Session 246

Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 35

<Knockwood> Hiya Angelo

<Verithe> Hi, Angelo!

<BethE> Hi Angelo!

<Angelo> I hope everyone is fine.

<BethE> V - yeah. I'm trying to think if there's a type of Noble or Imperator who would send that sort of kitten.

<BethE> And is there a Noble of Sneezing? Or is that an Excrucian estate since Imperators don't get sneezes?

<Verithe> She's a Noble of the Darklord Lachesis.

<BethE> Ah, the middle Fate.

<Verithe> Yes

<Random_Nerd> The one that... measures?

<Angelo> middle fate?

<Verithe> Yup

<Verithe> Lachesis

<BethE> The three fates, maiden, mother and crone. Forget the other two names, off the top of my head, though.

<Verithe> Clotho and Atropos

<Knockwood> Chronos and Atropos, I think

<Knockwood> ah, V's got it

<BethE> One who spins the thread of life, one who measures the length of your life and the last who cuts it off at the appropriate time.

<BethE> Yeah, Chronos was Time.

<Angelo> cool

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and... excrucian kitty: http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l179/RandNer/ExcrucianKitty_zps2c4c9078.jpg

<BethE> *iz wiped out of existence*

<Verithe> But the Noble was Leda, the hamster Noble of Absurdity.

<Angelo> cuuute! Ftisk want 10 of them!

<Verithe> omg kitten

<Knockwood> aw, what a kyoot little enemy of Creation!

<BethE> Sure, kitten, you can have my Estate!

<Angelo> So kitten vs Plant win? :-P

<BethE> Kitten vs Beth = Kitten wins. ^^

<Random_Nerd> So, start in nine minutes, with or without Laz.

<Angelo> I need a recap...

<BethE> Your estate is under attack. Sorry.  :(

<Angelo> 2 estates are if I recall correctly

<Random_Nerd> Yes.

<Random_Nerd> You and Dante are both under attack.

<Knockwood> Ayep.

<Knockwood> And since I was here and you weren't we're going after mine first

<Angelo> make sense

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and it's Machinery, not Data, that's under attack.

<Angelo> and we are in an university with alien bees?

<Verithe> Wait, again?

<Knockwood> Separate attack, but two at the same time is very suspicious

<Angelo> oh, machinery... damn! My principal one!

<Angelo> And Dante's attach is on courage or on blades?

<BethE> At the moment, we are in Kabul, Afghanistan.

<Random_Nerd> You have led a soldier to believe that you're trying to sell contraband to soldiers, and he's told you who to talk to do that.

<Knockwood> Although you could argue that if, like you said, there's no W on this world, then there's no reason to have US soldiers here.

<Random_Nerd> Eh, it's Afghanistan. There's always /some/ kind of war going on there.

<Random_Nerd> I think it's an Estate Property or something.

<Knockwood> Yeah, but without W there's no reason for the US to be involved

<Random_Nerd> 9/11 may have still happened.

<Random_Nerd> If it was Iraq, sure.

<Random_Nerd> But Afghanistan actually kinda had a reason.

<Knockwood> Probably not. If someone who wasn't... special... was in charge they probably would have caught the Saudi and Yemeni guys who were interested in flying but not landing.

<Verithe> We can always assume Something happened, anyway. It's not like we have been terribly involved in American politics in this campaign.

<Knockwood> True

<Random_Nerd> Indeed.

<Angelo> *nod

<BethE> There are soldiers, they speak English, enough said. They could be Canadian.

<Verithe> Noooo! Someone pissed off Canada!

<Angelo> australian, british....

<Knockwood> That takes a lot.

<Verithe> South African, Kiwi....

<Knockwood> Aussie I'd believe. "Why are you here?" "They looked at us funny, mate"

<Angelo> lol

<BethE> They insulted the beer?

<Random_Nerd> But, at any rate, NATO troops are there, largely fighting an insurgency.

<Random_Nerd> Any questions before we start?

<Knockwood> OK

<Angelo> How much pain Ftisk feel?

=-= BethE is now known as Theresa

=-= Knockwood is now known as DanteE

=-= Verithe is now known as Kite

<Random_Nerd> It hurts, but it won't be excruciating... uh, so to speak... for another day or two.

=-= Kite is now known as human-Kite

=-= YOU are now known as Ftisk

<Random_Nerd> Say, like a bad headache, right now.

<Ftisk> ok, thank you

<Random_Nerd> _____________START_____________

<DanteE> (What's Ftisk look like?)

<Theresa> *whispers* "Is it weird that all this calm is making me really nervous?"

<Ftisk> (one parrot, on T shoulder)

<Random_Nerd> So, you're in the Dantemobile, outside a semi-permanent military encampment. From the guy you talked to earlier, you have a way to make contact with someone who will think you're selling drugs, porn, and/or food.

<Theresa> (Drugs, food, I can handle. Someone else gets porn duty.  :) )

<Ftisk> "Craaa! Ftisk want a crackers! craaa! Ftisk want an analgesic!"

<DanteE> (Ftisk.)

<Ftisk> (I volunteer for porn!)

<Theresa> (True. Data covers that.)

<DanteE> (As for Drugs... you might want to start distributing them now to get rid of any resistance later.)

<Theresa> (Would an aspirin help Ftisk or does that not go with metal snail physiology?)

<Theresa> (I think openly handing out weed as we walk around will probably get the MPs on us.)

<DanteE> (Willow bark has salicylic acid IIRC)

<Ftisk> (I don’t know but Ftisk is willing to risk)

<Random_Nerd> So, do you go to try to contact Sally and say that Jim sent you, or do you have other plans?

<DanteE> (Jim is the soldier who sent us here?)

<Theresa> (I'm for that Sally part.)

<Random_Nerd> (Yes. Or, at least, he said to say that Jim sent you.)

<Random_Nerd> (May not be his real name, you didn't check.)

• Theresa offers Ftisk some willow bark with high high concentrations of salicylic acid to see if that will help the pain any.
  
  
• Ftisk chomp the bark hastily
  
  
• DanteE has his sword that looks like a cane
  
  

<Theresa> (Did we get directions to Sally?)

<Random_Nerd> (A basic description of what she looks like, and where to look for her.)

• Theresa will head toward Sally!
  
  
• Ftisk chirp!
  
  

<DanteE> "Just to stay incognito, how about if you create some stocks of fruit in my trunk."

<Random_Nerd> Okay, at the fence outside the encampment, there are several soldiers who appear to be on guard duty, and several more who appear to be just hanging out.

<Random_Nerd> The overall mood is attentive, but casual.

• DanteE checks out the scene with The Sight.
  
  

<human-Kite> "You have a trunk?!"

<Theresa> "Got it." (Hee, to V.  :) )

<DanteE> "The _car's_ trunk, Kite."

<human-Kite> "The car has a trunk?!"

<Ftisk> "T, my infiltration plan: go before a soldier, transmute into a pink elephant -> make it nut. Repeat as needed"

<Random_Nerd> The main thing you see is that Courage in the area is... hmm, like a limb that's had the circulation cut off for long enough that it's gone numb, and is starting to die.

<DanteE> "Ftisk, we've told you, making mortals lose their marbles is a bad thing."

<Random_Nerd> No Noble beings in sight, no active major miracles, but a glimmer that suggests the presence of recent minor ones.

<Ftisk> "BUT is 4 a good cause" *pout*

<Random_Nerd> Theresa, you see a woman in the "hanging out" group who appears to match the description "Jim" gave you.

<DanteE> "Shall we?"

<human-Kite> "Yes."

• DanteE pops the trunk and steps out of the car.
  
  

<Ftisk> "Engine full on!"

<Theresa> "Ftisk, soldiers who get DA will probably kill other humans in the area, given that these folks are highly trained to be able to do that. And we're not supposed to get regular humans killed."

<Random_Nerd> There is a fence separating you from the area with the big tents and so forth, but you could probably drive over it if you wanted to.

<Ftisk> "bah, details!"

<human-Kite> "What's in the butt, Dante?"

<Random_Nerd> Alternatively, Theresa has spotted Sally.

• Theresa gets out of the car. "*waves* "Uh, Sally?"
  
  

<DanteE> quietly: "Not to mention we're not supposed to sow DA."

<DanteE> I'm assuming, among other things, a basket of oranges

<Ftisk> "legal ropes to bind us all"

<Theresa> (Year. And pomegranates. Apples too.)

<Random_Nerd> She looks at you with a curious but calm expression.

<Random_Nerd> S: "That's me. What do you want?"

• DanteE takes the oranges over to Sally.
  
  

<human-Kite> "Are there fish in the carbutt?"

<Ftisk> "cirp! Ftisk want a fig!"

<Random_Nerd> The two on active gate duty don't actively point their guns at Theresa, just rest hands near them in a casual fashion.

<Theresa> "Jim sent us! We have a nice assortment of fruit and other plant-based substances."

<Random_Nerd> S: "And we do love our plant-based substances."

<DanteE> Anything 'special' about Sally?

<Random_Nerd> She catches the eye of one of the on-duty guys, and nods. He returns to his previous posture.

<Random_Nerd> Special in what sense?

<Theresa> (Worship me!!! *evil laughter* Sorry, I'm enjoying good hot chocolate...)

• Ftisk look at sally with one eye and the other alternatively
  
  

<DanteE> (anything that show up on The Sight or Mythic)

<Theresa> "No, Kite." *slips Ftisk a fig*

• human-Kite sighs
  
  

<DanteE> "Who wants fresh oranges?"

• Theresa takes a couple of bags of apples and heads toward the break in the fence.
  
  
• Ftisk munch merrily
  
  

<Random_Nerd> To the Sight... no, not really. She's human, but doesn't have any particular connection with Courage.

<Random_Nerd> Although that is noteworthy in itself, in the "curious incident of the dog in the nighttime" sense. For soldiers in an active war zone, none of these guys seem to have particular connections with Courage.

<DanteE> (did I tell you I've read the SH stories?)

<Random_Nerd> Mythically, her face is the same, but her clothes are those of a middle-class renaissance Englishman.

<Random_Nerd> (You're a nerd. Haven't we all read them?)

<DanteE> (Depends on the specific nerd type)

<Ftisk> (SH stories?)

<Random_Nerd> (Sherlock Holmes.)

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "Walk with me, and let's talk about what you can bring."

<Ftisk> (ah)

<human-Kite> (I was an Agatha Christie nerd.)

<Theresa> (I was both! ^^ )

<Random_Nerd> Clearly she has some kind of arrangement with the guys guarding the gate, because they don't seem to have any problem with you going in with her.

• Theresa will walk and talk with Sally. "Be right back, guys. Keep bringing stuff in."
  
  

<Random_Nerd> You don't look particularly terroristish, but still.

<DanteE> (RN ref'd one. "(I direct your attention) to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." "The dog did nothing in the night-time." "That was the curious incident.")

• Theresa looks like your average kindergarden teacher!
  
  
• DanteE looks like a white recent graduate.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "So, where's the accent from? South African?"

<DanteE> "Little north of there. Well, it was."

• human-Kite looks a little flamboyant.
  
  

<Theresa> "Yep. Specializing in imports/exports. We had heard that there were some troops in the area, thought we'd give a try of some of our goods."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Ah, one of those little countries that has revolutions about twice a year?"

<DanteE> "Not quite."

<Theresa> "The owner of the country has changed recently."

<DanteE> to a soldier: "Don't forget the limes."

• human-Kite looks for more things in the car to bring in.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> "Well, anyway. So, you sell food, legit-type stuff, as well as anything more sensitive?"

<DanteE> "They go well with tequila, after all."

<Theresa> (I can't do alcohol very quickly, Dante.)

<DanteE> (Booze will find a way. :) )

<Theresa> (It takes time. I can do agave nectar and _wait_.)

<Theresa> "Well, I do have some herbal... remedies."

<Theresa> "For those who subscribe to alternative medicines."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Uppers? Downers? Pot? More exotic stuff?"

<human-Kite> (morning glory seeds....like LSD!)

<DanteE> (Poppy seeds=Heroin.)

<human-Kite> (Or just opium)

<human-Kite> (marijuana's easy)

<human-Kite> (peyote)

<Random_Nerd> (Opium's actually going to be in oversupply here.0

<Theresa> (Opiums easy around here. Weed is scarce.)

<DanteE> (Point.)

<Theresa> "Mostly pot. Some peyote."

<human-Kite> (Right)

<Random_Nerd> (But, let's see. Peyote. Pot.)

<DanteE> (She can do mushrooms?)

<Random_Nerd> (LSD's out, that's from ergot and requires some chemical work.)

<Theresa> (No photosynthesis.)

<human-Kite> (But the morning glory seeds?)

<Random_Nerd> S: "Peyote? That's pretty far from home."

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. She could do some hallucinogens. Salvia divinorum doesn't take much lab work.)

• Theresa smiles. "I like to keep my hand in a variety of unusual plants."
  
  

<Theresa> "Oh and I can do caffeine."

<Random_Nerd> S: "And it is amazing what decent pot costs here. And you'd be surprised how many guys here used to smoke the stuff a lot back home."

• Ftisk cirp "Dude that stuff is f....ing good!"
  
  

<Random_Nerd> S: "So, if you've got it, I can move it, in pretty high quantities. Peyote... I'll have to talk to some people about that, see who's interested."

<Theresa> *nod* "What's the mood in the camp? Anyone who would make a big deal about it or that I should be wary that I'm moving in on their turf?"

<DanteE> "Indeed, we'd like to get to know our customers. What's happening here?"

<Random_Nerd> S: "Well, the officers will pretend to care, and if you actually get yourself caught, it would be really bad for you. But unofficially... they know that this happens, and as long as guys aren't stoned when they're on duty and they keep it to themselves, the brass don't care that much."

<Theresa> "Do the chaplains care? Some of the ones back home can be on a big 'no drugs' kick at times."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Everything's pretty calm here. The (pejorative term)s appear to all be taking stupid pills, and a few of their idiotic attacks have actually worked, but most are like being mugged by a clown with a seltzer bottle."

<Theresa> "Weird. If they're on something, I've got to get me some."

<Random_Nerd> S: "But really, everyone's pretty chill."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Whatever it is, it's gotta make your balls grow to three times their natural size and try to eat your brain."

• Ftisk chirp "Braaaaaaainz!"
  
  

<Theresa> "Darn, the best I've got is only two times natural size and has a warning if that goes on for more than four hours..."

<DanteE> "Any talk about going to them?"

<Random_Nerd> S: "So, what kind of volumes are we talking, here? Dime bags? Backpacks? Or will I have to arrange for you to bring a truck in?"

<Random_Nerd> S, to Dante: "Going to who?"

<DanteE> "Taking the fight to the insurgents."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Well, that's why we're here, in theory. But right now, all we have to do is send some guys around, and watch some asshole with more nuts than sense go crazy and try to stab them with a fork."

• Ftisk chirp "fork .... fork ... Ftisk want some pork!"
  
  

<Theresa> "Backpacks at the moment." *looks around* "Guy at the gate said there was a cool preacher dude around. Can we meet him?"

<human-Kite> "A fork?"

<DanteE> quietly, to T: "Courage is motivating."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Oh, Rhinehart? He'll be starting up in half an hour or so. Just wait for the bell. I'm sure he'd be fine with you showing up, even though you're outsiders."

<human-Kite> (does parrot Ftisk have a little pirate patch over his missing eye? Because that would be awesome.)

<Theresa> "He have a problem with civilians?"

<Ftisk> (sure!)

<human-Kite> (Yessss!)

<Random_Nerd> S: "Well, you're not /us/, y'know? But still, you're not trying to kill us, and you had a welcome from Jim, so..."

<Theresa> "Understandable. Can we walk around or should we stick close to you?"

<Random_Nerd> S: "Stick with me, at least until I can make some welcomes for you and some of the customers."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Oh, you said you can get food, too. I gotta ask... twinkies? Any way you can get some serious quantities of those?"

<Theresa> "Cool. My parrot here might fly around sometimes. Hope no one takes a pot shot at him."

<Theresa> (Hmm. A) Does Amyra have twinkies. And B, can I move them from Amyra to here?)

• Ftisk chirp "Scumbags! Slit their throats and piss on their hea... harrr harr harr!"
  
  

<Random_Nerd> S: "No promises. Still, he looks cool. Proooobably won't get shot."

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Yes, and what's your Things Of Amyra Domain?)

<human-Kite> (Maybe the loss of Amyra is why Hostess went bankrupt?)

<Random_Nerd> (You probably have off-brand Twinkies, though.)

<Theresa> (3)

<Theresa> (Ack. 2)

<Random_Nerd> (I can't imagine Little Debbie having factories there.)

<Random_Nerd> (Err, Hostess.)

<Random_Nerd> (Summoning is a level 4 miracle, I believe.)

<Random_Nerd> (Lesser Summoning could get you a single crate, I figure.)

<Theresa> *looks around, shifty* "I have a crate of them in the trunk of the car, but they're pricey."

<DanteE> (Excuse the inattention, Family Tech Support)

<Random_Nerd> S: "The real thing, or some weird Chinese brand or something?"

<Theresa> "Off-brand but English-speaking country-quality. High fructose corn syrup and everything."

<Random_Nerd> S: "How big of a crate?"

<human-Kite> "I'll grab it!"

<human-Kite> "Is it in the carbutt?"

• Ftisk cirp "yeah butter!"
  
  

<Theresa> "Go for it, Kite."

<Theresa> (How big? Box of paper big?)

• human-Kite flounces to the car
  
  

<Theresa> (Lesser Summoning, Amyran Twinkies, box twice the size of a banker-box.)

• Ftisk look like want to fly on Sally shoulder
  
  

<Random_Nerd> She waves a hand irritatedly at Ftisk.

• Ftisk chirp "seed?"
  
  
• human-Kite brings the box back.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> She looks at the size of it, and her eyes gleam with avarice.

<Random_Nerd> S: "Hmm. Big box, but offbrand... how fresh are they?"

<Theresa> "Just delivered to our supplier."

<Random_Nerd> She calculates mentally. "Three hundred bucks American, if they're as good as you say."

<DanteE> "Well, they're Twinkies, so 'good' is relative."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Hey, and if they aren't, I can probably have you shot. Won't even have to make up a story, just say you lied about Twinkies. Some things are /sacred/."

<Theresa> "It is your right."

<Random_Nerd> And with that, someone starts ringing a big bell, in front of one of the larger tent-structures.

• Ftisk chip at Dante "Twinkie are da rule!"
  
  

<Random_Nerd> People start heading over from all over the encampment.

<human-Kite> "I heard that some people worshiped those things, but I never knew it was true until today."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Listen, we can finish negotiating later, I gotta go. Come with, if you want."

<DanteE> "She's exaggerating, Kite."

• Ftisk chirp "Mortar!!! Goddam mortar!!! Take cooover!"
  
  

<human-Kite> "Oh. It has yet to be confirmed, then."

<DanteE> to Ftisk: "Don't panic the soldiers, please."

• Theresa will follow. *whispers to others* "If need be, we can throw the crate and get away in the scrum."
  
  
• Ftisk chirp " 'key bossSSss"
  
  
• human-Kite follows Sally.
  
  
• DanteE follows Sally with a basket of oranges.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Everyone files in and sits down in metal folding chairs in a big pavilion.

• Theresa will take a seat at the back.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Up front is a man standing at a podium that appears to have been handmade by people with more enthusiasm than carpentry ability.

• human-Kite also sits in the back
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Everyone who's come in is sitting quietly. There's no joking, swearing, spotting of tobacco, or /anything/. It's uncanny.

• Ftisk looks around in the view
  
  

<DanteE> "We should be off to one side and let them do their thing, I think."

<Random_Nerd> And then the man walks in and stands at the podium. He's dressed in a military uniform that's halfway between desert camo and full dress uniform. He's about average height, and in his late twenties or early thirties.

<Random_Nerd> And he has stars in his eyes.

<Theresa> (If we stand when everyone else is sitting, we stand out."

<Theresa> (Crapola.)

<DanteE> (Paydirt.)

<Random_Nerd> He doesn't talk for long. On paper, everything he says would seem trite and facile.

<Random_Nerd> But people seem to be responding.

<DanteE> (Silly question: what's he look like to Sight & Mythic?)

<human-Kite> (Responding in what sort of way?)

<Random_Nerd> (It makes you a little queasy to look, Sight-wise.)

<Random_Nerd> (Mythically, he looks the same, but about thirty feet tall, and wearing a crown of thorns.)

<Ftisk> (a crown? another king?)

<Random_Nerd> Above all else, he talks about how they don't have to be afraid. That they don't even have to worry about overcoming their fear, because they can just stop feeling it. That's an /option/. That they can do without it, and just be calm and careful and professional.

<Random_Nerd> (He doesn't have the same enormous, offputting presence as Shirk does.)

<Ftisk> (can be a shard then)

<human-Kite> (This doesn't sound like Shirking, though)

<Random_Nerd> The whole idea that you can just decide to stop having an emotion, and act rationally instead, is silly. But nobody says that.

<Random_Nerd> Instead, they listen intently.

<Ftisk> (or a misguided poor fated, tempered noble that Ftisk will want to help)

<Random_Nerd> Okay, each one of you, you feel a miracle trying to take hold on you. It's trying to remove the emotion of fear from your minds. What do you do?

<DanteE> (What effect would it have on me?)

<Random_Nerd> You can resist it with a miracle of your own. You can take a wound to not let it take hold. You can allow it. Or you can do some crazy-ass Player Character thing that I haven't thought of.

<Random_Nerd> As far as you can tell, the only effect would be to prevent you from feeling fear for somewhere from a couple days to a week.

<Random_Nerd> What do you do?

<Ftisk> (Ftisk have little use for fear so let it do its work)

<DanteE> (Let it go.)

<Theresa> (Take a wound.)

<Random_Nerd> Theresa, mark down a Surface wound.

<DanteE> (He might notice that.)

<human-Kite> (Theresa: "Stigmata")

<Random_Nerd> Kite?

<Ftisk> (Theresa in our tank)

<Theresa> (I _do_ have a tendency to get hurt in our scuffles.  :) )

<human-Kite> (Is there a way to have Aspect fear of this affecting Kite and therefore blocking it?)

<DanteE> (And is the nature of the attack specific to my thing that "Courage _counters_ fear"?)

<Random_Nerd> (Starting to seem like that's at least /part/ of it.)

<Random_Nerd> (Doesn't explain the crazy insurgents, though.)

<Random_Nerd> Everyone, even the normally scheming and sardonic Sally, looks up with reverent eyes.

<DanteE> ("is essential to (self-) sacrifice")

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Yeah, you could use Aspect to try to get yourself scared, and so resist it.)

<Random_Nerd> (What level of miracle do you use?)

<human-Kite> (hrmmm)

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and Dante, as you feel the fear stripping itself from your mind, you feel something else at the same time. A sudden stab of pain.

• DanteE bears it without flinching
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Chaplain: "I hear a lot of people talking about courage, how it's all about overcoming your fear and doing good in spite of it. But I say that courage is obsolete. You don't /need/ it when you can just get your head straight, and evaluate the dangers with a calm and level mind."

<human-Kite> (Aspect 3?)

<DanteE> (There's the attack.)

<Random_Nerd> (Do you use Aspect 3 or some other level, V?)

<human-Kite> (Aspect 3!)

<human-Kite> (Final answer.)

<Theresa> (Someone's been drinking the Fear is the Mind Killer coffee a bit much.)

<Random_Nerd> (Doesn't work. It isn't even close, and since you'd be able to tell if that was a major miracle, that means he's using Strike.)

<Random_Nerd> (So, accept the effect or take a Wound, Kite?)

<human-Kite> (Take a Wound)

<Random_Nerd> (Mark down a surface wound, then.)

<human-Kite> (done)

<Theresa> (Hmm, he's doing this a lot. So he can't be spending MPs on it.)

<Random_Nerd> (That means a Gift or a Bond.)

<Random_Nerd> The chaplain with stars in his eyes finishes his pep-talk, and then stands and waits while various soldiers and support staff come up and talk with him.

<DanteE> (We'd know if it was WBH, right?)

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "Didn't I tell you?"

<human-Kite> "Yes."

<DanteE> "You did indeed."

<Theresa> "He is impressive."

<Random_Nerd> (This doesn't feel like that. It's not a Destruction at all, it's something else.)

<DanteE> "Now, he's the one we should talk to about... distribution, yes?"

<Random_Nerd> (It's not about destroying fear, but about turning people into the kind of people who don't feel fear.)

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "Well, don't mention... anything too spicy to him. Cool or not, he's still a preacher-man."

<Random_Nerd> She stands up, looking a little lightheaded for a moment, and then stretches.

<DanteE> "Yes, indeed. Later we should definitely debate some of the finer points of theology."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Oh, he's always happy to talk with anyone."

<Theresa> (Yeah, the finer points. Our God can beat up Your God.)

• Ftisk chip "Theology is for the fools, whores are for true pirates!"
  
  

<Random_Nerd> S: "Hell, a week or so ago I'd almost gotten shot, and I had the shakes, y'know, and I got him up at... must have been three in the morning. And he was fine with that!"

<human-Kite> "Why did you joint this force, Sally?"

<Random_Nerd> S: "You could tell he was tired, even with those weird dark eyes of his, but he still... yeah."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Because somebody convinced me that a life as a small-town pot dealer was going nowhere fast. This way, I might even be able to go to college, if I want to."

<human-Kite> "Ah."

<Random_Nerd> S: "And, sure, sometimes people try to shoot me here. But somebody tried to stab me once or twice back home, and I'll take bullets over blades any day."

<Random_Nerd> S: "Best decision I ever made, not that that's a particularly competitive ranking."

<DanteE> (Sure, go after my other Estate.)

<Random_Nerd> The last few people talking with the chaplain are starting to head out, and the pavilion is mostly empty at this point.

<DanteE> (What's the pavilion made of?)

• Ftisk whisper to T "gang up and attack him in the night"
  
  

<Random_Nerd> (Canvas, wood, and aluminum.)

<DanteE> to Ftisk: "Hang on, let him explain himself. Don't forget the last 'attack'."

<Ftisk> "Better tie him up first then, put a dressing of concrete and then talk"

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "So, off-brand twinkies. Three hundred bucks sound good?"

<DanteE> "We may be able to get more boxes...

<Theresa> "Sounds fair to me. Want the box now and the cash at the end of the whole deal?"

<Theresa> (I am not going to go through all of my MPs smuggling Twinkies when we're going to have a fight soon.  :P )

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "Good, that'll let me sell some of it to get the cash together."

<DanteE> "While you're at it, why not sell some of these (oranges) as well."

<DanteE> "For those who eat healthy.

<Theresa> (No one's going to buy oranges when there are _twinkies_.)

<Ftisk> (point and set to Theresa)

<DanteE> (They gotta run out sometime)

<Random_Nerd> Sally: "People who want healthy can get... acceptably foodlike substances... from the mess. Twinkies and pizza, now there's a market."

<DanteE> (And... it gets the mundanes the hell out of the tent.)

<Theresa> (The people who buy oranges are going to be the ones who can't afford twinkies.)

<Random_Nerd> The chaplain, starting to head out, nods in a friendly way at Sally.

<DanteE> "Ah, chaplain?

<Random_Nerd> He stops.

<DanteE> "We've brought food. I wonder if we could talk in private..."

<Random_Nerd> Chaplain: "Certainly. Ah... you're out of uniform, and I don't know you."

<DanteE> "Yes you do."

<Random_Nerd> He holds out a hand. "Jeremy Rhinehart."

• Ftisk chirp "look at my eye bro" *wink*
  
  

<DanteE> (Everyone else out of here?)

<Random_Nerd> A few stragglers, Sally's still hanging out near Theresa, but mostly empty.

• DanteE shakes the hand. "Dante."
  
  

<Theresa> *to Sally* "You go ahead with the twinkies, we'll meet up after a talk with the rev here and I can show you the rest of the stuff."

<Random_Nerd> She nods. "You find me, or I'll find you."

• DanteE picks up an orange.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> Chaplain: "Did you just get transferred, or are you a civilian visiting our little oasis in the desert?"

<DanteE> "We brought some fresh foodstuffs."

<Theresa> "Civvies, visiting. We noticed the fine preaching and had to stop by."

<DanteE> "And we wanted to hear your little sermon."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Ah. Food. Okay, you're some of those guys. Well, the troops do need help keeping their morale up, I suppose. Even with fear out of the equation, there's still boredom and tiredness, and I haven't figured out how to make /those/ go away."

<Random_Nerd> C: "What'd you think?"

<DanteE> quietly, to the others: "Everyone out, seal the doors."

<DanteE> "Well, I do think there are some alternate interpretations that you might consider."

• Ftisk fly to the doors and start sealing them
  
  

<human-Kite> "We should have brought video games."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Oh?"

<DanteE> "You know what, I should introduce myself further. Dante, Dominus Animus.

<DanteE> "Not tell us what the hell you're doing here."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I... is that a Catholic thing?"

<Theresa> "Do you happen to know that you have stars falling in your eyes?"

<human-Kite> (Tent or pavilion)

<Ftisk> "like the ones in my eyes Dante"

<DanteE> "It's a _defender of Creation_ thing."

• Ftisk shapechange in Conrad shape
  
  

=-= YOU are now known as Conrad

<Random_Nerd> C: "Yeah. That happened... like, a month back. Still trying to figure it out... yes! Your parrot does..."

• human-Kite sighs
  
  

<Random_Nerd> C: "So it happened to you, too! I'm glad to finally have someone else to talk with about this!"

• DanteE calms down a bit. "What happened, exactly?"
  
  
• Conrad bring a chair for the rev
  
  

<Theresa> (A month back...was breach day?)

<Theresa> (No, that was longer ago.)

<Random_Nerd> (Yeah.)

<human-Kite> (....Deceiver?)

<Random_Nerd> C: "Ah, yeah, you haven't heard enough of these to hear the whole story. Well, when I first got sent over here, I was afraid all the time. Every sound in the middle of the night, every dirty look from one of the guys I was supposed to be helping."

<Random_Nerd> C: "But then I... had this dream. And I saw this /thing/. It was..."

<Random_Nerd> He gestures vaguely.

<Random_Nerd> C: "It was this /thing/. And I realized that I don't have to be afraid any more. That /nobody/ does."

<Random_Nerd> C: "And ever since then, I can /do/ things. Crazy things. But mostly, I just... tell people about what I found out. That they don't have to be afraid any more."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Was that how it was for you?"

<Random_Nerd> That last, to Ftisk.

<Conrad> "I fight an enemy of creation and then eat his raw heart and melt with him"

<Random_Nerd> C: "...so, no, then."

<DanteE> "There are ... several ways."

<Random_Nerd> He looks sad.

• Conrad pats him
  
  

<DanteE> (Wait, we have that touch-thing, right?)

<Conrad> "light up, you still haven't destroyed nothing .. still"

<Random_Nerd> (I don't think that's a thing in 3e.)

<Theresa> "What other things can you do?"

<Random_Nerd> C, to the rest of you: "Did something like that happen to you?"

<DanteE> (Dim Warding.)

<human-Kite> "I guess, without fear there would be an increase in crime...."

<Random_Nerd> C, to Theresa: "I can turn into a /bird/. Really. Like he did, so I thought..."

<DanteE> "Well, thing is you have it basically wrong.

<human-Kite> "But there might also be an increase in crime fighters."

<Theresa> (There would be an increase in a lot of things. Without the fear of getting caught, about anything could happen.)

<DanteE> "You can't eliminate fear, that make someone less human.

<human-Kite> "What sort of bird?"

<Conrad> (and that is a cool thing)

<Random_Nerd> C: "And one time, someone shot at me, and I'd swear that it hit me, but I didn't even feel it, it was like it just passed through."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Sure I can. I just did."

<Theresa> "Huh. You vision friend was a bird."

<Random_Nerd> C: "It works."

<DanteE> "But courage can _counter_ fear.

<Theresa> (Kite can outbird him!)

<DanteE> "Well, I mean in general.

<Random_Nerd> C: "But if you don't have fear, you don't /need/ courage. My way is better."

<Conrad> (go kite go!)

<DanteE> "Yes, but at the cost of humanity.

<Conrad> "But him is the embodiment of courage"

<DanteE> (OK, Psych degree going in...)

• human-Kite magical transformation sequence!
  
  

<Random_Nerd> C: "Humanity... I'm not even sure what that means, any more."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Maybe it's just holding us back."

<DanteE> "Fear is, unfortunately, necessary. It's what 'encourages' the soldiers to avoid fire.

<Random_Nerd> Either he's good at faking it, or he really believes what he's saying.

<Random_Nerd> Of course, Excrucians are often good at faking it.

<human-Kite> "Holding them back from what?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "They know that they don't want to be shot. You don't need that visceral twist in the gut to know that bullets hurt."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Besides, sometimes you have to do something that means you might get shot. Then fear just gets in the way."

<DanteE> "So, _fear_ of pain?"

<DanteE> "You're contradicting yourself."

<human-Kite> "What if that something is a crime?"

• Conrad light a cigar and enjoy the metaphysical debate "T. some popcorn please?"
  
  

<human-Kite> "What if that something gets innocent people hurt?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Nah. You can know that you would prefer something, without getting all emotional about it."

<human-Kite> "What if someone wants to commit a crime, but they've been afraid to?"

<DanteE> "If there is no fear, what is heroism, then?

<Random_Nerd> C: "I think that they get hurt less, this way. They're clear-headed, and they can think straight when they're in trouble. Less men have died since I started telling them this than died before. A fair few less. I've been keeping track."

<Conrad> "no emotional like robot-like people? we have them on Vulcan, don’t work that way, sorry"

<Random_Nerd> C: "But it /does/. Didn't you feel it when I was talking?"

<DanteE> "You realize, technically, the insurgents feel the same way."

<human-Kite> "That's because the other side is still afraid, right?"

• Theresa hands Conrad a bag of popcorn.
  
  

<Random_Nerd> He has a sly look. "Ah, no. No, they don't. See, I've been talking to them, but I've told them... something different."

<DanteE> "At least one side has to know fear, otherwise there is no end to battles."

<Random_Nerd> C: "They're /very/ big on courage."

<Conrad> "Thank you T." *munch munch*

<Theresa> "Oh?"

<Conrad> "and increasing courage in a side and removing fear in the other will settle this?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Problem is, these days they're plenty brave... but they're still not clear-headed."

<Random_Nerd> C: "It's helping my side. My guys are safer, now, and they're getting more done. The other guys aren't hurting as many people."

<DanteE> (OK, just to check... is this guy the source of the attack?)

<Random_Nerd> (Well, he's obviously connected with it, and he has stars in his eyes.)

<human-Kite> "So, you're telling a lie to one side and manipulate the truth on the other to force the lie to seem correct."

<Conrad> "Bravo!"

<Conrad> "Sorry, he" point to the rev "is just so good at that"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm telling the truth to my side. The other side... I mean, when this happened, I figured that I /could/ just walk over and try to kill them all. But... I don't want to do that. Even if I'm bulletproof, I... don't want to hurt people, like that."

<human-Kite> "How do you want to hurt them?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "But if I just talk to them, and get them to get their spirits up until they've got more guts than brains... they're just doing things that they already wanted to do, and not even succeeding at them."

<DanteE> "Then why are you making sure the fighting continues?"

<DanteE> "If you don't want to hurt people?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm not! I'm trying to help my guys win, so they can go home!"

<DanteE> "But if you're encouraging the other side, the fight continues."

<human-Kite> "Isn't there a way you can convince the other side to not want to fight?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I don't know. I tried, it didn't work. I'm... still trying to work out how this all works."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I can't just say anything, and make people believe it. It... it has to /mean/ something to me."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Is that how it is with you?"

=-= human-Kite is now known as Kite

<DanteE> "Mine's more thematic."

<DanteE> (and does that mean Deceiver-Shard?)

<Kite> (Forgot to magically transform my name....)

<Conrad> "Nope, I, we have domain over some pieces of existences"

<Conrad> "like roller-coaster, or hooks or courage"

<Random_Nerd> C: "So... what's my piece of existence, then? Calmness?"

<Kite> "I'm afraid not."

<Conrad> "BTW you are hurting Courage with your action, and that is from impolite to a war declaration"

<DanteE> (There a mirror nearby?)

<Random_Nerd> C: "But... but my way is /better/. Can't you see that?"

• Conrad lCreation of a rotating mirror
  
  

<DanteE> "Is it? You're _removing_ a piece of their humanity.

<Kite> "I can see how you might think that."

<DanteE> "If nothing else you're killing the appreciation of roller-coasters forever.

<Random_Nerd> C: "And replacing it with something better. Nobody has to come to my meetings, but people keep showing up."

<DanteE> "What, exactly? You're just removing something, twisting something else."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Horror movies, too. Like six guys have told me they don't like those any more."

<Kite> "That is because you twisting their brains."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I tell them, up front, that I'm going to try to help them not be afraid. And the guys /want/ that."

<Kite> "Psychically."

<Random_Nerd> C: "They're all adults, here. Nobody's twisting their arm."

• Conrad munch some more popcorn
  
  

<Kite> "/Brains/."

<DanteE> (Hm.)

<Kite> "/Psychically/."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm not sure that's what it is."

<DanteE> "It is.

<Kite> "It's because of the stars in your eyes."

<Random_Nerd> C: "That's not what it feels like. I saw... the /thing/, the /real/ thing. And now I can help people understand."

<DanteE> "Did you notice whatever you dreamed about seemed to be from .. elsewhere?"

<Conrad> "Don’t start with star in your eyes = eviiil tirade please!"

<Random_Nerd> C: "No! That's not how it is. It's here, it's right /here/. But we can't see it, because there are all these /things/ in the way. But the real thing is /down/ there, under it all!"

<DanteE> "Look at your eyes."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Yeah, I have stars in them. I /saw/ it. That kind of thing changes you."

• Conrad thumbs up to the rev
  
  

<DanteE> "Where everyone else has 'windows to the soul' you have _voids_."

• Conrad slide his chair to rev side
  
  

<Conrad> "and so?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Oh, I have windows to the soul. I just have a more interesting soul, now."

<Random_Nerd> C: "My eyes aren't /blank/. There's /light/ there, shining /through/. Look."

<DanteE> (Need help here...)

<DanteE> "I see the lifeless night sky there.

<Kite> "No. He means your soul is in the Void. It doesn't belong to the order of this World."

<Conrad> "and the stars?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Not to this order. Not all that stuff, getting in the way. But the real truth behind it all."

<DanteE> "Tiny, tiny points of light far, far away."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Everything else just gets in the way. You can't see the stars, during the daytime. But they're still there."

<Conrad> "So I'm too are a lifeless corpse? a.. a... zombie? A pariah from my old self?"

<DanteE> "So, the things that make the world the world... are in the way?"

<Conrad> "use less clutter"

<Random_Nerd> C: "For me, it was fear. Fear got in the way of /everything/. I couldn't think straight. Now, I'm /free/. And everyone else who wants to be, can be free too."

<Kite> "Your truth is in the Void. It doesn't belong here."

<DanteE> (Why isn't the power of fear here?)

<Conrad> (is there a power of fear?)

<Kite> (Bound and gagged?)

<Random_Nerd> C: "The stuff that gets in the way, it's not the real world. It's just... it's like that TV show, with the hoarders. It's stacks of old newspaper, and cat feces, and broken telephones from the seventies."

<Kite> "I haven't seen that show."

<DanteE> "The stuff in the way _is part of the world_.

<DanteE> "That's the key...

<Conrad> "for some definition of world"

<Random_Nerd> C: "But not the best part. Not the true thing. Haven't you seen the true thing?"

<Random_Nerd> He turns to Ftisk.

<Random_Nerd> C: "/You/ saw it, right?"

<Conrad> "A glimpse, only once"

<DanteE> "See, the beings out there are dedicated to eliminating all of Creation, one piece at a time.

<Kite> "Look. We can try to get you out of this world entirely, if you would like."

<DanteE> "Everything--even the things you don't like, like fear--is a brick in the wall of Heaven.

<Random_Nerd> C: "The real stuff, the important stuff? Or just the things that get in the way?"

<Kite> "It would be more real for you out there."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I can't just leave. My guys are depending on me. They need me,"

<DanteE> (you may recognize the Ironic Echo. :) )

<Kite> "We can take over."

<Random_Nerd> C: "And while there's a lot of stuff that doesn't matter in this world, people matter. My friends matter."

<DanteE> "Where we're from, we have a plethora of spiritual guides."

<Random_Nerd> C: "But you don't understand!"

<Conrad> "truly there is another myself that can bring you outside this world were we belong"

<Kite> "Dante. Are you willing to make some martyrs?"

<DanteE> "You realize you're sounding like a cultist, right?

<DanteE> to Kite: "I'd rather avoid it, if possible..."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm just someone who saw the truth, and I'm trying to share it. Like the guy in the Analogy of the Cave."

<Kite> "It might be your best option."

<DanteE> "That is 'truth' according to the beings that want to end everything."

<Random_Nerd> C: "You're threatening me, just because you don't agree with me?"

<DanteE> "No.

<Random_Nerd> C: "Surely we can talk this out like rational people."

<DanteE> "Let's try this...

<DanteE> "In the abstract, you would agree that it is better to create than to destroy, yes?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Nah. Neither's better, on its own."

<Random_Nerd> C: "To create a bad thing is worse than to destroy a bad thing."

<Conrad> "Listen, you here are like a swan in a mudpot, you cannot be yourself here. Take our offer to go outside. Is the best course"

<Kite> "What if destroying a bad thing also destroys a hundred good things?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm not here to be myself. I'm here to help my guys see the truth, like I saw it."

<Random_Nerd> C, to Kite: "But, exactly. That's why you can't just say that creating or destroying is intrinsically good. It all depends on the details."

<DanteE> "Describe this 'truth' to me."

<Theresa> (Sorry, guys, but I have a splitting headache. Save the world without me!  :) )

<Kite> "Have you weighed everything that destroying fear might also destroy?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I... I don't have the words for it. That's why I haven't gotten more than a bit of it across to the guys. But I'm getting better at it."

=-= Theresa is now known as BethE

|<-- BethE has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: All shall love me and despair?)

<DanteE> (g'gniht Beth)

<Conrad> (night T. thake some asp... too late)

<DanteE> "Wait.."

<DanteE> "You said you were trying to set it up so that they don't need courage.

<Random_Nerd> To Kite: "But how? Butterfly flaps his wings, and there's a storm in China. All I can do is look at the results that I can see, and make my decisions accordingly."

<DanteE> "Does that mean you intend to eliminate courage?

<Random_Nerd> C: "Well, like how I'd like to eliminate chemotherapy."

<DanteE> "Courage is a bad thing now?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "No more cancer, no more need for expensive drugs that make you sick and weak."

<Random_Nerd> C: "It's... it's like an aspirin, when you have a toothache."

<Kite> "He's saying it's a cure that would be obsolete."

<Random_Nerd> C: "It's better than not having it, but better still would be to take out the diseased tooth."

<Conrad> "But I once loved courage, he is still one of my dearest friends, Courage must remain!"

<DanteE> "If it's obsolete, though, then what?"

<Random_Nerd> He shrugs.

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

<DanteE> "See... this thing that talked to you...

<DanteE> "It is something like a demon.

<Random_Nerd> C: "It didn't talk to me. I just... /saw/ it."

<Conrad> "affected you C."

<DanteE> "Only rather than heaven and hell, it's existence vs. nothing.

<Random_Nerd> C: "And, for a moment, I felt like I understood it. And I'm trying to piece that back together, but it's hard."

<Random_Nerd> C: "No. It isn't about that at all."

<Random_Nerd> C: "I'm sure of this."

<Random_Nerd> C: "It's about one kind of existence versus another kind."

<DanteE> "Then why is it encouraging you to _destroy_"

<Random_Nerd> C: "To remove the bad. What's hurting people, confusing them, blinding them."

<DanteE> (and it occurs to me that we could get great intel...)

<Random_Nerd> C: "Pull the sick tooth, before the patient gets blood poisoning."

<DanteE> (He was a chaplain before being 'turned', right?)

<Random_Nerd> (Yes. And, from what he said, he wasn't a very good one.)

<Kite> "Cut off the leg before the gangrene spreads...."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Yes!"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Exactly!"

<Kite> "No. That is why we have to stop you."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Maybe missing a leg isn't ideal, but if the leg is sick, and can't be cured..."

<Conrad> "Seem like we are unconciliably here"

<Random_Nerd> He shrugs.

<Kite> "You are the gangrene."

<DanteE> "Ah, but, doesn't the Bible say people should face adversity, so that they can renew their bond to God?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "I can't just take your word for it."

<Kite> (Turns out he's a Buddhist chaplain....)

<Random_Nerd> C: "The Bible says a lot of things. Some days, I feel like I understand it less than I do the True Thing."

<Random_Nerd> (It's getting late, here. I'm going to have to call it a night pretty soon.)

<Kite> ('Salright)

<DanteE> "Tell me, if you remove the trial without giving them a chance to call upon God, doesn't that go against his plan?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "God wants to come and tell me what his plan is, I'll listen. Until then, I'll do what seems to me to be right, as well as I can."

<DanteE> (Is it clear where I'm going?)

<Conrad> (we can stop before the fight erupt, just at the cliffhanger we are on now)

<Random_Nerd> C: "Can't you see that I'm /helping/ people?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "Ask anyone!"

<DanteE> "If what you saw was in Darkness, then logically it can't be God, right?"

<Kite> (I still think making his friends into martyrs would be best.)

<Kite> (Due to an excess of courage)

<Random_Nerd> C: "It was in the dark, but it wasn't the dark."

<DanteE> "If it was God _there wouldn't be dark._"

<Random_Nerd> C: "The dark just meant that you could /see/ it. Because there wasn't anything to block it. For a moment, I saw it straight on, not filtered through all this..." *waves hand* "/stuff/."

<Random_Nerd> C: "'Now the earth was formless, and dark, and the spirit of the LORD hovered above the waters.'"

<DanteE> "This 'stuff' was created by God."

<DanteE> "Are you saying he made a mistake?"

<Random_Nerd> C: "And maybe it was good, once. But now, it's sick."

<Random_Nerd> C: "Not all of it, but a lot of it. It's sick, and it hurts people."

<DanteE> (Hm. Guess we can stop here, give us 2 weeks to figure out an argument.

<Random_Nerd> C: "Like, isn't that something that everyone agrees on? The nature of the world is to cause suffering."

<DanteE> (Are we getting anywhere?)

<Kite> "I like the Warmains better."

<Conrad> "I like him more"

<Random_Nerd> (Depends. You're not persuading him, as such, but you're getting at why he believes what he believes.)

<Random_Nerd> _____________________STOP___________________

<Random_Nerd> Would you have preferred Coriander Hasp?

<Kite> (Maybe Ftisk should temper him too!)

=-= Kite is now known as Verithe

<DanteE> OK, so if I have it right, he was visited by a Deceiver in such a way that he believes it's The Truth, and he's been spreading that truth to everyone here, and it's screwing with my Estate. Right?

<Verithe> No! I actually really like this guy.

<Conrad> You! You make all these enemy that you fill compelled to convert instead of fight!. Is _not_ fair!|

<DanteE> I considered the Ape Dynamics approach.

<Verithe> Kite just prefers that the Warmains are a little bit more aware of their situation.

<DanteE> This way we get more, though.

=-= DanteE is now known as Knockwood

=-= YOU are now known as Angelo

<Angelo> to be clear I like more the RN way that throwing at us some fodder to punch

<Random_Nerd> That's... partially right.

<Knockwood> We could leave a trail of bodies in our wake, but that would go against Kudzu, Entropy, and our own humanity. Those of us with it.

<Angelo> well, Ftisk care little for humanity

<Verithe> Hahahahaha! Kite laughs at your humanity.

<Knockwood> ... dang, I'm the only human here right now. :)

<Angelo> RN is not human? O.o

<Verithe> RN is the almighty HOLLYHOCK GOD!

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and if you're wondering why the Noble of Fear isn't here, while this guy is mainly trying to wipe it out at least locally, he isn't actually poking at any weaknesses or contradictions in it, just removing instances of it.

<Knockwood> RN is the forces of Creation arrayed against us

<Random_Nerd> Muhuhahaha?

<Random_Nerd> (Like how cutting down trees doesn't really hurt Plants much.)

<Knockwood> The attack is either him redefining Courage (a la Unknown Armies) or trying to set things up so that it's no longer needed.

<Verithe> Someday, I want to play UA.

<Random_Nerd> UA's really fun.

<Random_Nerd> My second favorite RPG.

<Random_Nerd> And the way you defined Courage, Knock, it /has/ to be essential.

<Random_Nerd> If it's just one of a set of options, then the estate doesn't work.

<Random_Nerd> Which is why what he's doing is hurting it.

<Random_Nerd> Not because he's attacking it directly, but because he's presenting another option.

<Knockwood> those parts I had with 'is essential...' ?

<Random_Nerd> Yeah, largely.

<Random_Nerd> With his sort of fear-removal thing, someone could engage in self sacrifice, for instance, just by calmly deciding that it was the proper course of action.

<Random_Nerd> And courage wouldn't even enter into it.

<Knockwood> so what I had earlier about the necessity of fear...

<Angelo> was truly necessity of courage

<Random_Nerd> His main response is "necessary for what"?

<Random_Nerd> As far as the Estate works, yeah.

<Knockwood> But going the other way has the problem that the elimination of Courage isn't evident.

<Random_Nerd> Yeah, that's how this is different from a Warmain attack. It's... lateral. And interestingly in this case, the actual attack is almost accidental.

<Knockwood> (and for extra fun, I'm an atheist arguing for God. :/ )

<Random_Nerd> Courage is an innocent bystander that was standing too close to Fear.

<Random_Nerd> Anyway, it's practically midnight here.

<Random_Nerd> See you next week!

<Angelo> night RN!

<Knockwood> oyasumi-nasai

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and good session, guys.

<Verithe> Good night!

<Random_Nerd> I like that we can get into these sorts of debates in the game.

|<-- Random_Nerd has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: )

<Knockwood> V, where are you now IRL?

<Verithe> EST

<Angelo> I bet on usa

<Knockwood> I keep thinking you're still in Japan

<Verithe> MI

<Angelo> Est? Estonia?

<Verithe> Not anymore. :(

<Verithe> Eastern Standard Time

<Knockwood> Angelo: Eastern Standard Time

<Angelo> MI? Milan?

<Angelo> ah!

<Verithe> Michigan

<Knockwood> basically the eastern 1/4 of the continental US

<Angelo> a state as big as 1/4 of all USA :-O

<Verithe> The reason why I've been missing so much is that I'm not used to gaming on Thursday nights yet, so it keeps slipping my mind.

<Knockwood> could set an alarm like Angelo does

<Verithe> Beth and RN have my phone number now.

<Angelo> I'm setting 2 alarms atm, one is still too little

<Verithe> Also, my wife set her watch alarm to remind me.

<Verithe> Because she's nice like that.

<Angelo> your wife is cool

<Knockwood> well, next week guys

<Verithe> Take care!

<Angelo> night guys!

|<-- Knockwood has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: �HydraIRC� -> http://www.hydrairc.com <- *�I�* use it, so it must be good!)

<Angelo> bye Verithe.

<Verithe> Bye, Angelo!

|<-- Verithe has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: ChatZilla 0.9.89 [Firefox 18.0.1/20130116073211])

<--| YOU (Angelo) have left #Nobilis



Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 35