William says, "Neil, I noticed in the logs that you were trying to 
dream-shape a gun for a while.  That was an easy personal dream-shaping, 
so it's easy to declare that you have one the next time one is required."


Neil says, "Alright. It's not really important, except that I think it's 
worth a couple points on an ethereal combat roll if I can think-shoot 
them instead of think-punch them."

William says, "Actually, since it's not an artifact, you're still doing 
your base ethereal damage -- the same as a punch.  A gun lets you imagine 
doing so at range."

Neil says, "Even that's worth something."

Neil says, "What's the link to the old game logs?"

William says, "http://earl.of.sandwich.net/In_Nomine/Civis_Game_Logs/"

Neil says, "And -- hold on. I thought that I could use my Guns skill in 
Ethereal combat instead of my Judo skill if I've got a Gun instead of a 
Judo."

William says, "Yeah, that too."

William says, "Last we met our intrepid band, they had joined Jack Mann 
and his bunch trying to topple White Smoke, an interloper Ethereal who 
had gained control of Radz and turned it into a radioactive pit.  Anyone 
left is fighting to take it back or has nowhere else to go."

William says, "You're in the middle of one of the small settlements that 
dot the domain, with the scarred, multi-eyed Jack laying out data about 
the sides' relative strengths and discussing your part in the attack."

Arc 1: Location, Location, Location (continued)

Jack spreads out a few papers.  "To start with, here's a map of Radz.  We 
don't think it's changed too much since White Smoke took control."  You 
see a thin network of roads and six settlements: one near the center, one 
down in the south-central part, one to the east, and a cluster of three 
to the northwest.

Neil examines the map. "Where are we, and how big are they?"

Jack taps the southern town.  "You're here.  The Master traditionally 
makes his home in the center," he taps that one, "but White Smoke has 
taken over the factory in the northernmost town, here."  He taps that 
one.  "He's pretty much terrorized the cluster there into submission.  
Central's next on his list, I'm sure."

Neil says, "Who will Central fight for?"

Jack says, "Us.  We three free towns have gathered our militias here.  
We've got a few refugee warriors from Cluster, too.  All told, we number 
maybe sixty under arms.  White Smoke has thirty, maybe forty -- but, of 
course, he's also the Master.  He can make the Domain fight for him."

Jack asks, "Have you ever fought the Master of a Domain?"

Ekur nods his head.

Neil . o O ( This would be a bad time to mention I've never fought 
anybody at all in this plane of existence. )

Ekur says, "A long time ago."

Thais shakes her head.

Thais . o O ( This would be a bad time to mention I've never fought 
anything outside of practice matches in Heaven. )

Jack says, "You might want to follow the lead of your more experienced 
comrade, then.  How much of a threat that is depends on how creative 
White Smoke is... best I can say is, watch your step.  He tends to go for 
sudden lava pits and geyser blasts."

Jack says, "We were debating gathering our forces in Central and then 
responding to an attack.  However, with you here, we might want to take 
the offensive.  Our forces outnumber his.  To face White Smoke 
himself..." he looks at you.

Ekur nods.  "That's probably wise.  In this age, three angels should be 
able to handle even the master of a domain, if his armies are busy 
elsewhere."

Neil defers to Ekur. His work has always been defensive and reactive.

Thais nods quietly, and studies the map.

Neil says, "What is a fight without White Smoke going to look like?"

Jack says, "If he doesn't come to the battlefield, most likely it will 
appear to follow corporeal physics -- a battle in a small settlement.  We 
go in, engage the town militia, fight until one side drops.

Jack says, "In fact, he'll probably try to undo any major attempts to 
change the Domain out of paranoia."

Jack peers at the map.  "If we attack Cluster South, it might appear that 
we are attempting to free it without personally challenging White Smoke.  
If his armies are drawn there, you will have your best shot, I think.  
Unless, of course, he comes to the battlefield personally.  This I cannot 
predict with certainty."

Neil says, "I thought your forces swore to attack in your name as part of 
the... assumption? Won't that draw his attention?"

Ekur says, "Hmm.  We might well be able to distract him from joining the 
battlefield.  If he detects enough dream-shaping changes coming from 
somewhere, his paranoia might well draw him to the site of those changes.  
Especially if he thinks the battle is a minor bit of territorial combat."


Jack says, "Intriguing notion.  Elaborate?"

[msg'ing snipped]

Ekur says, "Well, somebody Dream-shaping huge statues of King Jack, or 
archangels, or fortifications . . . even if it doesn't draw him in 
person, it will get his attention, as he tries to counter the 
modifications."

Neil . o O ( Somebody CelTonguing him in Angelic and ordering him to give 
up the domain to the armies of Heaven might get his attention, too. )

Jack says, "At some point you'll have to confront him, though.  He 
remains Master until he is defeated personally."

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: Pity you can only use CelTongues on someone 
you've met.

Thais says, "I prefer a direct confrontation myself, however it might be 
arranged."

Neil says, "If Yazz led the attack on the town, could the five of us -- 
what exactly does 'defeat' mean? Does he have to stand and fight, or can 
he run?"

Yazz says, "Tra'ma."

Neil [to Thais]: I'd've figured a Domain Master would count as 'met' if 
you're in the Domain. Alas.

Neil growls OOCly.

Jack says, "We do know where White Smoke makes his home.  It's in a 
factory-looking building in Cluster North."

Jack thinks.  "'Course, if I were Master of a Domain and somebody was 
playing silly buggers with the terrain, I'd come looking to see what was 
going on.  Which would you rather?"

Ekur nods.  "So that's where we'll go.  If he goes to the battle with the 
militia, instead of staying at home, we'll play silly buggers with his 
home, and that should draw him back.

Jack says, "Good sense.  Best of both ideas."

Thais mouths 'silly buggers' to herself, and blinks a few times. Right.

Ekur says, "Worked against . . . hmm, don't remember the name.  Renegade 
from the Aztec pantheon, was very much into torture sacrifices of both 
humans and Ethereals."

Neil says, "How hard will it be to keep him from running while we pound 
him? Someone named 'White Smoke' sounds awfully hard to contain."

Neil's job often entailed chasing people down, but this creature might be 
awful fast.

Jack says, "Well, if you're trying really hard you can make somebody look 
different.  Still, just looking like smoke doesn't make you immune to a 
good whack.  Focus your will on hurting him, that's what happens."

Yazz says, "If he's hiding in environmental smoke or such, look for the 
eyes.  Glow red.  Dead giveaway."

Thais says, "That's convenient."

Ekur says, "If he runs, we chase.  Either he faces us, or, eventually, he 
leaves the Domain in flight."

Yazz says to Thais, "Also means you're really close.  Which is good and 
bad."  He grins.

Jack turns to Yazz.  "Do the men need anything to get ready?"

Yazz shakes his head.  "At your command, Jack."

Jack turns to you.  "How about you?"

Ekur continues, quietly to Neil, "And, of course, while it isn't as 
effective against a Domain master, one can always Dream-shape winds to 
buffet him.  We should do all right."

Ekur pats his sword and his shield.  "I'm ready."

Thais says, "I believe I'm sufficiently prepared, yes."

Neil nods.

Ekur makes a quick prayer for God's guidance in Angelic.

[msg'ing snipped]

Jack unfolds himself and stands.  "Let's get it started, then."

Jack, limping slightly, heads north of the town for the training field 
you saw as you came in.

[msg'ing snipped]

Ekur consults the map, picks it up, and follows Jack.

Neil follows Ekur.

Yazz stomps over to a dais on the side of the large meadow and yells at 
the massed troops, "Git yer sorry asses over heyar and listen up to 
Jack!"

Thais trails along, sword in hand.

The troops cease their practicing and quietly form a thick semicircle 
around the dais.  Jack slowly steps up to the front and addresses them.  
"It's time, lads.  It's time to take back your home from that sorry, 
thieving foreigner."  Cheer.

Jack says, "We're hitting Cluster South, and we're doing it right now.  
We've got our hands on a team of special operatives gonna go for White 
Smoke himself, and if they don't manage the trick then we'll finish what 
they started after we've freed the town ourselves.  There's not too much 
else to say.  Get your gear and follow Yazz in."

Yazz pulls out his axe and holds it up high.  "Kick White Smoke out of 
our country!  Radz for Jack!"  The men take up the chant of "Radz for 
Jack!"

Ekur looks over to Dr. Bloom.

Bloom looks back at you, shrugs.  "You guys fight.  I'll spend my Essence 
keeping you patched up."

Ekur smiles, and claps his hand on Bloom's shoulder.  "Excellent."

Neil . o O ( I don't know but I've been told / Beleth's bed is awful cold 
/ Sits around and thinks of Dream / 'Cause that's all that'll let her / 
SOUND OFF, ONE TWO... )

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: o_O

William says, "Hee."

Ekur checks the map again.  "Okay, based on this, we should head . . . "  
He points.  "That way."

The pep rally settles down and the men summon or dream up their various 
motorized vehicles.  Yazz invites you over to a thing he's driving that 
looks like a Model T with plate armor and treads.

Ekur mutters, "I still don't entirely trust these newfangled death 
traps," as he climbs in.

Neil mutters back, "I hear the newest deathtraps have to come with 
flashcards."

Thais says, "Do either of you know how to drive them?"

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: :quietly dies giggling OOC.

Neil... doesn't. Oops.

Yazz, driving, or appearing to, slaps the dashboard.  "Betsy here's a 
figment on her own, but she's a good old gal."  He motors off, caravan in 
tow.  "Made a few alterations," he shouts over the engine, "and she's a 
little temperamental, but she's tough enough to take a hit."

Jesdyn [to fadethecat]: Test...

Jesdyn [to Jesdyn]: Test...

Yazz drives down a strip of asphalt between moon-dry sandscapes under the 
bright sun and blue sky, wisps of clouds casting no appreciable shadow.

Ekur smiles at Thais.  "Last time I was on the Corporeal, well, except 
for that Legion thing, there weren't even chariots."

Thais says, "I've seen pictures of these sorts of things in classes, and 
one on a field trip over to the Halls of Progress, but I've never. Um. 
Ridden in one before."

Thais discreetly grips the nearest grippable object that seems reasonably 
sure.

[msg'ing snipped]

Neil says, "Don't worry. My Role had a lot to do with them. They're safe 
enough."

Neil isn't a Seraph.

Ekur points to the sky.  "A wisp of cloud just detached itself from the 
rest and moved down to the settlement north of the one we're 
approaching."

William says, "It moved quite swiftly.  By the time you point, it's 
absorbed into the flickering haze nearer the horizon."

Yazz says, "Cloud?  They don't usually do that here."

Ekur says, "Yes.  It certainly looked like a cloud, or white smoke.  
Capitalize the last as you please."

Yazz turns around, still driving, and speaks to the next driver.  "Pass 
the word down the line!  We may have been spotted!  Keep yer eyes peeled 
for an ambush!"

[msg'ing snipped]

Only a couple of miles separate the two settlements, about half the width 
of Radz itself.  You begin approaching a collection of buildings that 
looks much like the one you just left.  In this one, though, the streets 
are silent.  No vehicles roar by, no pedestrians patronize counters in 
the street.

Neil . o O ( This is Central? )

Yazz slows.  "Cluster South.  Nice and inviting, isn't it?"

Thais looks around. "Not very."

Ekur says, "Looks like the Beleth-side counterpart of where we came 
from."

Neil says, "Do we break off here and head for the fire, or wait until 
combat breaks out?"

Yazz says, "Now's probably better.  Getting outside of combat's not the 
easiest thing in the Marches to do."  He slows to a crawl, just outside 
the furthest building.

Yazz nods his head toward a settlement a half mile away, separated from 
this one only by a low ridge devoid of houses.  "Cluster North is over 
that way.  Factory'll be obvious."

Thais exits the car with slightly undue haste.

Bloom hops off with you.

Ekur follows Thais, but with a more relaxed pace.

Neil disembarks.

Yazz unlimbers his weapon and drives into the town streets.

The caravan follows, some of the ethereals dismissing their vehicles and 
proceeding at a rapid foot pace.

Neil says, "Everyone comfortable with sneaking in before we start tearing 
the place up?"

Ekur says, "Surprise, if possible, makes sense."

Thais says, "Caution does seem advisable, I suppose. I prefer a more 
direct approach, but I do realize that's not always practical."

Neil . o O ( Was really checking to see if everyone bought Stealth. )

Ekur has Stealth.

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: I have stealth, though since it's still based on 
Dex, it's liable to suck.

Ekur blinks.  Thought IQ subs for DX in the Marches.

William says, "It does."

As you stand planning, you hear Yazz shout from the center of town, 
"Found you first you bastards!"  Men begin shouting and metal clangs.

Neil [to William]: I'd probably better recalculate my DX-based skills, 
then.

fadethecat [to William]: Oh, on absolutely everything? I thought only for 
combat skills. Handy!

William [to Jesdyn]: I've got it on the ref sheet here.

Ekur heads to the settlement with the factory.

Thais follows along in all due haste.

Neil moves on.

Bloom follows.  Moving at a run, you cover the distance to Cluster North 
in a couple of minutes.  The battle in the background continues, 
attenuated somewhat by distance and, probably, by a few casualties.  
There is the rare report of a gunshot.

Cluster North is less of a settlement.  In the middle of town there is a 
factory the size of an airplane hangar, puffing smoke and noise.  Gears 
and belts of unknown purpose turn on its walls.  A few outbuildings 
surround it, apparently uninhabited at the moment.

Ekur says, "So, there's the factory.  Make a quiet approach?"

Ekur draws his sword now, to have it at the ready.

William says, "Stealth rolls."

[snip rolls and msg'ing]

Though there is no cover, you hug the ridges as best you can approaching 
the factory's outer wall.  Neil nearly slips on a hidden patch of scree 
on the last slope approaching the factory, but despite sending a shower 
of gravel down the hill no noticeable activity is roused in the factory, 
other than its incessant machinery noises.

You now stand in the factory's shadow.  Puffs of smoke and steam drift 
overhead, and doors dot the wall's length.

Neil looks at the exterior of the factory. Are there any goods outside 
it? Any clue what the factory produces?

Ekur sidles toward the nearest door.

William [to Neil]: Zip.  It's apparently more the idea of a factory than 
any sort of actual manufacturing center.

Thais scans the smoke and steam for glowing red eyes, sword held loosely 
in one hand.

William [to Ekur]: Unlocked.  Inside is a series of pipes and tanks in 
half-darkness.  Vats bubble, their primary purpose seeming to be to add 
to the fumes everywhere.  Skylights provide some illumination, as do 
banks of controls... which favor red warning lights.  White Smoke has 
clearly shaped his home ground to provide as much cover as possible.

Neil . o O ( Could dream up a hole in the roof, then a quick breeze to 
clear the smoke. Could change the banks of controls to dials that don't 
have lights. )

William [to Neil]: are you trying this?

Jesdyn [to William]: ... yes. First, I'll clear the smoke.

William [to Neil]: Dreaming roll.

Jesdyn [to William]: Small and subtle changes with a large effect. 
Forty-foot statues of the Cloaked One come later...

[rolls snipped]

William says, "Ekur, Thais, Perception rolls at -5."

[rolls snipped]

William says, " ... %^)"

Neil . o O ( To err is human; to critically suceed, divine. )

Neil focuses on the smoke and attempts to clear the air in the factory.  
As he does so, he feels a countervailing will press against his.  For a 
moment the struggle seems preordained to go against him.  But Neil's home 
is a greater place than this, and it is a place of light!  A wind blows, 
bracing, and the factory's fumes are whisked away.  The light from the 
skylights illumines clearly a factory floor.

Ekur says, "Well, I think they know we're here."

William says, "All three of you hear a surprised gasp and see a vaguely 
humanoid mass of smoke up on a catwalk above, looking around in what is 
probably shock."

Ekur throws open the door, and charges into the factory.

"Ssssssso," a voice hisses from the cloud, "Mann decccccidessss to 
ussssse merccccenariessssss.  Coward!  It will not avail him to Asssssume 
my placccccce like that."

[rolling snipped]

fadethecat [to William]: Incidentally, how much thought/time does it take 
to change my Image while I'm in the Marches?

William [to fadethecat]: Your icon can be changed with one round and a 
Dreaming roll.

Neil shoots at White Smoke, if he can. If he can't, he CelTongues Yazz -- 
"Engaged. Look over here; smoke possibly visible. Rout?"

William [to Neil]: You can shoot.

fadethecat [to William]: Hm. If I can't do anything else during that 
round... Suppose I'd better just whack and not go for the grand gesture, 
then.

William says, "Combat begins.  Declare your actions for the first round."


fadethecat [to William]: As in 'pose them' or as in 'tell you what we 
intend to do'?

Neil will attack White Smoke with his dreamed pistol. (Skill 21 before 
modifiers.)

William [to Thais]: Tell me.  I'll make the rolls and narrate what 
happens for the interval.

StevenE [to William]: Dreamshape myself to take a winged form, so I can 
fly up and attack White Smoke.

fadethecat [to fadethecat]: Smacking him with the sword, pretty much.

Ekur . o O ( Unless I can hit him with the sword from here, in which case 
I just stab. )

fadethecat [to William]: Er, to you. And if he's up high... Yeah, I'll 
just change my image to get my proper black wings back instead, for the 
flying.

fadethecat [to William]: Is he in melee range?

William [to Thais]: Currently, you're on the factory floor, and he's up a 
floor above you on a catwalk nearer the center of the factory.  He does 
not appear to be in melee range.

fadethecat [to William]: Dreamshaping my wings back to fly to him, then.

fadethecat [to William]: (Don't forget the ribbons!)

Ekur . o O ( In fact, in specific, I'd like to have an icon of a 
Malakite.  That's nicely intimidating. )

William says, "Thais and Ekur, make Dreamshaping rolls.  -2 penalty for 
Thais, -3 for Ekur."

William  . o O (Easier for Thais, since she's taking on her real 
celestial form.)

Ekur rolled 12 versus 15 and succeeded by 3.

Thais rolled 9 versus 16 and succeeded by 7.

Ekur nods.  Silly wingless Elohite form.

William [to Neil]: Roll Guns.  Apparent range penalty is -4.  I'm going 
to keep myself sane and assume you dreamshape a basic gun with no 
familiarity, snap shot, or other arcane modifiers.  ;^)

Jesdyn [to William]: Even if it /had/ a snap-shot, I'd have beat it.

Neil rolled 9 versus 17 and succeeded by 8.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 11.

William says, "As the battle gets under way, Thais and Ekur both 
concentrate for a moment and shape themselves black-feathered wings.  
Thais' dark pinions are a little more natural-looking, and feature 
sparkly ribbons.  Neil goes directly for the attack, and focuses his will 
on White Smoke.  The crack of a pistol echoes through the factory, and 
White Smoke's form is disrupted momentarily by a spiral vortex through 
his torso."

[msg'ing snipped]

William says, "Your foe cries out in pain.  You hear the Disturbance of 
two points of Essence being spent, and the factory floor ripples as 
though an earthquake passed beneath it.  Two boiling vats overturn, and a 
flood of bubbling liquid pours toward you."

roll 1d6

On 1d6, you rolled 5.

William says, "Next round's actions?"

fadethecat [to William]: Slice-and-dice!

Ekur says, "Fly and stab."

Neil wants to /both/ move to higher ground and dreamshape some Mercurian 
wings. Possible?

William [to Neil]: That's a Concentrate maneuver, and you can move one 
yard doing so.  There is no obvious cover within one yard, unless you 
step outside the door.

Neil says, "I'll do that. I can fly in through the hole next round, after 
all."

Bloom eeks and runs off to the left.

Neil steps into the cover of the outer wall of the factory for the 
moment.  Ekur and Thais find themselves moving a little slower -- you 
actually have to *flap* wings to fly here, not like Heaven at all -- and 
end up on either side of White Smoke on the catwalk.

Unnamed boiling liquid rushes by below.  Ekur and Thais bracket White 
Smoke on the catwalk.  A clanging from the side of the factory suggests 
Bloom is climbing a ladder somewhere out of sight.  Actions third round?  
(I presume Ekur and Thais go for use of the pointy bits.)

Ekur nods.  Stabbity-stab!

fadethecat [to William]: Slicity yes!

Neil says, "Return to the factory in flight, either through the door if 
there's clearance, through the hole if there's not. If neither option 
works, dreamshape the entire roof off the building."

William [to Neil]: Oh that's right, you wanted to step out while shaping 
yourself some wings.  One sec...

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 11.

William says, "Okay, it worked.  White fluffy wings on."

Ekur . o O ( Ambitious. )

"Malakim!" shouts White Smoke, turning rapidly to keep an eye on both of 
you as best he can.  "Mann would go ssssso far assss to collaborate with 
you dessssstroyerssss!  Faithlesssss power-hungry cripple."

William [to Neil]: There is indeed clearance to fly through the door.

William says, "Ekur, Thais, attack rolls."

Thais rolled 12 versus 18 and succeeded by 6.

Ekur rolled 9 versus 20 and succeeded by 11.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 10.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 11.

Jesdyn [to William]: If I've got any distance left on my move, I'll 
bracket with Ekur and Thais but keep my distance.

William [to Neil]: You're climbing, but you have a while yet this round.

White Smoke tries to duck, but there's nowhere to go.  From one side 
comes Thais' blade, and from the other comes Ekur's.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 12.

roll 1d6

On 1d6, you rolled 4.

Your blades sweep through him like, well, smoke, apparently meeting no 
resistance.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 6.

The glowing red of his eyes flickers, though, and he moans.

He begins losing his shape.  "Aaaaaagh..."

"Tell me before I fall insensate," the growing cloud mutters.  "What does 
Heaven care about a power struggle in a backwater Domain like this?"

Ekur says, "Heaven cares about cruelty everywhere."

Thais adds, more quietly, "Though perhaps more in places where other 
interests take it."

"I..." it fades, blinks in again.  "...I acted in their interest.  
Bomb... will come.  Those... not marked... outcast."

fadethecat [to William]: May I resonate?

William [to Thais]: Go for it.

Neil turns to Bloom but keeps an eye on Smokey. "What's the least I can 
do to hurt him and finish what we came here to do?

Thais rolled 11 versus 17 and succeeded by 6.

Bloom says, "A fast sword stroke would probably be kindest."

Neil frowns. Trying to mutate everyone into horrible shapes is only 
annoying. Killing him isn't Just.

William [to Thais]: His pattern of honor and dishonor is based on an 
atavistic belief that he represents the force of the bomb itself, and how 
it shapes the world.  There is that which it has touched, and that which 
is lesser.  He regards his most dishonorable act recently as being too 
soft on the southern settlements and letting this rebellion get out of 
hand.

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: Well, there's 'horrible shapes' and then there's 
Discord.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 7.

Thais shrugs. "Nearly all villains believe themselves ultimately in the 
right, I'm told. He seems no different. I suppose it's a form of 
insanity."

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 9.

roll 3d6

On 3d6, you rolled 15.

The cloud mutters a last, "Not your place to...." and disperses.

Bloom says, "I think that means he's in Trauma now.  If he is, Jack 
should be able to seize Mastery."

It's 8, and we just finished a battle, so it looks like time to stop.  
We'll deal with the aftershocks of victory next session, mm?

Ekur says, "And we should report this to the Civis project."

StevenE [to William]: Okay.

Neil says, "Sounds good."