Lester backs off from the chair, to instead bump into and almost knock over a small end table.
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "now I've changed my @desc"
Lester quickly catches the delicate lamp that was on the table before it falls onto the floor, standing it upright.
SirBenjamin says (to Lester), "dear me, you do appear to be somewhat clumsy."
Hollyhock says, "Okay, all ready"
Lester then carefully extricates his left ankle from the lamps cord, before smiling weakly at Benjamin.
SirBenjamin offers his hipflask to Lester.  "A drop, to steady your nerves?"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "This makes me glad I decided not to play clumsy"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "your @desc is so disconcerting"
Lester says (to Benjamin), "uh, thank you, but I, er, don't... I've never really... you know."
[Crows-Nest] Lester says (to Ben), "Hee."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "but on the inside I am a YOUNG FEMALE PHYSICIST DAMMIT"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "heehee"
SirBenjamin pulls out a grotesquely-carved pipe, and carefully stuffs it with tobacco.
SirBenjamin lights it with a similarly-grotesque lighter, and takes a pull on the pipe.
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "FEAR my props"
Ultra says, "Were you not a noble, I would point out that smoking is dangerous to your health."
Ultra points dramatically in the air. "Although we may be impervious to such dangers, it is our responsibility to set a good example for the mortals, lest they fall into harm!"
SirBenjamin winks at Ultra.  "My dear, nothing could be more perilous to my health than your beauty"
Ultra looks at Benjamin, slightly confused.
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "hey, I'll flirt with anyone"
[Crows-Nest] Iain says, "Now I want to put Benjamin and Armande in a room together and wait for the universe to esplode."
[Crows-Nest] Kat laughs.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "you know you're disconcertingly attractive, for a male."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "This is seriously going to cut into my clubbing hours."
SirBenjamin sips his sherry.
Ultra says (to Benjamin), "Thank you, sir. I acknowledge your spirit of gentlemanly comradery, and reciprocate!" He gently punches Benjamin in the upper arm, to demonstrate the clean, healthy sort of gentlemanly comradery he refers to.
[Crows-Nest] Kat asks, "So I know Benjamin is Innuendo; I'm Gravity. Who're the others?"
SirBenjamin grins letcherously at Ultra, just to keep him off-balance.
[Crows-Nest] Iain says, "This is like the long slow introduction to a Nobilis porn video."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "yie"
Hollyhock says (to Kat), "after a little time travelling, you reach the borders of Locus Animus"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "oh dear, we appear to have female company."
Kat asks, "Hi?"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "I can't take that kind of excitement more than once a week, you realise"
Hollyhock says (to Kat), "you are at the doors of what appears to be an immense gentleman's club on top of a mountain"
Ultra exclaims (at Benjamin), "Not to worry, I shall to the perimeter with all haste!"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "oh yeah, our club is IMMENSE"
Kat knocks on the doors.
Ultra poses, leaps into the air, and flies towards the door -- arms stretched outward before him.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "I'd better come with you, just to keep an, er, eye on you."
(From Ultra) (FX: Whoooosh!)
SirBenjamin mutters to himself, "show-off"
Doorkeeper says (to Kat), "I'm sorry, madam, no women are allo- oh, good day, Mr. Ultra, sir"
Ultra sets down by the gates. "Aha!"
SirBenjamin walks the four metres, and turns up just behind Ultra.
Ultra exclaims (at Doorkeeper), "Greetings, citizen! What event has taken place here!"
Kat asks (of Ultra), "Hi! Are you the Power of Wounding?"
Doorkeeper says (to Ultra), "A *sniff* lady has come calling, sir"
Kat says, "No, unless you mean to wound someone, you look too heroic."
Ultra suddenly sees Kat, gasps, and re-strikes his pose to present a better angle to her.
Doorkeeper says, "she is quite aggravating my hayfever. I will allow you to deal with this impudence"
SirBenjamin takes Kat's hand, bows low, and kisses it.  "Introductions first, dear lady."
SirBenjamin asks (of Kat), "would you care to share your name with us?"
Kat says, "Of course! Sorry, sorry, still new to being a nobilis messanger."
Kat says, "I'm Kathleen Guntersson, <mumble> of Gravity"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin asks, "Guntersson?"
Ultra exclaims, "Welcome, good visitor!"
[Crows-Nest] Ultra asks, "She's in drag?"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "Scandanavian last names got mangled something awful in America"
Ultra asks, "What brings a fair maiden to our distant and heavily guarded citadel?"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "charmed to make your acquaintance.  I am Sir Benjamin Dover, Duke of Innuendo."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says (to Benjamin), "you are *evil*"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "and my overly excited friend here is Ultra..."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "since I now spit some coke on the monitor"
Ultra nods, "*Duke* Ultra."
Kat exclaims, "Hi!"
SirBenjamin hisses (to Ultra), "and your realm, foolish boy"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "mission accomplished!"
Kat asks (of Ultra), "I'm on errand duty for my chancel. Is the power of wounding around?"
Ultra says (to Benjamin), "Why, you know that my realm is that of superpowers!" He leans in conspiratorily. "Is this a test, to ensure that I am indeed myself, and not replaced by a dire and evil clone?""
Kat glances around, seeing only Ultra, Benjamin, and the sneezing doorman.
Ultra says, "I am never met this Power of Wounding you speak of."
Kat says, "You know, I bet my hemp cap is making him sneeze."
SirBenjamin whispers (to Ultra), "No, just a reminder of manners... oh, never mind".  He grins at Ultra letcherously.  "You're still charming, mannerless as you are"
Kat takes her cap off and holds it behind her.
Kat says, "Huh."
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "I am afraid, dear lady, that I know not of this power of wounding either.  And I know _everyone_ worth knowing."
Ultra asks (of Kat), "Do you seek this power to ensure justice is served over some wound that has been wrongly forced upon you?"
Kat mutters, "Locus Animus...Unseen Regal..."
Kat says, "Oh! Maybe I misunderstood."
Kat asks, "Are you looking for the Unseen Regal?"
SirBenjamin says, "why, indeed we are"
SirBenjamin says, "he who goes by the name of Jerome"
Kat says, "Okay, now I think I understood what Langford meant."
Kat says, "I think the Power of Wounding knows where the Unseen Regal is."
SirBenjamin asks, "and who would this Power of Wounding be?"
Ultra says, "Then perhaps we need to ally with this Wounding, if he is true and goodly."
Kat shrugs. "I'm just the messenger, and all I get are cryptic messages."
SirBenjamin asks, "would you happen to have a name?"
Ultra says, "This could be the doing of The Cryptron..."
SirBenjamin says, "no, I suppose you probably wouldn't."
Kat exclaims (at SirBenjamin), "Oh, sorry, I thought I'd said. I'm Kat!"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "ha"
Ultra says, "Greetings, Miss Kat."
SirBenjamin smiles at Kat.  "Indeed."  He pats her hand in an absentminded fashion.
Kat exclaims, "Oh, I think I know where he may be!"
Ultra exclaims, "Aha!"
Kat says, "Didinga Hills."
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "well, old boy, I do declare we have ourselves a mission, and some charming (if slightly simple) company."
Kat asks, "Does that sound familiar?"
Ultra exclaims, "Not at all! Let us go!"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "yay"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "whoa, boy."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "I am going to have so much crosstalk with the other game"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "since I was going to suggest that we research the location in the chancel"
Ultra exclaims (at Benjamin), "Evil waits for no one!"
SirBenjamin asks, "I suggest we find out where it is before we go galloping off like stags in rutting season, what say?"
Iain disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
Kat says (to Ultra), "Have you ever seen that TV show The Tick? You remind me of him, a little."
Ultra says (to Benjamin), "Your suggestion, although time-consuming, may yet be wise."
SirBenjamin says, "I do believe we may even have an atlas here"
Ultra exclaims (at Kat), "I have a complete collectio-- I mean, why no! But I am certain he must be a fine fellow!"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "would you deign to wait outside for us?  I'm afraid the gatekeeper would get terribly upset if you came in"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "(AFK a moment)"
Doorkeeper sniffs disapprovingly
SirBenjamin says, "unless it was a thursday, of course"
Kat says (to Benjamin), "Uh, sure, I guess."
SirBenjamin says, "and even then you'd need to present your tassels at the door"
Kat asks, "Tassels?"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "I assure you, dear lady, you do not with for me to elucidate"
[nobilis] Kat says, "I am pleased"
SirBenjamin says, "er, wish for me"
Hollyhock says, "Benjamin returns shortly with an atlas"
[nobilis] Kat says, "that we have the Duke of Innuendo and me, the slightly clueless one"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I try my hardest, as always"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin winks meaningfully
Hollyhock says, "within which you quickly locate the Didinga Hills - towards the east end of the Sudanese-Ugandan border"
SirBenjamin says, "well, then, let us consult the index for this Didinga Hills"
SirBenjamin says, "and there it is"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "(Back.)"
Ultra asks, "Are we off now?"
Kat says, "Uganda? That could be interesting."
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "not quite yet, but soon"
Kat says, "I mean, if they're still embroiled in that whole Republic of Congo thing."
Ultra sighs slightly.
SirBenjamin says, "oh dear.  war is so distasteful"
Ultra practices flexing, meanwhile. In view of Kat, if possible.
SirBenjamin says ruminatively, "full of men with big guns pumping their lead into each other..."
Kat exclaims, "It's not in Uganda, really. They're just supporting the rebels in the Republic of Congo. I'm sure we'll be fine!"
Doorkeeper says, "I have always considered war the highest test of manliness *sniff*"
SirBenjamin says (to doorkeeper), "well, I dare say it is fine for such manly specimens as youself"
Kat asks, "Do, um, you have an airplane?"
Ultra says, "If there is a war, we must protect the oppressed."
Hollyhock says (to Kat), "glancing at the atlas, you notice that Congo is on the opposite side of Uganda to the Sudan"
Ultra asks, "Are there oppressed there?"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "d'you know, I think I prefer you out of costume."
SirBenjamin winks at Ultra.
Kat says, "Oh, that's right. Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo share a border. I hope Didinga Hills isn't close to where those two meet Uganda."
SirBenjamin says, "I suspect it is."
Hollyhock says (to Kat), "it's closer to the Kenyan border"
Kat looks at the atlas and memorizes the layout of everything.
SirBenjamin says, "due to us looking for the Power of Wounding, and all"
Kat exclaims, "Well, I'm ready to go!"
Ultra exclaims (at Benjamin), "Good is never off duty!"
Kat puts her cap back on at a jaunty angle.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "well, we can get near it.  then either you prove your strength by flying us there in your arms, or we charter a plane.  your call."
Hollyhock says, "where are you heading to first? going straight to the hills probably won't be practical"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I can afford a plane."
[Crows-Nest] Kat exclaims, "I bet you can!"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "but teasing Ultra is more fun"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I could probably _become_ a plane."
SirBenjamin says (to HollyHock), "well, nearby."
Ultra gets a shifty look in his eye, which he apaprently intends to mean 'strategic'. "Should we remain unseen until we arrive, lest Evil be forewarned of our trip?"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "well, a jumbo jet"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I was thinking a pink concorde."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "be sure there's room for your ego"
Ultra asks, "Or would it be better to intimindate the wrongdoers with a show of power?"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "with a purple tip."
Ultra puffs up his chest.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "the former, I think."
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "You can store your ego just behind the reservoir tip, yeah."
Ultra says, "Ah. Very well then..."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "(I am enjoying playing a character with no morals and mucho ego)"
SirBenjamin says, "I say we go to somewhere nearby"
SirBenjamin says, "From thence we'll be able to find a way nearer."
Ultra says, meaningfully, "Then I shall send along a friend of mine, on the plane. I will travel there by my own means." He waggles his eyebrows a few times, to ensure that the point gets across to Benjamin, without it being conveyed to Kat.
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "chances are you'll have to fly into a capital and proceed from there"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "no problem"
[nobilis] Kat says, "Yay, we can land at one of the four paved airstrips"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I can become most forms of transport, I reckon"
Kat says (to Ultra), "I think you may have something on your eyebrows. They're wiggling. Hang on."
Kat wipes Ultra's eyebrows with a spit-moistened rag.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "ah, fine.  I would welcome your friend."
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "Kampala is marginally closer, but Nairobi is a lot more politically stable"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "Nairobi, then"
Ultra says, "Er. Thank you, Miss Kat. I agree that good grooming is of utmost importance to a proper demeanor."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I do not wish to be blown up"
Kat smiles and puts the rag away.
[nobilis] Kat asks, "Wait, the Duke of Innuendo doesn't want to be blown up?"
Ultra looks both ways, then dashes off down a side corridor. "I shall meet you in Uganda! Godspeed!"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "ta-ta."
Kat exclaims (at Ultra), "Oh! Bye!"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "if there's any blowing to be done, _he'll_ do it"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "as it were"
Lester peeks out of a doorway. "Uh. Er. Hello."
Hollyhock says (to Benjamin,Kat), "You proceed to Nairobi, and reach it in a couple of days walking to get to earth, and then a plane flight"
SirBenjamin enjoys the frisking at customs.
Kat says, "Wow! I think those were the frendliest customs officers I've ever met."
Hollyhock asks, "once there, how are you going to travel?"
Kat adjusts her shirt and pants, which have somehow gone awry.
Lester sits in the back of the plane, never actually offering a satisfactory explanation for why he's there, but generally staying out of the way.
SirBenjamin grins at the customs men, to whom he slipped some cash to frisk Kat.
SirBenjamin tranforms himself into a luxury stretched limousine
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "continuing the pink and purple theme, naturally."
Kat says (to Benjamin), "You can change shape? That's neat."
Lester asks, "Er. Should we, uh. Get in?"
Hollyhock says, "it's about four hundred miles to the border, and you go, appropriately enough, like the clap"
SirBenjamin says, "Help yourselves to the minibar."
[nobilis] Kat says, "Benjamin's outlook infects us all."
Kat takes a tonic water.
Lester asks, "This, I. Uh. Wonder if its the, er, the most appropriate... mode of transportation... in this, this sort of place?"
Hollyhock says, "on the way you get extremely dusty and suffer five seperate blowouts"
SirBenjamin asks, "nobody is going to pop my champagne cork?"
Lester checks the minibar for milk.
Hollyhock says, "and many small children chase you for miles when the road gets too bad to drive at above four miles an hour"
SirBenjamin says (to Lester), "well, you want to travel otherwise, you provide the transportation"
Kat says, "Funny that tonic water has quinine, but not enough to protect against malaria."
Lester says, "Oh! Er, uh, *me*, miss, uh, miss... miss? I don't really... I mean. I have a bicycle. But it's in Milwaukee. Um."
Hollyhock says, "on the evening of the second day of travel, you see a roadblock up ahead; four or five young men in combat fatigues are lounging around it, covered in ammunition and toting AKs"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin asks, "'Miss'?"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "it's the pink scheme throwing Lester off"
[Crows-Nest] Lester says, "Whoops, read that as from Kat."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I might be a stately old queen, but still"
Kat says, "Wow, a roadblock. I've read about these."
Kat says, "Good thing we sprechen sie lingo."
Hollyhock says, "they flag you down, rather unnecessarily since they have a large pole covered in barbed wire across the road"
SirBenjamin says, "Oh dear.  I do not suspect we'll get through without being stopped, however""
SirBenjamin purrs to a halt.
Soldier asks, "Sirs?"
Lester asks, "Are these the, er, local police force?"
Lester says (to Soldier), "uh, hello."
Kat murmurs to Lester, "Um, you maybe should talk with them. I don't know that culturally they're ready for a forward Western woman like me."
[nobilis] Lester asks, "Who's driving?"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "well, er"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I am"
[nobilis] Lester says, "Please don't say it's Benjamin."
[nobilis] Soldier says, "take your pick"
[nobilis] Lester asks, "It's... Benjamin's... manservant?"
[nobilis] Lester asks, "His travelling companion?"
[nobilis] Soldier says, "benjamin's the car. I imagine he'd never let a woman take the wheel, IYKWIM"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "you'se gots yerself one o' them fancy newfangled automatic cars"
[nobilis] Soldier says, "so, lester is"
Lester asks (of Soldier), "Were we doing, I mean, did we exceed the, er, speed limit?"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says (to Lester), "by which I assume you are sitting in the front seat looking bewildered and not actually doing much."
Soldier says, "You cannot take this road. Too dangerous. There is, is the CIJ activity up in hills. Very dangerous."
[nobilis] Lester says (to Benjamin), "And making sure not to spill milk on the nice upholstery."
Soldier says, "Very bad for tourists. If you get caught-"
Lester asks, "What is the C I J?"
Soldier makes an expressive shooting gesture with his two fingers
Kat frowns. "The international court of justice?"
Lester nods slowly. "The... bad guys?"
SirBenjamin's voice emanates from the speaker by Kat's head, "Hmm.  It occurs to me that were you to proclaim youself visiting royalty, they might let you through.  Try and look like the kind of person who'd own this car."
Soldier says (to Lester), "Congregation of Infant Jesus, sirs. LRA splinter faction. Ugandan rebels; very very bad."
[nobilis] Lester asks, "Is the terrain all wide open and clear, or are there hills and thick scrub and stuff around?"
Lester asks, "L R A?"
[nobilis] Soldier says, "it's scrubby, but the hills aren't too bad here"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "good call, I was assuming the former"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin asks, "so we nod politely and drive away and pull off and hike in?"
Soldier says (to Lester), "Lord's Resistance Army. Very dangerous. Raid schools, massacre villages. Not good Christians."
[nobilis] Lester says, "If it's possible to back up the limo and pull around someplace where we can hide, we could all Guise."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "mmmhmm"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "sounds good to me"
[nobilis] Soldier says, "the road curves after about half a mile"
Lester frowns. "That sounds very bad."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "so excuse us and let us hie into the hills"
Lester asks, "Should we go back, then?"
Soldier says, "Turn around now, sirs. We cannot protect you if you go further."
Kat whispers loudly, "aybe-may e-way ould-shay o-gay ack-bay"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "okay, let's go back"
Soldier says, "Do you have -"
Lester nods, "Thank you. We will now."
Soldier makes smoking action with his fingers
Lester exclaims, "Not me, sir! Smoking is very bad for you!"
SirBenjamin murmurs from the speaker, "There's some tobacco in the cabinet behind the driver's seat"
Soldier grins widely and throws up his hand. "Americans."
Lester coughs involuntarily, and almost has to loosen his bow tie.
Kat looks behind the driver's seat. "Oh! Yeah, we've got some."
Lester says, "Oh. Er. Maybe we do."
Soldier says, "Thank you very much. Now go back and don't get killed."
SirBenjamin says, "(it's pipe tobacco, but ennh)"
Lester says, "OK." He nods again.
Hollyhock says, "okay, you back up until you're out of sight"
SirBenjamin reverses gently back, executes a neat three-point turn, and purrs away
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "y'all have Aspect of 2 or more, so guise is free"
Lester asks (of Benjamin), "Can we hide the limo -- I mean, can we hide you -- I mean, can we hide some palce behind the hills?"
SirBenjamin says, "I would suggest that you get out before I change back, but I won't object too much if you don't"
Lester climbs out. "I, er... I think I should stay here."
(From SirBenjamin) One of Sir Benjamin's headlamps flicks off, then back on
Kat hops out.
[nobilis] Kat says, "afk for a sec"
Lester says, "I'll -- I'll be *safer* if I, um, go hide behind those bushes. And stay there. While you go on."
SirBenjamin transforms back into his normal form.  "Ah, much better"
Lester goes over behind said bushes, out of sight.
Kat exclaims (at Benjamin), "Your seats were so smooth!"
SirBenjamin says, "hmm, it is warm here.  Perhaps I should have worn the white linen and the panama hat."
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "as was yours, dear lady."
Kat asks, "Oh?"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "you were sitting on me.  I could hardly fail to notice the exquisite smoothness of your skin."
Kat exclaims, "Oh!"
Kat blushes slightly.
Ultra comes out from behind the hill, just off the ground -- setting down neatly beside you.
Ultra exclaims, "Ah, so you are here as well!"
SirBenjamin says, "Aha, and here is Ultra."
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock sits back and sips his daiquiri
Ultra asks, "I trust your journey was safe and uneventful?"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "these PCs kick ass together, by the way"
SirBenjamin says, "Yes.  You missed your chance to ride inside me, sadly - that would have been an experience I would have treasured."
Kat exclaims, "oh! Hi!"
Kat asks, "Er, where did Lester go?"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "heh"
Ultra says (to Kat), "I saw him passing the other way -- so I quickly flew him to someplace where he would be safe."
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "Lester is prone to vanishing for no readily apparent reason, I am afraid. He'll return at some point, I have no doubt."
Kat says, "Oh, okay."
[nobilis] Hollyhock asks, "so, you're guising and heading on... on foot?"
Ultra says, "It would not do to let a civilian come to danger in a place like this -- andon that matter, I should inform you that I noticed a group of armed guards by the road up ahead."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "yeah, on foot"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "We, in fact, already encountered them.  Lester handled the situation admirably, I thought."
Ultra says, "I suspect they may be there to keep people from wandering into the range of a local millitant rebel gr-- aha."
Hollyhock says, "you walk through the hills for a while, skirting the roadblock comfortably"
SirBenjamin says, "So, we thought we would head in, incognito, as pedestrians, and in the garb of the locals"
Ultra nods, "A wise decision."
Hollyhock says, "it's probably a good thing that you were forced to leave the car when you did - the roads get terrible here"
Ultra exclaims, "The local government has been remiss in its civic duty to provide suitable roadways to the local populace!"
SirBenjamin stops at one point, transforms back into the limo, and requests that the others get some water and so on from the minibar before they continue.
Hollyhock says, "if you weren't high-aspect nobilis, you'd be dehydrated and make very poor ground, but as it is you tear up territory"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "timing"
Hollyhock says, "(benjamin a little at the rear, though you can't tell if that's because he's tired or because the view's better)"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I prefer the rear, darlings"
Hollyhock says, "by evening, you find yourselves approaching a village; or, possibly, a ruin"
Ultra exclaims, "What vandal has caused such damage!"
SirBenjamin says, "I think it may be a good idea to examine the world through mythic sight around now."
Hollyhock says, "a sign in Swahili announces a minefield, and you can see no signs of activity"
Hollyhock says (to Benjamin), "in mythic vision, the village is a collection of skeletons and half-dead buildings, and the earth is full of gigantic ant-lions"
SirBenjamin asks, "any people around?"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "Lesser creation of X-Ray vision, to look through the buildings and rubble for anyone trapped or in danger."
Hollyhock says, "you can identify a few people scattered about, very faintly"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "oh, my"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "that is one funky domain"
SirBenjamin says, "Hmm, let's go find people."
Ultra scans the village, taking care not to look directly at Kat or (especially) Benjamin in the process.
Hollyhock says (to Ultra), "there are a few corpses, but your heroic nature is more quickly alerted to an old woman cowering in a rondavel"
Ultra exclaims, "There, in the rondavel!"
Ultra rushes off.
SirBenjamin amuses himself by gesturing obscenely at Ultra while he isn't looking.
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "What's a rondavel?"
[nobilis] OldWoman says, "circular mud hut with thatched roof"
SirBenjamin asks, "Ah, heroism, so energetic.  Shall we follow?"
Kat exclaims, "Sure!"
Ultra rushes in. "I am here, dear lady! Are you endangered?"
OldWoman exclaims, "Aaagh!"
OldWoman says, "Don't kill me! I am old and ugly"
Ultra spins around. "What is it? Where is your assailant who has frightened you so?"
SirBenjamin arrives behind Ultra.
OldWoman wails at great length
Kat follows Benjamin.
SirBenjamin says (to OldWoman), "calm down, dear lady.  A woman of your beauty should not be so distraught."
Kat says (to OldWoman), "There, there. I know they're scary sometimes. It's okay."
Ultra says, "No, do not fear him! It is only Sir Benjamin, who would harm none, and is an ally to myself."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "you're both mean"
OldWoman blinks
OldWoman says, "you must go quickly before they come back"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I am a charming and inoffensive old dear"
[Crows-Nest] Ultra asks, "Well, he spun around to look for the danger, and who was... er, coming up behind at the time?"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "danger to your rear is not the same as danger to the old woma"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "=n"
SirBenjamin asks (of OldWoman), "Who, dear lady?"
OldWoman says, "they were chasing Ugandans. they are immune to bullets"
SirBenjamin asks (of OldWoman), "and they are?  locals?  foreigners?  men?  women?"
Ultra says, "Aha -- but worry not, they will not harm you while we are here."
OldWoman says, "they take everything, so everyone ran away before they arrived. but they got here as they were leaving"
OldWoman says (to Benjamin), "CIJ"
SirBenjamin says (to OldWoman), "aha, I have heard of them.   You have my sympathy."
OldWoman wails some more
Ultra exclaims, "Those villains -- I deduce that they must have been the ones the soldiers at the roadblock warned against!"
SirBenjamin offers some brandy from his hipflask to the Old Woman.
Ultra says, "Come, let us take this kindly woman to safety, and then we can proceed to center of the dark shadow on this land."
OldWoman says, "they are gone, but they are close by, you must go"
SirBenjamin murmurs (to Ultra), "_you_ weren't there, dear boy"
OldWoman splutters and coughs at the brandy
OldWoman exclaims, "I am not leaving! They left mines!"
Ultra murmers to Benjamin. "I deduced -- I can deduce, right? It's credible, isn't it? If not, I could try to surmise, instead... or hypothesize, you think?"
Kat asks, "Mines?"
Kat exclaims, "How horrid!"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "I don't think Kat noticed, you'll be fine."
Ultra exclaims, "No! Not those made-up spectres of pale faces and striped clothing!"
SirBenjamin says (to OldWoman), "Ultra here can probably fly you out above the mines."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says (to ultra), "ha"
Kat asks (of Benjamin), "Notices?"
Kat asks (of Benjamin), "Noticed what?"
OldWoman asks (of Ultra), "Is he retarded?"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "the fine carvings on this cane of mine, here, look"
SirBenjamin asks (of OldWoman), "you wish to stay here?"
Ultra exclaims, "Acting out their grotesque parodies of reality! Feigning entrapment in invisible boxes, only to leap out and bind either enemies with invisible ropes!"
Kat says, "That is a rather impressively-knobbled cane you have."
Ultra shudders. "Worry not, kindly mother. We saw none of them lurking in the village beyond."
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "Also, dear boy, you appear to have mines and mimes confused again."
Ultra says (to Benjamin), "What? Oh, *mines*? I can fly over *mines*."
Kat says (to OldWoman), "It's okay. Ultra can protect you. He seems to be very good at that sort of thing."
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "an easy mistake to make, however, especially for one so amply underendowed with intelligence."
Kat says (to Benjamin), "Wow, that's mean. Just because he's not observant about everything doesn't mean we need to pick on him."
[Crows-Nest] OldWoman says, "I marvel at how inky manages to keep *eight* of us under control"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "I regard his innocence as a gift, dear lady,"
OldWoman exclaims, "Go away!"
Ultra exclaims (at Woman), "Yes! We will take you away from here!"
Kat says, "Hold on a second."
Kat steps outside and switches to mythic.
SirBenjamin says (to OldWoman), "hmm."
Kat asks (of ground), "Do you have mines in you?"
SirBenjamin asks (of OldWoman), "do you wish to stay here?  in this village, with the mines around you?"
OldWoman says (to Kat), "from the ground, a swarming host of ant-lions growl quietly at you"
[nobilis] Ultra says (to Kat), "We're not going to forgive you if it tries to nod."
[nobilis] Kat laughs.
OldWoman wails
[nobilis] Kat says, "Besides, you can fly."
SirBenjamin asks (of OldWoman), "or would you prefer us to remove you to a safe locale?"
Ultra steps forward to pick up the old woman in his arms.
OldWoman exclaims, "I am not going out there to die- eeek!"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "also, Benjamin appears to be ina snarky mode."
Ultra exclaims (at Woman), "Please, it is not safe here!"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I think he needs his medication.  Or at least his nurse."
OldWoman says (to Ultra), "which village are you from? you have very good skin"
Ultra exclaims, "I am from the village of Milwaukee!"
OldWoman says, "oh."
Kat switches back to normal. She leans down, puts her ear against the ground, and thumps it, then listens to the echoes for the sound of ringing metal.
Ultra, if she lets him, picks up the old woman and then lifts several feet off the ground.
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "nicely done."
[nobilis] OldWoman says (to Kat), "fwiw, you can pinpoint the location of the mines pretty easily in mythic"
OldWoman faints
[nobilis] Kat says, "Oh? Nifty."
SirBenjamin says, "hmm, that should make her easier to handle, at least"
[nobilis] Kat says, "This is all going to become moot very quickly, but Kat has become entranced by the idea of echolocation."
Ultra says, "There, yes, relax..."
Ultra tries to figure out where is a safe place to bring her. Did we see any red cross markers on the way here?
Hollyhock says, "oddly enough, not"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "we flew into Nairobi, which seemed safe enough."
Ultra exclaims, "To Nairobi, then! I shall return momentarily!"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "here", he fumbles in his pockets, "give her this money, too"
Ultra exclaims (at Benjamin), "Aha!"
SirBenjamin says, "I would not leave anyone penniless in the streets of an unknown city."
[nobilis] Hollyhock asks, "dear god. this woman hasn't been further than ten miles from this village in her life and you're taking her four hundred?"
Ultra takes it and flies off in the general direction of Nairobi, to set her up in a nice clinic, hotel, or other suitably cleana nd safe place.
Kat exclaims (at Benjamin), "Listen! You can hear the mines echo back to you. They shift the sound waves out of phase by ten to seventeen degrees!"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "Well, everyplace ten minutes from this village is rigged with land mines."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "hey, she's got money."
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "okay, fair enough"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "Not to mention that everyone else from this village just got gunned down. EIther that, or fled in panic, and is who-knows-where."
Kat exclaims, "This information could help people find mines!"
Kat's face falls. "Oh, but I guess they'd need a nobilis to make it work."
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "this would be a problem, unless you wish to devote yourself to the task."
Kat stands back up and dusts off her cords. "No, I'll file this in my 'ideas for later' drawer."
Hollyhock asks, "you doing anything while ultra's gone?"
SirBenjamin says, "Well, let's try and talk to someone else."
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "Did Kat say what her domain was?"
Kat says, "That sounds good."
[nobilis] Kat says, "gravity"
SirBenjamin switches to mythic, looks for signs of human life.
Hollyhock says, "you don't spot much more- oh, wait"
Hollyhock says, "there's a man just at the edges of the village, squatting by the road and smoking a roll-up"
Hollyhock says, "in mythic he looks like a fat warty troll with oversized genitals"
SirBenjamin says, "I suggest we make our way carefully over there"
Kat gently steps around any possible mines, hoping her birks won't get too dirty.
SirBenjamin says, "Ahoy there, fine gentleman"
Hollyhock says, "on seeing you, he stands up, pauses for a second and, not recognising you, fires at you with an assault rifle"
Kat says, "Oh, crap."
[nobilis] Kat asks, "Can Benjamin avoid the bullets?"
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "his aim's pretty shitty but it's hard to miss with automatic fire"
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "aspect 3 to hit the deck"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I'm aspect 2, and durant.  I can probably shrug it off, but I'd rather avoid."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin asks, "how much would it damage me?"
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "deadly wound"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I spend an AMP, and avoid bullet, then"
[nobilis] Kat says, "I'm jumping over the spray, then, and towards him. Flight boost if necessary."
Hollyhock says, "Benjamin hurls himself to the floor like a true hero, leaving the woman to fight for him"
Hollyhock says, "as you lift off the man screams, drops his gun and runs off down the road"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "hey, she's several decades younger than me"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "she can fend for herself"
Kat says, "Hang on! We just wanted to -- crud."
SirBenjamin asks, "Time to give chase?"
Kat is already running after him, shouting, "Sir? Sir?!?"
Hollyhock asks, "yeah, you're an olympic sprinter, remember?"
Hollyhock says (to Kori), "okay, you catch him with no effort at all"
Hollyhock says, "he still tries to keep running"
SirBenjamin also runs
[Crows-Nest] Kat says (to Hollyhock), "Wrong young female."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "ha"
Kat asks (of Running Man), "I just wanted to talk to you! Please?"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I didn't notice that"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "but I've been fighting not to write 'Kiz', so"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock asks, "hunh? did I miss something?"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "you called me Kori"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "oh, duh"
[Crows-Nest] Kat says, "in which case running in this kimono is hell"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "I doubt she wears it all the time. or indeed anywhere except my fevered imagination"
Hollyhock says, "he turns around and pulls out a knife. "Don't come any closer, witch!""
Hollyhock exclaims, "I am immune to bullets and to black magic!"
SirBenjamin sighs.  "Now look, we just want to ask you a few questions"
Hollyhock says, ""What?""
Kat pulls up short.
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "you had the questions, dear lady."
Kat says, "Oh! Right."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "I must AFK temporarily."
Kat says, "We're looking for an, um, well, this guy."
Hollyhock says, ""I will not betray my brothers in God!""
Kat says, "No, no, right, no betraying God brothers, I understand."
Kat smiles beguilingly. "We're looking for someone who is...more than a normal person."
Hollyhock looks Kat up and down
Hollyhock says, ""I do not know what you mean.""
Kat says, "Well, hm."
Kat says, "There is this person who calls himself the 'power of wounding'"
Hollyhock says, ""No!""
Kat asks, "No?"
Hollyhock says, "He lunges at you with the knife"
Kat dodges, not superhumanly or anything, just enough so he misses.
Kat asks, "So you know him?"
Hollyhock says, "He says nothing, but just looks at you wide-eyed from behind a trembling knife"
SirBenjamin steps forward
Hollyhock says, ""He said if anyone called him that to-""
Kat holds her hands up again, gently. "We just need to ask him a question or two."
Hollyhock starts screaming, loudly and repeatedly, and falls to his knees
SirBenjamin says, "Oh dear."
Kat sighs and turns up Glorious to full blast.
[nobilis] Ultra says, "Y'know, it always spells trouble when the Hollyhock god starts gibbering."
Hollyhock says, "it would appear that that flying business has unhinged him a little"
Kat says (to man), "Stand up."
Hollyhock continues screaming
SirBenjamin hauls to man up to a standing position, and gently wrestles the knife from his grip.
Hollyhock says, "He doesn't resist."
SirBenjamin inspects the man with the sight.
Hollyhock says (to Benjamin), "he's just a normal human"
Kat says (to man), "Shh. Shh. You have performed your duties well. You have done all your lord asks of you."
SirBenjamin says (to Man), "please, calm down.  We are not going to hurt you, but we would value your co-operation."
Kat says (to man), "But we are messengers sent to find your lord."
Hollyhock says, ""He is not God! He is a slave, but they all listen to him""
Hollyhock says, ""and now they will cut off my balls or you will destroy my soul""
Kat says, "Oh, pshaw. I have no interest in your soul."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "I am tempted by the ball-shopping, though"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "er, chopping"
Hollyhock says, "He's breathing fast and shallowly now: if you're any judge he's in severe shock"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "damned freudian slips"
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "I'll have three regular and one extra hairy, please"
SirBenjamin says, "I don't think we're going to get much more out of him"
SirBenjamin says (to Kat), "also, you're creeping me out"
Kat says, "Oh? Oh! Right, sorry."
Kat dims back down.
Kat takes the man and stretches him out, elevating his feet slightly.
Hollyhock shudders rather a lot
SirBenjamin says, "Ah, I always enjoy seeing a girl take charge of a man like that"
Kat says, "Can I have your jacket? I need to keep him warm."
(From Ultra) Fwush.
SirBenjamin says, "Good idea, here."
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "ah, you've returned."
Ultra says, "The dear lady will be safe now. She is far, far from the mimes."
Ultra says, "And the mines. The mines. Right."
SirBenjamin says, "Now all we have to contend with is this poor lad."
Hollyhock says, "It's very dark by now, and getting cold"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "and I am thinking of calling it a night"
Ultra asks (of Benjamin), "Is he an innocent victim of the evil ones?"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "due to my inability to keep my eyes open"
Kat says, "We, uh, might have scared him a little."
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "a little more and we'll reach an appropriate break point"
SirBenjamin says (to ultra), "he is a victim, but not innocent, i fear"
Kat says, "But he knows about the Power of Wounding. Said he was a slave but everyone was listening to him."
Ultra asks, "Hrm. Did you tell him to do no more evil deeds, and to pursue the good fight?"
SirBenjamin says, "I would assume that finding the headquarters of this group would lead us to our quarry"
SirBenjamin says (to Ultra), "we, sadly, did not have time before he went into shock"
Ultra says (to Benjamin), "Ah, I may be of some help in that."
Kat says (to Ultra), "Really? That'd be nifty."
Ultra says, "On my way here, I saw lights up the road here. And movement, as well." He points. "It may be this C-I-J that we seek."
Kat says, "We should get this guy indoors."
SirBenjamin says, "This gentleman I would gladly leave here, but perhaps we can leave him by the HQ and they'll take care of him"
Ultra asks (of Kat), "There are the buildings in the village, but can he safely traverse the mine fields without us?"
Kat asks, "He's part of the group putting down the mines, right?"
SirBenjamin says, "yes, though that doesn't mean he knows where they all are"
Kat says, "If he's part of putting down mines, he can be part of finding his way through them."
Kat scoops him up and flies back to the village, looking grim.
SirBenjamin says, "well, when she returns, I suggest we make a little trip to see this CIJ place"
Ultra says, "Indeed."
Hollyhock says, "Ultra guides you down the road for a couple of miles"
Kat returns.
Ultra exclaims, "This way!"
Hollyhock says, "you reach another village, tucked between two steep hills. there are a lot of burnt-out fireplaces, but one big fire still burning, that you can see from a distance"
Kat follows gamely along.
SirBenjamin follows Ultra, fanning himself with his handkerchief.
Hollyhock says, "it's in front of a concrete building with a corrugated-iron roof and rusted-over signs"
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "Anyone visible around?"
Hollyhock says, "in front of which four men are sitting, all with rifles"
SirBenjamin says, "attractive little place"
Hollyhock says, "they seem fairly relaxed, though - they're passing around a joint, chatting quietly"
Hollyhock says, "you see evidence that there are a lot of other people in the surrounding buildings, though"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin asks, "is this a break point?"
Hollyhock says, "a few vehicles, remains of food"
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "not yet"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, slowly keeling onto the keyboard
[nobilis] Hollyhock says, "sorry. move fast"
Ultra scans around with the X-ray vision again.
Kat asks (of Ultra), "What are you staring at?"
SirBenjamin guises as one of the men at the fire, and strolls into a promising-looking building.
Hollyhock says (to Ultra), "X-ray goes nicely through mud huts, but not so well through concrete."
Hollyhock says, "the huts are mostly full of sleeping men - maybe seventy all told"
Ultra accidentally looks when Kat talks to him, then quickly looks away when he realizes what he just did. "Nothing. Um. Nothing at all."
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "heehee"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "what a talent to possess"
[Crows-Nest] PerrySimm says (to Benjamin), "what a shame this is oneshot and you'll never get the character points to earn it"
Ultra coughs. "I mean... These superior structures defeat my X-ray vision. We must find some other way to discover what is within."
SirBenjamin guises as one of the sleeping men, and wanders outside and joins the smoking men.
[Crows-Nest] Hollyhock says, "also, I like a fucking window"
[Crows-Nest] Ultra says, "Yeah, we would too."
[Crows-Nest] Ultra says, "Instead you give us solid concrete."
Guard asks, "Eh man! Can't sleep?"
SirBenjamin says, "Nah, I thought I'd come spark up with you"
Ultra goes around an unguarded side of the concrete building, to put his ear to the wall.
Guard hands Benjamin the joint
Guard says, "You little thief, always coming after what's ours"
SirBenjamin takes a drag, tries not to show that his eyes are watering.
SirBenjamin says, "You gave me this willingly, no stealing involved, man"
[nobilis] Guard says (to Benjamin), "damn straight - there's no tobacco in it, and it appears to have been rolled with newspaper"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "yeargh"
Guard says (to Benjamin), "Only because I fucked your wife"
[nobilis] Guard says, "this is considered to be an excellent witticism by the others, and they all fall about giggling"
SirBenjamin says, "yeah, man, everybody fucked everybody's wife by now"
Guard says, "yeah, we need to be quicker catching those villages, then we can get some new ones before they run away"
SirBenjamin says, "mm, fresh meat for the market, eh"
[nobilis] Guard says, "you get the definite suspicion that one of the guards is about twelve"
[nobilis] Ultra says, "It better not be Chaz."
Guard says (to Ultra), "meanwhile, your super-hearing picks up some breathing inside"
[peanut-gallery] jnc says, "Wow.  I've been told before that Adam leaves the room when drinking is being discussed, but I've never actually seen it."
SirBenjamin asks, "so, where's our big boss-man today?"
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "Asleep sort of breathing?"
Guard says (to Benjamin), "You don't know? He fucked off back to headquarters, left us with the freak"
SirBenjamin says, "aw, crap."
[nobilis] Guard says, "maybe - hard to tell"
Kat wanders over to Ultra. "You hear anything?"
SirBenjamin says, "the freak's about, then?  I swear he's got it in for me"
Guard looks strangely at Benjamin
Ultra says (to Kat, quietly), "I do -- someone is *breathing* inside."
Guard asks, "of course he's about. what, you think he's going to run away?"
Guard laughs uproariously
SirBenjamin says, "well, naw, but the boss might have taken his with him"
Guard says, "nah, not while we're raiding, remember? got to have the freak while we're raiding"
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "Any apparent entrances to the building, aside from the one the guards are in front of?"
SirBenjamin says, "eh, I want some tobacco and women on our next raid, man"
[nobilis] Guard says, "there's a small window"
[nobilis] Ultra asks, "How high?"
[nobilis] Guard says, "it's a one-storey building"
SirBenjamin says, "aside from looking for those, I don't care who we need or not"
Ultra peers in the window.
Guard asks, "shit, man, you not afraid of bullets?"
SirBenjamin says, "by now, people think we're immune anyway"
SirBenjamin says, "they don't even bother shooting no more"
Guard pokes Benjamin in the chest. "You've grown some balls."
SirBenjamin says, "maybe I just got fed up of raiding such shitty little towns"
SirBenjamin says, "where the women are old, and the pickings are tiny"
[nobilis] Guard says (to Ultra), "It's a single room, unfurnished apart from a few old blankets on the concrete floor: on one of these is what appears to be a badly-constructed leather satchel"
[nobilis] Guard says, "then you notice it's looking at you"
Kat asks (of Ultra), "Hsst! You just jerked like you'd been poleaxed. What did you see?"
[nobilis] Guard says, "It appears to be a small, thin man, maybe Central American Indian, sitting with his knees tucked up to his chest and his head between his knees. His hands are clasped together on the back of his neck, and a wooden pole runs under his knees and over his elbows. He looks old, but that could be because his skin's sagging heavily; his skin appears to have been crudely sewn in places with rawhide cords, so that, for example, the skin of his calves is sewn together, his heels are sewn to his buttocks, and his cheeks and ears to his knees"
[Crows-Nest] SirBenjamin says, "mm, I can just feel Benjamin's disgust at this entire conversation"
[nobilis] Guard says, "he regards you with tired black eyes"
Guard says, "[end]"
[nobilis] Kat exclaims, "Arr!"
[nobilis] SirBenjamin says, "_interesting_"
[nobilis] Kat says, "I was all ready to swing into action."
Ultra says (to Kat), "There is a man in there, and he is in bad shape."
Ultra says, "We are going in."
[nobilis] Kat says, "And Ultra, true to form, didn't notice the [end]"
[nobilis] Guard says, "well, you can swing into action if you like, but quickly before storme falls over dead"
[nobilis] Kat says, "Oh, I can wait."
[nobilis] SirBenjamin sways slightly
[nobilis] Ultra says, "No, I'm happy to swing into action next time."
[nobilis] Guard says, "all righty"
[nobilis] Kat says, "since Benjamin is all flaccid and whatnot"