The GM says, "Okay.  So we've been at Roxburgh Prison for a while now, 
and the picture is starting to clear up.  Mephibosheth is messing with 
enough humans' dreams to pervert the Domain; he appears to be active on 
the Corporeal.  Meanwhile, there's a guard under Rick that is passing 
messages for a Lilim, who seems to have enough hooks to call in to cause 
trouble.  What Mephibosheth's ultimate goal is -- other than pissing off 
Draco and Hanniel -- is not clear but is probably related.  Unclear 
whether our refugee from Yume-Tokyo is deeply involved in any of this."

The GM says, "Against this background we have the general feeling that 
Dominic is due by 'soon,' and Dorotea is scheduled in about two days.  
Time to decide how to deal with all of this."

Neil hmms.

---------------------- Session Start ---------------------------

The GM says, "We ended last session with a notice of unusual activity at 
the clinic, which with your permission I will retcon as perhaps one 
thread too many in the skein."

Neil says, "No investment in that, so if you think it's best."

The GM says, "So the plotlines appear to be as described above.  It's 
shortly after your visit from Aaron -- fire away."

Neil says, "Our visit from Aaron -- Dorotea's familiar?"

Neil says, "Err..."

The GM says, "Woops, two Aarons.  Aaron Huntingdon, the teenager 
Mephibosheth used to send you the latest message."

The GM says, "First time I think I've repeated a name..."

Neil says, "I'm not sure this is a fight we personally can win."

Neil says, "This plan doesn't have a time-element and can be picked up 
later with no trouble or loss to the attackers."

Neil says, "We can disrupt their efforts, yes, but we're going to need a 
permanent angelic liason here capable of sussing out hooks and leverage."


William [to Draco]: Your rez on?

Neil thinks. "And one capable of not getting killed when he gets beat 
on."

Draco says, "We're going to need to deal with the Role on Earth to even 
make it difficult for them to pick it up again, and that would work 
better with Earth-focused Servitors taking care of that angle."

Draco [to William]: Always. Should I roll?

The GM says, "Please."

Draco rolled 8 and succeeded by 14.

StevenE has made StevenE's local name Ekur

The GM says, "There's a little twinge on the edge of your resonance.  
Neil's wrong -- there *is* a time element, or at least an element in flux 
that will shift everyone's priorities when it resolves."

The GM says, "He doesn't know what it is, and all you can get out of it 
is that it's something involving the various humans."

Draco holds up a hand. "Neil. Back up for a minute. There's a time aspect 
here that we're missing."

Neil says, "Well... hmm. Changes in law? Countries alloing the death 
penalty? Individual mortals getting executed?"

Ekur nods.  "Probably Aaron's case."

Draco scratches the back of his head with a completely decorative pistol. 
"Possibly. It has to do with more than one human, as I'm reading it. It's 
going to change things, but I don't know how."

William [to Draco]: Neil's guessing, Ekur's got a little more logic 
applied and you sense it's something like that.  :^)

Draco nods to Ekur. "Something along those lines. I'd be more precise if 
I could be. Who can we find in his area to look into his case? I don't 
believe we have the time to travel to Earth personally and back to 
investigate it ourselves."

Neil says, "There might be a branch of Davidians near there."

OOC Ow.

Ekur says, "We have a kid who you -- " he points to Neil " -- know is not 
guilty of a death penalty crime.  But he sure is acting like he expects 
to be executed, and the gun is kinda-sorta his.  And, with a Shedite 
involved, there's probably corruption of something else along the way.""

The GM says, "You've mentioned the Shedite before.  I'm missing the 
connection.  I don't *think* I'd given any impressions in that 
direction..."

The GM says, "Mephibosheth's a Balseraph."

Ekur corrects.  "And since it's kinda-sorta his, that means involvement 
of the kid's gang, plus probably a Balseraph perverting the justice 
system from truth."

Yazz, listening, says, "You folks got a line to Earth, don't ya?  We 
ain't got anything direct here -- well, 'cept Dorotea."

The GM says, "(Ping?)"

Ekur says, "Honestly, since an execution is the only time-driven element, 
that would in fact be the logical place for us to go.  Then we can come 
back here and clean this up afterward."

Neil nods to Ekur. "That sounds solid."

Draco [to William]: (Mostly resonating until I get some actual useful 
ideas to contribute.)

The GM says, "Brb, something here."

The GM says, "B."

Yazz quirks a skeptical eyebrow.  "So are you three headed Earthside?  If 
you do, there's no way your covers'll be intact when you get back, unless 
you got a super-fast way to go."

Neil nods to Ekur. "That sounds solid."

Neil says, "That's what I'm waffling on."

Ekur <OOCly> doesn't actually have any idea what to do.  IRL is not 
feeling 100% . . .

Neil says, "Should we just brief some operatives and send them? Not 
really used to working at that remove..."

Draco says, "I have the least cover to blow here if I disappear, but 
there's little I can do on Earth except eavesdrop selectively. Not unless 
there's someone local I can meet up with there to plan."

Draco flips through his notebook. "I have some experience with organizing 
activities through other parties, from afar. But it's been a while."

Yazz says, "Why don't you find out if there is?  If there is, you can 
have someone working that end and y'all staying here to deal with the 
rest of it.

Neil says, "Sounds good. Who to send, who to send..."

Yazz shrugs.  "Somebody you trust, I guess.  Or drop a CelPhone."

Ekur considers.  "Sure, let's stick here for a while.  If that's a 
screwup, Neil will certainly hear about it.  CelTongues somebody in the 
Houston area, and follow up leads here."

William [to Ekur]: FYI, that plan in fact fits with Blandine's general 
strategy as described in Sup3 -- that Beleth is trying to gain ground on 
Earth, and Blandine is attempting to respond by expanding influence in 
the Marches.

Neil doesn't have anything to add.

Draco doesn't know anyone in Houston, but it otherwise sounds fine.

The GM says, "Okay.  Ekur fires off a message to Blandine's organization, 
and gets an acknowledgment and a line saying they'll be in contact if 
someone is found."

The GM says, "Yazz appears relieved that you're staying here to deal with 
his issues."

Neil stretches. "So we'll review going down there ourselves if Blandine 
can't find an operative."

Neil says, "In the meantime, we'll do what we can to Thwart Inspecific 
Wrongdoing out here."

Yazz asks, "Got any leads on that?"

Neil says, "Well, you've got a Lilim causing trouble and cleverly 
reccling the same hooks to do it, and you've got prisoner from the kami 
who *somebody* is stabilizing."

Neil says, "It's not Dr. Zebulon."

Ekur nods.  "Lilim.  Yume-Tokyo.  Death Row in general.  I'd be tempted 
to have you -- " he looks at Neil and Draco " -- talk to Rick and try to 
work out what's going there, while I give psychological counseling to 
guys in Death Row to get them to stop coming."

Draco says, "I am all for lurking in the background while Neil asks 
leading questions. Neil?"

Neil says, "Sounds good to me. Rick will no doubt be delighted to 
remember there's bigger trouble than the Lilim."

The GM says, "Allright, so Neil and Draco off to Rick, while Ekur 
counsels humans on Death Row?"

Draco says, "Sounds like."

Neil says, "Yes."

The GM says, "This plan is executed... sorry... and within minutes Rick 
is eyeing 'Dr. Voorhees and the new psych's bodyguard.'"

Asher [to William]: IQ roll for reasons not to just drop cover and 
interrogate?

Draco stands about looking official for now.

Asher [to William]: 'Cause that's my Plan A here.

William [to Neil]: I see no particular reason an IQ roll would give 
anything that definite.  Go for it.

The GM says, "A compromise position might be to do so in private."

Asher [to William]: Oh, I thought we WERE in private.

The GM says, "Heh, okay.  You're in a visiting room off to the side of 
the panopticon."

Asher [to William]: I think I've already resonated Rick reasonably well?

Draco [to William]: Just let me know when I should renew the ping.

The GM says, "Oh, yes.  He's serving out his sentence as respectably as 
he can, pondering staying on afterward.  Bit of stress between him and 
the former crewmates since he still has to stick around."

Ekur is, in the meantime, using the wonderful tools of Psychology-17 and 
the Elohite resonance to practice therapy, with occasional jabs of 
Theology-17 when appropriate.  Helping people work through their fears to 
become stronger, healthier, and better people . . . just like old times, 
back when Lucifer was in his cathedral.

William [to Ekur]: Oh, you're definitely still in this:

Neil smiles. "Hello, Rick. It's been some time, but I'm glad to see 
you're doing well for yourself."

[snip: GM has some connection troubles ]

The GM says, "Right then."

The GM says, "A few hours later, there is a small Disturbance, arising in 
the form of a physical letter CelMotion'ed to Ekur.  (This usually occurs 
when there is a larger amount of information to be transferred than can 
be conveniently packed into one or two CelTongues.)  There is a major 
local prison in Huntsville, and a small complement of Servitors of 
Judgment working in the area.  Those Judges have also been informed of 
following information, which be advised is otherwise classified to Angels 
of Dreams, your discretion if you wish to reveal it to other angels: 
possible nascent Tether to Blandine in Hunstville, sculpture entitled 
'The Dreamers.'  Information attached roughly along the lines of what you 
can find at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dreamers_%28sculpture%29 ."

The GM says, "There is also a list of names attached... several of which 
you have become familiar with over the course of the last few hours."

The GM says, "That will take a few hours game time before it comes to 
pass.  Digest for a bit while we set things up over with Neil and Draco."


Neil closes the door behind him, and smiles. "Hello, Rick. It's been some 
time, but I'm glad to see you're doing well for yourself."

The GM says, "(Oh: the names attached are of the models for the faces 
molded.)"

Asher [to William]: If I recall, even personal dreamshaping has to beat 
the Domain Master's Will, yes?

Rick blinks as you shift forms.  "Neil!"  He eyes Draco momentarily and 
switches his attention back.  "Good to see you too..." (Draco: well, he's 
not *enthused*, but he's interested.)  "But why take a job under cover?"

Asher [to William]: Ah, never mind. He can't beat taking Cel form 
anyways, can he.

William [to Neil]: Yeah, but Yazz knows what you're doing and is 
anticipating it so he's letting it happen.

Neil says, "Why else? You've got," and wriggles his fingers, 
"deeeeemons.""

Rick says confidently, "Not in my wing, son!  We keep this these guys 
locked up tighter than a Seraph's..." he coughs.  "...logic."

Draco snickers, then quickly goes blank-faced again.

Neil says, "Lilim you may've heard about is proably the biggest problem 
for you. She runs a decent racket in a nightmare Domain, smuggling newly 
born Ethereals out in exchange for a hook."

Asher [to William]: I can't remember, what's the big winner's name?

The GM says, "Who?"

Asher [to William]: The one passing messages.

The GM says, "Dan."

Rick aahs.  "So she's not in here, but she's got her hooks in some of the 
prisoners?  That'd explain the weird behavior.  With Dorotea binding 
them, they shouldn't even be capable of willing themselves to kick up a 
ruckus."

Neil nods. "One of your guys -- Dan -- is passing messages on to the 
others she's hooked. Of course, Dan can't do it without additional 
support from her, racking up additional hooks and Geasa trying to fulfill 
the original one."

Rick says, "Dan?!  Poor kid.  Go easy on him, I know that racket.  Hard 
as Hell to get out from under a thumb like that."

Neil nods. "I can well imagine. I'll do my best, if he cooperates. Which 
I'm hoping you'll help me with."

Yazz says, "She can't have that many hooks on the number of rioters we've 
had, unless she's getting more on a regular basis.  In which case, who 
knows how many she's got one on."

Rick nods.  "Yeah, 'course.  What do you need?"

Draco [to William]: Am I getting anything on hooks in rioters?

William [to Draco]: Gimme a reroll?

Draco rolled 7 and critically succeeded by 15.

Draco [to William]: ...I love high resonance stats.

Neil says, "Well, now that you know about the potential, and know what I 
can tell you, you'll be able to take care of most of it yourself. I just 
want your *direct* assistance in convincing Dan we won't kill him if he 
talks."

The GM says, "Yazz's statement is well-informed profesisonal opinion and 
probably correct.  No hint on how the new ones are getting on, though."

Rick says, "Sure.  I can fetch him now if you want, he's on shift."

Neil says, "Sooner the better."

Rick sticks his head out the door.  "Gimme Dan!" he calls, and comes back 
in.  "Angels got some way to check for Geas-hooks?" he asks.  "I hear 
they're practically invisible until they're Geas."

Yazz looks *very* interested in the answer to that one.

Neil shrugs back into his lab coat.

Draco says, "I sort of figured on asking straight out. Or having Neil 
here do it for me, really."

William IQ-Rick - succeeded.

Rick eyes Draco more appraisingly, and signals comprehension after a 
minute.  "Seraph.  Gotcha."

The GM says, "Dan comes in.  'Yeah boss?'"

Yazz closes the door, rather more loudly than might otherwise have been 
necessary, and suddenly looks very roughhewn and muscled.  "You've been a 
dirty infiltrator, Dan."

Neil . o O ( Wait. I'm the Good Cop? )

Draco [to Neil]: Shocking change of pace, yeah.

Dan rapidly looks between Yazz, Rick, and you two.  "I what?"

Yazz says, "Playing dumb is *not* your wisest option right now."

The GM says, "(Rick is obviously waiting to follow Neil's lead.)"

Draco projects a cheerful sort of menace from where he's lurking.

Neil says, "The hooks, Dan. Passing messages for the Lilim.""

Neil says, "THAT infiltration."

Neil says, "Rick doesn't want us to knock any Forces off you, and we can 
make it happen, but we want answers. Fast."

Dan's heart clearly sinks.  "I didn't have any choice," he says.  "A Geas 
can effing kill you, you know that."

Neil says, "And see us not killing you? Models of mercy, we are. What's 
the Lilim's name?"

Dan says, "Calls herself Vesta.  Runs a brothel a lot of the inmates 
frequent on day passes.  She's really good with the Image pandering."

Ekur . o O ( Bad Cop, Worse Cop? )

Dan says, "She also has connections on Earth.  Most of the inmates don't 
know how, they just know she takes favors in exchange for getting a 
spirit's Image mentioned among humans."

Neil says, "How deep are you (and they) into her for?"

Dan says, "'course, a favor promised to a Lilim's a lot different from 
one promised to an Ethereal, even if the intent's the same."

Dan says, "I been trying to get out, but she's kept the same cinch on.  
It's..." he shifts uncomfortably, as if tugging on a tight collar... "I 
dunno, kinda medium-strength.  I wouldn't kill anybody over it.  She 
makes me promise, and if I don't she says she outs me to the boss."  He 
blinks, feels his neck.  "Heh.  And so much for that deal.  Thanks!"

Dan says, "The other prisoners... not tough, but she's been picking up 
quite a bit of a rep, so she's got hooks in quite a few.  I don't know 
how many have asked her to fire up some interest."

William [to Draco]: Though at his estimate, certainly not a majority of 
the nonviolent prisoners, probably not even a quarter, but something 
hovering in that vicinity.  They get day passes the violent offenders 
don't, but via visits he knows she has a few effective ones on perhaps 
half a dozen in this wing.

OOC I'm thinking raiding party into Selkirk, hard and fast before she 
realizes why she lost the Geas, Draco jamming her with over-powered 
Ethereal Charm while we knock some Forces off her.

Draco flips open his notebook and starts taking notes on what he's 
picking up.

Neil says, "Start naming names, please."

Dan says, "I never know who she's got at any moment, but I've done repeat 
business sending messages to," and he rattles off a list of names.

Yazz nods.  "They've been the biggest troublemakers.  Pissants must've 
known she was a Lilim after the first time.  We'll have to edit the 
binding rituals."

Dan winds down, and looks at you expectantly.

Neil asks clearly, "Are you currently bound by any hooks or Geasa to any 
agent of Hell?"

Draco [to Neil]: Oh, and I'm all for the stomping of Lilim if we can 
track her down.

Dan says cheerfully, "Not no more!"  -Draco Truth, as of five minutes 
ago.

William [to Draco]: Owes her some small favors in the Marches economy for 
business services rendered by her cover identity, but he's thinking 
that's discountable without harm to his credit line.

Draco gives Neil a slight nod. Close enough for government work.

Neil takes his Dan's jaw and peers into his eyes.

Asher [to William]: Windowdressing for a group roll, Vesta and Dan; don't 
know if I can claim a touch bonus against only one member of the group.

William Resonance - succeeded.

The GM says, "17 is, alas, not the success reported by the diceroller.  
You hear a bit of metaphysical static, possibly rebound from the sudden 
recent snap of the Geas, and are unable to discern anything precise about 
Vesta from Dan."

Neil releases his jaw, satisfied. "Okay. You're telling the truth. Now 
for the consequences."

Dan stiffens.

Neil says, "We'll worry about the whole "selling your charges into Hell's 
bondage" thing later. Extenuating circumstances, and all that. Just how 
much of your hide Rick wants to tear off isn't really my decision."

Neil says, "But if you think about it, you just managed to blow a Lilim 
of Nightmares' whole operation in this Domain wide open. Not gonna be a 
very popular man around here for a while, I think."

Yazz says, "Oh, I think we can deal with our own."

Yazz says, "There's no love for Beleth around here, that's for sure.  And 
whether a man's to be safe or imprisoned, we got the walls for it."

Neil says, "So... tell me what you know about Vesta's Selkirk operation. 
Maps. Customers. Slack times."

Dan gives you directions to Vesta's brothel, Iniquity, in Selkirk, which 
is off a side street but reasonably well-appointed (and legal).  
Customers and slack times he's got no clue on; she and her staff serve 
all comers, though it's only prisoners that get the offer of Image 
enhancement on Earth.

Asher [to William]: If it's not obvious, I'm planning on swinging by Jane 
and "asking for permission" to burn Vesta's operation to the ground, then 
doing the job with all the warm bodies -- if that's the right word -- 
Yazz can spare.

Asher [to William]: Absurdly superior firepower will cut down collateral 
damage, backwards as that sounds.

William [to Neil]: Interesting.  Using Ethereal guards for the assault 
instead of doing it yourselves?

Asher [to William]: No, we'll be there, I just see no reason not to bring 
25 close friends along with me.

Asher [to William]: Either casting EthCharm or pumping Essence into The 
One-Hit Wonder perched on a chair.

Asher [to William]: I need one good res and then I think we've got a 
decent shot at soulkilling her. Hmm. Stealth rolls. Maybe ten friends.

The GM says, "Yokai."

The GM says, "Yazz can spare about 10 guards if you're going 
immediately."

Asher [to William]: Hmm. Timing... doesn't matter if the Mephmeister 
knows we're coming if the messenger is "by the way, the Marches operation 
just got shut down".

Asher [to William]: I assume Yazz's selections can be trusted; I'll still 
rez them for potential problems.

Neil . o O ( Stupid 17. )

fadethecat [to Asher]: We can also do a quick 'Anyone have trouble with 
this plan and want to bow out?' on them with Seraph-rez.

Neil says, "Oooh, true."

The GM says, "Between the two of you, you do find that several of the 
guards have patronized this popular establishent as well.  No outright 
dealings with Earth or a Lilim, but three of them would feel obliged by 
their economic ties to refrain from lifting a hand against the 
establishment, *if* Vesta or one of her staff is quick enough to call 
that credit in."

Asher [to William]: Hmm. But *not* obliged to switch sides on me.

The GM says, "That betrayal would be a bit more than they felt obligated 
to perform, yes."

Asher [to William]: So they can maybe neutralize them, but I can have 'em 
switch to crowd control after the first shock.

The GM says, "Yes.  Or Yazz can replace them, if you're okay with leaving 
them behind during the assault."

Asher [to William]: Does "not lifting a hand" exclude refilling 
combatants on Essence?

The GM says, "Probing the limits of their support for the op is making 
them increasingly uncomfortable with having any part of it, and they 
volunteer to bow out."

Neil says, "Settles that."

Yazz asks, "Those were among our best guys -- you want another three, or 
go with what we've got left?"

Asher [to William]: Only three down? It's still 10 to whatever -- well. 
Assuming Ekur wants to come, of course.

The GM says, "Which sounds like a good cue for Ekur's maildrop to 
happen."

William [to Ekur]: Your call on which line of events to be part of at 
this point.

Ekur gets the maildrop, and considers.  He wraps up what he's doing with 
whatever person he's seeing right now reasonably naturally, and goes to 
join Neil and Draco.

The GM says, "You guys heard the CelMotion Disturbance, but quickly 
realize what it was when Ekur shows up."

Ekur looks at the group, and decides to keep his news for later.  "What's 
up?"

Draco says, "We're about to go drop-kick a Lilim and burn down a brothel. 
Want to come along?"

Ekur says, "Sure."

Asher [to William]: ... oh my goodness.

Draco gives Ekur a thumbs up.

Asher [to William]: I just /rounded up a posse/.

fadethecat [to Asher]: But not, let us be clear, a lynch mob.

fadethecat [to Asher]: Only very /specific/ people in the posse are going 
to be trying to kill off an unsavory influence in town.

The GM says, "The posse heads into town, and as planned you politely stop 
off at City Hall to request permission for the upcoming arson.  Jane is 
entirely amenable to ridding her city of demonic influence, and would 
hand you a gas can and a lighter if you requested it."

Asher [to William]: Just out of curiosity, I'm not edging near any of 
Neil's dissonance conditions, am I?

Asher [to William]: I've got local law enforcement and solid Symphonic 
evidence.

The GM says, "Vesta thoroughly deserves what has been planned for her, as 
far as you can tell, and there are no humans involved on this side of 
things."

The GM says, "Now, so far you have no evidence either way how much her 
staff know about her sidelines."

Asher [to William]: Yeah. Figured on just dispersing them.

fadethecat [to Asher]: Dispersing in which sense?

Asher [to William]: Well. Assuming the Lilim puts her hands behind her 
head and allows us to soulkill her, I'll take a longer view about it, of 
course, but -- seems a little unlikely, so if they're between us and 
her...

Asher [to fadethecat]: Non-celestially.

The GM says, "I.e., ordering them to get lost, business is shut down, or 
whacking them ethereally?"

fadethecat [to William]: What you said.

Asher [to William]: Yes. Although the "or" part only applies after the 
Lilim's whacked; until them, we merely won't give chase.

fadethecat [to Asher]: Ordering them to go away, and whacking in protest 
if--yes.

The GM says, "Okay."

The GM says, "How do you work the approach?"

Asher [to William]: Current local time?

The GM says, "Let's see... Aaron went to sleep, you interviewed Dan and 
assembled the posse... by the time you get to City Hall, it is coming on 
midnight.  We'll say that happens immediately afterward."

Neil has a brief image of raiding the brothel, turning a corner, seeing 
movement, and unloading into Dominic. Oops.

fadethecat [to Asher]: I'm sure he's used to that by now.

The GM says, "The city wakes up for the ethereal Matins, as an influx of 
Essence among the spirits triggers business transactions."

Neil says, "Shame we can't get heat-sensing gear to work in the Marches."


Asher [to William]: What can Jane do for us?

fadethecat [to William]: Actually, one quick question. Can we get anyone 
official-like from Jane as well?

fadethecat [to Asher]: I was just thinking someone in city rather than 
prison law enforcement getup, if there's a difference, to show that this 
is being supported fully by all local authorities.

Asher [to fadethecat]: Certainly. I was wondering along the lines of 
combat.

The GM says, "Sure, Xiao Li can come along to give the event official 
imprimatur.  Hell, as mistress of the Domain Jane could dreamshape the 
brothel to burn herself."

Asher [to William]: Well, if she can selectively lock down local reality, 
that'd be great; locking it down unselectively would work too.

Asher [to William]: And if she could just magick the whole building away 
to give us a clear line of fire? Even better.

Draco says, "Do we have a fairly fool-proof means of identifying the 
Lilim worked out? I don't want to end up accidentally EthCharming the 
wrong person entirely."

The GM says, "The first one there, definitely.  The middle one would be 
trickier, the last would be rather out of character for the Domain and 
she'd rather not."

Asher [to fadethecat]: Was thinking of handling that myself -- field 
mouse form, sneak in, res, sneak out.

William [to Draco]: Other than the Mercurian res-- yeah.

fadethecat [to Asher]: Gotcha.

Asher [to William]: How loud is the local disturbance?

fadethecat [to Asher]: Heck, I imagine you could walk in the front door 
as a 'customer' pretty easily, this time of night.

William [to Neil]: Ethereals know to be polite just after midnight.  It 
pings up to about 5 notes, dies off, a few more, dies off, etc.

The GM says, "Very similar to traffic patterns in Civis, so you expect 
this will last for an hour or so."

Asher [to fadethecat]: Huh. Actually, I *could*, couldn't I. 

fadethecat [to Asher]: You have cover at the local prison. Waltz in, 
glance around, change your mind, waltz out.

Asher [to fadethecat]: But -- hmm. Don't know a good way to go in and not 
obviously be Vice except to take the Geas and -- whatever else is on 
offer.

Asher [to fadethecat]: True.

fadethecat [to Asher]: If we're getting rules of the realm relaxed enough 
for a little safe size-changing, you can keep Ekur and Draco in your 
pocket for the Poketriad aspect in a pinch.

Neil says, "Last queston is -- is this worth the trouble? We could chase 
her off pretty easily -- honestly, we could even get it done offscreen, I 
betcha."

Neil says, "But it seems to me that a solid soulkill is worth the 
trouble."

Neil is speaking OOCly.

The GM says, "Whether the Lilim is a factor in the confrontation with 
Mephibosheth and/or his plan will depend on her disposition at the end of 
this track."

Neil says, "True, true."

Draco says, "I'm for some pointed face-stomping on principle."

Draco says, "Demons should not feel that they can go meddling and suffer 
no worse than being chased off to sneak back in again later."

Asher [to fadethecat]: Huh. Lilim.

Asher [to fadethecat]: Just realized I'd be embarassed to have "Get this 
done before Dominic shows up asking embarassing questions" show up as a 
Need-4.

fadethecat [to Asher]: Thus being able to throw something from your 
pocket and shout "Temporary Triad, I choose you!" if the game is up.

Asher [to William]: Too bad we're not all still a Triad. We could go as 
Three Blind Mice... Blind FOR JUSTICE!

The GM says, "At any rate.  What plan do you decide on for approach?"

Asher [to William]: Scout with shades. I don't need the Poketriad for the 
original scouting trip. I'll offload Essence down to 5.

Asher [to William]: Enquire about prices, argue to see if haggling draws 
the manager, then leave.

The GM says, "You leave the posse somewhere, then?"

Asher [to William]: I figure there's a bar within easy walking distance.

Asher [to William]: Can't just cluster around the front, no.

fadethecat [to William]: We can acquire some gasoline, torches, and maybe 
a pitchfork to go with the general decor.

The GM says, "Prices are pretty standard for an evening's entertainment.  
There are three girls and a guy on staff tonight, and Vesta is 
circulating openly saying hello to the customers and drumming up 
business."

Asher [to William]: Resonate Vesta.

Neil succeeded.

William [Neil]: Feels that she's in her element and in control.

Neil . o O ( That was a 2, by the way, which means that I've rolled 665 
and 655 on resonances involving her so far today. )

Neil . o O ( Err, that was a 16, success by 2. )

The GM says, "...hmm..."

The GM says, "Yes, true.  In fact, ICly you might begin wondering if 
there's some sort of resonance shielding going on, or if it's just an 
unlucky fluke."

The GM says, "Also, a straight Perception roll, if you please."

Neil succeeded.

William Perception - succeeded.

The GM says, "She goes laughingly for your shades, clearly attempting to 
flip them up and get eye contact, but you manage to see it coming and 
dodge in time."

The GM says, "The conversation remains light and commercially amusing."

Asher [to William]: Hmm. Not sure what conversational gambits are safe 
with a Lilim -- HAVING ALREADY LEARNED THAT LESSON, THANKS.

Asher [to William]: Basically, I know what I came for and I'm ready to 
go.

William Acting - succeeded.

The GM says, "And you bow out apparently preferring not to spend today, 
with no obvious hubbub raised behind you."

The GM says, "Next?"

Neil goes to brief the team.

Asher [to William]: We know where she is, we know what she currently 
looks like. I figure we crash in and announce ourselves as police. She 
laughs derisively, and the we start to kill her. 

Asher [to William]: Draco is in the attack party; Ekur or I will be at 
the back gate with two support agents, moving forward once the mayhem 
starts.

Asher [to William]: Back side will keep her from running while the main 
team deals with stray annoyances and keeps trouble off Draco. Not, having 
seen Draco's dodge, do I find trouble likely to stick.

Draco smugs. Elusively.

Neil says, "Either Ekur or I should be capable of spotting a disguised or 
shifted Lilim of Nightmares try to sneak past us."

Neil says, "Always assuming we have functional resonances."

The GM says, "Heh.  Okay.  Posse -- most of it -- marches down the street 
in uniform, Draco at its head and Xiao Li in uniform beside.  His face is 
known well in the city, and a crowd begins to follow."

The GM says, "Draco, your show."

Asher [to StevenE]: Any preference about who's at the back?

Asher [to StevenE]: You hit harder.

Ekur [to Neil]: I'll take the back.

Asher [to William]: I'll shift, if I haven't already, to a resonably 
anonymous uniform.

The GM says, "'k"

Draco is still in generic bodyguard form. He's getting rather fond of 
this whole 'six feet tall' thing. He heads straight for the brothel, for 
a dramatic door-kicking entrance.

Asher [to William]: So as we hit the door -- we've got Xiao Li and Draco 
in front, me and five mooks in tow, and Ekur's taking his two mooks 
around the back.

The GM says, "Vesta and two girls are in the lobby.  (Vesta is still in 
the same glittery dress, and is clearly the boss.)  Her eyebrows go up."

Vesta says, "My.  This doesn't look friendly."

Draco flashes a toothy smile. "Not at all. You're a servant of Hell. 
Everyone else is strongly advised to get out of here right now. Do you 
have anything to say in your defense?"

Vesta says, "Yes."

Asher [to William]: Circumstances just changed. Can I try another 
resonance?

Vesta, as hookers promptly take to their heels, Sings.

Draco Sings right back, because that doesn't sound like anyone throwing 
herself on the mercy of the court for leniency.

Asher [to William]: I'll act if I'm allowed.

Draco [to William]: Which of us gets to go first?

William [to Neil]: They haven't changed that much, really.  Also, it's a 
fairly hasty moment here.  Let me see if she gets this Song off...

Draco [to William]: Since we're both prepared for confrontation, who's 
first in the turn order?

Draco [to William]: I don't recall how it's determined in the Marches...

William thinks about GURPS rules.  Two Songs and a resonance, they're all 
theoretically spells, none of them are interfering with each other, you 
all take this turn and results happen at the end of it.

The GM says, "So, both of you, roll 'em."

Neil should've waited and then declared an attack. Live and learn.

Neil critically succeeded.

Draco rolled 12 and succeeded by 8.

William CelMotion - succeeded.

William [to Neil]: Ooh, an actual critical.

Asher [to William]: CelMotion works in the Marches? I'd never've guessed.


Draco [to William]: Did I do something stupid by talking before 
attacking? I hate it when my smart PCs are as dumb as I am.

William [to Draco]: Well, there's "ruthless lightning strike" and "we 
should really at least serve a warrant" and "hey, drama is fun."  :^)

William [to Neil]: We used it to deliver Ekur a letter earlier. :^)

Draco [to William]: Mm. I suppose.

William [to Draco]: CelCharm, I suppose?

Draco [to William]: This would have been a really handy time to have a 
PokeMalakite to go bop the Lilim on the head for tracking purposes, I 
suspect.

Draco [to William]: EthCharm.

The GM says, "Check."

Draco marks down Essence. That's 2 Essence to sing, right?

The GM says, "Yeah."

Asher [to fadethecat]: Pack the juice on.

Asher [to fadethecat]: I got nothing better to do that feed you Essence.

Draco [to William]: THen I'll go ahead and drop 4 Essence on raising the 
effect of that Song, when it goes off. Total success of 12.

The GM says, "With a Symphonic clangor, the following things all happen 
at once.  Screaming hookers exit the front door.  Vesta gets a vaguely 
dazed look, but it's hard to catch this as she promptly begins fading out 
teleporting somewhere, at the cost of apparently more Essence than 
necessary -- she's running like hell.  Meanwhile, Neil gets considerably 
more detail on her identity, including the existence of a web of 
connections into the Prison, a tight current working relationship with 
Mephibosheth, a certain independence of spirit that in Neil's experience 
strongly suggests a Free, and the usual self-absorbed self-opinion of a 
demon.  Aaron Huntingdon isn't in there.  MDA, something irrelevant to 
the immediate situation but fairly typical for a demon."

The GM says, "And, to no physical cause, the brothel bursts into flames."


Asher [to William]: I propose this be the standard by which we measure 
all surprise rounds.

The GM says, "The front wall sprouts graffiti in Jane's handwriting and 
signature: 'No Demons Wanted.'"

Asher [to William]: Any idea where she'd feel safe?

Asher [to William]: If not, I'll have our team fan out.

Draco [to William]: Can I get a Perception roll or some equivalent to get 
a rough guess of what her outside range is going to be while jumping 
away?

Asher [to William]: I'm also going to offer a 30 Essence bounty on her 
hide to the crowd if we don't find her in 30 seconds. I'll pay it out of 
my own XP assuming Judgment decides not to back me up.

William [to Neil]: Let's put it this way: you didn't hear arrival 
Disturbance anywhere, so wherever it is, it can't be in Selkirk.

Asher [to William]: Oh, PHOOEY.

The GM says, "You don't find her in 30 seconds, and the crowd is 
decidedly interested in the bounty."

Asher [to William]: Hold on. I assumed she traveled "meters" or "100s of 
meters".

William [to Draco]: Hmm.

Asher [to William]: I didn't think she could get to /another Domain/ -- 
unless you're implying she's in Roxburgh?

William [to Draco]: She spent a lot of Essence.  How much of that was 
"please let this work" and how much was "I'd really like to go a long 
way" is uncertain.

William [to Neil]: Possibly a quirk of the GURPS translations.  GURPS 
CelMotion uses the Autoteleport and Exoteleport rules, which have an 
indefinite upper range with degree of success.

The GM says, "In the Marches, yeah, that's handwavey.  So, I handwaved."

[ GM note: By the way, I completely muffed this.  The rules for Celmotion 
clearly state that it's only supposed to work on the corporeal.  Sorry. ]


Asher [to William]: I had... well, I guess I was warned with those 
letters. I didn't think there was a way to travel that far that fast.

Asher [to William]: Well, nothing to be done.

The GM says, "As a matter of Neil's experience in the Marches, I would 
say it's known that CelMotion can send a being between different Domains, 
with sufficient Essence and skill.  The Far Marches are also further from 
the Vale and the respective Domains of the two Mistresses of the Marches 
than among Domains within those regions, as well."

Neil says, "Interrogate the hookers and see what Ekur's got for us."

Draco says, "Let's send out a bounty for news of her location in X 
minutes, where X is how long until the Song wears off."

Draco says, "Just in case we get really lucky and anyone can pass 
messages around so we can catch up. It's a long shot, but worth trying."

Neil says, "Good idea."

Neil says, "Not that we can follow."

Neil says, "Well, someone here may know CelMotion."

Draco says, "Besides, it raises some potential good will if we at least 
let the locals feel like they have a chance to win big by helping us hunt 
down demons."

The GM says, "That it does, though unfortunately it comes up empty.  
Nobody ever heard Vesta chat much about her hideyholes."

The GM says, "Wherever she is, someone's sending an alert to 
Mephibosheth, though.  You know this since a projection of him appears a 
few minutes later where the office of the brothel used to be.  It's 
burning rubble now, which he peers at and chuckles."

Asher [to William]: Wrap it with black silence.

Asher [to William]: Assuming a -10 penalty...

Neil succeeded.

The GM says, "Jane's momentary protest notwithstanding, you manage to 
cloak the region."

fadethecat [to William]: I take it we have no way to trace origins of a 
projection.

Asher [to William]: Well, I've got a complete list for Yazz and Rick.

The GM says, "Since an Ethereal projection can't move from its arrival 
point, Mephibosheth is quite effectively cut off from seeing anything 
useful in there."

William [to Draco]: Not that I can think of off the top of my head, no.  


The GM says, "And I'm fading a bit myself, and Ekur's news is an entire 
plotline (pretty much the remaining plotline), so I say we start in two 
weeks with that."

Neil says, "Sounds good."

The GM says, "End session, then.  Fade, if you could hang on to that log 
until I get back up to Philadelphia I'd appreciate it."