Log for May 8, 2002

::It's some time after you left the Dame's chambers, most of the party is sleeping fitfully in the clean if spare bedding provided, but An has taken more of a blow today and is having trouble sleeping.. he wakes, needing to speak to Meredith::

((::poke:: cam, that's you))

::will probably have tried to eyeball An to see if there's any mundane medical aid he can offer. typical Lan rhetoric::

((okay... moving on i guess... ))

((sorry, emergency))

::gets up and makes his way towards the main room looking around as he goes::

::there are a number of guards posted, even at these late hours... though they are well hidden you think that at least half a dozen are between you and the Dame's office::

::makes his way towards the office::

::you get to the room in short order and find a bat wing stretched across the bottom of the doorway and the sound of Aleph's light snoring coming from beside the doorway... Meredith is still at her desk, somewhat groggily pouring

::knocks on the door frame::

::meredith looks up and the wing flutters as Aleph is quickly up and to attention, he looks down at you:: Ah, Mr. Griffen

::nods to Aleph:: sorry to wake you.

I was merely dozing until the Lady is ready to retire.. you require an audience?

::he's only half aware of the problem with this formality:: MiLady, Mr. Griffen to see you

::he stands up and moves to the room's corner again, Meredith likewise stands but leans tiredly against her desk::

::walks in:: Please sit.

::she thinks about it for a second, shrugs, and sits back down:: So what's up?

I've come to speak to you about the... experiments that were performed on us. I was young, and I don't remember most of them.

Have you ever been under the care of the Jakovians?

((that answer, of course, is no.. and in fact you were born with white hair, though the wings did not come until puberty, but seemed to have no other catalyst))

Which makes me curious as to how you came to be like us... you're from Aragon if Ric told me correctly

Yes, that is true. ::starts pacing:: My wings came at puberty.

how long did you have the hair and coughing problem?

Since birth if I remember correctly.

so you were born changed? yet you had parents that were not involved with the Decados??

No, they were of a guild

then how could you have been experimented on in vitero?

I'm not sure. I assumed....

were your parents involved in any kind of lab work or chemical processes while you were in the womb?

The drugs... they took drugs

Drugs? what kind? what for?

For the Sathra accident

What, sedatives? psychotropics?

::she's clearly fully awake now.. and she stands also pacing agitatedly.. which is a sight with the wings:: So your parents had treatments for psychological problems before your birth?

::gets tranfixed by the wings, remembering how he used to stare at them in his mirror:: Yes

Hmmm... perhaps the Apothecary will know something... So.. Ric said there was an accident and you lost your wings, but you can also Metamorph?

No since I lost my wings.

hmmmmm... compensation... are there any other abilities that you have?

I also developed potent psychic abilities.

yes, Aleph noticed that.. but that is more to do with how you lost your wings than anything to do with your genetic code yes? something about your sister? Are there any other biological abilities that you have?

Not that I'm fully aware of.

Oh, you have the glands too?

::nods:: interesting.. i had not realized the metamorph abilities were part of the "package" but many of us have the wings and pheremones

::nods:: Where do they come from?

I believe Ric mentioned that it was impossible for people to attack Eldritch

If it was the drugs, then why weren't they tested on more parents.

They might have been... I imagine you kept your head down and your powers out of sight for years, others will have also

I'm just trying to put these pieces all together

I have a theory, but i'm not willing to discuss it until I have more information.

I'd like to hear the beginnings to see if it makes any sense

What if I am the foundation? The first. Perhaps I was the sample.

Hmm.. why wouldnt they have abducted you then?

Good point. Maybe they didn't need to. I'm not sure... everything is very unclear.

This is all some kind of research that we're part of, but I dont' think we're the important part, so much as the fun experiments... somehow i think this Van Gelder and Eldritch and such are the real goals- trying out mutations until they make the perfect spies and assassins... I just know we have to get out of here and to the Emperor... something very important is going on right beneath the notice of those that can do anything about it

anything else you wanted to talk about?

Maria, we have to get her.

You know where she is being held?

No, only a number of possible locations.. they have labs all over

::nods:: I'm sure we will.

If that's it.. i think i should sleep.. and you should try to as well

Yes... ::nods:: sleep would be good. Thankyou. ::turns to Aleph:: Thankyou... Goodnight ::goes to his room to sit up most of the night and stare at the ceiling::

::she nods, then heads into the tiny bedroom chamber.. aleph also nods and closes the curtain behind him, and you can hear him move a palatte in front of the doorway::

::hours pass... those that sleep do so through most of the day, waking up around late afternoon... many of your roommates are also getting up about this time::

::it's saturday, february 2::

::gets up creakingly::

::wakes, stretches, gets up looking for Azim::

::asim is hanging asleep from an exposed pipe::

::nods, smiles:: Fateh, but I'm hungry. Wonder is there anything to eat?

::stomach growls on cue::

::hardly notices. Contemplating unobtrusive ways to coerce the locals into physical exams::

::Enters carrying food and drink for the late sleepers::

::aleph is not in here::

::yes, in fact Tien managed to find the mess hall... he has a few chipped dishes with blessedly unidentifiable food on them::

::sits up looking around::

IU do not know what these are, but the other were eating them. Perhaps Dog.

::clears off a space on the likeliest surface for the very welcome stuff::

::the likliest surface is one of your palattes or the floor:

::wakes up Azim, sits and offers food to Azim while eating::

((sorry, fell off. dang AOL))

::asim drops and eats... and the food is decent... not the quality you were eating with the decados, but not horrible like you might have been expecting from underground mutants.. they prolly snatch it directly from the shops rather than from the trash::

::takes a modest portion, absorbed in thought::

::an's body disagrees, grumbling loudly, as it takes a lot of energy to move his skin into different positions::

You really should eat. We will need your strength to get Maria back.

::nods. Starts taking food and eating quickly.::

::Stops for a moment, shakes his head and continues serviing the others:: Have they reported where Maria is located?

In a lab, but they dont know which one.

::between chewing food:: So what are you guys doing here? Surely, my father wouldn't have sent you here solely to retrieve me.

No. But that was my main motovation. The drug problem is becoming ... more critical?

AN, you understand this better then I

There's a variety of Selachka being trafficed on Aragon... ::looks to the others to make sure that's right:: with impurities that

::nods to Lan:: yes.

render it unusually addictive, and particularly deadly.

Like with Elena's husband?

And what was with that "Bloodhound" guy?

The, uh. Local variety is a different manufacture.

Different manufacture?

::nods:: What I was able to buy here is not cut with the same substances. I can't be sure about exact properties and so on without labspace to do better testing. ::grimaces:: Give me labspace, or give me death. ::quasi-comically::

Think we could ask the Lady Decados for some lab space?

Sabatsemii. It was a thought. Right, Azim? ::smiles at Azim::

::raises eyebrows with the don't-look-at-me-wise::

::asim squints... then does his face up and crosses his arms, mimicing the LAST time saburo talked to the baroness::

::laughs uproariously::

::laughs at the monkey::

((maldor phantom, my man. malador phantom))

::chuckles belatedly::

What about that artifact?

Hmm... ::thinking:: The artifact? Should we recover it, now? We have to be able not to touch it...

We ought to get a hold of that. If it's a formidable, dangerous piece of 2nd republic technology, it... ::finishes lamely and transparently:: should be someplace safe. ::goes back to eating::

It already is in someplace safe. I know where it is, I think... ::smiles::

::motions for Azim tro finish the plate::

::he's way ahead of you::

How do we obtain it without touching it?

I have some Morana's Hands. They cover the hands, so no skin will touch it... But wil that be enough?

((gotta use the bathroom.. roleplay amongst yourselves for a couple minutes and someone invite cam back in when he signs back on please))

Does anyone have forceps, or tongs, or something of the sort?

I have tweezers and specimen bags galore...

Does this artifact have poison or does it give off extreme heat?

why can't it be touched?

That wasn't made very clear, was it? I... got the impression it had some sort of extraordinary mutagenic effect?

Don't know exactly. But Kruze said it.. Changed... him.

A formidable metonym. ::quietly::

Bastion Kruze. The man we were looking for.

the.. ::clears throat:: assassin.

((that monkey comment was the death of me))

Ah, the Changed in the Jakovian cell. But where did he get it from?

((talking about the thing in the plant?))

Do we have any idea where his hotel was?

((bak.. would have been back sooner but had to deal with a drunken hallmate who wanted to complain about school))

If it can change a man by touching it, then we will need long poles and a metal box...

And what do you mean by plant?

((plant was in "(( ))," wasn't it?))

((But it was said last session, i thought?))

Saburo, you say you think you know where it is?

I don't believe the stone changed him into what he was.

((sorry. ::in the dark::-))

Yeah, I know where it is.

You do? I mean, other than in the plant in his hotel room.

that's where I believe it is. ::grins::

yes, but what hotel? I assume there's more than one.

((Int was in (()) last week too, sorry))

((recap: An, Lan, and Saburo all know that a stone is in a planter in Cyrille/Cruze's hotel.. only Saburo knows specifically which that is))

((just in case there was still confusion))

If Saburo knows where it probably is and the Jakovians are after it also, I would suggest a move fairly soon.

We must move quickly, then.

I agree. Just to be clear. You know which hotel correct? (sorry if I missed the answer to that earlier))

Where are we going to find a secure metal box? ::Looking thoughtful::

We don't need one. I would bet my life on it.

(("we dont need one"/"it wouldn't do any good" two very similar phrases when you think about it))

((Thats it, I'm lost))

((just messing with you.. go ahead))

((oh wait... I get it now... shit... we're going to die))

((eh, you survived the first time i killed you))

((oxymoron alert, oxymoron alert))

The stones effects, if there are any, would take effect after a long exposure... and... we don't have time to prepare, I say we leave now.

Every well. If need be, then I will volenteer to hold the stone.

((Its true... I'm just a bad motha- Shut your mouth! I'm just talking about An. I can dig it ))

Good. I'm in need of some action.

((he had to wait for me to take a whole shower to find out he wasnt really dead, and the rest of you had to wait months :-)))

(( its true, I remember it well ))

(("And that was the first time I died." - Baron Munchausen))

((Never fully understood that movie))

::a young mutant angelic comes in, cleaning, sweeping up the OOC::

::looks to Saburo:: After you.

((Yea, ya'll were getting a bit OT))

::gets up:: Azim? ::motions to his shoulder::

::stands, sticking the last bit of food into his mouth::

::sighs and gets up::

Lets us depart. ::moves to leave:: Wait, can Aleph guide us? ::getting equipment together::

::stops:: Sorry, I didn't realize you were here.

My Don, do we know if this artifact is what they have used to change these people?

::she's in her young teens, white haired, very attractive, blackwinged, and still manages to not stand out::

::looks to the angelic::

Its a pleasure to meet you Beth.

::she sets the broom against the wall:: I am ready whenever you are

::looks around:: I guess its time.

::she's dressed in servicable rags, and from her bone structure she was likely a peasant from the city before being Changed::

No, Tien. I do not believe so.

::she shakes her head slightly, then quietly:: Drugs were used, not a stone

::Bows to the woman:: Please forgive my ignorance.

::quietly:: Its alright dear. Lets move on shall we.

((everything's crashing on my system.. back in a bit.. somebody catch the last few minutes of log for me please))

And what is your age, Beth?

::waiting patiently::

I don't know exactly ::beth leads you into the halls and through the tunnels:: It should be dark soon

Is the Dame going to be giving us any diversion?

Where are we going exactly? Do you need one?

::describing the hotel we need to go to::

::follows behind in the back::

::follows, looking pleased to be doing something instead of sitting around::

::she asks a few questions and seems to figure out where you're going from a subterranean perspective:: We should all be quiet soon, in case they are waiting for us

::Hoping against hope that Maria has not become the object of experiementation::

::she leads you through the tunnels for an interminable amount of time... the light that you see from the occassional grate slowly dims to black::

::eventually she stops you at a grate:: This is as close as I know an opening for... be careful

Thank you, if you ever need anything don't be afraid to ask.

I will wait for you as long as I can

::Whispering as I pass her:: Will this be a safe method to return? If you must leave?

<q> it depends on if you're found and cut off

Thankyou again, if you feel unsafe don't stick around.

Thnak you sister. I will keep you in my prayers.

::that last bit was, as the contraction points out, actually informal speech.. she made a joke, even if it wasnt a good one::

Azim. See if we have anybody outside. ::lets Azim go near the grate::

::asim climbs the ladder, pushes mostly ineffectually against the grate for a bit, then manages to push it up enough to see out::

::he lets it fall carefully and shakes his head::

::nods:: Thank you, little friend. ::smiles:::

::motions for Azim to return::

May the darkness blind its own agents and we seek into safety ::Crosses himself::

((::an goes blind, punches Tien:: "thanks a lot"))

((At least we kow now that AN is an agent of evil))

::right, so eventually everyone climbs out of the grate, all careful like...

::waits for Saburo to lead the way::

...the grime of the city, seemingly making up for lost time, starts to cling to every available surface... sadly the mutant sewer homes were cleaner...

((And AN is blinded))

::trudges out into the grime::

...the few lights in the area are all from the noble apartments, one of which you are nearby.. it's early evening, so a few people are still moving around::

((Well, that was fun))

::stealthily moving out into the dark::

::heading for the hotel::

::Trying toi not make too much noise::

((ugh pos keyboard... i just killed my spacebar))

::folows along slowly::

((right, i got it to just as annoying it was before i started trying to fix it.. damn crappy keyboard))

((You could always use the on-screen keyboard.... ::grin::-))

::the apartments loom up ahead of you and you encounter no resistance, and then reach the doorway::

::quietly:: What about the key?

::puts Asim down:: okay, Asim. You know the drill. ::winks at Asim::

::the doorway is to the foyer of the entire complex and is, in fact, not locked::

::takes out lockpicks:: Here's the key. ::grins::

::realizes he's still wearing the dead jackovian's clothing and shivers::

::quietly:: Lets go ::opens the door::

::takes asim's hand, moves through the door::

::slips in behind the others::

::Follows behind the Don.

::walks casually down the hall towards the main desk::

::the foyer is nice and clean, well lit, potted plants around the room.. an older householder looks at you strangely as you slink in:: Can I help you folks?

::nods:: Yes you can ::kills him... just kidding:: We are here to meet an associate of mine.

I believe he should be in his room, although I'm not sure of the number.

((Mr. Sayer Prayers.))

::he flips through a book:: Nope, haven't had anyone by that name around here lately... or at all ::as he looks further back::

Hmmm... maybe we have the wrong place.

May I see the book, he has been known to log under his Pen names. He's something of a writter. Long story...

Sorry, I can't let out the book

::he flips though:: nope

Damn him to hell... I swear.. .by the Pancreator :::starts shouting::: BASTION DAMNIT MAN CAN YOU HEAR ME...

::to the old man:: Tall fellow, short hair, twitches, very nervous.

::looking to Ric:: <w> what is your ward's name..?

::he squints his eyes:: I think I'm going to have to ask you all to leave

::Bow and make for the door::

LISTEN BASTION, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME THE DEAL IS OFF.

((everyone make me perception + observe rolls))

::Then follows the Don::

((cause he's not paying attention while screaming))

::follows too, I spoze::

rolled 1 20-sided die: 12

##5 + 5 = 10 Acent +2##

::to the old man:: Sorry about the inconvenience.

rolled 1 20-sided die: 1

((at least not paying attention to what you should notice))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 12

That would have been a crit

((4+5, your observe is natual so started at 3))

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 15 11

((wanna just roll one adam? :-)))

rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 3

((He's warming the dice up...))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 18

((right, anyone wanna spend wyrd to reroll?))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 11

::right... as you're leaving Ric notices something odd about the plants, and Saburo notes that the plants have fresh soil, and that they're different plants from when he was in here last, as if they'd been changed recently::

::walks over to the old man:: Could you leave a message for him when he comes back in?

He's.. not.. here.. I don't know who you're talking about

<w> The rendaban plants have been changed. Someone got here before us.

::now that you're looking, there's a faint trail of potting soil heading into a back room::

::walks to the manager:: Excuse me, how long has it been since the plants were changed? ::holds hand up:: don't bother.

::looks to Saburo then back to the man::

::heads towards back room::

You people are very strange

::Turns back to the trail of soil leading to back room, follows it::

And I really have to ask that you stay out of the back

::stops, turns:: and why is that?

Because I dont know WHO THE HELL YOU ARE OR WHY YOU ARE ON THE PROPERTY OF THE DECADOS.. that's why

::ignores the old man and attempts to open the door::

Right.. okay.. you've been warned ::there's a buzzing sound as he presses a button on the desk::

Quickly..! ::moves to the back room::

::the door is, in fact, still closed::

:bgins to pick lock with tools::

::starts kicking the door down::

::it's a decent lock, will take you at least two minutes::

::and it's a decent door, and kicking it down will also take a while::

Does anyone have a gun?

::shrugs.. takes out revolver and shoots lock::

::okay, with a sound of a thunderclap in the enclosed area the door lock is shot off::

::there's a small room, some potting soil and trowels and stuff in it, few shelves::

::I'm going to enact Harding, as we might encounter combat::

::hovers in an out-of-the-way spot, wishing he were gardening under pleasanter circumstances::

You search in there, I'll check the planters just in case.

::nods, looks in back room for 'artifact plant'::

::soon after the gunshot there is the sound of many feet coming down the stairs.. saburo recalls that all the decados here seemed to have bodyguards... and at least one was a Kossack::

## Theurgy = 6 x2 =12, right##

::turns over planters in the foyer quickly, not caring a whit about the mess::

((what are you doing?))

::you find nothing::

((Sorry PSY = 6 x2 = 12 hardening))

::the old man replies loudly to An's whisper:: Come back with permission if you can get it but just GET OUT!

((OK, we are back to that. ## 6 + 6 = 12## ((Accent -2))

((you dont have time to accent))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 7

::neither Saburo nor Ric finds anything?::

::nothing besides dirt and roots::

((okay tien, you have 5d armor at this point))

nothing out here! Let's beat it folks!

::peers into back room before dashing out::

::nods, leaves quickly, putting Asim on shoulder::

::an, tien, following?::

:: Following quickly::

Come on, let's go, people. ::ushering people to the exit::

An, what are you doing?

::an's still standing there, Lan is out.. what's everyone doing.. the stairs are shaking heavily::

An. The strategy is Hit and Run. Let's go.

I'm sick of all these hurdles.

::standing at exit, holding door open::

::right.. everyone gets ONE more declaration before the reinforcements get down, and they sound large and many::

Wasarimasu-ka!!! ::rolls eyes, takes out Neural Stunner, shoots An::

((okay, saburo, Dex + Shoot))

::when danger reared it's ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled!::

((current armor is 3+2d))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 4

((the stunner is +1 so 13))

#Far Hand# Old Man - Lifting Hand

rolled 5 6-sided dice: 1 4 6 3 6

((that's 3 damage.. you aren't wearing armor, correct An?))

((correct, just in the Jackovian suit))

((k, roll Endurance + Vigor))

((at -3, right? :-))

((no, you have a Stunner, not a Neural Disruptor))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 15

::right, An slumps over, stunned::

::takes him in arm, runs out the door::

::Turning to make sure that everyone is out the door, Tien stops. Then heads back to help the others::

::right.. as the bulk of a kossack lands in the stairwell, you all manage to slide down the sewer grate and take off at a run::

::An regains motor control a few dozen yards down the sewer, riding on saburo's back::

::Bring up the rear, as I can stand some damage if they fire down the sewer::

::also running:: What happened?

::everyone got out, you're all good for now::

::slows down:: They changed the plants. ::Putting An down::

I thought the planter was supposed to be in his room.

Yes, it is. But now I have some misgivings... We have to return. But we cannot be seen.

Well, how did you get in the first time?

((you dont recall any planters in his room saburo, it was probably the plants downstairs he was referring to))

Wait.. He meant the plants downstairs. ::deep sigh:: Someone got to it before us.

::continues laying limp listening::

How did they know where to look?

Perhaps they just changed the plants... it happens here sometimes

That could be. But.. Something tells me that it isn't...

Or the stone changed the plants

No. The plants were too fresh. And if the previous plants were changed, those who are looking for the stone would have seen the mutations.. Leading to the stone being in their possessoion, again.

Why can it not be in their possession

Only one way to find out. I have to go back.

::Blocks his way:: Way?

Do we have any reason to think anybody else knows anything about what this stone is? ::cuts in:: 'Cuz I'd really like to know.

Or was this Cruze guy completely off his rocker?

Oh no, little priest. I may be brash and headstrong, but not suicidal, like someone we know. We need to plan agin.

::from out of nowhere saburo feels himself pushed into a sewer wall with enough force to wind him::

Before I go jumping around in front of armed guards. Or put anybody back together who tries it. Again.

((An when into the water also?))

::blinks at Saburo::

((an slipped off his shoulder onto the ground))

((and no water was involved, just the wall))

::Defensive stance:: What happened?

Get up, An. ::angry:: get up!!

::sits up:: I owed you one.

This is not the place for this

::smiles icily:: yeah.

rolled 1 20-sided die: 8

::coughs violently into his hand::

::an feels himself rock back and fall into the sewer water that he missed earlier::

::Interpose myself between them::

::turns and walks deeper into the sewers::

What childishness is this? ::Exents hand to help AN up::

::calls out loud:: Next time, I won't be there to shoot you. They will. And they're shots kill.

::climbs slowly out of the sewer::

My lord, do you see the cause of my fear that we would never have found you?

rolled 1 20-sided die: 17

((I suck ass for Jebus.. ))

::Put my hands on An's Hands:: That is enough.

::nothing else happend after he got out of the sewer::

::looks Tien dead in the eyes:: Don't touch me Priest.

::Looking him straight in the eyes:: Enough is enough.

::grabs his head::: DAMNIT! ::slams his body into the sewer wall::

::Kneeling beside AN:: AN, my friend, let me help you. You do not need to sholder all this weight.

::goes nearer to AN::

::curls up on the ground:: ::quietly:: Get out of my head

Are you injured, An? ::looks to Tien, then says to An:: Let's go get cleaned you up. You can lie down.

::uses his legs he pushes himself up against the wall and into and kneeling position::

Where it's quiet. Nice and quiet.

::stands up with his hands still on his head::

::Tien enacts the "Prophet's Holy Blessing" on AN, so that his fight against the power afflicting him will be successful::

::stumbles down the sewer::

((1 w, Faith + Theurgy))

((really need to use faithful heart))

rolled 1 20-sided die: 16

((you need to buy faithful heart then :-)))

((as soon as you can find a theurgist who knows it, sure))

::watches the preist do his thing. Then again,:: Let's go where it's quiet, An.

::puts his arm around AN:: The Pancreator will give you strength to fight and acheive victory in this fight, AN.

::turns on him:: Please... Tien.... Brother... Friend.... don't TOUCH ME!

Then how can I help you?

::continues on down the sewer:: Leave me alone...

((Ricardo, are you with saburo or the rest?))

((k.. then you'll have to lead him back, Beth is with the rest))

::to beth:: Are there baths?

::Knews that he has to go visit the chief priest of the city. And makes up his mind to vitis there as soon as possible.::

(( Oh yes, your monkey shall pay for your misgivings Saburo ;-)))

((i think we'll stop here with a largely botched mission and hope for more auspicious thought processes next week :-)))