[Day: Tuesday, July 6th. Time: 10:30 p.m.] [The sun is shining in the underground city! You haven't been in here too long, but the feeling that your not welcome is still pretty strong. Still, you can explore the city as you please, as long as you don't touch anything or do anything or take up any valuable space, etc etc etc... Rei, Maria and Chomei went -> this way, leaving Lazar and Chie on their own.] [Start!] ... still say was no good idea to explore. Could have crazy law what say outsiders must hop on one foot while cluck like chicken. * Chie looks up from the the sketch she's been doing. The buildings have very interesting patterns that she suspects would work very well in her jewelry. "Well, they said they'd be right back. I trust them." * Chie looks up from the the sketch she's been doing. The buildings have very interesting patterns that she suspects would work very well in her jewelry. "Well, they said they'd be right back. I trust them." ... right. Because Maria, Rei, and Chomei is models of restraint. Besides, it's been a while since I've gotten a chance to sit and work designs. Hey, Chomei is. ...kinda. ... excatly. When Chomei is most responsible one in group, all hope lost. Maybe we should've gone with them. * Lazar grins slightly at that. * Chie grins back, though, and adds another detail to her sketch. * Lazar just stands guard, like a good servitor. ... after we stop Dracula, I really need to find hobby. Other than Slinky. [Rei and Chomei eventually show up.] * Rei is floating right behind Chomei, singing (but not too loud, 'cause they don't want to get kicked out!), "You're so lame. You probably think this song is about you!" * Chie waves. "Hey, guys!" She holds up her sketch. * Lazar nods at Rei and Chomei, then pauses. "... where Maria?" Hey, that's nice! Can I keep it? What is it? It's the city, right? Buildings of the city we're not supposed to touch 'cause then they have to polish it to get our nasty outsider germs off? Oh, uh, she said she had to run off, but hopefully it's not to steal anything, 'cause she might get caught or something. I really like the patterns on the buildings. I'm gonna try and work it into some of my pieces when we get back. * Chomei walks up. "Did I just hear you call me reasonable?" No. Must have more wax in ears. You're so lame, you probably think this song is about you, don't you, don't you? * Chie laughs. * Chomei eyes Rei. "... Right." * Chie adds in a few details. It's not so much a sketch of the buildings as it is some of the more specific patterns. ( Awareness checks! ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chie (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6) and gets 10. * Rei grins at Chomei, then hovers over to look over Chie's shoulder. Her feet belatedly touch ground. "Move aside, move aside, gotta fulfill the necessary Maria function, ooh, is that that building right over there? I wonder what's in it. The mangochicken stuff isn't coming from there, I know that much. Maybe it's a department store. Do you think these people believe in capitalism?" [Whoever made it notices Asanjya, walking out of "Capital Magic Supplies!" Over -> there.] (That's CAPITAL!) * Chie looks up at Rei. "Yes, they do. Or, at least, Asanjya does. Wait. Asanjya? Asanjya!" She waves at the wandering summoner. * Asanjya is frowning. And looking upset. * Rei looks up. And waves. "Hiiiiiii Asanjya!" Where have you been? Did you get in ahead of us or something? * Lazar tilts his head, and looks where Chie's looking. "... how she keep doing that?" * Asanjya looks up. "Oh, hi." * Rowyn is now known as RowynAway Well, you guys were moving slowly, you know, and I figured there'd be stuff to buy. So. * Asanjya shrugs. Didja buy anything? * Rei zips over to Asanjya, just hovering a little! "Whadja bring me?" ... Right. Did you actually do anything? And they actually let you go shopping? ( Wait. Wasn't Asanjya not with us when we got through the portal? How'd she get into the city? ) (Magic!) ( Deus ex Machina! ) (mad summoner skills) ( Cheese bribe ) (Damn, was that all it took?) (All of the above?) I went shopping. They wouldn't sell to me. Not a surprise. ( They have a legend fortelling of a prophet with hair that lives who will come to them in a time of need? ) I told them I could incinerate the place, but they just laughed. Probably think their magic's superior or whatever. Probably 'cause it's fireproof. Have a seat. * Rei has a seat on the ground, next to Chie. Still looking at the picture. Y'know what you need, Chie? I know what you need! What do I need, Rei? * Rei beams. "You need markers! And fruit. And squirrels. And waffles. But not squirrel waffles, 'cause then animal rights would be after you. But definitely markers." * Lazar patpats Asanjya. "Well, good to see they no put you on rack." ... * Rei digs through her backpack and pulls out a pack of markers, plunking it in front of Chie. * Asanjya sits down next to Chie as well, and looks up to Lazar. "And they have all kinds of rare ingredients, too. It makes me mad enough to spit, even." * Chie grins, turns to a new page of her sketchbook, and takes one of the markers. "So what should I draw?" [Hearing checks!] * Asanjya adjusts her hair-tentacle-bun. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Asanjya (2d6) and gets 10. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chie (2d6-2) and gets 4. (Chie is going to draw MC2 stick figures!) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6) and gets 5. You should draw a giant muffin! [Chie and Rei hear footsteps!] With an american flag sticking out from the middle on a skyscraper toothpick. Okay! Or a waffle. With cherries and a scoop of ice cream. And someone's coming. ... Well, I guess it could be Japanese. We gotta be patriots. Yes! Ice cream cherries! Huh? * Rei looks up and around. * Chie looks up from her not-really-anything-yet sketch. * Asanjya is preoccupied with her hair. And Lazar. No recommend spitting. Probably death penalty offense. [Chie and Rei see a boy approaching sloooowly. Until they look around. Then he runs away!] Probably. Can't spit anyway. You don't have any spit. Uh, hi. Bye? Oh well. So, you were gonna draw stuff! * Chie points the marker at where he ran. "Who was he?" * Chomei shrugs. * Rei looks back at the picture. "Cherry houses!" Probably came to take a look at the outsider freaks or somethin'. S'not like we bite. Oh well. ( Hearing checks! Again. ) I bite waffles! 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6-2 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chie (2d6-2) and gets 8. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Asanjya (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6) and gets 10. * Chie pulls out a red marker and starts drawing again. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6) and gets 6. [Rei and Asanjya see a different kid approach.] * Rei looks up, smiles, and waves. * Asanjya looks up, abruptly. Frowning. [The kid looks surprised when Rei does that, but smiles back and approaches nervously.] * Chie scribblesketches. * Asanjya 's hair twitches. (Asanjya's a grumpy gus.) (You're a mook, boy. Don't make me goth poetry you into submission.) * Rei keeps smiling. Not maniacally... well, just a little, but just smiling. "Hi." * Lazar just stands there, arms folded. [The kid moves all the way up to Rei and looks up at her with cute wide eyes.] * Rei looks down at him. Then kneels, so he can se her better. (see) * Chie looks up from her sketch and at the kid. "Aww, cute." * Asanjya narrows her eyes. And clutches her staff. [All of a sudden, he pokes Rei's nose and runs off!] * Chomei raises an eyebrow. * Rei blinks. "Hey, that was my nose!" She feels at her face. "Oh, good. Still there." * Chie laughs. [There's some giggling from around the corner.] That's so cute! Kids these days, just poking people's noses. No respect. No respect! * Asanjya relaxes. Slightly. "Did they take anything?" * Rei grins. "Don't think so. My nose is still here." She checks her pockets. ... probably best if no poke back, though. Talking obviously no illegal. No know about touch. They're just kids having some fun. Probably daring eachother to poke the outsiders. * Chie pokes Chomei. * Chomei pokes Chie back. * Rei pokes them both. In the nose. "I win!" This IS Maria's hometown, after all. Best to be careful. Curses! * Rei cackles. * Chie pokes Rei with her marker. "No you don't!" * Rei yelps! Hey, no marky! No marky! (NO NOSE TOUCH.) (I TOUCH NOSE.) (I EAT HAT.) (That joke will never die. Neither will STICK + METAL) 2d6 (= SPEAR!) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6) and gets 10. I didn't get you with the ink part, see? (The Scythe Remix!) * Rei keeps checking her pockets. And her backpack. "Okay, I don't think anything's missing, probably, but maybe I brought too much stuff. Hey, a squirt gun! When'd I pack that? Ooh, cards. Anyone wanna play poker? We can use, uh... pebbles! No, those pebbles are probably public property." So, what, exactly, is going on? * Rei squeals as she comes across a little beanbag plush and pulls it out triumphantly. "Millicent!" We are waiting while Ensof talks with someone important about things which we are not authorized to know. (*pause*) ...Millicent? ( o/~ She's not that Millicent... o/~ ) [Millicent does not respond. She must be dead ;_;] 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Maria (2d6-6) and gets -1. 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Maria (2d6-6) and gets 4. (She's stuffed!) ( Jesse... *wipes tear from his eye* ...that's beautiful. ) * Rei holds it out to Chie. It's a three inches big, tie-dyed beanbag stegasaurus with sequined eyes. "Millient Penelope Carillo the Third! She's always been in here. Just haven't pulled her out. She's been a good luck charm, keeping me from- actually- no- never mind, she hasn't been very good luck at all." But she's cool, see! * Asanjya looks to Chie. "Business as usual, then?" * Chie nods at Asanjya. "Yep." Then she looks at Millicent. "Awesome! Can I hold her?" * Maria suddenly becomes apparent right behind Rei. "Hey guys!" * Chie waves at Maria. "Hey, Maria. Where were you?" Good day, Maria. * Chie is pretty much used to her appearing out of nowhere. 'Sploring. This place has great stuff! * Rei yelps and jumps! * Rei spins. "Maria!" * Maria blinks. "What?" * Lazar manages not to jump as Maria appears. "Hey Maria. What you up to?" * Rei gives her a hug. "Hi you're not dead that's cool you didn't get in trouble did you I guess not 'cause you're still here hi!" * OmegAway is now known as OmegaDarklight * Rei then lets go and spins again, putting Millicent in Chie's hands. "Don't lose her!" * Maria blinks, then hugs back! "Yeah! Nobody saw me do anything, so I'm not in trouble!" I promise I won't. ... Right. So, can we continue doing whatever it is we're here for? * Chie gently sets Millicent on her lap and swaps markers, then begins sketching the plushie on a new sheet of paper. "Can't until Ensof gets back, I think." Sure! We were sitting and waiting for stuff to happen. And being good. * Asanjya looks up to Maria. "You didn't happen to steal any magical components, did you?" The two are usually synonymous. Anyone wanna play cards with me? Dunno. Some of the stuff may be magical. Great artisanship. Real shiny! [Maria rings like a phone!] Not what I'm looking for, thou... interesting. * Chie looks up. "Uh, Maria? You're ringing." * Maria blinks. How are you ringing? Why are you ringing? * Maria rifles through her backpack for the source of the ringing. You should answer yourself. * Rei looks up. "Isn't it hard to get a connection down here? * Lazar eyes Maria, then rubs his forehead. "I getting too old for this..." [When Maria opens her backpack, a green object that can only be described as an orb (or maybe a sphere or some other round-ish object) flies out. It zigzags around for a bit.] Where'd you get *that*? Catch it! It was just sitting around. In someone's home. They weren't using it! * Asanjya lets Xaphan loose to chase after it! Augh, that's not good! * Lazar glares down at Maria. * Maria has the decency to look embarrassed. [Xaphan catches it! And gets a bit of a wild ride. But eventually it stops between Maria and Chie.] I'm not touching it. ... We in middle of city of highly psychotic violent people just looking for reason to blast us to bits... maybe was no good time to go 'shopping'. Yeeeah. * Rei watches it go. "Weeeee're in trouble." * Asanjya bends down to look at it. And Xaphan too. Uhm... but it was so shiny. Asankya, can you tell it I'm sorry? Yes. And I sure our charred corpses will be too. * Chie puts her sketchbook away and hands Millicent and the markers back to Rei. "Kleptomania baaaaaaaaaaaad, Maria." Klepawha? So you're still gonna get us in trouble 'cause you can bet somebody saw it or there's a tracking device or something and then they're going to kick us out or hang us by our toes and I don't wanna have to watch Bambi for all eternity! The impulsive, uncontrollable desire to take stuff. Usually, it's harmless. This time, it might not be. [It projects a holographic-like image. In it is a pretty woman with solid-gold eyes and long brown hair. She also looks rather irritated. "El'Salvador! I thought I told you I wanted a da'nish for... oh."] * Chie mutters, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope." Oh, nobody saw-- eh? Uhm, hello. Wrong number, sorry. * Rei snorks. She can't help it. But she still looks annoyed, or freaked. More freaked than annoyed. [The woman tilts her head slightly. "Who are you? You are not Et'Ada."] * Asanjya plucks Xaphan off the orb with her hair tentacle and tucks him into her hairtentaclebun! * Chomei elbows Chie and signals discreetly for her to be quiet. ^^; * Maria blinks. "We're visitors on important business." Business? What business? * Chie gives Chomei a "Aww, don't you trust me?" look, but she shuts up. * Asanjya looks to Maria. The, uhm, Dark Lord Drakula wants to come and trick the Et'Ada into aiding his nefarious schemes. * Rei paces in circles around the group. Pace, pace, pace. Oh yes. That Dracula hubbub. Hmm... And you seek to help? Well, yeah. Helping's what we do. * Chomei gives Chie the "I do, but now is a bad time to quote old movies" look. Right guys? I see... Well... Perhaps I could assist you. Huh? * Asanjya blinks. * Rei is right back by Maria, looking around her to the orb. "But I thought you guys didn't like outsiders or something even if we are trying to help. We were told not to breathe too hard, or we'll disrupt your air, or something." ...you could? That'd be great! How? And what do we have to -- Rei! What! * Chie gives Chomei the "Gotcha" look, then turns her attention to the current conversation. * Lazar facepalms. "So doomed." She just said she could help! Be nice! Of course, dears. However, in order to trust you, I require you to do one small task for me. o/~ I am being nice! I think. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings or- oh, here we go. * Chie gives Chomei the "Yeah, I knew there was a catch" look. * Chomei gives Chie the "There's always a catch" look. * Asanjya rolls her eyes. And that is? It seems the seal keeping the dark god Qwerty'uiop in check is starting to fade. We need someone to put a new one on. Unfortunately, the high priests are stubborn and refuse to believe that the seal won't last for another hundred years. * Asanjya blinks. Slowly. You must be joking. No, I'm quite serious. Then perhaps my ears are going bad. Er, uhm. Wow. I thought I heard you say we had to reseal a dark god? * Chie gives Chomei the "Do you *believe* this?" look. That could be, dear. I don't know how you humans function. Can I ask some questions? Certainly. Like, who are you, how do you know this, and how are we supposed to seal a dark god up? * Chomei gives Chie the "Always us, isn't it?" look. * Rei looks at Chie. * Rei looks at Chomei. * Rei flails! Because I put him there in the first place and you can pick up a seal at the temple. I'm sure you've seen it; you can't possibly miss it. * Chie nods at Chomei, then looks at Rei. "What?" Stop looking at each other! * Chomei nods. "What?" * Rei jumps over to block their eyesight. Hey! ... Right. * Rei sighs happy-like. * Chie gives Rei the "And what was that for?" look. ... Master Ensof say we no supposed to do anything that get us in trouble. * Rei covers Chie's eyes with her hand! ( Mind roll - linguistics, Chie! ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chie (2d6-2) and gets 4. Oh, on the contrary, you'd be doing us a great service. Oh. Will this get us into trouble? Oh. Ummm... so we just go to the temple, ask 'em for a seal, and put it where? * Rei perks, then looks around to that orb. "You put it up? Wow, how long do you people live? No offense, I mean, I'm sure I have a very short lifespan compared to you guys." * Chie ducks under Rei's hand. [Chie catches herself just in time; what she thought was the "And what was that for?" look was actually the "Your mother was an alligator." look.] (Rei probably wouldn't mind. ^_~) (Don't you go callin' my momma an alligator! >_<) (They'd have an amusing argument about it later. ;p) They will give you directions. Don't worry. Won't it get us in trouble? As far as I can tell, it is impossible for us to not be in trouble. I should hardly think so. Just tell them the goddess sent you. But we can be in *more* trouble. * Woman sighs. "Do you want a happy goddess, or an ANGRY GODDESS?!" Wait. You're the goddess? (* resists urse to type "Trouble is as trouble does".) Okay, I'll do what you say, nice goddess lady. Yes, I am Al'Tana, goddess of light. Uhm, nice to meet you? (You can call her Al!) * Rei blinks. "Oh, wow. Nice to meet you. And please don't be angry? I'm a nice person, really." Do you need this to talk to us? 'Cause if you don't? I should really put it back where I found it. Oh, no. Keep it. I'll have another one made up, and it will give me an opportunity to teach the fool who misplaced it a lesson. Okay. So, uhm, temple. You gonna give us directions, or should we ask one of the locals? I'd trust her more than the locals. Okay. If we accept this mission, and they *aren't* too happy with us, could you provide some sorta divine proof that we really were sent, and we're not just making this up? Please? It's the big structure. Why don't we just carry her with us, and she can guide us as we go, and tell us about this glorious city and stuff. No offense, Ms. Light Goddess, but your people are kinda crummy tour guides. Not that you're a tour guide! Uh, I should stop talking. * Asanjya gently but firmly prods Rei. In the upper arm. Ow. * Rei rubs at her arm. * Al`Tana eyes Chie. "You want proof?" Her eyes flash, and Chie is momentarily blinded like someone shined a laser pen in her eyes. Ow! * Maria blinks and looks around. Which structure is biggest? * Al`Tana does it again. "Believe me now? No? I better prove it again!" * Chie blinks rapidly to try and clear her eyes. "I didn't say *I* didn't believe! When did I say *I* didn't belive?" * Al`Tana does it again. "Just making sure!" Ow! * Chie doubles over, still blinking. * Maria winces. Don't taunt the goddess, don't taunt the goddess. [The biggest structure is the big crystilline tower in the center of town.] * Chie shuts up and rubs her eyes, which are watering now. So, it's the big glass tower? Ms. Goddess, I think she's a believer now. * Chie refrains from saying that she has seen the light. ... * Rei refrains from telling Chie not to go toward the light. * Chomei rubs Chie's shoulder. "You okay?" (Is the ball still just floating?) * Chie blinks up at him with reddish eyes. "'m fine. Let's go." Okay. So we go to temple. Tell priest "Goddess sent us, need seal." They give us seal, we bring to place, put where need be, and that it? * Chomei pauses, then nods. Yes. That's quite right. Now, if you'll excuse me.... * Al`Tana disappears into the orb. * Asanjya snags the ball with a hairTendril, and tucks it in her cloak. She turns back, frowning. * Rei eyes. "Not saying anything. Not saying anything. Oh, damn, I said something. Forget I said that." You people seriously don't know how to talk to hugely powerful beings. Sorry, I'm out of practice. Uhm, sorry? I've only been involved in deals arranged through third parties. Next time the phone or orb rings and it's a demon or god, I'll take it. Deal? My mom and dad talked to hugely powerful beings! They're not me. Deal. Whatever. They're all yours. At least she no smite us. * Lazar mutters. * Chie squints one last time. "Ow. I'm gonna take my contacts out." No, she just went all flashy with the flashlight eyes thing. * Asanjya readjusts her hair. "You figure you'd have had more practice than me, but hey." ( Hearing checks! +2! ) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6+2) and gets 9. * Chie slips them out and puts them away. 2d6+2 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chomei (2d6+2) and gets 7. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Maria (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chie (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Asanjya (2d6+2) and gets 5. [Whoever made it hears footsteps of someone trying and mostly succeeding in sneaking up on you.] * Chie has brown bloodshot eyes now, instead of blue-green ones. Then she whirls around. "Who's there?" * Asanjya spins! To see! The person! Who is there! Or not!@ * Maria looks the way Chie turned. * Rei turns and points her fingers in the air. "Stop in the name of pickles!" [It's a little girl. She yelps in surprise at the scary people.] * Chomei blinks and looks in that direction. Oh. Hi! Sorry about that. * Rei blinks. "Oh, hi. Uh, I don't actually have any pickles." She lowers her hands. * Chie waves. [The girl approaches cautiously.] * Rei watches her approach? * Maria blinks at the girl. * Chie smiles at her. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rei (2d6) and gets 7. [When she gets close enough, she suddenly darts around behind Rei and yanks on her tail, then runs off giggling!] Ow! The kids like you. * Chie laughs, too. "They really do." * Rei rubs at her butt, and her tail. "Ow. Ow ow ow. My tail! Oh, it's still here." We should move now. Ya think? Yeah. Don't wanna piss off the goddess again. * Chie stands up and slings her bag over her shoulder. * Asanjya walks! Towards crystal! Thing! Yeah, okay. Can I stay and play with the kids? Probably not, huh? Maybe we'll have an entourage of kids as we go. ... Ensof no going be happy. Ah well. And NO. * OmegaDarklight has quit IRC (Ping timeout ) Right. But I like them! Well, having the goddess these people worship on our side is a good thing, right? I gueeeeess. She never specified they worshipped her. Just that she was a goddess. * Rei starts sulking off to the big shiny phallic symbol. I mean, they'll listen to her and... oh. * Chomei starts walking that way. They do, Asanjya. Ensof told us earlier. Well, that's good, then. * Chie heads along. [You walk towards the tower. Man, it's huge. People give you strange looks and mutter things like, "Come along, children, don't play with those dirty things; you don't know where they've been."] * Maria walks along. "Well, uh, I guess it's a good thing I borrowed that thing, isn't it?" * Rei shakes her fist. "I'll have you know that I know exactly where I've been!" * Lazar GLARES down at Maria. * Asanjya walks along. Ignoring the people. Or maybe she's making a list of people to kill later. * Maria is full of conflicting emotions. * Chie continues, blinking every so often. [But eventually you get there. The tower rises high into the sky, and is lost among the clouds. There's two huge double doors built into its base, and four receptionists windows on the outside, on either side of the tower. There's lines at all of them.] * Maria blinks. "Wow, they've got clouds down here, too." [The doors are open, but there's two female guards there checking people for documentation before they can go inside.] Could be illusionary clouds. Looks like prayer's in full motion, too. Reminds me of a bank. Where do we go now? They're prayer tellers! * Maria walks right past the guards. Yes. Hope you brought your prayer deposit slip. ... * Asanjya GRABS Maria. (with her hair!) * Lazar GRABS Maria. With his hands! ( Not that way, mind. On the shoulders. ) [Maria is head'n'shoulders grabbed. (With MY hair, not Maria's.) Hey! ( Eh. :P It still works, sorta ) ... Master Ensof no think walking into temple without permission of guards be good idea. * Lazar whispers. "HINT. HINT." Fine, fine. We'll show 'em the globe thingy. * Asanjya looks at the guards. Then pulls out the orb! And walks over to one of them. * Chie stays awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay from the orb. Flashy lights bad. * Lazar nods, but keeps one hand on Maria's shoulder. * Chomei stays away from it too. [The guards respond with an almost monotone voice: "Permit, please."] * Maria fidgets! The goddess has some business for us inside. She appeared in this orb. * Chomei doesn't! * Asanjya brandishes it. ["Uh huh. You know how many fake ones of these we see every day?"] Fake ones do not make your eyes bleed, sir. You are welcome to try it, if you like. They're not exactly bleeding... thank the goddess. ( Ma'am. Female :P ) (Lucky I didn't call it "It".) * The guard looks Asanjya in the eye. "Prove it." * Rei sighs. "Okay, better ask her for some divine intervention." (*fiddles. "How do I work this darn thing?") Should've asked her to stay on the line. * Chie does not say, "This is what I was worried about." She doesn't even give anyone a "This is what I was worried about" look. Her ability to give looks has been significantly diminished for the moment. * Asanjya looks into it. "I feel foolish. Hello, goddess. Please pick up?" [Chie makes a b'zzzt! Sound as her eyes suddenly flash in the direction of the guard. She staggers a bit, rubbing her own eyes. "Ugh! Ok, go on in."] What just happened? Am I an avatar now? Sure! Congrats! Can I have your autograph? * Chomei snerks. * Asanjya pockets the device, and walks on in. * Lazar nods, and heads in, semi-gently dragging Maria along. * Chie seems slightly stunned still as she pulls out a piece of paper and writes her name on it in surprisingly neat kanji, then hands it to Rei. * Chie then walks in. "That was... really unexpected. Thanks, o mighty goddess?" Cool. * Maria blinks. "Wow. That was cool, Chie." * Maria walks in. [Inside, the tower has a huge lobby. Right in front of you is a large fountain with a statue of ... a wedge of cheese? Behind the fountain on either side are stairs spiraling up. In between the stairs is a sign. And to the left and right are corridors with more signs. In one corner is a desk labled "Impromation", with a man sitting behind it.] * Rei takes it and clutches it to her chest, giving a happy sigh. "My hero!" She heads in. * Chie grins, although it's still a bit shaky. Talking to dead people, no problem, but channeling divine power is still a pretty new experience. ( It isn't for Lazar! ) And you no even have to die, be trapped in stone form, and get letters carved into head to channel power of divine. You just get light in eyes. * Lazar mutters, and looks up. "Always with hard bargain..." Yeah, well, I don't think it's permanent, so. Let's just do what she wants us to do. I wish I could shoot eye-lasers. That'd be cool. I think it would hurt. Especially if I could shoot 'em out the back of my head like that one skeleton thing we fought. * Asanjya is looking around. It didn't hurt. Where are we supposed to go now? Dunno. Let's ask someone. And if they don't talk to us, I'll steal their things. NO, Maria. * Rei opens her backpack and puts the paper neatly in a folder. Stealing got us into this mess. It probably won't get us out. What? Talking can't hurt. * Asanjya walks up to the sign betwixt the stairs. * Rei heads after Asanjya! * Maria follows, gawking around. * Lazar keeps his grip on Maria's shoulder as he walks along. [It's a poll! Al'Tana is currently #4 in popularity.] Do my eyes look weird or anything? I mean, aside from being brown and not the color I usually have them. Great. We're angling for the runner up. * Asanjya heads to the Impromation desk! [There's a guy there!] * Chie sounds vaguely freaked as she says this. "They didn't spontaneously turn gold, did they?" Excuse me, sir. We're looking for a dark lord. And a seal to apply to said dark lord. [He's wearing a name tag: "No'Tyu, Impromation manager. Hi!"] Okay, let me think of a good one. ... * Guy thinks. We're actually looking for a specific one. Hmmmmm.... You'll probably find it if you go that way. * Guy points at the left corridor. * Rei turns and gets a good look at Chie's eyes. "Well, let's see!" Oh, I don't do specifics. I improvise information. Impromation, get it? .... do you get paid for this? ( Die, Guy. ) No, but it's free! That is possibly the most sane compromise I have heard all week. Thank you. * Asanjya turns away, then looks around for like, a directory. Or a phone book. Or a rolodex. Well... Chie... how do I put this. Yes? * Rei points. "Your eyes!" [Asanjya sees a listing of probable locations of various services in the citadel.] ... They're brown! Duh? * Chie blinks and actually looks worried for a second, then laughs in relief. "Okay. That I can handle." Hey, I'm helping out here! I bet she forgot what color her eyes were! * Asanjya scans it for "Dark Lord". No, no. I know what color they really are. Same as lots of other people's. [Asanjya flips through and finds "Lord, Dark". It's right above "Lord, Duck".] Think dark god named Qwer... something. Like curly-top! Qwerty'uiop. Think we can call him Uiop? [It says "* See Qwerty'Uiop"] No. ( I want a Duck Lord! ) Dang. * Asanjya looks for Qw... that word. In fact, I think it best that if we engage in dialog, nobody actually speak. Possibly not even me. Yes, yes, when we get to dealing with higher powers, you do all the talking. Or not. Either way, I'm shutting up when it's time. [Asanjya finds several listings under Qwerty'Uiop: "Acolytes, Curses, Hexes, Incantations, Insults, Name Calling, Priests of, Seals and Sealing, Voting for, Worshipping, and Z, stuff starting with."] (Zeeeeeeeeeeeful.) ( I'll take "Z, stuff starting with" for $200, Al`tana. ) * Rei looks for Al'Tana, for kicks. ( And that is today's DAILY DOUBLE!) ( I'll take Swords for $300, Alex!" ) [Rei snatches the book from Asanjya!] ( That's S-Words, Mr. Connery. ) (SWORDS!) * Asanjya flips through to ... (Oh, it's a book? Cool, I snatched it!) Hey! What! I was in the middle of something. Oh. Can I see when you're done? * Asanjya plucks it back with her hair. Yes. * Rei pouts. Okay! * Asanjya flips through to Seals and Sealing. * Chie does not look at anything in particular, although maybe if she stares at something long enough, it'll be set on fire. When exactly did this turn into Witch Hunter Robin, anyway? (But you don't have your contacts in, you can't AIM!) (Witch Hunter Robin is pretty cool. I mean, setting stuff on fire WITH YOUR EYES!) ( Hey, if anyone is gonna turn into Witch Hunter Robin, it should be Maria. =P ) [Asanjya finds the office of sealing, listed as up the stairs, left corridor, first door on the right.] * Chomei looks over Asanjya's shoulder. "Why do I have a feeling it's going to have to do with door and window seeling?" ( I will steal your things with my eyes! ) (>.>) (Err, sealing.) * Asanjya uses her hair to scribble that down on a piece of scrap paper. Then, flips to "Voting For." * Maria looks bored, but seems more confused. * Lazar still has a hand on Maria's shoulder. He's taking no chances. [Under "Voting For." is only "No, Al'Tana says."] Nothing on this voting issue. * Asanjya passes the book to Rei. But I found the right office. Yay! We have direction. ...office? * Chie rubs her eyes again. The office of sealing. Where we get the seal. And they will presumably know where the dark lord is. The Dark God is sealed in an-- oh, where we get the seal. For a pantheon this is awfully bureaucratic. * Rei takes it! And looks for Al'Tana. I hate bureaucracy. This is boring. My race is boring. I want to cry. So do I. Like I said, it's like teller window something something. This why easier to be monotheist. And my eyes hurt, and can we go now? Let Rei finish first. (Now that we know I'm Blossom, I gotta act the part. >_>) (*laughs*) [Rei finds under Al'Tana: "Acolytes; Benevolence; Cheerfulness; Donations to; Invocations; Light; Nightlights; Praising; Prayers to; Priests of; Stuff, Shiny; Voting for; and Worshipping.] Oh, she's the goddess of cheerfulness and shiny stuff. I didn't know that! * Rei shuts the book and sets it where they found it. * Asanjya looks at her paper. Upstairs. * Asanjya heads upstairs! Right. * Chie follows! * Lazar follows, semi-gently dragging Maria along. * Chomei walks along. * Rei points that way. "To the upstairs! The second floor! Maybe the third!" She starts walking. "How many floors does this place have, anyway? And how many floors have desks on them?" All. All it says is "upstairs". There will probably be signs on each floor. You would think. * Mechalink has joined #besm [You go up to the second floor; there are three corridors. You see men walking down some; they were richly decorated robes with hoods, and in fact the hoods stand up maybe a foot on their own. They walk with their arms folded inside their sleeves in front of them, like monks.] (In fact, they may even be monks!) (Mooks?) ( DON'T HIT THE MONKS! ) * Asanjya looks around a second, then heads down the left corridor. Think we should ask them for directions? Or maybe not. * Maria follows, being dragged by Lazar. * Chie follows Asanjya, who may have some sort of an idea as to where they're supposed to be going. Or at least she seems like it. * Rei hums a cheerful song as she follows. Probably not. [You head down the left corridor. There are several doors lining each wall.] * Lazar eases up on Maria, so he's more leading her than dragging. * Asanjya stops at the first door on the right, consulting her piece of paper. (I am not touching the doors.) [The door is labelled "Office of Sealing the Dark Lord Qwerty'Uiop." Right next to it is "Office of Worshipping the Dark Lord, Qwerty'Uiop."] ... Ironic, isn't it? * Rei looks at one, then the other, then the first. "What if somebody switched the signs?" * Chie just shakes her head. The book says this is right. * Asanjya opens the Sealing Office. * Lazar mutters. (You unsealed the Sealing Office? *ducks*) [Behind the door is a young girl wearing a striped uniform and a visor with "Qwerty'Uiop Sealing(tm)" on top. She's smiling brightly, and looks like she'd be perfect for a job at a drive-thru.] * Guy is now known as Girl Welcome to the Office of Qwerty'Uiop Sealing! How may I help you? * Chie looks at Asanjya. She's the one doing the talking. * Asanjya looks around. "We need a seal." One seal? * Chie refains from asking if there's more than one. One seal. Would you like wards with that? What kind of wards? * Rei just looks around. Ooh, sealing store. Singles or Double combo * Chie looks at Asanjya. "Do we want wards?" Don't know, wards are your line of work. * Chie looks at the girl. "Yeah, we'll take a double combo." Would you like to Supersize that for just 3200.999 E'Demas more? * Chie looks at Asanjya. "Problem." Chie. Eyes of power. * Chie stares at the girl. "No, we don't want to super size." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Maria (2d6-4) and gets 2. Talk about inflation. * Asanjya hauls out the orb again. "Will this do in lieu of payment, or does my friend have to channel the goddess again?" That'll be 92400.674, please. * Chie keeps staring at the girl. No, we don't need to pay. These aren't the droids you're looking for. * Maria reaches into her pack and hauls out several handfulls of something shiny. "How much is this worth?" * Girl takes a hold of it, putting it behind the counter. She then hands Maria a smaller pile. "Your change is 38821.443. Your order will be ready in a moment. Have a nice day. ^_^" * Chie seems both disappointed and relieved that she didn't end up wielding divine power this time. ... that was it? Somehow I expected a labyrinth and a minotaur. Just for the money. Or at the very least, washing dishes. * Maria puts the money in her pack. "Maybe there was one of those, but if there was, it didn't notice me." Asanjya, remember that not talking thing you were advising me about earlier? * Asanjya blinks. "Quite." Yes. * Rei blinks. "Hey, money. Cool. Order! Cooler! What do we do with the order?" [There's a 'ding!' from somewhere in back.] ... * Girl moves to the back, then returns, carrying a tray. On the tray is a big rock with strange symbols on it, and smaller discus-shaped objects, stuffed in a bag with "Qwerty'Uiop Sealing" written on front. Here's your order. Have a nice day! Thanks! * Chie picks up the bag. "I assume these are the wards." Ma'am, could you tell us where the Dark Lord is, so we can actually seal him? So, um, do they come with instructions and stuff? Directions to the Dark Lord's lair cost 12321.212. Good question. It's probably not just chant 'n slap 'em on like the ones I use. ( is reminded of the Tenchi movie. ) * Asanjya looks over to Maria. * Maria sighs and pulls out lumps of money. Be happy, Maria. It's not as if you worked hard for it. * Girl gives a friendly smile as she takes money, and gives Maria her change. "Have a nice day! ^_^" * Asanjya eyes the girl. "How about instructions for the seal and wards?" * Chie looks for an instruction slip in the Bag O'Wards. Hey! I work hard. * Maria puts the money back. * Girl gives Asanjya a funny look. "Use them like you would other seals and wards, ma'am." There's a 'ding!' from the back and she vanishes, returning shortly with directions. "Here you are!" It isn't easy moving without people noticing you. Whoo! What've you got back there processing these things? * Rei stands on her toes and cranes her neck around, though she probably doesn't see much. * Chie looks at Asanjya. "You ever sealed a Dark Lord before?" * Asanjya picks up the directions, then looks to Chie. "No. Let's hope there's arrows." [The bag has no instructions, but there is a slip of paper on one side that says "tear here!"] * Chie holds up the slip of paper. "Shall I?" Or should we wait? * Asanjya rubs her chin. "Let's wait." * Girl says to Rei, "You are not authorized to know that, ma'am." Gotcha. At the very least, we open it in the room. * Asanjya consults.... THE DIRECTIONS! * Chie tucks the Bag O'Wards inside her bag. "You got the seal and the directions?" * Asanjya smiles sweetly. "Lazar? Would you mind getting that rock?" * Lazar gets the rock. * Chomei raises an eyebrow. Thank you! * Asanjya stops beaming and goes back to the directions. * Lazar nods. Rock lift rock. Ugh. * Rei nods at the girl. "Good, for a second I thought I was in the wrong city." She turns and points aimlessly. "Onwards!" * Chie idly takes one of the wards out and looks it over to see how it compares to hers. 2d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6+4) and gets 8. * Asanjya follows... THE DIRECTIONS! [The seal is heavy. So heavy that Lazar barely manages to lift it at all. He gets it an inch off the tray for just a minute, then winds up dropping it.] * Chomei follows Asanjya. ... okay, problem. * Rei does, too! Yay! Then stops and looks back. Problem? * Asanjya stops. "Uh-oh." Okay, that's a really freaking heavy rock of freakishness. Rock too heavy for golem. No should be so heavy. Oh. *Definitely* problem. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lazar (2d6-4) and gets 4. Maybe it doesn't like you? * Lazar frowns, and tries to pick up the tray it's on. Maybe you and Chomei can... nevermind,. [Lazar lifts the tray with no problem.] Definitely nevermind. Got it? Yeah. ... hmm. Magic tray make rock liftable. Good. Yay for that. Onward? * Asanjya leads! ONWARD! BY .... THE DIRECTIONS! * Chie follows! [End!]