franklin), "What happened here last time?"

Franklin is vaguely disturbed that Michel seems to be talking about arming his daughter, but doesn't say one word about it.

Raul goes inside, wary of the thin students with aesthete features.

[interludes] Wilfred considers. Well. Couldn't possibly get any louder and brighter and more obnoxious than a crime scene ... so ....

[interludes] Wilfred calls the police.

[interludes] GM says, "(excellent)"

Franklin says (to Chaz), "Oh, the whole Penny affair was centered here. And something to do with weird old books. And so forth and so on."

Chaz says, "Aha."

[Crows-Nest] Michel asks (of Raul), "what about thin professors etc etc?"

[interludes] GM asks, "Going to go inside and wait for the police to arrive? Or stay outside?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Oh, right, the weird books."

[interludes] Wilfred says (to GM), "inside. Making sure Rupert has an alibi."

GM says, "The English department is fairly large, as usual"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "I'm trying not to worry about the guns you're carrying, thanks."

GM says, "With various professors' offices and then classrooms and so on"

GM says, "The trail leads down into the basement"

Franklin asks, "Why is it always the basement?"

GM says, "To one particular locked door"

[interludes] GM says, "Right then"

Franklin wonders about booby traps.

Raul checks the door out at full aspect.

Chaz says (to Franklin), "Sometimes it's the attic. Or the roof, like in 'Fellowship of the Ring'."

[nobilis] Raul says (to Franklin), "ah, a fellow paranoid"

[interludes] GM says, "You hang about inside, and eventually sirens are heard. "Nuts!" one of the actors says. "I bet one of the neighbors called in a noise complaint!""

[nobilis] Franklin says, "at this point in the story, it's realism"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "I'm sure it isn't that."

Michel seems even more distracted than normal

Franklin asks (of door), "Hey you, are you booby-trapped?"

[interludes] GM says, "There's a knocking on the door. Rupert goes over warily to open it."

[interludes] GM says, ""Yes, officer?" he says"

[interludes] Wilfred follow Rupert.

Franklin bonks it with the end of his cane.

GM says, ""Booby-trapped? Not me!" says the door"

GM says, ""I'm locked good and hard, though""

Franklin says, "Humph! Never trust a strange door, I say."

Michel asks, "can I kick it in? can I?"

[interludes] GM says, ""We got a report that somebody here found a dead body on the premises -- do you know anything about this?""

Franklin says, "I'm sure you're able to, but..."

Raul looks the door over, despite the assurances.

[interludes] Wilfred says, "ahem. Yes. It's over that way, down the alley. There appear to be two more in the dumpster next to the first one."

GM says, "Nothing that you note from this side -- no visible wires on the frame or anything"

Franklin backs up from the door to let Raul at it.

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert turns to you in surprise. "WHAT?""

[interludes] Wilfred looks totally prim and proper and respectable. In his shredded shirt-front.

Franklin and not to be blown to pieces, too.

[interludes] GM says, ""Good lord.""

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "Homicidal maniac, I think. Sorry ... George bit it."

Raul says (to Michel), "You're durant or something, right? You can kick it in if you want."

Chaz says, "I'm immortal and OK at picking locks."

Raul says, "Me, I'd be for picking the lock."

Michel says (to Raul), "not so much durant as indifferent"

GM says, "But of course it's hard to tell for sure -- you can generally trap things from the inside and not have it visible (but then there'd be no way to untrap it)"

Franklin says, "Heh."

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Officer), "and if you don't mind, I'm staying in here ... where it's nice and warm and crowded and ... safe."

Raul says, "We have a winner, I suppose."

Raul moves away from the door to make room for Chaz.

[interludes] GM says, ""Er .. ok, we'll take a look," says the officer. He and his partner head over there."

Michel asks, "is there meant to be something behind this door, right? The chancel heart or some such?"

Franklin says, "Fragmentarily."

Chaz digs out a paperclip from his pocket, detaches it from the gum it was stuck to, pops the gum in his mouth, and sets about picking the lock.

GM says, "(click)"

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "linty fruit"

Chaz opens the door.

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "(calling after the officers) come straight back, hear?"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "yay"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(er, "come straight back after you look")"

[interludes] GM says, ""Oh, don't worry about that""

[interludes] GM says, "Suddenly, the lights flicker and die"

[interludes] GM says, ""What the hell?" comes from the darkness"

[interludes] GM says, "Especially audible since the music went off too"

[interludes] Wilfred curses.

GM says, "The room looks like an abandoned lab of some kind"

GM says, "An abandoned improvised lab, that is"

GM says, "There are some desks pulled together to form benches"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(need miracle need miracle what can i doooo...?)"

GM says, "A table pulled to the side of the room"

Raul looks the room over in mythic. "ey, any of you hiding bits of chancel heart?"

[interludes] GM says, "The party-goers start to spill out into the streets, where there's at least some light"

Franklin lingers near the door to peer around.

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "stay with me."

GM says, ""Chancel heart? I think the people who used to be here said something about that""

Chaz walks in, roots around.

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "and I think I owe you a bit of an explanation."

[nobilis] Michel asks (of GM), "minor divination: abandoned how long?"

Raul says, "Do tell."

Franklin says (to door), "Good and hard, eh? One paperclip and you pop open."

[nobilis] GM says (to Michel), "about a week"

GM says, ""Well, I mean, he's good with a paperclip""

[interludes] GM says, ""Uh .. you *have* an explanation for this?""

[interludes] Wilfred exclaims (at everyone), "Stay close now!"

[interludes] GM says, "There's a gunshot from the vague direction of the alley, then another"

[interludes] GM says, ""What's going on?" somebody shouts."

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of Rupert), "keep this under your hat ... but since my last promotion people have been rather anxious to make things difficult for me. You don't think what happened to John was an accident, do you?"

Michel scrutinises the table. "So what do you do?"

GM says, "It looks like the room has some filing cabinets (now mostly empty), several desks, (with bits of dirty glassware on them), a desk (with a bunsen burner, some wax drippings, and some other mysterious stains)"

GM says, "(er, sorry, s/a desk/a table/"

[interludes] Wilfred says, ". o O ( what I wouldn't give for it to be Chinese New Year now, and us in Hong Kong )"

[interludes] GM says, ""I don't know what to think about what happened to John! It was all so sudden!""

GM says, ""I'm a table," says the table. "I, you know, support stuff. No better thing than me if you want to put something on something else.""

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says, "OK, gotta go bathe Ellric--back after a bit. Assume I tag along and don't do much."

[interludes] GM says, "(that seems like a complicated miracle)"

[interludes] GM says, ""But what's going on now? You don't really mean George is dead, do you?""

[interludes] Wilfred says, "Yes I do."

Franklin searches the filing cabinets, just in case.

[interludes] GM says, ""But .. he was just with us an hour ago!""

[Crows-Nest] Franklin asks, "where'd kori go, again?"

GM says, "Ah, there, a few stray bits of paper in the back of one drawer"

[Crows-Nest] Kori says, "I'm here, but quiet"

Franklin says, "Ah-ha."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "These things happen rather suddenly, especially when certain people are involved."

Franklin examines paper bits.

Raul says (to room), "When I said, 'Do tell,' that was my clever way of hinting that you should tell me more about what the people said about chancel hearts."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "Here, let's stand under this streetlamp."

Michel says (to table), "that's the job description, yes. I want the gossip"

Raul says, "Now I've gone and had to ruin my subtlety."

GM says, ""... substitution ... analysis of damage .. temporary recreation ... phased reconnection ...""

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "Do you know where the mains fuse box is?"

Franklin recites what he reads to the group.

[interludes] GM says, ""Uh .. no, I haven't been here before. This is Ralph's place, though -- he'd know""

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "Where's Ralph?"

Franklin says, "Temporary re-creation? Hmmm."

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert looks around. "Oh, wait, Ralph was one of the ones who went off with George. Uh. What happened to them?""

Franklin looks at the funny stains.

GM says, "also some diagrams of hemispherical objects"

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "Uh, you remember when I mentioned the other bodies in the dumpster?"

GM says, "one has a note reading "light" with an arrow"

Michel asks, "hemispheres?"

Michel says, "ooo, boy, duality"

[nobilis] Franklin asks, "these aren't scraps of paper that could be somehow made more whole or anything, are they?"

GM says, "The stains are some kind of chemical, or possibly mixed kinds -- some of them appear to have eaten away a bit of the table, but most just left little colored spots"

Franklin asks (of GM), "which way does the arrow point?"

Michel says, "one dark half-sphere, one light half-sphere, one really dull set of metaphysics"

[interludes] GM says, ""Oh dear.""

[interludes] GM says, ""But, um, fuse boxes for these buildings are usually in the basement, right?""

Kori says (to Michel), "you'd presumably like two empty half-spheres"

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert glances over. "Ah, look, see, the basement window's open, I bet we could get in that way""

Franklin asks (of Raul), "Is the chancel heart essence here anywhere?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "Anyway, there's this thing out there and as far as it's concerned, George and Ralph where merely obstacles ... it's after either you or me, I'm not sure which."

[nobilis] GM says (to Franklin), "they're cryptic notes on a whole piece of paper"

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "But you're an actor, right? You can handle pretending to be someone else?"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "gotcha"

Raul says, "Since the room's not answering my less-subtle questions, lemme see what I can find."

Raul concentrates again.

[interludes] GM says, ""Ah .. you think I should, hunh?""

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert seems much more sober than previous."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(no kidding)"

GM says, "(sorry, right)"

[nobilis] Raul says (to GM), "Oh, I just thought it was the room being mum, as it were."

Franklin puts the paper bits in his sack with the lizard-cat research book.

Michel says (to Kori), "well, no"

GM says, ""I was busy holding up stuff," says the table. "I don't really pay attention -- I think they were saying something about analyzing the something-or-other to fix up the whaddyacall""

Michel says, "but dualism is... well"

[nobilis] Franklin says, "sometimes the GM needs a reminder nudge"

GM says, ""No, no," says a desk. "they were analyzing the whaddyacall.""

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "Well, how different can you make yourself in a few minutes, given what we have here?"

Michel says, "it's sufficiently standard a device that it'd be only polite to make it a bit more subtle"

[interludes] GM says, ""Um .. er ..""

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert hunts through his pockets."

Franklin says, "Ask a silly table, get a silly answer."

[interludes] GM says, ""Let's see -- I guess I have this false moustache and some greasepaint -- never know when that'll come in handy""

Kori says (to Michel), "Ah. Good to know you've got the whole situation sussed out, then."

GM says (to Raul), "but meanwhile, in terms of your tracking, it's hard to say"

GM says (to Raul), "what it feels like is that the path of the essence split from the path of the statue in this room"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "And we'll trade coats. I'll be you and you'll be just some guy who isn't an Edwards."

GM says (to Raul), "the statue went off to the antique shop"

Michel says (to Kori), "I am fairly certain I have nothing sussed out"

GM says, "the essence stayed in this room, and then transformed somehow"

Franklin says, "'Phased reconnection...'"

Raul says, "This is seeming more and more twisty"

Raul says, "I think they changed the chancel heart essence into something else"

[nobilis] Franklin asks (of GM), "does the arrow point toward the word 'light' or away from it?"

[interludes] GM says, ""Ah .. right, there we go""

Franklin says (to Raul), "Ohhh. Hmmmm."

[interludes] Wilfred switches to mythic vision. Must ask if the lights will pretty please come back on.

[nobilis] GM says, "it's the word light and an arrow pointing into the center of the half-sphere (or, rather, where the center of the circle would be if it were a full circle)"

Kori says, "into... squirrels"

Kori looks around the room dubiously

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert hastily scrambles out of his coat and puts on your torn one"

[interludes] GM says, ""Man, I look like a hobo," he says"

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "oh, and one more thing. Stick to places that are either hot, bright or loud ... or preferably all of the above."

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "So be a hobo. Be the best little hobo there ever was."

[interludes] GM says, "He looks up and down the street, at the confused group of actors, the patrol car (with its motor still running), and the fog. "Around here?""

Michel says, "hmm. now if only we could focus some sort of laser on our nice little half-sphere"

[Crows-Nest] Kori turns expectantly to Raul

Raul says, "We should look into what you can do with a chancel heart."

[Crows-Nest] Raul glares.

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of Rupert), "You know me. Would I under normal circumstances ask people to turn their party music *up*?"

Franklin says, "They took a chancel heart, cooked up something in here to -- (looks at bit of paper) 'substitute... analyze damage... temporarily re-create... phased reconnect'. Which sounds sort of like what you said, only with more mumbo and less jumbo."

Franklin says, "I guess we'd better get back so we can look that up. And maybe look at our recovered hemisphere a little more carefully."

[interludes] GM says, ""Good point.""

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert moves to hang out under the street lamp more"

[interludes] Wilfred turns towards the house. "well, then, guv'nor. where's yer electricity gone, then?"

Raul says, "Yeah."

[interludes] GM says, "The house grumbles. "The nerve -- I was just getting warm, and somebody goes and flips off the power""

Franklin says, "Chaz said he had a hemisphere with him, too. Only his was made of glass."

Michel asks, "Did we ever ascertain that the thing was solid... oh, a second hemisphere?"

Michel says, "This sounds a little convenient"

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of house), "blimey, the rotters. we'll just have to switch it back on, then, won't we? Where's yer switch?"

Franklin says, "They found it in a booby-trapped tunnel near Olympus, apparently."

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "and where did this accent come from?"

[interludes] GM says, ""Down in the basement, there -- you could just climb in through the window and it's right on your left"

Michel asks, "Am I the only one who really, really wants to jam the two hemispheres together and then throw them at Ghin-aj?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "righty-ho, guv'nor."

Franklin says, "Maybe if we put them together, the world will suddenly end."

[interludes] Wilfred takes another look back at Rupert and slips in through the window.

Franklin says, "Okay, my legs are tired. I'm going back."

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert is standing resolutely by the window"

Franklin wanders out toward the elevator.

Raul follows Franklin.

Michel says (to Franklin), "for some reason I still want to try it"

[interludes] GM says, "er, by the street lamp"

[interludes] GM says, "cripes"

[interludes] GM says, "You drop in and tumble to the floor, five feet below, but hey, aspect 1"

Franklin says (to Michel), "Me too."

Kori says, "I think it'd be interesting"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(getting out again could be a bitch)"

[interludes] GM says, "Your eyes adjust to the darkness fairly rapidly"

[interludes] Wilfred goes straight for the switch.

[interludes] GM says, "There's one doorway out of the room which also leads into darkness, but -- right"

Michel says (to Kori), "you'd think it'd be particuarly interesting if I blew myself up, of course"

[interludes] GM says, "There's the box, there"

Kori says, "I'll make a little movie of it for posterity."

[interludes] GM says, "It's got a couple switches inside which all seem to have been flipped off"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "on they all go"

[interludes] GM says, "click click click"

[interludes] GM says, "and from here you can see out in the street it's suddenly lighter and the music's playing again"

Chaz says, "Hmm? Sorry, right. Yeah, I have the hemisphere with me."

Chaz pulls it out.

[interludes] GM says, "The partygoers make pleased noises and head back into the house."

Chaz asks (of Raul), "Does it have heart-essense in it?"

Raul looks for essence paths into the hemisphere.

[interludes] Wilfred stands on tiptoe and looks out onto the street for Rupert

[nobilis] Raul says, "I imagine they glisten slightly, like slug trails."

GM says, "There aren't any paths into it at all -- it seems completely sealed off"

GM says, "sorry, actually"

GM says, "that would be the description for the dark hemisphere"

Michel asks, "Should I go and get our half?"

GM says, "the description for chaz's hemisphere is "It seems normal enough, with no essence paths.""

Chaz says, "Hmm, decoy."

GM says, "although it does have some writing faintly sketched onto the bottom"

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of house), "oh i say ... whoever switched everything off ... they wouldn't still be in here, would they?"

Chaz says, "Eh? Wonder how I missed that."

[interludes] GM says (to Wilfred), "he's looking back and forth between the lamp and the house, and seems about ready to move back into the house"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz asks, "Also, is it indeed glass?"

[interludes] GM says, ""I can't tell who it is, but there's somebody in the basement there, yeah," says the house"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "it seems a lot like glass, yes"

Chaz asks, "What's it say?"

Nerd42 hollers, "what's going on here?"

Michel jogs off to retrieve the dark hemisphere from secure confinement

GM says, ""If you can read this, you should be dead""

Chaz says, "Decoy all right."

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "It's in the basement ... go to the police car."

[interludes] GM says, ""I think it's moving back and forth -- it's not next to you at the moment""

jnc hollers, "Violet energy storm! Hold tight, it'll be over soon!"

[interludes] Wilfred says (to Rupert), "and turn the police radio up full-volume."

[interludes] GM says, "Rupert looks over to the window, and then scrambles into the police car and slams the door"

Michel says, "<Just had a really nasty thought vis-a-vis decoys>"

Thrax hollers, "We just became TrekMUD."

Chaz says, "We got a different one from Astara, though."

Nerd42 hollers, "False alarm."

Nerd42 hollers, "I bet we got a hacker!"

[interludes] Wilfred says (to house), "well, we'll have to teach them a lesson ... the nerve, turning off the power just as you were getting cosy."

Michel says, "<last time we found one of these things it seemed rather too easy>"

[interludes] GM says, ""You go get 'em!" the house agrees enthusiastically."

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of house), "You wouldn't happen to have a furnace, would you?"

Nerd42 hollers, "Everyone @create a towel!"

Nerd42 hollers, "we might need it!"

[interludes] GM says, ""In the other room there," the house says. "it's an old one -- doesn't get used anymore now that I'm wired for electric heat""

Chaz says (to Raul), "I don't suppose you could find a path from a decoy to what it was supposed to represent."

Raul says, "I am more confused than before."

[nobilis] morgana says, "okay, I am curious enough to log on and watch lounge too"

[nobilis] morgana says, "ilac"

[interludes] Wilfred closes the window and secures it as best he can. And prowls off a-huntin'.

[interludes] GM says, "You step into the other room."

[interludes] GM says, "It's really dark in here, not just sort of dark"

Raul says (to Chaz), "Hm. It's worth a try."

Kori says, "I am happy to admit I have no clue what's going on."

Chaz asks, "Hmm, that Excrucian fortune said something about light, too, didn't it?"

Raul says, "Let me see the hemisphere."

[interludes] GM says, "But you hear something, very faintly, moving"

Chaz asks, "Light dispells shadows and reveals truth?"

Chaz hands it over.

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred imagines what a video fighting game version of us would be like.

Michel returns, juggling the dark hemisphere from one hand to another

[nobilis] GM says (to Raul), "hrm, I don't think there's much of a path from this"

[nobilis] Raul says, "oh, well"

Raul shakes his head. "Nothing."

[Crows-Nest] Wilfred begins mumbling Rupert's lines from the play.

[interludes] Wilfred begins mumbling Rupert's lines from the play.

Chaz says, "Hmm."

[interludes] GM says, "Then there's a whizzing noise, and something flies past your head"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "chases"

[interludes] GM says, "a small thing"

[interludes] GM says, "like, rock sized or something"

[interludes] GM says, "then another one flies past the other side"

Nerd42 hollers, "what a great joke!"

Franklin says, "So I guess nothing will happen if we slap 'em together."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "not chases"

Chaz asks, "Can you tell if the dark hemisphere came from this room?"

Michel grins widely

Kori asks (of Michel), "you want to do the honors?"

[interludes] Wilfred feels for a light switch.

Michel says, "it seems best"

[interludes] GM says, "Not on this wall -- smack, another thing collides, this time with your waistcoat"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "urf"

Franklin puts his fingers in his ears and waits for an earth-shattering kaboom.

Kori stands well out of the way.

Michel says, "hmm. maybe it'd be better to do so in a controlled environment, inside a shield of emptiness, say, or somewhere more well-away from vulnerable humans"

Raul moves away as nonchalantly as he can.

Michel says, "or maybe I could just slap 'em together"

[interludes] GM says, "Then something bigger whizzes past your head and smashes against the wall"

[interludes] GM asks, "Maybe a brick?"

Michel lights a cigarette

[interludes] Wilfred. o O ( strange ... is it not planning on attacking with teeth and claws then? )

[interludes] GM says, "You continue fumbling for the light switch"

[interludes] GM says, "It's not on either of the walls near the doorway, as far as you can tell"

Franklin asks, "Sure, after all -- what could possibly happen?"

Michel puffs deeply, raises an emptiness shield between himself and the others, and connects the hemispheres

GM says, "And ..."

GM says, "nothing happens."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "clunk"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(how much of an aspect miracle required to see in the dark?)"

GM says, "except a clunk noise"

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

[interludes] GM says, "aspect 3"

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "waah waah waah waaaaah."

[Crows-Nest] Franklin says, "yay"

GM says, "well"

[Crows-Nest] Michel says, "which nobody but me hears because there's vacuum in between us"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(so ... I need to spend 1 amp? or 2?)"

Franklin leans back in a big comfy chair and puts his feet up.

Michel shrugs, lowers the shield

GM says (to Michel), "right"

[interludes] GM says, "2"

Michel says, "Well, at least my theory got exploded."

Franklin asks, "Are we any farther along than when we started?"

Nerd42 hollers, "somebody zap me."

Nerd42 hollers, "this is getting boring."

Chaz says, "We've tracked the heart some."

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(hm."

Franklin says, "Or, I guess we know there's a real second hemisphere somewhere, we just don't know where to find it."

Chaz asks (of Raul), "How about continuing? Can you tell there the essense went after it left this room?"

[interludes] GM says, "The thunks seem to have stopped"

Michel says, "The black one certainly seems more... foreboding, anyway"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(but is the thing still there?)"

[nobilis] Raul asks, "Oh, we aren't back at the chancel?"

[interludes] GM says, "You can hear faint noises, still"

[nobilis] GM says, "you are"

Chaz says, "Er, that room."

[interludes] Wilfred stops fooling with the walls and releases a barrage of red tape in the direction of the movement sounds.

[interludes] GM says, "Whikka-whikka-whikka"

[interludes] GM says, "There is the confused noise as of things falling off a table"

[interludes] GM says, "And something drops on you from above"

Michel stares vaguely at the hemispheres as if he has no idea what to do with them

[interludes] GM says, "This time with the teeth and the claws and the biting"

[interludes] Wilfred redirects tape upwards.

Raul says, "I'll try, though the trail keeps getting fainter and fainter."

[nobilis] Raul asks (of GM), "any trail hints from the room?"

Michel asks, "Have we tried seeing what sort of pressures these things can take?"

Kori asks (of Michel), "do you really want to break them?"

[nobilis] GM says, "no, you felt the essence transformed into something and that ended the trail"

Michel says (to Kori), "it'd be nice to know if it's possible to"

[interludes] GM says, "It's mostly on top of you at this point, although you wrap some tape too"

Kori says, "well, once you find out, you won't be able to do anything else with them"

[interludes] GM says, "Its claws seem sharper now, too, and its arms stronger"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "(if I have to wrap the both of us up together all night, I'll do that.)"

Nerd42 hollers, "Ah! the lounge was redecorated again!"

[nobilis] Raul says, "Okay."

Nerd42 hollers, "now it makes sense."

Michel says, "yeah, but since they failed to explode they're beginning to bore me"

Raul says, "Nothing. I'm going to see what I can find about heart transformations."

[Crows-Nest] Raul says, "Shame Penny's not here -- that's all she writes about."

[Crows-Nest] morgana asks, "oh?"

[Crows-Nest] morgana says, "I assume I'm missing something worthwhile"

[interludes] Wilfred imagines the creature wrapped up like a fly on a spider web, and tries to throw it off.

[interludes] GM says, "It's more or less on top of you and biting you -- wrapping it up isn't going to be much help unless you get it off you"

[interludes] GM says, "You can't push it off at this level -- you'd probably need aspect 2 to get it off you"

[interludes] Wilfred burns an aspect miracle point, then.

[interludes] GM exclaims, "Rrargh!"

[Crows-Nest] Kori | Raul says, "Nothing. I'm going to see what I can find about heart transformations."

[interludes] GM says, "It flies off you and slams into a wall"

[Crows-Nest] morgana says, "heh"

GM says, "Raul pokes around the stacks some"

Wilfred continues throwing tape at it.

[interludes] Wilfred continues throwing tape at it.

Wilfred says, "er, channel."

[interludes] GM says, "Or at least in its general direction, since it's dark"

GM says (to Raul), "what you find out is that there isn't a lot of information about this"

[interludes] Wilfred. o O ( Peter Parker eat your heart out )

GM says, "but there is some"

Raul says, "Hey, we've got a copy of all the shooting scripts from 'Hart to Hart'."

[Crows-Nest] morgana says, "mm"

[Crows-Nest] morgana says, "ilac"

GM says, "Mostly theoretical research "if the heart of a chancel could be isolated, what could its powers be used for?""

GM says, "Then some discussion about draining the power from a chancel's heart and what effect it would have on the chancel itself"

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of house), "I think I got it ... do I got it?"

[interludes] GM says, "The thing leaps over your head, snapping a stray length of tape, and you have to duck to avoid its claws"

[interludes] Wilfred lassoos for its neck

[interludes] GM says, "you really can't do that without knowing where it is, and it's almost totally dark in here"

GM says, "(namely: bad news)"

[interludes] Wilfred asks (of house), "okay, help me out ... which way is the light switch in this room?"

Michel washes engine grease from his hands

[interludes] GM says, ""On the far wall," says the house, "right over the table there""

[interludes] Wilfred asks, "can I hit it with tape, with enough force to knock it into the 'on' position?"

[interludes] GM says, "You'll probably need to walk over and fumble for it"

Chaz, while research is going on, goes back to retreive the original glass hemisphere from Astara.

Raul says, "For our much-vaunted library and its exhaustive collection of arcana, there's often little on what we really need to know."

Michel says (to Raul), "academia is the art of concealing knowledge so that idiots can't get at it"

[interludes] GM says, "(since, like, it's dark and you don't know exactly where it is)"

[interludes] Wilfred isn't sure he can risk allowing the creature to get by into the previous room.

Chaz returns with yet another glass half-sphere.

Michel perks up

Michel says, "ah, some more rocks to bang together"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "...unless I go with it...."

Michel asks, "anyone else want a go this time?"

[interludes] Wilfred backs out into the somewhat better-lit room.

Chaz says, "Let's see. This one said that it could tell where its other half was, I think."

Chaz says, "Then, suddenly, it couldn't any more."

[interludes] GM says, "It leaps out of the darkness with out"

Franklin says, "Draining power from a chancel's heart. Hmm."

[interludes] GM says, "er, with you"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of GM), "Am I remembering correctly?"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "hah ... tape time."

Franklin asks, "Does any of this have to do with any of what's going on with what's her name, Alexandra's friend?"

Franklin asks (of Chaz), "Where did you get this one?"

[nobilis] GM says, "more or less"

Franklin says, "Oh, Astara."

Chaz says, "Silver's office in Astara, before we blew it up."

Franklin asks, "And he's a bad guy, right?"

[interludes] Wilfred lassoos for its neck

Chaz says, "Ayup."

[interludes] GM says, "You whip the tape around its neck"

Michel says, "for some reason I am imagining that every time we connect two of these hemispheres, there's some chancel where all the lights go out"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Ah, it's crystal."

Franklin asks, "He was, in fact, mobilizing the campaign to invade other chancels?"

Chaz says, "Exactly."

[interludes] GM says, "It drops to the ground and jerks its neck, tugging back on the tape"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "as many times around as I can"

Raul says, "We need more intel"

Franklin says, "Right-o."

Chaz says, "Using supplies from Olympus."

Franklin says, "Oh? Hm."

[interludes] GM says, "It seems like the tape's having less effect now, although it's hard to say if that's just it getting smarter or stronger"

[interludes] Wilfred says, "and around its arms and legs"

Michel asks, "Hmm. Are these things originally made as matched pairs, or a single sphere that gets split?"

Chaz says, "The zepplins that attacked us seem to have come from something Drake was working on. He seemed genuinely surprised to see them when they attacked our chancel with him in it, though."

Chaz exclaims, "Oh!"

Franklin says, "Well, there's this diagram with the light firing at the hemisphere line."

[interludes] Wilfred is going to go on and on until the thing is an unrecognisable ball of red tape.

Chaz says, "Maybe the plan was to cut off Drake, as well as our chancel."

[interludes] GM says, "Its movements go slower and slower as you pile on more tape"

[interludes] GM says, "until eventually it's lost within the ball"

Franklin remembers back. "He did seem surprised, more surprised than anyone. Because we were all, ah, pretty taken aback."

[interludes]