WillGM: Okay, let's recall events. WillGM: Nicole has just hit the panic button. Ellis, Ed, and BA have come busting into the basement, BA with a piece drawn. Ellis has dramatically thrown back the curtains hiding Laura, Bill, Terrence, Arnold, Nicole, and the diagram on the floor. Ellis: Sword in mid guard position. Edward: And Edward just adlibbed a bluff for the goons between us and the summoning room. WillGM: A group of KBL frat boys are sitting in the southwest corner of the room, drinking from a keg and surprised at the sudden entrance. The stairs down from the backyard are in the middle of the south wall. To the northeast is a staircase to the upper floors, in the middle of the east wall is a hallway to other basement rooms, and the diagram is in the northeast corner. WillGM: Small windows, just barely person-sized, line the room near the ceiling on the west and south walls. WillGM: The room is, other than what has been mentioned, bare except for lightbulbs and three switches near either staircase and the hall. WillGM unpresses the "pause" button. WillGM: ---------------- Game Start ------------------ Ellis: Okay, when I've pushed the curtain back, I get over to Nicole as fast as I can. WillGM: One of the KBL boys in the corner looks up from the conversation. "What the hell? Hey you guys aren't allowed in here." Nicole just smiles. WillGM: Ellis: Nicole looks undamaged. A woman seems to be afraid of her, and an adult man seems to be angry at her. WillGM: Bill appears to be thinking rapidly. Ellis: *clears throat* "The panic squad has arrived." Nicole: "Cool." Edward brushes past the KBL boys to 'cole's side. WillGM: *to the boys* "Change of plan. Get ready to start." Over questions, he says, "Do it." He turns to Arnold. "Go tell the DJ." Arnold nods and heads for the stairs in back. WillGM: "But... that guy's got a gun." WillGM: *pointing to BA* Ellis: "That he does." Edward intercepts Arnold. "How about let's not and say we did?" Nicole ponders how to explain this quickly. "Watch out, Ed, he's one of Them..." Nicole: "Bill's not, I don't think Terreance is, but Laura is." WillGM: Arnold (attempts to) grab Ed and shoves him out of the way. Response? Edward: Gentle arm/wrist lock. WillGM pulls up charsheets. Nicole looks to see if there's anything that can be broken or messed with to stop this. WillGM: Ed: Roll it. Ellis covers Laura with his sword *** Dicesuke (dice@12-213-43-67.client.attbi.com) has joined channel #gurps Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: Arnold breaks your lock by sheer strength and continues pushing you aside. You hit the wall with some force. Ellis: How close are we all standing? Edward shifts to a redirect-and-throw then, as soon as his breath comes back. WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 2. Ellis is decidedly *not* going to try and interject a sword into that equation, but would like to know. Edward: .oO(Mental note: if I'm going to go mano y mano with demons more often, learn Aikido.) WillGM: Ed: no damage, and you remain upright. Edward: .oO(Ow.) WillGM: Give me a minute, I'm gonna pull out a hex map. WillGM: Okay. Ellis, you're on the other side of Nicole from Ed and Arnold. And Bill, for that matter. WillGM: Arnold continues out the door. The KBL guys raise a cry, and Bill yells, "We're handling it! Settle down and get ready to go!" WillGM: Bill turns to you all. "I don't know where you're coming from, but I think we can all agree that the *others*," he emphasizes, "are best out of the way." Nicole continues looking around for something to stop this. "So come clean." WillGM: "Not a sucky idea." Edward still attempts to prevent Arnold from leaving. WillGM: How? Edward: He's way stronger, so when next he pushes I move aside and redirect his force into a throw. WillGM: He stepped past you after he threw you, moving onward. Edward: Ah, okay. then I go after him, THEN stop him as stated. WillGM: Ed: A throw from behind, perhaps? Edward: Essentially. WillGM: Roll it. Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 11. Edward: the dice be suck tonight. :( WillGM: He was facing away and didn't think you were coming after him -- you cause him to fall. Edward turns that into a happy little arm lock sub hold while he's on his face on the ground. WillGM organizes this into battle time. WillGM: Upside of violence-light campaigns: more plot time. Downside: GM needs practice. WillGM: Okay. A hold -- contest of skill vs. strength. Ellis, Nicole, what are you two doing? Ellis: I'm keeping my sword pointed at Laura and watching this side of the room. WillGM: "this"? Ellis: The side I'm on. I think it's the south side. Nicole: I'm looking around for something to stop this thing, and not seeing anything offhand. WillGM: If you're facing Laura, you're looking North. The diagram, Bill, and Terrence are to your left. Ellis: And Nicole is to my right? Ellis: Well, whichever - I'm just watching for now. Nicole: "Alright, so what happens *now*?" WillGM: Your right, yes. My bad. WillGM: Laura hangs back, Terrence is confused, and Bill is glaring at the rank and file of the fraternity. Ed, roll for the contest. Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 16. Edward: that's a fail. Zibblsnrt: Ouch! WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 7. WillGM: And Arnold passes; he breaks free of the lock and rolls out from underneath you. Edward: Why hello, mister wall! We do keep running into each other today. Edward pursues to reestablish lock telos swats Dicesuke be nice. WillGM: Arnold is mad now. He gets to his feet and gets ready to fight. Laura sighs. Terrence is watching the fight. The KBL boys are also watching. WillGM: Bill points at Arnold. "Arnold -- OBEY!" WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 7 12. Edward stands ready. .oO(Okay. Rule one. Don't get hit. No anger. No fear. No mind. Zanshin.) Edward relaxes into a defensive stance WillGM: Arnold growls. He seems for a moment to be straining to reach Ed. WillGM: Nicole, Ellis? Ellis: "Neat trick, that. Could have used it on Carver a couple times." Ellis: I watch Laura for a reaction. WillGM: (smug) "No you couldn't." Nicole blinks. "In the name of all that is holy..." WillGM: New round. Arnold back away from Ed toward the stairs. Players? Edward: While Arnold seems to be distracted, I launch a snap kick to his stomach to knock the wind out of him. Nicole attempts to plow forward into the center of the pentagram. Ellis: I follow Nicole. . o O (The hell?) WillGM: Arnold moves before Ed; Ed, by the time your snap kick is launched, Arnold is out of range. WillGM: Nicole, Ellis, you two are now in the diagram. The circle is slightly scuffed. WillGM: Terrence is still watching the fight and has not noticed. WillGM: Likewise for Bill. Edward turns the kick into a long step forward back into range and tries again Nicole: "Ellis, scuff the chalk!" WillGM: Laura looks at you two. "Oh, no you don't..." WillGM: Ed: okay, that's your action next round. Ellis: I guard against Laura and scrape my foot around from a forward stance to a pass stance. Edward: A you-shall-not-pass stance, to be exact? Ellis: Or that, yes. WillGM: Ed is attacking, Ellis is defending. Nicole? Nicole: What do I see from the new position? Ellis: Oh, and I grab the side of my cloak in lieu of anything useful to use as a sheild. ;) WillGM: Nicole: You're inside the diagram, surrounded by chalk on the ground, almost exactly in the center of the action. Ellis is to your left. Laura is producing a whip from seemingly nowhere and has just snapped it loudly. Nicole: What's in front of me? Nicole: (Sorry for asking all this, I'm just trying to visualize this.) WillGM: The corner of the room. Slightly to your right are Terrence, sitting, the mason jar on the ground in front of him. WillGM: Oh, definitely a good thing. WillGM: (visualization) WillGM: Laura has gone, Arnold and Ellis are defending. Ed, roll for attack. Nicole: Okay, I attempt to plow into Terrence and/or the jar next turn. Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: Arnold attempts to parry, apparently having had some kind of fighting training. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. WillGM: He fails to parry, and the kick connects. Ellis: Yay! Edward: .oO(Not much skill. Having sufficient brute force to knock people aside will do that to you I suppose) WillGM: 1d WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 6. WillGM: Hot damn, you land a solid blow. Ellis: Niice. WillGM: Arnold grunts as the wind is knocked out of him. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 7. WillGM: You also stay up right when returning to position. WillGM: Bill cusses. Edward: I'm not "returning to position" - I'm moving forward to try for that arm lock again while he tries to remember how to breathe. WillGM: Noted. What I meant was that you made the required roll to keep from falling after your kick. Edward: Mmm. WillGM: Nicole, you attempt to plow forward over Terrence. Nicole: yeah. I need to roll? Edward: Of course you do, do you think that chair's going to move itself? Edward: *ducks* Nicole: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Nicole (3d6) and gets 10. WillGM: I'm thinking. You're a large object in close quarters. Are you going at top speed? Nicole: well, as fast as I can given the cramped quarters, so no, but prolly faster than he'd be expecting. WillGM: Actually, if you really want to aim at the jar with a wheel, that's a small target. Terrence is a lot easier to hit. That's what you do. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 17, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "God hates you, and so do I." Nicole: oops. WillGM: You go sprawling from your wheelchair as it tips, most ungracefully. WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 6. Ellis: What about her roll? Nicole: yeah, I'd had a ten up there. WillGM: Her roll was to hit the jar. WillGM: Terrence was easy. Nicole nods. Fair enough. telos blinks... wheelchair faillin is bad juju. Ellis: So... what's BA doing during this? WillGM: D'oh. Nicole: (yeah, luckily as part of the rehab, they teach you how to get back into it. And there's a pair of hands that are still useful. %) WillGM: On the other hand, she, like Ed, hit a soft spot; she lucks out, and the wheel hits his groin as she falls. Terrence's eyes cross momentarily. WillGM: ! WillGM: Ah hah. WillGM: BA has been holding the gun on the KBL boys, keeping them from interfering. Ellis: Good for him. Ellis: :) WillGM: New round. WillGM: Actions? Nicole: is the jar close? WillGM: Nicole: Yeah, within arm's reach. Nicole: Well, I'm going for it. WillGM: Okay. Terrence, sight clearing, sees what you're doing and shouts, "Hey, that's mine!" and also grabs for it. WillGM: Ellis, Ed? Ellis: I make a feint at Laura's whip arm and try to score a touch on her leading leg. WillGM: Ellis is using feint-attack. WillGM looks up feints... Edward: Move in, arm lock behind his back, pushing him against the wall. WillGM: Ellis: You can feint, but the attack will have to wait until next turn. Same sequence? Ellis: Sure. WillGM: 'k. WillGM: And Ed is attacking. Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 6. WillGM: That'll be your attack roll, Ed. Lemme go through the Move sequence. Edward: oops WillGM: Laura steps west along the wall(away from the diagram), attempting to get room to use the whip to advantage. WillGM: Arnold takes up a defensive position. WillGM: Ellis, roll for the feint. Ellis: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Ellis (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: pass by 4... WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. WillGM: Laura does not seem to react to the feint as she moves back. WillGM: Bill has scrunched his eyes shut and has a hand to his forehead. Not sure what he's doing. WillGM: Nicole, you and Terrence are fighting for the jar. Roll vs. DX. Nicole: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Nicole (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. WillGM: You get control of the jar, snapping it up before Terrence can get a hand on it. Nicole: "No, mine!" Edward: Terrence obviously is still too busy feeling the pain from Little Terry. WillGM: I skipped over Ed. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: Ed, Arnold parries your attempt at a hold and continues moving backward. WillGM: New round. Actions? Edward: Follow, subdue. Nicole will probably try to smash the jar. WillGM: And Ellis is already attacking. Ellis: Yeah. WillGM: Laura first, though. Ellis: ... I might add from a pass position I have something like an extra three feet on a lunge... WillGM: The whip whistles in Laura's hand, snaking out toward the sword in Ellis' hand. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM looks up the penalty for a sword's size... WillGM: The tip of the whip snakes around the sword. Ellis, roll ST. Ellis: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Ellis (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. Ellis: Passed by 4 WillGM: Passed by more, plus leverage. The sword is yanked from your hands. WillGM: (You can replace your action.) Ellis: Uh, okay, I use the leverage to fall forward into a run and smash into her. WillGM: "Holy shit, since when did our basement become a chop socky flick?" WillGM: Several bets are being laid. No clear edge at the moment. WillGM: Ellis: roll for slam attack. Ellis: That's just another 3d6, right? WillGM: yeah. WillGM: Contest of DX. Ellis: (... this is GURPS. Why am I even asking? ;) Ellis: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Ellis (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. WillGM: You hit her. WillGM: (There is actually one roll in our group that is 1d6 on a regular basis.) Ellis: At full speed, trying to bowl her over. Nicole: Will: Resonances, no? WillGM: Nicole: No, your Flashbacks. Nicole: Duh, yeah. WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 9 12. Nicole: my main GURPS book is in my storage shed. WillGM: Laura falls down and is prone. Ellis, you remain standing. WillGM: Nicole, you smash the jar. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 7. Nicole: that my roll? Nicole: or shall I? WillGM: That's your roll. You manage to avoid getting glass fragments in the hand. Nicole: Okay. WillGM: Several dozen points of Essence have just been released under pressure. Nicole, the glass of the jar seems to pass *through* your hand without cutting it, as reality momentarily warps under the Disturbance. Laura cries out and Arnold winces. Terrence holds his head and Bill does not seem to have a reaction. WillGM: ED. :^) Edward winces and wonders what in blazes that noise was. WillGM: A cascade of wild notes zooms past you, as if you've stood in front of the speakers as the opening power chord was played at a death metal concert. You're disoriented; no action this turn. Edward crouches into a ball with his hands over his ears WillGM: (Subtract the 15 points and write in Symphonic Awareness, with an asterisk as you've no Essence Control yet.) [ snip /msg¹ing ] WillGM: The action comes to a halt for a moment. Ellis: Well, if I can still move, I put my left foot on the back of Laura's neck. WillGM: Ellis: You do this. Nicole: And the GM hits pause on In Nomine Kung Fu Theatre! WillGM: Bill throws his hands up above his head and calls the end of some musical phrase. A flame flickers and then grows between his hands, now cradled in front of him. "If you will *excuse* me," he snarls. "I am *trying* to make some *money* here!" The flame grows exceedingly bright. "*Some* of us have *lives* and do not need to *interfere* with OTHERS!!" WillGM: To anyone who can't hear the echoing Disturbance, there is a dead quiet, into which one of the frat boys whispers, "Holy fuck." Nicole: (Will: I can't hear it, I just have seen the really odd effect, no?) WillGM: Nicole: Yeah. Momentary oddity as the Matrix^H^H^H^H reality accounted for quite a few Essence. Edward 's sarcasm generators have enough autonomous power to let him croak out. "*Some* of us have *jobs* and don't need to sleep with demons for a quick buck." Nicole is staring at the hand that was just involved in weirdness. "My god..." WillGM: "Yeah." He stands and lifts a finger. "I still want to be let in on the whole demon thing. I thought we were talking about some kind of dream spirit." Ellis looks over at Terrence. "Whatever you were talking about, you are dealing with demons." WillGM: "No, you ignorant child, Terrence was talking about Ethereals. My demons are my own business." Nicole shakes her head a few times, flexes the hand, and then tries to edge her way back to her chair. Ellis looks down at Laura. "You're 'his' demon?" Edward throws discretionary consciousness power into getting his senses back to normal before Arnold does. WillGM: Laura smirks. "Call it a seventy-year loan. Then we switch places for a while longer." WillGM: This is not loud enough for it to reach anyone but Ellis. Ellis: "Ahhhh. You make a good Mephistopholes." Edward: "Why don't more of you would-be Copperfields read Faust and grow a zarking CLUE?" Nicole is still trying to drag herself back to the chair. WillGM: At this point, Len comes bursting through the door. Literally -- he is moving something over a hundred miles an hour, and tumbles with several wood fragments through the middle of the room, narrowly missing BA. He is quickly followed by the entire set of the 'Works angels except for Zeke, who can be seen standing at the top of the stairs with Fearless apparently talking to the crowd. WillGM: "Seriously. Is the party down here now?" Edward: "Better down here than Down There." WillGM: The 'Works angels look around, and quickly focus on the guy with the ball of fire in his hands. WillGM: "Now who the hell are you?" Ellis: "Where you have demons, Dr. Faustus, you have angels." Nicole: "Of which, I will happily point out, I am not." WillGM: "Demons are psychic constructs of the rituals supposedly used to summon them. Angels are myths." Nicole: "Tell that to the Devil when you get to Hell. I'm sure he'll enjoy the laugh." WillGM: "Can I hit him? Please?" Edward: "Right, right. And who do you think wrote the book you learned that 'wisdom' from?" Ellis: "You'd have gotten a nasty surprise in seventy years." Nicole goes back to pulling herself over to the chair and in it, if I'm anywhere close. WillGM: Rath turns to the KBL boys. "Clear out." He slaps the ten-pound hammer he's carrying into his hand to accentuate the point. After a moment, they start complying. WillGM: Nicole: You're in now. Ellis: Nicole, I just want you to know that Greg would be more than happy to help you, if he wasn't stepping on a demon right now. ;) Nicole: 'sokay, Nicole got taught how to get back into it. These things happen. Edward: Likewise, except holding a demon face-first against the wall. WillGM: Bill turns to Ed. "Let him go." He extends his left hand toward you, carrying the fireball. "Or burn." Nicole flexes the hand that smashed the jar a few more times, and says, "Bill, there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy." WillGM: Wes lets his sword blaze up. "Scorch him and your neck will have a cauterized top." Edward: "Hmmmm... That'd be 'No.'. I'd flip you the bird but I've got my hands full. Consider yourself flipped, though." Nicole moves forward, ponders running down Bill. WillGM: Bill eyes Wes and Rath as Len gets up. Edward tenses, ready to move Arnold in between him and Bill if Bill decides to be stupid. Nicole: (Is there a clear shot?) WillGM: Nicole: Yes, but at your momvement speed it would be a couple of seconds. WillGM: Bill lets the flame fade out, and spreads his hands to show they're empty. "I can count. I know when I'm outnumbered." Nicole does it. WillGM: Roll 3d6 for a slam attack. Nicole: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Nicole (3d6) and gets 7. WillGM: He was facing away from you, so you succeed. WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 2. Nicole started that when he was a threat to my friends. WillGM: He trips forward, but keeps his feet and steps off to the side. "I give up already! Jeez!" Nicole: "Just making sure. Consider it payback." WillGM: "Hostilities appear to have ended. You can take your foot off my neck now." Edward: Is that loud enough for everyone to hear? WillGM: Yeah. Edward tells Ellis, "No, you can't. Remember what she is." Nicole looks at Rath. "You know what Bill is, Terrance over there is human, the two that Greg and Ed have are demons." WillGM: Rath looks at Ed. "Does that complete your list?" Ellis: b Ellis: "I think you can stay where you are for a bit." Nicole looks at Bill while she has the chance. "So why the odd email address?" Edward: "Pretty much, yes. And much as I'd like to say they'll none of them be missed, it's probably not going to be that simple." WillGM: Nicole: "Huh?" Nicole: "Your email. Mine is neh, which is right 'cause I'm Nicole E. Hollister. But yours doesn't match your name. Why?" Nicole: (I think it was Bill that had the odd one.) WillGM: Nope. Arnold. Nicole: Oh. Nicole: then chalk it up to my bad memory. :P WillGM: "What do you mean?" WillGM: Nicole: *nod* Edward: "Erm, 'cole? That was Ahnold here." Nicole: "Yeah. Bad memory. Sorry, Bill." WillGM: "Um... yes it does." He gives you an odd look and turns to the exchange between Ed and Rath." WillGM: "What list?" Nicole grins. "The angels had you tabbed all along." Edward: "Sorry, do I look like an evil overlord that tells the hapless captive heroes his plans now that they're powerless to stop him to you?" WillGM: Bill shrugs. "You've got us surrounded. What the fuck happens now?" Ellis: "He has a point. What happens now?" WillGM: "I *still* wanna hit him." WillGM: Rath takes a deep breath. "The humans will be harder. The demons can surrender and come to the nearest Tether for imprisonment, or they can accept Vessel-death." WillGM: "Third option, you jackbooted thugs." She vanishes. Ellis: *jar as foot hits ground* "Ah!" Nicole: "Huh? Whudda?" WillGM: Ed: You can see that Laura has gone celestial -- though she still has the vague image of her body, you can see her true form, a serpentine thing with torn black batwings. Edward blinks and stares WillGM: This exists for a moment, before there is a sucking sensation, and she vanishes from the Symphonic sight as well. Ellis: "Uh..." WillGM: Wes turns to Rath. "If she really is Andrealphan, I estimate three minutes before a reponse squad arrives." WillGM: Arnold growls. "Bitch coulda lent me some Essence." Edward: "Even factored in that this is the second time she screwed the pooch in under a week?" Nicole smiles enigmatically. WillGM: Bill snickers. "She hasn't screwed a pooch for weeks. I should know..." Ellis picks up his sword and points it at Bill. "Well, I think we should adjourn to somewhere more... peaceful, anyway." WillGM: Bill draws himself upright. "I'd rather stay where the reinforcements are likely to arrive, thank you." Edward looks surprised. "Wow. You *can* grasp the obvious when it swats you on the head with a two-by-four reading 'I AM OBVIOUS!' and screaming the same." WillGM: Terrence is staring at the spot where Laura went celestial. Ellis: "You don't have a choice. You're coming with us." Edward: "You seriously think they're coming to help you?" WillGM: "Help me, kill angels. Whatever. Common interests." WillGM: "Two minutes." Nicole: "Let's get out of here?" Edward: "Let's go, then." Ellis: "I agree with Nicole. Let's move." WillGM: "See ya." Ellis taps Bill on the shoulder with the point of the sword. WillGM: "You're coming with, son." He nods to Wes and Len. "Take his arms." He turns to Bill. "Fight back. We *want* you to." Edward: "Can someone take this fellow off my hands, by the way? I'm not quite as confident as I normally would be of my ability to hold on to him." WillGM: Bill turns around to Ellis. "You wouldn't dare." Ellis *very* lightly pushcuts Bill on his cheek for one of those handsome cheekbone-enhancing cuts. Nicole: "Terrance, you want to come? Y'might just be able to get an explanation for tonight's mess..." Ellis: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Ellis (3d6) and gets 7. WillGM: "Good point, Mr. Wong. Wes, Len, take the demon. Pete, help Mr. Ellis. You -- " he points at Terrence -- "Come with us." WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 4. Nicole: "Ed, I'm gonna need help up the stairs..." Ellis: That roll was vs. fencing to handle the blade carefully enough. Ellis: Not looking for damage, just blood. WillGM: Good enough. It bleeds lightly. Bill quietly says, "Ow." WillGM: He sighs. "Okay." Ellis: "Come on." Edward lets Wes and Len take Arnold, nods at 'cole and walks over to her, then looks at Terrence. "Judging by the amount they didn't tell you, it's obvious they were looking to make you the fall guy in case it blew up in their faces. Staying here might not be a good idea." WillGM: Wes, Len, and Arnold disappear up the stairs. Bill goes after them, followed by Ellis. Ellis: *nod* WillGM: Terrence is thinking. Nicole: "Leave the chair if you have to, Ed." Edward: "Nah, I got it." Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 13. Edward tries to lift both and winces. "Then again...." Edward: Failed STR :/ Nicole: "Chairs are replaceable. I'm not." WillGM: "She was a demon? Don't think I'm slow or anything here, but.. are we talking summoned-from-the-pits-of-hell, peril-of-my-immortal-soul demon?" Nicole: "Yes, Terrance." Edward: "Yep." Nicole: "Her and Arnold both. " Nicole: We figured. WillGM: Ed: No need for a ST roll. Just take it one step at a time. Nicole: "And we need to get out of here before she brings the goon squad back. You don't want to be here then..." Ellis: How about Terrence take the chair? Ellis: If he's coming, anyway ;) Nicole: "Please, Terrence?" WillGM: "... Yeah." He takes off the robe. "I am officially no longer down with this shit. This is ultimately not cool." WillGM: He heads up the stairs, helping Ed. WillGM: The 'Works angels follow. WillGM: Above, the crowd is looking at the goings-on. The DJ has silenced the music, though the bonfire still burns. Edward remarks conversationally, at a point where Terrence letting go of the chair in shock isn't going to cause any damage, "So's the head of that society, by the way." Nicole: "Somebody needs to tell them the party's over..." WillGM: Terrence stares at you blankly for a moment. "... Yeah, that figures." WillGM: "Are they getting arrested?" WillGM: "What for?" Edward looks a little less stern for a moment. "Don't worry. The culture-shocked feeling goes away after a while. We'll explain more when we get to where we're going." Nicole: "Hey, Rath, can we tell 'em it's a drug bust?" Ellis: Do you folks mind taking up the weight of the RPing for a few minutes? WillGM: Nicole: You say this atop the stairs, in full hearing of everybody? Edward looks over at Ellis, the two of us being the closest to campus authority figures on the scene. Nicole: No, never mind. Edward: Scratch that last. ;) Nicole sighs. Ellis looks back. "I'm inclined to say we're taking them to the hospital to treat a bad trip..." Edward turns and adresses the crowd for a moment. "Doing something blatantly stupid, illegal and in all likelyhood dangerous in the basement. Party's over, kids." Ellis: "That works, too." WillGM: "They're lying, but you couldn't handle the truth anyway. We paid for the beer and the music. You all enjoy yourselves. I'm gonna go get beat on by The Man." He marches off. Ellis clears his throat "We're going to take the worst cases to a hospital to get over the effects of the trip." WillGM: *whisper to #4* "...at sword-point?" "Idunno." Edward looks over at some of the KBL guys that aren't being hauled off and that look intelligent and nondrunk. "You two. Make sure that anyone who's had too much to drink either gets a ride home from someone who hasn't, or gets a place to sleep overnight here." Ellis hasn't been holding his sword *at* Bill's back since he emerged from the basement, but up at an angle. WillGM: Ed: "We know the drill. Where are you taking them?" Edward: "M.I.B. Headquarters." Nicole tries to hold in a giggle. Ellis: "We'll get them back to their beds safe and sound, don't you worry." WillGM: Rath speaks up. "To a place where they can be handled. I give you my word they're not being arrested." WillGM: Rath turns to you. "Let's go before this gets any worse." Edward nods. Ellis: "Good idea." Ellis: Okay, afking sorta for a while. Enlighten Terrence. ;) WillGM: Rath and the others pile out to the front. "We'll need larger vehicles." BA and Fearless volunteer their cars. Nicole , while we're moving, whispers to Terrance. "I'm sorry for plowing over you in there." WillGM: For the sake of the story, let's assume there's enough room to get drivers, passengers, and prisoners all on the road safely. Edward: For the sake of our sanity, let's assume that Len doesn't get to drive. %) WillGM: Terrence looks over to Nicole. "Are you one of the angels?" he asks quietly. Nicole: (BA has a van. He's got to, to haul around his toys.) ;) Nicole whispers back. "No, I'm just a people. It'd be nice to be an angel, and to know this chair's just a charade...but it's not." WillGM: Interestingly, you are not taken to the works, but to a much more famous landmark in Philadelphia: Independence Hall. Ed, as you approach the building where the Constitution was written, you hear a curious sound. The echoes of what happened at the KBL House have long since faded away; now you hear what sounds like distant drum-and-fife music. WillGM: The cars park well away from the Hall. Rath gets out and tells you all to wait. He will need to go speak to Security. WillGM: Arnold groans quietly. Edward keeps his eyes on the road. Wincing and twitching while on a motorcycle is a really stupid way to die. Edward umounts and looks at the building, wondering where that music is coming from. WillGM: Rath comes back with a Security officer, and Wes sticks his head out of the van. "Arnold would rather make it quick than risk getting rent Force from Force. What do I do, boss?" Nicole looks at the building. "This is one of the reasons I came to Philly..." WillGM: Rath scratches his chin. "Do it. Let's take the other two inside." Wes nods and gets back in the van. He emerges without Arnold. WillGM: Pete follows, wiping a sword with a cloth. Edward 's head bobs unconsciously in rhythm with the background music. Edward whispers to 'cole, "Can you hear that?" Nicole flexes that hand that shattered the glass. "Hear what?" WillGM: Bill emerges in front of Ellis. Terrence climbs out of his vehicle, followed carefully by Nicole and Zeke. The night shadows hide any unusual methods of persuasion that might be being employed as the Security officer guides you through the surrounding lawn and into the old Hall. Edward: "Sounds like... music. But I can't place the tune." Nicole: "I'm sorry, Ed, I can't hear anything except crickets." Edward frowns. Weird. Then again, it's been a crazy evening. Nicole follows Terrence carefully, thinking back over the events of the night. WillGM: Your guide opens a side door and takes you up a less-public flight of stairs, to the top floor. Nicole: Even me? Edward: retcon in an elevator? Nicole: Well, we did the basement stairs... WillGM: Nicole: hmm. There definitely wouldn't be an elevator in Independence Hall, I'll wager. Edward: Will: That's.... terribly ironic, in some ways. Nicole: Maybe somebody helps. Just checking. WillGM: Hmm. Give me a minute, I'll Google. If nothing comes up, I'll think of something. Nicole: Will: http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:GjSmCIhD4qwJ:www.nps.gov/inde/access .pdf+independence+hall+elevator&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 WillGM: that's a no then. Nicole: Carried up the stairs? It worked before. Edward: So someone helps her up the stairs. WillGM: At the bottom of the flight, Rath turns to Nicole. "You aided us in this -- you should be present when it is resolved. Shall I carry you?" Nicole: "Yeah." Nicole: "If you wouldn't mind." WillGM: "Very well." He steps up on to the stairs, turns, and looks at Nicole's wheelchair. Slowly, as he climbs, the chair floats several inches above the stairs until you reach the top floor. Nicole smiles quietly. . o O (Well, I wanted miracles...this'll do.) WillGM: He sets you down. Nicole nods. WillGM: In this floor, most of the rooms are dark. From one room, an open door lets forth the light of a working office. The guide heads for this room and beckons you all in. Edward still wonders where the music is coming from. Nicole rolls forward. WillGM: At a desk near the window sits Isaiah. To his left and right sit the man and woman you saw back when this Triad visited the 'Works inquiring about Disturbance, when you were just beginning to learn about these things. WillGM: The angels prod Bill and Terrence in to the center of the room. Nicole bows her head for a second and then looks back up. WillGM: Isaiah looks over the two of them. "Who comes to be judged?" Nicole hopes good things come for Terrence. He wasn't that bad of a guy. WillGM: "Your Honor, two humans accused of Sorcery, demon summoning, and consorting with demons, as well as sundry supporting crimes such as theft of Essence." WillGM: "Who accuses?" WillGM: Rath is silent. Nicole bows her head again, and rolls forward. "I believe I must." Edward: "I think that'd be us." WillGM: "She spoke first. Woman, state thy accusation and the reasons for it." Nicole: "I was invited to a party by Bill. I went, along with Ed and Greg, and I was given a special ticket for the basement." Edward pulls the flier for the party out of his pocket. Nicole: "When Bill escorted me down there, I discovered Laura, whom Ed had already established was a demon, and three people I believed to be human at the time. Two of them were Bill and Terrence here, the third turned out to be another demon." Nicole hands over a beat up ticket as well. WillGM: The seated woman stands up and takes the ticket and the flier, and hands them to Isaiah, who looks at them. Nicole: "They were doing some sort of ritual, to get cash. I played along, trying to figure out what was going on, I have an interest in interesting religious practices...only to find out the third person, Arthur, was trying to suck some lifeforce or something from me to power the ritual." Nicole: "I knew something weird was up, so I agreed to wear a panic button, and I pressed it when they mistook me for one of you, Your Honors." WillGM: "His name was Arnold," says Isaiah quietly. "But you made an honest error of memory. Continue." Nicole: "In the ensuing fight, we stopped the ritual and broke a jar. The shards went through my hand." *flexes the hand involuntarily*. Nicole: "And then Rath and crew showed up, and we brought them to you. That's basically it." Nicole acks the error as well. Nicole: "Ed and Greg may have more to add to this." WillGM: Isaiah looks down at the desk for a moment, thinking. He looks up at Ed. "Mr. Wong. State your accusations and the reasons for them." Edward: "I have nothing much to add to the accusations already leveled, but I'll begin at the beginning of this sequence of events." Edward: "A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Fulmeniel, Seraph of Lightning, who offered me a piece of software designed to scan databases and records for hints suggesting demonic activity." Edward: "After familiarizing myself with it, and considering the possible privacy issues, I used it on the public parts of the student records of the university. It returned a list of possible demons and/or sorcerers." Edward: "You were peripherally involved in resolving the case of Laura Lieder, if you'll recall." WillGM: "Laura was the Role-name of the Balseraph who had influenced the woman who worked at the University whom I defended?" Edward: "At any rate, I contacted the various aware friends on the premises to discuss how to respond. As one record was a definite false positive, we concluded that we needed to investigate further to confirm the nature of each." Edward nods. "The same. Evidence suggests a Servitor of Lust." WillGM: Isaiah nods. "Continue." Nicole gets another thought, waits for Ed to finish first. Edward: "Laura Lieder gave herself away when she resonated me, and the total lack of a paper trail was sufficient evidence to have her removed from the university. Fearless was the primary investigator of the True Connectedness Society, which was a flag that came up several times, and confirmed that it - or at least the local chapter house - is led by a demon, probably Media. Again, we brought the evidence to the attention of the angels of David and consulted with them on how best to resolve that." Edward: "Carver Steele was in Greg's *nods at Ellis* fencing class. I'll let him relate how that went. That left Bill, Terence, and Arnold." Edward: "As chance would have it, they slipped us the perfect opportunity to investigate when Bill handed 'cole that flier. I asked Fulmeniel to resonate it and he found that it was, in his words, 'true, although the author believes it will be taken as a lie'." WillGM: Isaiah nods in full agreement, fiddling with the flyer. Edward: "We discussed, and decided that it would be best if we accepted the invitation so generously offered, but took the precaution of rigging 'cole's wheelchair with a panic button just in case." Ellis: *quick glare at BA* WillGM: BA shrugs nonchalantly. [ snip msg'ing ] Edward: "It was triggered. When we arrived downstairs, we found a diagram on the floor, and Bill, Terrence, Arnold, Laura and Nicole around it. Bill said something about 'doing it now' and a fight ensued. During the fight, 'cole smashed some kind of jar and the resulting noise knocked everyone off their socks long enough for the cavalry to arrive. Bill ranted something about wanting to make money and threatened with a fireball until Wes trumped him with that flaming sword of his. Laura snuck off; Arnold didn't have enough Essence to do the same. We gathered them up and took them here. That's pretty much it." WillGM: Isaiah lifts an eyebrow. "Where is Arnold then?" Edward looks to Wes and Pete. WillGM: "He preferred Vessel-death to the possible consequences of coming in for judgment. I saw no reason not to oblige him." Nicole raises her hand to talk after that question. WillGM: "Very well." He turns to Nicole. "Yes?" Nicole: "I forgot to add, your Honors, when Arnold mistook me for an angel, Terrence was shocked and Bill was nonplussed. Terrence was also shocked when Lieder bugged out." Nicole: "Where, Bill wasn't. He said something about having demons under his control." Edward doesn't -- quite -- snort at that. Nicole nods her head. "Just needed to add that." WillGM: Isaiah mutters "bugged out," concentrates for a moment and expresses comprehension. WillGM: Isaiah thinks. He turns to the people to either side of him, both of whom simply nod quietly. He leans back in his chair. Ellis: I'm back, if you want to call me as witness WillGM: "Have the others anything to add for accusation that they feel is of import to this proceeding?" WillGM: He looks about the room at you all. Ellis looks around, then steps forward. "The account of my encounter with Carver Steele doesn't bear directly on this matter, but during the confrontation, I had a short conversation with Lieder..." WillGM: Isaiah gives you his attention. Ellis: "When Bill claimed that he had the present demons under his control, I asked her if this was true. She said..." *tries to remember as close as possible* "She said, 'For seventy years, and then we trade places for a while longer.'" WillGM: Bill frowns at Ellis. Terrence shudders and closes his eyes. WillGM: Bill turns back to the front, stoic. Ellis: "About then, the reinforcements arrived, and she managed to disappear." Edward: And with a SoJ's obscene resonance bonus, Isaiah gets the exact wording of the contract Bill signed, how much Laura was wearing when she offered it, which head Bill was thinking with when he signed, and which part of the fine print he forgot to read... Ellis: *chuckle* WillGM: Isaiah looks around to see whether anyone else wishes to speak, and when no one does, he sighs quietly. "Bill Handel. Terrence. It is only fair that you understand the import of this proceeding. What you have done is not addressed by any human law, and it is not by that law that I judge you, but by another law..." Nicole hopes they show mercy on Terrence, he could turn it around... WillGM: "... It is part of the beliefs of American jurisprudence that 'ignorance is no excuse'; but also that one may not be held to account for a crime if he was not under the jurisdiction of a law when he performed the act. I must judge, then, purely on right and wrong." WillGM: Isaiah looks at Bill. "Bill. You stand accused. What have you to say?" Ellis: "Angels don't exist. You can't hurt me, nya-nya-nya..." WillGM: "I was brought here by force. I do not recognize authority of this court beyond force. I have nothing more to say." WillGM: Isaiah leans forward. "I was given my authority by appointment of the Archangel Dominic, who was given the Word of Judgment by God Almighty. I speak Truth. Do you recognize this line of descent of authority?" WillGM: Bill remains silent. Nicole: . o O (Come on, Bill, don't be a fuggin' dolt.) WillGM: "Answer me this, then. Do you believe you have done anything wrong?" WillGM: "... No." WillGM: Isaiah lifts his head and momentarily the play of light about him seems to take the shape of a black robe and powdered wig. Ed, you hear a few quick musical notes that eho for a short while in the chamber. Edward blinks. Nicole drops her head and whispers a few quick words for Bill's soul. Ellis catches Ed's reaction, gives him a questioning look WillGM: Isaiah turns to Terrence. "Terrence. You stand accused. What have you to say?" Edward catches the look, taps his ear and quickshakes his head. WillGM: "I want out. This is way out of my league." Ellis gets a thoughtful look for a moment, then turns back to the proceedings. Nicole nods, and now hopes they go light on Terrence. WillGM: "What you ask may be done. It will *hurt*, but it will strip from you all powers of Sorcery. You are willing?" Edward: .oO(I hope to god that's possible, kid. You might still have that choice.) WillGM: "Yes." Ellis: *muttered* "Brave." WillGM: Isaiah looks to the two beside him. They stand up, and come to him. The three confer for a while. Nicole flexes her hand again, and smiles. WillGM: The two others seat themselves again. Isaiah takes a deep breath. "My God be my guide, this is my judgment for the man Terrence. He has acquiesced to the stripping of his Sorcerous power, and this, with its accompanying pain, I judge to be sufficient. He shall wait here after the trial to undergo this." WillGM: He pauses. "My God be my guide, this is my judgment for the man Bill Handel. He knows not the depth of what he has done. To punish him would be to punish the child who does wrong in error. He shall remain in the custody of Judgment until he is seen to understand what demons are. His belief then will determine his final disposition." WillGM: "What do you mean, 'remain in the custody of Judgment'?", he asks heatedly. WillGM: "You will be imprisoned." WillGM: "The hell you say!" He turns to flee, and the security guard grabs him, along with a couple of the 'Works boys. He continues struggling. WillGM: "Possibly. But not for some time yet." Nicole fails to hold in the giggle. Edward: "That's what they're trying to avoid, Bill" WillGM: Isaish turns sharply to Nicole. "This is *not* a matter for laughter, woman." Nicole straightens and stops. "I apologize, sir." WillGM: Isaiah nods. "Accepted." He stands and comes around to the front of the desk. The other two rise to join him. WillGM: Isaiah addresses Terrence. "We will now call the Archangel Dominic to execute the judgment to which you have agreed." He looks up at all of you. "You were involved in the trial. You have the right to witness judgment. It will not be pleasant. It is your choice." Edward looks at 'cole and Ellis. Ellis looks at Terrence. His reaction? WillGM: Terrence appears to be a little frightened, but making a show of calmness. Ellis raises his eyebrows at the guy. Want company? Nicole will stay. Nicole: "He needs moral support." WillGM: Terrence looks at Ellis wonderingly. "Company? You were the one who brought me in. But... I... I guess you were the good guys. You can stay if you want." Edward: "We'll stay, if Terrence doesn't mind." Ellis: "I'll stay, then." WillGM: Isaiah's triad turns to themselves in the center of the room. They send a mote of Essence to he Archangel of the Tether, asking his presence. A crystal, which seems to have recorded the proceeding, is sent to the upper locus of the Tether with the request. Edward blinkblinks at the noise some more. WillGM: A few minutes later, the angel who took the crystal returns. He goes to the side of the room and kneels, followed swiftly by Isaiah and the other. Rath and Wes force Bill to his knees. The other 'Works angels kneel. Terrence remains standing. Ellis kneels. Good policy. WillGM OOCly eyes Nicole. Whatcha gonna do? :^) Edward kneels. Nicole would kneel if she could, bows her head instead. Nicole hopes whatever presence will understand. Edward is, however, looking. Ellis 's watching Terrence. Moral support. WillGM: The room resounds. Even the humans can hear the rush of air displaced by a presence entering the room. Ed can momentarily hear a loud noise beginning, which is instead swiftly dampened by some great power. Edward flinches again, in a "WTF?" sort of way. Nicole restrains the impulse to look, since her head is bowed in respect. WillGM: Night seems to gather itself in the center of the room. A shapeless cloak reaches from the floor to the ceiling, black without shimmer. Nothing can be seen of the figure underneath, save only below the cowl -- there, the stars of the night shine out, hundreds of tiny pinpricks of light gleaming forth as from infinite distance. WillGM: Bill, who was looking, audibly gasps. The sounds of his struggling cease. Nicole keeps her head down, as much as she wants to look. WillGM: For those looking, Bill appears to be shocked to his toes. WillGM: The apparition, however, appears to be focused on Terrence, who is doing his best to return the glowing gaze but having great difficulty. A fold of the robe reaches out to him and touches him on the head, as if in benediction. He cries out, definitely in pain. He drops to his knees, continuing his cry. As it reaches a peak, the cloak returns to drape as it did before. Edward twitches, wanting to move, to do something/ANYTHING to help Terrence, but is sorta nailed to the floor at the Presence... Nicole gives in, keeps her head down but directs her gaze towards Terrence, and tries to hold back her own gasp. WillGM: Terrence collapses, gasping. The apparition sweeps its gaze over all of you. Even those with head bowed can feel it. I leave it to the players to consider how they would react to a glance seeming to reveal innermost secrets, yet with a perfect guarantee of privacy and fairness in judgment. With that, it leaves as swiftly as it came. Nicole blinks a few times. WillGM: The room feels like a pressure has been lifted from it. Ellis: . o O (Better than the council of Bishops. Oh!) Nicole raises her head skyward. "And so we proclaim the mystery of faith..." Ellis gets up, moves forward, helps Terrence to his feet. WillGM: Terrence takes Ellis' hand, shaking. "I'm... I'm... smaller," he says. Nicole rolls forward, and offers Terrence her hand too. WillGM: Between the two of you, he shakily gets up. Ellis: "We are all miniscule, but precious. Don't fear you'll be overlooked." Nicole nods in agreement. Edward moves with Ellis, helps help Terrence up. "Think of it as a clean slate and a chance to start fresh." Nicole: "With options you didn't know you had." WillGM: Terrence look at Bill, who still seems to be paralyzed with fear. "Don't be an idiot, Bill." He walks out, unsteadily. WillGM: He turns in the door. "Thank.. you all. For staying." Ellis: "Good luck." Nicole: "Goodluck and godspeed, Terrence." Edward: "Any time, Terrence." WillGM: He nods, and leaves. WillGM: "We must all depart as well. My triad will take custody of Mr. Handel." Nicole: "Yes, sir." Edward nods. Ellis nods as well WillGM: Isaiah lays a hand on Edward's shoulder. "On a personal note, Mr. Wong -- this has been an impressive month of work in the War, for a group of humans." Nicole looks at Bill with pity in her eyes, shakes her head, flexes that hand again, prepares to leave, and then stops when Isaiah stops Ed. Edward smiles a bit, shrugs a bit. "Lightning wrote the program. We were just in a position to work with the data. And it's not like we really could do otherwise... None of us are the kind to sit still and watch." Nicole nods quietly. Ellis nods in agreement Nicole: "And God is with us." [ snip /msg ] WillGM: "Amen." Isaiah's two assistants take Bill and exit the room. The 'Works guys quietly file out. Isaiah leaves last from the room and the hall, closing things up behind you. Ellis leaves with the 'Works guys Nicole looks at the stairs, and then at Ed and Ellis. Ellis: Oh, yeah, after helping Nicole down the stairs. Edward and Ellis help Nicole down Nicole: "I don't have room to get a start, or I'd go down 'em myself." :) Edward: this is not the time to mention that Stair Dismount game you're all so fond of, is it? :) Nicole: eh? Ellis: "I don't know about anyone else, but I could use some sleep." Nicole yawns. "I'll second that. But I wanted to talk to Ed for a second." Edward: "Echo that. Good thing I have evening shift tomorr-*eyes the clock*later today." Ellis: "I can head off, then..." Edward nods. Nicole waves to Ellis. Edward: "Later, Coach." Ellis: "Talk to you later." Ellis: *headhomecleanswordshowerCRASHsnore* Nicole waits for Ellis to leave and then looks at Ed curiously. "What'd you mean by the music comment?" WillGM: After doublechecking the Tether's security arrangements with the patrolling guard, Isaiah and his triad put Bill into a vehicle and drive off. The 'Works guys take their own way home. BA drives off; Fearless waits for Nicole to drive her home. Edward looks at the building... "There's some kind of music coming from that building... Or rather, coming from the air around it. It doesn't actually seem to come from a real point, it's just there..." Nicole: "I don't know whether to call you lucky or insane." Edward: "It was stronger in that courtroom, except for that noise when the big cloak arrived. Edward: "Both, most likely." Nicole smiles. "Or maybe just blessed. God is with us." Nicole: "I've never had more proof of that than I do now." Edward: "I'll check the docs Fulmeniel sent me if there's any diagnosis and whether it's harmful." Edward: "yeah." Nicole flexes a hand. "I mean, when glass passes through a hand and I emerge unscathed...wow. But anyway, we'd better get home." Edward nods. Nicole smiles up at Ed. "As a musician, though, I have to envy you somewhat." Edward raises Ye Sysadmin's Eyebrow. "Hm?" Nicole: "Hearing music. I write the stuff, it'd be neat to hear it." Nicole: "Spare time hobby, when I'm not doing CS stuff." Edward: "Ah. I guess. I'll try and get some down on synths after I've slept some." Nicole: "I'd like to hear that." Nicole rolls down the walk a bit. "G'night, Ed. May you sleep on the good side of the Marches tonight." Edward smiles. "g'nite, 'cole. And likewise." WillGM: ------------------ Game End -----------------------