~~~ IC ~~~

::Budi has just walked up and had a short conversation with Lan. Vasili has just had his strange sensation of the Pegasus watching him. Martel wanders back up to the jeep outside of the surf-storage place where you've stashed the Pegasus under a false identity. It's late afternoon, warm, and sunny::

((Yeah, well where's An? Huh? Just forget about me? huh?))

((false identity? as what, a surfboard?))

::an is feeling left out, somewhere off to the side::

((as in, the storage shed is rented under an assumed name so your enemies can't track it))

::Vasili, despite himself, takes a step or two towards the object. Unconvinced of its true "power", Vasili's spine tingles nontheless::

((ohhhh)

Yes, it just vanished. So say my contacts.

::watches the sea::

::even through the closed mini-warehouse door, Vasili still senses the ghost of the connection::

::laughs:: One moment it was behind them and then the next they were towing nothing

Awww, poor kids.

::clears his throat uneasily:: That's just. Oh. OH! That. Is a very strange thing. ::shrugs::

SO...next order of buisiness. where to go and what to do when we get there.

::quietly:: The desert? I mean. Not that I like the place.

::Chuckles:: Yes, what next?

Although. Those mutates living there were fascinating. From. What I saw.

Well, I'm still all for tracking down an artifact, and it seems like we are gonna need the grail sometime in the near future, so how about we start with that?

Grail?

Yeah, remember the sliver of stone we had in our vision? seems it was likely a sword. specifically the one that lets you jump without a gate.

I remember the stone, yes. ::Rubs his head.::

Well methinks we need to find it. any ideas people?

::looks at that card he was given again, taking it out of his pocket and putting it back:: So. But where to look for such a thing.

::yep, it still is an open invitation to call on the Marchessa of the Castenda::

ok, if you were an emperor who controlled the known worlds and hiding a powerful artifact, where would you put it?

.... In my back pocket.

In plain site. Noone would know what is really was.

::laughs::

That is my second guess.

Now come on.

the plain sight thing is probably right. But, where would you hide a grail, "In plain sight" on a galactic scale?

Good question.

Perhaps as an ensignia that he wears, or the hilt of a sword that he wears...

I'm sure if you were the emperor you'd be constantly watched for behavior smacking of "stashing goodies." Don't you think?

::shrug:: meybe so...actually thats a good point. lets find someone who might no something about the emperors movements back then... Well, I for one am getting back to the hotel. all this talking around our stolen goods is thirsty work.

::nods:: Good idea.

HA AHAHA. Now you are talking

::hops in the jeep with whatever passengers are coming, and head out to the hotel::

::continues standing watching the surf::

::::Jumps in:: Hey, An. You coming?

Huh? ::looks over his shoulder:: No, you people go ahead, I got thinking to do.

::Looks at the others...:: Should we leave he here? Alone?

::you're only a couple of miles from your apartment::

hischoice. See ya ion a while An. ::guns it for cool, tasty civilization::

Come on, then. ::heads off to the apartment::

::by guns it, martel must mean fires his gun into the air, as vasili is the only one that can drive::

::its a starting gun::

((So, I'm driving?))

((I hope so, cause if martel's driving, you guys are screwed))

((Done))

((I can drive, maybe to in combat, but I can drive))

::right, you guys get back to the apartment. Prejun is dozing on the front porch::

((not in combat))

Mornin Prejun.

((maybe better than martel, but you'd still spend most of the drive looking for the damn joystick on the jeep, as your only actual training is in flying vehicles :P ))

((I'd be allright if it were a camel))

::opens his eyes and nods at everyone:: Afternoon

((What, you enter some coordinates and press the "GO" button, ;-) ))

((on a CAMEL?!?))

::bobs his head to Prejun:: Afternoon. Didn't mean to wake you.

hey prejun, if you were trying to hide a grail somewhere in the known worlds, and you had the resources to hide it anywhere you chose, where would you pick? ::leans back against a wall an pulls out some whiskey

Depends on who I most didn't want findin it, I suppose

fair enough. ::turns to the others:: any clue who the emperor didnt want to find his grail? ::looks back on that sentance, as it confused him a little::

His witch bitch?

Well. People who could figure out what it was. Nobles of other houses. Barbarians? Ahem, so to speak?

ok, makes sense. its gotta be someone with power, because you need a ship to use the thing in the first place. its gotta be someone who could challenge him if they got their hands on the grail.

::Finds a glass and looks for something alcoholic::

::walks down the beach and thinks::

::hands the ship-jockey some whiskey::

Oh course, it probably wasn't the emperor hisself... he probably had it in play right up until he got assassinated. A trusted retainer of some sort probably did the actual hidin

::drinks:: Ah. The other emperor.

True, which means it was probably hidden somewhere easy to find later if needed...I wonder if we are missing a clue to it or soemthing...

Does not Alexius also have a jump stone?

Nope, not that I've heard of... See, my thinkin is that this particular stone factored into your vision... which means that someOne wants you guys to find it.. so you'll have more chance of doing so than the thousands of previous hunters...

only one of em man. hidden...lost...A Grail, but where is it...::goes into muttered musing::

Keep an ear and an eye open for omens, "coincidences", and recurrences

((Mr GM, Where did Vlad's flagship die?))

Heh, look around for signs saying "To Grail, Follow Arrows"?

((it probably didn't... it was probably taken over by the regent or whatever noble house grabbed it during the turmoil following the assassination))

Something like that

Well. I keep having weird visions around these... ahem. Things. Coincidence?

What things?

Gargoyels.

Like. Well, like the gargoyles in the Ghast desert. ::nods::

And the other one in the storehouse we visited.

Or, gargoyle, singular. I guess.

No, not coincidence.. see, the thing about gargoyles, and I'm sure your artifact scholar friend could be more help, is that they're well known for two things... visions and protection... that's why the Nowhere gargoyle is the site of so many pilgrimmages, I reckon, is the tendency to give visions... then you have to look at the whole "protects you from void krakens" superstition... I mean, you could probably think about gargoyles as the protector figures of the Ur myths, without too many counterexamples... the visions may just be an extent of their role to protect, by informing the appropriate folks when there's something they can do to protect themselves or the universe

::Vasili stares blankly, then turns to survey the area::

I guess, as religious folk, you could treat the gargoyles as Pancreator given bodyguards, or summat like that

::grimmaces faintly::

::grins:: I like that. But still, I think we know what we are to do, just not where we need to go to do it.

Mmm, if only they could talk. ::gazes over his shoulder in the direction of the warehouse::

If I'm reading the vision right, we gotta unearth this Grail. From there, who knows, but it can't be protecting if it is still hidden.

That'd just be too easy... you'd think the visions would be a right helpful sign from God Well, it's a stone, not a gargoyle, right?

::nods:: right.

Somehow I doubt "Philosopher's Stone" was an accidental naming for the "catchall" artifact category.. gargoyles are pretty self-explanitory, and soul-shards definately have an element of the soul to them... I gotta figure anything else of the 'Stone category must have some alchemical relationship.. an ability to exalt base matter and transmogrify things, physically or metaphorically... It's probably best to think of anything done by a 'Stone as an alteration of states, not as protection, since we've already determined that's what Gargoyles do

::nods:: Right.

::hand reaches up to a strange bulge on his chest:: ...yeah...right.

Whatcha fiddlin with?

...a stone. ::pulls out a little stone about the size of a grape:: Something I picked up a long time ago.

I hope that ain't some sinner's fossilized private parts

No. They aren't. Got it on Pyre, in exchange for a mistake.

Yep, lots of rocks on Pyre, as I unnerstand it

Too big for a shoe stone...

Strange thing is, it get warm when you squeeze it. uncomfortably so sometimes. I've been using it as my scrupulum

as your what?

Warmer that your sweaty palms?

Hmm. There are some materials that display a kinetic-to-thermal displacement, but. ::peers::

Scrupulum. A constant discomfort the avestite bears to remind him of his sins.

and yes, warmer than my sweaty palms.

hold that up so I can see it better, if'n you don't mind ::squints at it::

::dangles it form its teather::

::Vasili turns back, taking interest in the stone::

::reaches out a finger, nearly touching it, concentrating real hard:: Ooch! ::pulls his finger away from where it was almost touching:: I wouldn't hold that too firmly for a little bit

oh its not especially hot right now.

::if you touch it, you find that you are wrong::

or, well, it wasn't.

That's just damn interesting... it seems to absorb ambient psychic energy and emit it as heat... for you, without any ability to intentionally channel the energy, it just pulls a little bit off of your aura, and a little more when you focus on it... for anyone that can direct psychic energy, it can pull it all in if it's directed enough, or, probably within a certain radius of the stone

::I set it on my palm and stare at it::

Freaky

If you put that in something that doesn't conduct heat, and learn how to maneuver it, it could be a damn nifty defense against psionic attack.. possibly use it for other stuff as well

::close my eyes and begin concentrating, trying to feel the stone in my mind::

::it gets a little warmer, like it always does, but there seems to be a limit as to how much you can heat it::

why non heat conductive?

Well. You know. I hope we're not tangling with any psychics anytime soon... So it doesn't burn you.

What could that thing do if directed with enough psychic energy? Is it dangerous?

It is a scrupulum. it is SUPPOSED to burn me. Could someone go get An?

Yeah, it got near-blistering after a simple probe.. if it has the structural integrity, who knows how hot a concentrated assault would get it?

Enough to burn through Martel completely? You might want to find another place to store that, lest someone accidentally use it against you.

I don't know.. we'd need a precise study of assault to emission.. I figure, though, that any assault that would get it up to levels dangerous to anything not touching it would be really dangerous on its own

I'll, uh. Go get him. ::stuffs his hands in his pockets, and jogs to go get An.::

But, yeah, like the big guy said, if you actually got hit in the 'stone with a psi-bolt, the heat might be worse than the psychic attack if you had it on your skin

::mumbles:: Although, if handed to someone and then concentrated on-- ::Vasili shakes his head suddenly, appalled by the sudden and violent thought that he entertained. He glances around, embarrassed.::

It is my scrupulum. I'll not be shielding myself from it. If I need to protect myself from attack with it, I'll take it out as needed.

hell, it's probably not originally even intended as defense... whoever created it might just have had an abundance of psi energy but no other way to keep warm, or... if it's actually an Ur device, a 'Stone proper... they might have used it to regulate some kind of psychic machine... but that's just speculation

::Laughs:: a psychic hand warmer? What use would that be...

wait. people use psi energy. anything else?

::calls back over his shoulder:: You can do a lot with heat, yanno... ::catches up with An sooner or later::

Currently, just sentient people... but the Ur artifacts all seem to have psychic touches or abilities, so no telling what else they used to have.. I mean, Sathra from the jumpgates is an almost purely psychic phenomenon

::Budi eyes the stone as he drains his glass::

That could be an item complete in itself, or just a part of a much more complicated psychic apparatus

::after about 10 minutes, Lan sees An down the beach and hurries to catch up to him::

::has taken his shoes off and his walking bear foot::

Hey, An.

::looks over his shoulder:: Hey.

Sorry to interrupt. We were having this interesting discussion on, well. Philosophers stones, and this ... uh, rock that the Deacon carries around. I think maybe someone thought you'd have thoughts on it. Speaking of which. Come to any good ones, trying to leave an imprint, here? ::gestures back along teh shoreline.::

Reminds me of a story... ::shakes his head::: Nevermind. Just thinking about what to do next.

::folds his hands behind his back. Shrugs:: Ok. Yeah. So. Should I go see the Marchisa? Or would that just be suicide? And either way, am I socially obliged? Any idea?

Go see her, gather info ::continues walking:: Then cut off her head and we could use it for a good game of ball. ::smirks::

::clears his throat:: Ok. I'll... see about that. ....

No... I'm just concerned about what to do. You could tell her its for science and that there's great reknown to be had with the emperor. ::laughs to himself::

Understandable. ...What, cutting off her head?

Yeah. ::stops suddenly and turns facing the water, and sits down in the sand:: I'm worried.

::assumes his most mannered face:: Marchissa. I assure you. It is for science, AND for glory, that we do this... ::looks down. Nods. Sits.:: If we're really at the crux of big events, there's reason to be. Not to mention the personal side of it.

Yeah, this sucks. But what do we do. If I had an army at my disposal, I'd break in and rescue her.

Back to that. Well. We should get that plan underway. It's less likely to make us look bad than my drug lab. Do you really think she's doing this because it seems necessary to her?

Partly, she's doing it for her family. ::picks at the sand:: Partly she's doing this because she's being told its what "must be done"

Makes sense. I'm sorry it's working out like this for now. Still. If fate's some kinda storm, you know. I don't think we've got rainbows yet. Something tells me the whole situation could shift tomorrow.

Maybe, maybe. I just wish there was some way to see her face to face, let her know that we're trying... I hate to think of her in there not knowing if anything's going on.

::the invitation into the presence of the marchessa, currently running in the same circles as Maria, presses lightly into Lan's skin through the pocket he's keeping it in::

So. I'll go see the Marchessa. ::shrugs:: Comb my hair real neat. ::Lan has a vague sense, at best, of whose circle is what, though An might know:: She's not going to have me, behaded, or anything, is she? I just. Um. Something about her disturbs me. And, she called me mawkish. ::tries to frown. Smirks::

Make sure to shower. No, just make sure to be polite, and slightly condesending, the rich love it when you socially spar.

The humble impoverished know it only too well, milord. ::hand to chest, bows head slightly::

Indeed. ::smiles:: You'll be fine. If you see her... tell her... you know what to tell her.

::clears his throat, hops up:: Right then. Have a good think. Get back with the others.... I'll bespeak you like... that ancient literary figure with the big nose.

Stephen King?

No, he had a hazatlike name. Don Bergerac. I think.

Doesn't ring a bell.

::scratches his head:: Ok. Seriously. Anything specific I should say? You don't really think I'll *see* her? ::squints::

.... I don't know. I'll put it in your capable hands, but at some point, call her Gustav. Tell me if she smiles

::expressionlessly commits that to memory:: Good. I'll go. Make some inquiries about when the Marchessa... is holding audience and all. ::has comitted Gustav to memory::

::heads back to the apartment, and makes plans to go see the Marchessa, soon.::

::sits on the beach, watching the tide come in::

::maybe take her a small gift. Like, a book. Preferrably one with lots of pictures.::

::sitting on a rocker, smoking a bad cigar, Martel actually has a thought:: heh, meybe its ON Grail. get it? signs pointing to Grail, and THE grail? its so crazy, it just might work...

::wonders what the Deacon is doing muttering about the grail, smoking indoors:: What about Grail?

Think about it. Sorta like hiding something in plain site, everyone knows about grail, so no one is going to automatically assume it IS on grail, y'know, the grail. Tell me why it couldn't work.

Heh heh. I suppose so. It'd be nice to go back home for a few months and look, I admit...

((Night everyone!))

has left the room.

*shrug* probably wouldn't take nearly that long. If we are really meant to find it, It'll likely show up pretty quickly.

Mmmmaybe. Grail's as big as any other planet tho', Martel....

But its also pretty isolated. hard to attack, not really travelled to often...

True, true. ::looks around for Prejun::

And like I said, IF we are supposed to find it, then the way will likely become more clear the closer we get to the Grail.

((and, you know, completely uncharted... stupid Imperial survey books, leaving out planets that aren't specifically fiefs of the 5 big houses or the empire))

Mmh. I bet that gargoyle thing would help. I mean. In... whatever capacity. Assuming we could transport it.

I bet we could. point is, are we planning a trip to Grail?

Well. ::blinks:: Why don't we run it past the guys? Maybe you're right, I mean... ::rubs his stubbly face::

::still on the porch::

...kinda does have a ::its so crazy it just might work" feel to it don't it? ::walks out to the porch:: hey Prejun, The Grail on the planet Grail? what do you reackon the chances are?

Yeah. Yeah. Hey, sir? ::pokes head out the front door:: Can I run something past you?

Meh? Sure

What do you think the chances are the Emperor stashed it on Grail? ::gives that "who knows? Not me?" kinda look::

((Night, guys))

Dunno. At least one out of whatever the number of known worlds at the time was... Prolly better'n 1%... What's important is that you think there's a chance

::sighs:: Yeah. Say. You want some tea?

Sure.

((that all you three have left for tonight?))

::does back in and brews tea:: I guess. Jeez. Seeing grail again.... ::to the Deacon, distractedly::

((yes. Although, for me, there's seeing the Marchessa. i got to hit the sack soon, however. ))

you leave behind any problems on Grail?

Well, you need me to arrange a cruise?

((I'm good for the night))

::Walks out onto the porch::

((OK))

~~~ OOC ~~~

Okay, so next week is Lan meeting with Malena, and trying to get to see Maria, while everyone else tries to figure out a way to get a semi-permanent ship on which a gargoyle can be transported... after that, unless something unexpected happens, trip to Grail