Session 168

Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 20

[INFO] Now logging to {file:///C:/Users/Angelo/AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/jp1xrpq3.default/chatzilla/logs/irc.magicstar.net/channels/%23Nobilis.2010-05-21.log}.
[INFO] Channel view for ``#Nobilis opened.
=-= User mode for Angelo is now +ix
--}| YOU (Angelo) have joined #Nobilis
{Angelo} Hi guys!
--}| BethE (~BethL@MagicStar-4BF6DF39.hsd1.il.comcast.net) has joined #Nobilis
{Angelo} Hi Beth
{BethE} Hi guys! *HUGS*
{Verithe} Hello!
{lazarus} hey Beth! Angelo!
{BethE} RN is logging in.
--}| Random_Nerd (~scree-fic@MagicStar-4BF6DF39.hsd1.il.comcast.net) has joined #Nobilis
{Angelo} Hi RN!
--}| Knockwood (~tmccord@24.205.206.IP) has joined #Nobilis
{Angelo} Hi knock!
{lazarus} hey RN! Kwd.
{Knockwood} Hiyo! Long time no see!
{lazarus} RN: there's a thread on RPGnet asking if anyone's playing Nobilis games, again :p
{Angelo} true k!
{Knockwood} Now let's ... uh ... wipe out that orc camp?
{Angelo} well, for 2 week we don't played...
{Knockwood} (BTW, I'm on my laptop rather than my desktop cuz it's having problems with Firefox again
{Knockwood} (But, this sometimes disconnects from the wireless for no discernible reason...)
{lazarus} I'm considering moving to a laptop in order to cook dinner. (yep, that means I'd like to leave earlier than normal this week - perhaps 11PM my time? - currently 9:40)
{Random_Nerd} Okay, so, let me check where we were when we left off.
{Angelo} well, I hope this time we _do_ something. Last session we spoke on getting an Aide and well... nothing more
=-= Mode #Nobilis +o Random_Nerd by Verithe
=-= Mode #Nobilis -o Verithe by Verithe
{Angelo} Sam wrote the new aide quality on a notebook (paper version one)
{Angelo} T. was elemental-ized on a chair with Will that came with fertilizer
{Angelo} Kite was bandaged in human form
{Knockwood} must be Ftisk-proof. Must not be prone to brain explosions.
{Angelo} Dante and Ftisk argued on sacrifices to the Imp’s made statues
{Random_Nerd} Dante joined the army. Brian sold his kidneys on ebay...
{lazarus} yeah, but I've always got more of those.
=-= lazarus is now known as Brian
{BethE} Dante's kidneys or Brian's?
{Random_Nerd} One of each.
{Angelo} is right.
{Angelo} there a equilibrium in it
{BethE} Brian's would go for more on Amyra's market.
{Angelo} sure!
{Random_Nerd} Ah, but ebay isn't in Amyra.
{Angelo} but we have local internet
{Knockwood} OK, I think someone got footage of Ftisk...
{Angelo} eh? what?
{Random_Nerd} The rocket-snail video?
{BethE} (Knock - is there a program that let's you do word processing that is automatically translated to wiki-like?)
{Knockwood} RN: yep. Beth: not that I know of...
{Angelo} @K+RN: what video?
{BethE} (Drat.)
{Random_Nerd} http://www.maniacworld.com/snail-transformer.html
{Knockwood} hm... http://luchkina.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2jfovg
{Angelo} the video was posted by Beth some sessions ago
{Knockwood} heh... same image
{Angelo} ah, Beth, you can use some extended macros in PSPad to change a text document into something more wiki like
{BethE} RN's is longer.
{BethE} Hmm, I'll have to look into that. I'm pondering the effort of making a Shadow Creek wiki.
{Angelo} oh, really it is! WOW!
{Random_Nerd} So, let's see. Any questions before we start?
{BethE} Will soaking in dirt and fertilizer help me to heal quicker?
{Knockwood} how's Kite doing?
{Angelo} well, I don't feel Ftiskrand...
{Random_Nerd} Hmm... it won't have an effect on a level that will show up in the mechanics, but it may make Theresa feel better, at least.
{Random_Nerd} Same as the bandages on Ftisk, really.
{Verithe} How much time has passed?
{Knockwood} she'll heal in a couple days without spending AMPs, right?
{Angelo} I believe a day max
{Random_Nerd} I'd have to check the chart. She's Durant, right?
{BethE} We just got back, I thought.
{BethE} ANd yes, she is.
{Random_Nerd} In a week without any MPs.
{Random_Nerd} In a day with one.
{Knockwood} hm... maybe we should take a minute to check out all the loose ends...
{BethE} Which ones? I just need to plant the acorn.
{Knockwood} Walter the Sheepdog thinks he forgot to do something...
{BethE} Ah, yes, now I remember that. Not that we know what he's talking about.
{Angelo} oh,c right K
{Angelo} T. found a scissor with a Ophaniel msg attached: Walter try to remember something .. or a likely message
{Brian} which one is Walter?
{Knockwood} the dog we gave to Ophaniel
{Angelo} The 3year champion shepherd dog we gave to Ophaniel
{Brian} ah.
{Knockwood} (BTW, anyone besides me using Linux?)
{Angelo} (I for a while, the changed laptop and the new have xp)
{Verithe} (Not yet)
{Random_Nerd} (Not right now.)
{Brian} (I sometimes do, but not atm. And not for a few years, and haven't looked at wireless networking since)
{Random_Nerd} So, shall we get going?
{Knockwood} (I ask because I've been doing a little project using Semantik, a mind-mapper program with some neat features)
{BethE} (Uh...I use a computer...)
=-= BethE is now known as Theresa
{Brian} (that neither)
=-= Knockwood is now known as DanteE
{Random_Nerd} Oh, wait, one question. There's two ways I could play some of this story arc, slow or fast.
=-= Verithe is now known as Kite
{Random_Nerd} I'm inclined to go with the latter approach, since we've had a gap. That okay with you guys?
{Angelo} medium not ? :-P
{Brian} I think I prefer fast.
{DanteE} I could go either way...
{DanteE} but, are you just talking about the Aide thing?
{Kite} I'm fine with either, but I don't know the details.
{Angelo} no opinion: we tend to transform a fast something in to a slow one.
{Brian} and sometimes vice versa
{Angelo} (demonboxing champion we are !)
{DanteE} gotta agree with Angelo. :)
{Theresa} I'd say fast, since we'll slow it.
{Random_Nerd} Not the aide thing...
{Random_Nerd} Eh, let's see how it works.
{Random_Nerd} __________START_____________
{Theresa} (Where we left off or later?)
=-= YOU are now known as Conrad
{Random_Nerd} (Shall we say the next day or so?)
{Brian} (sure)
{Random_Nerd} (Let's start with Theresa and the Acorn.)
{Conrad} (when you talk of a plot seed)
{DanteE} "Do you want some kind of ceremony for this?"
{Theresa} (He ain't kidding.)
{DanteE} "... wait, we're on a college campus, it'll devolve into a beer bash."

• Theresa eyeballs the distance from the other trees to insure that there isn't overcrowding.
  

{Theresa} "Nah, seeds get planted all of the time, everywhere. It's as ceremonial as breathing."
{Kite} "Will it be an honorable oak or a violent one?"

• DanteE collects the index cards from the table..."
  

{Random_Nerd} (Yes.)

• Theresa walks to the Maple. "Hello, again." *smile*
  

{Random_Nerd} (You using mythic sight, or prosaic?)
{Theresa} (Mythic, please.)
{Conrad} (Conrad is busy in some divination)
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "Good afternoon."
{Theresa} "I have a new resident for the Grove. He's young but I would like your opinion of where best to put him."
{Theresa} *shows the acorn*
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "Not too close, those guys can grow pretty tall. Maybe over there?" *gestures across the clearing*
{DanteE} (isn't the Maple preserved?)
{Theresa} "Very well. He's a brave one. Attacked two enemies outside of the Chancel. Kudzu suggested planting here in the Grove."
{Random_Nerd} (Sure, but he doesn't want some punk oak messing up his shade in sixty years.)
{Theresa} (Yes, but still...kinda what he said.)
{Theresa} *talks to the acorn* "This will be your new home. You will grow well and fast and strong. This place is special, both to me and to my Imperator. Got it, short stuff?"
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "Animate? Like that ash tree kid?"
{DanteE} (how 'special' is the acorn, really?)
{Random_Nerd} (Hmm... It's been the subject of two Lesser Changes. So, moderately?)
{Theresa} *to the Maple* "No, I don't think this one will want to move around. The ash tree is a...unique case. He used to be a human and got turned into a tree."
{DanteE} (Who's with us?)
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "And the tall guy?"
{Brian} (*raises hand*)
{Theresa} *plants* *reburies* *pats the ground*
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "With the cows?"
{DanteE} (How about NPCs?)
{Theresa} "Oh, Red? He's a...I keep using the word 'special', don't I? He actually _did_ want to move around. He's a guardian of the chancel, hence the extra arms. The cows are his...companions. But Red started out as a tree...and is still pretty much a tree. Does he come by here?"
{Random_Nerd} (Which ones do you want?)
{Random_Nerd} Maple: "Stops by, sometimes."
{DanteE} (was gonna ask an Aide for what/how the Bureau is doing.)
{Random_Nerd} (Okay, let's say Sam's there, because you have William working on something else.)
{Theresa} "I'm glad you two have met. I hope his cows haven't been a bother."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "I never really did get the cow thing."
{DanteE} "Sam, how's the Bureau doing as far as changing everybody who wants changing?"
{Theresa} "He felt the need for...pets. Someone to take care of. On less level than a goldfish."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "When last I heard, they're most of the way done to turning people back into humans."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "And the shrinks are still trying to figure out what to do about the people who want to go from human to something else."
{Theresa} (And then there's Alan, who's waiting to be asked to be on Dancing with the Stars...)
{DanteE} "Can you give me a breakdown of those guys?"
{Kite} (Can he dance?)
{Theresa} (Irrelevant?  :) )
{Conrad} (Alan = triffid boy?)
{DanteE} (suddenly got an image of the Amyran Dragon Dragoons...)
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Let's see. Vampires and elves are the top two categories. There's a guy who wants to turn into a talking cat, and a woman who wants to turn into a horse. And some other stuff I'm forgetting."
{Kite} (Dancing with a tree sounds dangerous.)
{Theresa} (Yep, Alan is the walking tree who likes to make triffid sounds.)
{DanteE} "... that last one's not named Catherine, is she?"
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "That's a joke that I'm not getting, isn't it?"
{DanteE} "Fake history, Sam. I'll tell you later."
{Theresa} (Urg. We have otherkin in our chancel?)
{Theresa} (I had forgotten.)
{Theresa} (Theresa would have brought some water with fertilizer in it for the planting. She waters liberally.)
{Kite} (Whatever became of giant jackal man?)
{Brian} (technically, not otherkin. Well, some of them.)
{Random_Nerd} (He's trying to decide whether he wants to be converted.)
{DanteE} "Once you're done, I'd like to go on a short side trip..."
{Kite} (Ah)
{DanteE} (is Conrad with us?)
{Conrad} (yep)
{DanteE} "inside Kudzu's head. So to speak."
{Theresa} "I think we're done here. If anything out of the...if anything _bad_ happens, I'm sure the Maple would let me know or any plant being in the grove can get a hold of me."
{Brian} "Dante: huh?"
{Random_Nerd} Dante, you feel the faint itching of a prayer. It feels slightly odd, different from most of the ones you've received.
{Theresa} (Ouch...now I'm having flashbacks to Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dante.)
{DanteE} "Heh... yeah, Theresa, we do 'out of the ordinary' regularly. :) "

• DanteE answers the prayer...
  

{Random_Nerd} Maple: "I'm good at watching things and keeping an eye out for something bad happening."
{DanteE} "Hang on, I may be being paged..."
{Random_Nerd} Prayer: Whining sound, like a dog that just got kicked. Various scent impressions, harsh animal smells. Big terrified canine eyes. Whimper. Growl that fades off into a whimper.

• Conrad wait flying back midair
  

{DanteE} "... by a dog..."
{DanteE} localize the prayer?
{Conrad} (is Walter?)
{Random_Nerd} (It's not Walter. Dante would be able to recognize his voice.)
{Random_Nerd} How are you attempting to localize it?
{Kite} "I've never been prayer-called by a dog. What's it feel like?"
{DanteE} (Or part of the pack we just gave to the Odin-wannabe)
{Conrad} (Well Dante is Courage...)
{Theresa} (Oh, poor doggie.  :( )
{Theresa} (I would say it wouldn't have to be a dog we know. Just someone desparate for help.)
{DanteE} Div-Courage, I think.
{Brian} (someone who could pray to Dante - so someone who has a name for him)
{Random_Nerd} (You're about 90% sure that it's not one of the dogs you saw the other day.)
{DanteE} (or, who has a name for Courage.)
{Conrad} (is the name really need, not only the estate?)
{DanteE} (Don't prayers have caller ID?)
{Random_Nerd} (It has to be either someone who knows one of Dante's floral designs, or has a strong connection with his Estate in some way.)
{Random_Nerd} (Not as such. If it's someone you know, you can recognize their voice, and so on.)
{DanteE} GDiv-Courage to locate whoever’s be scared enough to call me
{Random_Nerd} (Okay, what are you doing a divination for? Scared dogs?)
{DanteE} ^
{Brian} (Couldn't you GDiv-Courage for the person who just prayed to you?)
{Random_Nerd} (Okay, there are currently seven million individuals who are scared enough to pray in this way. Of them, 10,000 or so are mammals that are on earth. 500 are dogs. 20 are dogs that are closely connected with Courage in some way. 3 of those dogs are all in the same city.)
{DanteE} (Where?)
{Random_Nerd} (London. Southern side.)
{Brian} (Did Daleks just land again?)
{Conrad} (Dalek?)
{DanteE} "... I think I was paged by a dog on the south side of London. Strange."
{Kite} (Dr. Who reference)
{Brian} (Doctor Who villain)
{Theresa} "Then, let's go to London."
{Brian} "Always wanted to go there"
{Conrad} (Never see Dr. Who)
{Kite} "They like fish in London."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "London... I know this one. South side of London... passage close to Kaerkoven... I got it."
{Theresa} "Want to come along, Sam? We can get you a fluffy hat like the guards there wear."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Yeah! Never been there."
{DanteE} "All aboard the Bat... I mean Dante-Mobile. They drive on the left, correct?"
{Brian} "Can you reconfigure it for UK-driving?"

• Theresa pats the trunk of the Maple. "Let me know if the kid causes trouble, please?"
  

{Theresa} (Does Sam have his pollen with him?)
{Random_Nerd} (Yeah. He keeps it in a little box that he brings with him in general.)
{Theresa} (Coolness.)
{Theresa} (I'm good with speeding ahead to London. I love London. Wonderful plants there, especially in the spring, when lots of folks have pansies in their windowboxes.)

• Conrad embody into Joe, normal human
  

{Random_Nerd} (Any people or supplies you'd be bringing?)
{Brian} (apart from Sam, not that I can think of)
{Conrad} (the eyes have the stars trick when in a different body?)
{DanteE} (uhoh)
{Kite} (Local currency)
{Random_Nerd} (Yes. Whenever you change forms, if you have eyes or an equivalent, there're stars.)
{Conrad} (ok, was not remembering if the stars will stay. Thank you)
{DanteE} "WE could have William grab supplies and meet us at the passage..."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Okay, what do you need?"
{Brian} "What supplies would we need? We could presumably get fresh meat there if we need to lure a dog"
{Theresa} (Brian can LC a number of money.)
{Brian} (plus, infinite credit cards.)
{DanteE} "... a large box of milk-bones, I think. And everybody load up on your usual supplies..."

• DanteE has his usual ridiculous number of sharp things.
  

{DanteE} (BTW, Theresa, Brian, have you considered spending some CPs?)
{Random_Nerd} (So, cut to you guys arriving in south London?)
{Conrad} (suuure)
{Brian} (Do I have any free CPs? I can't remember. I've been saving up to buy High Summoning stats for a while)
{Theresa} (Some but I don't have anything ready. Thinking about some sort of Gift.)
{DanteE} (Ayep. Is William with us or holding down the fort?)
{Brian} (cut is ok)
{Theresa} (Sounds good. And I think Sam should be enough mortal backup.)
{DanteE} "By the way, Sam, I've been meaning to ask... can you communicate with William when you're in separate dimensions?"
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Technically speaking, I can't directly communicate with William at all. But I can put information in the oracle in a place that he knows to check frequently, and I can do that from anywhere I've been since I became a full Aide."
{Kite} "London's always foggy, right? I've heard London is foggy."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "So... yes, broadly speaking.
{Brian} "London is sometimes foggy."
{Random_Nerd} As you drive through the borderlands, Sam does a pretty decent imitation of the Doctor Who theme music.
{Kite} "That's less exciting. Most everywhere is sometimes foggy."
{Theresa} "That's...quite the talent, Sam. Do you have a screwdriver too?"
{Brian} "In other London news, have you guys seen the 2012 Olympic mascots yet?" (yep, IC)
{Random_Nerd} The Dantemobile pulls out of the back outer wall of a supermarket.
{DanteE} "The ones that look like the aliens from the Simpsons?"
{Kite} "I was rather proud of them."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Uh, not on me. By the way, you humans don't have sonic screwdrivers, do you?"
{Brian} "No, Sam, no Sonic Screwdrivers. Although it would be awesome to have one."

• DanteE looks for the dogs with an lDiv
  

{Theresa} "We don't have them yet, that I know of."
{Theresa} (Kite made the mascots?)
{DanteE} "Well, Physics might."
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "See, that confuses me. Because we /do/. They don't do all the things they did on the show, though."
{Brian} "Can you get me one? It would be neat to see if they work here."
{Kite} (Perhaps?)
{Theresa} (What was he _on_ at the time? *grin*)
{DanteE} "Now, we're looking for a dog who knows how to pray to Courage. Which is rather odd to begin with."
{Random_Nerd} Sam takes out his cigar-box of magic pollen, shakes it over himself, and suddenly looks like a short indian guy in a colorful coat.

• Theresa makes mental note to get Sam a fluffy hat before we go home.
  

{Random_Nerd} Sam: "I can see about getting one the next time we go to Dionyl, I suppose."
{Kite} (He was trying to find out what cats see in catnip at the same time as he was trying to find out what humans see in LSD...maybe....)
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "So, what, we find a dog, and ask it if it knows anyone scared?"
{DanteE} "I'm looking for scared dogs now..."
{Brian} "Hm, I'm interested in something..." (LDiv of Number Of Dogs In London Who Know How To Pray To Courage)
{DanteE} How does the area look in Mythic?
{Random_Nerd} (Seven.)
{Brian} "There's apparently 7 dogs in London who know how to pray to Courage"
{Random_Nerd} (If you only count the ones who're close enough to it that they could make it work.)
{Brian} (I suppose that could be an assumed restriction)
{DanteE} "Come to think of it... I've never been to London.
{Conrad} "me to"
{Random_Nerd} Mythically, it looks even shabbier than it did prosaically. The streetlight-nymphs look old and tired, and the sidewalks are drinking something out of paper bags.
{DanteE} "If they're praying to Courage they might not be praying to _me_."

• Brian looks around "well, you've been now"
  

{DanteE} "Where's the closest one?"
{DanteE} and any results from my Div?
{Random_Nerd} (Looking for scared dogs, for the same dog, or what?)
{Brian} "I don't think I can find the closest one, just how many there are"
{DanteE} (The same dog who called me, if possible)
{Kite} (Fermented antifreeze?)
{DanteE} (aaaand remember the last time we saw a spirit 'drinking'?)
{Brian} (no?)
{Random_Nerd} (You didn't get a clear enough idea of the dog that called on you to be positive, but you've located the nearest nexus of canine fear. It's about a quarter mile southeast of where you are.)
{Theresa} (Balestone.)
{Random_Nerd} (And it feels right.)
{DanteE} "This way."
{Theresa} (The last time we saw a drinking spirit, it had been affected by a Scrunchie balestone in Mexico.)

• DanteE heads there.
  
• Theresa follows.
  
• Brian tags along
  

{DanteE} (We're in my car, remember)

• Conrad floats along
  
• Kite rides along.
  

{Brian} (hence tagging along and not following :p)
{Random_Nerd} On the way, you pass several dogs that you're pretty sure aren't the right ones. They still look a bit confused and dejected, though.
{Conrad} (well I can float inside the car...)
{DanteE} "Sam, who's the current Power of Dogs?"
{Kite} "Put your seatbelt on!"

• Conrad grundgly return to my seat "yes mama"
  

{Random_Nerd} Sam: "Dogs... dogs... is there one? There's the Chase, there's Domestic Animals, but is there a Dogs?"
{Theresa} (Conrad isn't Durant, so there.  ;P )
{DanteE} "I think we're here..."
{DanteE} (What time is it locally?)
{Conrad} (well Conrad return from the excru fight in better shape tat T. that was durant...)
{Random_Nerd} You've pulled over to what seems to be an abandoned building. Most of the windows are boarded over, and here, some of the humans seem to be shabby alcoholics, as well as the inanimate scenery.
{DanteE} (Check things out in Sight & Mythic)
{Theresa} (Them's fightin' words, snailboy.)
{Brian} (I'd like to get going to cook my dinner; haven't eaten yet. Feel free to continue, but this looks like a good spot for me to disappear for the night?)
{Random_Nerd} Mythically, above the door, and on the walls, are little paintings that say "This is my place! I'm a dog!" in a word balloon next to a little picture of a dog.
{Brian} (hee!)
{Theresa} "Oh no...not a dog fight ring?"
{Random_Nerd} To the Sight, there might be something dimly glowing inside, but you can't see it clearly through the walls.
{DanteE} "Something's in there...
{DanteE} "Sam, stay back."
{Random_Nerd} All of you can smell something bad. Like roadkill that's had the better part of a week to get nice and mellow.
{Kite} "Did a dog mark his territory above the door?"
{Conrad} "Where ? where?"
{Theresa} "That's...talent."
{Random_Nerd} (The dogs actually just marked the doorframe, but mythic reality is not always entirely literal in its correspondances.)
{DanteE} "Well, there's a slight chance that that's our Imperator-boss..."
{Kite} (Ah)
{Random_Nerd} (Interestingly, if you were dogs looking at the mythic, you would see a brass nameplate on a door as a pungent smell emanating from the doorframe.)
{Theresa} (Does this feel similar to how it felt around the balestone (am I getting the word right?) in Mexico?)
{Random_Nerd} (Less so.)
{DanteE} (Anything remind us of Ha'Q-B?)
{Random_Nerd} (It's like the difference between a firebomb and a forest fire. One's more intense, but both leave the area charred.)
{DanteE} (remember, last time we saw him he was a rotting dog...)
{Random_Nerd} (The smell is similar, actually. Not the same, but very similar.)
{Conrad} (his lost brother?)
{DanteE} (How do the drunks look?)
{Random_Nerd} (This isn't quite as intense a smell, but it's close.)
{Random_Nerd} The drunks look like they're not only hardly aware that you're there, but that they're hardly aware that /they're/ there.
{Theresa} "This place is hurting."

• DanteE goes to the nearest drunk...
  

{DanteE} "You know what's in there?"
{Random_Nerd} Drunk: "I don't want any trouble, mister."
{Random_Nerd} He starts to get up to walk away, but then just sits back down and stares right through Dante.
{Kite} "Well, let's play location-doctor."
{DanteE} what's he look like to the Sight?
{Random_Nerd} (The dull gray of a mundane human who hasn't been recently affected with greater miracles.)
{Random_Nerd} You all hear a whining animal sound from inside the building.
{DanteE} to drunk: "Leave."
{Random_Nerd} The drunk stumbles to his feet, stands blinking for a moment, but then starts to wander off.
{Kite} (We can fix that dull gray bit...")
{DanteE} "You guys want to try the direct approach?"
{Theresa} "We should hurry. It could be spreading."
{Theresa} "Direct works."
{Brian} "How well does that always go for us, Dante?"
{Conrad} "OK for direct"
{DanteE} "Get ready..."

• DanteE opens the door
  
• Conrad go into a shadow area and change into a big dog
  

{Random_Nerd} (What kind of dog?)
{DanteE} (Bull mastiff?)
{Random_Nerd} As you open the door, you see a pack of feral dogs scatter in fear.
{Conrad} (the one inbreeding a Doberman with a german shepherd)
{Theresa} (Saber-toothed jack russel terrier?)
{Random_Nerd} (I thought dobermans were already part german shepherd.)
{Conrad} (ohm right, then doberman... I know little to nothing of dogs)
{Random_Nerd} Most of them cower in the corners. One largish one at the center of the room struggles to get to its feet, and starts limping for the corners.
{Brian} (dog-speak) "Did someone here ask for Dante?"
=-= YOU are now known as doberConrad
{Kite} (Rottweiler?)
{Random_Nerd} The big dog in the center has two noteworthy traits. First, in the Mythic world, he has a tarnished copper crown bolted to his head. Second, he appears to be dead and rotting, but is still moving.
{DanteE} (Do you want big, or fast?)
{doberConrad} (big and used in fights)
{DanteE} (Pit bull)
{Random_Nerd} Two of the dogs bolt out of the shadows towards the slow-moving dog, and seem to try to shove him towards the back doorway.
=-= YOU are now known as pit_bull_Conrad
{DanteE} to the dogs: "Stop."
{Theresa} *dog* "We wish to talk to him."
{Random_Nerd} One of Conrad's eyes appears to be missing. In the other, stars slowly drift.

• pit_bull_Conrad go to sniff all the dogs
  

{Random_Nerd} Two of the terrified dogs seem to nerve themselves up and stand between Dante and the ones moving the slow dog away.
{Random_Nerd} Conrad, the dogs smell of hunger, fear, and of close proximity to a dead dog.

• DanteE approaches the big dog, pushing away his guardians...
  
• pit_bull_Conrad follow Dante
  

{Random_Nerd} Dante, a jack russel terrier with shabby fur tries very hard to sink his teeth into your ankle. A german sheperd makes a leap for your throat.
{Random_Nerd} Neither actually hurts you, but not for lack of trying.

• DanteE catches the shepherd and ignored the terrier.
  

{Theresa} (You could catch the leaping one by the throat...)
{Theresa} (I have the urge to yell "Sit!" using Irresistable, but they may never get up again.)

• DanteE gently tosses the dogs away...
  

{Random_Nerd} The bulldog and the large mutt continue to pull-drag the rotting dog away from Dante.
{Random_Nerd} The terrier tries to push at Dante's feet, to no avail.

• pit_bull_Conrad dart forward to the death dog.
  
• DanteE convinces them to stop with momentary Ghost-LDest-Courages
  

{Random_Nerd} The dogs slump to the ground, despairing.
{DanteE} Describe the big dog up close?
{Theresa} *dog* "Tell us what is happening here."
{Random_Nerd} The terrier looks up at Dante, and then turns its head to the side and exposes its own throat.
{DanteE} to terrier: *dog* sit.
{Random_Nerd} Terrier: "You can't touch him. We'll stop you."
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Somehow."
{pit_bull_Conrad} to the 2 dogs pulling the crowned one "Where you are pulling him? What happended here?"
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog, to Conrad: "You mean you don't /know/? You're just like the /other/ ones, then. Traitor!"
{Random_Nerd} All the dogs bark "Traitor! Traitor!" at Conrad.
{Theresa} "Might be better to switch forms, Conrad."
{pit_bull_Conrad} "I'm new here."
{pit_bull_Conrad} "right Theresa"
{DanteE} *dog, firmly* "Quiet!"

• pit_bull_Conrad run out of the room
  

{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "You're not really a dog. A dog would know. A real dog."
{DanteE} to big dog: "Who are you?"
{Theresa} (I look for the Real Scottsman!)
{Kite} "Could you please tell a very concerned bird?"
{Theresa} *to bulldog* "No, he is not a real dog. We do not know what is happening. Tell us."
{Random_Nerd} On closer examination, the big dog looks almost like a skinless dog that was shoved into the skin of another, slightly larger dog, about three weeks ago.
{Random_Nerd} Big Dog: "Everyone, I don't think I'm in danger. Let them talk."
{Random_Nerd} The other dogs stop barking.

• pit_bull_Conrad change into a snail
  

{pit_bull_Conrad} "wait! why snail?"

• pit_bull_Conrad change into Conrad
  

{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Most of the others ran away. They broke the faith. We're running out of us, now, our numbers going down faster than we can replace them."
=-= YOU are now known as Conrad
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "He'll need a new one, soon, and only a few of us are big enough."
{Theresa} "We are the Nobles of Plants, Courage, Numbers, Assembly and Metal. We have come to give assistance."
{Conrad} (T, not metal, heavy metal!)
{DanteE} "One of you may have just called me."
{Random_Nerd} Big Dog: "I have no idea what you're talking about, other than that you say you want to help."

• Conrad reenter the room
  

{Random_Nerd} Big Dog: "If you have to say anything that might upset them, make sure to say it in English. Or French, I guess."
{Random_Nerd} He scratches at his head, where mythically the crown is bolted onto his skull. The skin tears slightly when he does so.
{Brian} (French) "Who are you, then?"
{Brian} [really, I should be able to actually type it out in French, but that ability seems to be gone from me :(]
{Random_Nerd} (Since I don't actually speak French, it's just as well.)
{DanteE} Describe the crown?
{Random_Nerd} Big Dog: "My name is, or was, Mike Cook. Or possibly Tyler, depending on how you look at it."
{Conrad} "and what happen to you?"
{Kite} "I think that might depend on which alphabet you are using."
{Random_Nerd} The crown is made of copper, crudely hammered into a circlet. It's mostly greenish, now, but a few bright scratches show. It's attached to his head with iron brackets, fastened with bolts driven directly into his skull.
{Random_Nerd} Big Dog: "My wife cheated on me when I was away and divorced me when I came back. Everything else, all this, it's just... details."
{DanteE} (Hm, forced into leadership role?)
{Conrad} (I was more interested in the skin too large for him detail from before)
{Kite} "This is the formula for your current situation?"
{Random_Nerd} Crowned Dog: "That's the part I understand."
{DanteE} "How long have you been a dog?"
{Random_Nerd} He coughs violently, and spits up blood.
{Random_Nerd} Crowned Dog: "What year is this?"

• Brian Ghosts the year
  

{Conrad} (fun to do at parties Brian!)
{Random_Nerd} Crowned Dog: "About... sixty years, then."
{Brian} (oh, he does the clock thing a lot)
{Random_Nerd} He coughs more quietly, but doesn't bring anything up.
{Random_Nerd} Of the other dogs, all the ones that are about the same size as him go into a huddle, glancing nervously at each other.
{DanteE} "What exactly are you doing in a larger skin?
{Random_Nerd} Most of the dogs here are small, knee height or less. Only three are in the huddle, the large bulldog and the big grey mutt that were moving him earlier, and the german shepherd that went for Dante's throat.
{DanteE} (And what would happen if I zap-healed him?)
{Random_Nerd} Crowned Dog: "It wasn't my idea, okay! It's never my idea! But I can't just waste them, it would be disrespectful."
{Kite} "Ideas?"
{Random_Nerd} (If you've looked at him through the sight, you'd see that he has the faint glimmer of an Anchor.)
{Brian} "I don't even know where to start making sense of this"
{Conrad} "can't waste them?"
{Random_Nerd} Crowned: "Not after what they do for me. I don't ask them to do it! And there are hardly even any left..."
{Random_Nerd} He slumps to the ground.
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "It's time, isn't it?"
{Conrad} "maybe is he Ha'Quadosh Berakha anchor?"
{DanteE} (Possibility: he's the manifestation of the spirit of the pack, which is being pulled apart...
{Random_Nerd} (He's prosaically visible, though.)
{DanteE} (and the call I got earlier is a dog who was pulled away.)

• DanteE lays a hand on him...
  

{Random_Nerd} (It's not Ha'Quadosh Berakha. This is a /different/ mostly-dead dog.)
{Random_Nerd} (You think it might have been the bulldog, actually. The bark sounds similar.)
{DanteE} to the bulldog: "Did you call Courage?"
{Random_Nerd} Under his skin, you feel worms moving.
{Conrad} (creepy)
{Random_Nerd} Crowned: "It's not time! Just let me die! You don't need to keep doing this!"
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "You know the rules. The rest may break the faith, but we're still loyal."
{DanteE} "Who are you talking to?"
{Random_Nerd} The bulldog looks quizzically at Dante.
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Do I know you? I think I had a dream about you, once."

• DanteE looks under the skin...
  

{Brian} "Man, I wish I could figure out how to divine anchors or faiths or somesuch"
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "You've got a fake eye, don't you?"
{Random_Nerd} Under the skin is exposed muscle, which seems to be starting to rot as well.
{DanteE} to the Bulldog: "...yes, I do. I am the lord of Courage... but maybe not the one you know."
{Random_Nerd} And when you look closer, it's not like it's one dog in another dog's skin. It's like you skinned a dog, and then put it back in its own skin, still alive.
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Thank you! Thank you for coming to save us! Can you make the others come back?"
{DanteE} "Maybe."
{DanteE} to the big dog: "I can heal you. Do you want me to?"

• Theresa murmurs. "I am so confused. But so much pain here..."
  

{Random_Nerd} German Shepherd: "Pick one of us. It has to be one of the three of us, but we always have trouble deciding, and he's no help. He just says that it shouldn't be any of us."
{Random_Nerd} Crowned: "Shouldn't. Let me die."
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Can't. Rules."
{Brian} "What rules? Why rules?"
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Dog rules."
{Theresa} "Explain dog rules to me, please."
{DanteE} (Read "Call of the Wild". :) )
{Brian} (The simple answer would be to play Dog In The Vineyard and just make a Judgement, kill the crowned dog, and call it a day. But that's not what we'll do, of course...)

• Conrad data ldiv the dog rules
  

{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "You gotta show respect to bigger dogs. Not kill dogs that have submitted. You gotta defer to humans, even small or weak humans. You gotta be loyal. And you have to keep Mike Cook alive. It's in the rules."
{Brian} "..."
{Brian} "Who made that rule?"
{Random_Nerd} Ftiskrad, The rules are murky, because they aren't conscious memory, but rather instinct and training in the minds of dogs. But that stuff does seem to be in there.
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "It's in the /rules/."
{DanteE} "60 years is at least 4 generations of dogs... probably more like 12."
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "If you were a dog, you'd understand."
{Random_Nerd} German Shepherd: "Or maybe you wouldn't. Not now."
{Theresa} (That...is some punishment, I think.)
{Random_Nerd} Large Mutt: "Pick one of us! Pick!"
{Kite} "Is that a request or a demand?"
{Conrad} "These rule don't show up with a divination... can have been inserted by a noble... also the king dog have a faint anchor's aura"
{Brian} "Sam, quick, find out who Anchored a human named Mike Cook. Very little time here."
{Random_Nerd} Crowned: "There's no way to talk them around when they're like this. They'll get bossy, if they have to."
{DanteE} to Mike: "How exactly did you wind up a dog?"
{Random_Nerd} Mike: "I don't like to talk about it. Bad memories."
{Theresa} *to bulldog* "What will happen when you three are no more?"
{Random_Nerd} Sam: "I'll check the Oracle. Put it on the high priority list."
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Don't know. Gotta find more, more that're big enough. Gotta keep him alive."
{DanteE} to Mike: "You need to. Otherwise... they won't let you die."
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Okay, I guess it's my turn. Goodbye, guys. I was a good dog."
{Theresa} *to bulldog* "How long does a new body last?}"
{Random_Nerd} The bulldog starts to scratch at his chest.
{Random_Nerd} The other dogs, especially the crowned one, all look away.
{DanteE} "Stop!"
{Random_Nerd} The crowned dog cries a stream of maggots.
{Random_Nerd} The bulldog sticks one claw into his flesh, and then rips it all the way down his belly, like a zipper made of meat and blood.
{Random_Nerd} The crowned dog continues to sob.

• DanteE stops the bulldog...
  

{DanteE} "No. Don't do that. Wait."
{Random_Nerd} The bulldog's paw struggles in Dante's grasp.
{Random_Nerd} He's pushing hard enough that if you keep stopping him, his paw's going to break.

• DanteE lets him go...
  

{Random_Nerd} He gashes open his belly.
{Random_Nerd} The smaller dogs pull the gash apart, dog-organs and blood spilling out.
{Random_Nerd} Bulldog: "Good. Dog."
{Random_Nerd} Then the other big dogs start shoving the crowned dog towards the dying bulldog.
{DanteE} "... Sam, if there's a higher priority than high, do it.
{Random_Nerd} He struggles for a moment, but then gives in and walks over.
{Conrad} "oh my..."
{Theresa} *to the crowned dog* "You will accept this so you can be strong enough to tell us how to fix this. Don't let their lives be wasted!"
{Random_Nerd} He peels off his own skin, and stands there, a shaky skinless dog with his exposed muscles covered in maggots.
{Random_Nerd} The other dogs carefully lick him clean of all the rot and decay.
{Random_Nerd} Then he crawls inside the dead bulldog's chest. It doesn't seem like he should fit, but somehow he manages to push his way in.
{DanteE} "... and we'll see about making this the last one."
{Random_Nerd} Then the dead bulldog rolls around on the ground.
{Random_Nerd} His chest seals up, and his muzzle and legs lengthen.
{DanteE} "I think I get what happened...part of it anyway."
{Random_Nerd} After an incredibly unpleasant-looking moment, he stands up. The crown is in place on his head, and he looks much like the big dog did, only healthy and alive.
{Random_Nerd} All the other dogs bow their heads.
{Random_Nerd} The big dog continues to sob incoherently.
{Random_Nerd} All the other dogs: "He was a good dog. He did the right thing."
{Random_Nerd} _____________________STOP___________________________
=-= Brian is now known as lazarus
=-= YOU are now known as Angelo
=-= DanteE is now known as Knockwood
{lazarus} RN: this was a serious WTF session.
=-= Kite is now known as Verithe
{Angelo} seconded
{Random_Nerd} That was what I was going for.
{Verithe} ._.
{Random_Nerd} Too gore-filled?
{Angelo} and a bit creeepy one too
{Theresa} This was very big on the visuals. Good job, dear.
{Knockwood} I think I've got it... 60 years ago Mike Cook pissed off a Noble who decided to Anchor him...\
{Knockwood} then turned him into a dog and dedicated a pack into keeping him alive.
=-= Theresa is now known as BethE
{lazarus} yep. Hence the finding out who did that, so we can pay them an unpleasant visit :p
{Verithe} Maybe his ex-wife?
{Knockwood} Not quite. The fact that he wasn't un-anchored when I touched him means it's a Noble on _this_ side.
{Angelo} but why step on another noble judgment?
{Random_Nerd} Yeah, you know he isn't an Excrucian Anchor.
{Knockwood} Now, was it the bulldog who called me?
{Random_Nerd} Yeah.
{Verithe} Welp. Bulldog's dead now.
{Random_Nerd} He knew that it was getting time for another dog to die to keep Mike alive, and he saw how few of them were left, so he was pretty much praying to whatever out there could hear him.
{Knockwood} ... so he doesn't know either me or my predecessor?
{Random_Nerd} Not personally. He's a really brave and reliable dog, even for a dog, so he had a strong connection to Courage.
{Random_Nerd} I figure it was enough that he occasionally had dreams about you, and enough that you could hear his prayer.
{Knockwood} next step's obvious.
{BethE} Find the Noble involved and find out what happened?
{lazarus} going to head off now. g'night guys.
{Knockwood} g'night laz
{Angelo} night Laz|
{--| lazarus has left #Nobilis
{Angelo} well found what happened yes BUT right that? Depend. This is my opinion.
{Random_Nerd} I'd been thinking of spreading the setup for this one across a few more episodes while the anchor plot went along.
{Random_Nerd} But it seemed like it was time to kick things into high gear, since we'd had a hiatus.

{Knockwood} of course, we kinda talked over Kite again.
{Verithe} What?
{Angelo} yep we have BIG MOUNTHS :-(
{Knockwood} Verithe, do you think we're dominating the game at your expense?
{Angelo} (yep, reply yep V.)
{Verithe} Not really. I was incredibly distracted today,
{Knockwood} schoolgirls in short skirts? :)
{Angelo} (oh came on V.! Someone go to suggest your answer!)
{Verithe} No...origami.
{Angelo} ( :-P )
{Angelo} oh! I tried once... not simple... really not simple
{Knockwood} that's kinda the point, Angelo. :)
{Verithe} Every time I try to make a lily, I have to make two attempts. The first always results in a crane. :|
{Angelo} oh. get it
{Knockwood} you can always do (crumple) boulder!
{Angelo} like these: http://www (dot) critical-hits (dot)com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/origamiwyrm.jpg
{Angelo} http://www.oneinchpunch.net/2007/11/09/origami-fantasy-art-astonishing-work-by-eric-joisel/
{Verithe} I don't find boulders as aesthetically pleasing. :P
{Verithe} Also, I've never done origami that impressive. D:
{Knockwood} ... damn that's good paper work
{Angelo} this is his site: http://www.ericjoisel.com/home.html
{Angelo} click on faeries in the high section
{Knockwood} of course, for general amazingness, there's http://epicwinFTW.com
{Verithe} I need to stop origami-ing. We have enough cranes, lilies, tulips and helmets.
{Angelo} you can't stop. is your place national sport
{Angelo} is like a German that don't like beer.
{Knockwood} either that or gain 2-300 pounds and do sumo
{Angelo} right Knock!
{Verithe} I made 1000 cranes when I got married to use as decorations for the wedding.
{Verithe} It took forever.
{Angelo} eh
{Verithe} But I only had the patience to do about ten a day.
{Knockwood} well, see you guys in 2 weeks
{Verithe} Take care!
{Angelo} k, night Knock. Take care
|{-- Knockwood has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: Konversation terminated!)
{Angelo} well, I go too. Night Verithe. Bye
{Verithe} Take care, Angelo. :)
{Angelo} you too
{--| YOU (Angelo) have left #Nobilis


Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 20