[nobilis] PerrySimm says, "Log on."

Tyoka has connected.

Tyoka walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Tyoka arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Davey says, "it occurred to me after last session that I'm being wicked conspicuous floating right over the wreck"

Gerry has connected.

Tyoka says, "sorry, machine decided to crash"

[nobilis] Davey says, "so maybe someone could try to do something to obscure me. I'm runnign without lights, of course"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to tyoka), "#futbol hope you are happy"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "hell yes I am"

[nobilis] GM asks, "oops, brazil won?"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Stella could remove all of the light from around you, making you impossible to see, no?"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to gm), "unfortunately"

[nobilis] GM says, "that will make my coworker sad"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Given that I'm probably a cloud right now, could I give cover, or am I too small?"

Sara arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Davey says, "yeah, something like that would be good"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "not like anyone expected the opposite"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Aisleen), "I can't believe you were rooting for Germany."

Sara goes home.

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "hm. maybe i should have finished reading the transcript"

[nobilis] Davey asks (of Alison), "you can turn into a cloud?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I can."

Stella walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Stella arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to gerry), "i was consistent. i was anti-brzil theentire tournament. i didn't care who won, as long as it wasn't brazil, argentina or italy"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "well, you have a 'limited range of forms' -- it's up to you if that includes big clouds and small clouds"

[nobilis] Raul says, "I'm just disappointed in Mexico's performance"

[nobilis] Tyoka says (to Aisleen), "boo"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to tyoka), "if it makes you any happier, i want the final matchup to be Spain v Turkey"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "er wanted"

Tyoka has disconnected.

Tyoka has connected.

Tyoka walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

Tyoka arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Davey says, "well, if that's no-points and blanking the light would be points, cloud me up, kiddo"

[nobilis] Alison says (to GM), "I think it'd be handy if it does -- or at least, small clouds and medium clouds. I don't need to cover a whole building; just a group of seven or so people."

[nobilis] GM says, "we all here? let's do it, then"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "ok, ready now"

[nobilis] GM says (to Alison), "ok then"

[nobilis] Davey says, "though I guess I'm jumping the gun. Caffeine, sorry."

Alison holds her breath, and gradually spreads out over Davey, to provide the immediate area with a dark cloud cover.

[nobilis] Davey says, "yow, Stella has D4. change miracles for free"

[nobilis] Stella grins.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Hey, we actually saw the game. Friend had a 6:00 AM party at his house ;-)"

GM says, "when we last left our heroes, they were a week into their ennobling and already on a mission for Shagapir -- specifically, to find a wreck that the nobilis Cecily was after, break into its safe and replace the documents in it with a different set"

[nobilis] Stella says, "That knee injury looked bad - I'm surprised he stayed in the game."

[nobilis] Aisleen nods

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "right, we need a way of either getting the stuff down there dry, or getting the safe up and down"

GM says, "they got onto Mel Fisher's (the local treasure-hunter) ship, found the wreck's location, and, under cover of darkness, rode Davey (now in hovercraft form) out to the spot"

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

GM says, "where they are currently thinking things like "ok, now what?""

Chaz asks, "So, should we try to bring the safe up here for the switch, or do it down there?"

[nobilis] GM says, "#belated D4 = create for free, destroy for 1, change for 2"

Gerry . o O ( Ok, now what? )

[nobilis] Davey says, "oh, whoops"

Aisleen says, "too bad i can not use wind to part the sea like Moses did"

Aisleen says, "that would make our lives so much easier"

Davey says, "little conspicuous, too"

Tyoka says, "That'd be kinda suspicious"

Chaz laughs.

Davey says, "I mean, Fisher's men will see us if we do anything too crazy"

Stella says, "Why can't you? I might be able to bend the light around it, so no one would see it . . . ."

Davey says, "and might go nuts and stuff"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "are we in sight of the shore?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "ie. i thought it was dark, so people can't see us from the shore/ship?"

[nobilis] GM says, "no, you're a short ways out (and it's nighttime)"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "huh, that's interesting. If one does a big miracle but no one can see it, does it break the Law?"

Chaz says, "Well, hey, let's go."

[nobilis] GM says, "it does not"

[nobilis] Davey says, "cool"

[nobilis] GM says, "and, for that matter, if you drive a few people crazy once in a while, that's no big deal to Lord Entropy -- they're just humans, after all"

Tyoka says (to Alis), "Yo, stop ticklin' me!"

Chaz pulls out a tape from his back pocket, deposits it in the Davey glove compartment.

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "'just humans after all'"

[nobilis] GM says, "but if you do it on a regular basis you'd better watch out"

Alison rumbles a bit.

Davey says, "I think fetching it up is a better idea, unless anyone has a big bell jar"

Davey . o O ( What was that? )

Aisleen says (to stella), "does it sound doable? (bending light)"

Chaz says (to Davey), "Sounds good to me."

[nobilis] Davey says, "huh, I thought Entropy made the Law"

Chaz flips up his skateboard, rides down the side of davey into and under the water.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "yeah, that sounds like the exact opposite of what you said all week"

Davey says, "Unless winches come standard on these things, I hope there's a strong swimmer here"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "can win in the sea be a current?"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "er a current be wind?"

Chaz . o O ( Whee! )

Tyoka can't swim, but flying should let him allow to do this like a torpedo

[nobilis] GM says (to Aisleen), "hmm, do you think it falls under Wind? it seems possibly reasonable to me"

Aisleen asks (of chaz), "how is the surf?"

Tyoka . o O ( GM? )

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Distracted, what's going on?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I'm attempting to ride the currents."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "if I create/be a current, would that reach the safe?"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Gerry), "We're hovering over the wreck. Chaz and Tyoka are descending."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "not yet, after I get inky's OK"

[nobilis] GM says (to Aisleen), "uh, if you want it to"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Which of us has the fake papers, BTW?"

Stella asks, "If I destroy the light in the area, will anyone be able to sense where the safe is and retrieve it?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, people with flying can swim -- remember you'll need to hold your breath, which requires Immutable, Eternal, or a high aspect to do it for long"

Tyoka says, "we're nobilis after all"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I'm Eternal"

Aisleen says, "torpedo, skateboard or current"

[nobilis] GM says (to Stella), "you can destroy the light only above the water, if you want"

Tyoka torpedos into the murky depths.

Alison . o O ( Do noblies need light to see mythics? )

[nobilis] Stella says, "if they swim the safe up, there's no wind miracle, and therefore no need for light destruction. That's only if she blows it out of the water."

GM says, "in the mythic world, when it's dark out, you're in a Darkness object"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs.

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "Yay!"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "** Library Error (12, 0) **"

[nobilis] Raul says, "So the mythic world is really what that guy complaining about TADS 2 is looking for."

GM says, "(Stella could create light down there, if you want)"

Tyoka says, "as long as it's inconspicuous"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "tyoka is already underwater now?"

jwalrus arrives, looking for booty.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "yes"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "As am I."

Aisleen wonders if Tyoka and Chaz see anything yet? Do they see the wreck?

Stella says, "Or I could transform into a light beam, and be there, providing 60 watts of softly glowing light."

GM says, "(well, unless you have a flashlight or something, it's dark underwater)"

Chaz . o O ( Hmm, murky )

Tyoka . o O ( thump )

Stella beams down.

Tyoka . o O ( handy, light )

Chaz . o O ( Hey, stella, how about a--Oh, here you are. Hi! )

Stella . o O ( Hello! Is that enough, or do you need more? )

Chaz skates around on the currents, trying to find the ship.

Tyoka . o O ( Is that it, over there? )

Tyoka points.

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen sticks her head in the water to eavesdrop and hears, 'glub glub glub'

GM says, "illuminated by the faint glow, you see that any resemblance to a ship this has is purely coincidental at this point -- timbers are splayed on the sands for almost 60 feet across the ocean floor, and maybe half of that or more in width"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of inky), "me being a current - is that a creation miracle?"

GM says, "through the wreckage, gold and silver gleam"

Chaz shifts to mythic.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "thank god chaz has aspect 3"

[nobilis] GM says, "if you want to be a current, it'll be a change miracle -- but if you just want to fly, it'll be a create miracle -- actually, since you're Wind, you could probably provide breathing for people with another create miracle"

Chaz asks (of gold), "Hey, anybody seen a safe around here?"

Tyoka shifts also.

Alison starts to rain a bit. Just a slight pitter-pat on the water's surface.

GM says, "the tiny gold spirits blink up at you, rubbing their eyes against the unaccustomed light. "a visitor! after so long! tell me, it has been so long -- when will the ship reach Spain?""

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "I like how Alison's handicap is "uninspiring" when she's the complete opposit"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "e"

[nobilis] GM says, "(also, so long)"

Chaz says (to gold), "Uh, not long now. Some people are coming to pick you up tomorrow."

Tyoka explores around for the safe

Chaz says (to gold), "Also, you were going to spain? I thought you were going to the New World."

Tyoka zoom zoom zoom

Aisleen gently twirls her hand in the water, in steady circular motions

GM says, ""We came from the new world, treasures of gold and silver and precious gems, loaded on the ship to go back to Spain. They promised I would be a queen's coronet.""

GM says, ""Or a fork," another one adds."

Aisleen says, "this should help in Tyoka or Chaz in breathing"

Tyoka doesn't need air.

GM asks (of Tyoka), "ah, hrm, could that be it? under a stray plank?"

[Crows-Nest] Alison says (to Tyoka), "Mmm. In my case, it means that mortals won't always take me seriosuly. So I can't intimidate them, e.g.; I have to manipulate them instead."

Aisleen stops

Tyoka moves towards the plank.

Stella beams towards the plank.

GM says, "it is hard to sort out the rotted chests and everything else in the shadowy darkness, but the safe is probably the only thing still intact around here, albeit covered with barnacles and seaweed"

GM says, "but yes, this certainly looks like it, midway in the ship"

Tyoka thinks (at Chaz), "Got it!"

Chaz exclaims (at tyoka), "All right!"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "ah, I see"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Did boat people hear that?"

Chaz skates over, takes a look.

Stella . o O ( We may have found it, y'all. )

[nobilis] Alison says, "If I were down there, I'd ask for the one that wants to be a coronet."

Tyoka thinks (at Chaz), "I'll be needin' your help here"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Something nice to wear around the chancel."

Gerry . o O ( Are you bringing it up, or should I find you to unlock it? )

Tyoka thinks (at Chaz), "fact, I prob'ly won't be much help"

Tyoka . o O ( Unlock bad, water'll get in )

Chaz assess the safe, to see if bringing it up and back down would be too obvious.

Chaz . o O ( (to Tyoka, Aisleen) If we can't move this thing, we might need a wind pocket to make the exchange. )

GM says, "you're aspect 3, so you can probably slide it out carefully enough not to disturb anything"

Tyoka asks, "won't your aspect 3 be more than enough?"

Tyoka says, "right"

Aisleen . o O ( I am ready if need be )

Davey . o O ( is it light enough to reaise? )

Chaz . o O ( aha, but if I just slide this bit over here, moving this bit ever so slightly... )

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "actually with aspect 3, couldn't he just have elongated his hand down there and pulled it up?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "no, that's not an aspect-possible thing"

Chaz slides out the safe from its home, memorizing how it lay so he can return it.

Tyoka thinks (at Chaz), "Need my help?"

GM says, "(and again, aspect 3 is probably enough to get it up to the surface, since it's underwater)"

[nobilis] Davey says, "aspect is just human capability but much more so"

Chaz says (to Tyoka), "I think I got it."

Chaz skates back up to the surface, riding the currents as he goes. Wheee!

[nobilis] Raul says, "at least through level 3 it is"

Tyoka pushes himself off the ground and rockets up to the surface at max speed

Alison . o O ( Hi Chaz! Hi Tyoka! )

Chaz holds up the safe from the water, by Davey with one hand, holds his board with the other, treads water.

Chaz asks (of 'Lis), "Hi there! Miss me?"

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

Davey lowers his ladders to the water

Stella beams back to the boat, and shifts again.

Alison . o O ( ..Chaz Of course not! Well. Maybe a *little*. )

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "this light-shifting stuff is fun!"

Gerry takes a look at the licking mechanism of the safe.

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Er. *locking*"

[nobilis] Stella does a double take at the licking safe.

[nobilis] Davey says, "here I thought you were being technical"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "rowr"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, it's pretty unsanitary what with all the seaweed ..."

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Too much fish and seaweed! This looks like a job for Kori!"

[nobilis] Raul laughs.

GM says, "it has a fairly simple keyhole in it, covered with a bit of kelp"

Aisleen asks (of gerry), "lockpick?"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Unlocking the safe is a minor miracle for me, no?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "With Aspect 2, should be pretty simple."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "If you wanted to use your fingers. Just unlocking it could be a domain miracle."

[nobilis] GM asks (of Gerry), "yeah, I dunno, I guess you can work out how to do it with a divination, or I dunno, destroy its puzzle-nature with a destruction (level 5) and hence unlock it?"

Ghogg materializes.

Gerry divines how the locking mechanism works, then locks around for any sort of pin to pick it with.

GM says, "(presumably you have something appropriate, or someone else does)"

Aisleen pulls a pin out of her bun

GM says, "(there we go)"

Aisleen says, "i will need it back to put my hair back up though"

Gerry says (to Aisleen), "It looks good down, though I assuem it gets windblown easily."

Chaz says (to Chaz), "Aww, you look cool with your hair down."

Gerry picks the lock with the pin.

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Er, to Aisleen."

[Crows-Nest] Raul says (to Chaz), "hey there narcissus"

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "Chaz is the introspective type"

Tyoka moves silently to the other side of the ship.

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says (to chaz), "i am guessing you have long hair, too? :)"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz asks (of Raul), "Hey, how'd you know what my flower was?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "Hmm. I think I had been picturing more crew-cut."

Chaz looks over Gerry's shoulder inside the safe.

[nobilis] GM says, "(er, right, sorry)"

[nobilis] Gerry asks (of GM), "Are we open?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "How well can you guys see, anyway?"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "heh"

[nobilis] Alison says, "You asked for cloud cover :)"

GM says, "the safe grinds open slowly"

Davey turns the cabin light on

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg asks (of Chaz), "dyed hair, perhaps?"

Aisleen blinks to adjust to sudden light

[Crows-Nest] Stella says, "A bad bleach job, no doubt. ;-)"

GM says, "inside is a crude shelf with the documents in question sitting on it"

Aisleen asks (of alison), "the cloud cover will prevent a passing ship to notice Davey, right?"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz says (to Ghogg), "With my Guise ability, it changes color depending on my mood ;-)"

GM says, "and, luckily, dry inside (well, probably luckily)"

Davey asks, "wow, it made it through all those years without leakin'?"

[Crows-Nest] Stella asks, "Hmm, mood-ring-hair?"

Alison thunders twice. That probably means 'I think so.'

Chaz exclaims, "Sweet!"

Gerry lets make the switch.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "are we allowed to look at the papers?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Are the documents in anything? In an envelope like the one Shaggy gave us?"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Aisleen), "He didn't say we couldn't :)"

GM says, "the papers in the safe are tucked inside an oilcloth envelope"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Er, which of us has the fakes?"

GM says, "(but are loose inside of that)"

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to alison), "gerry made the switch. we already have the real ones"

GM says, "except for one, which is itself sealed inside a envelope, held shut by wax"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Aha, nifty."

Aisleen asks, "you think Shagapir would be mad if we took a look?"

Gerry says (to Aisleen), "Yes."

[nobilis] Davey exclaims, "let's read it!"

Alison thunders once. That means 'No! Of course not!'

Aisleen says, "but are we going to anyway? :)"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "not that I'm there right now, but how about you switch now and look later"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of GM), "Is the envelope one like the shagapir envelope?"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Tyoka), "Of course."

[nobilis] Alison says, "We've got an hour or few ahead of us in the Davey bus."

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

Gerry says (to Aisleen), "Do you know of a quick and simple to duplicate the appearance of a 500 year old seal? If so, I'm all for opening it."

Stella tries beaming through the papers *very* *slowly* to see if she can read them.

Aisleen asks (of gerry), "do we need to re-lock the safe?"

Alison . o O ( Don't *open* the envelope. We can read it in the chancel, silly. )

Aisleen says, "or can we just close it"

Chaz says, "OK, so most of these documents should stay here."

Chaz looks through them quickly, memorizing the contents.

Gerry switches the documents, puts the fakes into the oilcloth, puts the originals inot the envelope.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "clearly we need the power of xerox"

[nobilis] Alison says, "So we're not replacing all the documents? Sorry, I was confused on that part."

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

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, there's just one document here that matches what shagapir gave you"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Just the one that parallels the one Shagapir gave us."

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg asks, "So you can re-evaluate your profits, you mean?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Right."

Chaz asks (of Gerry), "All set, then?"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "hey, I found $6,000,000,000 in my pants pocket"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Also, what do the loose documents contain?"

GM says, "most of the documents are things like "I faithfully recount to his majesty, King of Spain, the actions I have peformed in his name. We have explored west as far as ... taken thus many natives for slaves, and forced them to show us where their treasures of gold and silver are, and retrieved them for the glory of the crown ...""

Gerry . o O (to Stella ) ( Any luck with that letter? )

Raul has disconnected.

Davey says, "let's get that safe back down, and us outta here"

Chaz exclaims, "Right!"

[nobilis] GM says, "it doesn't seem to me too plausible that stella can read the letter when it's folded up inside a (basically opaque) envelope, but I'm willing to hear arguments"

Davey is finding this not-being-on-land very disorienting

Tyoka says, "hm, superfluous spac"

Tyoka says, "oops, sorry"

Tyoka returns from the other side of the ship.

[nobilis] Davey asks, "could she glow really brightly so we can try to read through the envelope, or is it bound in leather?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "If she can't, I'm guessing I can read it as soon as we get into the chancel, if there's time before we run into Shagapir."

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

Chaz, when everyone's done, carefully closes the safe, drops the skateboard into the water again, skates back down to the wreck.

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Well, let's put the envelope right up against the cabin light, making it easier to read from the outside, I doubt the paper is actually opaque, more transluscent, buy going through the envelope, she should be able to find the writing."

[nobilis] Davey says, "well, he didn't tell us not to read it, and I'm wicked curious"

Gerry says (to Chaz), "After I lock it, of course."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "curiosity not only killed the cat, it skinned it and nailed it to the wall"

Chaz exclaims (at Gerry), "Of course!"

Davey says, "when Chaz gets back, I'll hover away, not the way we came, to another dock"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "I'm thinking that we should figure out if this is something that would go with the map that we would need to bring back."

Stella says, "We could just ask Shagapir if he'd mind us reading it."

GM says, "Chaz replaces the safe after Gerry seals it; just as Chaz breaks the surface again, you hear a faint sound being carried across the water -- an outboard motor"

Davey . o O ( Alison! more rain please, kid )

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "can I make the motor mess up?"

Davey put puts away

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "just die once, basically"

Alison follows the suggestion, drenching all of you except Gerry, who has the envelope.

[nobilis] GM says, "hrm, yeah, sure -- that would be a creation of madness in it, I guess"

Aisleen makes the waves really really choppy

Gerry . o O (to Alison) ( on Them! )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(Oh, I also tell the gold/safe spirits not to tell anyone about us.)"

Davey says, "yer all safe in my cabin, right? I'm gonna see how fast one'a'these goes"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "unless the other stuff is enough"

Chaz skates up the side of Davey and into the main cabin. "Let's go!"

GM says, "the distant motor sputters to a halt, and you hear ever-so-faint cursing, before the rain and the wind kick up"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "(how much is a creation?)"

[nobilis] GM says, "4"

Davey brum brum brums

[nobilis] Alison asks, "If I drift over to rain on them, won't they notice something's up?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "well, it's dark"

[nobilis] Alison says, "I mean, it is a little bit odd to have a cloud seek you out like a homing missile."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "it seems to have died of its own"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, it's been a clear night up until now, although it's apparently starting to get windy"

Davey asks, "am I gettin' away from them? Can anyone see them?"

GM says, "Davey drives away busily to another port -- either the folks in the motorboat don't manage to get it started up again, or they can't catch up, since they don't make an appearance"

[nobilis] Stella says, "and Aisleen can help with that."

Davey says, "whew"

Aisleen listens hard to see if she can hear them in the background

Alison dissipates as they approach port, settling into a more Alisony shape.

Davey switches to tour bus when the coast is clear, and then it's on the road to the Chancel, if no one has other plans

Stella exclaims, "Chancel-ho, my dear!"

Alison asks, "Are we gonna break into DisneyWorld?"

Aisleen asks, "or just drive up to the mountains?"

GM says (to Aisleen), "you hear a few faint words carried by the wind "...musta been kids...can't believe he'd send us out in the middle of the freakin' night...""

Chaz says, "Heh. Nah, let's just take one of our freeway entrances."

Davey says, "we're on the highway, yeah"

Davey says, "I like that way in the bast"

Davey says, "best"

Davey plays some Steppenwolf

Aisleen says (to davey), "drive on :)"

Chaz says, "Oh, right."

GM says, "and you guys drive off into the night, back to the chancel"

Alison asks (of Gerry), "Can I see that envelope now please?"

Chaz retrieves his 'Scrambled Porn' tape from the glove compartment.

Tyoka asks (of Alison), "haven't you read enough strange stuff for this week?"

Chaz asks (of Aisleen), "Hey, can you dry me off?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "<cough>hasn'thappenedyet<cough>"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "I assumed we put the sealed envelope back into the safe."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I thought it had"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "WTF?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Tyoka), "it's actually a week in the future -- the other group's a bit ahead"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "oh alright"

[nobilis] Alison exclaims (at Gerry), "Er, the whole point was to bring it back to Shagapir, leaving the phony in its place!"

Aisleen waves her hands to bring some warm breeze to dry people off

[nobilis] Gerry asks (of Alison), "That was the map, did we decide about the sealed envelope, though?"

Chaz says, "Mmmm, thanks."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Wan't the map *in* the envelope?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "right, this is the thing that puts Vona in Shagapir's debt"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "The sealed envelope *is*... right."

[nobilis] Gerry says, "The sealed envelope is the one in the safe with the seal that we were trying to get stella to read. The Wax envelope contained the fake map and now contains the real map."

Aisleen says (to chaz), "i can style your hair if you are tired of the wet-hair-clicked-down-look :)"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, there were two wax envelopes"

[nobilis] Alison says, "There were two wax sealed envelopes."

[nobilis] GM says, "but otherwise yes"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Really?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Missed that."

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Oh, we switched the letter too, then?"

[nobilis] GM says, "the one in the safe and the one shagapir gave you"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Unless one was the one we brought and one was the one that was there."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Got it."

[nobilis] Alison says, "One from Shag, which is now in the safe. One from the safe, which Gerry ought to had to Alison right now :)"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Okay, so there was one document and one map, both of which we switched."

Aisleen amuses herself eavesdropping on random people's conversations on the highway

[nobilis] GM says, "well, there was one envelope, which shagapir said contained a map"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Okay, now I understand."

Alison looks at Gerry with big, puppy-dog eyes. "*Pleeease*?"

Chaz does a ghost miracle of whimsy to increase everyone's confusion of the situation.

[nobilis] GM says (to Chaz), "it's working, it's working"

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

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Tyoka), "Wuick, help him out!"

Davey shrugs. "I hope we didn't fuck up, first time out."

[nobilis] Gerry says, "hands the envelope to Alison. "You're welcome to read it, if you can do so without unsealing it.""

Gerry hands the envelope to Alison. "You're welcome to read it, if you can do so without unsealing it."

Chaz pats a seat. "Nah, we did OK."

Alison exclaims, "Thank you!"

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "a shrugging bus. that sounds like a jarring ride"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks (of Gerry), "whuh?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "oh, 'quick'"

Alison holds the envelope up in front of her face, staring at it cross-eyed, her brow furrowed.

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "alis can read through paper?"

[nobilis] jwalrus says, "I assume she's doing a realm miracle of divination"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "oh right"

Davey says, "hey, someone who isn't driving, *ask* the envelope what's inside it"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Which, come to think of it, I could ahve done even if he hadn't turned it over..."

Aisleen asks (of evelope), "What do you contain?"

Stella asks (of Envelope), "What do you contain?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "timing"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "FWIW, I though that the wax envelope we got last session was a modern envelope covered in wax to prevent water damage with a map inside."

Alison says, "Shh! I'm reading."

[nobilis] Aisleen says (to stella), "if it decides to ignore me, it won't ignore you at least"

Alison says, "Oooh. It's a map of some place in Italy."

Alison says, "Si-- Sicily."

Aisleen says, "yum. time for some good food"

[nobilis] Chaz laughs and laughs.

Stella says, "They have really good food, there."

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "timing, again!"

Alison exclaims, "It has passwords and secret stuff, too. Like a spy game!"

Aisleen asks (of alison), "read it aloud so gerry can hear it?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Man, our imperators just like playing practical jokes on each other."

Alison reads it aloud. It apparently contains descriptions of where in Sicily to find some Item, including passphrases to use to request further directions upon arrival. but no indication of what that item is.

Alison gives it back to Gerry. "Thank you, Uncle Gerry."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Mmm, Rambaldi."

[Crows-Nest] Aisleen says, "better not be spinach"

Gerry says, "Hm. I wonder what Wild Goose Chase Shaggy just sent the Power of Treasure on."

[Crows-Nest] Miseri exclaims, "zoinks!"

Shagapir asks, "did someone call me?"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "How, exactly is Alison reading this?"

Shagapir says, "ah, good, the envelope -- er, I do hope this is the real one"

Gerry asks, "Are we home already?"

Alison exclaims, "Hi, Shagapir!"

Stella exclaims (at Shagapir), "Greetings!"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Our Imperator is now inside Davey?"

Tyoka says, "Hiya"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I was about to ask that"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Well, I guess there's a little bit of him in all of us, bit this is ridiculous..."

[nobilis] Shagapir says, "you are, I assumed, back in the chancel, since otherwise Alison couldn't be reading the letter"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Hey, now's a good a time as any to bring this up--Do we want magic or technology in our Chancel? There's a conversation Jota and I had with inky about it at http://www.bioc.rice.edu/~lpsmith/IF/7thSea/nobilis/nobilis-magic.html"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Aha. Realm-based miracle. I see."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Oh, it was a realm.. right."

[nobilis] Davey says, "whatever's more bang for the buck, though In Character I like tech more"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Man, if I'd known that, I wouldn't have called him Shaggy."

[nobilis] Alison says, "I wasn't sure if we'd gotten out of the bus yet, or if we were still on that highway between the moutains and the carnival."

Shagapir is back in what appears to be his usual form -- a dark robe with hood, under which are six prismatic eye-like things -- but a pleasant disposition nevertheless

Davey gets to the carnival and lets everyone out

Gerry says (to Shagapir), "It is. And the faux document is locked in the safe at the bottom of the sea."

Shagapir says, "excellent"

[Crows-Nest] Miseri says, "Oy. Sounds like Dominic from "In Nomine"."

Chaz asks (of Shagapir), "Where are you sending them, anyway? Do we get to watch?"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "Ningauble of the Seven Eyes' brother?"

Shagapir says, "to answer your question, I have sent Cecily to the right country but the wrong place; no, you may not watch, but I get the vague impression from my divinations that .. never mind"

Alison says (to Shagapir), "That was fun."

Chaz says, "Cecily to Sicily."

Gerry says, "So silly."

Shagapir says, "but this will teach them not to meddle casually with my nobilis"

Alison asks, "Do we get to go to Sicily too?"

Shagapir frowns.

Davey turns human once the gang's out, and scratches his beard.

Chaz asks, "What did they do? Were they behind all that water?"

Gerry blurts out, "Us? Or..."

Shagapir says, "and I will have to hope the lesson will stick, since the Excrucian war is increasing in strength, and soon I will be called back to the front lines for a while, unready though I am"

Davey says, "yow"

Davey asks, "anything we can do?"

Shagapir looks over you all. "I -- my sources tell me something is coming here, but I cannot afford to take the time to root it out myself. This may be intentional, or this may be coincidence."

Alison asks, "Something bad?"

Shagapir says, "it may be very bad indeed"

Shagapir says, "but, then again, it may not happen at all"

Stella asks, "Apocolyptic-type of bad? Or just really horrible?"

Chaz asks, "Here, the chancel? Or here, Seattle?"

Shagapir says, "so I would suggest you keep busy for the next few months until I return, and keep a wary eye out as you do"

Gerry asks (of Shagapir), "Excrucian? Or Power?"

Shagapir shrugs. "If I knew, I would handle it myself."

Tyoka mutters, "Allah preserve us"

Stella asks, "Can you tell us anything about it, or is it just vague predictions of doom at this point?"

Shagapir says, "it has echoes of something from long ago, but again, this may be intentional or it may be coincidence"

Alison salutes, "You can count on us, sir!"

[nobilis] Stella says, """Xander, help Willow, and try not to bleed on my couch, I just had it steam cleaned . . .""

Shagapir frowns. "You can trust Vona's nobilis, I think -- I did not pick them myself, but she is generally trustworthy in her choices. Anyone else -- it is hard to say."

Shagapir says, "the Excrucians can attack on many levels, and some of them prefer to bore from within"

Davey says, "brr"

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "do we know by sight vona's nobilis?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We will in a week ;-)"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee."

[nobilis] Shagapir says, "they look vaguely familiar, since you were all in the intro scene with them (whether or not you-the-player were there)"

Shagapir says, "as I said, keep busy, get acquainted with your fellow nobilis, and decide who can and cannot be trusted"

[nobilis] Miseri says, "(Wilfred is working on becoming Forgettable....)"

Chaz says, "Keep busy. Right."

Gerry distractedly rearranges his tesseract.

Alison says, "We could meet them if we invited them here, but that might not be safe."

Shagapir says, "if the chancel is attacked, or my estates are attacked, you are the first and only defense"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Er, them == nobs in general, not Vona's)"

Tyoka says (to Alison), "but would they come..."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "can other nobilis visit other people's chancels? (curious)"

Shagapir says, "I will continue to advise you from afar, but that is all I can promise, and even that will not be as often as I like"

[nobilis] Shagapir says, "yeah, certainly"

[nobilis] Shagapir says, "can they enter uninvited? only some of them"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeah, the other group went to a cocktail party already."

Davey makes a mental note to train up some chancelites as biker warriors. and get some guns made

[nobilis] Stella says, "Too bad no one took the domain of guns, or war."

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Aisleen), "The Saturday group visited our chancel on their session yesterday. Which takes place game-time in a week."

Shagapir asks, "is there anything else, before I depart?"

Alison says, "Yeah."

Alison asks, "Can we get TV and phones and stuff?"

Shagapir laughs

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Shagapir directs Alison to the errata page."

Chaz asks (of Shagapir), "I have one--do you know who was behind all that water in Seattle when you picked us up? Was that Cecily and Jack?"

Shagapir says, "I did say you should keep busy -- that seems like an excellent first step"

Aisleen says (to alison), "(aside) hee hee"

Shagapir says (to Alison), "I would suggest you talk to the Marquis of Messages; he owes me a favor"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Heh."

Shagapir says (to Chaz), "Cecily? I do not think so, at least not as a first step. It was, I believe, Bronwynn, whose estate is the Ocean. She is -- well-meaning, I suppose, but jealous of her territory."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Good luck actually talking to him, though. . o ( I'm sorry, the Marquis is out right now. At the tone, please leave a thought-message.)"

Shagapir says, "but, as you can see, not always as foresighted as she might be"

Shagapir says, "on the bright side, she hardly ever holds grudges for more than five or ten years"

Chaz asks, "Are they from the same chancel?"

[nobilis] Stella asks, "Can we trap the chancel? Create if-then miracles?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(I'm sure Kori will be happy to hear that)"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "To inky, what would be the defensive benefits of choosing tech?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Or of choosing magic?"

Shagapir says, "Bronwynn is from the Chancel Pacific, with the Viscountess of Waves and the Marquis of Adaptability; Cecily is from Locus Style, with the Viscount of Gambling, the Viscount of Cloth, and the Duke of Shadows"

Chaz nods.

Shagapir says, "the last I named is one to be wary of -- he is old, and interested in strange things"

Shagapir says, "and so am I, and therefore I distrust him"

Alison asks, "Do they all have names?"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry asks, "Cloth and Shadows are the ones havinf an affair?"

Chaz asks, "You said something about Cecily and Jack interfering with your nobilis. Was that us? What did he do?"

Alison asks, "Or do we just call them Shady and Dapter and things?"

Chaz says, "Alison, if you had been paying *attention*, you'd already know that Jack is the Duke of Shadows."

[nobilis] Alison says, "I think that's Cloth and Bureaucracy, although the latter may not know it yet :)"

Shagapir says (to Alison), "you are welcome to call them whatever you want, although I would be careful of what names you call them to their face"

Alison asks (of Chaz), "Uh-huh, and if you're so smart, what's the name of 'Daptability?"

Chaz shrugs nonchalantly. "He hasn't told us yet."

Alison hmphs. "'Zactly."

Shagapir says, "Another project for you all might be to seek out the Duchess of Etiquette, and request a listing of all the nobilis that are known, their names and titles."

Gerry says (to Alison), "I suppose it could be Zack Lee, but that's unlikely."

Shagapir says, "if that is the sort of thing you care about"

Davey sighs.

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

Davey . o O ( this etikit stuff aint my bag of cats )

Tyoka . o O ( nor mine )

[nobilis] (from Alison) Tyoka . o O ( now, bags of cats, on the other hand... )

Chaz says (to Shagapir), "But you still haven't said what Cecily did to make you mad at her."

Stella says (to Shapagir), "I might do that."

Shagapir says (to Chaz), "an excellent point"

Chaz raises an eyebrow, grins.

Shagapir says, "oh, and I hear living ink may be coming into some demand soon; if you are interested, it might be worth seeking out"

Shagapir says, "and now, farewall"

Alison says, "Oooh."

[nobilis] Shagapir says, "(er, -well)"

Gerry says (to Shagapir), "I don't think any decent person would want to meet Inky."

Alison waves, "Bye, Shagapir!"

Shagapir says, "we will meet again in a few months, I hope. I am relying on you all; I do not think you will fail"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Before we go on IC, let's take care of chancel details, OOC."

Shagapir once again steps behind the try-your-strength machine and vanishes

[nobilis] GM says, "ok, right"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "I'd rather reserve that for non-game-time."

[nobilis] GM says, "I would like to sort out this magic/technology thing"

[nobilis] GM says, "since it is fairly significant"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Gerry), "Mrm. We've been talking about it out of game, but that doesn't accomplish anything."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And Sara's never here non-game-time, either."

[nobilis] GM asks, "so you have 3 points to spend?"

[nobilis] Davey asks, "yeah, so, what's the big difference?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I vote for magic, partly because the other chancel has tech, and partly because some of the fancier things we wanted to do can be done with magic."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I'm pro-magic"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Davey), "The biggest thing is that tech gives you items, while magic gives you spells."

[nobilis] Davey says, "okay, I guess more flexibility is the way to go, as long as the magic can work outside the chancel"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Apparently, tech costs two points, and gives us more advanced versions of stuff that exists in the real world. Like really fancy supercomputers inside a palmtop, and maybe simple holograms or stuff, I think. The magic would give us folklore magic kinds of effects, I think. Witchery style stuff."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Magic costing three points."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Also, scrying pools might be useful."

[nobilis] GM says, "if you get tech, presumably you'd spend the extra point on particularly advanced tech in one area -- the other chancel bought high-tech weapons"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Hey, we could trade magic inky for some of their weapons."

[nobilis] Stella says, "high-tech weapons could be very useful if we're being attacked."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Mmm. So is there a general learning towards magic?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Er, magic ink ;-)"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "sorta-apropos: is anyone tracking our mana mine points?"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I can keep up with that; haven'tyet."

[nobilis] GM asks, "there are, what, two points in the mana mine?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Depends how much we spend on the magic."

[nobilis] GM says, "ah"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Do we still want teleporting stuff?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "we could go for some sort of magic defense, like jammers or something"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We could also spend an extra point on particularly advanced magic."

[nobilis] Alison says, "Mmm."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Like defensive magic?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "if we go for magic, we should get the more advanced stuff."

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Davey), "I like that idea."

[nobilis] GM says, "in addition, I should mention that every session, your group get a dynasty point, which you can either use as a miracle point (of any type, not refreshed when used, anyone in the group can use it), or when you've saved up 25 of them, trade them in for an imperator point"

[nobilis] Stella says, "if we go for tech, we should go for some weapons, at least."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Confusion magic, maybe -- to make it hard for invaders to find where they're going or what they're doing?"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Stella), "Since Vona's chancel got exactly that, I think we should trade."

[nobilis] Stella asks (of Chaz), "Did you have anything in particular in mind for trading?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Maybe Murphy's magic? If anything can go wrong, it will?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Mmm, yeah. If both defensive magic and weapons tech can be used outside chancel, we could send them a defense mage, and they could send us an armed monk."

[nobilis] Chaz says (to stella), "Magic ink. They need it for a map."

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

[nobilis] Davey says, "Fog of War, or something that wrecks outsider technology"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Would magic ink be something we'd need to pay a point for, or just sometihng we could ahve our people researching?"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Davey), "Fog of war, meaning invaders can't see what they're doing? That sounds good."

[nobilis] Stella says (to Chaz), "I caught that; I thought you meant something more like Alison just suggested, which makes tons-o-sense."

[nobilis] Davey says, "yeah, invaders can't coordinate with each other"

[nobilis] Davey says, "something like that"

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "I like it!"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Sounds good to me. Maybe an arsenal of defensive magic for the extra point."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Centering around confusion."

[nobilis] Alison asks (of GM), "Would that work for our point? Invaders can't see/hear/radio/whatever outside their auctoritas?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "and they all have to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl before they raise a fist at us"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] Chaz exclaims, "Yay!"

[nobilis] Alison says, "OK, that all sounds good to me. That means, three points basic magic, one point extra defensive magic (which we can trade), and two points mana mine? (And two points Accessible, of course)"

[nobilis] GM asks, "so you'd like to spend 3 points on normal magic, and then an additional point on more sophisticated defensive magics? or 3 points on normal magic, and tell your guys to research defensive magic?"

[nobilis] GM says, "ah, ok"

[nobilis] Alison says, "And we'll tell our folks to research living ink."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Sounds like a plan to me."

[nobilis] GM says, "ok"

[nobilis] Stella says, "I like it. :-)"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "sounds good, yeah"

[nobilis] GM asks, "for a point, you can get some fairly sophisticated magic - you want something that causes confusion?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "yeah, or that confounds enemy forces from cooperating"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Something that will make sure they never find their way out of the maze/roundabouts."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Can we get a variety of spells? Some automatic, some we can cast in/out of chancel?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "(just played Napoleon in Europe yesterday and endured much pain from letting the cavalry get separated)"

[nobilis] Stella asks, "can we use the chancel magic to trigger pre-set miracles?"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Davey), "Heh."

[nobilis] Alison asks (of Chaz), "Or the same spells, but copies of them set to trigger automatically if someone other than us or Vona's group comes through an entrance?"

[nobilis] GM says (to Stella), "you can research how to do that, yeah"

[nobilis] Alison says, "So that if someone does get through the automated defenses, our carnies can still cast confusions and mental/real fogs on them anyplace."

[nobilis] Davey says, "cool"

[nobilis] Chaz nods.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Should we assume everything is set to allow Vona's folks through, since Shag said they were trustworthy?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(And so retconning won't be needed? :) )"

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

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "Yeah"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Sounds good to me."

[nobilis] Tyoka says (to alison), "note how they FLED US IN PANIC"

GM says, "ok then"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "will have fleed"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "fled"

GM says, "a week or so passes uneventually"

[nobilis] Tyoka can't type

Alison contacts the M of Messages during that week.

GM says, "your researchers research great and secret defensive magics"

Davey starts a Hell's Angels chapter in the chancel

[nobilis] Chaz says, "'uneventually' means that it never actually passes at all."

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "hee!"

GM says, "davey trains chancel inhabitants to ride bikes and shoot stuff"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hee."

[nobilis] GM says, "oopsies"

Davey says, "I wonder if the Power of Phones hears every conversation"

Stella asks the residents to study triggers for pre-set miracles.

Davey says, "cuz, that's a lot of porn"

GM says, "and Alison contacts the Marquis of Messages -- who, uncharacteristically, does not respond to her contact attempt"

Alison says, "Pah."

Tyoka says, "strange"

GM says, "oh, and Vona's group shows up briefly to drop off a book for Shagapir"

GM asks (of Alison), "want to try someone else? or ask around for the Marquis?"

Tyoka says, "(said book results in a very long prayer session that day)"

Alison says, "I wanna know where the M of M went."

Stella tries getting a Who's Who from the Duchess of Etiquitte.

Chaz tries to figure out how to link the magic of the highway entrances to include a couple magically-spliced cable/phone lines.

Tyoka says (to Alison), "He melts in your mouth, not your hands!"

[nobilis] Alison says, "They all melt in Alison's hands, when she turns on her Innocent Admiration look."

Gerry returns from the bathroom.

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Um. ilac."

[nobilis] Stella says (to Alison), "So kiss him! (if you can find him . . .) ;-)"

GM says (to Chaz), "you could probably run some cables in along the edge of the highway, if you wanted"

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of Gerry), "It took you a *week* for that?"

Alison exclaims (at Gerry), "You missed everything! A whole week!"

[nobilis] Davey says, "you gotta eat more fiber, guy."

GM says (to Chaz), "this might possibly give away a chancel entrance if anyone decided to follow where the cables went, but"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Do we need a miracle to create the phone lines?)"

Gerry devises some cunning maze-like defenses and aids his anchor on Earth.

[nobilis] Chaz asks (of GM), "Couldn't they just follow the highway itself?"

[nobilis] GM says, "well, right, I just mean because you're splicing in an extra cable to the system, so somebody potentially discover it. this isn't really any more likely than someone discovering you're pirating cable in real life"

[nobilis] GM says, "er, somebody could potentially discover it"

[nobilis] Davey says, "so we send the Power of Cable a nice Christmas present"

[nobilis] Chaz nods.

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Ah, not so much noticing that there's an extra piece of wire as noticing that there are extra phone numbers that aren't properly hooked to anything?"

[nobilis] GM says, "right"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Is Earth a toll call from here?)"

[nobilis] GM says, "hee hee"

Davey thinks about what Powers we should try to make friends with

[nobilis] GM says, "you can set it up however you like"

[nobilis] Stella says, "Or whatever Holiday they celebrate. We could send them some nice generic ornaments."

Aisleen asks (of Davey), "Gasolene?"

Alison asks, "If M of M owes Shagapir a favor, does that mean he's our friend?"

Aisleen says, "not necessarily, I would think"

Stella says, "If the Etiquette Duchess sends me a who's who, it will give us a nice idea of the political structure."

Alison says, "Oh."

Chaz sets up some misdirection spells so that if anyone follows the cable, they'll end up going to a different exit by an abandoned housing development, that still seems to be hooked up.

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Sound good?"

Stella says, "Befriending the Nobilis of Strategy might be wise."

GM says, "the researchers, incidentally, determine that living ink is a fairly long-term proposition to make, since you have to breed it from living rocks and stuff, but that apparently the Duke of Writing has been working on this himself"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, this seems reasonable"

Gerry and Tyoka help to make the lines more confusing.

GM says, "and might have more insight into the process"

GM says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] GM says, "mm, confusion chancel"

Alison exclaims, "Oooh, let's call him!"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Tyoka), "I just volunteered you for that, hope it's all right."

Aisleen says, "well, let's give Duke of Writing a call"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "excellent idea"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Locus Confucious"

Alison . o O ( Writing Hello, Mr. Duke? )

Aisleen asks, "or do we have to send a letter?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "since I feel pretty useless anyway"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "I figure that Chaz, Gerry, and Tyoka can make things really effing confusing."

Aisleen says (to alison), "His Grace, Duke of Writing"

Davey rides around the Chancel with his new gang

Alison . o O ( Writing=I mean, Mr. His Grave? )

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "GRACE!"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Sigh...)"

Wendell . o O ( uh, hello? )

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "double failure!"

Tyoka says, "hm, I could conjure up a few megaira and gorgons"

Tyoka says, "like Davey did with the biker gang"

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( Hi! I'm Alison. )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "We need a 'think to' command."

[nobilis] Alison says, "'think *=*'"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "That already works?"

Wendell . o O ( Alison oh, er, yes, you must be one of those new nobilis -- Herbert mentioned one of you trying to steal his ideas at a party )

[nobilis] Wendell says, "er, whoops"

Aisleen . o O (to alison) ( are you going to ask about the rocks? )

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Cool."

Tyoka . o O (to detective) ( are you going to ask me about her breasts? )

[nobilis] Davey says, "steal ideas? jeesh, I've got ninety forks here and the salad course is alread over"

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( Party? I haven't been to any parties yet, but I am one of the new ones, yeah -- I'm with Shagapir! )

GM says (to Tyoka), "ok, you spend some time ritually chanting and calling up and binding the spirits"

Alison . o O (to Aisleen) ( Uh-huh! )

GM asks (of Tyoka), "what do you want to tell them to do? just be ready?"

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( Someone said you were smart, so I was wondering if I could get your help. )

Tyoka says (to gm), "and to drive off any hostile intruder"

Davey . o O ( we should hook up with Flattery too, just to get some pointers )

Tyoka says, "if possible"

Wendell . o O (to alison) ( Smart? My goodness. I just wish this novel of mine was going better, in that case. )

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( I wanted to make some ink that was alive, but my friends said that was *really hard* to do... that you needed *living rocks*! )

[nobilis] Stella says, "If we're binding spirits, we should have them get the invading forces drunk. Mr. Invader, meet Mr. Daniels . . ."

GM says (to Tyoka), "yeah, that seems reasonable enough"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "yay my own goddesses of revenge"

Tyoka says, "I assume the gorgons can't actually petrify"

Davey says, "if it's 'normal magic' they should be able to"

Stella says, "Except in the figurative sense of scaring them *very* badly."

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( But they said that you knew about that kind of stuff. Is it really true? )

Tyoka says, "I meant in the literal sense"

Tyoka says, "like Medusa"

[nobilis] Chaz says (to Tyoka), "They can probably petrify normal humans, just not anyone/thing with an auctoritas."

Wendell . o O (to alison) ( ah, you're interested in seeing one of my projects .. let's see, perhaps you could come to the Home Depot in Columbus, Ohio, and I'll let you in to my chancel )

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "fair enough"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Mmm. And they might not be able to do a whole bunch at once."

Alison . o O (to Wendell) ( Wow! Thanks! )

Aisleen . o O ( Ohio? )

Alison exclaims, "He said we can go to his chancel!"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "with humans, one might be enough"

Alison looks at Aisleen funny. "How'd you know that?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Good point. One petrified should leave the rest, as they say, petrified."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks, "hm. i guess i can't eavesdrop on thoughts?"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Yeah, are group thought-projections possible?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "I *think* it's a directed sort of thing. Otherwise, we'd be hearing prayers all over the world, wouldn't we?"

[nobilis] Wendell says, "they are possible, but directed by default, I think"

Aisleen says (to alison), "hm? i was eavesdropping on a conversation over in the carnival"

Alison says, "Oh -- Ohio's where Wendell's at, too."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Seems reasonable."

Alison thinks. "Well. He's probably not really *in* Ohio."

Alison says, "But we're not really in Disney World, either."

Alison looks around. "Who wants to go see Wendell!"

Chaz asks (of 'lis), "Hey, you're saying this isn't the happiest place on earth?"

Alison exclaims (at Chaz), "The Mouse ain't got nothing on us!"

Tyoka says, "This is our own fucked-up Disneyland"

Davey says, "hah, they got Goofy, we got Gorgons"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "okay, i need to go soon again"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "it's almost 4"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Aw. Ball?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "boo"

[nobilis] Alison waves to Aisleen.

Gerry asks (of Alis), "Who's Wendell?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of the most influential Supreme Court Justices in USA history."

[nobilis] Stella says, "or not."

[nobilis] Aisleen asks (of stella), "whose court?"

Alison exclaims (at Gerry), "Wendell is the His Grace Duke of Writing. He knows all about living ink!"

Davey asks, "hey, I'll go. Do me good to ride the Earth highways a little. You want a ride on the bike, Alison?"

Edmund steps out of a door in the side of a ride.

Aisleen greets Edmund

Alison exclaims (at Davey), "Woo!"

Edmund says, "got a package here for the, ah, Duchess of Light"

Gerry says, "I'd be willing to go, but we should probably leave someone in the chancel."

Edmund looks around.

Tyoka asks (of Davey), "hey, can I borrow one of your bikes?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "I don't recall. It was a while back, but the way I learned it, he's the one who assumed the Supreme Court actually had the power it has today, and worked to make that happen. Our current system doesn't actually go back to the"

Edmund says, "nice place you have here, folks"

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Er, did the defense spells go off?"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Shouldn't Edmund be wandering around in a daze at this point, trying to figure out where he is?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Timing."

Alison asks (of Edmund), "Thanks! Who're you?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "The hell is Edmund?"

[nobilis] Stella says, "Founding Fathers, as is often assumed. Again, that's how I learned it, assuming I'm remembering it correctly if any of you are history buffs, please jump in."

[nobilis] Edmund says, "he's a nobilis -- normal magic isn't going to do much against him"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Power of Couriers?"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "power of FedEx?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "timing"

Stella asks (of Edmund), "Yes?"

Aisleen says (to edmund), "you can leave the package on the bench by you"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Edmund), "Also, I presume that having no overt hostile motives would prtect him from much of it."

[nobilis] Alison asks (of Edmund), "Won't it still fog him up to his Auctoritas?"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Gerry), "That's reasonable, I guess."

Edmund bows elaborately to Alison (which requires bending very low indeed). "Edmund, Marquis of Doors, at your service."

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "ah. I guess with Marshall maybe. Something to look up"

Edmund says, "bench? where? ah, bench"

Alison curtseys back. "Nice to meet you. Alison of Impulse."

Aisleen . o O (to stella) ( were you expecting a delivery? )

Edmund puts the package on the bench. "From Imogene, Duchess of Etiquette, with her compliments."

Stella asks (of Edmund), "Is this perchance courtesy of the Etiquette Nobilis?"

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, "timing, again!"

[nobilis] Aisleen says, "okay. out. have fun"

Edmund says, "she says she appreciates your prompt attention to the proper form"

Aisleen goes home.

Stella says (to Edmund), "Thank her most profusely for me, please. I appreciate her favor."

Edmund winks at Stella. "I will pass on the message."

Chaz uses the spirit sight on Edmund to make sure he is what he says he is.

[nobilis] Alison exclaims, "That's not Edmund!"

Stella examines the book.

[nobilis] Alison rips off his mask. It's Gaston!

[nobilis] Edmund says, "hee hee hee"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] GM says (to Chaz), "well, he's certainly a power of some kind, and his aura does suggest a gateway"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "Good."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "he's the power of Gateway -- selling cheap computers"

[nobilis] Davey says, "moo"

GM says (to Stella), "it is a very big book, not unlike a Debrett's for the nobilis set"

[nobilis] Stella says, "in funky spotted boxes."

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Meanwhile, should Davey and Alison and Tyoka and whoever move on to Ohio?"

Alison asks (of Davey), "Do you know how to get to 'Columbus'?"

Stella reads the book in her spare time, and commits the seemingly-relevant bits to memory.

Davey says (to Alison), "sure do"

GM says, "so full of entries like "Amanda Lynn, Viscountess of Perfecting. date of ennoblement: 1875. published works: "You Can! with Amanda Pyne.", "You can also! how to change your life in ten minutes a day or less." interests: skiing, hiking, exercise, debate, writing""

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Stella), "You might as well commit all of it to memory."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "I think I'll stay here. Actually, I'm going to try out one of our scrying pools to make sure you all get there OK. And to see if they'll work inside someone else's chancel."

Davey revs up the Shovelhead. "anyone else coming?

Alison exclaims, "Let's roll!"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Er. Except that entry."

Alison hops on.

Gerry says, "I'll go."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "(assuming scrying pools fall under classic folk mythology)"

Tyoka's bike has somehow mutated to a H. R. Giger design

Davey exclaims, "get on a bike an' follow me!"

Edmund, meanwhile, smiles cheerily, and tries to find his way out before deciding a door of his own is going to be more effective.

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Doh!"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I'm having a delightful vision of the whole family on bikes driven by Chancel bikers"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Poor guests. Always having to make their own exits."

[nobilis] GM says, "you could get a butler"

Gerry says (to Edmund), "Thank you for teking the time to drop in."

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "a MONKEY butler"

Davey brumms onto the flying highway

[nobilis] Chaz says, "*Our* butler would probably be a jester, though."

[nobilis] Chaz says, "A monkey jester."

[nobilis] Alison exclaims (at GM), "But then we wouldn't get to watch them wander around trying to find their way out!"

[nobilis] Alison says (to Chaz), "That's a cool idea."

Edmund says (to Gerry), "always a pleasure .. any time you have a message to deliver, just let me know"

[nobilis] Alison says, "All in favor of promoting one of the residents to jester/butler, to heckle and hinder visitors? (Er, and sometimes help them?)"

Gerry hops on a strangely Rube-Goldberg-looking bike and follows, waving behind him.

Stella says, "I think I'll stay here and work on Chancel defenses. Have a good trip! Think to us often. Stella waves."

GM says, "Davey and Tyoka and Gerry drive off, Alison on the back of one of them"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Aye!"

GM says, "(anyone else going?)"

Tyoka . o O (to Stella) ( Literally! )

(From Gerry) Aisleen says, "I'll stay here as well."

Davey wonders if Edmund's house has tons of doors or, like, one door that opens to everywhere

[nobilis] Chaz says (to GM), "No, but I am trying out a scrying thing. Centered on Alison, of course."

[nobilis] GM says, "alrighty"

Alison says (to Davey), "We're looking for a store called 'Home Depot'."

Davey natters about his mortal adventures trucking and biking in the heartland, occasionally forgetting his passenger is nine

GM says, "the scrying pool swirls and reveals shadowy images of motorcycles along a highway"

Davey says, "Probl'y a couplea those in Columbus, but they're big. We'll find it."

GM says, "and, indeed, eventually you pull up outside one"

Alison enjoys the stories. Especially any with daredevil stunts.

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Provided no one gets hurt, of course)"

GM says, "the other folks in the parking lot look impressed at your fancy bikes"

Storme arrives, looking for booty.

Davey uses a domain divination to see if there are any HDs with their own exits, like the one in New Jersey

Alison waves at the other people.

Stella says (to GM), "I'm researching triggers for pre-set miracles, and what kind of miracles might make the most effective defensives. Also, researching possible strategy aids/advisors in the Nobilis book."

[nobilis] Davey says, "ah, done already. Good show"

[Crows-Nest] Storme has joined the channel.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Hmm. We need Raul to help us find the entrance."

Alison exclaims, "Let's go in. We can find the doorway department!"

GM says (to Stella), "ok, the former is probably doable, but will take a bit. for the latter, if there's any nobilis you want to try and contact, let me know"

[nobilis] Davey says, "you're invited, though"

Davey Guises to look a little less like a hairy thug

[nobilis] Alison says (to Davey), "Right, but I don't think he told us exactly where the entrance is. (Although we could pray to him again to ask.)"

Gerry says, "Maybe we should go look at the landscaping department, since we are looking for particular rocks."

Davey says, "well, let's go on in and look at the doors"

Alison asks, "Oooh, what's this thing?"

Alison points at a funny shaped tool.

Tyoka says, "We call it Mr. Thingy"

Gerry says (to Alison), "That's a ratchet."

Cyndi, perky home depot employee, comes over. "Hi! Can I help you?!?"

Davey is using the Sight

Alison plays with the ratchet thingy. Open. Ratchet-ratchet-ratchet-ratchet-shut..

Stella says (to GM), "I contact the strategy nobilis, as well as the military, army and air-force nobilis, and the magic nobilis, providing their entries in the book seem non-hostile to us and shagapir. I offer to meet them at a neutral location, like McDonalds or something."

Alison exclaims (at Cyndi), "Hi Cyndi!"

Gerry says (to Cyndi), "We're just looking around right now."

Tyoka asks (of Alison), "You know her name?"

Gerry also turns on the sight.

Alison says (to Tyoka), "It's on her name tag, silly."

Tyoka says (to Alis), "D'oh!"

Davey flicks an eyebrow at Cyndi's tag

Davey (timing)

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says (to Davey), "eew"

Cyndi is a normal human to the sight, although there is a vague magical feel to parts of this store

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Any sound from the pool?"

[nobilis] Cyndi says, "(no)"

[nobilis] Chaz nods.

Gerry starts looking around for some of the more magical sections.

Davey saunters door-department-ward

Cyndi exclaims, "ok! if you need help, just ask!!"

Alison says (to Cyndi), "We're working on a treehouse, but we need to find the right ladder to get into it."

Alison says, "But Davey and Tyoka and Gerry know all about stuff, so I bet they can find it for me."

Alison grins.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "Cyndi IS Christine from _Maskerade_"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "Questa!! Maledetta!!"

Chaz . o O (to Alison) ( You guys have been in the store a while--can you contact Wendell again and tell him you're there? )

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

Tyoka rings a doorbell at random.

[nobilis] Gerry says, "I think we should at least try to find this on our own."

(From GM) bing!

Alison . o O (to Chaz) ( As soon as Gerry finishes playing with the toys. )

Chaz grins to himself.

[Crows-Nest] (from Gerry) (From GM) Bing says, "We're on the road to Rio."

GM says (to Gerry), "the magic lines seem to trace to a couple offices in the back of the store"

GM says, "or at least, they"

GM says, "are doors marked "employee access only""

Gerry slips into one of the doors when no one is looking.

Alison asks (of Tyoka), "Where'd Uncle Gerry go?"

GM says, "(the door is locked at first, but you jiggle the handle a bit and it opens)"

GM says, "on the other side is ... a much larger Home Depot"

Tyoka says, "No idea, Alis"

Alison frowns.

Gerry . o O (to all) ( I think I found it. Employees only door in the back. )

GM says, "like, you can't see the far wall, and the ceiling is high above you"

Tyoka . o O (to Gerry) ( Where you at, man? )

Alison exclaims (at Tyoka), "Found 'im!"

GM says, "distant sounds of power tools echo down the aisle"

Alison goes after Gerry.

Gerry waits for the others in the Magic Depot, so as not to attract attention.

Davey follows

GM says, "you guys slip through the door also"

Davey says, "wow, I bet this chancel can build a house in an hour"

Alison looks up. "Oooh."

[nobilis] Chaz asks, "Can I still see 'em?"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Chaz), "Oooh. Good question."

[nobilis] GM says, "yes, although the image has gotten a bit more wavery"

GM says, "a few minutes later, you see some store employees carrying power tools coming down the aisle towards you"

Gerry says, "So, now we're here, where do you think are friend might be."

Alison asks (of Employee), "Hi! Do you know Wendell?"

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "Grr. Why me no type and right write."

Employee says, "ah, you're here to see Mr Wendell? Right this way, miss"

Davey has the feeling those weren't tools

Alison follows Employee.

Stella researches triggering a permanent blinding spell on invaders.

GM says, "the employee leads you a short distance to a loading truck, and then drives you through the aisles to eventually arrive outside an office that has "Wendell" on the glass"

[nobilis] GM says (to Stella), "you could probably do that with a creation or destruction of light miracle"

Alison exclaims (at Employee), "Thanks!"

[nobilis] GM says, "but, realistically, magic isn't going to be as effective as miraculous power"

Alison knocks on the door.

GM says, ""You bet, ma'am.""

Wendell opens the door.

[nobilis] Alison says, "But the mortal residents can't use miracles."

Alison exclaims, "Hi! It's me, Alison!"

Wendell is wearing a rather thick pair of glasses and has a vaguely distracted look on his face. "Uh -- oh, yes, come in, come in."

[nobilis] Wendell says, "(right)"

Alison comes in.

[nobilis] Stella says, "right. I'm trying to make miracles that are triggered by magic. I cast a miracle now, but it doesn't take effect unless an invader sets it off."

[nobilis] Wendell says, "ah, I see"

Wendell ushers the rest of you into his office.

[Crows-Nest] Gerry says, "if Wendell says, 'My *papers*!' I'm oging to bed."

Alison exclaims, "This is a *big* building!"

Wendell's office and desk and so on are lost beneath a pile of papers.

[Crows-Nest] Wendell says, "(but he does not say that, no)"

[Crows-Nest] Chaz laughs.

Gerry says (to Wendell), "It's good to meet you, Alison has been talking a lot about you."

Tyoka says, "Greetings."

Wendell says, "(embarrassed) well, yes. my family all seem to have a lot of stuff."

[nobilis] Davey says, "oh, man, I'm an idiot"

Tyoka is feeling uncomfortable and tries staying in the background.

[nobilis] Davey says, "why did I think we were looking for the Door guy"

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

Wendell says (to Tyoka), "care to see my novel? you're standing right next to a chapter of it"

Wendell gestures vaguely to a small pile of paper next to Tyoka

Alison asks, "Is it written in magic ink, too?"

Wendell says, "oh goodness no"

Wendell says, "I have promised myself not to cheat in the slighest on any part of it"

(From Stella) Tyoka Only if its a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure.

Tyoka stutters, "Thanks"

Tyoka looks at the papers carefully.

Wendell says, "it's a pity nobody seems to want to publish it"

GM says (to Tyoka), "you aren't much of a judge, but even you can see it's not a very good novel"

[nobilis] Tyoka asks, "what kind of novel?"

GM says, "too many adjectives and meandering, rather a lot of cliches"

[nobilis] Chaz says, "And this is the Power of Writing? Oy."

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "'Mistress of the Highlands'?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "hey, it worked for Lovecraft"

Davey looks around the office, wondering how writing ended up in a Home Depot

GM says, "it is about a schoolteacher who takes on a secret life working for the government as a spy"

Tyoka tries his hardest to be interested in the story.

[nobilis] Storme asks, "hunh?"

Alison puts her hand on Wendell's arm, in a mentorish sort of way. "Miss Bailey also used to tell me something that I think is very important."

[nobilis] Storme asks, "did I leave at _just_ the wrong moment?"

Wendell asks, "er .. Miss Bailey?"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Storme), "Hee."

[nobilis] Gerry says (to Storme), "We're looking at the Power of Writing's very bad novel."

Alison nods, "She's my teacher, back at home. Not the chancel; i mean my other other."

Alison says, "She always said, 'if at first you don't succeed, *try*, try again.'"

[nobilis] Storme says, "grrnf. I will read transcript"

Wendell brightens for a bit. "That's what I always say!"

[nobilis] Storme says, "anyway, if the power of language also writes awful novels, it's not surprising"

Wendell sags. "I'm afraid I've been trying for a while, though."

[nobilis] Storme says, "(and I assure you I do)"

Wendell asks, "but, sorry, I shouldn't bear you down with my troubles -- you wanted to see one of my other little projects, didn't you?"

Tyoka says, "...interesting story"

Alison smiles. "She says, even when you're really good at something, sometimes it takes lots of tries to get it *just* right. 'Cuz some things are hard to do. Like writing books."

Alison exclaims, "Oh, yeah, the living ink!"

Wendell clears sufficient space on his desk to locate a buzzer, which he presses. A door in the back wall of the office opens and a man in a lab coat steps in.

Wendell asks (of scientist), "ah, Frank, these people (gesturing vaguely in your direction) are interested in seeing the ink -- could you show them around?"

Alison waves to Frank.

Scientist says, "sure thing, boss"

Scientist says, "right this way, folks"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, ""Frank""

Alison follows Frank.

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "what an inventive name for a scientist lackey"

[nobilis] Scientist says, "hey, c'mon, I gotta think of a million names here"

Tyoka pats Wendell's shoulder as he walks by. "I think this is gonna be a smash hit"

[nobilis] Miseri says, "could be worse."

[nobilis] Miseri says, "could be Igor."

Wendell asks, "really? you think so?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "This is fun. I hope I'm not, er, stepping on the rest of your toes, am I? (I seem to be taking more than my share of lines...)"

Wendell goes back to scribbling.

Tyoka says, "Yeah, if you, er, tighten it up a bit, maybe"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I'm just here in case there needs to be some beating done"

Scientist leads you along a hall and into a back room, where he and two others are doing scientist-y things, looking through microscopes and making notes in books and so on

Gerry continues to play Sokoban on his Palm.

Scientist says, "we've been working on this for a few years now, on and off -- it's by way of being a project of Wendell's"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "And that's what I'm doing when I'm not saying anything."

[nobilis] Alison says, "With most folks, I'd assume that's a handheld computer."

[nobilis] Alison says, "With a noble, I'm not so sure."

Davey gets even more bored with the sciency stuff and goes back to gossip with Wendell. If Wendell's okay with a little chitchat

[nobilis] Stella says, "I've got Civ III going in the background, to, ah, "research" strategy and warfare, untill they agree to meet me at McDonald's. ;-)"

Scientist says, "I know some folks at MIT are doing something similar with, I believe magnets in the paper activated by electric current, but we're going more directly to achieving sentient ink"

Alison asks, "Does it talk and stuff?"

Scientist says, "er --"

[nobilis] Davey says, "restricts urge to split GM's attention"

Scientist glances down at Alison, reminds himself that Wendell clearly included her in the show-them-around line

Scientist says, "not exactly, miss"

Scientist says, "but here, let me show you"

Tyoka whispers (to Alis), "Let the poor man do his work"

Gerry asks (of Scientis), "How sentient is sentient, actually? Are we talking wub-binding?"

Scientist takes an eyedropper filled with ink and dribbles it in a straight line on a sheet of paper.

Scientist exclaims (at ink), "ok, curve!"

Scientist watches the ink do nothing.

Scientist exclaims (at ink), "bend!"

Tyoka almost says something.

Scientist watches the ink continue to do nothing.

ink bends, very slowly

Alison peeks at the ink and paper through the mythic.

GM says (to Alison), "well, the ink is magic, of course"

GM says (to Alison), "it's an odd collection of many tiny spirits in the mythic world"

GM says, "they seem to be arguing with each other"

Alison whispers (to the ink, quietly and earnestly), "Can you make a star?"

Alison whispers (to the ink), "It'd make me really happy if you could."

GM says, "some of the bits of ink start to form a point, but others wander off in completely the opposite direction"

Scientist looks a bit surprised.

Scientist says, "that's more than I've been able to get it to do"

[nobilis] Alison asks (of GM), "That *is* a star, isn't it?"

[nobilis] Scientist says, "hee hee"

Alison claps gleefully.

GM says, "meanwhile, outside, Davey was talking to Wendell"

Alison says (to Scientist), "You have to be nice to the poor little inks."

Gerry asks (of Scientist), "What happens if one writes with it?"

Davey asks (of Wendell), "nice place you got. You been Duke of Writing long?"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "I am so tempted to turn the radiant madness on the ink for a second or two"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(AFK a moment while Davey and Wendell chat)"

GM polishes his glasses vaguely as he talks. "I er um .. not *long* exactly -- since, ah, 1950, I believe."

Davey says, "ah, the 50s. Good times. Highways invented then, ya know."

GM says, "although (he gestures vaguely) most of this chancel is new. Samantha always insist on redoing everything all the time."

Davey asks, "Samantha the boss?"

GM says, "ah, she's my sister -- just, ah, more *forceful*"

GM says, "Viscountess of Tools, don't you know"

Davey says, "I mean, the US interstate system. Special place in my heart."

Davey says, "I gotcha. I'm kinda low on the pole in my own Chancel"

GM asks, "highways, ah? fond of driving?"

Davey says, "Like the outside world more"

Davey says, "oh, yeah, scuse me."

Davey sticks his hand out. "Davey Willis, Marquis of Highways."

Wendell nods. "I was just putting in a big white-water rafting scene in my novel where the hero is firing at enemy agents as they fly over the falls."

Wendell shakes hands, being mildly crushed inside Davey's grip

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "afk too"

Davey says, "cool. The Great Outdoors, that's the place for adventure"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Mmm. A Realistic work, I take it."

Wendell says, "oh, yes"

Wendell asks, "so, er, (attempting to remember how to converse properly) read any good books lately?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "(Also, back from AFK, of course)"

Davey says, "Not really. Not enough time for reading, in my line a work. You wanna put any bikers in that novel though, you just hololoer and I'll load you up with details."

Davey says, "holler, even."

Wendell says, "oh, yes, realistic detail is always very important in these things"

Davey says, "Or truckin'. Much more interestin' than most folks think."

Davey looks around. "You and Samantha have this place to yourselves, Wendell?"

Wendell says, "oh, no"

Wendell says, "there's, ah, my brothers Herbert and Fritz -- I believe Herbert said he was at a party with some of you, although perhaps he meant Vona's nobilis"

Wendell says, "and my sister Julie"

Wendell says, "we're rather (apologetically) a large chancel"

Davey says, "yeah, I didn't hear about no parties"

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka says, "re"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Five whole nobles in one chancel? Monstrous."

Wendell says, "but not pushy, like some chancels -- Amanda was bothering me the other day, trying to work out some kind of contracts for her novel or something"

[nobilis] Tyoka says, "well, the chancel is phone-booth sized"

Davey says, "that's the second time I've heard about *that* one, I oughta say. I'm startin' to feel like them Vona nobles are givin' all us new guys a bad rep"

Wendell asks, ""I can't leave the chancel and that's final," I told her, "I'm right in the middle of my novel ..." er, sorry, you were saying?"

Wendell says, "oh, yes, well, Herbert was saying the party ended rather abruptly"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Amanda's not Vona's."

Davey says, "heh. Never mind. I oughta go make sure Alison's not makin' your guys jump around too much."

Wendell says, "I gather -- oh, yes, that might be best"

[nobilis] Stella says, "chaz & i afk - ellric stuff."

Davey says, "good talkin' to you, Wendell. Good luck with the book"

Davey heads back, bewildering compulsion to gossip sated

[nobilis] Wendell says (to Davey), "hee hee"

Alison asks (of Frank), "Can you show us how you make it?"

Scientist says, "well, I can't really -- I mean, hrm, you'd have to talk to Wendell. I could probably arrange for you to receive some samples"

[nobilis] Gerry asks, "Why do we care so much about this, BTW?"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Because Shagapir suggested it might be important."

Gerry asks (of Frank), "And what happens if one uses the ink for printing or writing?"

Scientist says, "I um hrm"

[nobilis] Alison says, "And presumably, if Shagapir says something's important, it's probably Important."

Scientist says, "well, at the moment, probably nothing, although the reader's thoughts might disrupt it, I suppose"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Ah, right."

Scientist says, "it has a number of possible future applications, but so far we haven't been able to work out a proper motivating force for the ink"

Gerry asks (of Scientist), "Probably? You haven't tried yet?"

Alison stares at the ink.

[nobilis] Davey says, "I think he wants Vona to owe him another favor, or maybe this map her guys are working on is Important enough for both of them"

Scientist gestures at the ink. "It's not really done at the moment, I am afraid."

Gerry says (to Frank), "Do you mind if I try? I'd be very interested to see the result."

Alison says (to ink), "Hello, inky-inks."

GM says, "the ink rearranges itself briefly into HI before the letters collapse into random dots"

Scientist says (to Gerry), "ah, sure, like I said, --"

Gerry says (to Gerry), "I take it that hasn't happened before either."

Scientist takes the eyedropper and transfers some of the ink from its vat into a few vials

Scientist asks, "ah -- which?"

Gerry asks (of Frank), "The ink saying hello to little girls?"

Alison looks innocent.

[nobilis] Davey says, "man, the world is her oyster"

Scientist blinks at the ink, which has rearranged itself from a line into a series of little dots all over the paper.

Scientist says, "I wouldn't say that is saying hello, exactly, but it is most unusual .."

Scientist jumps back, as the ink switches to "boo" briefly

Gerry says (to Alison), "Could you try that again, while Frank is paying att...good enough."

Tyoka whispers (to ink), "hee hee"

Alison says (to Scientist), "I like your ink. It's funny."

Tyoka whispers (to ink), "now play dead!"

Scientist says, "my goodness"

Scientist says, "I will certainly have to examine this some more"

Scientist slides the paper under the microscope and begins looking at it intently.

Alison says (to Scientist), "You just need to make the ink *want* to do things."

Scientist says (to Gerry), "do let me know how those samples work out, and if they demonstrate any other unusual properties"

[nobilis] Alison asks, "Does that mean he gave us the samples, or do we still need to go to Wendell?"

Gerry says (to Scientist), "I think we'll let Alison take care of it's further evolution. In the name of Science."

[nobilis] Scientist says, "he's given Gerry some samples"

[nobilis] Alison says, "Rock."

Gerry hands a sample to Alison.

[Crows-Nest] Tyoka refrains from Black Like Me joke

Alison peers into the vial and waves at the ink inside.

Alison says, "Hi, inky-inks."

GM says, "the ink sloshes around a bit in there"

Alison says (to Scientist), "Thank you, Mr. Frank."

[nobilis] Davey says, "I'm giving her a CB for her birthday. Her handle should be Sunshine Girl"

Gerry says (to Scientist), "Well, I think we should be going. We'll say goodbye to Wendell on our way out."

Scientist waves distractedly as he stares into his microscope.

Tyoka . o O (to ink) ( now's your chance to scare him )

[nobilis] GM asks, "so are you guys heading back into the chancel?"

[nobilis] Davey says, "I reckon"

[nobilis] GM says, "to your chancel, I should say"

[nobilis] Gerry says, "Yeah. It's about time to wrap up, too."

Alison says (to Wendell), "Thank you, Mr. Wendell! Your scientist was very nice to us."

GM says, "there is a faint "eyow!" as you guys leave the room"

Alison heads out with Gerry and all.

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah"

GM says, "and then back to the chancel"

Tyoka snickers quietly.

Davey says, "brummm"

Chaz asks, "You're back! How'd it go?"

Tyoka says, "dynamite"

Davey says, "got some ink. Dunno if it's alive for anybody but Alison, though"

Stella asks, "I take it your mission was successful. Care to show us?"

Gerry says (to Chaz), "We have living ink, and apparently a better understanding with it than its creators."

Alison asks (of Chaz), "Hey, Chaz! Miss me?"

GM says (to Stella), "meanwhile, your researches have (or will, in a few days have) come up with an appropriate rite -- you take a flower of appropriate characteristics and hold it while performing the miracle you want; later, if somebody crushes the flower, it will invoke the miracle"

Chaz rubs Alison's hair. "Maybe a little."

GM says, "(while performing the miracle and the associated rite, that is)"

[nobilis] Gerry says (to GM), "Hey. I could've found that on the web!"

Chaz asks (of Alison), "Hey, I finally got cable working. Wanna watch cartoons?"

[nobilis] GM says, "yeah, but the web is curiously silent on the details of the ritual"

Alison asks, "Yay, is Scooby Doo on?"

GM says, "and we'll close here; next week Stella talks to various powers and there is some more action"

GM says, "or, rather, not next week, but the week after"

Davey says, "mmm, action"

Tyoka says, "woop"

GM says, "since next week is my off-week"

Davey says, "mmm, next week no the week after"

Chaz says, "Oh? OK."

[nobilis] Stella exclaims, ""Whoop!"

Gerry says, "GOtcha."

GM says, "(no Mareilon, but I gotta do stuff on the weekends some of the time)"

Alison says, "Fair enough."

Tyoka says, "rowr"

Alison says, "BTW, there is a Sunday some time in July when I won't be able to make it."

[nobilis] Stella says, "Oh, right, a life! I get it. ;-)"

Alison says, "21st, I think."

GM asks, "hmm, is that the next off-week?"

Alison says, "(Or might make it and have to leave early)"

Alison says, "Not sure, but I thought I should mention it now."

GM says, "no, I guess it's the 27th that's off"

GM says, "ah well"

[nobilis] Stella says, "We won't be here the weekend of the 15; my folks will be here."

GM says, "Chaz will have to take over the being-chirpy duties"

Chaz laughs.

GM says, "right-o, see you guys then"

GM has disconnected.

Tyoka has disconnected.

Davey says, "thanks all"

Davey goes home.

Stella waves.

[nobilis] Gunther says (to inky), "thanks!"

Alison waves to the passing powers.

[nobilis] Alison says, "Yeah, yay for inkies! Both kinds."

[nobilis] inky says, "hee hee"

[nobilis] inky says, "you bet"