Session 256

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Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 36

-->| YOU (Angelo) have joined #Nobilis

<Angelo> Hi guys!

<Knockwood> Hiya Angelo

<lazarus> hi angelo!

<Verithe> Hi, Angelo1

<BethE> Hi Angelo!

<Knockwood> Hey, happy belated birthday! According to Google

<Angelo> tnx Knock!

<BethE> Yes, happy belated birthday! *HUG*

<Angelo> tnx Beth too :-)

<lazarus> happy belated birthday!

<Verithe> Happy belated birthday!

-->| Random_Nerd (Random_Ner@MagicStar-13A3B9AE.hsd1.il.comcast.net) has joined #Nobilis

<Random_Nerd> Hey.

<Angelo> thank you, thank you guys

<Random_Nerd> Sorry I'm late, I was finishing the character sheets for you guys.

<Knockwood> Hiya RN

<Angelo> Hiya RN.

<Random_Nerd> I don't have one for Gnomely. Angelo, do you have any thoughts on him? Eight points of skills, three bond/affliction points.

<lazarus> hey RN

<Angelo> uhm I'll come with something

<Random_Nerd> Everyone else, give me a moment, and I'll email you your characters.

<Random_Nerd> Verithe - Gil, Laz - Sam, Knock - William, Beth - John, right?

<Verithe> Oui

<Knockwood> I think so

<lazarus> yah

<BethE> Yep

<Knockwood> Got my sheet

<Random_Nerd> Okay.

<lazarus> ding, email has arrived.

<Random_Nerd> Everyone, take a minute or two to read those, and tell me if you have any questions.

<Random_Nerd> Sorry they didn't go out sooner, but I just finished them.

<BethE> Crap, dear. John's making me tear up.

<lazarus> (I've never seen Pulp Fiction. Will this be a problem, RN?)

<Random_Nerd> (Nah. One moment.)

<Verithe> Reading and transferring to a text document for my ease of use.

<Knockwood> (HERESY, motherfucker!)

<Random_Nerd> (http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=czb4jn5y94g)

<Angelo> Can I have a peek at these sheets? or are secrets?

<Random_Nerd> Sure, I'll forward them to everyone.

<Random_Nerd> One moment.

<Random_Nerd> There, everyone should have all the sheets.

<Random_Nerd> Angelo, any thoughts on Gnomely's skills? I just don't feel like I have a good enough handle on the character to say.

<Angelo> I have a firm Actor -1 in my mind all the other are in flux

<Angelo> btw Sam tone is way over the top that the one I was going to

<Random_Nerd> Oh? How so?

<BethE> How is Gil only 1/4th human?

<Random_Nerd> Hmm?

<Random_Nerd> Did I say 1/8th before? I thought it was 1/4.

<BethE> Ah, no, I had thought that he had a parent that was full human. My mistake.

<lazarus> (There's already bets on who will succeed Brian?  :p)

<Random_Nerd> If so, then this may be a retcon. But this is the current version.

<Random_Nerd> (Well, they need to have plans in place and so on.)

<Random_Nerd> (And... you guys don't seem like the sort of Nobles that live a thousand years, y'know?)

<Random_Nerd> (Maybe Theresa. Maybe.)

<Angelo> Ftisk is immortal

<Verithe> (*cough*)

<Angelo> more or less

<BethE> I'm already old!

<Knockwood> Eh...

<Angelo> also is just 3 years old, he have tiiimeeee

<lazarus> ("I have to keep doing this, because if I don't my Nobles will probably oversleep and the world will end" ?!)

<lazarus> (does he regard us so poorly ;) ^_^)

<Random_Nerd> I'm pretty sure I've owned goldfish that lasted longer than I expect Ftisk to.

<BethE> I like the Put Together A Church That Doesn’t End Up On Fire for Gil.

<Knockwood> That's being realistic

  • Angelo pout at RN

<Random_Nerd> (He regards you guys largely as unstoppable wizard-gods who would starve to death if he forgot to bring you lunch.)

<Verithe> Hehe

<Random_Nerd> (How accurate this is up to you.)

<lazarus> (That's hilarious. And awesome. And ... rather accurate.)

<BethE> (I can at least feed myself, thank you, given Domain or sunlight.  :P )

<Knockwood> (By the way, severe thunderstorm warnings here. Not that I've seen them.)

<lazarus> (I'd like to know who the other frontrunner is to succeed Brian :p Also, whether there's already bets on the other in the Familia)

<Random_Nerd> Jim, your first anchor.

<lazarus> is it normally Anchors who follow in the footsteps of the Noble?

<Random_Nerd> He knows a lot more math than Sam. But they think Kudzu would like Sam more.

<Random_Nerd> More often than not.

<BethE> Great, now I want to anchor William out of pity.

<Knockwood> Remember, we know none of this IC

<Random_Nerd> Anything here that's a surprise?

<BethE> Well, yeah, but I had thought about anchoring William before. Maybe as a wedding present.

<lazarus> not from Sam / Brian interaction, anyway.

<Random_Nerd> (Oh, and William isn't jealous of Sam. He just wishes everyone would stop asking him how he feels about the fact that his partner is an Anchor and he isn't.)

<Verithe> Because he doesn't want to answer that he's not jealous at all because we're crazy?

<Random_Nerd> Everyone but him being crazy is William's ground state expectation for reality.

<Knockwood> His answer may be a variant of 'they're not locked up in here with him he's locked up in there with them"

<Random_Nerd> Of course, he does work a lot with Sam, Nobles, and Imperators.

=-= BethE is now known as John

=-= lazarus is now known as Sam

<Knockwood> Let's see if the name is available...

=-= Knockwood is now known as William

=-= YOU are now known as Gnomely

=-= Verithe is now known as Gil

<John> Now, let's see if I can think like a king.

<William> Okay, time to think like William…'zzzZzzZzzZzzhuh?'

<Random_Nerd> Okay, ready to start?

<John> Think so.

<Gnomely> ready!

<Sam> I think so.

<William> Banzai

<Sam> Not sure if I can do Sam justice, but here goes

<Random_Nerd> And if you guys have any questions, just ask.

<Random_Nerd> __________________Start_____________

<Random_Nerd> So, remember the time it was in the mainline game?

<Sam> (not really)

<Random_Nerd> This is a bit ago. Specifically, this is when you guys were meeting Cain in a diner.

<William> Poker night. :)

<Gil> (When we kept calling them and they were busy.)

<Random_Nerd> Well, a bit before that.

<Random_Nerd> When you were on your way.

<John> (There were multiple times we called and they were busy.)

<William> Aren't they pretty much always busy?

<Random_Nerd> (Most of those are a little later than that.)

<Random_Nerd> (But you mean the "It's not a good time... uh, and the magic Horse isn't /unusually/ flammable" and so on stuff, right?)

<Gil> (Yeah)

<Random_Nerd> (Yeah, that's soon but not yet.)

<Random_Nerd> (And bear with me in terms of timing and slight changes and so on, because I can't actually see the future.)

<Random_Nerd> So, we're gonna start with John.

<Gil> (*waves at King John*)

<Random_Nerd> You've just finished doing about ninety minutes of carefully timed and worded prayers in front of the Holy Relics, and changed back into your regular clothes in the antechamber to the Holy of Holies.

<John> *sits up straight*

<Gnomely> ( /Me get comf and popcorn full

<John> *breathes a little easier*

<Random_Nerd> And when you come out, one of the security guys nods and tries to catch your eye. "She's back, sir. Majesty. Sir Majesty."

<John> (Do I know which she he's talking about?)

<Random_Nerd> (Not immediately. You know more than one 'she'.)

<Random_Nerd> (And more than one of them are trouble.)

<Gnomely> (martyrs!)

<John> "Thank you, Lt. Which she are you talking about?"

<Random_Nerd> "The demon-lady. Uh... not the demon's intern, the lady that thinks demons are trying to steal her soul and wants you to do an exorcism personally."

<John> (Can't be my mom, asking about grandchildren...)

<Random_Nerd> Great. Her.

<Random_Nerd> She's been on about this for at least the last year. And you even personally looked into it, and there didn't seem to be anything going on that merited an exorcism.

<John> *thinks 'I will not think uncharitable thoughts about a subject, I will not think uncharitable thoughts about a subject...'*

<Random_Nerd> But there is something that's been bugging you. She's been a lot more active lately, and it roughly coincides with when the dead demon got out of the Secure Demon Storage Room.

<William> (That predates the enChanceling, right?)

<Random_Nerd> So you're not quite sure whether she's actually onto something.

<Random_Nerd> (Yes.)

<Random_Nerd> Could just be coincidence. But that sounds much simpler and less stressful than anything you would recognize as your life.

<John> *sigh* "Thank you, Lt. I will receive her in the south chapel, thank you." *heads over there*

<John> *mutters to self* "I'm probably at peak holiness at the moment, if I can keep my mind straight..."

<Random_Nerd> Security: "I'll... just tag along, okay?"

<Random_Nerd> ____________BREAK____________

<Random_Nerd> William!

<William> Yyyyyes?

<Random_Nerd> You're still at your desk, of course. It's only 7.

<William> Am or pm?

<Random_Nerd> PM.

<Gil> (I guess calling an Aide a workaholic would be redundant...)

<Random_Nerd> Things that still need done. Wedding programs designed and printed. Power of Horrible Things told that she is apparently CCing you on her erotic fanfiction about Lord Entropy. Bio on Papa Legba for the Nobles.

<John> (Poor William.)

<Random_Nerd> Research on the new Physics' progress. Oh, and you should probably eat at some point.

<William> "Let's see… Bill… Brian fan club… Bill… Brian fan club... Dante fan Club… _Dante_ fan club?"

<John> (Self-insertion fanfic?)

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and you need to deal with the crazy people who think that the Nobles are evil space-alien fairy demons who came to steal everyone's souls.

<John> (Not everyone's. And Kite only wants the shiny ones.)

<Random_Nerd> Some people just refuse to understand that sometimes when a kingdom is ripped from the world, surrounded by magical thickets and jungles, and a bunch of people get turned into weird creatures, that's just a thing that happens.

<William> "When can an Aide get an Aide?"

<Random_Nerd> Their representatives are meeting with you tomorrow morning. Again. And you just don't know what to say.

  • William checks what their propaganda says...

<Random_Nerd> Sam's still in his office too, but he's either doing incredibly important Anchor-communing with Brian, or he's trying to think up a good LOLcat.

<John> (And he can't say that we don't want their souls because twenty minutes later, we would need some souls.)

<Random_Nerd> It's hardly consistent. They don't know /what/ the Nobles are. They just know they're against it.

<Random_Nerd> Some of them don't even like /Brian/.

<Gnomely> (omg!)

<John> (Is that...possible?)

<Random_Nerd> (Apparently!)

<Random_Nerd> At least they aren't violent.

<John> (Heresy!)

<William> Did I get special training for dealing with Loons?

<Random_Nerd> Yes.

<Random_Nerd> It was about 50% of your Aides training, really.

<Random_Nerd> "Loons" correlates pretty strongly with "Nobles" and /very/ strongly with "Imperators."

<Random_Nerd> Oh, hey, that's new. Now they think you replaced John with a Talking SynthoFlesh Mandroid.

<Random_Nerd> Apparently the capitals are very important to them, because that exact phrase occurs seven times in three paragraphs.

<Gil> (That's an idea....)

<John> (Huh. Cool! I'm out of here! Sitting on the Amyra beach, drinking fruity drinks for me!)

  • William goes up to see Sam. This looks pop-culture-y.

<John> (Let me know when the chapter is over...)

<Random_Nerd> Sam!

<Sam> (yes?)

<Random_Nerd> You're in your office. You're trying to work out a nice way to respond to Lesson's emails.

<Random_Nerd> Apparently, as one of the very few other non-humans in Amyra, he's trying to bond with you.

<Sam> (hurray)

<John> (Aww!)

<Random_Nerd> And it just isn't working. He's not really /evil/ any more, but he's still creepy and kind of a dick.

<Random_Nerd> And you much prefer relationships where /you're/ the one who's weird and kind of a dick.

<Random_Nerd> It works for you.

<Sam> (yep)

<Random_Nerd> But you don't want to shut him down, and maybe cripple his attempts to develop as a person or something.

<Random_Nerd> It's... awkward.

<Random_Nerd> And... he's not a Dionyl. He's not human. He doesn't even really think like a demon any more.

<Random_Nerd> So you don't know what to think.

<Random_Nerd> And then William walks in.

<Gnomely> (mail with Gnomely sent)

<Sam> "Will, what do you tell a former-demon about socializing with people who are not-me?"

<William> "Usually, 'don't'.

<Random_Nerd> (That works.)

<Sam> "But then he keeps talking to me!"

<William> "Have a look at this, though...

<Sam> "Oh?

<William> "'Talking SynthoFlesh Mandroid' looks... unique."

<Sam> "Looks like something out of a 70s era Fantastic Four comic or something. Or possibly Doctor Who."

<William> "And you should remember 'Once is a fluke, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action'."

<William> "I don't believe he went on to seven."

<Sam> "Part of that group, isn't it?"

<Sam> "Why do you pay attention to them, anyway?"

  • William looks through papers. "Ten."

<Random_Nerd> (And as to why... it's your job. Dealing with Noble-obsessed crazies. Usually it's just the Brian File, but there's others.)

<William> "One of the great human philosophers once said 'Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups'."

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and there is one person you know who's good at dealing with groups of obsessive people. Kite's anchor, Gil.

<William> "Plus, imagine how Dante would deal with it."

  • Gil sneezes

<Sam> "Dante's not really the problem, though. Imagine Ftisk, and how /that/ would go."

<Gnomely> ( /me sneeze)

  • William imagines, and shudders...

<Sam> (Drinking game?)

<Random_Nerd> (And let's switch to Gnomely, with that.)

<Random_Nerd> ______GNOMELY________

<Gnomely> (yay)

<Random_Nerd> You're /finally/ done with the oil commercial. These ones are a bit of a pain, they're always insisting that you stick to the script.

<Random_Nerd> But you have to keep them happy, or they won't have the special little petroleum chemistry lab that's devoted entirely to your culinary needs.

<Gnomely> Eh, Ftisk like these treats

<Random_Nerd> But anyway, you've gone through the lines, said their stupid slogans about how if anyone knows what good oil is, a machine does, while standing next to the car. And they're happy.

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Where does Gnomely live?)

<Gnomely> (he and Ftisk rearranged an ex car discard and made a house, some secrets labs a space for the game and so on)

<Random_Nerd> (Okay.)

<Random_Nerd> (Would Gnomely walk, drive, or have a taxi bring him home?)

<Gnomely> (walk if nearby ie <5 miles otherwise taxi ... but he weight a lot)

<Gnomely> (so drive instead of taxi, motorbike, special reinforced)

<Random_Nerd> Well, you can finally get off the sound stage, and as soon as you get home you'll be able to wipe off the special polish they always have you put on. It itches. You don't know how you even have nerves that could feel it, but it itches.

<Random_Nerd> But while you're on your way out, you notice a familiar shape.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson. He's... kinda hard to miss.

  • Gnomely wave to Lesson "Hi Lesson!!"

<Random_Nerd> He waves and tries to catch your eye, in what he clearly thinks is a display of nonchalant friendliness. Rather than looking like a seven and a half foot tall demon waving a claw in the air and baring its teeth.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Had... questions. About being a living machine. For Bureau work."

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and that intern of his is here, too. You didn't even notice her.

  • Gnomely high five him

<Random_Nerd> Lesson's been coming up with reasons to talk with you a lot, lately. You're not quite sure why.

<Gnomely> "Oh, ok, what is the question?"

<Random_Nerd> He awkwardly returns it.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "It is about people who want to not be human."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Most of them, they just want to be... mythical creature. Unicorn, elf, person with wings."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "And we know how to do that. Have people who got turned into that, wanted to turn back."

<William> (Pony. :) )

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "But now... people want to be robot. Nobody got turned into robot. Don't know how to do it. Don't know how to advise on side effects, do counseling."

<Gil> (I'm curious what the relationship between most popular non-human being is compared to currently popular media)

<Gnomely> "uhm, ok well I was made this way and that is my normal way of being, but I get to try some other shapes.. btw wanna try different ones? Is Fun, I can arrange something with Ftisk ..."

<Gil> (*is....what the relationship is)

<John> (Sparkly vampires, ugg.)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "So you have been meat person before? You know what the difference is?"

<Gnomely> (is there a code for text I'm only thinking of?)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm?)

<Gil> (Kite wants a list of the people who want to be merfolk or fish-people)

<John> (I usually use *thinking stuff here* or *thinks: " " *)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Well, in addition to the actual mer-people you had?)

<William> ( there's always o O (thought) )

<Random_Nerd> (Or an emote. "/me thinks about things, and also stuff.")

<Gnomely> "I was _also_ meat person as you say but also a butterfly, a pig, a goose a snake... yeah that time Ftisk make us snakes and staged a tree with apples .. was fun"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Can you, soon, talk to doctors? Maybe also to people who want to be robots? We need for them to make... informed decision."

<Random_Nerd> Jennifer is just standing there, checking off things on her notebook.

<William> (Dante might sit in, he'd be interested in their motivation.)

<John> (It's good to have a list of stuff to ask.)

<Gnomely> "Uhm, sure, I’ll try to find time in my agenda. Ah, did you want to play in the game I'm managing for Ftisk? You'll get to try spider shape!"

<Gnomely> (and shooting webs!)

<William> (If it's to stop feeling that would be a bad thing. Or, y'know, the urge to zap people with death rays.)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Was spider, once. To test machine. Didn't like it."

<Random_Nerd> He gestures at his head. "Eyes. Too many, wrong angles. Disorienting. Reminded me of Hell."

<Gnomely> "ok, .. and your assistant?"

<Gnomely> "well chameleon _is_ disorienting with the independent eyes..."

<Random_Nerd> Jennifer: "I'm just helping out, making sure he mentions everything he wanted to. I've never been a spider."

<Random_Nerd> J: "But I don't think I would like it."

<Gnomely> "Then you have to try. Being a car sized spider able to shoot web and climb were you like is so refreshing!"

<Random_Nerd> Jennifer: "If you say so."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Are all robots... metal? Shiny? Visibly robot?"

<William> (Remind me to have a talk about DA.)

<Gnomely> "ok J. came day <insert tournament date and place here"

<Gnomely> "Robots are all mechanical, no need to be all metal, but is the usual trend" *clap on metallic torso

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "So, no robots that look like people? Want to be able to tell this to angry people."

<Gnomely> "well if there are no more robot but something else" (cyborgs !)

<John> (Hmm...increase in robot requests vs Talking SynthoFlesh Mandroid mentions seven times in three paragraphs...)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Because angry people say that, we turn people into monster. Turn monsters into people. Monsters work for us. They say that we are secretly running kingdom. Replace king with robot that looks like person."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "They are getting to be very angry. Sent Samuel email, but no response."

<William> (Aha.)

<Random_Nerd> He looks at Jennifer.

<Random_Nerd> She checks her phone. "Yep, still no response."

<Gil> (We should start turning random things into random civilians just to screw with these people.)

<Gnomely> "these peoples are misinformed. Want me to do a lecture on robots?"

<Random_Nerd> L: "Can't use smartphone. It has... a thing that is called a capacitive touchscreen. And it makes assumptions as to how electrically conductive skin is."

<Random_Nerd> L: "My fingers aren't right conductivity."

<John> (Plus, he'd get hooked on Angry Birds...)

<Random_Nerd> L: "Maybe. Need to think about it. They don't like monster. Probably don't like robot? Were very angry when talking about robots."

<Gnomely> "uhm, dad can probably make one working for you. Wanna I ask?"

<Sam> (oh no)

<Random_Nerd> L: "If you want to. You do not have to. I am not giving you any orders."

<Gnomely> "I'll ask then."

<William> (BTW, it's raining here, so there might be a power glitch.)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. In theory, I want to do this more organically.)

<Random_Nerd> (But would you mind if we just cut ahead an hour to all of you discussing this stuff?)

<Gnomely> "also I'm pretty resilient, an angry mob is not an issue"

<Random_Nerd> (I don't want a whole session with you guys split up.)

<Sam> ('s fine!)

<William> (So, we're all together talking about this?)

<John> (That would be okay with me. What happened to me with the possibly possessed lady?)

<Gnomely> (fine!)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson seems to think. "As robot, do you have instincts? Fear response? Aggression?"

<Gil> (Works for me.)

<Gnomely> "I'm a being, like you, Jennifer, that person on the other side of the road, sure I have instinct and all the shebang"

  • John calls Lesson's phone.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Ah."

<Random_Nerd> He seems a bit disappointed.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson's phone rings.

<Random_Nerd> He pulls it out of his pocket gingerly.

<Random_Nerd> It's an older one, the kind that still has buttons for everything. He carefully unfolds it and presses a button, then tilts his head and puts it to his ear.

<Random_Nerd> L: "This is Lesson, the chief of the Bureau of Monstrosities. To whom am I talking?"

<John> "Hello, Lesson? This is John from the palace."

<Gnomely> (changing shape didn't help in personal issues ... look at Chuubo! :-P )

<Random_Nerd> His words have the cadence of a memorized speech.

<Random_Nerd> (Turning into a snake is a special case.)

<Random_Nerd> L: "Ah. Yes. King. What do you want me to do?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson has the calculating look that he always does when trying to figure out how to interact with someone who is not directly superior or subordinate to him.

<John> "I was wondering if you can detect demonic possession in human beings. I have a subject who has been claiming to be possessed for quite some time now, with no evidence. However, her complaints have been increasing since the...removal from the wards of the...demon boxes room."

<Random_Nerd> (You know, I think Amyra is probably an old North African word meaning "Place of demons in boxes".)

<John> (Hee!)

<Gnomely> (great!)

<Random_Nerd> L: "Possession."

<Gnomely> "Cool, can I came?"

<Random_Nerd> L: "Hmm. There are two things that this might be. Is this when person meets demon, and demon suppresses their will with that of demon? Or when demon physically enters into person, makes person into clothing made of meat?"

<Random_Nerd> L: "If it is the second one, could recognize it. First... maybe."

<Random_Nerd> L, to Gnomely: "Do you want to talk to angry lady who does not like demons? I wonder if she likes robots."

<John> "The subject has not made clear which one it is. I cannot detect any possession, but I wish to try all avenues in case one of the boxed inhabitants have taken hold of an already breached person."

<Random_Nerd> L: "Can come. Just me, or should bring... tools? Food? Gift?"

<Gnomely> "ok, will be more entertaining that waiting for Ftisk *hoping he is not courting someone else*"

<John> "You can bring tools and others with you, if you think it would help. We may have to keep the subject from seeing you or other distracting people in case this is just a more severe form of mental illness that has worsened with the changes in the kingdom."

<Random_Nerd> L: "Ah. Will take van, come to freight entrance."

<John> "Thank you very much, Lesson. I appreciate you making time for this."

<Random_Nerd> L, to Jennifer: "Send another message to Samuel. About angry people. And have dead man bring the van."

<Random_Nerd> ___________SCENE__________

<Random_Nerd> Back to Sam and William.

<Gnomely> (RN, I love Lesson)

<William> Right after that, or later?

<Random_Nerd> Say, five, ten minutes later.

<Random_Nerd> Sam, your computer dings. It's another message from Lesson. He's asking you about some thing with people who don't like demons and probably don't like robots. And he's mentioning that he'll be going to the palace, which is very near where you are.

<Random_Nerd> (Oh? What about him do you like?)

<Sam> "Lesson wants to talk about people who don't like demons, and probably don't like robots, whatever that means. At the palace."

<Random_Nerd> (Oh, by the way. You'll notice that Lesson didn't say to send any of the stuff that makes him seem to be kinda pathetically looking for attention from Sam.)

<William> "...what?"

<Sam> "I don't know. Here, look."

<Random_Nerd> (This is because, for reasons that surpass understanding, Jennifer has decided that she thinks Lesson and Sam would be a cute couple, and wants to set them up.)

<Gnomely> (wait, is so wrong! <3 )

<William> (Heh)

<Sam> (... she's been anchored by the power of Horrible Things?)

<John> (Awww. ^^ Then of course, Will needs to go there to chaperone.)

<William> "Seems to be a theme about robots lately."

<Random_Nerd> (It's the same people. They actually bug Lesson's guys even more than they do William.)

<Sam> "I don't remember ... Pacific Rim maybe?"

<Random_Nerd> (They think that Lesson and Ick are the ones who're /really/ in charge, and the more normal-looking Nobles are just a facade.)

<William> "Sam, think we could drop in on the palace?"

<Sam> "Yeah, let's go."

<John> (If I walk around looking non-human, I get in trouble!)

<Random_Nerd> (So, yeah. Normally these people wouldn't all be in the same room at the same time. But... eh. Lesson has a reason to talk to Sam, William has a reason to talk to John, John has a reason to talk to Lesson, some of the stuff is robot-centric...)

<Sam> *Sam will put on a fedora and Yet Another Scarf on his way out his office*

  • William goes and picks up his overstuffed briefcase and stuffs it further with these android papers.

<Sam> (and also has a bullwhip and a prop pistol strapped on)

<William> (Title sequence for "The Android Papers")

<Gil> (Oh mai!)

<Random_Nerd> When the two groups of you arrive, John is currently talking to the demon-obsessed woman.

<Random_Nerd> She's talking about how the devil appears to her in the form of a goat-man, and tells her that /she/ is an animal shaped like a human.

<John> (John will have placed screens at the back of the room where the door is, so that those coming in don't distract the woman who already has demons in her bonnet, thank you very much.

<Random_Nerd> Really, her thing is charmingly simple. At least she isn't obsessed with demons /and/ robots.

<John> "What kind of animal?"

<Random_Nerd> Demon Lady: "He says... different sorts of animal. Cow. Pig. Domestic animals."

<Random_Nerd> DL: "I don't know why."

<Gil> (Sounds like he's just calling her names.)

<William> (Dante would point out that many people believe they are being manipulated by an outside force.)

<Sam> (Domestic Animals would be a weird insult, though, Gil)

<John> (Sounds like to me, someone with Imperial knowledge is poking at the whole 'humans aren't Imperial anymore' thing.)

<Random_Nerd> Demon Lady: "And he says things to me, when I am with other people, to make me react. Sexual things. Violent things. Nobody else can see him. You're the only one who can help me."

<John> "Is he present right now?"

<Random_Nerd> John, one of the two security guards in the room listens to something on his headset for a moment, and then walks over and says "Your Highness, the... person you wanted to come over to the palace is here."

<Random_Nerd> Demon Lady: "No. He never comes to be around me when I'm seeing you. That's why I think you're the only one who can help me."

<Random_Nerd> Demon Lady: "This kingdom has been /taken over/ by demons. They just walk down the street, the same as anyone else. Sometimes people see them, sometimes they don't."

<John> "Thank you, Frank. Please extend the screens at the back of the room and lead my guest and his coworkers in. Evelyn, I am consulting with others who are trying to help me to help you, but you must not look at them unless I tell you to."

<Random_Nerd> Sam, William, Gnomely, you and Lesson are out waiting in a small meeting room, right down the hall.

<Gnomely> (are we in the same room or in an antechamber?)

<John> (Antechamber.)

<Random_Nerd> Demon Lady: "Not like that other king. I've seen him on TV. He's a bad man."

<William> (Did we hear that?)

<Gil> (Is she consorting with the Border Mythic?)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm... let's say John left the intercom open, muted on your end, so you can hear what she's saying.)

<Gnomely> (mart move John!)

<John> "He has repented of his ways, Evelyn. And we all are given multiple chances to change our ways."

<William> (That, and he explicitly has no power.)

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "He's not a good man. I can see it in his eyes. And he admits that he went to Hell and consorts with demons. And that wife of his is way too young for him."

<John> "I think about any woman alive would be too young for him, Evelyn. Now, do you notice any times that you are more likely to hear from this goat-man?"

<Random_Nerd> The security guys set up the screens

<Random_Nerd> E: "At night. When I'm trying to sleep."

<John> "In your dreams or when you are awake?"

<Random_Nerd> E: "My mother always said, some times you'll just see the Devil, walking through the world like he's people, looking at everyone else. And you're not supposed to let him know you saw him, or he'll get mad and hurt you."

<Random_Nerd> E: "But I guess I did something wrong, because now he knows I can see him."

<Random_Nerd> She doesn't answer.

<John> "Does he do anything that manifests in this world? Move objects? Other people hearing him?"

<Random_Nerd> The screens are up.

<Random_Nerd> E: "He sets fires, sometimes. He makes people think it was me smoking. But he sets the fires. He only does that recently. I don't know why."

  • William checks ahead to make sure Lesson can come in without anyone panicking.

<Random_Nerd> The screens are fairly opaque. You can see out, if you look from up close, but not really see in from a distance.

<Random_Nerd> Like mesh curtains.

  • William signals Lesson to come in.

<John> (And the security guys should remind you others to keep quiet while in there.)

<John> "How recently?"

<John> "And do you smoke?"

<Random_Nerd> E: "Hardly ever. And never when I'm going to be sleeping. But he sets fires so it makes it look like I fell asleep with a cigarette. Which I don't. I don't do that."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson comes in.

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. We need to get Gil in soon. I'd do it, but I said earlier from his perspective that Sam and William did.)

<Random_Nerd> He looks intently at her.

<Random_Nerd> She seems to sit up, suddenly, and sniffs the air.

<Random_Nerd> E: "Not here. Not with the king. Not here. Not here."

<William> (We can retcon, say this is odd enough to get everyone involved.)

  • John takes Evelyn's hands in mine. "Now, Evelyn, I want you to describe to me the goatman, what he looks like, what he sounds like. I want you to focus on me and my voice."

<Random_Nerd> She's mumbling to herself.

<John> "Evelyn!" *shouts*

<Random_Nerd> E: "He's coming. He's close. I can feel him."

<William> (Presumably, we have called all the aides together to talk anyway.)

<John> "Evelyn, do you believe? Do you believe in God and the Treasures that we protect for all of the world?"

<Random_Nerd> E: "Can you see demons? Because you're a priest, a king? Can you see them? Can't you feel that?"

<Random_Nerd> (That works.)

<Random_Nerd> She's only half-listening.

<William> Quietly: "Lesson... Step out a sec."

<Random_Nerd> E: "He's in this room. I can't see him, but the devil is right here, in this room."

<John> "I know that there is a demon nearby. But he will not harm you, this I swear. Do you hear me?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson steps out, a pained expression on his face.

  • Gnomely pat Lesson

<Random_Nerd> E: "Demon! Demon!"

<Random_Nerd> Then she looks confused.

<John> "Evelyn! Do you trust me?"

<Random_Nerd> E: "Wait, you're the one I saw on TV. You're not the same one."

<Random_Nerd> E: "You work with the... the people, who got changed. I just thought you were one of them. But..."

<John> (Well, crap, what I thought. She thinks the king's been replaced.)

<William> (Whoops, I meant out of the room, but this works.)

<Random_Nerd> (Lesson misinterpreted.)

<John> (It's okay.  :) )

<Gil> (Lesson is forgiven.)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson looks awkward, and seems to be trying to be shorter.

<John> "This is Lesson, Evelyn. He _is_ the one who has been helping all of our brothers and sisters who were changed when the kingdom moved."

  • Gnomely whisper to L: a change of shape can help

<John> "He will not harm you. He is here to help me in helping you. Is that okay?"

<Random_Nerd> E: "You're a demon. I can tell. I didn't think you were actually a demon. You're... I've seen you on /TV/."

<John> (*snort*)

<Random_Nerd> (Gil can be there, yeah.)

<Random_Nerd> (If you guys would have called him for expertise in religious weirdness.)

<William> (Should probably hide from Evelyn, though.)

<Gil> (I've totally got an outside perspective on this)

<William> (Well, the email did mention demons.)

<Random_Nerd> E: "But the people who've been changed, they're just people. I can tell. There's a lady up my street who has an extra arm, and she's just a person with a weird arm."

<John> "Lesson, this is Evelyn. She has been having visions of a goat-man who has been calling her an animal in human shape, been tormenting her around others and starting fires, usually when she is asleep or about to sleep."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Goat-man?"

<William> ("Animal in human shape"… The giant?)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Do not know any demon in this place that looks like goat-man. Me. Small demon. Demons in boxes. Only demons I know of."

<John> "Evelyn, as Lesson has been able to work with people of all shapes and kinds, he is in charge of helping everyone obtain the shape that they are most comfortable with."

<John> (Would John have known of any of the demons in the box rooms that could have had that form?)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Have renounced the ways of Hell and power. Tried to. Hard."

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm.)

<William> (Well, all but one were dead at the scene...)

<Random_Nerd> (There'd be demonology books on them, I'm sure.)

<Random_Nerd> (Some would be depicted with goatlike traits.)

<John> "Has anyone else seen the goat-man, Evelyn?"

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "No."

<Random_Nerd> She looks at Lesson.

<Gil> "Should we inspect her home, I wonder."

<Random_Nerd> E: "Everyone can see this demon? Could they always do that, before he stopped being... demony?"

<John> "Yes, Evelyn."

<Random_Nerd> She turns to John: "He really is a good person? You can promise me that he is?"

<John> "However, you seem to be very special."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "No. Not good. Working on 'person'."

<Gnomely> "He _IS_ good"

<John> "I cannot judge another, Evelyn. That is up to Our Lord. But I do trust Lesson and I know that he cares deeply for this kingdom."

<John> "And I have promised that he will not harm you."

<Random_Nerd> E: "Then, if you're a demon, and it's a demon, why can everyone see you, and nobody but me can see the other one?"

<William> (William and Lesson don't quite get along, right?)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Magic."

<Random_Nerd> (Correct.)|

<Random_Nerd> (William's gotten past just referring to him as 'the demon', but they're certainly not friends.)

<William> "'Magic'?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "There are things that demons do, other things do, that human people don't do. Could try to explain why, how. But don't know those things. Jennifer says, when I need to explain things like that, say 'magic'."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "So, magic."

  • John nods. "A difference in demonic abilities."

<William> "So, this is a demon?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "'Demon' is not a thing that is like 'human'. It is more like 'mammal.' Many different, vaguely related things, sharing common ancestry."

<William> Unsaid: as opposed to schizophrenia or dementia?

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Don't know. Not implausible. But... haven't met any demons, other than little one."

<John> (Well, she _can_ detect demons.)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Would think that if there was another, would know. But..."

<Random_Nerd> He shrugs.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Don't know."

<John> "Evelyn, where do you see these other demons that you say are walking around?"

<William> (Does William know demonology?)

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "Didn't know about demons in boxes, until king mentioned."

<Random_Nerd> (He knows /about/ it. But Sam knows more about non-Earth stuff on the Ash, and he isn't an expert either.)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Gil would know more.)

<Gil> (Sam's been to....Hell?)

<Sam> (Yep)

<Random_Nerd> (Some fallen angels are on Dionyl, and demons and nimblejacks are sometimes involved in their cults.)

<Gil> (And, yeah, does the goat-headed thing sound familiar to Gil?)

<Random_Nerd> (Very near it, at least. On Jerren.)

<John> (He went there on the back of Jerren!)

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm.)

<Random_Nerd> (Demons on Dionyl often have traits in common with animals. But... animals on Dionyl, not necessarily Earth animals.)

<Gnomely> (brb)

<Random_Nerd> (That's probably because the fallen angels that choose to come to Dionyl had previous ties with it, and that their demonic pets/slaves/food would be related to Dionyl stuff rather than Earth stuff.)

<Sam> (Sam would probably know the goat-person description of the devil having cropped up a lot, right? Not that I think he knows much more than that)

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "The things that I can see that other people don't... I don't know if they're all demons. This one... it felt like the goat one. More than most of the other ones."

<William> (Granted, he knows it from Tenacious D videos... :) )

<Random_Nerd> (Yeah, he'd know that.)

<Random_Nerd> (But... yeah. He'd know it from pop culture from the 70s and later.)

<Random_Nerd> (The actual demons he's seen don't have goat parts. Well, horns. But not the whole deal.)

<Random_Nerd> William, your phone bleeps.

  • William steps aside to answer it...

<Gil> (Does this look similar to any symptoms of Dementia Animus?)

<Random_Nerd> It's Dante. They're coming back, and they'll need a map of Kabul and the surrounding area. Try to have it ready in five, ten minutes.

<John> "It is quite possible, Evelyn, that you have the Sight. The ability to see things from other worlds. Like how you could tell that Lesson had entered this room."

<Random_Nerd> (It looks similar, at least.)

<John> "And it could be that this goat-man is targeting you because you are so special."

<Random_Nerd> (She's /relatively/ coherent for someone with DA. But on the other hand, if she's been this way for years, maybe she's learned to fake it.)

<William> "Kabul? How much detail?"

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "That's what I've been trying to say! That the devil visits me and... is it the Devil, or just some other one? Is there a way to know?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson shrugs.

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "If it was Lucifer, either we'd already know, or there would be no way to tell. But... doesn't look like a goat."

<John> (If she got DA from earlier, it couldn't be from us. She's been bugging John about demons before the Chancel.)

<Random_Nerd> (Yeah, this was before you guys showed up.)

<Random_Nerd> And William, just... the surrounding area. Anything they'd need.

<Random_Nerd> Oh, and there are /two/ flower rites on. So it's really urgent.

<Random_Nerd> Annoying, this. The situations where the Nobles could solve a problem easier than you could, but they're busy doing things you can't do at /all/.

<William> "Ah yes, those are always entertaining. How far away are you?"

<Gil> (Would I be able to use Outsider Perspective to help Evelyn alter worldviews to Border Mythic?)

<Random_Nerd> They'll be stopping the Dantemobile here, probably getting out for a bit, and heading out. Sam doesn't have to make a trip plan, they already worked it out.

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm.)

<Random_Nerd> (Superior Dionyl would be more relevant.)

<Random_Nerd> (Outsider Perspective is more about how you approach social situations.)

<Gil> (Oh, right!)

<John> (Does the palace have any equivalent rooms to holy bunkers?)

<William> "I'll meet you there, then."

<Gil> "If I may, I would like to try and show you how to look at the world through a different perspective, Evelyn, and see if that looks familiar."

<William> "By your leave, your highness, the Nobles need a map of Kabul ASAP."

<Random_Nerd> (It has quite a few!)

<Random_Nerd> (There's the Treasure room, but only you're allowed in there.)

<Random_Nerd> (There's the Demon Basement.)

<John> "Of course, William."

<Random_Nerd> (There's a sort of Spiritual Panic Room that one of your ancestors had installed.)

<Random_Nerd> (Stuff like that.)

<John> (Ehh, the Demon basement, we're still having that fumigated.)

<Sam> tucguhfxyfutdxfytgcjgchvgcjyfi

<Random_Nerd> (It is a bunker, it's just... the walls face the other way.)

<John> "Would it be possible for you to be my guest in the palace for a day or two, Evelyn?"

<William> "Actually, do you have maps in your library here?"

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "In... the /palace/? Your /guest/?"

<Random_Nerd> You do have maps. You totally have maps.

<John> "Yes, William. Third door down, west wall."

<Sam> yfhfmxtsxrybfzsddhmtfhfmdhnfxdtumdtiyfutd

<Random_Nerd> You like reading about places you'll probably never get to go.

<John> (Laz, did your cat take over Sam?)

<Random_Nerd> (Is Sam... gibberishing?)

<Sam> (sorry, was afk, and Sara took over the keyboard ....)

<Random_Nerd> (Ah.)

<John> (Ahhh. Hi Sara!)

  • William goes and grabs copies of maps of Kabul...

<Random_Nerd> You find some, reasonably current.

<John> *smiles* Yes, Evelyn, here at the palace, as my guest. We have some special rooms that we can see if they can prevent the visitations."

<William> (And they should be copies, considering it's doubtful they'll come back intact.)

<Random_Nerd> The Dantemobile is already parked downstairs.

  • William hands off the maps.

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "You're... you haven't been taken over by evil demonic powers, right? Really? It's okay that you have a demon here?"

<Random_Nerd> The Nobles head out.

  • John looks her in the eyes. "I do not believe so, Evelyn. I have performed my duties to the Treasures this very day, and now, I am taking care of my subjects. You, in particular."

  • William rejoins the others

<Random_Nerd> (Oh, and she isn't with the mandroid people. She'd think the stuff they were saying about John was very disrespectful and in terrible taste. And don't they have real things to worry about, like demons?)

<John> "Lesson is a trusted assistant of myself and the Nobles who protect the kingdom now."

<Random_Nerd> (The only demon /those/ guys worry about is Lesson, who she didn't think was 'actually a demon'.)

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "So... they're really there? The Ark, and the Grail... you saw them /today/?"

<John> (Yes, because what's worse than a demon than a demondroid!)

  • John smiles gently. "Yes, Evelyn."

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "I... guess if you can be in there, with them, you can't be possessed or anything. Okay. Could... you have the demon not be near me? It makes me feel really unsafe."

<Random_Nerd> She looks at Lesson: "Nothing personal."

<Random_Nerd> Lesson looks to John for a cue.

<John> "I need to talk with Lesson and his colleagues now about your problem, but we will try to minimize your discomfort. How about some of my security takes you home so you can gather your things and when you come back, I can personally show you to your room here?"

<Random_Nerd> Evelyn: "I... well, if they're with me. The devi... well, the demon, it's never done anything physical to me when any other people were there."

<John> "Very well, then." *to Lesson* "How about you and the others talk over what you have heard while I get Evenlyn started?"

<Random_Nerd> Lesson nods, and walks out.

<Random_Nerd> Then he stops.

<Random_Nerd> L: "Did... was... did I interpret what you said? About me coming out. Misunderstood? Your expression on your face..."

<William> "Well, yes. But it still worked out.

<William> "Dumb luck, I guess."

<John> "It was misunderstood, yes. However, I believe that you did what was correct. It was my request that was improper."

<Random_Nerd> L: "I... regret that I did wrong."

<Random_Nerd> He walks out.

<John> "And I regret for making you feel uncomfortable."

<John> (I can go out and take Evelyn and get her set up if the Aides want to chat?)

<Random_Nerd> (He'd have heard you on his way out. Lesson has pretty good hearing.)

<William> "Hm. He's... learning."

<Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Should we stop here?)

<John> (I'm good at stopping here.)

<Gnomely> "Did you believe is she pestered by someone?"

<Sam> (I'm good with that)

<Gnomely> (Ok good to stop here)

<William> (What, and miss the excitement of the Meeting? :p )

<Random_Nerd> Lesson: "She has problems. I do not know what the problems are."

<Random_Nerd> _______________STOP__________________________

<Random_Nerd> So, what'd you think of how it went?

=-= Sam is now known as lazarus

<lazarus> interesting

=-= YOU are now known as Angelo

<Angelo> is different

<William> Interesting works.

=-= Gil is now known as Verithe

=-= William is now known as Knockwood

<Knockwood> Different set of skills to bear.

<Verithe> Poor crazy lady. I hope we don't make her crazier.

<Verithe> At least we're not Nobles this time.

<Angelo> yes we are not causing DA left and right

<Random_Nerd> Yes.

<Random_Nerd> None of these characters can give anyone DA.

<lazarus> are all Noble PCs as bad as us?

<Knockwood> Well... Dante could use his psych training and the Sight to figure out what's happening.

<Verithe> Some are worse. At least we're not killing all the NPCs and getting kicked out of every Chancel we visit.

<Knockwood> And they may not give anybody DA, but not for lack of trying! :p

<lazarus> on the other hand, we adopt every minor NPC we come across

<Random_Nerd> Horrible Things is worse than any of you.

<Knockwood> Right. We just adopt why-wolves. :D

<Random_Nerd> She's worse than a drunk Dante riding a giant Ftisk on meth.

<Angelo> yay! meth!

<lazarus> I guess we anchor them in part to protect them from the DA we'd otherwise cause :p

<lazarus> going to head out. Night!

<Angelo> night Laz

<Random_Nerd> So, was all of this just a stupid idea, or was it fun?

<lazarus> fun!

<Knockwood> G'night laz

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

<Knockwood> Interesting. Want to see where it goes.

<Verithe> It's fun! I'm eager to see where everything is going!

<Angelo> too soon to rally know but would like to see this development

<Random_Nerd> And at least we now have all of you in the same room.

<Angelo> herding cats...

<Random_Nerd> So, see you guys next week?

<Knockwood> For the bomb to go off.

=-= John is now known as BethE

<Knockwood> Cya then, RN

<Angelo> wait in 2 weeks for nobilis, next for chuubo

<BethE> I am enjoying this one.

<BethE> And yep, Chuubo next week, then Amyra again.

<Random_Nerd> G'night, then, guys.

<Angelo> night RN

<Verithe> G'night!

|<-- Knockwood has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: Colloquy for iPad - http://colloquy.mobi)

<BethE> Night, guys! *HUGS*

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

|<-- Verithe has left irc.magicstar.net (Disintegrated: ChatZilla 0.9.90.1 [Firefox 22.0/20130618035212])

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

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



Chancel_Amyra
Chapter 36