fadethecat swings into the room on a bit of rigging.

fadethecat has made fadethecat's local name Draco

The GM says, "Yo."

StevenE materializes in a burst of blackness as he teleports in from 
elsewhere in the MOO.

Jesdyn materializes out of thin air.

Jesdyn winces. "Sorry."

StevenE has made StevenE's local name Ekur

The GM says, "Eh?"

Jesdyn says, "It's like 4:11. We only just started?"

The GM says, "Yeah, I just popped in here."

Jesdyn says, "I lost track of time between 3:58 and 4:11... oh, good."

Jesdyn has made Jesdyn's local name Neil

Ekur notes his multiply-NTP-and-WWVB-synched clocks say it's :06.

The GM says, "Mine too."

Jesdyn has made Jesdyn's local description Third-part owner of a 
convienence store in Quito, Patricia relaxes from a long decade of doing 
the Lord's work.

The GM says, "A'ight, we're taking it easy today and basically wrapping 
up loose ends.  Last time we observed the consummation of the Supernova 
Tether, with fairly strong indications that it was successfully directed 
Heavenward.  It's presently coming on dawn the next day, and no 
retaliatory strikes seem to have been directed at Pinchincha yet.  You're 
presently sitting downslope of the Tether locus; within the mouth of the 
lava tube is wannabe teenage black magician Carlos Izquierda, sleeping 
uncomfortably but reasonably fed throughout last night.  There is also 
the outstanding matter of Shoko Asahara and the Aum Association of 
Mountain Wizards back in Tokyo, at least Shoko of whom is rather more 
capable at the black magic."

The GM says, "Ekur, other-Carlos has returned the telescope you lent him 
for last night, as the astronomical event in question seems to have taken 
place on schedule."

The GM says, "At your pleasure, guys."

Jesdyn has made Jesdyn's local name Patricia

Patricia kicks back her feet. "That's that. Pinchincha can deal with any 
demonic heat."

Patricia says, "Still on our plate are Carlos, Wannabe Dark Lord, and 
Shoko who's made somewhat better progress at it."

Patricia says, "Eri's still waiting for sentencing in Heaven, and we 
should see if Gabriel's feeling better."

Draco lifts his head, dripping, from a cup of coffee. "The Tether does 
seem to be back in Fire's jurisdiction, at this point. Should we leave 
Carlos to their care as well, or deal with him personally? And at some 
point we ought to return Lord Jean's loan."

Patricia hmms.

Patricia says, "We could go ahead and buy Carlos out under Divine 
Contract, but what do we want him to do?"

Ekur says, "The obvious is to give Carlos-Izzy Standard Reform Lecture 
#1, emphasizing how lucky he is to have a new chance in life, and how he 
should be going to Mass, listening to the priests, and stopping with the 
black magic.  Unless he's wanting Wrath falling upon him.  Then, say, hit 
Heaven, drop off the pearl, and back to Tokyo?"

Draco goes for another coffee-dip. "It shouldn't be too difficult to find 
someone to do Divine Contract, if we go in that direction. But I'd prefer 
the stern lecture before we start holding him in /actual/ fear of death 
should he stray."

Patricia says, "Do we want to back the stick up with a carrot, though?"

Patricia says, "He's obviously unhappy and feels powerless, and we've 
managed to effectively punish his attempts to better his situation. Seems 
a poor trade."

Draco says, "There is the local sorcerer who might be persuaded to take 
on an apprentice,  no? Being set to work for someone who isn't likely to 
discard him as cannon fodder while still giving him useful knowledge 
might be carrot enough. Or did you have something else in mind?"

Ekur says, "Um?  We just handed him a bunch of money, getting him out of 
a job he hates and giving him freedom to pursue a new path in life.  
Wasn't that enough of a good turn?"

Patricia says, "I was gonna offer to buy him out with a Contract to make 
damning himself difficult but not impossible. Your suggestion is cleaner, 
though."

Patricia steps OOC. "Oh. I didn't know we'd already paid him."

Draco didn't think we did? Just claimed we would buy the shop. Money and 
contract haven't changed hands yet.

Draco says, "Er, money and deed."

Ekur oocly "Well, I'd already made the arrangements with Marc for him to 
do the buying.  So, even if we haven't handed the money to him already, 
we're committed to already."

The GM says, "Yeah, you said you would but when it was time to go 'sign 
the papers' was when you put him to sleep and dragged him to the Tether."


Jesdyn [to fadethecat]: And I thought /you/ could do Divine Contract.

The GM says, "The paperwork's a minor detail; you can expense it 
yourselves and resell it to Marc whenever."

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: Nope. Never bought that attunement.

Ekur went up to Heaven for a bit last session, after telling Carlos-Izzy 
that they were going to go ahead and buy.  The lecture he mentioned was 
to come at the same time they were handing over the money and getting the 
paper formally.

William  <OOC> One of Draco's long-term mission goals is researching a 
version of Divine Contract with useful effects in the Marches -- 
preferably ones that don't run the risk of soul-killing Ethereals.

Draco nods. So we're set to hand over the contract, just haven't done so 
yet.

Jesdyn [to StevenE]: Sounds good.

The GM says, "So the plan for Carlos is, buy the store, Standard Reform 
Lecture #1?"

Ekur nods.  "So finish the buy, give the lecture -- Neil, you're the 
Judge, you're probably best suited for that -- and back to Heaven to 
return Jean's property?  And then we can head for Tokyo?"

Draco says, "And seeing if the local white sorcerer will take him on as 
an apprentice, to give him an outlet for that existing knowledge and 
desire."

Jesdyn [to William]: Yes.

The GM says, "'k"

Draco gives up on the cup of coffee. "Beaks," he says, sadly, then nods 
to Ekur. "It sounds reasonable to me."

Ekur says, "So, let's go in and see our guest."  Ekur walks over to where 
Carlos-Izq. is."

Patricia joins Ekur. "Morning, Carlos. Time to get what you've got coming 
to you."

Carlos, who has been uncomfortably leaning against the wall, snorts and 
jerks awake, blinking blearily at the three of you.

Draco takes his usual place on Neil--well, Patricia's--shoulder.

Carlos says, "*Please* tell me whatever it is involves letting me out of 
this pantyhose knot."

Patricia says, "Hmm? Right."

Patricia untangles the knot and looks at her makeshift rope. "Hmph. Well, 
one of you didn't run."

Patricia hands Carlos a check and/or a bag of cash.

Ekur pings Carlos.

Ekur rolled 8 versus 18 and succeeded by 10.

William [to Ekur]: Carlos is, naturally, quite confused.  He has been 
kidnapped and handed a large check.  These two events do not usually go 
together in his experience.

Patricia says, "What you have here Carlos is what we call a "second 
chance". Second chances don't usually come with so many zeroes, you're a 
very lucky man."

William [to Ekur]: At present, there's a fair bit of hopefulness, with 
stirrings of ambition underneath it.  Any particular action?

Carlos says, still staring at the check, "Lucky..."

StevenE [to William]: Yeah, his reaction to being given a second chance 
lecture.  (Just in case I have to dive in to change the plan to fit the 
circumstances).

[ snip msg'ing ]

Draco coughs politely beside Patricia's ear. "And in exchange, the deed?" 
he notes.

William [to Ekur]: There are nuances there.  It would work better if 
somebody told him you were actually angels -- so far he has no clue who 
you people are!  As far as he knows, you're a rival to the Black Order...


William [to Ekur]: Displays of holy flaming swords optional.

Ekur steps over to Patricia and whispers in her ear, "If we make it clear 
that we're angels, the reform lecture will be much more effective."

Carlos waves the check.  "So, um... I can go now, right?  To cash this?"

Patricia blinks, and shrugs. "Watch carefully, Carlos."

Patricia takes celestial form.

Jesdyn has made Jesdyn's local description Neil

Jesdyn [to William]: Is Angelic understood by mortals? For some reason I 
think it is.

William [to Jesdyn]: It is, but first I have to see whether he sees 
you... I'm looking up your # of CelForces right now.

fadethecat [to Jesdyn]: You can't speak Angelic on the corporeal, unless 
you have a particular attunement for it.

The GM says, "I believe it can be spoken in celestial form... *if* Carlos 
can perceive Neil."

Draco spreads his wings hastily as Neil goes incorporeal beneath him.

Jesdyn [to William]: Three cel forces. I went with 2 Corp, 4 Eth, and 3 
Cel if I recall right. Couldn't prejudice my physical stats any further 
if I wanted to be fresh from corporeal duty.

William looks up the mods... here we are.  Half Per, +2 for leaving a 
host, +3 for Forces...

[ Carlos fails a Perception roll ]

Jesdyn [to William]: Aw, nuts. I didn't know it was so hard.

Carlos blinks as Neil apparently becomes invisible.

Jesdyn [to William]: Okay, can he HEAR me, or am I hosed?

fadethecat [to William]: If someone else also goes celestial, can he make 
the roll again? And if so, does he then see just that person, or everyone 
in celform?

Jesdyn [to William]: Failing that, can I beat on him until the trauma 
manifests a fifth force so he can reroll?

William [Neil]: Hosed; and I don't even think you've got a means of 
touching him, right now.  That's why there's a Song to make celestial 
forms more prominent.  Usually this is a plus when you've gotta be 
sneaking around.  ;^)

William [to Draco]: He can indeed roll again, but just for that person.  
Mortals aren't well-attuned to the subtle planes.

The GM says, "(Surely it's not that easy even in standard IN?)"

Draco settles to the ground, and tilts his head at Carlos. "What, 
nothing?" he asks.

Jesdyn [to William]: Alright, I don't have G:In Nomine. If I retake corp 
form and ascend again can he reroll, and are there any circumstantial 
benefits I can apply?

fadethecat [to William]: I'm not sure if it's specified. It's just 
generally 'perception + celforces to see things in celform', and humans 
tend to have a lousy perception to start with.

Carlos says, "Well, a guy just vanished into thin air in front of me.  
That's damned impressive.  I'm getting that you guys have serious mojo, 
if that's what you were aiming for."

Carlos pokes where Neil was standing, his finger going through Neil's 
celestial icon.

Draco hmms. "Humans," he says, with a little fondness to it as he shakes 
his head. And looks to Ekur. "Would you like to try, or should I?"

Patricia bamfs back into Patricia's form, catching the hand before 
something *organic* happens.

Patricia says, "Are you /sure/ you're a Sorcerer?"

Carlos says, "Not yet.  Can you teach me how to do that?"

Ekur pauses, and says.  "Yeah, he really should have prefaced it with 'Be 
not afraid.'  I mean, that's the traditional line.  And Draco, while it's 
not technically Dissonant, given where we are, Blandine doesn't like it 
if her angels do that sort of thing."

Draco ducks his head, a sort of raveny facepalm. "Of /course/. My 
apologies, Ekur. I should have considered that.

Carlos says, "...angels?"

Draco smiles beakily up at the human. "Yes. That would be...us."

Patricia says, "Yeah. Genuine card-carrying servants of the Lord."

"Technically speaking," Draco adds, "I'm not card-carrying. No pockets, 
in this form."

Patricia says, "And as for Sorcery... maybe I can. Watch again -- but 
carefully."

Carlos pauses and says, "You guys probably aren't too fond of..." 
*handwavey* "...black magic and stuff."

Patricia takes his hands... and ascends to Celestial form as slowly as 
you can do such a thing.

[ Carlos succeeds at a Perception roll ]

Patricia says, "No, Carlos. We're not very fond of it."

Carlos' eyes widen.  "Woo.  ...and you're a guy.  Ah.  Er.  Sorry I hit 
on you."

Ekur says, "If you would cut it out, we probably won't have to make a 
return visit.  And well, with this cash, it's not like you'll be able to 
claim that you only turned to it out of desperation if we do have to make 
a return."

Pichincha calls from outside as she passes by, "'ey, watch it with the 
Disturbance!"

Patricia calls back, "Sorry. We'll keep it down."

Neil shrugs, and the universe ripples. "It's in the job description."

Patricia returns to corporeal form.

Patricia says, "You probably prefer this form."

Carlos says, "Yah.  I mean, I'm debt-free and I got a few bucks in my 
pocket.  You want I should stay away from the magic, I can handle that.  
I don't think I was very good at it anyway.  And those guys were creepy."


Patricia nods. "That's pretty much the size of it. We're already probably 
in for getting shouted at for interfering with mortals. It'd be best if 
we never had to meet again."

Ekur nods.  "Won't hurt you to go to Mass a bit more often, listen a bit 
closer to the priest, that sort of thing."

Carlos nods.  "I can deal with that.  So, uh, I can go?"

Patricia pings Carlos.

William [Neil]: Roll it.

Patricia rolled 12 versus 18 and succeeded by 6.

Ekur says, "Think so.  I don't think we're authorized to do a 
terrify-with-visions-of-Hell this visitation.  And if we come back, we 
probably wouldn't stop at just a vision.  Good luck, and God bless you!"

William [Neil]: A sudden interest in sightseeing has come to the fore and 
is presently more significant than interest in the occult.

William [Neil]: Rest of information similar.

Jesdyn [to William]: Sure, you can go. Have a nice life.

Patricia . o O ( Aweing mortals is /hard/. What're kids watching, these 
days? )

Draco drops onto Patricia's shoulder to murmur his ear, "But let's pick 
up the deed before leaving, or make sure someone else is going to do so 
on our behalf."

Patricia does so.

Carlos doesn't have the deed on him, but promises (Draco verifies intent) 
to have it available for Pichincha or any representative.  He takes his 
leave of the scene and plot.

Patricia says, "Back to Heaven?"

Ekur nods.

Draco says, "Ready to go."

Jesdyn [to William]: What's the best way to get back to Heaven? Up the 
Tether or just ascend to Heart?

The GM says, "Either's as convenient, and since you're in a Tether you 
might as well use it."

Draco says, "Less Essence to go up the Tether, at that."

Patricia says, "Alright, we'll go up the Tether, say hi to Anna on the 
way through, and if she doesn't have anything we can stop by Lightning 
and then back to Laurence's Cathedral for the tether to the Tokyo PD."

The GM says, "At the upper end of the Tether, the effects of recent 
events are much more dramatic.  Amazingly, the sky of Heaven is presently 
*night*, a very rare occurrence outside the Savannah and Glade.  There is 
no lack of the Light of Heaven, however: it presently comes in the form 
of starlight.  Symbolism fairly shouts itself in the celestial realm, 
with Sanduleak being the brightest star in the sky at the moment.  There 
are far more stars than would ever be visible on Earth, and every 
constellation the imagination can pick out seems pregnant with meaning."

Patricia wows.

Jesdyn has made Jesdyn's local name Neil

Neil says, "Ekur, you ever see anything like this before?"

StevenE [to William]: Er, have I ever seen anything like this before?

Draco stares up at the sky, blinking. "Don't recall that ever happening 
in Hell," he says. "How very interesting."

William [to Ekur]: Very occasionally the sky of the Marches will become 
stellated.  Such events are rare and usually associated with some 
significant event -- certainly Supernova Tethers don't always cause it.

StevenE [to William]: Nothing like this in Heaven, then?  Except maybe, 
in a negative way, at the Fall?

William [to Ekur]: Not in your personal experience, only by rumor of it 
happening.  You haven't spent a lot of time in Heaven.

The GM says, "There are starwatching parties all over the place.  
Christopher's kids are naming constellations.  Jean's people are busy 
with tours of the Jupiter Tether and their planetaria.  The Volcano is 
positively dancing to the sounds of the celebration.  And *some* kind of 
concert is going on over at Blandine's Tower."

StevenE [to William]: Okay, one last question -- when did I last hear of 
it happening, in rumor?

William [to Ekur]: Top of my head, I'd say around the 1600s.  After some 
investigation, they think it was that somebody finally figured out comets 
go around and come back.  That time lots of comets showed up, in a kind 
of ballet.

Ekur says, "I haven't seen anything like this in Heaven.  A couple of 
times in the Marches, and there was something about comets I heard about 
in the 1600s."

Neil whistles. "Wow."

William [to Draco]: As a side note, I've often thought that a fair number 
of demons might be agoraphobes.  There's no open sky in Hell, after all 
-- it's all caverns carved out of what got blown off the Mountain when 
Lucifer was thrown down.

Neil says, "Let's hurry before someone blames us."

The GM says, "First time you see blue sky above, with *nothing holding 
you down*... probably a heady experience."

The GM says, "Over at the Halls of Progress, after picking your way 
through the planetarium tours, you reach Aquilas' lab again.  Jean is, of 
course, busy, but Aquilas truthfully assures you he's cleared to accept 
the Pearl and return it."

fadethecat [to William]: I can certainly see it.

Ekur nods with practiced gravity at Neil's comment.  Control emotional 
reactions, Elohite, control!

Neil manifests the Pearl and hands it over.

William  <OOC> that Memory Pearl was a plot bit I never found a way to 
work in.  Remind me after game and I'll spill the beans on what was in 
it.

Neil heads to the Tokyo tether he used last time.

Ekur follows Neil.

The GM says, "That was in the Cathedral of the Sword.  Things are quieter 
here, with Sword angels pacing the halls, continuing to run the business 
of the War.  A few angels of Faith are holding classes on the Almagest 
and calendrical calculations of the Muslim year, some Catholics are 
taking the opportunity for a vigil, but otherwise not much is going on 
here.  The trip down the Tokyo Tether is swift."

Jesdyn [to William]: Our plan here is just to tell the Sword guys "hey, 
you can kill that Sorcerer now", then stand around and see if we get 
demon-killing Essence for it.

fadethecat [to William]: Or let them investigate and build a case against 
the guy first, if they prefer. The Sword can be weird about it sometimes, 
but they're generally yay on whacking sorcerers definitely associated 
with Hell.

The GM says, "Ah, so just putting Shoko on the hitlist, eh?"

Neil . o O ( And then I can tell Thais, "Yeah, I killed the sorcerer. I 
mean, he was working for Hell. Isn't that what we do with those?" )

Jesdyn [to William]: Didn't strike me as the redeemable type.

The GM says, "Okee-dokee."

Ekur nods.  Name, address, fact he was knowingly working with Hell, that 
he was interfering in Civis, that he was part of a Supernova tether 
stealing effort, that he's in it for his own personal power.  if they 
want to try something soft, well, I'm not going to complain, but it's 
their part of the world, they're the local tether . . . 

Draco nodnods. Draco's usually for peaceful resolutions, but in this 
case? Let the Sword do its Swordie thing.

The GM says, "A few weeks later you get a polite little note saying 
(HISTORY ALTERATION HERE) that Asahara has been eliminated.  A few years 
later there is absolutely no sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subways, and 
nobody had any reason to think there would be."

Ekur says, "And a suggestion they seek any acolytes."

The GM says, "Shoko himself hits the Archives like a lead weight, but 
over the next several years a number of potential followers find 
spiritual outlets other than terrorism, so the net Symphonic result over 
the next few decades will seem to be positive.  Not that you know all 
this, of course."

The GM says, "Back in the present day so-called, there remains the last 
questions of how your city is faring and what to do with the one prisoner 
taken."

The GM says, "The last thing you said to Eri was:"

----------------------------------William--------------------------------
--

Neil says, "Eri, I'd thank you for your cooperation if I didn't have to 
extract it at swordpoint. Your sentence has been commuted to imprisonment 
in Civis until such time as you repent your misdeeds and no longer seek 
to advance the cause of Hell."

---------------------------------finished--------------------------------
--

The GM says, "You expected someone would eventually summon her.  No one 
has.  Continue using her as bait, or another option?"

Jesdyn [to William]: Huh, I don't want to tie up the Malakim 
indefinitely, and she hasn't done anything nice enough to tie /her/ up. 
Decisions, decisions.

Neil says, "Is anyone coming up with something better than "dump her on 
Dorotea"?"

Neil says, "Okay then."

Draco sorries.

Jesdyn [to William]: I'm not averse to an IQ roll, if Neil's seeing 
something I'm not, but I'm just going to give her to Dorotea's pirate 
detail.

The GM says, "n/p, but, dump her on Dorotea how?  Send her to Jane under 
indenture like the pirates? -- ah, that's a yes then."

The GM says, "Okay, typing..."

The GM says, "You get word back that Jane is finding the increasing labor 
pool handy, if occasionally rambunctious, and she is willing to discuss 
formalizing a prison arrangement with the city as a source of steady 
income."

The GM says, "The Supernova Tether has come and gone here in the Marches; 
Gabriel showed up at the moment of consummation and attuned one of the 
angels of Fire on duty as the Seneschal.  Since then, the locus of the 
Tether has begun moving 'outward,' toward the Farthest Marches, 
apparently returning to whence it came.  A pilgrimage has followed it, 
handily collecting most of the newcomers that had moved in.  The city has 
also begun to distance itself from the Volcano once more."

The GM says, "Bloom, by the way, has decided to join the pilgrimage.  It 
seemed like something interesting to do."

The GM says, "Older members of the population begin returning, and life 
in Civis slowly starts returning to its normal rhythms.  Bloom returns 
with interesting stories of Utgard -- most of the pilgrimage didn't make 
it that far -- and the 80s tick over to the 90s.  Then one day, there's a 
tap on Ekur's door when he's in a meeting with Draco.  Thais and Neil are 
outside, with a third party."

Thais says, "Ekur?  You're not gonna *believe* who just showed up under a 
white flag."  She pushes Wrinth into the room.

---------------- SESSION END ----------------------