Session 115

Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 13

Theresa: I think I'm ready. We're back in Chancel, right? Dante's romance-cover-carried a woman from Hell into the flowery meadow?
Knockwood: I what
Knockwood: ?

• • • Knockwood is now known as DanteE.
      

Angelo: you are in a grass fiels in the channel border, I think
Random_Nerd: Okay, now, you've just brought through your former damned humans. And a clingy imp.
Theresa: Very clingy. Check your wallet clingy.
Random_Nerd: Ready?
Theresa: Ready.
DanteE: (still clingy to my leg?)
Random_Nerd: ________________START____________________

• • • Angelo is now known as Angelo_with_popcorn.
      

Random_Nerd: (Sitting on your shoulder.)
Random_Nerd: The little demon shifts on Dante's shoulder, grabbing his ear for leverage for a moment.

• Theresa rubs her forehead. "Sam, William, do the Aides have anyone good with post-traumatic hell-visiting disorder?"
  

Random_Nerd: The damned souls shift about nervously.
Random_Nerd: William: "We probably can at least find someone who knows something about this. I'm sure people have tried this before."
Theresa: "I mean, I could just _make_ them be calm or happy or walk the rest of their lives on their hands but that would be...a cage."
Random_Nerd: A few of them start whispering to each other. You two can hear them pretty well.
Theresa: *listens*
Random_Nerd: They're planning to make an attempt to escape into the chancel-border in the hopes that either they'll get away, or you'll kill them.
DanteE: (If they die, do they go back to hell?)
Random_Nerd: (Not for sure. But most likely.)

• Theresa describes the Chancel, including the fact that the borders don't exactly exist and it's more a giant forest/jungle that'll just lead you back to here.
  

Random_Nerd: Little Demon: "Where is other demon? Can I meet other demon?"

• DanteE puts the woman he was carrying down
  

Random_Nerd: (This would be the woman that was yelling at you earlier, right?)
Theresa: (And who hit her head on the wall.)
DanteE: "Do you smell sulphur? Do you see red-shift in the light overhead?"
Random_Nerd: (Oh, and all of them are speaking various random languages, but since you're Nobles you can understand all of them. But not all of them can understand all the rest of them.)
Theresa: "Any questions? We will have accomidations for you with food and clothing and so forth. Please don't try to run away. I'm not sure where you would go if you died again.
DanteE: "Do you see the grass by your feet tryiong to bite them?
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "Look, it's not that simple. They do this trick a lot. I know you're putting a lot of effort into it, but I think we've all seen it before. Even if you're telling the truth, how can you expect us to believe it?"
Theresa: "You're right. I don't know how you guys could believe it. But then again, i don't want to _make_ you believe by force. What would be a good compromise for you?"
Random_Nerd: Guy Standing Next To Aaron: "So, you said this is Amyra, right?"
DanteE: "I've got it..."
DanteE: "Everyone: 'Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...'"
Random_Nerd: Little Demon: "Bad souls! Believe Noble. Be good."
Random_Nerd: Most of them stare at you as if you're crazy. One or two in the back join in.

• Theresa LCreates a note in King John's hand stating that the soul people had been brought in and one is a former king named Aaron the Whatever Number.
  

Theresa: (Correction, put it on his desk, it'll take a bit to ask every shrub where the King is.)
Theresa: "Dante, I think Hell can talk about God."

• DanteE finishes the prayer...
  

Random_Nerd: Woman Who Has A Speaking Part: "Yeah. It's not religious Hell. It's just general-purpose Hell. For that matter, some of the Angels still have chapels to that sneeze-god of theirs."
DanteE: "sneeze-god?"
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "You know, I think I may actually believe you. If this was a trick, you'd be better at it. And I doubt Hell is going to go into being so lame that it has to be true."
Theresa: (Cneph?)
Random_Nerd: Woman: "I forget. Cenoff or something. Sounds like a sneeze."

• Theresa smiles. "Hey, I'm very sure there is a Noble of Lameness. It's a prevalent piece of the universe and the prayer sounds like a facepalm."
  

Theresa: (What kind of miracle would it be to make all of them able to speak Amyran as well as their native tounge?)
Random_Nerd: William: "Okay. We do have a guy who's spent some time trying to help former damned humans recover. Rather like the ones you have talking to the plant-guys. Is there anything interesting I can say to win him over?"
Random_Nerd: (Let's see. Realm could do it. I guess you could make magical plants that sit in their speech-centers to do it, but that'd take a Lesser Change apiece and also be really creepy.)
DanteE: "What does he consider interestiung?
Theresa: "We'll publish his papers."

• • • Angelo_with_popcorn_ has joined #nobilis.
      
    • Angelo_with_popcorn_ is now known as Angelo.
      

Theresa: (Aww, when did we lose you?)

• • • Angelo_with_popcorn has signed off IRC (Ping timeout).
      

Random_Nerd: William: "Something unusual or unique. Hmm. What about the demons?"
Theresa: "You want Lesson headshrinked?"
Theresa: (I have a Realm of 0. How many points would it take for the Realm miracle for me?)
DanteE: "Does this guy on my head really qualify as Unique?"
Random_Nerd: William: "I don't know. But the idea of trying to rehabilitate two demons would either make him scream profanity or agree to come. Or both."
Random_Nerd: (More than you could do, even with MPs, I'm afraid. If you wanted to just zap knowledge into their brains, at least. If you want to go low-power, you could just do Lesser Preservations of Knowlege while they take language classes, to make the learning stick.)
Theresa: (Ah. What about with Dante's Realm 2?)
Random_Nerd: (Now, any of them could probably at least make simple concepts understood now. The language here as cognates elsewhere, and they've been exposed to a lot of different kinds of people.)
Theresa: "I would be wondering what would be meant by 'rehabilitate' for demons."
Random_Nerd: (But that'd be "Where is food?" rather than "And then I recalibrated the deflector dish to reverse the phase polarity.")
Random_Nerd: William: "You know, try to make them not be psychotic monsters?"
Theresa: (Oh come on, you mean you never learned the sign language for _that_?)
Random_Nerd: Little Demon, whispering to Dante: "Fancy human work for me, or I work for him?"
Theresa: (But they're _our_ psychotic monsters. At least Lesson is. Dante's imp is Dante's imp.)
DanteE: to Demon: "You work for him"
Random_Nerd: Little Demon pouts.
DanteE: (ding!)

• DanteE calls Lesson and asks him to report to our position
  

Random_Nerd: William: "I know the other demon, the big one, is useful now, but you can't tell me he's metnally healthy in human terms."
Random_Nerd: The Message Board conveys across the mental equivalent of a nod and a small bow from Lesson.
Random_Nerd: (err, mentally)

• DanteE picks up the Imp...
  

Random_Nerd: You get the itch of a prayer, Dante.
DanteE: "Here... (to the lady) command this Imp to do something. Nothing overly destructive..."

• DanteE answers the prayer
  

Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Request permission to take a helicopter. And a helicopter pilot."
Theresa: "Mentally healthy in a Wild Chancel is a profoundly interesting concept..."
Random_Nerd: The woman has the look that you would expect if Admiral Ackbar himself personally walked up to her and shouted "TRAP!"
Random_Nerd: Woman: "Bring me food and clothing, demon."
Theresa: (Take a helicopter where and for what?)

• DanteE to Lesson: "OK, but nothing too strenuous to the pilot. Or the copter."
  

Random_Nerd: The little demon looks up at Dante with a "Do I really haaaaaave to rake up the leaves, mom?" expression.
DanteE: "Do it."
Random_Nerd: The imp nods, and scurries off.
DanteE: (uh, does he know where to go?)
Theresa: (You know you're going to have imp urine on your bedspread soon, right?)
Random_Nerd: (No. He doesn't.)
Theresa: (You didn't give instructions, he's going to take the first food and clothing he finds. You perv.)
Random_Nerd: (He intends to go until he finds a human, and then yell at them until they tell him where to get food and clothing.)
DanteE: "Ooops... uh, Sam? Grab that Imp."
DanteE: "I forgot to tell him where the Mall is."
Random_Nerd: Samuel nods and starts to try, but the imp is faster than he is.
Random_Nerd: (Sam can't actually run all that fast, compared to a human. Rapid movements can hurt for his people.)
Random_Nerd: Sam: "Imp! Come back!"
DanteE: to the lady: "However... in just a minute, a demon will being you food and clothing. (calls Lesson)
Random_Nerd: Sam: "Demon! Do what I say, or there will be trouble."
Random_Nerd: The message board patches you through to Lesson.
Random_Nerd: The little demon turns around.
Random_Nerd: Little Demon: "What? Was doing what I was told!"
DanteE: "Lesson? Before you get too far, stop by the Mall and grab 9 soft bathrobes and ... (what food?)
Theresa: "Kinda like a malevolent kindergardener..."
Theresa: "Is anyone here vegitarian?"
Random_Nerd: Aaron looks at you.
Random_Nerd: He almost yells "We lived in Hell! For a very long time! If you live in Hell, you learn to eat anything that's organic and slower than you!"

• Theresa reads the face anyhow. "Got it. Dante, get the best cheeseburgers you can get. We'll worry about steak later."
  

Random_Nerd: Sam holds the imp in one of his hand-equivalents.
Random_Nerd: Sam: "Dante, what do you want me to do with the demon?"
Theresa: (Juggle?)
DanteE: to Lesson: "...and a steak dinner for 9. Put it on our card.'
DanteE: "Hand him back to me..."
Theresa: (Poor imp...he was following orders and now he gets male-Dionyl-handled.)
Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Will do."
Random_Nerd: Sam drifts back and hands the imp to Dante.
Random_Nerd: Little Demon: "Was doing what I was told! Good demon. Good."
DanteE: to the lady: "OK, tell him to do something he can do _here_.
Random_Nerd: Woman: "Dance for us. Dance for our amusement, until you fall over from exhaustion."
Random_Nerd: Sam sets the demon down.
Random_Nerd: It starts to do a very clumsy jig, while constantly glancing at Dante.
Theresa: "Do any of you have any questions about your new home?"
DanteE: "Now... personally, I don't intend for him to drop, cuz we just got him...
Random_Nerd: Guy in the back who hasn't talked before: "So, you're telling me that there's no catch, that we aren't going to have pits of porcupine-sharks appear under us?"
Random_Nerd: One damned soul whispering to another: "Are there actually porcupine sharks?"
Random_Nerd: The other shrugs.
DanteE: "But... in Hell, they would never allow you to command any demon, even the little ones... right?"
Random_Nerd: Woman: "Oh, they might. To punish the demon for doing something really bad. Seen it... twice. But the little one there didn't seem to do anything bad."
Random_Nerd: Woman: "So, either you're for real, or you're a bastard even by the standards of Hell."
DanteE: "Which of you are Amyran?"
Random_Nerd: Aaron holds up his hand, as do the two whispering about sharks.
Theresa: "Well, we'd like you guys to enjoy living here and to help be a part of this Chancel, so that might be a catch. But for the most part, yeah. Last time I checked, we have no porcupine-sharks, but a Wildlord _does_ rule here so I'd have to check."
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "Listen, humans! If anyone can't understand me, someone else try to get it across to me. I know what I'm doing. I lived in Hell for a very long time, and before that, I ruled a country. This one, actually."
DanteE: "And, there's one other thing..."
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "Go along with it. It'll be better for you even if it's a trap."
Random_Nerd: (Err, someone try to get it across to /them/)
DanteE: quietly, to William: "Did you ever get info on him?"
Random_Nerd: William: "King, if he's who they said he was. Not a very good one. Not Caligula-bad, but if a third of what they said in the history books he actually did, he's a very nasty person. I strongly suggest not giving him any authority."
Random_Nerd: William: "I would sooner trust the demon. /Either/ demon."
DanteE: "He related to John, or a different line?"
Random_Nerd: William: "Not his direct ancestor, as a couple times a brother inherited when the king had no sons. But he's his great great great etcetera uncle, twice removed."
Random_Nerd: William: "Please don't make him face this guy without a chance to prepare. He's a nice guy. I like him."

• DanteE fires off a Real-Div to see if Aaron is who he says he is.
  

DanteE: *Realm
Random_Nerd: He is.
DanteE: (Come to think of it...)

• Theresa LCreates more notes anywhere that I can think John might be. They are sealed with "For King John's Eyes Only, Signed Theresa, Noble of Plants and that means you!"
  

DanteE: Realm-Div: Why exactly did he wind up in Hell?
Random_Nerd: (Not so much for any particular act, as for being the sort of person who belongs there in general. He hurt people because he wanted to and he could, and he had enough power to indulge himself quite a bit. So, when he died, Hell had a very strong pull on him, and Heaven a very weak one.)
DanteE: (Which we could do with each one and maybe have 9 mini-plots 'fixing' it)
Random_Nerd: (Now, in theory it could have also involved other factors. You'd need a greater div to tell for sure. But that's what it tells you about his moral character.)
Random_Nerd: You hear the sound of faint music up and to the east.
Random_Nerd: (Ride of the Valkeries, actually.)
Theresa: "Oh _Dante_, you didn't give him the chopper with the DVD player on it, did you?"
DanteE: "I didn't give him a chopper, he appropriated one"
Random_Nerd: And, yep, Lesson.
Theresa: "Who has he been watching Apocolypse Now with?"
Theresa: (Demons Don't Surf, dear?)
Random_Nerd: Some of the damned souls dive and lie flat on the ground. One does it first, and then most of the others figure that he knows something they don't.

• DanteE looks at Samuel./
  

Random_Nerd: Sam: "I honestly thought showing him that movie would be a good idea."
Random_Nerd: William: "Why?"
Random_Nerd: Sam: "I don't know, closest I could figure to human movies dealing with the philosophy of Hell. Couldn't be books, since I don't think he can read, at least not well."

• DanteE makes a note to make Lesson literate...
  

Random_Nerd: The 'copter lands, with a complete lack of spraying napalm at any point.
Random_Nerd: Lesson, in suit, walks out, followed by two of the three-arm guys holding big bags.
Theresa: *to Lesson* "That was quite the entrance."
DanteE: "Right now, a demon is going to hand each of you a bathrobe and a steak dinner
Theresa: (Zoot suit or camo?)
Random_Nerd: Lesson glances over at the humans, and flinches.
Theresa: (Why flinches?)
Random_Nerd: He makes "Could I talk to you NOW PLEASE NOW?" gestures at you two.
DanteE: "One minute..."

• Theresa holds up a hand to the humans. "You all can get up now." *heads over to Lesson* "Whaaaaat?"
  
• DanteE goes to talk to Lesson
  

Random_Nerd: His normally-unexpressive face shows something close to panic.
Random_Nerd: L: "Those. Those humans what I think they are?"
Random_Nerd: Little Demon continues to dance in an increasingly clumsy way.
DanteE: "We just 'purchased' 9 formerly damned souls with 'artifacts' of Lord Entropy/
Random_Nerd: L: "Don't do this. Please. Don't. Not ready, not yet."
Theresa: "Dante, stop your imp before he collapses, please. Lesson, we traded some of Entropy's blood from our Council meeting for a set of souls from Hell. Is something wrong?"
DanteE: "Also an Imp."
DanteE: "Ah yeah..."
Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Don't make me be around damned humans. I beg you."
Random_Nerd: He clumsily gets down on his knees, grass-staining his pants.
Theresa: "Whoa, can you please explain for those who are Hell-challenged?"

• DanteE goes and tells the Imp to stop."
  

Random_Nerd: The imp falls down.
Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Spent a long time around people like that. Long time. Don't know how long in human time, but long. Habits. They look at me, and I know that look. Not that thing any more, don't think, but don't /know/. Don't want to risk it."
Random_Nerd: The little demon pants on the ground.
Random_Nerd: L: "And minor demons too? What are you trying to do to me? I'm not ready yet!"
Random_Nerd: L: "At least, please, don't leave me with them alone. Leave some human in charge of me. The one in the suit, or the king, or someone."
Theresa: "We'll make sure that it's okay, Lesson. The humans will be staying at a place Herb set up in town and they're going to be getting some psych help. Is it allowable for one of us to be in charge of you or does it have to be a regular human?"
Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Just don't leave me alone with them and in charge of them, please. At least don't do that to me."
DanteE: "Lesson? Bring these guys those robes and dinner, please."
Random_Nerd: He gets up.
Random_Nerd: L: "Yes, boss."
Random_Nerd: L: "You! Arm Guys! Uh... please bring me those bags. If you don't mind."
Random_Nerd: They look confused, but do so.
Random_Nerd: He takes a styrofoam box, and a set of utensils wrapped in a cloth napkin. He balances the utensils on the box, and then reaches with his other hand for a robe, which the other arm-guy hands him.
Random_Nerd: He then carefully walks over to the closest human, a woman with a middle-eastern look and no speaking part, and hands her the robe.
Random_Nerd: Then, as she puts it on, he opens the box, letting tasty steak smells drift out.
Random_Nerd: He puts it down in front of her.
Theresa: "Everyone will get robes and food."
Random_Nerd: L: "Didn't know what kind of steak you wanted. Better than food from Hell, though, even what I got. Enjoy."
Theresa: "Welcome to Amyra."
Random_Nerd: Then he nervously backs away from her.
Random_Nerd: (Oh, and he talked a sort of hell-pidgin-language, not in Amyran.)
Random_Nerd: She just stares at him, wordless, and then fastens the robe around her more tightly.
Random_Nerd: He repeats the process several times.
Random_Nerd: Aaron rubs at the scar on his chest.
DanteE: Describe the scar?
Random_Nerd: You healed it, I believe. It's closed over a big fist-sized puncture wound that went clear through his chest through to the other side, where he has a similar-looking scar.
Theresa: (My guess, torture or death wound.)
Random_Nerd: Lesson takes a break from handing out food and robes, goes to the stereo, and forcefully punches the power button.
DanteE: (sounds almost like a connanball hit)
Random_Nerd: Then he goes back to the food and the robes.
Random_Nerd: (Nah, then the exit wound would be bigger. Say, the size of his back.)
DanteE: (depends on what the cannonball was made of)
Random_Nerd: Lesson, quietly, after re-enacting the feeding-and-clothing: "If ever did anything to you, I apologize."
Theresa: (I want a plushy chibiLesson, but then again, I'm weird.)
DanteE: (Lesson was in Barakiel's pseudo-hell, right?)
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "I've decided to believe you."
Random_Nerd: (Lesson was from Barakiel's actual kingdom in Hell. He was brought along in a box to the pseudo-hell Chancel, in case they needed more demons.)
DanteE: quietly, to the others: "Who among us has the best rapport with John?"
Random_Nerd: (Theresa, or possibly Dante, I think.)
Theresa: "Ehh, maybe me. Want me to go break the news? I've been leafletting his palace since we came home."
DanteE: "Good idea. We definitely want him to hear about Aaron through us rather than through Aaron?
DanteE: (er, ?=." )
DanteE: (If Tpyo was a more active player we'd have a better game... :) )
Theresa: (We'd get her Excruciated...)
DanteE: "And...
Theresa: "Okay, I'll find John. Don't give Lesson a heart attack while I'm gone, don't freak out the new people and let me know if anything else happens..."
DanteE: "What if we find out why they wound up in hell...
DanteE: "and 'save' those who are redeemable?"
DanteE: (Aw, you never let me have fun... :) )
Theresa: "And what if they aren't redeemable? I don't think we kept the recipt."
DanteE: "Aaron...
Random_Nerd: He belts his robe around him.
Random_Nerd: Aaron: "Yes?"
Theresa: (She was a teacher, Dante. <g> She knows she needs to leave specific instructions or she'll come back to have of the countryside destroyed and the other half covered in marshmellows.)
DanteE: "I'm tempted to make him one of John's servants"
DanteE: (That's Snow, not me! :) )
Theresa: "What do you mean, 'make him one of John's servants'? John's got most of the country willing to do time at his digs."
Theresa: (In the meantime, Theresa will do a Realm Div of where King John is. Spending points.)
DanteE: "Trying out the 'object lesson' bit"
Random_Nerd: (He's in the palace, holding your note, and staring at a portrait in a hall filled with them.)
Theresa: (Cool. How far is the palace from here and how quick can Theresa get there by running?)

• DanteE Realm-Divs the reason another one wound up in hell.
  

Random_Nerd: (Pretty close. Five miles, say? You could get there most quickly by going to the nearest person with a car, taking it, and then driving. Unless you want to burn AMPs)
DanteE: (Grand Theft Auto: Kaerkoven?)
Theresa: "Okay, I'm off. Try not to cause trouble, Dante." *smile*
Random_Nerd: (Okay, of the nine, six of them including Aaron are there because they're genuinely not very good people. Two of them have gotten rather better, rather than worse, as a result of time in Hell. One was there because he caught the eye of a Power of Hell, who grew bored with him and tossed him into general population.)
Random_Nerd: (It isn't theft if you just have to ask nicely!)
DanteE: "Come on, Theresa, you know me. I cause trouble just by existing."
Random_Nerd: (And while Theresa is probably the lowest-prestige of the Nobles, she's still liked and would be recognized.)
Theresa: "Very true. Noble equals Trouble Magnet."

• Theresa runs to the nearest road and flags down the first car that will stop for her.
  

Theresa: (Aww, Theresa's liked? How sweet...)
DanteE: (More details on that last guy?)
DanteE: "Lesson." (motions him over.)
Random_Nerd: (You won't have chancelfolk throwing their underwear at you like Brian might, but people know who you are and in general are favorably disposed towards you.)
Random_Nerd: (The last guy was a fairly ordinary and rather attractive guy who, rather than going to Hell through dying and being sent there, got nabbed and dragged there.)
Theresa: (Thank goodness on the underwear thing. That's not Theresa's style. She's taught some of those people.)
DanteE: ((resists temptation to make a marijuana joke...))
Theresa: *to driver* "I am Theresa, Noble of Plants. I have urgent business at the palace. How fast can you get there?"
Random_Nerd: Lesson comes to Dante.
Theresa: (*plays the Lone Ranger Music in her head as the car speeds off*)
Random_Nerd: Driver: "Hmm. Do I have your permission to go as fast as I think I safely can? If so, very fast indeed."
DanteE: "You recall our orders regarding the people of Amyra?"
Random_Nerd: Lesson nods.
DanteE: "Tell me them, just to check."
Random_Nerd: L: "To protect them if I can, and only to harm one if needful in the defense of myself and others?"
Random_Nerd: L: "Oh, and only to the extent that is needed, then. Right?"
DanteE: "Right. First, these 9 are to be considered part of that group...
Random_Nerd: L: "Yes, boss."
Theresa: "Yes. I'll even pay any tickets you get. Just don't endanger the other citizens of Amyra."
DanteE: "However... 6 of them wound up There for good reasons."
Random_Nerd: Lesson nods.
Random_Nerd: L: "People in Hell are... different from people here. Worse."
DanteE: "We're going to try an experiment... see who's redeemable."
Random_Nerd: L: "Like with me?"
DanteE: "In a way.
DanteE: "a less surgical way, of course."
DanteE: "And...
DanteE: "Turns out Aaron there really was a former king."
Random_Nerd: L: "Is he in charge of me now?"
DanteE: "Not one whose rule we really talk about."
DanteE: "In charge? No. Treat him like the other citizens for now."
Random_Nerd: Lesson: "Yes, Dante."
Theresa: (Let me know when I get ot the palace. And does the driver wear a wedding ring?)
DanteE: "Also... make sure he doesn't cause too much trouble. And be careful with him."
Random_Nerd: (He does. He's in his mid-thirties, and there are some kids' toys in the back seat. But on the other hand, he's a very skilled driver, and seems to be pretty motivated.)
Random_Nerd: L: "Is there something to be worried about? He does seem like a leader, and that's not always a good thing."
DanteE: "That's what's to be worried about."
Random_Nerd: L: "Human leaders, in Hell, are a lot like us. Demons, I mean. They have less authority than a big demon like me, but they get it and keep it in the same way."
Random_Nerd: L: "I suggest that you be careful of him, and of that one." He points at the woman with a speaking part.
Theresa: (When we get to the palace, Theresa will LCreate a bouquet of perfect multicolor roses that will never wilt for him for his wife.)
DanteE: (What was her story?)
Random_Nerd: (She was one of the ones who got in Hell through being the sort of person who goes to Hell. You'd need a bigger div to get her life story, but she's rather like a gang leader or midrank mafioso in her outlook right now.)
Random_Nerd: (She protects people that she sees as "hers," but expects them to obey orders immediately, on threat of violence.)
DanteE: (Amyran?)
Random_Nerd: (One of the Amyrans was in her "group" but is now deferring to Aaron. Four of the others seem to take their cues from her, including the first woman Lesson fed and clothed._
Random_Nerd: )
Random_Nerd: Theresa, you arrive at the palace.
Theresa: *creates flowers* "Here you go, for your family. Thank you _very_ much."
DanteE: (So, they gave us a sort of 'working group'?)
Random_Nerd: (Yeah, a good chunk of one, along with some random people who happened to be standing near them at the time.)
DanteE: (Hm. Did I get a picture of their authority structure and interpersonal relationships from the divs?)
Random_Nerd: (Aaron, on the other hand, didn't run a crew in Hell before he was picked. He instead spent most of his recent time stuck to a wall like a butterfly. But he is good at getting people to do what he wants.)
Random_Nerd: (You have a general idea of it, but not one that's utterly detailed or reliable, especially with them in unfamiliar situations with two "leader-types.")

• Theresa heads into the palace, looking haughty at anyone that tries to stop her.
  

DanteE: "What's the place you found for them?"
Random_Nerd: As you pass the outer door of the "holy of holies" airlock-like thing, you see a pair of workmen putting screws and braces for three padlocks into the door.
DanteE: (uhoh)
Random_Nerd: (Was that to Lesson, or who?)
Random_Nerd: They nod to Theresa as she passes.
Theresa: "When was the order put in for those?"
DanteE: (I'm assuming I'm there with Lesson and the Aides. And any Nobles who got bored with horse-guarding... :) )
Theresa: (Herb set up a place for them, I think.)
Random_Nerd: (True. Shall we say William knows about it, since Lesson just found out about them?)
DanteE: (Good idea(
Random_Nerd: Workmen: "Seven minutes ago, or about. But His Majesty said it was urgent."
Random_Nerd: William: "Okay, now, there are rooms set up for them. Do you think they'll need to be guarded from other people, or other people guarded from them?"
Theresa: "Yep. Is he still in his rooms or has he headed off elsewhere?"
DanteE: "Mainly the latter."
Random_Nerd: The guy points: "He's over there. Is there something going on, ma'am?"
DanteE: (We brought in 9 Really Really Interesting people, didn't we?)
Random_Nerd: William: "Should I have the police get people to keep an eye on them?"
Random_Nerd: (Well, people from Hell tend not to be dull.)
DanteE: "If we can do it discreetly. You know the Big Boss frowns on actually confining people."
Theresa: "Somethng may be happening but I trust John's judgement. He's a very good man." *heads over to him*
Random_Nerd: William: "Perhaps you should have the demon do it. The big one, not the new one. I don't understand it, given all that happened, but the police here seem to respect him more than me, and he'd know better what kind of measures would need to be taken."
Random_Nerd: John looks up when Theresa comes over, adjusts his tie, and nervously jangles a keyring.
Random_Nerd: John: "I got your message." He points at the portrait he's looking at. "Does he really look like that?"
Random_Nerd: (He doesn't. The picture, if it's of Aaron II, was probably done by someone who had never met him, or else took huge liberties.)
Random_Nerd: The picture is of a man unhealthily fat, with a weak chin and generally europeanish features. Aaron himself seems to be much thinner, have more pronounced bone structure, and a rather more arabic look.

• Theresa squints at the picture. "Not really. Then again, I'd like to see what your portrait looks like in a couple hundred years if they don't have references." *smile* "Dante did confirm that it is the real deal, though. I got a chance to rescue some souls of people from Amyra from Hell and he was one of them."
  

Theresa: "I don't think you can stay chubby in Hell unless they're doing it to you on purpose."
Random_Nerd: John himself, in comparison, looks less middle-eastern than Aaron does, and more african.
DanteE: (Reminds me. Which ones & which backstories were the ones from Amyra?)
Random_Nerd: J: "So it's really him, then. I read about him, when I was younger."
Random_Nerd: (The two other than Aaron who were from Amyra are both deferring to him now. One of them, the meaner one, was in the woman's crew. The other, a not particularly cruel but very timid guy, is one of those who's actually gotten better.)
Random_Nerd: (All three are male.)
Theresa: "Anything in particular that we should know about him? Dante's taking care of him and the other eight at the moment. They're..not trusting us that this isn't all just a big trick and they're going to be fed to porcupine sharks when they accept it."
Random_Nerd: J: "Well, it can't all be true. You'd always get stories made up, when a king was as poorly liked as he was. But for them to have hated him that much, there has to be something to it."
Theresa: "Is there any rhyming slang still in use that is attributed to his rule?"
Random_Nerd: J: "You saw the locks I was having put up? It seemed a good idea. I don't know if the relics will listen to him or not, but I don't want to chance it."
Random_Nerd: J: "Not that I know of."
DanteE: (the spear acting funny? :) )
Theresa: "Good idea. I wouldn't chance it either. He got sent there for a reason. ...the Ark can't _produce_ Nazis, right?"
Random_Nerd: (The spear isn't active right now. It usually isn't.)
Random_Nerd: J: "Not as far as I know. But it's real. I mean, when I was younger, I used to wonder if it was just a bunch of old fakes that we took care of out of habit. But I've seen them wake up, now."
Theresa: *sheepish* "Yeah, sorry about that."
Random_Nerd: J: "At least I got my voicebox back and stopped coughing up blood."
Random_Nerd: J: "But do you think we should tell the people of Amyra about them?"
Theresa: "I don't know. We're going to try and keep them isolated for a bit. We're bringing in a shrink that has experience with this sort of thing. If we can't get them acclimated...we'll find some place for them."
DanteE: (might mention there are 3 redeemable)
Random_Nerd: John: "I'm worried. But... what kind of people are they? My relative, and the others?"
Theresa: (She doesn't know that.)
DanteE: (Dang.(
Theresa: "They are people who eventually ended up in Hell. Some were probably there because of what they did in life, maybe some were just brought there as we've brought them here. But they've survived. I just met them. Your ancestor seems to be a leader, but was also kept in some kind of collection by a powerful person in Hell. There was another strong woman in the group as well that we'll have to watch too."
Random_Nerd: John: "I think I should go calm down the relics. It's not a mandatory day for it, but it is permissible, and I'll be able to see if they seem active."
Random_Nerd: (I think we should stop soon.)
Theresa: "If they have anything to say to me, I'd be glad to listen."
Theresa: (I think around here's a good time to call a pause. It's been an active night tonight.  :) )
DanteE: (OK by me... though remember the 2-week gap)
Random_Nerd: (True. Anything else you want to get done?)
DanteE: (Well... assuming they finish their steaks and get to their new quarters without incident?)
Random_Nerd: John: "I really can't bring you in there, especially now. It's just how it is. But if they see mto tell me anything for you, I'll pass it along."
Theresa: "I would greatly appreciate it."
Random_Nerd: (Yeah. They mostly just sit there and eat until it's all gone, and then lick any remaining juices off the containers.)
DanteE: (We'll get them there, and keep an eye on them)
Random_Nerd: J: "And please, try to keep him away from them. I really don't want any plagues, and I'd rather not see another person impaled on an ancient spear."
Theresa: "Okay. We'll declare the palace off limits. Hopefully they'll be spending a good deal of time at first just adjusting."
DanteE: (Um... where exactly are their quarters?)
Random_Nerd: (Somewhere on the outskirts of Kaerkoven, right?)
DanteE: (Hm...)
Theresa: (SOunds like a good place. Not a lot of temptation.)
Random_Nerd: (Okay, let's call it a night.)
DanteE: (OK... "Hey, you! You're a night!")
Angelo: (k!)
Theresa: (Shiny armor and everything.)

• • • You are now known as BethE.
      

Random_Nerd: _________STOP__________

• • • DanteE is now known as Knockwood.
      

BethE: You do a very good job with NPCs, dear.
Knockwood: What exactly happened with Stories?
Angelo: Yes, they are really interesting!
Random_Nerd: Stories just hasn't gotten in touch with me lately.
Angelo: maybe are just the holidays?
Knockwood: we shed PCs worse that Law & Order
Knockwood: *than
Random_Nerd: Yeah.
Angelo: eh, big turn-over in 3 years...
BethE: Indeed.
Angelo: Weeùll, I crawl to bed...
BethE: Me too. Sleep sounds very good right now.  :)
BethE: Happy holidays, guys, and Happy New Year as well!
Angelo: But before I wish you all a merry Xmas and a good new year start
BethE: The Nettle Rite against this game is quite annoying.
Knockwood: how much work would it take to redeem these guys...
Random_Nerd: All, or some?
Knockwood: or at least set it up so they don't go right back to hell?
Random_Nerd: Hmm.
Knockwood: Handsome guy may be OK now...
Random_Nerd: Yeah. He went to Hell by bad luck rather than meric.
Knockwood: the two who 'learned' maybe with a little work...
Random_Nerd: I doubt that it'll be possible to save every single one of them.
Random_Nerd: But those three for sure with some work, and perhaps some of the others.
Knockwood: the rest may need Object Lesson
Knockwood: *Lessons
Knockwood: (I don't think I want Lesson to be involved with their Lessons... )
Random_Nerd: What did you think of Lesson's reaction to them?
BethE: I was intrigued. It was interesting to see Lesson break down again and to be forthright with how far he's been working on his attitudes.
Knockwood: Definitely a change from the whimpering schmuck we were first introduced to. :)
BethE: Yep.
Knockwood: Now I'm wondering what we can do with the Imp
Knockwood: Did we actually convince them they aren't still in Hell?
BethE: Be very careful in your instructions. He's going to take everything you say literally.
Random_Nerd: Some are convinced.
Random_Nerd: Others are at least willing to play along.
Knockwood: Then again... why wasn't Handsome Guy stopped by the 2 angels guarding the gates to Hell?
BethE: Maybe he was brought in a back way?
Random_Nerd: Yeah, it's possible to sneak a human in if you really try.
Knockwood: so he was a demon prince's boy toy, discarded when he got bored?
Random_Nerd: More or less. A Power of Hell got bored, grabbed him, played with him for a while, and then got bored again.
Knockwood: ... was it at least a cute Succubus? :)
Random_Nerd: Eh, Powers of Hell don't really go in for "cute."
Knockwood: Earlier this week I wound up deleting the 'Succubi' motivational poster I made for the thread cuz the artist complained...
BethE: Better than Dark's fashion shows.
BethE: Aww. Too much boobs?
Knockwood: you might have seen it... go to klar.deviantart.com and look for 'Perg in Reds'
BethE: Oh, wait, artist complained. Huh, not sure I've seen the artist complaining before.
BethE: *looks*
Knockwood: (I'd send a link, but I have that new bug where browsers stop loading pages after a while, damn it)
Knockwood: find it?
Random_Nerd: Yah
Knockwood: My text: "SUCCUBI: Demon, shmemon, you'd still hit that."
BethE: Heh.  :)
BethE: Well, I'm off to sleep. Happy holidays, Knock. *HUG*
Knockwood: same to you two
Knockwood: Merry Happy and a Xmas New Year.
Knockwood: ...Tpyo!

Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 13