From tbutler@birch.net Sat May 19 17:48:46 2001
Date: Sat, 19 May 2001 12:11:40 -0500
From: Travis Butler <tbutler@birch.net>
To: Chris Bremner <chrisb@thekeep.org>, Philip J. Moyer <pmoyer@jurai.net>
Subject: Battle at Avignon, Bey's perspective


Motoko says, "Okay... let's see if we have things straight."

Motoko says, "The main strike team consists of Moriya, Shizumaru,
Rimururu, Mitsune and Anno.  They're supposed to get to Ebenscrux,
rescue the prisoners, and place the Elder Signs on the Lion Spikards so
Anno can summon the Sign of the Logrus to do some whipass Logrus-type
things to mess Ebenscrux up right good."

Moriya says, "I think Davros is coming with us as well."

Motoko says, "Oh, right, Davros."

DM says, "Davros is going to go with Moriya's team unless he's needed
with the other one."

Beowulf nods.

Motoko says, "The diversion team consists of Beowulf, Lily, Hiko and
Motoko.  They're going to attack one of the bridges from which Ebenscrux
draws cross-Shadow power, hopefully diverting its attention
significantly and making the attack of the main team that much easier.
They'll be posing as Cathari terrorists, making a huge press in the wake
of Malraux's disappearance and the inevitable power struggle to be the
next Cyberpope."

Moriya asks, "What has Beowulf managed to conjure up in the meantime?"

Beowulf says, "Let's see. Aircraft to skywrite heretical slogans and
hopefully draw the attention of the Cyberpapacy air force..."

Beowulf says, "Hacking devices to plug into the Godnet and wreak havoc
on their computer systems and communications."

Beowulf says, "Among other things, they should start falsifying orders
to cyberpapacy military units, if they can hack into the military
network, stating that other units have been subverted and ordering them
to attack."

Moriya says, "Hm. I see that Mitsune is noted for her skill with
electrical magic. While this may not be usable against Ebenscrux itself,
she can probably fry some of the guardians that we'll encounter."

Moriya says, "What else...."

Motoko asks, "It would be helpful if we knew more about the nature of
the Cathari movement, in order to help us best plan our diversion. 
John, does Anno know more?"

Moriya says, "When we reach Ebenscrux, we might need to split the team
slightly. One team to rescue Drake and Nanami, while the other helps
Anno take out the spikards."

Motoko says, "Well, you'll have to decide that based upon Ebenscrux's
setup."

DM says, "Not much.  He knows it's a group of religious heretics who are
opposed to the church hiearchy because they believe it corrupt. "

Gabrielle says, "It's been proven that the Cyberpapists really, really
like having Option Zero's ready."

DM says, "And they're basically gnostics; he can yank you some
theological texts on gnosticism out of shadow, if you like."

Gabrielle says, "Maybe you'd better have a way to get out FAST."

Motoko says, "Hrm.  So perhaps hacking into the media nets could also be
useful as a distraction.  Displaying heretical messages, etc."

Beowulf says, "I may have a couple of potential sources for allied
armies, though it'll take some time to recruit them. One spot is
fasttimed and should be no problem, but the other is normal time and may
take more than a day."

Moriya says, "I imagine Anno has sufficient Logrus skillz to yank
himself and a few people out easily. Davros probably not nearly as good,
but good enough for a couple more. Mitsune could rack a few teleports or
something."

Beowulf says, "Already planned, Motoko."

Beowulf says, "One of the things the hacking devices I built will do."

Motoko says, "Allied armies probably aren't a good idea, as we want to
make the diversion look like an inside job."

Motoko says, "'The Cathari making a major attack' rather than
'cross-Shadow invasion'."

Beowulf says, "Well, one group is highly skilled at guerilla warfare and
revolutions, and probably wouldn't be a problem in that respect."

Moriya says, "Marx, eh? :>"

Beowulf says, "Ayup. :)"

Beowulf says, "The other thought I had was Screwtape's World, as they
hate Outsiders with a passion and would probably love the opportunity to
attack a Church. :)"

Motoko says, "I will admit that the idea of attacking cyber-Catholics
with the aid of Communists and C.S. Lewis ripoffs has a certain appeal. 
:)"

Moriya giggles.

Beowulf exclaims, "The hacking devices will also set off a string of
events: The Godnet goes down briefly. A faked message of the Cyberpope
will come on claiming that everything is all right. The fake will be
noticeable with some study... because a few minutes later, a 'pirate'
message will come on claiming that the Church hierarchy has been
infiltrated and has killed his Holiness, and sent out the fake message
to reassure the people. The people are encouraged to rise against the
corrupt hierarchy!"

Motoko says, "I still don't really like the idea of bringing in outside
help, though.  As both Marx and Screwtape would have their own agendas."

Moriya nods.

Beowulf says, "Screwtape's World has their own agenda, yes; Marx doesn't
particularly."

Motoko says, "Yes, but Marx are a bunch of filthy Commies, and I won't
work with Reds.  :)"

Moriya says, "Marx just likes to have revolutions."

Beowulf asks, "And so? Isn't that exactly what we want, Moriya?"

Moriya says, "Yeah."

Motoko says, "It's also a matter of efficiency.  If we take an army
along, we have to care for 'em, lead them, look out for them... I'd
thought the diversion plan was simply to drop in in the Tardis, take
control of the bridge's network port, dump the viruses, and then begin
busting shit up."

Gabrielle coughs and reminds you all what 'revolution' means in the
context of TAMD.

Motoko beats Merc up and steals his revolution.

DM noogies Merc.  The Marxians are not trying to open the Gate of
Revolution :)

Beowulf says, "I was planning on basically trump-gating them in to cause
havoc, not trying to lead them as an army. :)"

Gabrielle exclaims, "Noooo! Don't take mt revoltuion!"

Motoko says, "Well, if they're willing to engage in what's basically a
suicide mission.  :)"

Motoko says, "Sorry, dude.  All your revolution are belong to us."

Gabrielle asks, "Doesn't Motoko have her own army of fanatical
worshippers?"

Motoko says, "In the Golden Circle."

Beowulf says, "I'd warn them that there's a good chance they won't come
back... but they'll have a glorious chance to stick it to the Man. :)"

Motoko says, "Which is a little far from the Courts of Chaos."

Gabrielle says, "Eh. Got Mo to fling them all to Chaos."

Motoko says, "Also, Motoko doesn't particularly want to throw her
armies, armed with their katanas and longbows, against cyberwarriors. 
:)"

Motoko says, "Motoko doesn't really feel one way or the other about
Shadow people normally, but Kenshi's population are hers, and she isn't
going to throw them away in what she sees as a needless action."

Motoko says, "Well, if Marx can be fitted into the plan to cause more
havoc, bully for them.  As long as they don't get in the way of the work
of the diversion team or the main team."

Beowulf says, "The thing is, the Cyberpapists definitely *do* have an
army, and will undoubtedly be sending it against us... backed by Drake's
skills. I'd prefer to have a little something to act against it."

Motoko says, "Well, the plan is not to stand around and fight any army
they send against us."

Moriya says, "This is a guerilla warfare situation. A large army like
theirs may utterly fail against a small powerful group such as
yourselves."

Motoko says, "By the time they manage to mobilize anything really
potent, we should be finished, the prisoners should be freed, and we'll
have moved on."

Beowulf says, "True. And hopefully the virii will cause some havoc and
infighting, but I won't count on that."

Motoko says, "Well, Motoko's EMP Armageddon spell should make their
lives really difficult."

Beowulf says, "I know it's a guerilla warfare situation... which is why
I wanted to import guerillas to fight it. :)"

Gabrielle says, "It's too bad Lian is with Kanna. This is the sort of
thing she's really, really good at."

Beowulf says, "Speaking of Drake... we know there will be at least one,
most likely two, people sent out with borrowed skills: Drake's warfare
and Nanami's sorcery/psyche."

Moriya says, "If Shizumaru has the Logrusfoil, then the main strike team
will have two nice spell-breakers."

Motoko says, "Sending out Marxist guerilla teams disguised as Cathari to
instigate havoc might be effective, yes.  I just think their usefulness
to the diversion attack against the bridge is questionable, to the
extent where they might simply get in our way."

Kanna OOCly returns.  Righto.  I be good for getting down wi' my elven
self.

Lian glues elf ears to Kanna.

Beowulf says, "Suggestions on dealing with them? I'm hoping someone in
our strike group will have neural disrupt, which would hopefully stop
the Drake-warfare guy long enough for me to disarm him with the whip,
but if that doesn't work, he could be a problme."

Jacqueline says, "OOCLY o/ whoo got the funk?  we got the funk! yeah!
o/~"

Beowulf says, "I'm not sure how we're going to deal with sorcery
person."

Moriya says, "You've got Hiko with a spikard. That's how you'll deal
with the sorcery problem."

Motoko says, "Dude, a Neural Disrupt isn't going to let you disarm
someone with Drake's Warfare unless Beowulf's Warfare is way higher than
I think it is.  :)"

Gabrielle notes that Drakes Warfare is all about TACTICS.

Lian says, "Magic-negating bullets are good for dealing with sorcery
people. :)"

Beowulf asks, "Try 60, with whip disarm as a notable skill?"

Motoko says, "Drake's Weapon Skill was still good enough to kick
Moriya's ass."

Moriya says, "Yes."

Motoko says, "And Moriya has 1st in Warfare among the PCs."

DM notes that Drake's warfare has already been shown sufficient to still
hit Moriya while a Potato is boring into his body... :)

Gabrielle says, "Oh yeah, good point."

Motoko says, "Meaning I doubt Beowulf can disarm Drake."

Motoko says, "I suggest dealing with Drake by hitting him various
extremely nasty spells.  :)"

Moriya says, "However, if Hiko eats the Drake-avatar's brain with her
spikard, Beowulf can probably do that."

Beowulf says, "True enough. <sigh> That's why I was hoping a neural
disrupt would stop him for just a few seconds, enough to grab the weapon
away."

Moriya says, "You guys have mad, mondo psyche and sorcery with you. You
can deal with both Nanami and Drake types."

Motoko says, "A Neural Disrupt makes someone twitch a bit.  It won't let
'em be disarmed by someone they probably have 50% more Warfare than."

Motoko says, "If Beowulf gets in combat with the Drake-type, I suggest
fighting defensively as hell, because otherwise he'll chainsaw him."

Moriya says, "While the others try to fry the Drake-type."

Beowulf nods.

Motoko says, "However, best-case scenario, we aren't around long enough
for Ebenscrux to converge on us with pumped-up servants."

Beowulf says, "One can hope. :)"

Motoko says, "In the worst possible situation, where we're getting our
asses severely kicked, we teleport away or trump out, or run away.  But
I don't think that will happen, as we're a pretty l33t group."

Beowulf asks, "Let's see, what will happen to the shadow when Ebenscrux
goes vop? Presumably the diversion team will notice... :) but will we
need to get out immediately?"

Gabrielle says, "Well, you do have Anno."

Moriya says, "As Merc noted, the Cyberpapalists seem to like having an
Option Zero."

Motoko says, "The main team has Anno."

Motoko says, "Diversion team will likely escape by cross-Shadow
teleport."

DM says, "If Anno can't get you out...nothing was going to get you out
anyway :)"

Motoko says, "Which I know Motoko is capable of, and I'm undoubtedly
sure Hiko is as well."

Gabrielle says, "Hiko, fortunatly, doesn't have Nagisa's glaring weak
spot."

Motoko says, "From what Anno said, once Ebenscrux's connection to the
Outsiders through the Lion Spikards is cut, he can bring in the Sign of
the Logrus to wreck shit."

Moriya says, "Main strike force will probably depend on Anno to get us
out."

Motoko asks, "Anyway, did we ever decide how exactly we were going to
get into the Shadow?"

Jacqueline says, "by bus."

Moriya says, "Best way was to sneak in through the bridge, I thought."

Motoko nods.  "Find an adjoining Shadow and go in through there."

Beowulf says, "Attack group was going to go in via bridge. Diversion
group would go in by Tardis."

Potemkin o/~ Pardon me boy, is that the Cyberpapal Choo-Choo? o/~

Beowulf says, "Not adjoining, necessarily, as they could be built to
widely separated shadows."

Motoko says, "That's true.  Find one and go in through there. Not sure
about the Tardis, though, as that might scream 'NOT AN INSIDE JOB',
ruining a key part of our diversion."

Moriya says, "Hey, might you guys be able to bring the Tardis in along
the bridge? Stick it into Beowulf's bag? And use it as an escape means,
by which time it doesn't really matter if they think it's an inside or
outside job."

Motoko says, "That sounds like a good use for it."

Motoko says, "Although depending on just what it would detect when the
Tardis entered Avignon, it might be useful both ways."

Beowulf nods. "The construct might be able to damage the external
interface, which is why I was planning on stuffing it into the bag as
soon as it landed, but as an escape vehicle that shouldn't be a
problem."

Beowulf says, "Yes, that's a big reason why I was planning on using
it... as it would draw attention. Was there any particular reason we
*wanted* it to look like an internal diversion? An external invasion
would be more likely to draw its forces away, I'd think."

Moriya says, "It could also clue Ebenscrux in to be on guard for the
main strike force."

Motoko says, "Because an external attack might make it think 'Amberites
come to retrieve their family'."

Beowulf nods. "Point."

Motoko says, "Whereas if we make it look like an internal attack, it's
'Cathari insurgents making a press in light of Malraux's death'."

Beowulf says, "Though it might take an external invasion to draw the
'Drake' away from Ebenscrux, as otherwise he might just send ordinary
generals to deal with the revolt."

Motoko says, "I think if we have both teams enter by a bridge, disguised
as traffic (we observe from the connected Shadow to see how best to
disguise ourselves) and then split up at the bottom, that would be best.
 The two teams can then get into position, and the diversion team can
launch their strike just when the attack team needs Ebenscrux's
attention drawn away."

Beowulf taps his chin. "Hmmm... would Malarux have had any rivals
besides the Amber folk? They might be a good ploy to use."

Motoko says, "OOCly, I'm worried enough about having to possibly deal
with an unexpected Gaunt Man attack during this.  :)  ICly, not that I
know of."

Moriya says, "Anno might know."

Lian asks, "But will he also tell?"

Beowulf says, "Good question. He *did* give me the tapes for you... ^_^"

Motoko says, "As for drawing 'Drake' away, I get the feeling that it's
not a matter of 'this person now has Drake's Warfare', it's 'this person
who my manifestation now has Drake's Warfare', and that can be switched
around as necessary."

Beowulf says, "Depending on how fast he can switch it... but even though
you're probably right, we ought to try to force it to keep its 'Drake'
skills focused externally."

Motoko says, "Well, if we start doing the incredible amounts of damage
that we're capable of, I think it'll send out Drake even if the attack
force apparently consists of two small children and their puppy
Snuffles.  :)"

Moriya chuckles.

Motoko says, "It will depend on the size and construction of these
bridges, but I'm fairly sure we've got a good shot of bringing one of
them down, which will definitely get Ebenscrux's attention."

Motoko entertains everyone with traditional French folk songs while they
wait.  "o/~ Sur le pont d'Avignon / on y danse, on y danse..."

Kanna dances to the folk songs.

Motoko says, "o/~ Sur le pont d'Avignon / on y danse, tous en ronde..."

Moriya asks, "Chris, Alan's singing in French. Doesn't that violate some
sort of capital law?"

Lian says, "Unfortunately no. He's Canadian."

Motoko says, "Oddly, the translation of the song is, 'o/~ On the bridge
of Avignon / One dances, one dances / On the bridge of Avignon / One
dances, we all dance in a circle."

Moriya says, "Drat."

Moriya says, "That's because the French are stupid and must be killed."

Beowulf bee-dah's at Drew, and took French in high school and college,
thank you very much. :)

Moriya reaches for his gun.

Lian says, "Doesn't change the fact that the French have to be killed."

Motoko says, "Hey, Andrew, chill."

Motoko says, "We're going to get to kill all kinds of French.
_Cybernetic_ French."

Moriya says, "..."

Moriya *.*

Moriya exclaims, "YES!"

Gabrielle says, "Hey, I've been toFrance. It's a great country. Except
for, you know, all the French people."

Kanna and Corrine pout.

DM says, "Okay, Kanna, Lian, head into Arden, then go into Skippy"

Lian has left.

Aerianne has left.

DM says, "Once the diversion team and the main team split, I will send
the diversion team to Arden."

Beowulf nods.

DM says, "Okay, now, both teams are going to enter via Bridge, then the
main team splits off and heads to the Cyberpalace while the diversion
squad goes after a bridge."

DM asks, "Correct?"

Moriya says, "Yes."

DM asks, "Same bridge you entered by or a different one?"

DM asks, "And how are you garbing yourselves for bridge crossing?"

Motoko says, "Perhaps it would be best to have the diversion squad head
to another bridge, further distancing them from the main team, and
giving the main team time to get to the Cyberpalace."

Beowulf nods in agreement.

Moriya says, "In the same garb as those who are crossing the bridge back
into Avignon."

Motoko says, "Hrm.  Would depend on what traffic was like. Garbing
ourselves as pilgrims going to Avignon might be best, if that's
possible, as it would explain why we were in a large group, and we could
wear robes."

DM says, "Three of the bridges touch down in Avignon, and the pilgrim
routine is a good one, as many pilgrims cross the bridges."

Beowulf nods. "Can we find what shadows the other ends come out in?"

DM says, "Anschutz, Watson, and Wescoe, three shadows long ago conquered
by the Cyberpope and now thoroughly under his thumb."

Motoko says, "Do the pilgrim routine, then.  It should be easy to blend
into Avignon once we do that and get into our respective positions.  We
should probably synchronize a time for the diversion attack and the
infliltration of the Cyberpalace, for maximum effect with minimum time."

Moriya nods.

Beowulf OOCly thwaps DM for KU references. :p

Beowulf nods... trump would probably be better for coordination but
would be subject to being tapped.

Motoko asks, "Does everyone have visible cyberware, generally? Will we
look suspicious if we don't?"

DM says, "Everyone has visible cyberware"

DM says, "Especialy, everyone has a J-Jack for Godnet Access."

Beowulf can conjure fake cyberware for everyone.

Beowulf says, "Though it won't stand up to a dispelling, that shouldn't
be a problem until we give it a reason."

Moriya says, "Heck, Davros can shapeshift everyone to have some."

Moriya says, "Those of us who aren't already shapeshifters."

Motoko says, "I think Conjured fakes would probably be better, unless
they'd be easily detectable as fakes.  Then again, so would
shapeshifting."

Moriya asks, "What does Anno say about this?"

DM says, "Anno thinks shapeshifting would be harder to detect, as it's
easier to detect magic than shapeshifting."

Motoko says, "Shapeshifting to give the appeareance of visible cyberware
would probably be best, then."

Moriya says, "Okay, we do that."

Beowulf nods.

Moriya asks, "All right. When Shizu comes back...anyone with him we can
recruit, and does he have the Logrusfoil?"

DM says, "He has the Logrusfoil."

DM says, "While he has people with him, they head back into the Cave of
Worlds once they're sure you aren't all going to kill him and eat his
flesh :)"

Motoko says, "And a very interesting story, no doubt.  :)"

Moriya laughs.

DM says, "Yep."

Moriya says, "Okay."

Motoko asks, "And then, once they're gone, we kill him and eat his
flesh, right?"

DM says, "Not many people can say they've seen a Logrus manifestation go
poof :)"

Moriya says, "I'd rather RP out a tender family reunion, but I know
we're all itching to get the attack on."

DM nods

Beowulf says, "Awww... I was hoping Rose would stay. :)"

<insert tender family reunion here>

DM says, "Rose needs to go find a universe that NEEDS a Keeper of the
Logrus :)"

Beowulf says, "I know, I know... but I was hoping Anno would find
someone special in Rose. :)"

Motoko says, "Rose can come back to Avalon and replace Nanami as
Assistant Keeper.  Please."

Naga wakes up.

Moriya asks, "Anything else, or are we ready to rock?"

Motoko says, "I think we're as ready as we'll be, unless anyone thinks
there's anything we haven't taken into consideration."

Moriya says, "There's always something we haven't thought of. x.x"

Jacqueline says, "potatoes? :)"

Motoko says, "Well, a potato gap may exist, but we'll just have to
handle that as best we can."

Motoko says, "And yes, there always is something, but as long as we're
not missing anything major and obvious.  :)"

Jacqueline o/~ A-taaack, of the killer potatooooes o/~

Beowulf says, "Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."

Moriya says, "Let's go."

Beowulf nods.

DM says, "Righto."

You slip into the shadow known as Anschutz, which the cyberpope has
turned into industrial zone for producing cyberware, thanks to its
mineral resources.

You make your way through the streets to the great Cathedral where the
bridge touches down.

Motoko does her best to look holy, humble, and cybernetic.

Moriya OOCly says, "What does the general mood of the place seem to be?"

Then you stand in line for hours because there's a ton of pilgrims and
only so many buses.

Beowulf observes the locals to try and catch normal behavior patterns he
can imitate.

Everyone seems to be trying very hard to be humble and holy. The priests
and Church Police look a little nervous.

Moriya OOCly says, "Oh, anyone know the Laissez Faire spell, or whatever
it is? :)"

Autolyca has connected.

Motoko says, "OOC:  Savoir Faire.  :)"

Moriya OOCly says, "Savoir. Right. n.n;"

Beowulf says, "OOC Savoir Faire. I believe Lily or Mitsune do."

Motoko says, "OOC:  A Laissez Faire spell would probably do something
like make a Shadow work on the rules of free market economics. :)"

Moriya OOCly says, "As soon as I said it, I realized I'd used the wrong
one. :)"

About an hour before you finally get seats on a bus, a large view screen
in the waiting area turns on, and the news comes on, announcing that the
College of Cardinals is continuing to pray to determine who should
become the new Cyberpope.

Motoko does whatever all the other pilgrim-types do in response to this.

They all watch the news, pretty much :)

Moriya bows his head and prays as well. Or looks like it, anyway.

Various other things are announced--weather, the ongoing conquest of
Topeka, and the burning of the entire shadow of McCullom for Heresy.

Beowulf makes an outward show of piety.

Lots of nuclear fire is displayed.

Finally, your bus comes, and you all get on.  Everyone else on the bus
jacks into the netjack by their seat.

Moriya OOCly says, "Oh, crap."

Moriya looks at the jack sadly. "I hope we can get our implants fixed
properly in Avignon itself."

Motoko nods glumly in agreement.

Beowulf sighs in agreement and looks mournfully at the jack.

Anno jacks in.  Ahh, the joys of shapeshifting.

He then projects his mind through the connection and eats the brain of
the driver, so the man won't notice half the Pilgrims on the bus aren't
jacked in.

Beowulf OOCly blinks and mentally thanks Anno-sama.

The bus then drives down into a cathedral/bus station and drops you all
off.

Okay, what are y'all going to use for transport around the city?

Moriya looks around and tries to get his bearings. Where is Ebenscrux,
from here?

Ebenscrux is three miles north of you at the Cyberpalace in the center
of the city.  The other two bridges form a equilateral triangle around
Ebenscrux.

Beowulf asks, "OOC What are the other pilgrims doing?"

And are thus, further away.

The other pilgrims are scattering in various directions; catching buses,
taxies, walking, etc.

Moriya OOCly says, "Moriya and Motoko have those special mold shadow
stuff bags for currency, so each group can get a taxi or something like
that to move around."

DM says, "OOC There's also a rental place next door."

Motoko says, "OOC:  Where you likely need cyberware to rent. :)"

Beowulf says, "OOC I suggest walking around in typical pilgrim's wonder
at the sights. :)"

DM says, "OOC Well, yes, you do need it to drive..."

Moriya OOCly says, "Actually, it may be best to walk or something."

Motoko says, "OOC:  I suspect that it might be best to simply walk to
our destinations."

Moriya OOCly says, "Yes."

Motoko says, "OOC:  Give both groups plenty of time to arrive at their
destinations and get into place and then, at a synchronized time, have
the diversion team go into action."

Moriya OOCly says, "Exactly."

As you move through the city, you notice it is a very clean and tidy
place; the air is very fresh and clean, thanks to the use of fusion
technology and electrical vehicles.

Naga falls asleep.

Motoko says, "OOC:  A few hours, and, given that the main team will
reach the Cyberpalace first, they'll have some time to scout out
possibly entry routes, or see how far they can get into it before
they'll need to start using things that will pick them out as other than
normal pilgrims."

This makes the smoke rising from a single tower of a large cathedral
near the Cyberplace quite conspicuous.  A constant stream of black smoke
rises from it.

DM says, "OOC Okay, Diversion team, go to Arden."

Beowulf says, "OOC Righto."

Arden

Beyond the Wood Door

[Exits: Skippy, Main Room. ]

Contents:  Rabies, Michelle, afp, and Kuonji Ukyou.

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC brief pause."

Okay, your team heads for a bridge.  The bridge comes down into a
Cathedral/Bus Station type place, guarded by a squad of church police,
and chock full of pilgrims waiting to use it.

Beowulf finds an out-of-the-way place and examines the bridge with his
analysis spectacles, keeping a look of awe on his face if anyone sees
him.

Motoko confers with Hiko and Lily.  "How do you think we should
proceed?"

Hiko says, "Well, I can think of several ideas.  One of them would be to
do magic to suck all the electricity in this area into the building,
electrocute as many people as possible, and set the building on fire.  I
can then make the fire explode, taking out the bridge and several city
blocks.

She continues, "This would also hamper response if the local power grid
is feeding all its power into the now flaming, wrecked area.

Motoko nods.  "That sounds like a perfect start.  Quick and sudden.  A
single, devastating first attack.  We can accompany that with Uncle
Beowulf's skywriting drones.  Should we make sure to insert this, err,
'virus' into the computer nets first?"

Hiko says, "I have prepared a spell which should render the guards
dysfunctional as well."

Beowulf mmms. "What do you have in mind to take out the non-physical
structure of the Bridge, cousin?"

Beowulf looks around for Godnet terminals.

Hiko looks at Beowulf.  "Say what?"

There are several dozen cybercafes nearby for the convience of pilgrims.

Beowulf says, "Well, there's obviously something besides physics holding
it up, as unsupported stone arches tend to fall down."

Plus confession booths in the Cathedral.

Beowulf says, "OOC Er, stone *half*-arches."

Motoko says, "I would suspect that the other half of the bridge in the
other Shadow acts to hold it up."

Hiko says, "I can try amping a Magic Negation with my spikard if blowing
the Cathedral doesn't do it."

Motoko says, "Either way, we're not concerning ourselves with doing true
and permanent damage to the bridge.  Temporary physical damage and the
destruction of massive amounts of city property ought to do the job of
distraction that we need."

Beowulf nods. "That should do. I suspect I should put my viruses into
the network before blowing the electrical grid in the area."

Hiko nods.  "Righto."

Motoko nods to Beowulf.  "After Aunt Hiko blows up the cathedral and we
release the skywriting drones, I suggest we move as a group, launching
strikes against targets as they become convenient, and generally doing
as much damage as possible."

Beowulf nods. "Also, keep an eye out for Godnet jacks; I've got little
gifts for them, and I'd like to spread them as widely as possible."

You spend a while planting viruses.

Beowulf asks, "OOC How's the time to diversion start looking?"

Once you get the viruses planted, it's time.

Beowulf nods. "All right, everyone... showtime."

Hiko grins.

Motoko nods.  She's strapped a crossbar to the hilt of her bokken, and,
half-concealed within her robes as it is, it resembles a large wooden
crucifix at first glance.

Beowulf gets ready to defend with the whip as necessary, switching to
the sword if they get close in.

Motoko says, "OOC:  Well, we're probably several blocks away from the
centre of the attack, so it likely won't be traced back to us right
away.  :)"

Hiko reaches out with her spikard and Ownz the electrical grid for about
a mile radius.

Then she feeds it all into the Cathedral.  Tons of electronics blow
out,a nd parts of the Cathedral begin to burn.

Motoko stands watch, in general awe of Hiko's Mad Sorcery Skillz.

Lily watches, looking very, very nervous.

Beowulf blinks and looks impressed.

Then Hiko gestures and the Cathedral explodes in huge screaming flames. 
Several city blocks turn into a crater.

Then she points at the bridge, which has lost its bottom hundred feet or
so, but still hangs in the air.

She speaks Magic Negation, and the bridge shimmers, then falls from the
sky.

Motoko asks, "OOC:  Should the skywriters be in action now?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Whenever y'all launch them. :)"

Beowulf nods, and launches them from cover, suggesting they move away
quickly.

Motoko nods.  "We should blend into the crowds (which are undoubtedly
fleeing in panic), and look for a target to strike."

Beowulf does a quick scan of the area for tactically valuable targets.
Also, any sign of the virii going off yet?

The fire begins to spread.  There's screaming and people running
everywhere.

Then the skywriters go to work.  Various TV screens start spouting
Beowulf's hideous lies.

Motoko says, "Move with the crowd.  Do not get separated from one
another."  She moves to join in with  some of the panicked citizenry,
wailing and gnashing her teeth, but making sure not to leave the others
behind.

Beowulf says, "Hideous lies? o.o :)"

Beowulf takes rearguard, as Motoko has some combat skills, and acts out
appropriate crowdly horror.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Any likely-looking targets nearby?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC There are lots of church police vehicles going
by, fire trucks, cathedrals, power lines, stores, intersections you
could blow up, etc."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Any look particularly tactically significant?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Well, taking out the power lines would be a
good start."

Beowulf OOCly nods.

Beowulf asks, "Perhaps the power lines next, cousin?"

Motoko nods and looks around for a centralized control box or otherwise
to zap.

Motoko gestures surreptitiously in the direction of a nearby
transformer.  It does the snap, crackle, pop thing, and blows off very
impressive sparks as it goes down.

You continue to rampage, trashing things; the opposition is hideously
unable to stop you.

Motoko murmurs, "I just hope this is doing what we hope."

Beowulf nods in agreement. "I certainly hope so," he replies quietly.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Any Godnet terminals Bey can tap into to check the
current military status?"

Beowulf murmurs quietly, "Hopefully they would trump us if they were in
bad trouble."

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Okay, I need to pause y'all for the moment."

Beowulf says, "OOC Sounds like they're busy. o.O"

As time passes, and you all wreck huge screaming wadges of havoc, it
starts to become apparent you could probably level most of the city
without them being able to catch up with you.

Motoko pants a bit.  "We're doing a lot of damage... but I'm not sure
how much of a distraction this is causing.  We've encountered no real
opposition."

Beowulf nods, a slight frown on his face. "It appears our distraction
isn't good enough. Perhaps we should head in the direction of the main
Cathedral, pausing our little damage spree, and see if there's anything
obvious going on."

The city is in surging anarchy; you have guaranteed the palace won't get
reinforced, anyway...

Motoko frowns.  "I think we should get there as quickly as possible."

Motoko asks, "Aunt Hiko...?"

Beowulf nods.

Hiko says, "I can teleport us all into the Palace."

She continues, "I'm a little worried they mayhave anti-teleport wards."

Beowulf asks, "If they do, do we get bounced back out, or get
scrambled?"

Motoko asks, "How close can you get us safely?"

Hiko says, "I'm certain I could put us just outside the walls safely."

Motoko nods.  "Then do that.  Though, give me a moment..."

Motoko begins casting a spell.

Beowulf murmurs to Lily, "Any preparations you want to make, like that
shield spell you used back at CAFAM?"

Lily nods and raises a shielding spell for herself.  So does Hiko.

Motoko points her bokken at the sky.  High up above, the air distorts
and ripples, as though in the wake of some vast invisible storm.  Then,
with a gesture of her bokken, the storm goes hurtling towards the
Cyberpalace.

Beowulf asks, "EMP time, eh?"

Motoko nods.  "I have sent it to attack the Cyberpalace."

Beowulf nods. "May it strike well and swiftly."

Hiko grins.

The living storm, moving at the speed of electricity, soon comes to
settle high above the Cyberpalace.  Motoko turns to Hiko.  "Let's go."

Hiko says, "NICE idea, Motoko."

Beowulf nods and takes Lily's arm. "Ready here."

Motoko takes Beowulf's hand and Hiko's hand.

She cracks her knuckles and whistles up three more of those with her
spikard and sends them out across the city.

Motoko looks jealous for a moment, then hides it.

Lily puts a hand on Hiko's other shoulder.  "Let's go."

And then she teleports you to the gates of the palace.

Inside the Palace, everything is going haywire from the EMP pulse.

Beowulf does a quick scan with the magical analysis item, trying to get
some idea where the construct is located.

The north wing of the palace seems to have HUGE HONKING AMOUNTS OF
MAGIC.

Motoko says, "I suggest we get inside quickly."

Beowulf asks, "Right, then." He points this out to the others. "Shall we
pay them a visit?"

Motoko begins to run.

Beowulf looks after her for an instant, sighs, and gestures for the
others to follow, then chases after her, making sure not to leave Lily
and Hiko undefended.

Beowulf says, "OOC Ack, that was tangled. Follow Motoko, but make sure
not to get too far ahead of Lily and Hiko."

You charge into the foyer.  What you see:

You charge through the palace, easily slaughtering hordes of troops.

Beowulf says, "OOC That's what we see? o.o"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Doh, sorry.  First charge and slaughter, then
you come to the main chapel."

In the main chapel:

There are a ton of dead cybernuns, priests, and church police.

Keiko lies unconcious on the ground, apparently unhurt, with multiple
bleeding corpses on top of her.

Beowulf says, "OOC Keiko? o.o"

Motoko stares.  "_Mother_?"

Ramon, carrying a Patternblade, has just impaled Shizumaru, who
collapses bleeding onto the floor.

There's a stone statue which looks suspiciously like Shinobu.

Beowulf OOCly says, "...shit. o.O"

There's a tentacular horror eating some of the dead church police.

Something seems to dawn on Motoko as she sees her parents and she begins
cursing herself in about six different languages.

Beowulf asks, "OOC What'll you bet Keiko is Nanami's conduit?"

Mitsune in archangel form is pointing at Ramon and cursing as a spell
fails to work.

Motoko exclaims, "Aunt Hiko, my mother, my father... the false Nanami
got to them... I should have known... damn it, I should have--you must
free them!  You have your spikard!"

Beowulf exclaims, "Knock out first, cure later! After we take care of
the main business!"

Hiko shouts out a spell.

"Father..." Motoko murmurs, watching Shizumaru fall.  She seems
paralyzed.

Ramon's eyes clear for a moment, then glaze over again.

Motoko exclaims, "Father, NO!"

Lily points at Ramon.  Ramon begins to do the hustle, looking confused.

Beowulf tries to snag the patternblade with the whip.

Shizumaru lies in a puddle of his blood, bleeding.

A covey of cybernuns charge in.  The Tentacular horror leaps on them.

The Patternblade dices the whip to bits.

Beowulf mutters, "Damn, not distracted enough."

Motoko runs to Shizumaru's side, dodging round her dancing father, and
gives him a healing spell.

Mitsune shouts, "Hiko, Moriya is fighting Ebenscrux by himself!"

A mechanical voice magic negates Lily's spell.  Ramon rushes straight at
Lily.

Beowulf moves forward and engages Ramon, fighting defensively.

Motoko exclaims, "Take care of my father!  I have to help Moriya!"

Motoko races through the doors to Ebenscrux.

Beowulf gives ground, trying to pull Ramon away from Ebenscrux.

Beowulf calls out for Mitsune to toss him Shiz's logrusfoil, as she's
closest.

Beowulf says, "OOC Or if someone else is closer, have them do it."

Mitsune runs for the logrusfoil.

A cybernun appears next to Hiko, then immediately flashes and vanishes.

Another one appears and unleashes logrus tendrils, grappling Lily and
pounding her into the walls.

Beowulf asks, "OOC If I could get the logrusfoil, could I try for the
j-jack? I'll probably get hurt, but would I get too badly spitted, or is
it something I could survive?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Logrus tendrils... crap, they've probably got Davros
or worse, Anno."

There is no sign of Anno in the room.

Beowulf asks, "OOC How badly does Lily look hurt?"

Another covey of Cybernuns run into the room; the tentacular horror eats
them.

Beowulf says, "OOC Horror could perhaps be someone in primal shapeshift?
o.o"

Beowulf takes a series of nasty cuts all over his body.  Tiny flames
begin to dance along the wounds.

And then Mitsune throws the Logrusfoil to him.

Beowulf grabs the logrusfoil and parries.

Beowulf asks, "OOC How badly are the flames hurting? How long do I think
I can hold out?"

Sparks fly as logrusfoil and Patternblade clash.

Lily is getting her ass whooped by the logrus tendrils.

Beowulf asks, "OOC What's Hiko doing?"

Hiko charges for the door.  Then she gets magic negated and hosed down
with laser fire from wall panels which open up.  She screams and
collapses.

The Tentacular horror heads for the door.

Mitsune screws up her face, looking back and forth between Lily and
Beowulf, who are both getting their asses kicked.

Beowulf exclaims, "Mitsune! Try to distract him!"

Beowulf tries to disarm Ramon as soon as Mitsune distracts him.

Mitsune gulps and turns into a giant nine-tailed Fox-Woman. Then she
LEAPS onto Ramon from behind, claws and fangs biting into his flesh.

Beowulf strikes for Ramon's sword hand, trying to get the Patternblade
away.

The Logrusfoil strikes and maims Ramon's hand.  Ramon strikes out with
his other hand and breaks Beowulf's nose with a beefy punch, then
topples backwards, wrestling with Mitsune.

The Patternblade falls to the ground.

Beowulf grabs the Patternblade and strikes at the j-jack on Ramon.

Lily shapeshifts into a flying cat and escapes her captor, only to get
pimpslapped more by the logrus-wielding nuns.

Beowulf says, "OOC Hopefully if it's powered with Outsider goodness, a
patternblade will do nasty things to it."

Beowulf says, "OOC As would a logrusfoil, but that could kill Ramon."

You reach for the Patternblade.  It flies at you and tries to impale
you, but it seems rather less adept under its own power.

Hiko stands up, gets lasered, deflects the lasers, gets magic negated,
then lasered and goes down again.

Mitsune and Ramon beat the everliving crap out of each other.

Beowulf strikes the Patternblade with the Logrusfoil.

Ramon bleeds profusely as Mitsune and he whale on each other.

Hiko gets up a third time, only to be beaten down with logrus tendrils. 
They start to bend her the wrong way.

Beowulf asks, "OOC How badly is Mitsune getting hurt, especially
compared to Ramon?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC She can't escape Ramon's grasp, but he isn't
hurting her much, while she is chewing him up."

The Patternblade falls to the floor.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Right. If I can recover the patternblade, which one
looks like they're in worse shape -- Lily or Hiko?"

Beowulf grabs for the Patternblade.

Shizumaru has arrived.

Suddenly,  Moriya appears naked in the foyer.

Moriya stumbles, looking completely confused.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Did I get the Patternblade?"

Moriya turns around, snarling. "Motoko, you bitch!"

Beowulf grabs for the P-blade, which springs to life.  It tries to
impale him, but he parries it with the Logrusfoil.  It falls to the
ground.

Hiko's spine gets broken by Logrustendrils.

Moriya OOCly says, "Shizumaru's dead, isn't he?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Shizumaru lies in a pool of his own blood. 
You aren't sane enough to tell if he's alive or not."

Beowulf says, "OOC I don't know... been too busy trying to keep from
getting spitted by Ramon/Drakeskills."

Moriya OOCly says, "Right."

Moriya furiously stalks back toward the door through which Motoko had
gone earlier.

Beowulf pins the Pblade with the Logrusfoil, then picks up the Pblade. 
He begins to wrestle with it desperately.

Mitsune gets wrenched round by Ramon where she can't bite or claw him. 
She curses.

Moriya continues to walk toward the door, cursing Motoko's name to the
deepest pits of hell, promising her a slow, painful death.

Ramon breaks Mitsune's legs.

Beowulf sheathes the lfoil and uses both hands on the pblade, runs over
to Moriya and slaps him with the flat of the pblade.

Ramon is howling incoherently about death.

Beowulf then tries to cut away the logrus tendrils on Hiko with the
pblade.

Moriya flinches and dodges the blow.

Moriya stops, turns to look at what's happening, then turns back and
resumes walking.

Hiko's body makes more disturbing snapping noises.

Mitsune says, "I am such a FUCKING DUMBASS!"  And then she turns into a
mist.

Beowulf goes all-out to slap Moriya with the flat of the pblade.

And flows out of Ramon's grasp.  And then DOWN HIS THROAT.

Beowulf OOCly winces. Not again...

WHAM.  Moriya gets knocked down.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Does he look un-possessed?"

Beowulf runs over and starts cutting at the logrus tendrils attacking
Hiko.

Moriya OOCly says, "Hell, do I even get back up? o.o;"

The Logrus tendrils surge at Beowulf.

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC You're stunned; you'll lie here a little
while."

Moriya OOCly says, "Okay."

Beowulf says, "OOC Sorry, but it looked like you were determined to go
back in and attack Mokoto. o.o"

Moriya OOCly says, "No, no, I'm glad, because you're right."

Moriya OOCly says, "My brain got eaten. I was hoping you'd notice
sooner."

Beowulf OOCly says, "Oh, I figured you were from when you appeared, and
I was trying to get something with Reality to smack you non-lethally
with."

Beowulf hacks through the logrus tendrils, cutting them carefully away
from Hiko.

Ramon flails about, howling in pain.

Beowulf hacks his way through to Hiko to try and heal her.  He holds off
the nun with Logrus as best he can.  Unfortunately, Hiko is dead.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Oh, cr*p. How's Lily?"

Beowulf OOCly cries.

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Lily is unconscious, but not dead. Her spine
got broken, but her mad shapeshifting saved her."

Beowulf asks, "OOC And Hiko got hurt with lasers and disrupts too much?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Does Lily need healing immediately, and does Mitsune
look like she's handling Ramon all right?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Yes.  And didn't have shape...oh wait...she
does have a Spikard...hold on..."

Moriya OOCly says, "Hiko does have shapeshifting."

Moriya OOCly says, "Wasn't Trish messing around with that at the end of
TAMD?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Yes, she did buy Shift Wounds, and she does
have the Spikard...but not Primal Form."

Moriya OOCly says, "Oh."

Beowulf says, "OOC Not enough to cover this? ;_;"

Beowulf says, "OOC She does have combat form, I remember that much from
her lessons with Anthy."

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC I think I'll say she will survive, hideously
maimed, just barely saved by her shifting and spikard."

Moriya OOCly sighs. x.x

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Yeah, we had better hold, gomen."

Beowulf says, "OOC Right. <Sigh>"

Beowulf says, "OOC D*mn."

Anyway, Moriya gets back up.

And the logrus using nuns press their assault.  Church police pour in
with swords, charging you.

Moriya continues walking toward the door, ignoring what's behind.

There is a glow around Moriya,and his mind is freed.

And around Ramon as well.  Mitsune boils out of him.

Moriya stumbles, and looks around wildly. "What the...what the hell?"

The nuns and Church police suddenly stop.

Moriya OOCly says, "Is this what Merc was talking about with the 'Go
Alan'? o.o;"

Beowulf says, "OOC I guess so. o.o"

Damasq says, "OOC:  Dudes, when you see this log, you ain't gonna
believe it.  o.o"

Moriya OOCly says, "Was Motoko l33t?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Evidently so. o.o"

Moriya OOCly says, "Cool. x.x"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Since they're paused for the moment, who looks in the
worst shape -- Lily, Hiko, or Shiz?"

Moriya OOCly says, "And what about Rimururu? x.x"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Hiko.  Hiko is an inch from death. Shiz is
just unconscious.  You don't know where Rimururu is.  Shinobu is a
statue.  Lily looks like crap, but will survive."

Beowulf uses the racked healing spell in the ring on Hiko.

Moriya clutches at his head, then stumbles over to his father, and
starts casting a healing spell, unmindful of his nakedness.

Moriya hoarsely grunts, "What happened? Where is my mother? Why are you
here, Beowulf? What the hell happened?"

This is enough to barely revive him.  He sits up, clutchign his stomach
and mumbling incoherently.

Hiko heals more.  She'll live, but she ain't waking up for weeks, most
likely.

Moriya asks, "Father...what happened to Mother?"

Beowulf says, "We met no resistance on the diversion, figured it didn't
work, ran back here, got stuck fighting Ramon with Drake's warfare
skills."

Beowulf says, "I didn't see her. Shizumaru had just been stabbed by
Ramon when we came in."

Shizumaru says weakly, "I think that she's under one of the body piles."
 He staggers to his feet. [spoofed by Michelle]

Moriya immediately rises and tries to search for her.

Beowulf asks, "Mitsune? Do you have a healing spell for Lily?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC What are the nuns and police doing after they
'stopped'? Fallen to the ground, or what?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC THey're all staring in confusion."

Mitsune runs over to Lily, cuts her own wrist, and pours some of the
blood down Lily's throat.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Does it look like they'll stay like that for a bit?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Yep."

Beowulf asks, "OOC And any other threats I can see in this room?"

Shizumaru starts tossing corpses, trying to find Rimururu. [spoofed by
Michelle]

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Nope."

Moriya joins his father.

Beowulf says, "OOC I'd better check on Motoko and the others, then,
since things seem to be under control here."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Which one looks in better shape, Moriya or Shiz?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Moriya.  He didn't get impaled bya Pblade"

Beowulf tosses the logrusfoil to Moriya. "Just in case."

Moriya catches it, stares at it dumbly, and nods.

Beowulf goes to check on the others.

Amber Central(#3434RLJ)

You stand in the middle of a huge sound stage, ready for the action to
begin, but currently devoid of anything but sound and lighting
equipment, a gaming table, and a snack bar.

[Exits: Arden(A), Out. ]

Contents:  Aerianne, Lian, Sana_Kurata, Rabies, TimeRunner, Tybalt,
Foxtrot, Rod, Akemi, Autolyca, Potemkin, Eudial, Mist, Ike Larnum, Finn,
and Naga.

The howling voices are driven back, their message of despair and doom
driven back by the Powers of this world.

DM says, "OOC Okay, the situation, Beowulf:"

Beowulf comes into the room, quickly scanning for danger.

The room is a huge ass black void with Yog-Sothoth trying to break
through.

Beowulf OOCly nods and waits.

Three spikards float in the void; he is coming through the triangle they
form.

Motoko is riding a giant shimmering winged serpent

Which seems to speak in unison with her.

Beowulf OOCLY BLINKS.

She's trying to pull the triangle apart with Logrus tendrils.

Yog-Sothoth's bubbles are howling and gibbering and being driven back by
fire from the serpent's mouth.

You feel their psychic assault bounce off your psyche barrier, and
you're suddenly quite glad you made it.

Motoko looks back briefly and speaks in triplicate to Beowulf, a mixture
of her own voice, Davros's, and Nanami's.  "Hello, Uncle Beowulf.  I
think I have things under control here.  But you might want to get
everyone ready to leave quickly."

Motoko turns her head back and continues tearing apart the spikards
using the Logrus, and driving back the bubbles with the Breath of the
Dragon.

Beowulf shouts back through the door, "Get ready to leave, everyone,
we're going to need to get out of here fast!"

Motoko says, "Oh, Uncle Beowulf..."

Beowulf quickly ties the grappling hook to the patternblade, throws it
at the lines of power, avoiding the tendrils, then reels it back in.

Beowulf asks, "Yes, Motoko?"

Motoko extends a Logrus tendril and deposits an unconscious Drake at
Beowulf's feet.  "Keep Uncle Drake safe, please."

The Patternblade strikes one of the lines of power.  The triangle
ruptures.

Motoko resonates, "Thank you, Beowulf."

and then the grappling line begins to pull it back.

Beowulf bows. "You're very welcome."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Situation estimate -- Motoko going to handle things
OK, and can I get Drake back into the other room now?"

Motoko unleashes huge amounts of white-hot fire on Yog-Sothoth from the
Serpent's mouth, as she seizes the Lion Spikards with her logrus
tendrils and drags them back to her.

Motoko says, "Burn, abomination."

The void ripples and howls in rage.  Flames and water and lightning
begin to erupt everywhere, but the breath of the dragon repulses them
all.

Motoko says, "I cast you forth from this place, back to the void where
you belong."

Beowulf quickly drags Drake back to the door and pulls him through.

And then the bubbles begin to retreat.

DM says, "OOC Back to Arden, Beo."

Arden

Beyond the Wood Door

[Exits: Skippy, Main Room. ]

Contents:  Shizumaru, Damasq, Michelle, afp, and Kuonji Ukyou.

Mitsune runs over to one pile and yanks out Keiko, then carries her over
to Ramon.  "I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?" she asks him.

Beowulf drags Drake's unconscious body back into the room. "Whooo. Get
ready to leave *quickly*, everyone, we're gonna have to move!"

Something occurs to Moriya. "Magnus the Unseen--did you get it?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Is it safe to move Lily over by Hiko?"

Moriya OOCly says, "Lily's awake and gathering up Hiko."

Beowulf says, "I don't know if Motoko got it or not, but she was able to
recover the Lion spikards. And what a tale this is gonna be..."

The building shakes.  REality begins to crack and splinter.

Moriya nods brusquely. "I trust she's...all right?" He staggers. "All
right. We have to go, then. Quickly."

Beowulf asks, "OOC How many can I trump out with me?"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC If you all join hands, you can all trump out."

Beowulf says, "OOC Right."

Beowulf exclaims, "Join hands, everyone, and let's get out of here!"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Lily is now up and functional enough to sort
of walk."

Moriya quickly does so.

Beowulf grabs the first trump he has and trumps out as soon as
everyone's gathered together.

Moriya OOCly says, "Shoot. John, is Anno dead? x.x"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Can't say yet."

Moriya OOCly nods.

You find yourselves in the gardens of House Gainax.  Which is odd, as
Beo doesn't remember having a trump for that location, though he's
holding it now.

Beowulf blinks and looks around.

Moriya sighs, and slumps to the ground again. "I am not feeling well,"
he mumbles.

Beowulf sighs. "I suspect that goes for all of us."

Shizumaru lays Rimururu down.  Ramon does the same for Keiko. Lily sits
down hard, and Mitsune leans on a tree. [spoofed by Michelle]

Beowulf curses himself for letting Hiko almost get killed, for letting
Lily get hurt, and for being pretty ineffective in general.

Moriya asks, "Where's Motoko? And Aunt Nanami, and Davros-san?"

Mitsune says, "Shit, I left Shinobu behind!  I had to turn her into a
statue!"

Beowulf says, "Well, when I last saw Motoko, she was riding a winged
serpent, and speaking with a voice that combined her voice, Nanami's
voice, and Davros' voice."

Moriya falls over.

Moriya says, "..."

Moriya says, "Ah."

Beowulf says, "So I suspect they're all right in *some* way. o.o"

Damasq says, "OOC:  Nobody else got Statue Shinobu?  o.O"

Moriya OOCly says, "Argh. x.x"

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Mitsune was preoccupied with her sister."

Beowulf says, "Oh, and they were facing off against Yog-Sothoth, who was
trying to come through a gateway formed by the three Lion Spikards."

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Shiz and Ramon were focusign on their wives."

Beowulf OOCly curses himself again for letting Lily get hurt and causing
this.

Moriya pales. "They're fighting an Outsider God?"

Mitsune stares.  "They WHAT?"

Beowulf says, "And driving him off, too, using Breath of the Dragon."

Moriya boggles. "And winning?"

Beowulf says, "Once we broke the gateway, she said something about
banishing him from this place, and then I dragged Uncle Drake out of
there and back in with the rest of you."

Beowulf blinks. "Did Motoko... never mind, Davros was probably
generating the logrus tendrils."

Moriya clutches his head. "I wish I knew what was going on. I think I
got possessed after I cut through Ebenscrux...I only remember being
furious with Motoko...." He pales even more. "Please, don't tell me...."

Beowulf says, "I don't know what happened in the other room, but you
didn't hurt anyone back in our room."

Moriya swallows. "I may have tried to hurt Motoko...."

Beowulf says, "I managed to knock you out the first time when you tried
to go back in, and the second time you were all unpossessed before you
could get back in there."

Mitsune whips out a trump, tries it, curses, and starts to cry.

Moriya crumples. "Oh, God, no."

Beowulf patpats. "I think the way things were in there, she probably
didn't notice...or noticed and understood."

Drake sits up.  "Fucking hell, I feel like SHIT."

Beowulf raises an eyebrow and sighs. "I'm not surprised, you were in a
construct for Ghu knows how long."

Beowulf notices Mitsune's attempt to trump. "Mitsune?" he calls softly.

Lily hugs Mitsune as Mitsune cries.  "She's dead...she must be dead..."
Mitsune babbles.

Moriya struggles to rise to his feet, looking anguished. "What price
victory?" he murmurs.

Beowulf goes over to hug Mitsune as well.

Drake says, "Where am I?  Who the hell are you people?"

He sees Shizumaru.  "Okay, YOU, I know."

Beowulf breaks away from the hug for just long enough to bow. "Beowulf
Kohl, Wakaba's son. Please excuse me for a moment."

Moriya says, "Uncle Drake, you have been missing for forty years. I am
Shizumaru's son, Moriya. You are currently in the Courts of Chaos, in a
safe place."

Beowulf hugs Mitsune again. "If she's still stone, she wouldn't be able
to answer, Mitsune!"

Moriya says, "You have been trapped in a construct for...some time,
we're not sure."

Beowulf strokes Mitsune's hair and helps Lily try to calm her down. "If
anything, it's my fault... don't blame yourself."

Drake says weakly, "The courts of Chaos is a safe place?"

Mitsune continues to cry.

Moriya says, "Some parts of it, yes. Just don't try to leave House
Gainax for now."

Beowulf feels like crying himself, but tries to hold himself together
for Mitsune's sake.

Moriya says, "Although...."

Moriya shakes his head, tiredly. "I can't even begin to deal with that
right now."

Moriya OOCly says, "Beowulf still has Werewindle, right?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC If so, would probably be best to put the nice
patternblade in the bag and away from the nice Logrus in its home
territory, yes?"

Moriya OOCly says, "I can't believe I'm still up and not really feeling
tired."

Damasq says, "OOC:  The wonders of adrenaline."

Beowulf says, "OOC It's the adreneline rush."

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Or give it back to Drake, since it belongs to
him :)"

Beowulf says, "OOC Yes, *After* we're out of the Halls of the Logrus.
:)"

Rimururu and Keiko now wake up.  Some gardeners approach you all. 
"Umm...hello?" one of them says.

Moriya looks up. "Sorry to drop in like this. Um. Have...have you heard
from Anno-sama?"

Beowulf also looks up. "I have a suspicion great-grandfather is
responsible for our being here in some way, as I didn't have a trump for
House Gainax before, and he seems like the only one I know who could get
it to me." He blinks and goggles a bit, owlishly, before going back to
trying to help Mitsune pull together.

Drake staggers to his feet.  "No spikard.  No Patternblade. When I find
that damn priest, he dies horribly."

Moriya turns to Beowulf. "Actually, Uncle Beowulf...don't you have
Werewindle right now?"

Moriya turns back to Drake. "And which priest are you talking about?"

Beowulf says, "Yes, though as we're in the halls of the Logrus, I think
it would be a good idea to put it in a place where the Logrus won't be
bothered by it."

Beowulf says, "Unless you want it back right now, Uncle Drake."

Drake says, "I'd rather have it right now."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Was that Shinobu Major, or Shinobu Minor?"

Moriya OOCly says, "Major."

Drake says, "The priest bastard who lured me into his damn trap and
crucified me."

Moriya frowns, and describes Malraux. "Was that him?"

Beowulf sighs, shakes his head, then nods and gives Werewindle back to
Drake.

Drake says, "I take it you all stopped Annadil."

Shizumaru says, "Yes.  No thanks to you running off like a petulant
child." [spoofed by Michelle]

Beowulf says, "Thank you for the loan of it, Uncle Drake."

Moriya blinks, and alarmed, says, "Please, Father...not now."

Drake says, "I had to stop Derith before he SUCCEEDED in blowing up
another Pattern!"

Beowulf asks, "Um, yes, could we please wait until everyone's home
safely before we discuss the past?"

Moriya shakes his head. "Derith made his own undoing. You didn't have to
help him along."

Drake says, "If Hiko hadn't..."  He notices Hiko.  "Holy SHIT, what
happened to her?"

Moriya sighs. "I assume she was badly mauled in our attempt to free you
and Nanami from Ebenscrux."

Beowulf hangs his head. "She was nearly killed by Logrus tendrils,
because I couldn't keep a mind-possesed Moriya from going back in there
and save hiko at the same time."

Beowulf says, "I'm ashamed... and I owe Hiko whatever penance she
requires when she wakes up."

Drake frowns.  "Was Moriya threatening someone at the time?"

Moriya clutches at his head. "I think...I was trying to kill Motoko.
Ramon and Keiko's daughter."

Beowulf says, "Verbally, yes. I didn't know what the situation was like
in the other room." He sinks lower. "Without a weapon, though, I'm not
sure if he could have hurt her."

Amber-Morrigan says, "OOC Everyone come out in the main room.  "

Beowulf OOCly nods.

Shizumaru has left.

Amber Central(#3434RLJ)

You stand in the middle of a huge sound stage, ready for the action to
begin, but currently devoid of anything but sound and lighting
equipment, a gaming table, and a snack bar.

[Exits: Arden(A), Out. ]

Contents:  Shizumaru, Aerianne, Lian, Sana_Kurata, Rabies, TimeRunner,
Tybalt, Foxtrot, Rod, Akemi, Autolyca, Potemkin, Eudial, Mist, Ike
Larnum, Finn, and Naga.

Motoko looks rueful and rubs the back of her head.  "Yes, well, I just
hope everyone else came through through the suffering intact."

Anno gestures with his spikard and teleports himself, Davros, Nanami,
and Motoko up to the gardens.

Moriya stares at the people who just appeared, and wobbles.

Beowulf sighs. "Everyone seems to have made it out except for Shinobu;
she was still a statue and I forgot to grab her when we trumped out."

Motoko says, in a small, rather hesitant voice, "Hello, everyone."

"Thank heavens," Moriya murmurs, quietly.

Anno says, "Which Shinobu?"

Beowulf says, "Shinobu Major."

Anno nods and reaches out with Logrus Tendrils.

Beowulf smiles hesitantly at Motoko. "You did very nice work in there."

Ramon and Keiko stagger over to Motoko and embrace her.

Moriya stares at Motoko fearfully and guiltily.

Drake stares at the ring Nanami is wearing.  Nanami says, "Don't even
ask, Drake."

Moriya OOCly says, "AUGH!"

Motoko hugs them back and nods to Beowulf over her mother's shoulder. 
"You too, Uncle.  That trick you did with Werewindle came at exactly the
right time."

Beowulf shrugs. "Best I could come up with. I'm glad it worked."

Drake. o O (AT least I got my sword back.)

Moriya says, "Motoko...."

Motoko looks over at Moriya, then looks away.  "Moriya..."

Motoko breaks away gently as possible from her parents, and hurries over
to him.

Moriya crumples. "Oh, God, what did I do? What did I say?"

Motoko says, "Oh, Moriya, you were so brave in there... I'm sorry I
couldn't give you more help..."

Nanami and Davros give each other a sort of funny look, then both smile
in an oddly similar fashion.  Nanami then sees Motoko and Moriya and
sighs.  Davros, on the other hand, seems to be almost floating on air

Moriya shies away. "Don't, Motoko. I know I hurt you. I must have."

Mitsune has calmed by now, but still looks miserable.

Motoko asks, "And I lost Mithsil, and--hurt me?"

Moriya looks up, with haunted eyes. "I only remember rage, Motoko. What
did I say to you? What did I do to you? Tell me. I have to know."

Motoko looks embarassed.  "Well, you stabbed me a little after Ebenscrux
finally managed to break into your mind.  I was never your equal with a
blade, unfortunately."

Beowulf keeps hugging Mitsune with Lily, and hopes great-grandfather can
pull off another miracle and recover Shinobu. "It was *my fault*,
Mitsune -- I had the trump, it was my responsibility to get everyone
out."

Davros goes over to assist Anno.

Moriya wilts.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Um... did the psychic barrier help at all?"

Moriya OOCly says, "Up until the point Nanami item negated it."

DM says, "OOC Yes, it did, until an Item Negate backed up by four
spikards turned it off long enough to get into his head."

Beowulf says, "OOC OW. ;_;"

Motoko looks back at Moriya.  "Oh, Moriya," she says gently, "do you
think that was _you_?  Don't be ridiculous.  I know you'd never try to
hurt me."

Kanna OOCly says, "Owchie."

DM says, "OOC But it still saved Moriya long enough for him to trash the
Construct so it started to fall into the void."

Beowulf OOCly grins a bit. "Don't owchie, Kanna, you're getting yours
next. :)"

Motoko says, "OOC:  And then Motoko, utilizing the Law of Coolness,
managed to trash what was left of it.  :)  Which made Yog-Sothoth come. 
:("

DM says, "OOC But then you whipped Yog's ass too :)"

Beowulf says, "OOC That... wasn't something I'd expected to see. o.o"

Motoko says, "OOC:  Yes, by the wonderful powers of Deus Ex Machina. 
:)"

Moriya harshly rasps, "But...I still remember the hate."

Kanna OOCly gives Motoko the 'Lord Falme God Tosser Memorial' Award.

Moriya OOCly laughs.

DM says, "OOC The power of GM having a neat idea about what to do with
an advanced shapeshifter who was wearing a Dragon Spikard :)"

Motoko stares at him flatly.  "And?  Your mind was not your own. Do you
see my mother and father agonizing over being controlled by that
abomination?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Wait a minute... wasn't Breath the one Hiko had?"

Her parents both look embarrassed.

Kanna OOCly says, "(where -is- hiko, anyway?)"

DM says, "OOC Yes.  Anno made a new one."

Motoko says, "I am sure they have none of them pleasant memories of that
time either."

Kanna OOCly says, "Ah, okay, cool."

Beowulf says, "OOC Ahhh. :)"

DM says, "OOC He also had to make a new Hoard of the Dragon after Angus
carried it off to another universe :)"

Kanna OOCly says, "Anno . o O (Silly Unicorn, messing up my complete
set!)"

Moriya sighs, and sags.

Moriya says, "I should have been stronger."

Shizumaru comes and puts a hand on Moriya's shoulder.  "No one is strong
enough to win every battle." [spoofed by Akemi]

Beowulf looks to see if Mitsune's holding up, then goes over to Moriya.
"I saw you. You were very obviously not in your right mind." He takes
him by the shoulder and shakes him gently. "You weren't *responsible*,
hear me?"

Beowulf sags a bit. "And there's more than enough guilt to go around
without you trying to claim guilt that isn't yours."

And then Anno pulls a Shinobu Statue out of the air and settles it to
the ground.

Moriya says, "I want to believe you. Part of me knows that you're right.
But still...."

Motoko hesitates for a moment, and then her expressions softens and she
reaches out to grab Moriya in a tight hug.  "Idiot," she murmurs.  "Who
do you think you are?  You fought that monstrosity _single-handed_ for
who knows how long?  And you blame yourself for not being strong enough
to resist the power of a Construct in its home Shadow backed by the
Outsiders and four spikards?"

Motoko says, "Don't be a fool, Moriya."

Beowulf blinks at the Shinobu statue, looking hopeful again.

Moriya shivers in Motoko's embrace. "Nnngk."

Motoko repeats, "Don't be a fool, Moriya."

Moriya says, "You're too generous, Motoko. I don't deserve your love,
whatever form it may be."

Moriya says, "But thank you."

Beowulf smiles, weakly but starting to cheer up a bit for the first
time. "Or do I have to have Mitsune leave itching powder in your bed for
three months before you snap out of it, Moriya?"

Motoko sighs heavily against his shoulder and squeezes him tightly. 
"Now you're just being melodramatic, Moriya."

Shizumaru says, "As Motoko said."  He shakes his head.  "You did your
best, and that is all anyone can do." [spoofed by Akemi]

Mitsune comes over to statue Shinobu.  "Okay, let's see...how do I undo
this..."

Beowulf nods, looking sober again. "I keep telling myself that,
Shizumaru."

Moriya laughs softly, but doesn't answer otherwise.

Moriya suddenly realizes something. "Anno-sama...what happened back
there?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Hopefully Mitsune's looking better? :)"

Mitsune closes her eyes, then starts muttering some words of power.

Anno says, "Hmm, what, Moriya?"

Moriya says, "You just...burst into flame. I couldn't believe that you
could have died so easily."

Moriya says, "And I guess I was right, but...."

Anno laughs nervously.  "I created a duplicate of myself and piloted it
remotely.  I believe the invisible Ramon impaled it with Werewindle and
killed it."

"The psychic backlash nearly killed me."

Mitsune finishes the spell.  Shinobu Major stays stone.

Moriya sighs. "I see. I'm glad you are all right, after all. If
not...I'd have hated to explain."

She curses.

Motoko moves back from hugging Moriya, but keeps her hands on his
shoulders and smiles at him.  "Come now.  We're all alive, my
grandmother and Uncle Drake are safe, and the Lion Spikards and
Ebenscrux were destroyed.  Some mistakes got made.  Some of us..."  She
trembles a bit, and her cheer wavers, then recovers.  "Some of us
weren't as strong as we wanted to be.  But what is there to feel guilty
about?  It all worked out in the end."

Beowulf quirks an eyebrow. "A wise option if you have it,
great-grandfather." He blinks. "Killed *you*? I'm glad you survived."

Beowulf blinks. "The Lion spikards were destroyed? GOOD."

Beowulf mutters to himself, "Dear Ghu I hope I don't have to go through
this if I can track down another Lion spikard to destroy..."

Anno says, "Oh, it takes something on this scale to destroy Lion
Spikards."

Moriya finally looks over at the statue. "Not all of us are all right
yet, Motoko. Go help Mitsune...please."

Motoko nods, squeezes Moriya's shoulders, and heads over to see if
there's anything she can do to help.

Beowulf covers his eyes with his hand. "...I can't tell you how much I'm
looking forward to that. I don't suppose you'd go on retainer,
great-grandfather?"

Anno laughs.

A quick lens spell reveals that Shinobu Statue seems to have been filled
chock full of Outsider Energy, which is resisting any magic.

Moriya sighs. "Mithsil...damn. It served me well."

Moriya says, "I'm sorry for losing it, Father."

Beowulf asks, "Undoubtedly, but which would you rather have? Mithsil? Or
your father and mother, and all the rest of the people its sacrifice
saved?"

Moriya laughs. "Thank you, Uncle Perspective."

Drake sits under a tree, watching all this and thinking.

Moriya finally rises, and now looks between Nanami, Motoko, and Davros.

Beowulf bows, grinning slighlty. "I aim to please." He takes a small
blade of grass and boink's it into the middle of Moriya's forehead.

Motoko looks back and shakes her head at Moriya.  "That was my fault.  I
used it to deal the finishing blow to Ebenscrux, but didn't think to
retrieve it amidst all the, err..."  She looks embarassed. "All the
other things."  She glances over at Drake.  "Oh, hello there, Uncle
Drake.  I'm Motoko.  I'm sorry I almost let you fall into the Abyss." 
She looks further embarassed.

Davros comes over to the Shinobu Statue and studies it with a Logrus
Lens.

Drake says, "But you didn't," he replies.

He sighs.  "So I've been gone forty years?"

Davros calls Nanami over.

Moriya closes his eyes, bows his head, and sighs.

Beowulf says, "I believe so, yes."

Motoko nods and cheers up a bit.  She looks giddier than anyone has ever
seen her.  "Well, yes, but it was only because I was able to use the
logrus to grab you."  She looks thoughtful.  "That was a rather strange
feeling."

The two of them begin whispering back and forth as they study the
Shinobu Statue.

Moriya quietly slips away to a tree a slight distance away, and sits
beneath it, apparently meditating.

Beowulf sighs, wobbles a bit, and looks around for Lily.

Nanami calls Drake over.

Lily and Mitsune are also studying Shinobu Statue together at the
moment.  Lily sees Beowulf and smiles.  "Are you okay?"

Beowulf smiles weakly. "More or less. You don't know how glad I am to
see you all right, especially after I couldn't come over and help you
when the logrus tendrils attacked you..."

Drake nods to Nanami.  He pulls out Werewindle.

Motoko glances over once at Moriya, bites her lip unhappily, then sighs
and stares at the grass.

Beowulf hugs Lily, hard.

Lily looks embarrassed.  "I couldn't focus enough to do anything to save
myself.  I should have tried shifting out of it, but it didn't work.

Nanami waves at Motoko to come over.

Rimururu goes over and just sits down quietly by Moriya.

Beowulf smiles ruefully. "Well, it's not like I was especially able to
focus myself, so I don't blame you."

Motoko walks over.  "Yes, Grandmother?"

Beowulf says, "And Mitsune saved us all by tying up Ramon long enough
for me to get the Patternblade away from him."

Nanami says, "We're going to use Werewindle as a focus since it can
process magic, to drive all the outsider energy out of Shinobu Major so
we can return her to normal.  Please give us your psychic backup."

Motoko nods.

Ramon looks embarrassed.

Beowulf says, "Can you help, Lily? I don't want to be selfish and keep
you here if you can help them."

Lily says, "I'll be right back."

Mitsune scampers over to assist as well, as she feels guilty about this.

Rimururu puts a hand on Moriya's shoulder.

Moriya finally opens his eyes, and smiles faintly. "I'm glad you're all
right, Mother."

She says, "And I'm glad you're okay, son."

Moriya says, "And Father, too. I was worried that I'd lost you both
again, and so soon after getting you back."

As the large group of magi are working on purging the statue of outsider
energies, the elevator at the far end of the gardens pings and a squad
of soldiers in Hendrake uniforms step out.

Moriya OOCly says, "Fsck. ANNO! Haaaaalp!"

Kanna OOCly says, "of -all- the timing...."

Moriya turns to see the Hendrake soldiers, and his face drops in dull
terror.

Beowulf OOCly sighs. "Oh, joy. Perhaps the logrusfoil?"

Shizumaru sighs.  "It had to happen sooner or later." [spoofed by Akemi]

Anno goes over to talk to the soldiers.

Moriya starts whispering prayers, staring at Anno and the soldiers.

Beowulf goes over to Anno and the soldiers, and bows.
"Great-grandfather? Can I help?"

Moriya OOCly says, "Dude it's almost 5am. X.x"

Moriya OOCly says, "I'm so fricking glad it's Saturday."

Beowulf OOCly NODS.

The soldiers say, "We have a warrant for the arrest of Prince Shizumaru
of Amber for the murder of twelve Knights of Hendrake, Attempting to
Free the Demoness Shilli, and Destruction of Hendrake Property."

Beowulf blinks. "Hm. I see. Who was the demoness Shilli?"

DM asks, "OOC Given how late it is where y'all are, should we cut here?"

Moriya OOCly says, "What about Shizu? x.x"

Beowulf says, "OOC Working on it."

DM says, "OOC Okay, we keep going, then."

Moriya OOCly says, "I really want to die and go to sleep, but I even
more want to resolve this."

Motoko says, "OOC:  I want to know what the bloody Bride of the Dragon
is.  o.o"

Motoko says, "OOC:  And whether or not it means I can have mad smoochies
with Davros."

DM says, "OOC The whole bride business willhave to wait until tomorrow,
'cause once we settle with Shiz, I'm gonna fall down and die."

Beowulf trembles a bit from fatigue, and stumbles before recovering.
"Please excuse me... we just returned from fighting a major incursion by
Outsiders, nearly got killed in the process of beating them off..." he
sighs and grins ruefully, "and I'm afraid we're not at our best."

Moriya OOCly nods.

Motoko OOCly cries tears of real sodium.

The soldiers blink.  Anno nods solemly.  "Prince Beowulf hurled a
Patternblade at one of the Outsiders, among other things."

Beowulf shrugs. "Well, that bit wasn't that important, really."

The soldiers shift nervously at the word 'Patternblade'

Beowulf asks, "Is Shizumaru being bound over for trial?"

The soldiers says, "Yes, he needs to be taken to the dungeons to await
trial.  Which should be swift, given this case has been hanging fire for
forty years."

Moriya struggles to his feet and limps over.

Beowulf asks, "I see. Well, as I said, we're not exactly at our best, we
were nearly killed, and I'm not sure whether we should move." He blinks
innocently. "Would the Keeper of the Logrus be considered a worthy
custodian until the trial?"

The soldiers frown a bit.  Anno says, "I will ensure he arrives for his
trial, on my honor as keeper of the Logrus."

Moriya falls to his knees, looking exhausted. "There is more to what
happened with my father than it would appear."

The soldiers frown, then nod.  "Alright.  We'll inform the king you're
holding him."

Beowulf bows again,nearly falling over. "Thank you, sirs."

They depart.  The crew working on Shinobu Major manage to restore her to
flesh.  And we stop here, 'cause I'm exhausted and my right hand is
pissed off at me.

Moriya OOCly says, "Right. G'night. We resume...sometime. And now I
die."

Motoko says, "OOC:  And I stare at my log and boggle."

Moriya OOCly says, "Send it to me, Alan."

Motoko says, "Right-o."

Beowulf asks, "OOC And I'm sure we're all going to want to look at it,
too. Was that *the* Serpent you were riding?"

DM says, "OOC And tomorrow, I will focus on Phil and try to move him
along before I lose access for a while."

Kanna OOCly nods.

Beowulf says, "OOC Ack! This is going to be hanging fire for that long?
<Sigh> Oh, well."

Kanna OOCly says, "Oh, what happened to Hiko?"

Kanna OOCly says, "Well, John will have -some- access back once he gets
to thscoast."

Beowulf says, "She got her back broken by logrus tendrils and came
within an inch of dying."

DM says, "OOC Primal Form Davros ate and assimilated multiple
cyber-nuns, then merged with Nanami and multiple dragon spikards to turn
into an avatar of the Serpent :)"

Kanna OOCly says, "....."

Beowulf says, "OOC I *thought* that was Primal Form Davros... glad I
didn't attack it. o.o"

Gabrielle exclaims, "Cybernuns!"

DM says, "OOC He went to Spikard-Fueled Primal Form after he got impaled
by Werewindle."

Beowulf says, "OOC OW OW OW."

Kanna says, "This is why one has warning labels on Patternblades and
Logrusfoils, boys and girls."

DM says, "And started eating people to regain the mass he shed."

Kanna OOCly says, "Well, it's been fun watching, but I suppose I should
get sleep so as to be in good shape for, well, whatever we do tomorrow."

Lian says, "Rescue da elfie, and then I at least am off to Kadath. -.-"

Beowulf says, "Well, Kanna, they saved my henie several times, possibly
saved Hiko's life, and certainly helped shut off the Outsider gateway,
so I'm not complaining. o.o"

Kanna says, "True."

Kanna waves to all.

Beowulf says, "Seeya, Phil."

Aerianne has disconnected.

Motoko says, "The Flawed Patternblade let me do one of the cooler things
I've done in a game.  :)"

Beowulf asks, "What's that? :) And is it destroyed, now, or just lost?"

DM says, "It's gone."

Beowulf nods. "Well, like I said IC, then, sacrificed in a good cause."

Motoko says, "Motoko used a spell to fling Mithsil into the central
point of vulnerability for Ebenscrux, then filled the hole it made with
Elder Signs."

Beowulf whistles. "Niiiice."

Beowulf says, "Well, going in I was hoping to pick up a nicer weapon...
right now, I'm just glad to get out with everyone's lives."

DM says, "Well, we came really close to 'everyone dies'"

Motoko says, "Yeah, we made a lot of tactical mistakes, the fruitless
diversion being the major one."

Beowulf says, "Really, *really* close. o.o"

Motoko says, "Along with my stupidly _thinking_ that Evil Nanami might
have compromised Ramon, Keiko and Shinobu Major, but then assuming that
she wouldn't have had the chance, and not making sure by asking John. 
-.-"

DM says, "The big problem with the Diversion was the group inside the
palace blew their cover too fast."

DM says, "If the Construct had had time to dispatch some of its minions
to investigate, the Diversion wouldhave worked a lot better."

DM says, "Or alternately, if the group inside the palace had all gotten
into Ebenscrux's room while still insects instead of sending a blood
creature scout..."

Beowulf nods slowly.

Beowulf asks, "When things went down fighting Ramon... damn it, I
couldn't think of anything to do but try to keep him held off and
occupied... while people died around me. :p Other than getting Mitsune
in faster, was there anything else I could have done?"

DM says, "You could have dumped the Nanami's Magical Sinkhole in your
spell rack on him, which would have sucked up the magic controlling
him."

Beowulf doh's and facepalms. "Damn."

DM says, "Or tried using the 'teleport without stuff' spell on him."

Motoko says, "OOC:  That saved Motoko's ass against Moriya. o.o"

Beowulf says, "I will admit, I was *very* surprised at how well Mitsune
did against Ramon, though. Was the thing that kept me from calling her
in, but she did wonders."

DM says, "He beat her a lot in strength, but she was in a Form of Power"

DM says, "She would never have gotten onto him if you hadn't been
fighting him at the time, though."

Beowulf says, "I would have thought the sinkhole would work if I'd
thought of that, but since I saw Mitsune apparently failing to spellcast
on him, I didn't think anything else would worlk."

DM says, "Mitsune would have been screwed if the construct had thought
to use REsume True Form on her."

DM says, "But I forgot to.  ^^;;;"

Beowulf winces. "Thank goodness. :)"

DM says, "Anyway, y'all have now felt the true power of Drake + Nanami
:)"

Motoko says, "OOC:  It took a long freaking time for Ebenscrux to die. 
I was worried that Moriya's hacking at the base wasn't really going to
do the necessary damage, impressive though it was.  o.o"

Beowulf says, "Hoo, did we *ever*."

DM says, "If Moriya had had the Logrusfoil or the P-blade that were out
in the foyer,he would have hacked it up a lot quicker."

DM says, "Or more strength."

DM says, "Or if Drew had thought to do what you did,"

DM says, "And go after the central node."

Motoko says, "OOC:  Well, he lacked Motoko's easy way of doing that."

DM says, "He also could have used Baby Ilvig to shoot Drake and Nanami's
bonds and get them down."

Motoko asks, "OOC:  You described them as 'nailed' to Ebenscrux, John. 
That's a little difficult to shoot people down from, ain't it?"

DM says, "Which would have quickly changed things."

DM says, "OOC 65 points of warfare and a deadly damage weapon is pretty
good at shooting out nails."

Motoko says, "OOC:  I'm just trying to figure out how it would be
physically possible to shoot down people crucified with nails, no matter
how much Warfare you had."

DM says, "Fry the nails"

DM says, "Yes, it is pinpoint shooting."

Motoko says, "OOC:  As in all the depictions of crucifixion I've seen,
people tend not to have particularly large gaps between the backs of
their hands and the framework of the cross."

DM says, "But he has the kind of warfare you can do that sort of thing
against immobile targets."

DM says, "Or climb up it."

DM says, "Which wouldn't have been easy, but he had the strength for
it."

Motoko says, "Hrm.  I suppose he probably could have shot out the nails
if he were willing to take some skin off Nanami and Drake's hands."

DM nods

DM says, "It would have done some damage, but given the thing was
threatening to kill them anyway..."

Beowulf just sighs in relief that it's over and done with.

DM says, "Well, I must sleep now."

DM says, "As I still need to finish doing grades tomorrow."

DM says, "And go to the bank."

Beowulf asks, "Indeed. You're just planning on Phil tomorrow night?"

DM says, "I might run a little with Drew/Beo, but since Phil got shafted
tonight, he will get my main focus tomorrow"

Motoko says, "Night, John."

Beowulf nods. "Right. I'll be working with the Wichita guy, but he'll
hopefully want to knock off ealery, since he's driving up here."

Beowulf says, "Sleep well, John."

Akemi has disconnected.

Beowulf says, "And I must sleep as well... catch ya all later."

Motoko says, "Night."

Travis Butler tbutler@tfs.net

...Cats are the proof of a higher purpose to the universe.