Chuubo 2-1

<BethE> Hey Knock, RN gave me a good viewpoint on Rinley. That she is the child of Captain Jack Sparrow and Pinkie Pie.

• Verithe has joined #nobilis
  

<Knockwood> Heh
<@Random_Nerd> Hey, V.
<Knockwood> Hiya V
<@Random_Nerd> Ah, and Knock.
<Angelo> Hi Verithe! :.-)
<Verithe> Hi!
<BethE> Hi V!
<Knockwood> got any similar insights on Dd'A?
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm.
<lazarus> or on Jasper? (it is Jasper, right? Child of the Sun?)
<@Random_Nerd> Well, let's see.
<@Random_Nerd> Okay, so, characterwise, we have Rinley, Dulcinea, Jasper, Mirame, and Natalia?
<Angelo> Yep Natalia K. confirmed :-)
<Verithe> I'm going to go with a Watanabe shrine priestess...
<lazarus> (erm, I was going through Jasper just now, and it looks very different in the new doc. I'll be a sec...)
<@Random_Nerd> Ah, so no Dream Witch.
<Verithe> Right
<Verithe> Unless your plans relied on that. I can probably play her in that case.
<@Random_Nerd> That's fine.
<@Random_Nerd> Okay, tell us about your character!
<lazarus> (I like the new intro to characters better than the older one)
<Verithe> Okay!
<Knockwood> Nightmare's Angel seems a bit less angry this time around
<Verithe> Hisui Watanabe is one of the few surviving Watanabes, who make candies from the Outside dust.
<@Random_Nerd> Which is totally advisable and not a bad idea.
<Verithe> Hisui wants to give the shrine family a new, fresher image, so she's looking into ways to expand upon the basic family candy recipe.
<Knockwood> Absolutely.
<lazarus> The Outside is full of things that have our best interests in mind! They told me so!
<@Random_Nerd> The Outside is delicious.
<@Random_Nerd> Okay. So, let's look at character relationships.
<Verithe> So...her "Do Your Thing" quest is "Make candy"
<BethE> What kind of type of candy and is chocolate involved?
<@Random_Nerd> Rinley and V's character are both from Shine families.
<Verithe> It's....chewy. Kinda caramel-ish.
<BethE> (Great, now I'm thinking about how chocolate tastes differently based on the soil it's grown in and if you mix Outside dust into the dirt...)
<@Random_Nerd> Err, Shrine families.
<BethE> Yeah, but I should be careful around the candy. Cat hair, you know. Gets everywhere.
<Verithe> I don't have any specific connections to Rinley or the Yatsukayas.
<@Random_Nerd> Natalia is new. Dulcinea is from an evil orphanage, which is totally not a reshaping of reality and the past.
<@Random_Nerd> Not specifically... but you're both kinda in the same larger social circle.
<Verithe> The only PC connection I have in this game, I think, is Jasper
<Verithe> Yeah
<@Random_Nerd> So you'd at least have met.
<Verithe> Yes.
<@Random_Nerd> Besides, Rinley has the power to spot main characters.
<BethE> I'm the youngest of my family and my big brother is Death of Rats and my big sister is sometimes the Witch of the Far Roofs and it isn't fair that I have to try and follow acts like that.
<Verithe> Your big brother's friend is a tentacle monster.
<Knockwood> I'm playing The Weird Girl, basically.
<BethE> You know the anime pose of 'V for Victory' with the big smile? I get the feeling that Rinley does that a lot.
<Verithe> Haha
<BethE> V- I know. Such a jerk, even if he's telling the truth.
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm. Now, two questions on how you guys want to do this. First, are we going to spend a few sessions on you guys' childhoods at all? And if so, do we use Timeline 1 or Timeline 2.
<lazarus> what are the two timelines?
<@Random_Nerd> They differ in when the sun died.
<lazarus> ah!
<Angelo> HI! I'm Natalia Koutolika, I'm here from few weeks, we came with the Transiberian's train you can see me practicing martial arts, studying advanced math, figure how a train can get to an isle and going way to far to fulfill a responsibility or duty... Ah, I look around for a snake on the rooftops and have a rat prince as friend.
<@Random_Nerd> And the rat in question is also Rinley's friend.
<lazarus> I'm Jasper. My mom was the Sun, and my dad killed her. He was also the Headmaster or something. I'm kind of new here in Town, and people are different from home.
<BethE> But..he's my rat prince! *sad look*
<Angelo> uhm... mine timeline 1 and 2 are the same. If the other like I can play Nat as caming here at 5
<Angelo> Beth, is the same rat prince?
<BethE> Yep.
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo?
<@Random_Nerd> So, vote one. Childhoods... yes or no?
<lazarus> not needed, I think.
<BethE> The gold snake is part of Natalia when she came over. The snake attacked Eduardo and Rinley nursed him back to health after he got poisoned.
<BethE> No.
<Verithe> Nah
<Angelo> vote: no
<Knockwood> I'm Dulcinea. I... ooh, pretty bug! Anyway, I'm a ... let's say nature enthusiast, who also has a few disturbingly organic-looking 'companions' around sometimes.
<Knockwood> I'm thinking no to childhoods.
<@Random_Nerd> Okay. No childhoods.
<@Random_Nerd> That means Timeline 3.
<Angelo> so a part of Natalia splint out whwn she came to TOWN, becoming the snake that attachek Eduardo , whio is Eduardo? and then ger sheltered by Rinley. Cool.
<lazarus> so, what is Timeline 3?
<Verithe> The base ages, yes?
<BethE> Eduardo is a rat prince.
<@Random_Nerd> The sun died relatively recently, earlier events for some characters are arranged a little differently.
<Knockwood> and presumably at some point, despite how much I like the dark, I set up a huge summoning circle and created a new sun. Don't say I never gave you anyting.
<@Random_Nerd> Well, the childhood thing would just be a one or two session prequel to the main story, during which you would be at the default ages.
<lazarus> ok, that works for me, then.
<Angelo> as said, I can try that childhold thing :-)
<lazarus> (You totally didn't create me! I remember when I was taken to see the ceremony to my mom down on the Little Island! :))
<Knockwood> Hm... OK, maybe
<BethE> I'd be willing.

• BethE is now known as Rinley
  
• lazarus is now known as Jasper
  
• Knockwood is now known as Dulcinea
  
• Verithe is now known as Hisui
  

<Angelo> so child or not?
<Hisui> I think we're leaning toward not
<@Random_Nerd> So, do we start with a scene or two seven years or so ago, and then some four or five ago?
<Rinley> I think 4 or 5 years ago, that's before the sun thing, right?
<@Random_Nerd> Depends on the timeline.
<@Random_Nerd> In timeline 1, no. In 2, yes.
<Jasper> (btw, in Jasper's current writeup, there's the choice of 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years, ago.)
<@Random_Nerd> (Yep.)
<Angelo> 'cause 5 years ago I'll be: /nick Aelfthryth Fujimoto now I'll be: /nick Natatlia
<@Random_Nerd> Okay. So we have several "maybes" on childhood settings.
<@Random_Nerd> Err, childhood sessions.
<@Random_Nerd> Can we turn that into a yes or no?
<Rinley> I vote yes.

• Angelo is now known as Aelfthryth_Fujimoto
  

<Aelfthryth_Fujimoto> I vote yes
<Jasper> I think I'm going to abstain - I'm not sure I care either way :)
<Dulcinea> OK, yes
<Hisui> I can go either way
<Dulcinea> Let me just double-check my char's history.
<@Random_Nerd> Sure.
<@Random_Nerd> Page 489 of the new file.
<Aelfthryth_Fujimoto> Rinley, you have me or my brother Eduard as contact?
<@Random_Nerd> Actually, I had a different idea for Natalia and the childhood sessions.
<Rinley> I have Prince Eduard the rat as a contact and I eventually have contacts with each of the PCs.
<Aelfthryth_Fujimoto> spoke freely RN
<@Random_Nerd> You play them out, as Natalia. Now, everyone knows that Natalia didn't come to Town ten years ago, she's only been here a few weeks. Obviously any vague memories to the contrary are entirely facetious and should be entirely disregarded. Obviously.
<@Random_Nerd> I bet it's neither Chuubo's nor Dulcinea's fault.
<@Random_Nerd> How does that sound?
<Aelfthryth_Fujimoto> toRN: ah, the a wish bring me in earlier option. uhm.. ok!
<Rinley> Heee.
<@Random_Nerd> So, in other words, once we start the modern-day part, the bits with Natalia will seem vague and unreal, and will not match confirmable facts about the world.
<@Random_Nerd> But you guys will still vaguely remember them, in a like-a-dream-you-once-had sort of way.
<Aelfthryth_Fujimoto> ok, and why you prefer that entry way for Nat?
<Hisui> Pre-sun death?

• @Random_Nerd smiles mysteriously.
  

<@Random_Nerd> Now, we just need to decide on the timing of the Sun's death.

• Aelfthryth_Fujimoto is now known as Natalia
  

<Jasper> If we're going to do the childhood scenes thing, then I would vote "recent" instead of "past"
<Hisui> Before the sun died, much more of my family was alive.
<Natalia> Beth: he stepped his finger while smiled mysteriously?
<Natalia> I second recent too
<@Random_Nerd> I figure we start out with the first session when the default age is 8, so, seven years ago.
<Rinley> I did not look at him while he smiled mysteriously.  :)
<@Random_Nerd> Would you guys prefer that the sun died several years ago... or is about to die?
<Dulcinea> I've goe Wishing Boy-0 and Child of the Sun-2
<Rinley> Neither one makes a difference in my timeline.
<Hisui> I would find the imminent death of the sun to be entertaining.
<@Random_Nerd> Jasper, Dulcinea, this affects you two the most.
<Jasper> I'm seeing the Sun dying happening shortly before Jasper's entry into Town, which I don't think was too much before the "current" (i.e. post-childhood) time
<@Random_Nerd> Well, in either timeline here, it will be meaningfully before the present day.
<Jasper> hrm.
<Dulcinea> The fun part will be playing Dd'A with a heart
<Jasper> about to, then.
<Dulcinea> Timeline 2, right?
<@Random_Nerd> I think we've agreed on that, yeah.
<@Random_Nerd> So! Let's see. Dulcinea is 8. The rest of you are assumed to be 7, unless you want to change the default.
<Jasper> I see no reason to change.
<Natalia> ok for age 7
<@Random_Nerd> Jade Irinka is alive, and is this cool older lady that Dulcinea totally idolizes.
<Dulcinea> And yet I keep dreaming of her death
<@Random_Nerd> Natalia is obviously not here, she's in Russia and still will be for years. And yet.
<Hisui> Hisui Watanabe, age 7: A Memoir....
<@Random_Nerd> For how you know each other, let's see.
<@Random_Nerd> Dulcinea knows Jasper because he knows her mom.
<@Random_Nerd> The two Shrine Family PCs have probably known each other for years.
<Natalia> Natalia have a conenction to Eduard that Jasper share?
<Dulcinea> she
<@Random_Nerd> Natalia is a newcomer who just came from Russia (only not, because that won't happen for years) and knows you guys because of Reasons.
<Rinley> Rinley has a habit of carrying around a plushy cat wherever she goes, whispering in its ears.
<Jasper> Jasper doesn't have a connection to Eduard, as far as I know.
<Natalia> was Rinley then?
<@Random_Nerd> Rinley's the most obvious way for you guys to know each other, as she has Main Character Sense.
<@Random_Nerd> It isn't fully developed yet, but you guys just seem more interesting to her than the rest.
<Dulcinea> (which would make her Twilight. :p )
<Natalia> that is a coll ic way to do a ooc thing
<Rinley> (Heh, Rinley has a Superior Vision: Names, with NPC over everyone except the PC's heads, like in a video game.)
<Jasper> (Do we also have health bars?)
<@Random_Nerd> And Dulcinea is not yet friendless and so forth, because she still has a heart.
<Rinley> (Not yet. She's still working on that trait.)
<Dulcinea> Yeah, all my power-stuff happens in 2-6 years. Hm.
<@Random_Nerd> So, here's my proposal. All of you are about the same age, and know each other. It's summer, and you sometimes hang out together, although you sometimes do so with other kids too, you're not all best friends.
<@Random_Nerd> Things will get kicked off when Dulcinea has an incredibly vivid dream of Jade Irinka dying.
<@Random_Nerd> And presumably talks to at least some of the other PCs about that, Jasper and another.
<@Random_Nerd> Acceptable?
<Jasper> sure.
<Natalia> yep
<Dulcinea> OK
<Rinley> Sure!
<Hisui> okay!
<@Random_Nerd> Everyone ready?
<Hisui> sure.
<Natalia> ready
<Rinley> Yep

START

<@Random_Nerd> Dulcinea, this morning you woke up in a cold sweat.
<@Random_Nerd> You've have nightmares before, obviously, but this one was different. You can just tell that.
<Hisui> (is this before or after the glass dragon mishap?)
<@Random_Nerd> (That's a vaguely-temporally situated thing that happened in the past.)
<Dulcinea> (and probably spooked the hell out of a homunculus or two?)
<@Random_Nerd> After all, nightmares have always just made sense to you. So you're pretty sure this one is important.
<Dulcinea> (Actually, am I still in the orphanage, or somewhere else? And do I have my robot butler?)
<@Random_Nerd> Now it's the afternoon. You've got a few hours away from the Evil Orphanage, and you have to talk to someone about this.
<@Random_Nerd> (You haven't made Alvin yet.)
<@Random_Nerd> You haven't really done much of note. You're just an unusually bright orphan with a head full of Science.
<@Random_Nerd> (Wait, Sorcery, right?)
<@Random_Nerd> (You're that Dulcinea.)
<Dulcinea> (Right, Dulcinea d'Avignon)
<@Random_Nerd> With a head full of scary but cool nightmares, and magic because science is for STUPIDHEADS.

• Dulcinea writes the dream in her journal before losing all the details...
  

<Dulcinea> (Probably encrypted and well-hidden)
<@Random_Nerd> You still sleep and eat at the Orphanage, you won't move out for another year or so, but you spend most of your daylight hours away from there even when you don't have school.
<@Random_Nerd> So... what do you do?

• Dulcinea puts her dream journal (Volume IX, Dreams of the Ninth Year) in a bag and heads out.
  

<Rinley> (But...you're 8.)
<Dulcinea> (Right. 8-9 is the 9th year.)
<@Random_Nerd> (You think Dulcinea doesn't remember her dreams when in the womb? Of a human woman. Because Dulcinea was totally gestated normally by humans.)
<Rinley> (Ah.)
<Dulcinea> Gotta find Rinley. Or Jasper.
<Jasper> Jasper's easy to find. She's playing in the park.
<Rinley> Rinley's in the park too. But she's trying to sew something.
<@Random_Nerd> As is Natalia, only she isn't because she's in Russia.,
<Dulcinea> (OK, with the whole orphanage thing, I'm not exactly acquainted with hiding unpleasant truth...)
<Dulcinea> "Jasper. I think your mom's gonna die."
<@Random_Nerd> (I figure that Dulcinea, even when she had a heart, was still... blunt.)
<@Random_Nerd> (Yeah.)
<Hisui> Hisui could easily be in the park too. It's a park.
<@Random_Nerd> It is totally a park.
<Natalia> of course I'm not in the park playing with all the math test I have to do there is no way I can be in the park ... still
<Jasper> "She can't die. We just did the Ceremony"
<Dulcinea> (what ceremony?)
<Rinley> Rinley isn't paying too much attention, trying not to sew her sleeve into the..thing. Plus, she hasn't had a mom, so it's kind of normal for her and maybe all kids lose their mom when they're little.
<@Random_Nerd> (You could ask!)
<Dulcinea> "What ceremony?
<Jasper> "The one we have every year!"
<@Random_Nerd> (Jade is pretty cool, but you don't know everything about her life. You haven't even quite worked out that she's the Sun yet, although you have a hunch.)
<@Random_Nerd> (I mean, she's so shiny.)

• Hisui is reading a confectionary book lent to her by her mother, who is alive and not dead.
  

<Rinley> "Are you sure, Dulc? My mom got carried off by a bird last year and we haven't seen her since. Was it a bird?"

• Natalia swing on a seesaw
  

<Dulcinea> "Look... I dreamed something. It was horrible, but vivid, and detailed in its own way.
<Jasper> "We go to the Island, and people give mom gifts, and she gives them happiness, and everyone has fun!"

• Dulcinea pulls out her dream journal...
  

<Rinley> "Catherine said it'd carry me off too if I didn't give her my dolly but Father got upset."
<@Random_Nerd> (Oh, and one other thing, Dulcinea. You're pretty sure that Jade dying would be bad. Really bad. Worse than the only grownup you really like dying. Not sure why, though, it just seemed that way in the dream.)
<Dulcinea> "Here. Pages of empty-home dreams... falling from everywhere...

• Natalia notice Dulcinea and Jasper looking over a diary
  
• Rinley waves at Natalia!
  

<Dulcinea> (BTW, you can't read my journal. Since I'm in an orphanage with horrible people *cough*Billy*cough* it's in code.)

• Natalia (perfect) jump off the seesaw and wave to Rinley
  

<@Random_Nerd> Natalia, it's that weird girl, the one who's always paying attention to you ever since you arrived.

• Hisui looks over the top of her book at the others.
  

<Dulcinea> "Here. I dreamed of your mom.
<@Random_Nerd> (You haven't even set Billy Sovereign on fire yet!)

• Rinley will also wave at Hisui because PC Sense told her that she was looking our way.
  

<Natalia> *time to know more* to Rinley "Why you follow me? Are you a KGB agent?"
<Dulcinea> "We were talking, and then bam, a huge arrow pops out of her chest right at me."
<Dulcinea> (wrong weird girl)

• Hisui waves to Rinley and puts down her book.
  

<@Random_Nerd> (Well, this time it meant Rinley.)
<@Random_Nerd> (Any of the PCs could be accurately described as "that weird girl.)
<@Random_Nerd> ")
<Dulcinea> (point)
<Rinley> "What's a cagey bee? Does it make honey?"
<@Random_Nerd> (Right now, you're practically normal! You've never summoned up a spirit from the vasty deep to be your butler or set people on fire or anything. You still keep your heart in the place where /mainstream/ people do!)
<Dulcinea> "and then... she fell ... and it was like the whole world started crumbling into darkness."
<@Random_Nerd> Chuubo, in the background, passing by and happening to overhear that question: "They're the sneaky ones. Beady little bee eyes."
<Natalia> "uhmf, whatever"
<@Random_Nerd> He walks by, and obviously he's with Seizhi because Seizhi exists and Chuubo is his best friend and they do everything. Chuubo is definitely not walking by totally alone because he doesn't have a Best Friend.
<@Random_Nerd> Seizhi probably says something, because he exists and is there. The two of them pass on.
<Natalia> "let's look at that" point to Dulcinea's book
<Rinley> *thinks* "But all of their eyes look kind of beady." *looks down at sewing* "I should make a bee next!" *finishes knot and hands...thing to Dulc* "Cheer up! It's a spider!" (It's psider-ish-shaped...in a seven-year-old sewing project way*

• Hisui creeps closer to the group because book.
  

<@Random_Nerd> Books are cool. It is known./
<Rinley> (Two shows referenced in one set, dear. Nice.)
<Jasper> (what's a psider?)
<Rinley> (Spider mispelled.  :) )
<@Random_Nerd> (Like a spider, but with PSYCHIC POWERS.)
<@Random_Nerd> (Duh.)
<Jasper> (:D)

• Dulcinea looks over the spider...
  

<Natalia> loud to everyone: "I just discover that Rinley is a the cagey bee agent.. beware!"
<Jasper> (I know the "Books are cool" ... but that's really "Bowties". I can't remember the "It is known" one, though)
<Rinley> The spider looks up at you with sad plushy eyes. It just wants lots of hugs.
<Rinley> (Game of Thrones. It is known, Khalessi.)

• Dulcinea squeezes it to feel less scared...
  

<Jasper> (ah right!)
<Jasper> *HUGS the psider!*
<@Random_Nerd> Doesn't help. Everything's going to go to hell pretty soon unless you stop it. Somehow.
<Rinley> "Nah, my family doesn't deal with bees. We like kitties."
<Jasper> "It's ok Dulcinea! everything will be fine." (*pronounces "Dulcinea" very carefully*)
<Natalia> "yadda yadda no way your decoy will foil me"
<Rinley> "Why are you scared of bees, Natalia?"
<Hisui> "They make honey. The bees, I mean."
<Dulcinea> "There are some books around that talk about protection and summoning circles."
<Natalia> "Here in Russia we know better! ... I'm not scared of bees! I'm weary of their agent, little sneack agents that take lil Angief last month"
<@Random_Nerd> Jade walks by. She's tall, and she has reddish blond hair a bit paler than Jasper's, and all of you at least kinda know her except Natalia who isn't here obviously.
<Jasper> "My mom doesn't need any protection. She protects other people! It's what she does! Her job thing! :D "
<@Random_Nerd> Jade: "Hi! What are you kids up to?"

• Rinley gives Jade a big wave!
  

<@Random_Nerd> She smiles at all of you.
<Dulcinea> "uhhhh... I got a spider!"

• Natalia look at her wearily
  

<Rinley> "I made a spider!"
<Natalia> "I..."

• Hisui looks at her feet, bashfully.
  

<Jasper> *beems*
<Rinley> "Oh, Miss Jade Jasper's mom, this is our friend Natalia! And Hisui is from the Watanabe Shrine!"
<Jasper> (obviously Jasper is pretending to be a bee :))
<@Random_Nerd> Jade: "Oh, Jasper, I wanted to tell you. Your Dad's going to be in Town later this week."
<Jasper> *lights up* "Really?!"

• Natalia summon a smile "HI!"
  

<Hisui> "H-hello!"
<@Random_Nerd> "Nice to meet you, Natalia," Jade doesn't say because Natalia isn't here. "Russia! That's a long way away!"
<Natalia> to Jasper: "Your dad is not in town?"
<@Random_Nerd> Jade: "Ah, Hisui, I think I know your... mom? Aunt? The tall one who always wears her hair up."
<Natalia> "Yes there is the Transiberia train that go there! but is a really long travel!"
<Dulcinea> (that 'dad' ref ring any bells WRT the dream?)
<Hisui> (Is this a specific relation or non-specific?)
<@Random_Nerd> (Not really. There was an arrow, but you don't know who it's from.)
<Dulcinea> (and I'm trying to firewall...)
<@Random_Nerd> (If you want, you can have such a relative, or if not you can be not sure who she's talking about.)
<@Random_Nerd> Jade, to Jasper: "Yeah, he'll be here for a few days. On business, I think."
<Dulcinea> to Jasper: "I've never met your father, what's he like?"
<Jasper> *hugs her mom* "He's big!"
<@Random_Nerd> She gives the "I don't really like my Ex but he's still my kid's father and still in her life" awkward half-smile.
<Hisui> "That's my Aunt Keiko!"

• Hisui smiles
  
• Dulcinea looks over the dream and figures that's one hell of a coincidence...
  

<Rinley> "Does Jasper have to go?" *sad*
<@Random_Nerd> Jade: "She can stay for a while, but we'll have to get the house ready in an hour or so, okay, Jasper?"
<Jasper> "Ok!"
<@Random_Nerd> Jade: "Anyway, later, kids. Nice to meet you, Hisui, Natalia."
<Hisui> "Nice to meet you to, ma'am!"
<Natalia> "Was a pleasure Jasper mum"
<@Random_Nerd> She smiles again, and starts to walk away.
<Rinley> "*waves bye*
<@Random_Nerd> (Okay. Now, two options.)
<@Random_Nerd> (#1, we end this scene here, and the next one is set a few years later.)
<Dulcinea> (are you waiting for me to blurt out "You're gonna die soon!"?)
<@Random_Nerd> (#2, if any of you have things you want to do.)
<Jasper> (I am, D)
<@Random_Nerd> (You don't have to. While her dying is fixed, you can say it or not say it.)
<@Random_Nerd> (But I wanted to have her appear on-camera at some point.)
<Hisui> (Hisui wants to hand out candy to everyone, but that's all.)

• Hisui hands out candy to everyone.
  

<Rinley> (I'm good with either. I just wanted to bring people together and give Dulc her spider.)
<Dulcinea> (You know what I'd do... put together a protection circle around their place.)
<Rinley> "Mmm! 'hank you!"

• Natalia want to know better these kids and figure out who are the kgb agents
  

SCENE BREAK

<Hisui> (TIME WARP!)
<Natalia> (rocky horror music!)
<Jasper> (*jumps to the right*)
<@Random_Nerd> Now, everyone knows what happened after that. Jade got killed by her ex, who happens to be the Headmaster of the Bleak Academy, and also the Sun died. When that happend, and Dulcinea knew that Jade was the Sun, something in her head went Ping!
<Dulcinea> (It's just a jump to the left)
<Rinley> (*jumps to the left*)
<@Random_Nerd> And she enacted a ritual to bring back the Sun. It didn't make Jade come back, but the Sun did. You're still not quite clear on how that worked, Dulcinea.
<Hisui> (During the sun's death, most of Hisui's family dies, including Aunt Keiko.)
<Natalia> (I was all time in Russia so not effect on me! :-P )
<@Random_Nerd> Meanwhile, in Russia, Natalia goes through some traumatic stuff, and her heart freezes.

• Natalia nod nod
  

<Dulcinea> am I set up in Old Moulder yet?
<@Random_Nerd> Two years later, she comes to Town.
<@Random_Nerd> You are just beginning to.
<Natalia> she is Nat?
<@Random_Nerd> You haven't made the Engine or whatever your magical equivalent is yet, so your Nightmare Magic is unreliable.
<@Random_Nerd> That's probably why Jade didn't come back to life, that it only worked on the Sun part of her.
<@Random_Nerd> So, let's look at what's happening now.
<@Random_Nerd> Dulcinea has grown apart from those who used to be her friends, including the PCs and Chuubo, because she's spending much more of her focus on Nightmare Magic these days, and has no heart.
<@Random_Nerd> Natalia has just come to Town from Russia. While it seems vaguely familiar, mostly what it seems is suspicious. Fake.
<Natalia> ?Fake?
<Natalia> I'm here for real this time!
<@Random_Nerd> It's not right. There are people with stars in their eyes. You met a talking rat yesterday.
<Natalia> ah! Is not Natalia the seem fake is town that seem fake.
<@Random_Nerd> Yes.
<Natalia> sorry, misunderstood
<@Random_Nerd> His name was Eduardo! He says he fought a snake the other day, and was losing, but a girl named Rinley saved him. He wants you to meet her, because you seem somehow important to him, and she's his friend because she saved him.
<@Random_Nerd> Now... are Rinley and Hisui friends at this point?
<Rinley> Rinley is trying to currently hide the evidence that she was hiding and protecting a rat prince in her room yesterday. He bled all over her sewing basket.
<Hisui> (We can be.)
<Rinley> Probably at least casually. I can see the other shrines trying to band together and save the last of the W. clan... just not enthusiastic enough to actually adopt them.
<Natalia> I'll meet the rat prince!
<@Random_Nerd> Okay, how about this. Rinley and Hisui are eating at Kakakeru Hut, because it's cheap and they don't have much income and it's not too far from home.
<@Random_Nerd> Dulcinea is there, but she's not really with them. She's planning her trip to the Bleak Academy, and she's not really friends with them any more, just someone they used to know.
<@Random_Nerd> Jasper... hmm. Would she be with Rinley and Hisui, or not?
<Rinley> (How sad.)
<Dulcinea> Dulcinea has animated the plush spider. It's slowly growing in intelligence, and is currently just smart enough to clumsily help with her studies and setting up the place in Old Moulder.
<Jasper> (I don't think so. She's been sequestering herself since her mom died)
<@Random_Nerd> Okay, then shall we say that you just happen to be there for some reason?
<Jasper> (but with being the new Sun, she feels a little odd. Perhaps she's on a walk just outside?)
<@Random_Nerd> That works.
<Natalia> and Nat?
<@Random_Nerd> And Prince Eduardo will be bringing Natalia by because he knows that Rinley was going to be there.
<Natalia> she is with Eduard?
<Natalia> sure
<@Random_Nerd> And you know him because you're hunting the Golden Snake, and he fought it recently.
<@Random_Nerd> And you want to meet this girl who helped him.
<@Random_Nerd> This work for everyone?
<Jasper> sounds good
<Natalia> work :-)
<Rinley> Sure!

SCENE START

• Rinley pokes at her food. "I shouldn't have ordered the Mystery Meal. It's too much mystery."
  

<Natalia> to Eduard: "So where you find the sneaky snale?"
<Jasper> (age at this point?)
<@Random_Nerd> The waiter, that one creepy guy with the halo of glittering glass shards that's always behind him from whatever angle you look at him from, passes by. "Anything I can help you with?"
<Natalia> (12-13?)
<@Random_Nerd> (Eleven or so.)

• Dulcinea passes by looking gothier than usual
  

<Rinley> "May I please have some more water and a large bottle of hot sauce?"
<Hisui> "You should order traditional foods. You know what you're getting when you order traditional."
<Jasper> "Dulcy. Been a while since I've seen you..."
<@Random_Nerd> The waiter, who seems vaguely offended at anyone looking gothier than he does, seems to concentrate for a moment, and his halo gleams with red and purple light. Then he looks back at you. "What was that? Water and... what?"
<Rinley> "Hot sauce, please."
<Natalia> "May I have a juice?"
<Dulcinea> The spider is carrying her bag.

• Rinley sighs at Hisui. "But where's the adventure in that?"
  

<Dulcinea> "Jasper. Long time."
<@Random_Nerd> The waiter is a sixteen-year-old, whose father is the principal of your school. He drives a motorcycle, is considered vaguely cool but a but creepy, and no blood drips from his hands unless he's recently gotten cut or something.
<Hisui> "Save the adventure for dessert."
<Jasper> "How's the spider? Seems less plushy than I remember"
<Rinley> "Oh! I shall make sure to order it then!"
<@Random_Nerd> The waiter returns with hot sauce and water. "Uh, what kind of juice was that, ma'am?"

• Natalia half minded start doing some trigonometry exercices
  

<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo hops up into the booth next to Rinley, and then winces from the still-healing wounds.
<Natalia> "Apples or orange, I like both"
<Hisui> "..."
<Dulcinea> "Necessary. Some of the stuffing got replaced with necrotissue."

• Hisui pushes her plate away when she sees the waiter's hands.
  

<Rinley> (His hands aren't bleeding.)
<@Random_Nerd> (He doesn't have blood dripping from his hands. That's his dad, the Principal, Entropy Senior.)

• Rinley covers her mystery meal with lots of hot sauce!
  
• Hisui pulls her plate back and blushes at her wild imagination.
  

<Rinley> "Ah, Prince Fujimoto! You look like you are doing much better!"
<@Random_Nerd> (A few months later, according to him, his dad will call him to his office, hand him his clothes which are bloodstained and have knife holes in them, and then vanish up the chimney for an unspecified reason.)
<Hisui> (Lord Entropy II is evil Santa?)
<@Random_Nerd> Rinley, Hisui, this girl looks a bit like someone you used to know. But she... dropped out, or moved, or something. Something plausible. And anyway it's a coincidence and you've never met this girl before
<@Random_Nerd> (Kinda!)
<Natalia> still doing the paperwork "so Prince Eduard, how you track the snake?"
<@Random_Nerd> He stops by Dulcinea's table. "And anything else for you?"

• Hisui whispers to Rinley, "Do you know them?"
  

<Dulcinea> "Burger. Side of flies for my companion."
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "So, this is Rinley, the one I was telling you about! She's sisters with... uh... someone important, and someone scary."
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "And she's seen the snake too!"
<Rinley> "Oh, my manners! "Hisui Watatabe, Prince Eduard Fujimoto. Prince Fujimoto, Hisui Watatbe of the Watatbe Shrine. And...your strangely familiar friend who I have never seen before but somehow know?"
<Dulcinea> (Is that a euphemism?)
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "Watanabe? The ones with the scary candy?"
<Natalia> "I'm hunting the snake and I'm Natalia Koutolika from Russia"
<@Random_Nerd> Entropy 2: "Flies?"
<Hisui> "Hello...your....highness?"
<Hisui> "Oh, yes! Would you like a candy?"

• Dulcinea points to the spider.
  
• Hisui digs one out of her pockets
  

<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "Grace. Non-ruling rat Princes are 'your Grace'."
<Jasper> (have we set the weather for the scene yet?)
<Rinley> "Please, join us! Shall we call you a waiter for your meals?"
<@Random_Nerd> Entropy 2: "Ah... I'll see what I can do."
<@Random_Nerd> (We have not!)
<Jasper> (then it's a gloomy cloud cover day, perfect for a shot of Jasper imagining what trying to be the Sun is like)
<@Random_Nerd> He glides off serenely. Overworked waiters should not look that stylish. Clearly he's cheating.

• Rinley is too young to sigh over him yet. Tough luck, Entropy-kun.
  
• Dulcinea is observing the rat in an overly scientific manner.
  

<@Random_Nerd> Dulcinea, from what you can tell, the rat appears to have several lacerations, neatly bandaged, and a dislocated shoulder. His eyes are slightly bloodshot, and from them and the exposed bits of his skin, you suspect that he was recently poisoned or drugged.

• Hisui makes some space at the table.
  
• Dulcinea stands and goes over to the rat.
  
• Natalia wait that the prince is seated
  
• Dulcinea grabs his head in order to get a better view of his condition.
  

<@Random_Nerd> Entropy Jr. brings a bowl of flies to your previous table, next to your spider. One fly begins to try to leave the bowl, but then he glares at it and it returns and shivers.
<Hisui> "Ah!"
<Natalia> "Wait Dulcinea, you can hurt his grace"
<Rinley> "What are you doing?"
<Dulcinea> "'His grace' is already hurt."
<Natalia> "you can hurt him more"
<Dulcinea> "Did that snake bite you?"
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "Not... not full on. I was scraped, but not pierced. Because of her!" He points at Rinley.
<Dulcinea> "I think you were pierced. And envenomed."
<Natalia> "and where you fight?"
<Hisui> "Which was because of her? The not piercing or the injury?"

• Rinley thinks it through for a minute but thinks that the rat isn't accusing her of scraping him but actually saying that she saved him. She eats some of her meal.
  

<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "The first one! I had to fight the Snake! It was my destiny to face and defeat it!"
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "Uh... that didn't actually work. I'm still figuring that part out."
<Rinley> "It still is your destiny! You did not die, so, you get another try!"
<Hisui> "Is that how it works?"
<Dulcinea> "Don't bet on it."
<Natalia> "You know wher the snake lair is?"
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "It's a Mystery of the Far Roofs. Like her family!"
<Dulcinea> "You show all the signs of poisoning.
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "I'm shaking it off, but it takes a while."
<Dulcinea> "Considering all the spiders in my place, I should know."
<@Random_Nerd> Off at your table, your spider munches on flies.

• Rinley waves at Dulc's spider. Who has grown so much. *sniffle*
  
• Rinley looks a little embarassed at the mention of her family. Silly older siblings, have to be sooooo special.
  

<Dulcinea> How's the rat look? Is he gonna die soon?
<@Random_Nerd> He's getting better, not worse.
<@Random_Nerd> But it's going to be a while before he's up to fighting any mysterious snake-spirits.
<Natalia> (brb)

• Hisui offers a candy to Prince Eduardo
  

<@Random_Nerd> He accepts it with both hands and a grave bow.
<Dulcinea> "You are in no shape to fight anything, much less snakes."
<@Random_Nerd> Rats do, after all, have hands rather than paws. I mean, they aren't mice.
<@Random_Nerd> Entropy Jr. puts Dulcinea's hamburger next to her on the table.

• Dulcinea munches her burger...
  

<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "I would ask how your family makes these out of that stuff, but if I did that I'd have to ask Rinley how her siblings do... the thing that they do. And I'm afraid she'd tell me."

• Rinley sulks. "Don't know yet. I'm not 'old enough'."
  

<Jasper> (smart rat)
<Hisui> "I've been sworn not to share the recipe outside of the family, anyway."
<@Random_Nerd> Eduardo: "So... creepy girl with the book, Rinley, do you two know each other?"
<Natalia> (back)
<Dulcinea> "Well... it's been a while."
<Rinley> (Does Natalia still have her mom?)
<Natalia> (Natalia don't lose the mom)
<Jasper> (I think I should sign off now. Falling asleep -_-; This time zone sucks for this game :p)
<Rinley> (Drat. I was going to say that wow, we've all lost our moms.)
<Hisui> (take care!)
<@Random_Nerd> (See you next week!)
<Natalia> (bb Jasper!)

• Jasper Quit

<@Random_Nerd> (Hmm. Mind if we stop it here?)
<Hisui> (That's fine.)
<Rinley> (I'm good with that.)
<Natalia> (is an ok stop place)

STOP

• Natalia is now known as Angelo
  

<Hisui> (There's a chance I won't be here next week, but I can't know for certain)

• Hisui is now known as Verithe
  
• Dulcinea is now known as Knockwood
  

<Knockwood> It's a little bit awkward to play through becoming Friendless...
<Angelo> is awkward too being suspicious
<@Random_Nerd> I do think that the "play a few bits from the past lives of the PC" adds some interesting backstory.

• Rinley is now known as BethE
  

<@Random_Nerd> What do you guys think of your new characters?
<Knockwood> Going to be a little tricky differentiating Dulcinea from Leonardo, but then again they have different abilities and outlooks
<Angelo> I like Natalia, is really different than Soun
<Knockwood> D observes nature while L tries to screw with it
<@Random_Nerd> Really, even the magic version of the Glass Leonardo is more scientific.
<BethE> Rinley has a different mindset than Lili, but I think the two of them would have been good friends.
<Verithe> I am enjoying Hisui. I'm a bit confused on some of the character building for her, but I think I have most of it.
<@Random_Nerd> Oh? Anything specific?
<Verithe> Well, for one thing... is the old stuff still in the nine characters update?
<Verithe> Because the stuff in 108-311 us a but more clunky than what's in 736-778
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm.
<Verithe> But it seems like they're both new stuff.
<@Random_Nerd> According to the email, yeah.
<Verithe> It could be that I was just having trouble with reading it on the computer, too.
<Verithe> Would it be alright if I switched the Watanabe skill Conversationalist to Researcher?
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm. Fine by me.
<@Random_Nerd> Heh. I'd forgotten that the fox-girl version of the Other One had art of Temujia or whoever from Chibi Ex.
<Verithe> Haha, yeah. :D
<Verithe> Watanabe stuff starts on... 230, I think.
<Verithe> For Bonds I have "I always have a few Watanabe candies on hand" (one of the suggested ones) and "Creative" (for my personal-virtue bond)
<@Random_Nerd> Which bond did you want to...
<@Random_Nerd> ...
<@Random_Nerd> Okay.
<@Random_Nerd> And affliction?
<@Random_Nerd> Did you want one?
<Verithe> "If I'm alone and lost, I'll always find a friend."
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm.
<Verithe> And from what I read, there should be a second Glass-shard power Affliction, yes?
<@Random_Nerd> That one could be interesting in play.
<@Random_Nerd> Let me see...
<@Random_Nerd> Oh, the special talent?
<Verithe> Yes.
<@Random_Nerd> Oh, yes, there's the special talent and the personal affliction.
<@Random_Nerd> What were you thinking for those?
<BethE> Night, guys! *HUGS*
<Verithe> I was thinking "The candies I make change people" but with more of an intent to change their attitude, but permitting more.
<Knockwood> g'night Beth
<Verithe> Night, Beth!
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm.
<Angelo> night BEth!

• BethE Quit (Disintegrated: All shall love me and despair?)
  

<@Random_Nerd> That works.
<Verithe> But it's a strange thing for a Watanabe and Hisui wouldn't have figured it out just yet.
<Verithe> Okay
<@Random_Nerd> Really, wouldn't that imply that she's making the candies incorrectly?
<@Random_Nerd> Leaving just a bit too much psychoactive stuff in there?
<Knockwood> or is everyone else making them wrong? :p
<@Random_Nerd> Heh.
<@Random_Nerd> But, at least, that she's tinkering with the recipe.
<Verithe> Could be, yeah
<Verithe> She does want to give the Watanabe shrine a fresh image, so she could be trying out new things with the recipe.
<@Random_Nerd> That would fit.
<@Random_Nerd> So, for the special ability, which option were you thinking? Level 4s kill, magic, or a Superior Skill?
<Knockwood> (Where the heck are Nightmares' Angel's bonds?)
<@Random_Nerd> Do you have them?
<@Random_Nerd> You're an Imperator.
<@Random_Nerd> Don't you have the Nightmare Map instead?
<Knockwood> ah, no wonder I can't find them
<Verithe> Special ability was somewhere I got stuck. What page was that?
<@Random_Nerd> Besides, you're friendless!
<@Random_Nerd> Starts on 270.
<@Random_Nerd> Just thinking that pre-Chuubo, I would not have thought that a mixed Noble and Imperator party would be viable, but it totally is.
<Angelo> but powers levels her are not the one in nobilis
<@Random_Nerd> True...
<Angelo> also scenes and stuff
<@Random_Nerd> But I don't think that there's a reason why it would work at 9 points but utterly break down at 25.
<Verithe> 270 is for "the Other One" characters. Does that still apply?
<Knockwood> Sometimes I wonder if this is a little too demanding of the player, tho.
<@Random_Nerd> Ah.
<Knockwood> Then again that assumes the typical player just wants to whack orcs...
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm.
<@Random_Nerd> You're right.
<@Random_Nerd> I was conflating that with the Shrine Maiden part.
<Verithe> It's a little confusing with the pdf layout.
<@Random_Nerd> Oh, and what is your bonus XP condition?
<Verithe> Worry/Fear
<@Random_Nerd> Okay.
<@Random_Nerd> Works the same as Luthien's?
<Verithe> Should, yeah
<Knockwood> well, see you next week
<Verithe> Take care, Knock
<Angelo> night Knock
<@Random_Nerd> Okay. Anything else?

• Knockwood Quits
  
• Angelo shake head
  

<Angelo> wait, Looking at Nat in the last update.. all seem the same as the previous one .. .what I'm missing?
<Verithe> For quests, would "Make Candy" for the "do your thing" quest work? And would it be a pastoral quest?
<@Random_Nerd> Not all characters got changed.
<@Random_Nerd> That makes sense, V.
<Angelo> ah!
<@Random_Nerd> The most focus was on the make-your-own, and on those without story arcs.
<Verithe> I didn't think I had do anything special to add to the "Meet the Other PC's" or "A Far and Sunless Land" quests, is that right?
<@Random_Nerd> I... don't think so?
<@Random_Nerd> I think the other options aren't written yet.
<Verithe> There's mention of grabbing other quests if two many characters already share those two, but I think I've got a monopoly on "A Far and Sunless Land" at least.
<Verithe> *too
<@Random_Nerd> I think we already have you established as knowing the other PCs.
<@Random_Nerd> So do you have any thoughts on a potential replacement for that?
<Angelo> nod nod Nat a least
<@Random_Nerd> What does Hisui wnat to do?
<Verithe> She wants to work for her family shrine and to give it a fresh public image.
<Angelo> I go, kids to awake and get ready to shool. See you in a week. in the mean time take care! :-)
<Verithe> Take care, Angelo!
<@Random_Nerd> See you next week, Angelo.
<@Random_Nerd> Hmm. Want to make a "Give the Shrine a new public image" a quest?
<@Random_Nerd> You could base it on one of the Dream Witch's quests that was somewhat similar.
<Verithe> Which one?
<@Random_Nerd> Uh, let me find it again.
<@Random_Nerd> Random thought as I leaf through on the way...
<@Random_Nerd> Does it strike anyone else as interesting to have Entropy II as a Lightlord?
<Verithe> It would make sense, thinking about it. That is interesting.
<@Random_Nerd> And in this version he explicitly rather than just implicitly is one.
<Verithe> Huh.
<@Random_Nerd> Ah, and I was wrong. While the concept of this Dream Witch quest relates to renovating an old manor to get the money to help the Archive, the focus of it is on her getting help from other people, and revealing her weirdness to them in doing so.
<Verithe> Ah.
<@Random_Nerd> So it wouldn't be a useful model.
<Verithe> Oh well.
<@Random_Nerd> Unless you want to secretly be kinda-sorta an Excrucian.
<Verithe> The glass-shard provides that sort of possibility, but I think I'm undecided on that end.
<@Random_Nerd> Fair enough.
<Verithe> Maybe I'll decide after Hisui dies, since that's a thing she has to do.
<@Random_Nerd> If you want to secretly be a weird monster, tell me, and we can work with that.
<Verithe> Alright
<@Random_Nerd> Okay, see you next week?
<Verithe> If I'm not working on moving again.
<@Random_Nerd> (Random thought: Miriame Mesmer is more like the Apocynum from Fable of the Swan than the Chuubo version of Apocynum is in many ways.)
<Verithe> Take care!