[oneshot] GM asks, "Are you doing anything else in this segment, or should I zip ahead to the new story?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "I'm done."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "nope. besides talking to Jemmy and the Society in the morning."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'd like to be part of the research team studying the crystal/bowl, but that's it, I think."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, right, and translating that note."

GM says, "When you go to the society in the morning, you find out that Jemmy was shipped out the previous afternoon, around while you were drying off in the sunshine."

GM says, "Something about a training grounds off east somewhere."

Kestrel finds someone else to translate the note and take it to Jemmy.

Erich says, "pity. all the muffins he will miss."

GM says (to Kestrel), "There are plenty of scholars around. One of them manages to give you this:"

[oneshot] Lydia imagines Jemmy packed in a crate, filled with muffins for padding and sustenance.

[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "Ha!"

GM | Well, well. What did you get yourself into, Jemmy?
GM | I do hope you didn't fall prey to any fiendish
GM | traps -- it'd be quite unfortunate if we didn't
GM | get to finish our wager. We'll leave your rope

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Hee!"

GM | behind; anything else would be quite unfair, don't
GM | you agree? Ta-ta. I'm sure will run into each other
GM | again sometime.
GM |                               -Arthur d'Echine-

Kestrel says, "Well, they clearly think they have a lot of money in those stones."

GM says, "With regards to being on the research team, they're a bit nervous about letting you in there without you being a society member, particularly without Jemmy here to vouch for you."

Kestrel sends it on to Jemmy, along with a note explaining what we found out about him going.

Kestrel tries to be charming.

Kestrel also points out that he was on the team that discovered the artifact to begin with.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "What do i roll for charm?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Oh! And do we get rep points?"

Lydia asks, "There's a Thean word for 'ta-ta'?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Let's just call this one by fiat."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "OK."

[oneshot] GM says, "Mmm, forgot about reputation..."

[oneshot] Erich says, "Kestrel gets a reputation for 'willing to swim into small, enclosed spaces'."

GM says (to Kestrel), "A very nice old man by the name of Banther promises to keep you updated, and says he's very sorry, but can't really bend the rules."

Kestrel sighs, says OK, explains again what he'd figured out so far.

[oneshot] GM says, "I'd say three reputation for anyone in the first story, for clearing the town of bandits, and one for this last one, since you were underground most of the time."

GM says (to Kestrel), "He looks please, and the twinkle in his eye suggests that he may be following a few of those leads already."

GM asks, "So, moving on?"

Kestrel says, "Yup."

Lydia says, "[were the tiles worth much?]"

GM says, "At this point, maybe the better part of a week had passed since the first trip out to the ruins."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, right."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says (to Lydia), "depends on whether they were 'E' or 'Q' tiles."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "The latter are worth more."

[oneshot] GM says (to Lydia), "Oh, let me check."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "As a potential method of opening other such ruins, I'd say they'd be worth more than just as tiles qua tiles."

[oneshot] GM says, "Sixty shillings, as tiles qua tiles."

[oneshot] GM says, "If they serve a valuable purpose in the future, that will be considered then."

[oneshot] Kestrel nods.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "How much does that make per person, at this point?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I haven't been keeping track at all."

[oneshot] Erich says, "nor I."

GM says, "Two and a half more weeks pass before you hear from the society again."

[oneshot] Erich says, "(this is what GMs are for)"

[oneshot] Erich says, "(I say in a statement which will undoubtedly come back to haunt me)"

[oneshot] GM says, "From that story, or from the beginning? It's different depending on which parts you were in."

[oneshot] (from Kestrel) GM says "You haven't been keeping track? 10 shillings each."

[oneshot] GM says (to Erich), "Yeah, seems you lost all your money in a poker game."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "but won it back when I started ripping off arms?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, right."

[oneshot] GM asks, "So that's 165 each from the last story, I think. There were four of you, right?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Eight pounds, five shillings."

GM says, "When you *do* get call, though, it's by a rather *urgent* messenger boy."

[oneshot] Kestrel looks it up. 150 each so far, plus 60/4 = 165 a person.

GM says, "Seems there's a great deal of concern over something, and it's hoped that you'll be of some help with the situation."

Kestrel shows up with bells on.

Kestrel says, "(literally. He'd been entertaining.)"

Billings says, "Oh, my ears and whiskers... oh my, oh my..."

Lydia packs some gear quickly and reports in.

Kestrel asks (of Billings), "What seems to be the trouble?"

Billings asks (of Kestrel), "Oh, I'm so glad you're here. They said you said you were an expert on that, that, that thing you brought back?"

Kestrel asks, "One of the bowls?"

Erich asks, "there's trouble with them?"

Billings says, "Yes, yes, that... black thing, with the thing, and the -- oh my, oh my..."

Kestrel asks, "The bowl with the crystal cemented in it?"

Billings says, "First Banther. And now Dollen. And what now? What to do, what to do."

Lydia asks, "What's happening?"

Billings waves. "Come, come. See, see.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "*Had* I been kept updated?"

Kestrel follows.

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "As promised?"

Erich says, "Banther and DOllen"

Erich asks, "?"

Erich says (to Billings), "I think you had best begin at the beginning and work your way forward from there."

[oneshot] Billings says, "Banther, the one who promised you, never did get in touch with you."

Kestrel tries to remember the name of the kind old gentleman he had spoken to earlier.

Kestrel says, "I spoke to Banther, I think."

Kestrel says, "Nice old man. Promised to keep me updated on the research, but never did."

Billings leads you back through the maze of interconnected buildings that makes up the local headquarters. Rather like a college campus, really.

Billings says (to Kestrel), "Oh, poor fellow. Didn't deserve it. A fate like this. Alas."

Erich eyebrows shoot up.

Kestrel is getting more and more alarmed.

Erich says, "this begins to sound dangerous."

Lydia looks around nervously while walking.

GM says, "Billings may or may not be getting lost repeatedly; it's hard to tell. On the other hand, he might be leading you perfectly through a rather convoluted route."

Lydia asks, "er, so where are we going?"

Billings says, "Yes, yes. That's why we called you. Two weeks ago, I think. And it's still there."

Billings says (to Lydia), "The laboratory... Banther's... he was working... and then he wasn't... and that thing..."

Billings says, "We sent in Dollen. He volunteered. But it got him. It just... and then... and nothing..."

Erich says, "wait"

Erich asks, "*it* got him?"

Billings finds the room he's looking for, and almost opens it, but stops at Erich's word.

Billings says (to Erich), "Oh, yes. I saw it myself. It just... it opened up... and gone..."

Billings appears quite agitated.

Lydia asks, "The bowl did?"

Billings exclaims, "No, no! The... thing! The flying thing!"

Erich says, "ah."

Erich says, "the flying thing."

Billings makes a roughly roundish shape in the air in front of him, and points to the door.

Kestrel sighs, opens the door.

Lydia puts a hand to her hilt.

GM says, "Inside is a medium-sized room. The most obvious feature is a black sphere, somewhat like the ones which attacked you earlier, flying around the room."

Kestrel shuts the door again.

GM says, "This one is a bit larger than those, and is pulsing with light randomly. It's moving very quickly, and its path is entirely erratice -- although it seems to be staying vaguely near the middle of the room."

GM says, "You see no more before the door shuts."

Kestrel says, "So, Banther was working on the bowl, summoned this sphere, and disappeared inside it."

Billings asks, "You see?"

Lydia asks, "inside it?"

Billings asks (of Kestrel), "He did?"

Kestrel exclaims (at Billings), "You tell me!"

Billings says, "That's what we thought, too, when we saw Dollen... but we don't know..."

Kestrel asks, "What did you see of Dollen?"

Billings says, "We weren't there... he was there, with the bowl, and then he wasn't, and that was."

Lydia asks, "Well, what are we supposed to do about this?"

Billings says, "And then Dollen went in, and the thing, it, yes, it flashed, and it was big, and then it wasn't, and he wasn't there..."

Billings asks (of Lydia), "What? You don't know what to do either?"

Billings sighs.

Erich asks, "so it is as if he switched places with the sphere?"

Kestrel asks, "The sphere flashed, and became large?"

Kestrel asks, "Then when it went back to its normal size, Dollen was gone?"

Billings waves his hands in Kestrels general direction, roughly giving the impression of 'large'.

Billings says (to Kestrel), "Yes, quite, exactly..."

Kestrel asks, "OK, here's what I want to do. You remember those two other bowls? The one you had on your desk, and the stringed one we brought back? Can you get them and bring them here?"

Billings says, "Yes, yes. I can do that."

Kestrel says, "Thanks."

Billings asks, "Do you, er, want me to do that?"

Kestrel says, "Yes, please."

Billings exits, wringing his hands.

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "Are we outside or in a hallway?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Hallway."

Kestrel says (to others), "I'd like to send a bowl in first, to see if we can get it through to wherever the sphere took the other two."

[oneshot] GM says, "A basement hallway even, I'm guessing."

Erich says, "an excellent idea."

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to GM), "Well, you would know ;-)"

Erich says, "hopefully they were not sent to deep inside rock"

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "OK, s/I'm/you're/ :)"

Lydia asks (of Kestrel), "so we just throw something at it?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Maybe."

Lydia says, "well, if it comes to that..."

Kestrel says, "Or, if it only responds to living things, send it in tied to one of those mongrel dogs I've seen lazing about outside."

Lydia looks around for a small non-valuable object.

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Good plan."

Kestrel pulls out the rock he kept from Arthur's note.

Erich asks, "you kept that?"

Kestrel hands it to Lydia.

Lydia asks, "Aha. Perfect. Um, a rock?"

Kestrel says, "Yeah. Momento."

Kestrel shrugs.

Kestrel says, "I made the pence into a necklace, too."

Kestrel shows it off.

Lydia says, "now I -- well, I've already trusted you with my life, I can trust you with a secret."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "blood time"

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k3: 5 10+3 9 | 27

[oneshot] GM says, "I think that's a success."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "yeah, 20"

Kestrel starts.

Erich says, "goodness"

Kestrel exclaims, "You aren't... that isn't... Aaah!"

GM says (to Lydia), "You feel a familiar tingling as you cut yourself."

Erich asks (of Lydia), "and they let you out of Montaigne?"

Erich says, "I would hardly be more surprised if you turned out to be a fate witch."

Lydia says, "well. It would seem my father was not, uh, my father."

Kestrel mutters something that sounds like a blessing in a foreign tongue. You think you can make out the word "Matushka".

GM says, "Billings eventually arrives, with the two bowls in his arms."

Kestrel looks to see if they've stringed the second one in the meantime.

Billings says (to Kestrel), "They have. With ordinary catgut."

Kestrel asks (of Billings), "Thanks. May I?"

Billings hands them over.

Kestrel tries playing the ruins bowl's number on the office bowl's strings.

Billings says, "The strings chime."

GM says, "The strings chime."

Kestrel says, "Oh, good, it works with ordinary catgut."

Kestrel says (from the second bowl) "Oh, good, it works with ordinary catgut."

[oneshot] GM says, "Hee. Yes."

Kestrel plucks another note to break the connection.

[oneshot] Erich says, "yay"

Lydia asks, "Okay, will someone open the door for me?"

Erich stands by the door.

Lydia prepares to toss the rock.

Erich says, "On three."

Erich says, "One."

Erich says, "Two."

Erich says, "Three!" and opens the door.

GM says, "Finesse + Throwing"

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 4k3: 5 2 8 1 | 15

GM asks, "(Anyone trying to stick their head in to look around while it's open?"

Kestrel watches from over Lydia's shoulder.

Lydia is watching the sphere (of course)

Erich says, "I'll look in."

Kestrel looks at the floor under the sphere to see if that's where the bowl is.

GM says (to Lydia), "The sphere is zigging and zagging too randomly -- the bowl just hits the table, skids across, and clatters tot he floor."

Erich says, "since I can presumably shut the door if the sphere rushes towards me."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, the rock."

Lydia asks (of GM), "the rock?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Right, sorry, the rock."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Is the bowl on the floor?"

GM says, "You notice that there is, in fact, a table in the middle of the room. Among other things, you see the black bowl on top of it."

GM says, "Round about the middle of the room -- and, more importantly, round about the middle of where the sphere is racing around."

Kestrel motions for Erich to keep the door open for a bit.

Lydia says, "well. That's going to be difficult. Unless maybe we had a net or something."

Kestrel watches the sphere, trying to discern any pattern.

Lydia says, "or we could find an animal and send it in."

Kestrel asks (of Billings), "You say you were watching when Dollen disappeared?"

Erich thinks of Lydia throwing a cat, and grins.

GM says, "The only light in the room is coming from the sphere and the bowl -- pulses of light coming randomly from somewhere within the bowl, matching the light from the orb."

GM says (to Kestrel), "Hmm. You can try rolling Wits for that, if you like."

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 3k3: 3 7 5 | 15

Billings says, "Mmm, yes, yes. He ran in there, tried to grab the bowl, but it got him. Straight for him. Didn't have a chance."

[oneshot] Billings says, "No discernable pattern."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Is there a range to its meanderings?"

Erich says, "straight for him, you say."

Billings frets quietly.

Erich says, "we may have to try with an animal of some sort."

Kestrel asks (of Billings), "So it hit him before it got larger?"

Billings says, "Mmm. Mmhmm. Mmhmm."

Billings says (to Kestrel), "Mmm? Hmm."

Billings says, "I... hmm. I don't... hmm."

Kestrel says, "Calm down. Just think it through."

Billings says, "It... opened. Yes. So no. It opened up as it, er, hit him. The same, you could say, uh, moment."

Billings seems to be calming down, a bit.

Kestrel keeps watching the sphere, trying to see if it has a range of movement.

Erich says, "so it may have become large enough to hold him."

Erich says, "rather than becoming large because it swallowed him"

GM says (to Kestrel), "Yes... it seems to be staying within about six feet of the bowl, at the most. Maybe four -- it's hard to be exact."

Billings says (to Erich), "Mmm. Hold him? Like a hand, or, ah, a pocket? But a pocket, er, doesn't grow... except after, er, you use it..."

Erich says, "if it is a gate to somewhere else, it may have had to become large enough for him to fit through"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "How big is it now? Maybe a foot in diameter?"

Erich asks, "do you have a pole, or something long I could use to push the bowl forward?"

[oneshot] Billings says, "Sounds good. Ten-twelve inches."

Billings pats his pockets. "Er."

Kestrel asks, "Do you have Banther's notes somewhere that's not in that room? Or Lydia's notes?"

Billings finds a pencil, offers it hopefully to Erich.

Erich says, "thanks, but I would prefer something with reach on it."

Erich looks around, hoping to find something suitable.

Billings says (to Kestrel), "Mrm. John's, er, notes are..." He rather motions toward the table in the room, where the bowl is. "But... Lydia? Er. That's you, right?" He turns to Lydia. "Mrm. Maybe. Hmm.""

Kestrel asks (of billings), "Can you go check?"

Billings says, "Mmm? Ah. Yes. Mmm."

Billings wanders off.

[oneshot] Erich asks, "anything around I could use or cobble together to make an, er, ten-foot pole?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Nothing in view, but there are other doors off this hallway."

Erich opens a few doors, hoping to find something long and pole-like.

GM says (to Erich), "Laboratory, locked, broom closet, laboratory..."

Lydia says, "I'm going to try to get that rock back."

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 5k3: 8 7 10+10+7 2 7 | 42

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "OK, I want to try something. One of the things I (really!) was thinking of buying with the cash was a nice lute. Since I said I came straight here from entertaining, can I have it with me?"

[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "broom closet!"

[oneshot] Erich asks, "Any brooms?"

Lydia reaches into a window in the air and pulls out the rock.

Kestrel jumps back.

Kestrel exclaims, "Yi!"

GM says, "There's a ripping noise, as Lydia's arm disappears."

GM says, "When it comes back, her hand leaves bloody fingerprints on the rock."

[oneshot] GM says, "Yes, a couple of them."

[oneshot] GM says, "(Brooms)"

Kestrel says, "Another tear! Matushka preserve us."

Erich comes back, holding several brooms. "What was that nasty tearing noise?"

Erich says, "oh. never mind."

Lydia asks (of Kestrel), "What's that?"

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "Please don't do that lightly. I can't stop you from doing it, but it's bad. Very bad."

Lydia asks, "It is?"

Lydia looks at the rock.

Lydia says, "I never heard..."

Kestrel exclaims, "Not the rock! The tear!"

Lydia says, "yes, the Porte. But."

Erich pesters Kestrel for some rope and begins lashing brooms together tightly.

Kestrel says, "I, uh, don't know why. But Matushka tells us it will bring the terrible ones. She fights to stop it. She saved my life. So, I must try to stop it as well."

Billings comes back, carrying a notebook and a couple brooms.

Lydia says, "Matushka? Sounds familiar for some reason."

Billings says, "I found the, er, poles. And the notes. Well. Most of them."

Erich says, "my thanks, but I found some brooms of my own."

Billings says, "Huh? Oh. Hrm. Bother."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "Can I assume I've now made a big rickety pole?"

Billings starts to wander off again.

[oneshot] Billings says, "Yes."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "The protector of Ussura, my adoptive homeland."

Billings disappears back around the corner with brooms, notebooks, et al.

Erich exclaims, "wait!"

Lydia says (to Billings), "wait, where--"

Erich chases after Billings. "The notes I did not find."

GM says, "You hear a crash."

GM says (to Erich), "You find him."

GM says, "Alongside a wastebasket recently knocked over by a swinging broom handle."

Kestrel says, "I am told she herself carried me to the vitzi."

Lydia says, "wow."

GM says (to Erich), "He mutters and tries picking up the loose papers, dropping the brooms in the process."

Erich says, "my apologies. I did not mean to chase you off."

GM says, "Then he tries picking up the brooms, dropping the notebook. A few pages fall out."

Erich says, "I merely didn't know you were going to find brooms as well as notes."

Erich helps Billings gather the notes.

Lydia says, "well, I don't use it when I don't need to."

Billings says, "Quite alright, quite alright... could you, er, lend a hand with, ah, the papers and... yes. Thank you."

Lydia says, "But that was because of the Inquisition. And.. er, well."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "(fervently) Good."

GM says, "You end up with the notebook and Billings ends up with the brooms, although it's not certain if the papers from the wastebasket may have been mixed up at all with the notebook."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "I think she's more opposed to its systematic use than its use by any single individual, but still."

Erich says, "let's take these notes to the others."

Kestrel collects his thoughts, turns back to the notes.

Lydia thinks about this, looking confused.

Billings says, "Ah? Yes. Alright."

Billings's eyes dart back and forth on the way back. They alight on the closet where Erich found his brooms; he stashes the other two there in passing.

Kestrel says (to Billings), "You have those notes? Good, good."

GM says, "You find that most of the notes are intact, although some pages are missing -- possibly torn out. There are also a couple extra pages that may have been alter additions, or may have merely been bits of other things that got mixed together."

Erich says, "I am going to try sliding the bowl forward, to see if the sphere follows."

Kestrel sorts through them, trying to find the bit where Lydia wrote down the melody snippet he played that made the crystal flash.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Hrm. That seems to be one of the torn-out bits."

GM says, "Likewise the sections with the runes from the bowls."

Kestrel sorts through them, mentioning under his breath to Lydia "Next time, they get a *copy*. Your fine work..."

GM asks (of Erich), "Are you pushing it off the table, or just to one end?"

Lydia says (to Erich), "Do be careful."

Erich says, "just to one end."

GM nods.

Erich says, "watch and see if the sphere changes its pattern."

Lydia prepares to shut the door if anything happens.

Lydia says, "[anything frightening, that is]"

Kestrel watches.

GM says, "When Erich pushes, the bowl slides a couple feet down the lab bench. The pulsing sphere keeps up a mostly random path, although it does seem to remain vaguely centered on the bowl."

Kestrel says, "Here, I've an idea."

Kestrel pulls out his bow, nocks an arrow.

Kestrel says, "I've hit one of these before..."

Kestrel asks, "Ready?"

Kestrel, assuming nobody objects, tracks the sphere for a full 30 seconds, then fires.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 6k3: 3 2 9 3 2 2 | 15

[oneshot] GM asks, "Is that a 20, with aiming?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Uh, I dunno."

[oneshot] GM says, "Enh, I'll say it is."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, I get a free raise for 'accurate archer'."

GM says, "The arrow flies like the proverbial arrow. It's all nearly too quick to see, but at the instant it reached its target, the sphere doubled in size and collapsed back."

GM says, "With the flashing light, it's hard to see just what happened tot he arrow, but you don't see it anymore."

Kestrel says, "Wow. Hope I, uh, didn't hit anyone on the other side."

Billings says, "Yes, just like that.."

Kestrel says, "Assuming there *is* another side."

Kestrel says, "And it's not just destroying what it touches."

Erich says, "I have a way to test that, perhaps."

Erich says, "I have a long pole."

Billings shakes his head. "When, uh, Dollen went in there... it, er, jumped... just the same way..."

Erich says, "a pole I do not mind losing."

Erich says, "I am going to try to hit the sphere, letting go of this thing as it hits."

Kestrel asks (of Billings), "Did it double in size, as it did this time? Or did it become even larger?"

Kestrel raises an eyebrow.

Kestrel says, "I'm standing well away from you, if you do."

Erich says, "a wise decision."

Billings says, "Mmm? Oh. Samuel was, er, bigger. Than the, uh, arrow... was."

Lydia asks (of Erich), "Would you like the rock for good luck?"

Kestrel says, "Here, either take this bowl with you, or tie it to the pole. Or both."

Kestrel . o O ( He's going to get et. )

Erich says, "let me hold the bowl."

[oneshot] GM asks, "How are the brooms tied together?"

Kestrel gives Erich the office bowl.

[oneshot] GM asks, "With the bristles at both ends of the long pole?"

Erich asks (of Lydia), "a good idea. if I tie a note around the rock, will you be able to get it back?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "yes."

Kestrel says (to Erich), "You can *talk* to us, if the bowls work."

Lydia says, "Well, not the note. Unless I can find some paper first."

Erich says (to Kestrel), "yes. nevertheless, I would not mind a backup system."

Kestrel nods.

Lydia says, "Let's tie the rock to the broom's end. Hopefully you won't have to, uh, 'go' anywhere."

Erich says, "true. and if the sphere takes me *and* the brooms, the rock will still be with me."

Erich offers one of the bristle ends to Lydia.

[Crows-Nest] (from Kestrel) Lydia says, "You have strange customs, large one."

Lydia says, "Oh, you have a water-pouch, right? You could wet part of the rock."

Erich asks, "to signal to you that I am still alive, you mean?"

Lydia gets some more twine and fastens the rock just above the broom part.

Lydia says, "if need be."

Kestrel asks, "Do you have any wine?"

GM says, "Meanwhile, the sphere is still zipping around madly and Billings is keeping well away from the action."

Erich asks (of Kestrel), "no. do you?"

Kestrel says, "I think so. Or some sort of spirits..."

Kestrel searches the folds of his coat, pulls out a small flask.

Erich asks, "excellent. what code shall we use?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Erich's not the Cowardly one. He's fine without liquid couorage."

[oneshot] Erich says, "heh"

Kestrel says, "Here. Dry is 'Help I'm comatose', water is "I'm alive and in danger", alcohol is "I'm alive and partying.""

[oneshot] Erich says, "I am Loyal, though, so should any of you vanish into the thing I shall have to follow."

Erich says, "good enough."

Kestrel says, "Or maybe "In no immediate danger", at least."

Kestrel says, "Hmm, wait."

[oneshot] GM asks, "To check: Erich is holding the bowl, meanwhile?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "yes"

[oneshot] Erich says, "I have the bowl, the spirits, the broom"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "one bowl and a broom-contraption."

[oneshot] Erich says, "also, the bell, the book, and the candle"

Kestrel says, "How about water is 'I'm alive but don't come get me", and alcohol is "I'm alive, come on through, please.""

[oneshot] GM says, "Nah, I think Kestrel has the book."

[oneshot] Erich says, "then let him exorcise the sphere"

Kestrel says, "Dry is "I'm dead, don't bother coming to get me.""

Erich says, "fair enough."

Lydia says, "If you use water, leave part of it dry."

Erich says (to Lydia), "understood."

Erich hefts the broom. "Ready?"

Lydia says, "Entirely wet will mean 'I've fallen into water.'"

Erich laughs.

Kestrel exclaims, "If it's all wet, I'm *not* coming through!"

Erich says, "the adventurers I read about in chapbooks never have these problems."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "And entirely alcohol-ed will mean 'I've fallend into a brewery'."

Lydia says (to Kestrel), "Plunk the bowl."

Kestrel activates the connection.

Erich says, "I will now swing and drop the brooms as I hit."

Erich says, "that, at least, is the plan."

Erich watches the sphere, then swings at it when it comes close.

Kestrel suggests dropping the bristles on the sphere.

GM says, "Everyone who's watching when he does this, roll Resolve."

Kestrel is standing well away.

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 2k2: 2 3 | 5

[oneshot] Erich says, "there is a phrase to hear."

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 3k3: 2 5 10+9 | 26

[oneshot] (from Lydia) Erich says, "I'm not watching."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "oh, does that include the man doing the swatting?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Yes."

Kestrel has set the other bowl on the floor.

[7thsea] Erich rolls 2k2: 9 7 | 16

GM says, "It's not at all clear what just happened. You have the mental impression of a silent explosion, a lot of light, and a lot of blackness, all at once. And a clattering noise. You're stunned for a few moments."

Kestrel . o O ( Oh great, We're all on the other side of the sphere, and Billings is with us. )

Erich . o O ( I hope I didn't make a clean sweep of this. Aheh heh heh. )

Kestrel shakes his head to clear the ringing, finally works out that he's lying flat on the ground.

GM says, "You blink away the afterimages, and are still in the hallway."

GM says, "There's a broom on the floor at Erich's feet."

Lydia says, "wow."

Billings asks, "Is... what... are you?"

Erich says, "my"

Lydia says, "Did anyone else see that? It filled the whole room in there."

Billings says, "Are you alright? There was this, ah, flash of... er."

Billings takes a few more steps back away from all of you.

Lydia says, "And we're all still here? Good."

Kestrel asks, "What happened to the rock?"

Erich picks up the broom and looks at it, then gazes at the sphere.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Looking into the room, you see the black bowl, wobbling on the floor."

GM says (to Erich), "A few strips of rope dangle from the end of it; the other broom is gone."

Lydia says, "Same thing that happened to the table, I think."

Erich asks, "did I feel any tugging when the other broom went?"

GM says (to Kestrel), "The table and everything on it are gone."

Kestrel says, "Wow."

GM says, "The sphere is still doing its dance, around the bowl."

GM says (to Erich), "No, you dropped it."

Lydia says, "Oh, right, the rock."

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "I assume it's not within 100 feet. Can I tell if it still exists?"

[oneshot] GM says, "You can't tell. You only know that it's not nearby."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Wait, you only have a 100 foot range? ha ha ha ha ha."

[oneshot] Erich exclaims, "!"

[oneshot] Erich says, "so much for the backup system."

Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Well?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "I can try to get it though."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, and you can sense within 100 feet. Gotcha."

Lydia picks up the bowl on the floor and hands it to Billings.

Billings backs away.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Er, the sphere is still dancing."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, that bowl."

Lydia asks (of Billings), "Why don't you get a safe distance away?"

Billings asks, "Er, why, uh... do you want, er, me... to have...?"

Billings nods. "Yes. A good idea, I think..."

Lydia says (to Billings), "We'll talk to you through it."

Lydia says, "I hope."

Billings says, "Oh. Ah. Mmm. Good, yes."

Billings takes the bowl. "I'll, er, just be up in my office, then?"

Lydia says, "Okay."

Billings nods, exits.

Lydia says, "..Kestrel With my apologies, this is the only way I can know."

Erich asks, "you intend to go through the sphere?"

Kestrel nods, scruches his face in anticipation.

Lydia says, "no, no."

Lydia says, "the rock."

Erich says, "ah"

Erich says, "*sorcery*"

[7thsea] Lydia rolls 5k3: 9 5 8 5 5 | 22

GM says, "You again hear the sound of cloth ripping, as Lydia's arm slips away..."

Lydia reaches out...

Kestrel eyes, shut, shudders at the sound.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "er no first comma."

Erich says, "that is one of the more eerie things I have seen in a while."

Erich watches with interest to see if he can tell where Lydia's arm has gone off to.

GM says, "Lydia appears to be struggling somewhat at this."

Lydia removes her arm, with no rock.

Kestrel opens one eye just a bit, sees Lydia with no arm, shuts it again.

GM says, "Lydia's fingers are slick with blood, although you don't notice any wound."

Lydia gasps.

Erich says, "ick"

Lydia says, "How strange. It's there... but I can't get it."

Erich says, "you do seem to have found someone else's blood"

Lydia says, "No, that's just -- well, it always happens. But not so much of it."

Kestrel says, "So it could be embedded in rock, covered with Dollen's blood."

Erich says, "the options I see remaining to us are to send the bowl through on the end of another broom -- with a note, I might add -- or to send one or more of us through it."

Lydia says, "It could be, but I wouldn't know."

Kestrel says, "There's one other option. I *might* be able to remember that tune. I studied it enough."

Kestrel sits down with a piece of paper, thinks, tries to remember the tune and the runes that made it up.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "There's an advanced knack 'memorization' that comes with performer in one of the books."

Lydia asks (of Bowl), "Mr. Billings, is there a wash-room near this place?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Which you never mentioned using when you had the notes on hand."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "right, so I'd assume I'd get hellacious minuses, but it's worth a shot."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "I get -1 since it's a knack I have at 0, right?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Roll wits? Resolve?"

Billings says (to Lydia), "Mmm? You mean, er, ah. Yes. The, ah, privy? Mmm. Down the hall, ah... left, I think, and... mrm. Then right. Last door on the, er. Left. Right? Yes."

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Resolve, I think."

Lydia says (to Billings), "Thank you."

[7thsea] Kestrel rolls 1k1: 6 | 6

Lydia says, "I'll be right back. Don't do anything foolish while I'm gone."

Kestrel scribbles some more, gives up in frustration.

[oneshot] GM says, "You only recall a couple notes, and not in what order."

Erich asks, "us?"

Erich tries not to think about running and jumping into the sphere.

Kestrel pulls out his lute, tunes it to the bowl's scale, and starts playing a few tentative notes from well away from the door.

GM says (to Kestrel), "It's hard to tell if it affects the sphere or not, as it's already rather erratic."

Kestrel plays some more, including the two notes he remembers more often than the others.

GM says, "Mmm. The sphere might be making periodic lunges in Kestrel's general direction."

Kestrel, after one such lunge, backs up and re-plays the bit he just played.

Erich says, "this may qualify as 'foolish'."

GM says (to Kestrel), "It's possible that its range might be widening."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(lag)"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, maybe not."

Lydia comes back with a cleaner hand.

Erich eyes the sphere warily. "yes, 'foolish' is coming to mind."

Kestrel backs up again.

Erich says, "then again, I tried to swat it with a broom. so."

Kestrel stops playing, sees if it retreats.

GM says (to Kestrel), "Hard to say."

Erich says, "we should send through the active bowl."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "So, from a 4-6 range, it's gone to a 4-8 range?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah, more or less."

Lydia says, "We'll have to find Billings then."

Kestrel says (to Bowl), "Can you bring back the bowl? Sorry to send you back and forth like this."

Erich fetches another broom.

Billings asks, "Mrm? Have you learned or, ah, discovered anything, er, new?"

GM says (to Erich), "You find the ones Billings left in the closet."

Lydia asks, "Do we expect to hear anything?"

Erich shrugs as he ties the brooms together.

Kestrel says (to Billings), "With your permission, we'd like to try to send one of the other bowls through. If Dunnings or Banther is somewhere, transported by this sphere, they'll be able to use it to talk to us."

[Crows-Nest] GM wonders what the Society's broom budget is for the year.

Erich says, "if we could affix a note to the bowl saying SPEAK INTO THIS WE ARE LISTENING that would be good."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I'm charging them to Blake, c/o That Tavern in That One Town."

Ghogg materializes.

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel exclaims, "Ghogg!"

Ghogg says, "Ook. I say."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia exclaims, "The orb spit out another GM!"

[Crows-Nest] Erich exclaims, "Aah! A strange man appeared from the sphere!"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "How the heck are ya?"

Billings says (to Kestrel, from the bowl), "Ah. Mrm. Yes. That, er, seems like a good idea..."

Ghogg says, "Oof. Telnet problem. One moment."

Billings appears around the corner, staring into a bowl.

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "testing, 1 2 3"

[Crows-Nest] Billings says, "Greetings."

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "I've been fine"

Kestrel writes a brief note esplaining the situation and what the bowl does.

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "I am now still jobless but registered as a math student and am currently attempting to get an internship, although it still doesn't seem to help because the companies with job freezes have decided to cut down on internships too."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oh, I'm Lucian, BTW."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Ack."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Also, sigh."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says (to Ghogg), "blah"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Ghogg), "Blech, and luck."

[Crows-Nest] Ghogg says, "I will now munch popcorn quietly in the background"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "We're partly on #oneshot, too."

[oneshot] Ghogg has joined the channel.

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "well, good to see you again"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Though at this point it should be #threepeat"

[oneshot] Ghogg says, "it always turns out like that, somehow"

[oneshot] GM says, "How true."

Erich says, "tie it on the end of the broom and I will repeat my dazzling feat of broom-swinging."

Lydia says, "Remember to let go again."

GM asks, "Where is the other stringed bowl right now?"

Lydia says (to Billings), "Stay back with that bowl."

Billings stays back, with his bowl.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."

Erich says, "once more, then."

Erich lifts the broom.

Lydia stand behind Erich.

Erich says, "on three."

Erich says, "one"

Erich swings the broom.

Lydia doesn't watch the orb this time.

GM says, "Now that you've seen it before, it's a little clearer:"

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Lydia), "You're the only one who's likely to see anything."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "Didn't see anything we can't figure out when the mind clears up."

GM says, "The sphere flies open, growing to fill the room in an instant -- blackness and a flash of light coming from it at the same time."

Whizzard arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "And then immediately falling back into itself, and Erich's single broom clattering to the floor."

GM says, "And a thud from somewhere behind you."

Billings asks, "What's that?"

Billings peers at his bowl.

Lydia counts people.

GM says (to Lydia), "Still all here."

Kestrel runs over to Billings, listens to the bowl.

Lydia turns to look behind.

Billings holds it out to him. It's quiet now, after that thud.

[oneshot] Lydia says, "This must be confusing to join in on."

Erich asks (of bowl), "hello?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Right. ". o O (Snap, Crackle, and Pop? Are you there?)""

GM says, "No response."

Kestrel listens for general acoustics.

GM says, "Still seems to be 'open'."

Kestrel shouts "HELLO!" at the bowl, listens for an echo.

GM says, "Nope. The shout disappears into the bowl."

Lydia says, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Erich says (to bowl), "IF ANYONE IS THERE, SPEAK INTO THE BOWL."

Kestrel hums into the bowl.

[Crows-Nest] Erich asks (of bowl), "Gramma? Are you there on the other side?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "WALK INTO THE LIGHT"

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "That'd be the floating black orb pulsing light?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "OK, I want to hand the bowl back to Billings, say "Your friends are dead. Board up that room and don't ever go in.""

[oneshot] GM asks, "Because they didn't catch your bowl?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Keep in mind that Banther disappeared two weeks ago."

[oneshot] GM says, "And he didn't say how long ago Dollen disappeared."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Because we have been given every indication that on the other side of this thing is absolutely nothing."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "It's even sealed off to porte."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "My best guess is that it's solid rock."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "which is fairly unusual."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Did you ask Lydia if she could find the rock?"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "She said she could find it, but couldn't get it back, like it was stuck."

[oneshot] GM asks, "Do you want a hint?"

[oneshot] Lydia says, "but Porte sorcerors can pull things from inside containers."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "so it's something Strange."

[oneshot] GM says, "It's not something strange."

[oneshot] Erich asks, "it's encased in gelatin?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks (of GM), "Really? She just needed a TN of 25 or something?"

[oneshot] GM says, "No, no. If you want to try Porte again, I'll try giving Lydia more feedback."

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "yeah? who's gonna convince her to try it?"

[oneshot] Erich says, "Also, how much longer are we going tonight, I ask sleepily."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Well, if she's used it in the past, presumably she's encountered situations like this before, if it's truly not unusual."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "(used porte, that is)"

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "Something like that. A higher roll, or to feel around the rock."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Oh, you can feel the area around the rock? Not just the item?"

[oneshot] GM says (to Kestrel), "I mean, to feel the rock more carefully."

[oneshot] GM says, "Or the area around, sure."

[oneshot] GM says, "I will allow her a limited degree of touching what's near it."

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "Like, temperature, humidity, broom bristles?"

[oneshot] GM says, "To a degree, yes."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm willing, OOC, to go ahead and jump through this thing because I assume it'll be fun. But IC, Kestrel wants to leave."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "exactly."

[oneshot] GM says, "Mmm. I understand that."

Lydia says, "So somewhere... is a rock, a bowl, a couple of brooms..."

Lydia says, "But I still can't understand"

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "I'm just trying for some sort of feedback that says, "It's not an insanely stupid idea to follow people through this sphere""

Kestrel says, "Hmm, let me try something."

Kestrel cuts the connection by plucking a string.

Kestrel listens closely again.

Kestrel plays the other bowl's tune again.

Lydia says, "It's like it wouldn't fit..."

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "And an entire table."

Erich asks, "wouldn't fit where it is?"

Erich asks, "or through the hole you made for it?"

Kestrel says, "You know, I think I can hear the ocean in this."

Lydia says, "Oh! The broom wouldn't fit, of course."

Kestrel says, "Like, the real ocean."

Kestrel says, "Or *a* real ocean."

Erich asks, "do you have enough control to untie it from the broom?"

Lydia says (to Erich), "Not a chance. Well... I've never tried anything like it."

Kestrel says, "It's different than just the sounds you'd hear when I hold the bowl up to my ear and there's no connection."

Erich asks (of Kestrel), "oh?"

Kestrel says, "Yeah. Rhythmic, almost like waves."

Lydia says (to Kestrel), "That's the first comforting thing I've heard about all this."

Kestrel says, "Also, we at least know that the bowl is intact, wherever it is."

Kestrel says, "Since the connection could be re-formed."

Kestrel says, "Here, I'm taking this where it's quieter, and am going to just listen for a while."

Kestrel goes to the broom closet, shuts the door.

Kestrel sits in a comfortable position, holds the bowl up to his ear, closes his eyes, and listens.

Lydia says, "I wish we even knew what sort of place that ruin was. It didn't really make sense."

[oneshot] Erich says, "I cannot go much longer"

[oneshot] Erich says, "as I must be awake and coherent in five and a half hours."

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Heh."

Kestrel, after about five minutes, emerges from the broom closet.

Kestrel says, "This definitely sounds like it's on a beach."

Kestrel says, "I think I even heard a bird."

Kestrel says, "And papers, rustling in the wind. And/or leaves."

Lydia says, "That's not so bad then."

Erich asks, "*this* is where we sent the other bowl to?"

Kestrel says, "Mysterious voids and/or sheer rock would be bad. But I think this might actually be safe."

Lydia says, "I mean, I'll volunteer to, uh, go in."

Billings would appear to have fallen asleep while Kestrel was in the closet. Looks rather peaceful.

Kestrel says, "This may well end up like the stream. You all were worried when the rope came back empty, but it turned out I was walking around the other way."

Kestrel says, "If it's out in the open, it's no wonder the other two left the site."

Erich says, "If one of us goes, I believe we all should go"

Kestrel asks (of Erich), "Not one at a time?"

Erich glances at Billings. "though there are downsides to that."

Lydia says, "I say one first."

Erich says (to Kestrel), "oh, not all at once."

Kestrel says, "I'd want one to go through first, talk throught the bowl, then... ah, I see."

Erich says (to Kestrel), "but I see little benefit, if it is reasonably safe, in leaving someone behind where they can do little."

Kestrel nods.

Kestrel says (to Lydia), "If you are willing to take the risk, we shall be here to support you."

Erich says (to Lydia), "and I would suggest it not be you, since you can bring the rock back."

Kestrel says, "Oh, well, there's that."

Lydia says, "Billings seems well-suited, or at least suited, to doing things around here for us."

Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Do you have anything else on your person like the rock that you could leave with us?"

Kestrel nods.

Lydia says, "There's the bowl.. but I suppose someone might land on it or something."

Erich asks (of Kestrel), "not eager to leap through?"

Lydia says (to Kestrel), "Well, yes."

Kestrel says, "There may be water on the other side. I'm not going first. Sorry."

Erich says, "here. you two are making some deductive progress here."

Erich says, "I'm merely a hired sword."

Erich says, "with any luck I will talk to you soon."

Erich strides into the room, trying to keep his eyes open.

Lydia exclaims, "Good luck!"

Kestrel starts back, backs down the hall.

Kestrel exclaims, "Uh, yeah--good luck!"

Billings says, "As he approaches, the sphere zeroes in on him -- opens, engulfs him, and collapses. Erich is gone."

GM says, "As he approaches, the sphere zeroes in on him -- opens, engulfs him, and collapses. Erich is gone."

[interludes] GM has added Erich to the channel.

[interludes] GM says, "When you come to, your back is a bit sore, but you seem to be alive."

Kestrel asks (of Bowl), "Erich, you there?"

Kestrel listens to the bowl for a zhwoomfing sound.

[interludes] GM says, "Or at least in a relatively pleasant afterlife. You smell sea salt, and you can hear some insistent sound at the back of your head."

[interludes] Erich says, "I'll sit up. If the insistent sound is the bowl, I'll answer."

[interludes] GM says, "Consciousness pieces itself together gradually: you feel sand under you, and the sound resolves into Kestrel's voice."

[interludes] GM says, "It's easy enough to follow it to the bowl."

[interludes] Erich asks, "Can I see water?"

[interludes] GM says, "Meanwhile, you notice a bit more of your surroundings: a table, which you might have partly landed on, with some papaers and things on it, some of which are blowing away."

[interludes] Erich exclaims, "Grab the papers!"

[interludes] GM says, "Yes, you do. To one side, you see the ocean. To the other -- but you're distracted by the papers. You manage to catch most of them."

[interludes] GM says, "A few may have escaped before you arrived."

Bowl says, "I am alive, and appear to be near water."

Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"

Lydia smiles.

Kestrel asks (of Bowl), "What time is it there?"

[interludes] GM says, "The beach you're standing on goes east and west; the ocean is souoth, and the sand gradually turns into trees to the north."

[interludes] Erich asks, "there's a good question. what time *is* it?"

[oneshot] Kestrel asks, "And, uh, what time is it here?"

[interludes] GM says, "It seems to be late afternoon or maybe early evening, as best you can tell."

[oneshot] GM says, "Early afternoon."

Erich says (from afar), "late afternoon getting on towards evening."

Erich says, "I am on an east-west beach, with the ocean to the south."

[interludes] GM says, "Around you, aside from the table and its contents, you notice a couple brooms. One's tightly tied to the bowl; the other's tightly tied to a bloody rock."

Kestrel says, "You brought your compass? Smart man."

[Crows-Nest] Erich says, "I have been sent back to Scott Adams's Pirate Island."

Kestrel asks, "Is it cold there? Warm?"

Kestrel asks, "Can you see the moon?"

[interludes] GM says, "(I'm assuming you're judging time and direction by the sun, of course. If you're in Terra's southern hemisphere, you're all confused.)"

Erich says, "no compass -- I am going by the sun."

[interludes] GM says, "It's quite warm, for evening. The moon's not out right now."

Erich says, "though if I am far enough south, my reckoning will be wrong."

Erich says, "it is warm; I do not see the moon."

Kestrel asks, "Have the papers all blown away?"

Erich says, "nearly. I caught most of them."

Kestrel says, "Excellent. I'll wake Billings."

Kestrel writes a note explaining everything that's happened, including Erich's description of the place and how to use the bowls.

Kestrel goes to wake Billings, hands him the bowl with the note inside.

[interludes] GM says, "Mmm, let's see. Somewhere to the north is either a small mountain enarish to you or a large one rather far away. To the west, the beach merges into marshes. To the east, it just gets rocky until it merges with the forest to the north."

Lydia asks (of Erich), "What does it feel like getting there?"

Billings asks, "Mrph? What'ssis?"

Kestrel explains that his friends are likely alive, and that Erich has travelled through the sphere and ended up on a beach. As there is safety in numbers, the three of us are all going to see if we can find the missing people and find a way back.

Kestrel says, "It's all in the note."

Erich says (to Lydia), "hard to say. I fell unconsious."

Erich says, "my back hurts a bit."

Billings asks, "Alive? John, and, and, Samuel? How... have you heard from them?"

Kestrel says, "Well, Erich went through and is on a beach."

[interludes] Billings says, "Any footprints that might have been on the beach previously have either washed away, or were erased by the wind."

Erich says (to Billings), "I've seen no sign of the others."

Erich says, "no footprints or notes."

Kestrel says, "So John and Samuel probably ended up the same place. We're going through to look for them."

Billings asks, "Through? Is it is a pocket, then?"

Billings asks, "With, ah, a hole in it?"

Erich says, "it appears to be a gate to elsewhere"

Lydia says, "Something like that."

Billings looks around, sees the bowl.

Erich says, "and perhaps elsewhen. insufficient data for a cogent hypothesis, as my teacher always said."

Kestrel says, "Somewhere a ways east of here, most likely."

Billings asks, "Oh, ah. Hmm. *Hmm.* Can you, er, control it?"

Erich says, "not to my knowledge"

Kestrel says, "That's a very good question. You probably could, with the right notes. But we don't know how the bowl works."

Kestrel says, "Which makes it more important to get John and Samuel back."

Erich says, "I am near a mountain, or perhaps a hill, and a marsh."

Billings nods, "Mmm."

Kestrel feels a sudden stab of homesickness.

Lydia asks, "Is there anything we should bring?"

Erich asks, "a way back?"

Kestrel . o O ( He couldn't be by the mirror sea, could he? In Ussura? )

Lydia says, "A small boat might fit in that room. But then again, someone can arrange that later."

Kestrel collects a week's rations for four, plus standard adventuring gear, plus his lute.

Erich says, "outdoor adventureing gear would be useful."

Billings says, "The, er, sword... thing... that Jemmy likes, he, er, brought with him."

Billings says, "Other things, ah, I'm not sure about."

Kestrel asks, "The other artifacts, you mean?"

Billings says, "Hmm? Ah. Right."

Lydia says, "There's a compass in my pack, if I remembered to pack it..."

Lydia says, "oops. oh no, there it is."

Kestrel asks (of Lydia), "Were there other items you found when Jemmy got his sword?"

Kestrel asks, "That might be useful?"

Lydia says, "There was a ring that did something with heat, and a rod that emits light."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "I bet Jota wants us to bring them with us, if only so the neat artifacts he thought up get some use ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "No comment :)"

Erich says, "both might be useful"

[Crows-Nest] GM won't even go into that nifty chalice that no one thought to drink out of.

Erich says, "especially the light rod"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Awww...."

Lydia asks (of Billings), "Could you get those for us?"

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) GM says, "Of course, you might not like being turn into toads for 2k2 hours."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel asks, "Should I ask for it, too?"

[Crows-Nest] Erich asks, "and have Billings sip from it?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel exclaims, "Yes!"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Hee hee hee."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia asks, "just checking, but that one was made up now, right?"

Billings asks, "Aw? I think that I could possibly arrange, er, locate those things, if you, er, think that might be of some sort of, ah, assistence. In locating the tohers. Mmm?"

Billings nods.

Kestrel says, "Yes, we do."

Billings goes off to locate them.

Erich says, "and Billings, should you be able to get hold of our other companions, their help would be most useful."

Lydia says, "Easier to get them now than later."

Kestrel bustles about getting everything else while Billings gets the items.

[Crows-Nest] Billings asks (of Lydia), "Which made up?"

Kestrel asks (of Bowl), "Can you tell the season?"

Erich says, "don't forget sausages"

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "the chalice"

Erich says (to Kestrel), "it is rather warm for it being near evening"

Erich says, "beyond that, no."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "No, there was a chalice in the ruin."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "oh, in the ruin."

[Crows-Nest] Lydia says, "I thought that was a 'pitcher'"

[interludes] Erich says, "while they're readying supplies, I'm going to untie the bowl and have a look around without going too far"

[interludes] GM asks, "Are you going to keep going tonight, or to set things aside for next week?"

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "No, it was a real chalice, not just a picture of one."

Lydia keeps the bowl, if Kestrel is getting supplies.

[interludes] GM asks, "OK. Which direction?"

[interludes] Erich says, "I'd like to quit soonish, perhaps when everyone comes through."

Kestrel returns triumphant. "I got some camping supplies, and I found the kitchen, where I found...

Kestrel holds up a bag of muffins.

[interludes] Erich says, "anyway, I'll have a look to the south a bit."

Lydia says, "Aha. If Jemmy returns before we do, he'll be forced to join us."

GM says, "Billings, true to his word, finds the reddish-gold ring and the black rod with the silver bulb on the end."

[interludes] GM says, "Wading? The water is cool, perfect for swimming."

[interludes] GM says, "It's salty, too. You're able to wade out a ways before it starts getting deep, although the undertow picks up a bit when you're about waist-deep and a dozen yards from shore."

[interludes] Erich asks, "any sign of a sand bar?"

[interludes] Erich says, "(I'll head back regardless. Just curious)"

[interludes] GM says, "The bed doesn't seem to ahve any noticable humps or valleys, that you found. You do feel slippery seaweed between your toes, and step on the occassion rock or shell."

Lydia asks, "Alright. Everything ready?"

Kestrel says, "Yup."

Lydia says, "I'll go first. When I'm conscious, you can follow."

GM says, "In the meantime, Dana shows up and gets a quick run-down of events thus far."

Kestrel hands the bowl back to Billings. "Keep this safe. If you need to contact us, you know how to do it, and likewise for us."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel says, "Oh, right."

Billings says, "Alright."

[Crows-Nest] Kestrel gets rations for 5 for a week, then, as he was getting extra for if they found folks.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Oh, and if possible, I'd like to get a spyglass."

Lydia takes a deep breath, lets it out, and walks into the room toward the bowl with the crystal.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Did I already mention that? I meant to."

[oneshot] Lydia says, "right, that and a piece of flint will start a fire."

[oneshot] GM says, "No problem. That's what booty is for, spending."

[oneshot] Kestrel says (to Lydia), "*thwap*"

GM says, "Like it did for Erich, the sphere engulfs her."

Kestrel asks (of bowl), "You OK?"

Kestrel listens for the zhwoomf again.

[interludes] GM says (to Erich), "The black sphere appears on the beach, growing from a pinpopint to a person-size and falling back to a pinpoint in a split second."

[interludes] GM says, "Lydia drops to the sand in its wake, unconsciouos."

[interludes] Erich goes to Lydia to check on her.

[interludes] GM has added Lydia to the channel.

[oneshot] Kestrel says, "Assuming so..."

Kestrel follows.

[interludes] GM says (to Lydia), "You slowly gain consciousness, to the souond and smell of the ocean..."

Erich says (to bowl), "Lydia has come through."

[interludes] GM says, "Again, the sphere appears from nowhere, grows and shrinks to nothing, this time leaving Kestrel behind."

[interludes] Lydia says, "umph. Hello. Nice relaxing place here."

GM says (to Kestrel), "And, like Lydia, you slowly wake to the soound and smell of the sea."

GM says, "To Be Continued."

[interludes] GM has removed Lydia from the channel.

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Woo!"

[interludes] GM has removed Erich from the channel.

[oneshot] GM says, "Three XP for everyone, plus a little one for Lydia for having to reveal Porte."

[oneshot] Kestrel exclaims, "Yay!"

[oneshot] Lydia asks, "a little XP?"

[oneshot] GM says, "Right. You have to use a smaller font if you put it on your character sheet."

[oneshot] Erich says, "you can use it for teh Small advantage"