William: Everyone's on server, but I'll sill need a couple of minutes. Edward: gotcha Edward continues working on Gatekeeper Johnny_Fear Gatekeeper? BA: Ed: The BG char editor? Edward: Johnny_Fearless: little side programming project of Ed Johnny_Fear ah BA: Ah Edward: (In essence, a protocol-aware packet filter residing on invisible bridges beyond the main routers that uses an expert system to analyse the traffic flow patterns and report anomalies as well as watching for known exploit attempts.) William warms up the GM'ing muscles. Almost there... katster boots open the bar. *** William is now known as Will_GM *** Aris_Laptop (aris@hh1120001.direcpc.com) has joined channel #gurps Will_GM: Okay. XP... this time we'll actually do it with people in channel. This will cover the last single session played, plus bonuses for overall campaign. Johnny_Fearless opens up his charsheet, ready to receive XP Jack hopes for lots of exp Aris_Laptop opens up Greg's sheet Will_GM: UL, Fearless, and Edward get 1.5 XP each for taking on Xav. Ed, you get another .5 for having the cojones to draw a gun on a Demon Prince. :^) UL, you get a .5 survival bonus, since you were second choice of target. Johnny_Fearless ponders what to do with his 14.5 points of XP... ;) Will_GM: Ellis and Kats each get 1 for sticking in-character and not dashing in when they wouldn't do such a thing. Aris_Laptop idly chuckles at the numbers... this sure isn't Rifts. ;) Aris_Laptop Wooo BA: That puts me at 15.5 unspent points Johnny_Fear Aris_L: *heh* Edward: Aris: You can do more with these than you can do with 1000 XP in rifts Aris_Laptop "You get 300 points for last session..." Aris_Laptop Ed: Noted. :) BA: Yeah. I can up a coupla stats or skill levels :) Aris_Laptop now has... well, one unspent point, and a fencing skill of 18. BA: And still have points left over :) Johnny_Fearless only spent two points since the game started, and that was on a skill he needed for the day job (d'oh!) katster goes over to the shelf of roleplaying books and pulls the one she needs off. Edward: Johnny_Fearless: ditto BA ponders taking a GURPS: Disc World skill or advantage/disadvantage BA: :) Will_GM: Adventure Awards: Kats gets 3 total for coming up with, and dynamically playing, what I thought was an emotionally and philosophically complex character. A two-point plot-advancement award goes to Johnny for dogged investigation and consistent fact-usage, including actual use of game logs in play. :^) Johnny_Fear BA: Low Pain Threshold? :) Aris_Laptop ponders running an IOU campaign. "Your senior thesis got away..." Johnny_Fear s/Low/High/ BA: Already have that :) Will_GM: And that's the numbers. Thank you, I'll be at the Golden Globes next week. katster grins. :) Johnny_Fear not the RACCies? *ducks* Aris_Laptop ... who in here *has* IOU, anyway? Will_GM: *raises hand* BA: What's IOU? Aris_Laptop (Besides me, I mean) Will_GM: Aris: If you want to run an IOU campaign, I am *there*. Aris_Laptop BA: If you had it, you'd know. ;) katster: I do too, Aris. Aris_Laptop Will: I'm thinking of one. Will_GM: BA: University, done in ultra-wacky GURPS style. Johnny_Fearless has Grimoire and Steampunk... katster: which is part of the reason I went with that for your Christmas present. ;) Edward: BA: You're not authorised to know that information. Fnord. Edward: Does that answer your question? :) Aris_Laptop *chuckle* I figured. :) Aris_Laptop Everyone who doesn't have it can play mudanes. Aris_Laptop ... oooh. That would be neat. katster: Do *not* get me started on listing my GURPS books, please? :) Edward: Aris: I'll go get it, then. BA: Ah. All I have is Disk World, Warehouse 23, and Compendium 1 Johnny_Fear kats: 'k Will_GM: If anybody would like to shop for advantages and stuff, now's a good time to throw open the mall. Edward wonders if the master skill lists for gurps are online somewhere. katster: Basic, C1, C2, AE, AE2, Discworld, IOU, IN, Mage, Magic, Psionics, Supers, WH23. Edward: Will: I'm looking, I'm looking... Aris_Laptop Will, were you planning on running the game tonight? katster: ...and I need to get more. :) BA: Nah. I'm good for this sesh Aris_Laptop has basic, C1, IOU, IN, Blood Types, and Traveller. katster: Will: I'm saving them. Will_GM: Aris: Yeah, but we're just starting a new campaign, and all that. Johnny_Fearless looks through for the rules on increasing skills/stats Will_GM: Ed: No rush, you don't have to pick now. Edward: ... and once again, google saves my butt. Edward: http://www.io.com/~kromm/list.html katster has something in mind, but it's a ways off. Aris_Laptop Heh. My next skills pick is going to be an increase in Theology, and I need 4 points for that. ;) Edward also has something in mind, needs to discuss it with will though Will_GM: Okay, then. Will_GM: As you will recall, last session you kicked the bad guy's butt. That was Wednesday or so. *** Aris_Laptop is now known as Ellis *** katster is now known as Nicole *** Wizard (Nobody_469@cm178.153.120.24.lvcm.com) has joined channel #gurps Will_GM: You were invited back to join the small circle around the Erath Stone and Tile Works, home of your angelic acquaintances, upon the occasion of a neighborhood get-together that Saturday at 6. Johnny_Fearless spent the time between that working on getting the experience down on his laptop, in a journalistic fashion... clearing the cobwebs type of thing. Nicole has tried to focus on school, without total success. Johnny_Fear in addition to working on typical reporter-type stuff. Johnny_Fear 3d6 BA spent that time hooking up more security cams and audios in and around his house Dicesuke throws the bones for Johnny_Fearless (3d6) and gets 10. Ellis spent the time between training the fencing team and head down in the library, poring over books on religion. BA: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for BA (3d6) and gets 10. Johnny_Fear okay, the story that'll never see print at least reads like a good reporter's story. Johnny_Fear 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Johnny_Fearless (3d6) and gets 10. Johnny_Fear and the "public" version of what happened also looks good. I bit a lot of tongue writing it, though Will_GM: Johnny: This latter being a roll on Fast-Talk? ;^) Edward has been on a streak of insomnia, putting the time to good use working on Gatekeeper's logic cores. Not quite an AI, but probbaly the next-best thing. Will_GM: Headline: "LOCAL RESTAURANTEUR MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD" Johnny_Fear well, I was looking at the Writing (Journalism) skill Will_GM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Will_GM (3d6) and gets 13. Will_GM: Nothing obviously supernatural happens to any of you between the evening at Xav's, and Saturday's fiesta. BA shows up with a keg Ellis shows up with his Real Sword strapped to his bike. Just in case something weird happens. Edward: Thank god for small favors, I suppose... Damn, I need to come up with new aphorisms. That one isn't nearly as fun to say now. Will_GM: Wesley, in his black body, greets you at the front gate. "Hi, BA! Bring that around back, and put it with the other adult's drinks." BA carries the keg around back Edward shows up with, well, nothing much. Johnny_Fearless shows as well. "I needed to get out of the office and off the beat for a bit." Will_GM: The Works has people hustling to and fro in a good mood. A large, paved yard in the back already has a dais and several rows of tables and chairs. Johnny_Fearless heads over to BA. "You doing okay, pal?" Edward nods to Johnny. "Yeah." Nicole hops the bus over. Ellis parks his bike, checks the sword again, but leaves it there as he goes to mingle. Not the paranoid type, yet. BA: "Hey, Fearless. I hope this party doesn't explode into a prayerfest." Ellis looks around for people he knows Will_GM: The people bustling around are obviously members of the community, mostly Latino and African-American, with a smattering of others. They are old, young, and in-between, and while none are expensively attired, many are in "Sunday best." It's by no means required, though, as several are simply in warm, comfortable clothing for an outdoors Philly October evening. BA: "Of course, I'm not exactly hoping for a sinfest, either. But..." Johnny_Fear "Still... I sent you both copies of the article, right?" Will_GM: Ellis: BA has just put down a keg with some other drinks, and Johnny is there with him and Ed. Nicole is rolling up from the bus stop down the street. Ellis turns to Nicole. BA and Fearless still weird me out. ;) Johnny_Fear BA, maybe... BA has his .44 holstered under his jacket. Nicole gets up to the Tile Works, sees Ellis waiting. "Hey." Johnny_Fearless stuffs his hat into the trench's pocket. Will_GM: Jack, at the moment you're one of the crowd -- a native of the community. You know the guys who are employed the Stone and Tile Works as nice guys who host a bash like this every now and then, often to say hello to some people moving in, as they are tonight, in the case of a new couple. Edward notices Nicole, waves. Johnny_Fearless notices the others, waves. Ellis: "Hey, Nicole. Glad you could make it." Nicole: "Yeah. Schoolwork's the usual, but we need a good party, right?" Johnny_Fear "I'm still not sure what to make of this group..." Edward looks up, sees Nicole, waves. Ellis: "Yeah. I need more surrealism in my life." BA uses this opportunity to do some quick advertizement for his home business and RC track :) Ellis: "C'mon, the drinks are back this way." Johnny_Fearless looks to see if the "angels" are out and about... Jack heads over to the guys at the stone works to say hi and catch up on gossip and bullshit Nicole waves to Ed. Edward: "Hey, Nicole. Doing all right?" Will_GM: Johnny: Wesley is mingling with the crowd. Pete (the kid), Fred (the "jumper") and Zeke are setting up drinks and organizing food people are bringing in. Rath is not to be seen at the moment. BA: Nothing obvious, just off-hand comments like "I run a computer repair shop. You're kids interested in RCracing?" BA: :) Nicole: "Mostly. I should be asking if you're all right, I suspect." Will_GM: Jack : "'Sup, Jack. Still paying the bills?" Johnny_Fearless heads over to Fred and Zeke... Jack: "Nothing much, Zeke. Things are good. How about you?" Edward shrugs. "The occasional waking up from a nightmare involving turning to dust, but other than that I'm managing." Will_GM: BA: (random 8-yr-old) "Umm... I like Battlebots!" Will_GM: "Busy. You know how it is." Nicole: "Ugh. That's not plesant." Ellis nods in sympathy. Nicole grins. "Teachers are being a pain with schoolwork as usual, so I've had to put the introspection on somewhat of a hold, unfortunately." BA: *to child* "Do you now? A lot of RC racing stuff goes into those. Good place to pick up basics for building a Battlebot." BA: :) Edward shrugs again. "I'll get over it." Johnny_Fear "Not jumping from tall buildings again, are you Fred?" Will_GM: *looks up* Oh. BA: *to the kid* "Remind me to show you Rumblestrip." Will_GM: BA: "'k." Edward: "They usually are, not much change there." Ellis: "I've been trying to gather more... scholarly information on our hosts. Or at least refresh my memory." Nicole: "Lucky you. Beats the piles of theorums." Ellis: "True. But it makes me remember how much I miss my old vocation." Jack: I'll chat with him about the plight of the public schools Edward: "The only consolation I have for you in that regard is that most of it's a lot more useful than it seems when they're trying to teach you." Jack: to Zeke: "Nice turn out you've got." Will_GM: Johnny: "Nah, I have enough trouble jumping from one table to the next here..." He grins as he dashes off on some other errand. Johnny_Fear *to self* "Yeah, that's my jumper." *to Zeke* "Nice spread you have here." Nicole laughs. "I'd bet. The way some of those math profs talk about their precious theorums, though..." Ellis: "Heh. The irony is that I never thought anything I learned in seminary would have any real-life meaning. It was just interesting. And now look at us." Will_GM: *Heh* Jack: to Johnny Fearless, who is speaking to Zeke as well: "Hi, I'm Jack Creeley." Jack extends hand. Edward grins. "Like they want to marry them, you mean? Yeah... anyways, I'm going to get a drink. You want anything?" Johnny_Fear "Johnny Ferrifous. You may have read my stuff, in the Enquirer." Jack laughs. Jack: "I'm with the City Paper!" Will_GM: Johnny: "Nothing fancy, pot roast, sides. Just a get-together for the town." He lowers his voice a little. "It's not like we have to eat, so we can save up and spend it for the good of our neighbors." He winks. Nicole: "Just a Coke." Ellis: "I'm all right." Johnny_Fear "Philly Enquirer, or [that other one Cyg kept mentioning]?" Will_GM: Johnny: The one he names (and I should come up with a name for it, too) is a smaller weekly. Jack: to Johnny. "I have read your stuff! You're good!" Jack: ooc: the name of the weekly is The City Paper. Unimaginative I know, but there it is Will_GM: 'k. Jack: real paper too! Johnny_Fear "Thanks. You a reporter also, or you work in the offices?" Jack: "Neither," Jack grins. "The bane of all thinking men. I'm a columnist." Edward: "Gotcha." *walks off to the drinks table, gets two Cokes, walks back* Jack: "All the by-line, a quarter of the work!" Jack: "I write 'Flat along the Sidewalk,' but it gets buried on page 34 most weeks." Nicole looks over at Ellis while they're waiting for Ed. "So...learn anything interesting?" Johnny_Fear "Remind me to read your paper sometime." . o O (Columnists...) BA hangs about, wall flowering when he's not advertizing. Currently standing around with a plate of food and a beer Ellis: "Nothing beyond general information, mostly things I'd forgotten." Jack: .o0 Remind me to read your paper sometime! What a prick! 0o. fake smile Jack: "It's been great talking to you. I'm going to get a drink." Nicole: "Ahhh. Darn." Johnny_Fear investigative reporters normally don't like columnists... Johnny_Fear "See you around..." Will_GM: Ed, Nicole, Ellis: At this point, Rath appears. He shakes a few hands, makes a bit of conversation, but comes your way from within the Works. When he gets close, he asks, "Do you have a few minutes? For..." he looks about... "stuff." Ellis: "Yeah. I'll keep looking, though." Jack: ooc: they just usually aren't so obvious about it! Edward: "Sure, I guess." Johnny_Fearless turns to Zeke. "Nice guy, I hope." Ellis: "Oh, of course. I make sure to reserve large chunks of my day for stuff." Will_GM: "Good, good. Inside, please." He heads for the elevator. Jack looks around for anybody else he recognizes Ellis follows at a sedate pace. Nicole follows Rath, in curiousity. Edward stands aside to let Nicole pass, follows behind Johnny_Fearless lights up a cigarette. Will_GM: Johnny: "Well, lessee. He does a lot of part-time work -- buys Jazz for Tower, writes the column, and I'm not sure but I think he teaches a writing class somewhere. Has a bit of a tendency to blow cash gambling. He's not too bad once you get to know him, though." BA idly sketches a few modifications to random equipment he's been thinking of to keep his mind off the recent lunacy. Will_GM: Jack: You're a native of the neighborhood, there are plenty of acquaintances around. Not Connie at the moment, though. Jack will make the rounds, listen for good stories, feeling restless Will_GM focuses on Ed/Nicole/Ellis for a moment. Johnny_Fear "I see. Well, maybe I'll look him up if I need someone to help me cover a story sometime. Speaking of which, any more information on ... our mutual 'friend'?" Will_GM: Ed/Nicole/Ellis: Rath leads you into the basement offices. "We did a quick break-in at Xav's apartment just after he lost his latest body, picked up what we could. Among the things were some papers relating to each of you -- Johnny and BA as well, we'll talk to them later -- and we were wondering if you could shed any light on some of the more cryptic references." Nicole blinks. "Alright." Edward: "Sure. Do we get to see what they've written down on us as well?" Will_GM: "Yep, that's the whole point of this little foray." He sits down at his desk and shuffles through some papers. "Don't mind the weird lettering on some of them. It's not an Earthly language. I'll find someone to get that stuff translated soon." Ellis looks Will_GM: To each of you he hands some papers. Ed, on you there is much less -- remember, you are a more recent acquaintance. Edward flips through it, absorbing the info on it. Ellis: *flip* *lineread* *parse* "Hmmmm..." Edward: 3d6 Ellis looks up. "What did you want clarified?" Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 10. Will_GM: "The stuff that's been recently blacked out, we are fairly sure refers to your future. It's not necessarily prophetic, but... well, let's just say if we were leery about letting you know angels and demons existed, you can imagine that we're going to be tightfisted with anything relating to your future." Nicole looks through these... Edward: passed Speed Reading skill test. Edward nods while reading. "Thanks; I don't think I'd really want to know." Ellis: "I suppose that's just as well." Will_GM: Johnny: Saw your question, will be back with you after this scene Johnny_Fear n/p Nicole nods. "Wise." Will_GM: "Gregory, let's start with you. Apparently, he was trying very hard to get into the more tightly sealed records of your past. Now, I'm not digging for details. But Kronos' Archives would have had anything that involved hell, so Xav would have known. And Heaven's records would have told *me* anything that involved Heaven. So..." Ellis raises an eyebrow. "So?" Will_GM: "...Is it possible that what you experienced might have been the work of a third, supernaturally-inclined party? Perhaps the phrase 'Ethereal activity' might ring a bell?" Ellis thinks. Thinks. "I'm... not sure that's how I'd characterize... I don't know." *** Wizard has left channel Will_GM: (Ellis: among the notes Xav has on you are 'damnably secretive,' 'disgustingly polite,' and 'deliciously ironic if I can get him. Priest souls, excom or not, still have that traditional cachet') Ellis: *snicker* Will_GM: "Well... allright. I suppose we'll have to find out later." Ellis shrugs. "Give me a call when you do. I'd be interested myself." Will_GM: Nicole, the stuff on you includes a lot about your accident. Something he's definitely *not* supposed to have, but apparently does, includes medical records, physical and psychological, on you. Circled on the photocopies in red include doctor's notations about your breakthrough moments and remaining challenges. Nicole: "Yow." Ellis: "Something wrong, Nicole?" Ellis: brb Edward: "Hmm?" Nicole: "Painful memories, still, they are." Edward: "Ah." Will_GM: "Yes. I'm not sure how he obtained some of those records, but it's always bad when someone experienced in personal manipulation has a doctor's description of your various traumas." Nicole: "Yeah. I can tell...how did he get these?" Edward winces. "More importantly, that means he had -- and consequently that someone Down There still has -- extensive connections in the medical databases and records." Nicole: "At least out in California, anyway." Nicole pokes through it, checking for more recent Philly stuff. Ellis: Hmm. Dinner. Will, do you need me for something important in the near future? 'cause I can bring it in here if necessary... Will_GM: "Good question. Easiest way I can think of is to trace you back through various insurers. When someone has the ability to ride in a human's head, it's pretty easy to get past security and photocopy some innocuous files to mail out to their main identity's post office box." Will_GM: Ellis: Not desperately, no. Ellis: Okay. I'll be a bit, then. Will_GM: "Find the psychologist who billed them, get into the doc's head, look through their old notes... poof." Edward grimaces. "Damn -- if you'll pardon the expression. Not much that 'human' security measures can do about that possibility, I guess." BA: Build a better psi-disruptor? :) Edward: Note the "human" in there. We don't have that tech, and Ed's not a psychoelectronics genius. Will_GM: Ed: "No, not much. There is a defense against this kind of possession, though -- it's called a Force Catcher. I understand security is a primary part of your job description -- if you're interested, I can put you in touch with people who know how they're made, can possibly obtain them for you, and could demonstrate how they fit into a security pattern." Edward quirks an eyebrow. "I'm definitely interested." Nicole pokes through more of it, seeing what's here. Will_GM: Nicole: the more recent stuff is mostly mundane files, much of it public-domain. For example, a photocopied page from the Penn yearbook has your interests highlighted, with a couple of pen-drawn characters in that harsh alphabet spiking their way down the page next to them. Will_GM: Ed: "So noted. I'll mention it to someone in town I know, he'll get in touch with you." Nicole: *laugh* "Apperantly, I'm weird enough for their tastes." Edward: "Thanks." Will_GM: Nicole: "Yes. Oh, and ignore the two characters next to the highlighting. I don't know much Helltongue, but I can recognize the words for 'friend' and 'dupe.' They're only a single small stroke apart." Edward: ".. They have a word for 'Friend' ?" Nicole laughs! Johnny_Fear note the difference between it and 'dupe'. ;) Edward: "Or is it more an inference of 'dupe we haven't duped yet', with the stroke being a tick mark?" Will_GM: "Yes, even if only to learn how to fake it." Nicole laughs a bit more, pokes through it for any mention of the drunk or his scum of a lawyer. Or anything from before the accident. Will_GM: Rath shrugs. "Oddly enough, this is one area where humans have an advantage over angels. To learn the tongue of demons is dangerous for us -- we can't wrap our minds around the basic concepts without something fracturing. Humans, however, are more adaptable and pliable; they can reach an understanding of this tongue without such damage. We often use human translators for material written in it." Will_GM: Nicole: A very sketchy family biography, and a note 'ask if the lawyer was a Gamester' followed by a 'no, pure human.' A similar note about the DUI is followed by a question mark. Nicole laughs a bit more. "Any questions?" Will_GM: "Not as much, no. We were wondering if anything would spark your notice." Will_GM: Ed: The small amount of stuff on you is mostly transcripts, the DMV lookup that you heard about, and the public-domain part of your employment record. There are few notes, but a lot of the blacked-out material. One question written is 'what's this side project of his?' Will_GM: Ed: "Don't suppose you could answer that question he wrote down for us?" Nicole: "Not really. Pretty boring stuff, and that which I didn't know I could have guessed at. But...if we're important enough to go after now, why weren't we in the past?" Will_GM: Nicole: "You were, he just didn't know it. He has to see humans to judge the kind of potential which interests him." Nicole nods. Edward grins. "I got frustrated one day with the fact that all intrusion detection systems publically available are basically reactive -- by and large, they can only spot breakin attempts they're aware of. What I'm working on is an expert system core that does flow pattern analysis -- basically, it looks at the greater pattern overlying the details, and compares it to what it knows as the 'normal' usage patterns, then flags and alerts the admin in charge about anomalous spikes." Nicole: "So what's stopping Xav or any of his buddies from coming back after us?" Will_GM: Rath looks at you imperturbably, but very, very blankly. When you're done, he blinks. Nicole grins. "I think your geekspeak broke him, Ed." Edward: "Working project codename is Gatekeeper. It's pretty much complete -- I'm tweaking the analysis mode to improve its acuity." Edward: "Aww." Will_GM: "..." *pause* "I'm not familiar with these computation devices. I think I'll have you run that by the angel I'm sending to you, he's more involved with such things." Johnny_Fear Geek angels? :) Will_GM: and how. Nicole: there is an Angel with the word of Networking. Edward: "Basically, think of it as a very VERY simple AI that constantly looks at the network and calls me when it sees anything it doesn't trust." Nicole: and well...a lot of Jean's people. %) Will_GM: Imagine a geek who never had to worry about getting teased in High School, or going on a date, or bothersome parents. Just... purpose. :^) BA: The Gospel according to Linux :) Johnny_Fear *snrk* Johnny_Fear the Gospel of St. Linus? *runs* Edward shrugs. "I can't really simplify it any further -- the whole concept is fairly high geeklevel. Think of a clever watchdog at the gates who can sense intent of anyone trying to walk past rather than having to be trained and told who is nice and who isn't." Johnny_Fear and its counterpart, the Gospel of St. William Gates. Nicole: Nah, the Gospel of St. Richard. Will_GM: "Yes. I can understand a better security system. The details I will leave to those more equipped to handle them, unless it becomes necessary to know." Edward nods. Nicole: And St. Richard, known to the geeks as RMS, brough his gospel of "Information should be free" to the masses. Ellis: Back Ellis: And scrolled up, btw Edward: although both his enemies *and* sometimes his followers want to nail him to the cross. Will_GM: "Very well. Thank you all for coming down here. Please, head back up and enjoy the party." Nicole: Yes, the hymm o/~ Join us now and share the software o/~ didn't go over well. Edward: "Thanks. It looks like a fun one so far." *hands the pages back* Will_GM: "Yes, thank you." He takes them and organizes them in neat piles. Nicole hands the folder back. "Rath? What stops Xav or his buddies from coming back?" Edward: "In Xav's case, I'd guess the fact that he needs a new body and has some apologising to do for his failure to drag any of us in. For the others, I don't think you're going to like what I'm guessing is the answer." Will_GM: Nicole: "Us. For a longer answer... nothing, really. It depends on how much effort and resources Hell wants to spend on you. I can say, for fairly certain, that Xav will have to do without a body for a while. In most respects, that will make him far less dangerous." Ellis: Ooooh, Ellis voluteering dirty secrets about his past! Make a note, people, this is probably the last time it'll happen. ;) Edward: "... Can you elaborate on that 'most respects' part? It's the kind of term usually followed by a large and nasty 'but' .." Nicole nods. Edward: Ed's a bit more nervous than he lets show. Did you see how he missed the perfect opportunity to use the phrase "I smell a 'but' in there..." in a serious sentence? Ellis: *snicker* Will_GM: Ed: "He still probably has fleshbound contacts -- either demons who owe him favors, or human servants. He can act through those, if he can get a communication through. It's not easy from where he is, though. Also, there are the Marches -- basically, the sleeping mind, dreams. To attack there, he would have to gain the permission of the Princess Beleth." Johnny_Fear mischan? Jack: oc: giggle at butt joke Nicole: "Okay. Well, it's not the most encouraging news, but it'll have to do, I guess." Edward: "Terrific. In both senses of the word." Edward: "Ah well. Not much I can do about it, I suppose, so no real use in worrying about what might be before it comes to pass." Ellis: "Right. Rath, are you going to keep these papers?" Will_GM: "Was planning to, yes. Why?" Ellis smiles tightly. "Because I'd rather you burn it. The fact that I was excommunicated doesn't go over well at cocktail parties." Will_GM: Ellis: "I am loathe to destroy it. Would you give your word to keep it on your own, and not destroy it? We might need to know what they know in the future." Ellis sighs, thinks *hard* about that. "I suppose that's fair." Ellis takes the sheaf of papers and sticks them under his arm Will_GM has to step out for five. Brb. Edward: "Anyways, was there anything else, or can we go enjoy the party now?" Ellis: Elevator conversation, anyone? Will_GM: Ed: "No that was all. Thank you." Ellis leads the way back to the elevator, steps in, and leans against the wall. Nicole follows Ellis back, rolls in. "Well?" Edward steps in and lets the door close, pushes the button for the exit Ellis: "That was... enlightening." Nicole: "So...what exactly happened to get you excommunicated?" Edward: "If you want to talk about it, that is." Ellis: "Long story." Johnny_Fear he tried to summon C'thulhu. ;) Ellis: Please. I'm not *quite* that stupid. :( ;) Nicole: "Well...it might be." Ellis: "Might be?" Nicole: "Okay, it is. But it's obviously important to what Xav wanted you for." Nicole: "So, what happened?" Will_GM: Guys, I don't think Aris has the story written. :^) Which is a shame, because that kind of thing makes good plot hooks. ;^) Ellis laughs slightly. "I don't think that Xavier would be *terribly* interested in how I screwed up my internship with Pope John Paul the Second." Nicole: "You knew the *pope*?" Edward: "Ouch. But Nicole has a point... There wasn't anything in these that explains why they wanted us specifically." Ellis: "Knew. Sort of. I was finishing up my studies before being ordained." Ellis: "It wasn't anything personal." Will_GM: b Nicole: "But something happened." BA: He caugh the old fart playing bridge with the Ayatolla :) Johnny_Fear *hee* Ellis: "Well, yes. Something happened." Nicole: "And I'm sorry for being so nosy about it, but...Rath's interested in it, Xavier was...and it's not just your life at stake here anymore." Ellis shrugs. "Well, despite the allegations that the Mother Church levied against me, I was *not* consorting with demons. I don't care what Cardinal Derkins saw." Nicole: "...what the hell?" Edward: bbias, assume I'm just listening and walking along. Nicole: "What did he *see*?" Ellis: "I'm not sure." Nicole: "Okay...well what did you see?" Ellis: "That's the whole problem. I can't remember most of it, due to an inappropriately timed concussion." Johnny_Fear C'thulhu came through the toilet. *ducks*runs* Jack , up at the party, is playing bocce ball with two old Italian men and, at first glance, fourteen screaming fourth graders. Ellis: "... But it wasn't a demon. I know that much. But it was the Cardinal's word against mine." Nicole: "And he's got higher rank." Ellis: "Precisely." Will_GM: Johnny: In answer to your question earlier: "Out of the picture, at least for a few days. Out of a body for a while yet. Hard to say beyond that. The name 'Xavier Montenegro' is useless now, though." Nicole: "That's not really fair." Ellis: "That is the way the Mother Church works. Those with more experience on the matters of the faith are granted higher temporal authority." Nicole: "But, how do you know it wasn't a demon? Well, I mean, now you've got Rath saying it wasn't, but how'd you know then?" Johnny_Fear "Yes, but Javier Montblanc is close enough, and he's used that in the past as well. We should keep an eye on people with that basic pattern." Will_GM: Jack: As you look around for stories, you notice two things: first of all, there's a new group of people, who don't live in the neighborhood (the PCs). Second, they seem awfully friendly with the guys you've known for years (the Stone Works angels, not that you know they're angels). Edward: "Well, they have a point in that. " BA: "Montelbon! You are so aggrivating! It is disturbing to my demeanor!" :) Jack: When they all disappear into the building, I'll ask Zeke who they are. Edward: we didn't all disappear. Johnny and BA are still topsides. Ellis: "A demon wouldn't have been in the Vatican in the first place. I still believe that. And... demons have the power to assume a pleasing shape, and I do remember a helpless... person, who did not look human." Ellis: "But beyond that it's fuzzy." Will_GM: Jack: The three who went in come back out a few minutes later; Johnny and BA have so far remained outside. Nicole: "Weird." Edward nods, looking thoughtfully. Although this *is* more or less his normal expression. Jack: ooc: thanks edward Jack: GM: are any of the other guests going into the building? Will_GM: Jack: Not yet. The main event is about to start, as the incoming couple take their seats near the dais and people are settling down to the meal in earnest. Jack will ask Zeke if they are hiring new people at the Stone Works. Will_GM: Whoa. Will_GM ughs. Short game, and we didn't get to any major happenings. But... early rising, exercise, big dinner, are all combining to make me desire bed a very, very great deal. Will_GM: As in, in a very sudden way. Nicole sticks by Greg and Ed, for lack of anything better. Edward goes for the food. BA: Call it here, then? Will_GM: Jack, it was a brief introduction so far, but we'll tie you in closer to events next game. Jack: sounds good. Will_GM: We're gonna have to, 'cause I'm going to have to crash. Johnny_Fear :P Jack: bye all *** BA is now known as UpLink Ellis: 'nite, Will Will_GM: 'Night, Jack, UpLink: Later folx *** Ellis is now known as Aris_Laptop Will_GM: -,+. *** Will_GM is now known as William Edward: Ack, and I just finished enough caf to stay up for the rest of the day. Johnny_Fear Zeke ever respond to Fearless' statement on the name? *** Johnny_Fearless is now known as Arsenal *** UpLink has left channel William: Johnny: Probably, yes. Next time. Arsenal: 'k