New chat room entered at 8/18/2005 8:32:07 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw081805.”
MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (8:33:38 PM): Run out the gun batteries! Sharpshooters to the quarter deck! Prepare to board!
Thematrian1 (8:34:06 PM): your pirate ship had sharpshooters?
Thematrian1 (8:34:11 PM): we had to make do with giant water spirits
MilesMk1 (8:34:35 PM): I'm Her Majesty's pirate hunter this week.
Umbrafer (8:34:55 PM): Giant water spirit sharpshooters?
Umbrafer (8:35:19 PM): Anyway, Dave may be late (or potentially nonpresent) due to construction on his house.
MilesMk1 (8:35:23 PM): Mhmm... Spirits.
Thematrian1 (8:35:44 PM): not sharpshooters. We'd just use Movement on our ship, then ram and board
Thematrian1 (8:35:46 PM): good times
Umbrafer (8:36:02 PM): What happens if you have a spirit use Movement on a bullet?
MilesMk1 (8:36:08 PM): Which I guess is ok, since he's waiting to decapitate or be decapitated. Or maybe they'll just talk?
Thematrian1 (8:36:15 PM): nothing, it can't move under it's own power
Thematrian1 (8:36:27 PM): I know, I know, vehicles, but conceptually the gun is different
Thematrian1 (8:36:30 PM): from the bullet
Umbrafer (8:36:33 PM): Gyrojet rocket?
Thematrian1 (8:36:40 PM): ooh, good one
Thematrian1 (8:36:53 PM): I don't think they're going to just talk
Thematrian1 (8:37:03 PM): I think the rocket goes really fast. What the game effects might be?
MilesMk1 (8:37:07 PM): Was this Gem's pirate ship?
Thematrian1 (8:37:14 PM): sure was
Thematrian1 (8:37:23 PM): Movement owns the open seas
MilesMk1 (8:37:42 PM): Was she a character in play before, or does she just have a detailed background?
Thematrian1 (8:37:56 PM): it's all just background
Thematrian1 (8:37:56 PM): alas
MilesMk1 (8:38:03 PM): Ah.
Thematrian1 (8:38:04 PM): you guys haven't really seen her in her element
MilesMk1 (8:38:15 PM): Heh.
MilesMk1 (8:39:14 PM): I guess Glitch was fortunate ingetting to use his abilities...
Thematrian1 (8:39:23 PM): force four great form, and suddenly you have sixteen times the speed of your three pursuit ships...
Thematrian1 (8:39:27 PM): well, it's how I built her
Thematrian1 (8:39:30 PM): and she has other tricks
MilesMk1 (8:39:39 PM): She's defnitely doing ok.
MilesMk1 (8:39:48 PM): I guess we *could* go piratical.
MilesMk1 (8:39:59 PM): MacLeod would enjoy boarding actions...
Thematrian1 (8:40:13 PM): Glitch sorta gets hung out to dry, though
Thematrian1 (8:40:17 PM): and we'd really want a rigger
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (8:40:28 PM): Grr....
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

Umbrafer (8:46:44 PM): (We're working on setting him up with an alternate client)
MilesMk1 (8:46:54 PM): We've had such a long trouble-free run, I forgot how much of a pain in the ass this was. Damn internent connections... Or is it the AIM that's the problem?
Umbrafer (8:47:12 PM): AIM, hopefully
MilesMk1 (9:03:41 PM): No luck?
Umbrafer (9:03:50 PM): "Please stay on the line, your call is important to us… please stay on the line, your call is important to us…"
Umbrafer (9:04:57 PM): We're working on it
Umbrafer (9:05:06 PM): There were some issues with the original installation.
MilesMk1 (9:05:23 PM): Oh dear.
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

MilesMk1 (9:07:52 PM): You know, my experiences here really aren't selling me on the superiority of non-Windows operating systems... Even though I realize a kitten dies every time I boot up. ;)
Umbrafer (9:08:36 PM): He's using Windows XP
MilesMk1 (9:08:39 PM): Hmm.
Umbrafer (9:08:56 PM): And my issues were with the construction of my house :P
MilesMk1 (9:09:08 PM): Uh-huh...
Umbrafer (9:09:18 PM): (And the placement of my router.)
MilesMk1 (9:09:30 PM): Is he using actual AIM, or some sort of less-evil lookalike?
MilesMk1 (9:09:43 PM): (if there even is such a thing)
Umbrafer (9:10:30 PM): He was using actual AIM. We're trying to set him up with a lookalike.
Umbrafer (9:10:39 PM): (By "we" I mean "me")
Umbrafer (9:10:49 PM): Me're trying. I mean "I"
MilesMk1 (9:11:58 PM): Ah.
MilesMk1 (9:12:13 PM): I guess I'm just lucky.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (9:12:33 PM): Woo!
Umbrafer (9:12:36 PM): Try rolling some dice
Thematrian1 (9:12:55 PM): aw hell
Thematrian1 (9:12:57 PM): 'no such command'
Umbrafer (9:13:02 PM): Sonofabitch.
MilesMk1 (9:13:04 PM): Hmm.
Umbrafer (9:13:08 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 6 5
Umbrafer (9:13:12 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (9:13:14 PM): Bah.
MilesMk1 (9:13:26 PM): Well, one of us can type the rolls for you.
MilesMk1 (9:13:43 PM): It's not that big of a deal.
Umbrafer (9:14:23 PM): Heh
Umbrafer (9:14:41 PM): Your command syntax is identical but minus the //
Umbrafer (9:14:49 PM): One of us will pass it along
Umbrafer (9:15:04 PM): And in downtime we'll see if we can't find a better solution.
MilesMk1 (9:15:07 PM): Although... Can you see it if we roll dice?
MilesMk1 (9:15:11 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 6 6 1 4 6
Thematrian1 (9:15:25 PM): yes, I can
Thematrian1 (9:15:29 PM): I just can't see my own
Umbrafer (9:15:37 PM): Yeah, yours don't actually get rolled
MilesMk1 (9:15:47 PM): Hell, you could just roll the real dice at home and report results... We'll trust you... For one session. ;)
Umbrafer (9:16:31 PM): Probably easiest to just do what I suggested, then he doesn't have to type in results.
Thematrian1 (9:16:47 PM): well, GMing I can use my lisp dealie
Thematrian1 (9:16:56 PM): but yeah, gotta be a better way...
Umbrafer (9:17:30 PM): I'll dig out my Windows laptop from its hole and test a few programs out.
Thematrian1 (9:17:57 PM): well, at least it's stable
Thematrian1 (9:18:09 PM): right at the moment I'll give points for that
CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (9:19:01 PM): Hey all
MilesMk1 (9:19:48 PM): Hey.
Thematrian1 (9:20:05 PM): greetings
CirclMastr (9:20:20 PM): Sorry for the lateness, but the home remodel supersedes my ability to get online
MilesMk1 (9:21:13 PM): Hypothetical question... Would MacLeod kill me if he was losing the duel and his opponent caught a high-velocity rifle bullet with his head?
Umbrafer (9:21:14 PM): As I mentioned, we finally established a stable connection here, so you didn't miss anything.
CirclMastr (9:21:36 PM): I'm not sure if Macleod would kill you, but you would be killing MacLeod
Thematrian1 (9:21:38 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 5 4 5 1 4 2 1 3 2 2 2 1 2 6
Thematrian1 (9:21:40 PM): ha!
Umbrafer (9:21:45 PM): ?
Umbrafer (9:21:49 PM): It work?
Thematrian1 (9:21:55 PM): there's an option
Umbrafer (9:22:00 PM): ??
Umbrafer (9:22:01 PM): ???
MilesMk1 (9:22:02 PM): Different syntax?
Umbrafer (9:22:05 PM): ¿¿¿
Thematrian1 (9:22:06 PM): to teach it to blindly forward // commands that it doesn't recognize
Umbrafer (9:22:07 PM): ¿¿
Thematrian1 (9:22:08 PM): by default
Umbrafer (9:22:09 PM): ¿
Thematrian1 (9:22:20 PM): if it's not one of the set it's familiar with, it squelches the message
Umbrafer (9:22:23 PM): Does it list // commands? I've always been curious.
Thematrian1 (9:22:27 PM): but that behavior can be overridden
Thematrian1 (9:22:32 PM): because Gaim was not written by baboons
Umbrafer (9:22:41 PM): :D
CirclMastr (9:22:53 PM): I think baboons everywhere are offended at that
Thematrian1 (9:23:08 PM): now if I can teach it to flash when I get a message, I can uninstall AIM in peace
Umbrafer (9:23:11 PM): Only baboons involved in the code should be offended.
Umbrafer (9:24:41 PM): (I'll take that as a no for them giving other // commands?)
MilesMk1 (9:24:43 PM): Hmm. If it were strictly up to Glitch, he'd probably be hiding in a tree with a rifle, but I guess in this case, his player will override him, then. :P
CirclMastr (9:24:52 PM): All in all, Seiler, the whole high-velocity rifle round idea is a poor one.
Thematrian1 (9:25:08 PM): I don't see any
Umbrafer (9:25:13 PM): Ah well.
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (9:25:24 PM): Fuck.
CirclMastr (9:25:31 PM): See J, you just had to make him poke at it.
CirclMastr (9:25:34 PM): And look what happened
MilesMk1 (9:25:40 PM): Or dare I hope that was intentional?
CirclMastr (9:25:43 PM): DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT!
CirclMastr (9:27:24 PM): Well, I saw Four Brothers today
Chat room exited at 8/18/2005 9:27:32 PM.

New chat room entered at 8/18/2005 9:27:38 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw081805.”
Umbrafer (9:27:47 PM): How was it?
Umbrafer (9:27:57 PM): (Someone else try inviting him?)
MilesMk1 (9:28:48 PM): (I just did.)
Umbrafer (9:29:01 PM): (Graaaaagh)
CirclMastr (9:29:02 PM): 'Twas better than expected. Very much a modern western movie, with surprisingly good performances turned in by all.
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

CirclMastr (9:29:12 PM): Even the guy from Outkast
MilesMk1 (9:29:29 PM): Hmm. It looked corny as all hell.
MilesMk1 (9:29:37 PM): In the previews.
CirclMastr (9:30:03 PM): I'll admit I didn't think much of it from the previews either.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (9:31:09 PM): Huzzah!
MilesMk1 (9:31:23 PM): We need to duct tape you in place.
Thematrian1 (9:31:27 PM): see how long it lasts
Thematrian1 (9:31:29 PM): this is absurd
CirclMastr (9:31:40 PM): 3... 2... 1...
Thematrian1 (9:31:46 PM): don't even
CirclMastr (9:32:13 PM): (Shhh, I'm trying reverse psychology on your connection)
Umbrafer (9:32:14 PM): The weird thing is that you stay connected rather well when you aren't in a chat
Thematrian1 (9:32:59 PM): I logged out on purpose, hoping to fix things
Thematrian1 (9:33:01 PM): worked, too
Thematrian1 (9:33:02 PM): anyway
Umbrafer (9:33:11 PM): Yeah, I got that part
Umbrafer (9:33:22 PM): But even back when you were on AIM, which burned when that happened
Umbrafer (9:33:43 PM): Ah well. Let's try to carry on.
Umbrafer (9:34:00 PM): When we last left our antiheroes, MacLeod was standing in the woods.
Umbrafer (9:34:04 PM): What was everyone else doing?
Thematrian1 (9:34:06 PM): so, we were leaving MacLeod to his fate
MilesMk1 (9:34:24 PM): Well, I tried asking him to come with us...
Thematrian1 (9:34:30 PM): I'm in the back seat of Glitch's car, and we were driving away
MilesMk1 (9:34:40 PM): But since I know OOC there's no way he'll leave...
CirclMastr (9:34:46 PM): Hehe
MilesMk1 (9:35:38 PM): "Hey, Gem - want to try to talk him out of it...?"
MilesMk1 (9:36:05 PM): "Although he'd probably demand a date, or something..."
Thematrian1 (9:36:12 PM): "Not really. He's an adult, allegedly."
MilesMk1 (9:36:39 PM): "Well... He's been alive for over 18 years, anyway."
Thematrian1 (9:36:43 PM): "If he wants to lurk in the woods and kill people, that's his business."
MilesMk1 (9:36:50 PM): *starts engine*
Umbrafer (9:37:21 PM): *Vroom*
MilesMk1 (9:37:25 PM): (Or I let Scavengers start it, depending what the Vehicle has finally collapsed into now that we're leaving)
CirclMastr (9:37:30 PM): ("Damn straight it's my business, you damn whippernappers! When I was your age, I was hiding out from racist murderers and LIKED IT!")
Umbrafer (9:37:49 PM): (Dude, you're a human.)
MilesMk1 (9:37:58 PM): (Isn't MacLeod a white human?)
Thematrian1 (9:38:01 PM): (It's your vehicle. Jon nurtures some hope that we'll see Scavengers again, but she certainly sat this one out)
Thematrian1 (9:38:13 PM): (Unless we get an NPC rigger?)
Thematrian1 (9:38:17 PM): (Don't make me beg)
Umbrafer (9:38:20 PM): (The vehicle's state still hasn't collapsed.)
CirclMastr (9:38:25 PM): (12 year old poor kids don't ccount as part of the white supremacy)
Umbrafer (9:38:26 PM): (Yeah, you get her.)
MilesMk1 (9:38:46 PM): (All right, we drive...)
CirclMastr (9:39:40 PM): ::waits for my fate::
Thematrian1 (9:39:55 PM): ::waits for blissful unconsciousness::
CirclMastr (9:40:09 PM): ::resists the urge to recite poetry::
MilesMk1 (9:40:13 PM): When are we supposed to meet my fixer again?
MilesMk1 (9:40:23 PM): Were we supposed to call in once the job was done?
Umbrafer (9:40:59 PM): Your unconsciousness is swift, though not necessarily blissful. (You were supposed to call in)
CirclMastr (9:41:01 PM): (It may be he shall take my hand / And lead me into his dark land / And close my eyes and quench my breath / It may be I shall pass him still / I have a rendevous with Death / On some scarred slope of battered hill)
Umbrafer (9:41:19 PM): Let's get a Willpower roll from Gem.
Thematrian1 (9:41:24 PM): ok
Thematrian1 (9:41:27 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 3 2 6 4 4
CirclMastr (9:41:31 PM): (And I to my pledged word am true....)
Thematrian1 (9:41:33 PM): (I'm at six boxes of stun, so...)
Thematrian1 (9:41:36 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
CirclMastr (9:41:37 PM): (I shall not fail that rendezvous)
Thematrian1 (9:41:53 PM): (1 hour)
Umbrafer (9:42:06 PM): Well, yes, that too
Umbrafer (9:42:11 PM): But I didn't mean for Stun recovery
Thematrian1 (9:42:15 PM): oh, sorry, was that for something else?
Thematrian1 (9:42:19 PM): I'll reroll for stun recovery
Thematrian1 (9:42:22 PM): totally ok with that
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (9:44:21 PM): ...
CirclMastr (9:47:10 PM): Sooooo........
Umbrafer (9:47:26 PM): MacLeod waits.
MilesMk1 (9:47:46 PM): All right... I'm going to drop off Gem somewhere she can rest, and call my fixer to let him know that things are in place.
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

Umbrafer (9:48:10 PM): He gives the thumbs-up, as it were.
MilesMk1 (9:48:37 PM): I guess we'll hear more if the work holds up till midnight?
Umbrafer (9:48:38 PM): Any further actions? There's one more thing I want to do with Gem before we get to the encounter.
Umbrafer (9:48:46 PM): That's the idea.
MilesMk1 (9:50:22 PM): Get food, get coffee, get eye drops and pain killers...
MilesMk1 (9:50:44 PM): Watch the news.
Umbrafer (9:50:46 PM): (Eye drops?)
CirclMastr (9:51:18 PM): (For red eye, I presume)
MilesMk1 (9:51:30 PM): (Well, he was up for, what, 24+ hours, a lot of it spent staring intently at things?)
Umbrafer (9:51:38 PM): Any particular channel?
Umbrafer (9:51:40 PM): (True enough)
MilesMk1 (9:51:42 PM): (I think that calls for some relief.)
CirclMastr (9:51:53 PM): ("Lotte BlackBlack Drops! Caffeine injections for your eyes! Sponsored by Jean Claude Van Damme!")
MilesMk1 (9:52:17 PM): Hmm... Whatever has the most local news coverage, I guess.
CirclMastr (9:52:56 PM): Network trid is owned by the corps. All the news that's fit for wageslaves, no extra charge for subliminal messages!
Umbrafer (9:54:03 PM): There's a spot on Lone Star corruption and inefficiency, with complete denials and not a lot of attention paid by actual Lone Star officials
Umbrafer (9:54:27 PM): There's also word about an attack on a waste treatment plant by "rogue individuals"
CirclMastr (9:54:38 PM): Oops
MilesMk1 (9:55:03 PM): I'm pretty positive we weren't anywhere near a waste treatment plant, right?
Umbrafer (9:55:13 PM): And some minor government official was caught sleeping with some other minor government official.
Umbrafer (9:55:25 PM): If you were, you certainly forgot to tell me.
MilesMk1 (9:55:29 PM): Unless it was nuclear waste treatment...
CirclMastr (9:55:39 PM): That explains the third arm...
Umbrafer (9:55:44 PM): Municipal treatment.
Umbrafer (9:55:48 PM): Waste, rather
MilesMk1 (9:55:52 PM): But I don't think the news would forget to spin the nuclear angle...
MilesMk1 (9:56:11 PM): Do they say where the waste treatment plant is?
Umbrafer (9:57:00 PM): Somewhere in Tacoma.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (9:57:23 PM): Yay!
MilesMk1 (9:57:33 PM): *gets the duct-tape out*
Umbrafer (9:58:15 PM): Gem, meanwhile, sleeps.
Umbrafer (9:58:20 PM): Sleeps and dreams.
Thematrian1 (9:58:33 PM): in her home, having been dropped off a few blocks away, if at all possible
Umbrafer (9:59:00 PM): You find yourself in a valley
Umbrafer (9:59:04 PM): Rocky, grey, and blasted
Thematrian1 (9:59:13 PM): ugh
Umbrafer (9:59:16 PM): It looks somewhat like unliving things on the astral, do
Thematrian1 (9:59:19 PM): the anti-totem
Umbrafer (9:59:24 PM): Only sharper, more visible.
Thematrian1 (9:59:35 PM): well, I look around. Any obvious paths or trails?
Umbrafer (10:00:02 PM): There's a winding trail up to one of the peaks, but it's very steep and the rock looks ready to crumble out from underfoot
Thematrian1 (10:00:07 PM): if not, I try to find a low point, somewhere where water might collect
Umbrafer (10:00:26 PM): You're pretty much at the bottom where you are now, with no water in sight.
Umbrafer (10:00:34 PM): Above clouds move quickly, but there's no wind.
Thematrian1 (10:00:37 PM): ugh. Oh well, up the trail it is, then
MilesMk1 (10:00:45 PM): (What is this, a vision quest? Why does everyone get to hallucinate and feel tingly and stuff but me?)
Thematrian1 (10:00:51 PM): ::tropm tromp tromp::
Thematrian1 (10:00:58 PM): ('cause you made the hard-headed materialist)
Thematrian1 (10:01:04 PM): (both times)
Thematrian1 (10:01:23 PM): (If something should happen to Blake on Tuesday God forbid, roll up an amnesia five and I'll see what I can do for you)
Umbrafer (10:01:30 PM): You scramble your way up up the trail, slipping twice and lacerating your palms both times
Umbrafer (10:01:33 PM): (*Laughs*)
Umbrafer (10:01:40 PM): (Well, he can still see visions)
Thematrian1 (10:01:48 PM): (That's true)
Umbrafer (10:01:50 PM): (All he needs to do is take a major drug overdose like Alex)
Thematrian1 (10:02:04 PM): I cast the blood on the stones as I continue
Umbrafer (10:02:31 PM): The sight of the blood is almost refreshing, red points of colour in an otherwise colourless landscape
Umbrafer (10:02:37 PM): Even your skin has become grey with blown dust
Umbrafer (10:02:56 PM): As it drips on the ground, though, it soaks into the dust and loses its colour.
Thematrian1 (10:03:03 PM): "I've changed my mind. I like Seattle."
MilesMk1 (10:03:10 PM): (Bah... Blake had "visions". They tried to tell him to kill himself, and there was a guy with a guts retention problem.)
CirclMastr (10:03:15 PM): (Gem's dreams are duochromatic, how neo-abstract)
Umbrafer (10:03:23 PM): You reach the peak.
Thematrian1 (10:03:32 PM): I look out. Water? Oceans?
CirclMastr (10:03:53 PM): (Bloodkites. They're everywhere. Thousands of 'em.)
Thematrian1 (10:04:02 PM): (Well balls)
Umbrafer (10:04:29 PM): You look around. There's nothing but the same bleak, blasted landscape around you
Umbrafer (10:04:38 PM): In the distance, there is one point of colour
Thematrian1 (10:04:43 PM): Oh yes?
Umbrafer (10:04:47 PM): A belching volcano casts an angry red glow.
Thematrian1 (10:04:52 PM): dammit
Umbrafer (10:04:56 PM): You hear a slight rustling.
CirclMastr (10:04:58 PM): (kekeke pwnd)
Thematrian1 (10:05:03 PM): I guess it's better than nothing.
Thematrian1 (10:05:18 PM): I turn toward it. Am I still bleeding?
Umbrafer (10:05:25 PM): You are.
Thematrian1 (10:06:01 PM): all right. Looking for the rustling, I wipe the blood on my hands.
Umbrafer (10:06:07 PM): You turn and see nothing.
Umbrafer (10:06:09 PM): Wait, no…
Umbrafer (10:06:21 PM): In a little hollow on the peak, the ground is shifting ever so slightly
Thematrian1 (10:06:34 PM): shifting downward?
Umbrafer (10:06:36 PM): The rock on the ground, that is
Umbrafer (10:06:49 PM): Not shifting downward, just moving in place. As if something was shifting underneath.
Thematrian1 (10:07:45 PM): uh huh
Umbrafer (10:07:49 PM): As you watch the shifting grows in intensity, then begins to die down again.
Umbrafer (10:07:55 PM): It's a very small spot, a few inches in diameter.
Thematrian1 (10:07:59 PM): I approach
Thematrian1 (10:08:17 PM): if I get close enough without dying, I let my blood fall on the spot
Umbrafer (10:08:48 PM): You're right up next to it now. The shifting is slowing, dying down
Umbrafer (10:08:58 PM): The blood drips onto the spot.
Umbrafer (10:09:18 PM): You blink. A tiny spot of green appears.
Umbrafer (10:09:40 PM): A little shoot extends from beneath the rock, stretching skyward.
Thematrian1 (10:09:41 PM): I kneel down and breathe on it
Thematrian1 (10:09:47 PM): gently
Umbrafer (10:10:05 PM): You breathe on it. A few seconds pass.
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:10:19 PM): Bah.
Umbrafer (10:10:24 PM): Wel'll carry that on when he returns.
CirclMastr (10:10:29 PM): So much for your dramatic dream sequence.
Umbrafer (10:10:32 PM): MacLeod, meanwhile, stands in his location.
CirclMastr (10:10:42 PM): ::waits, watchful::
Umbrafer (10:10:44 PM): Perception.
CirclMastr (10:10:55 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 2 6 4
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (10:10:58 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
CirclMastr (10:11:04 PM): (Eight and four)
Umbrafer (10:11:27 PM): You're not so much thrown as very quickly deposited backwards as a giant tree, larger than any you've seen before—almost too large to comprehend—leaps towards the sky.
Thematrian1 (10:11:48 PM): I watch it grow. I don't stand up yet.
Umbrafer (10:11:53 PM): (MacLeod: you watch and wait. You think the guy's late, but then you fel a tingling.)
Umbrafer (10:12:08 PM): It reaches into the sky, green and triumphant
Umbrafer (10:12:17 PM): Then it begins to grey and shrivel
Umbrafer (10:12:31 PM): It stands tall, but its colour is fading quickly.
Thematrian1 (10:12:34 PM): I stand, step toward it, touch it
Thematrian1 (10:12:44 PM): (probably that last wasn't wise)
CirclMastr (10:12:58 PM): (I have the sudden strange suspicion Gem's dream is Bug-related)
Umbrafer (10:13:02 PM): It continues to grey. At your feet you find a large hole between the roots.
Thematrian1 (10:13:12 PM): I look in
Umbrafer (10:13:20 PM): (The tingling becomes steadily stronger.)
Umbrafer (10:13:31 PM): There's a tunnel through the less-sharp rock.
CirclMastr (10:13:32 PM): ::looks around for him::
Umbrafer (10:13:36 PM): It goes down amongst the roots.
Thematrian1 (10:13:49 PM): I wriggle in.
Umbrafer (10:14:27 PM): You cut yourself slightly going through, but manage to squeeze your way into a chamber below.
Thematrian1 (10:14:33 PM): in I go
Umbrafer (10:14:55 PM): It's large, three meters tall and three times three meters in diameter.
Umbrafer (10:15:16 PM): In it there's a giant slab of rock.
Thematrian1 (10:15:31 PM): I examine the rock.
Umbrafer (10:15:32 PM): A man lies on the slab, impaled by shards of rock.
Umbrafer (10:15:38 PM): His blood flows across it.
Thematrian1 (10:15:39 PM): check that
Thematrian1 (10:15:44 PM): hm
Thematrian1 (10:15:48 PM): is he alive?
CirclMastr (10:15:50 PM): (Take his wallet!)
Umbrafer (10:16:01 PM): It's hard to tell. He's wearing garish makeup, like a clown's.
Thematrian1 (10:16:21 PM): no balloons, though?
Umbrafer (10:16:29 PM): (MacLeod doesn't see anyone, but the buzzing is getting stronger all the time)
CirclMastr (10:16:42 PM): ::looks up as well just in case::
Umbrafer (10:16:51 PM): (Not there either, but good call)
Thematrian1 (10:16:52 PM): all right. I cut myself on the same stone, and mingle my blood with his.
Umbrafer (10:17:26 PM): You do so. Your mingled blood flows towards a groove in the stone.
Umbrafer (10:17:43 PM): It oozes into the channel, runs across the stone, and into a hole within.
Umbrafer (10:17:50 PM): The man's eyes snap open.
Thematrian1 (10:17:57 PM): eyes on his face
Umbrafer (10:18:05 PM): Gem's do as well, but in the real world.
Umbrafer (10:18:22 PM): The ork steps around a tree.
CirclMastr (10:18:32 PM): (So Gem is some sort of blood mage. We'll have to check if her name is on the list at the DF...)
Umbrafer (10:18:44 PM): He's wearing the same large leather jacket, though this time he's carrying a large object wrapped in brown paper.
Umbrafer (10:18:48 PM): Tied with string.
CirclMastr (10:19:00 PM): ::faces him:: "What's in the package?"
Thematrian1 (10:19:09 PM): ::under her breath:: "Other people's totems use words. Language. From what Asi told me, Raven doesn't know how to shut up."
Umbrafer (10:19:19 PM): "I think you know that."
Thematrian1 (10:19:26 PM): "But you predate everything."
Umbrafer (10:19:27 PM): "Why did you come here?"
CirclMastr (10:20:00 PM): "Other matters. They ended when I felt your presence."
CirclMastr (10:20:11 PM): ::doesn't let on that I have no idea what's in the package::
Thematrian1 (10:20:28 PM): "Deep flows collide! I have to call the others."
Thematrian1 (10:20:36 PM): And I dial Glitch's cell.
CirclMastr (10:21:01 PM): (Unless the package is obviously sword-shaped and I missed that...)
MilesMk1 (10:21:16 PM): "Hello?"
Thematrian1 (10:21:18 PM): (Who wraps their sword in brown paper?)
Umbrafer (10:21:21 PM): (It's not blatantly sword-shaped, but anyone who knew what was going on would immediately recognize it as such)
Thematrian1 (10:21:22 PM): (Samurai UPS?)
Thematrian1 (10:21:30 PM): (Or, ok, this guy)
Thematrian1 (10:21:38 PM): "You terribly busy?"
CirclMastr (10:21:50 PM): "I told you, I don't want to fight you."
Umbrafer (10:21:52 PM): "You're just like the others. Nothing in your head but…" he spreads his hands "this"
Umbrafer (10:22:02 PM): "Pah. What do you want, then?"
Umbrafer (10:22:09 PM): "That's all you ever want."
Umbrafer (10:22:21 PM): "I don't want anything to do with it. Not anymore."
MilesMk1 (10:22:31 PM): "Nah, just killing time till we get a call... If we get the call. Why?"
Thematrian1 (10:23:12 PM): "Remember the amazing disappearing clown? I had a totem-dream about him."
CirclMastr (10:23:14 PM): "We don't all want to fight. At least one person didn't want to fight you before, someone told you the Rules."
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:24:38 PM): "That was… long ago."
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (10:25:28 PM): Hey, you're getting better at this. ;)
Thematrian1 (10:25:40 PM): never was no dummy
Thematrian1 (10:26:07 PM): "He was impaled on a stone slab. When I mingled my blood with his, he awakened."
CirclMastr (10:26:26 PM): "I don't want to fight either. I just want to know that there are others like me out there. I just want some... camaraderie, or fellowship, or something..."
MilesMk1 (10:27:02 PM): "Do we know for sure there was a clown? 'Cause all I ever saw were balloons, but I remember you guys talking about it... Man... That's some..."
Thematrian1 (10:27:19 PM): "I saw his face. It was the same guy."
Thematrian1 (10:27:25 PM): (It was the same guy, right?)
MilesMk1 (10:27:32 PM): "Can that sort of thing have real-world consequences, or was it just, you know... A vision?"
Umbrafer (10:27:47 PM): He looks, suddently, very old and very, very tired.
Thematrian1 (10:28:14 PM): "It could just be a vision. Or I may have metaphorically agreed to do something for him."
Umbrafer (10:28:39 PM): "There are. We—they are out there."
Thematrian1 (10:28:40 PM): "Whatever it is, though, the dream is totem sent. Even this far from shore, the ocean steers me well."
Umbrafer (10:28:55 PM): "There's no fellowship to be had, though."
Umbrafer (10:29:05 PM): "It all ends. They always end it."
Thematrian1 (10:29:36 PM): "And it wasn't just me the clown was looking for."
CirclMastr (10:30:03 PM): "They can't all be evil. Some at least share with new ones, what about them?"
MilesMk1 (10:30:20 PM): "Did it feel like a warning at all? Because this clown creeps the hell out of me. Huh? Was he looking for the rest of us too?"
Umbrafer (10:30:33 PM): "They die eventually."
Umbrafer (10:30:40 PM): "Everyone dies. Everyone."
Thematrian1 (10:30:47 PM): "MacLeod saw him independently. Maybe you're out of it, but I wouldn't bet on it..."
Umbrafer (10:31:08 PM): "The one who taught me…"
Umbrafer (10:31:26 PM): He goes silent.
Thematrian1 (10:31:37 PM): "Maybe. I thought I was looking at Seattle."
MilesMk1 (10:31:57 PM): "So, what now? Do we try to look for him? Wasn't he always running away from us?"
CirclMastr (10:32:01 PM): "We don't have to fight until the Gathering, and I haven't felt that yet."
Thematrian1 (10:32:21 PM): "Only after letting us see him. Trying to entice us."
Umbrafer (10:32:37 PM): "Yes… the Gathering."
Umbrafer (10:32:44 PM): "The one who taught me…"
Umbrafer (10:32:46 PM): "He left."
MilesMk1 (10:32:47 PM): "Is he trapped somewhere, like he was in that dream, and the weird balloons and shit are a way of getting our attention?"
Thematrian1 (10:32:52 PM): "Maybe that's the sort of person he is. He thinks natural curiosity would be enough of a draw?"
Umbrafer (10:32:54 PM): "Came back three months later."
Thematrian1 (10:33:01 PM): "Or that. He always disappeared..."
Thematrian1 (10:33:09 PM): "Maybe it was some kind of projection."
Thematrian1 (10:33:19 PM): "Not an astral form, I'd have seen the difference, but..."
Umbrafer (10:33:26 PM): (I want to note that the person on the slab was noticably thinner than the clown you've been seeing about town)
MilesMk1 (10:33:30 PM): "Did you ever see anything to indicate any civilians noticed him too?"
Umbrafer (10:33:39 PM): "Spoke of what he had seen, of the others…"
Thematrian1 (10:33:45 PM): (Jon: did I? I don't remember it)
CirclMastr (10:33:59 PM): ::listens::
Umbrafer (10:34:01 PM): (No, though nothing to demonstrate that they hadn't either)
Umbrafer (10:34:16 PM): "He told me that at the Gathering, only the strongest would survive."
Umbrafer (10:34:30 PM): "That to survive the Gathering, we must take lives now."
Umbrafer (10:34:41 PM): "And then… he tried…"
Umbrafer (10:35:01 PM): "He was the first one I took."
Thematrian1 (10:35:02 PM): "He was terribly thin, like he'd been there awhile."
CirclMastr (10:35:12 PM): "He was a fool, then."
Thematrian1 (10:35:21 PM): "Or it was the guy's twin brother. No, that makes no sense..."
Umbrafer (10:35:57 PM): "No…"
Umbrafer (10:36:19 PM): "He was right, I think…"
Umbrafer (10:36:25 PM): "It's already true…"
CirclMastr (10:36:26 PM): "Yes, he was. If you really believe that, you'd first take the ones who think as you do."
MilesMk1 (10:36:52 PM): "Well, I wouldn't know what to do with this - it reeks of magic - but I'm definitely interested in finding out more about it."
Umbrafer (10:37:13 PM): "They're too strong. They came for me and I ran. I ran all the way here."
Thematrian1 (10:37:24 PM): "Here's what I think will happen."
Umbrafer (10:37:26 PM): "And now you come here. You come here and bring it with you."
Umbrafer (10:37:31 PM): He seems to be getting angry.
Thematrian1 (10:37:55 PM): "The clown, or that woman who gave us the survey, will come to us, the three of us, and offer us a job."
Thematrian1 (10:38:08 PM): "They won't explain what they want right away, and when they have explained what they won't explain why."
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (10:39:16 PM): "You're the first one I've felt in decades. Trying to take me won't help you escape. Make for Holy Ground, at least you will have peace there until the Gathering. Don't resign yourself so quickly."
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (10:39:57 PM): "I'm a little worried about all the blood."
Umbrafer (10:40:06 PM): "I will not hide there, cooped up like some devil rat in a cage!"
Thematrian1 (10:40:11 PM): "If there's a connection to the Great Ghost Dance...well, that's the nicest possibility."
CirclMastr (10:40:27 PM): "So you throw your life away instead?"
Umbrafer (10:40:30 PM): "I will not be captive to this… this… this game"
Thematrian1 (10:40:50 PM): "I don't think the clown is a blood mage; the ritual was being done to him, but I got there with my own blood."
Thematrian1 (10:41:16 PM): "Come to think of it, it may be the other side that's coming to hire us, and we're getting a warning."
Umbrafer (10:41:26 PM): "I WANT MY LIFE BACK"
Umbrafer (10:41:37 PM): He's livid at this point
MilesMk1 (10:41:45 PM): "Well, it definitely bears remembering, if we get any new job offers..."
Thematrian1 (10:42:04 PM): "Deep river. I'm sorry, I'm rambling."
CirclMastr (10:42:51 PM): "You cannot change what you are! Your life is what you DO with it! I will take your head if I must, but I offer you something that - by your words - no one else will."
Umbrafer (10:43:24 PM): "ENOUGH! STAND!"
Umbrafer (10:43:38 PM): He swings the package off his back and tears at the wrapping.
MilesMk1 (10:43:39 PM): *suddenly annoyed* "Man, I came out here to be free from people trying to manipulate me... If I wasn't convinced that damn clown would go 'poof' as soon as I did, I'd be trying to put a bullet in his head."
CirclMastr (10:44:01 PM): ::draws my katana and stands ready, holding the hilt in both hands::
Umbrafer (10:44:03 PM): It's much larger than it had looked, though that's as much due to the size of the Ork than anything else..
Umbrafer (10:44:54 PM): He tears loose the paper about the hilt and quillions, sliding the blade free of its scabbard.
MilesMk1 (10:45:17 PM): (Bah... You can still try to talk him out of it! Come on!)
CirclMastr (10:45:51 PM): (Says the one playing the "Don't bother kicking in the door when you can shoot through it" character...)
MilesMk1 (10:46:42 PM): (Huh? When did I do that???)
Umbrafer (10:47:03 PM): (This is how rumors get started.)
CirclMastr (10:47:20 PM): (Didn't you say before if Glitch had his way, he'd be sitting in a tree with a rifle?)
Thematrian1 (10:48:23 PM): "That's legitimate, but I think he's one of the good guys. At the very least, he's one of the victims."
Umbrafer (10:48:57 PM): He hefts his sword, shifting into a fighting stance.
CirclMastr (10:49:10 PM): (Init time?)
Umbrafer (10:49:20 PM): (Yep)
CirclMastr (10:49:23 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (10:49:26 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 6 3
CirclMastr (10:49:28 PM): (God. 6)
Thematrian1 (10:49:42 PM): (This is melee. Who cares what your init is?)
MilesMk1 (10:49:49 PM): (Well, yes... But he wouldn't fire unless you got into a fight and were about to lose...)
Umbrafer (10:50:06 PM): (Because ties go to the attacker)
CirclMastr (10:50:07 PM): (True that, I can't get multiple attacks but it seems he can)
MilesMk1 (10:51:03 PM): "Well... Perhaps just as well I can't then... But it pushes my buttons."
MilesMk1 (10:51:29 PM): "Don't worry, I'm not about to flip out and try to shoot him if we ever meet him... Well, not without listening to what he might say."
Umbrafer (10:52:08 PM): He comes at you swinging. Incidentally, while it usually works rather well, I have a feeling that the tendency for Shadowrun melee combat to be a very short affair will be somewhat unsatisfying here.
Umbrafer (10:52:31 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 6 3 2 1 5 1 5 2
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:52:40 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 1 6 3 5 4 6 4 6
CirclMastr (10:52:46 PM): (When do I.... what the hell?)
Umbrafer (10:52:59 PM): (Go for it)
CirclMastr (10:53:10 PM): (When do I get to assign Reach?)
CirclMastr (10:53:29 PM): (And, is that two attacks or your die-hiding thing?)
Umbrafer (10:53:58 PM): You have Reach 1, right?
CirclMastr (10:54:12 PM): (Right. When I get the chance, I want to (for now) raise his TN)
Umbrafer (10:54:14 PM): (Die-hiding.)
Umbrafer (10:54:24 PM): (You don't get the chance, as he has Reach 2)
CirclMastr (10:54:33 PM): (Well I'm just boned, then)
MilesMk1 (10:54:36 PM): (Anyone want to bet on what color his name will be this time when he comes back? I say orange.)
Umbrafer (10:54:49 PM): (Blue :P )
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (10:55:00 PM): (How the hell does he have a Reach 2 sword? I thought they only had that on polearms)
Umbrafer (10:55:05 PM): (For reference, in my AIM client everyone who isn't me shows up as blue.)
Umbrafer (10:55:07 PM): (Claymore.)
CirclMastr (10:55:23 PM): (Ah. Well, I'm boned)
CirclMastr (10:55:26 PM): CirclMastr rolled 7 6-sided dice: 4 4 6 6 4 5 4
Thematrian1 (10:55:36 PM): that went ok
CirclMastr (10:55:38 PM): (...Unless I roll EVERY die as 4+...)
MilesMk1 (10:56:01 PM): Hah ha!
MilesMk1 (10:56:14 PM): It is orange!
Umbrafer (10:56:16 PM): *Ting ting ting*
Umbrafer (10:56:25 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 5 6 1 6 6 5 6 5 1 6 4 3 5 1
Umbrafer (10:56:32 PM): Umbrafer rolled 5 6-sided dice: 3 2 1 5 3
Umbrafer (10:56:45 PM): You slip your blade past his defenses, but it doesn't appear to hit flesh.
Umbrafer (10:56:57 PM): He backs away and reassesses you.
MilesMk1 (10:57:18 PM): (I'm increasingly convinced I really am psychic. Though I also might be going crazy. And now I'll shut up and let the duel unfold.)
Umbrafer (10:57:47 PM): It's your move.
CirclMastr (10:58:27 PM): ::goes on the offensive, making sure of course not to arc the blade too sharply, as it is taller than I am:: (And I'll throw a CP into it for evenness's sake)
CirclMastr (10:58:40 PM): CirclMastr rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 4 6 1 3 6 4 2
Umbrafer (10:59:57 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 6 1 2 4 1 2 3
Umbrafer (11:00:11 PM): You slip your blade through again.
Umbrafer (11:00:18 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 6 1 3 4 1 2 2 4 1 3 6 2 3 4 4
Umbrafer (11:00:24 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Umbrafer (11:00:26 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (11:00:31 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (11:01:11 PM): You draw blood this time, but it's only a scratch—probably not enough to slow him down.
CirclMastr (11:02:00 PM): (I'm not sure if that translates into "L wound" or "flavorful blood that is not actually an L wound")
Umbrafer (11:02:14 PM): (MacLeod is similarly uncertain)
Umbrafer (11:02:33 PM): The Ork twists around, laying into MacLeod once more.
Umbrafer (11:02:37 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 5 4 5 6 2 4 1 3
Umbrafer (11:02:43 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 2 1 4 5 1 4 1 5
CirclMastr (11:03:18 PM): (I can go ahead and dump the rest of my pool into this, right? It refreshes as/just before init is rolled, IIRC)
Umbrafer (11:03:59 PM): (Yep, if you're sure you don't need to soak anything :) )
CirclMastr (11:04:27 PM): (The TN for this, even if he's raising it with his Reach, will I'm sure be lower than the TN to resist)
CirclMastr (11:04:34 PM): CirclMastr rolled 13 6-sided dice: 6 2 3 2 1 4 5 5 2 4 1 5 5
MilesMk1 (11:04:38 PM): (Though you're usually better off spending pool on winning the test and not needing to soak anywya...)
Umbrafer (11:05:27 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 3 3 5 4 1 5 6 3 6 4 1 6 2 1
MilesMk1 (11:05:30 PM): (Of course, if he's the same as you and isn't slowed down by wounds while in combat, it works out a little differently than normal melee...)
Umbrafer (11:05:33 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 4 6 3
Umbrafer (11:05:38 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (11:06:01 PM): This time you manage to flick a decent-depth gash across one of his forearms. If he feels pain he felt that one.
CirclMastr (11:06:03 PM): (I doubt he is, I dumped almost all of my starting points into that. If he has increased init dice, he can't have many levels of Pain Resistance)
Umbrafer (11:06:56 PM): Anyway. Init time.
CirclMastr (11:07:00 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (11:07:03 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 5 5
CirclMastr (11:07:17 PM): (Well, better to roll 1's here than in combat... that gives me a 5 btw)
Umbrafer (11:07:32 PM): (Good times. He takes another swing at you.)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:08:06 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 2 3 3 1 4 1 1 3
Umbrafer (11:08:17 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 5 6 2
CirclMastr (11:08:27 PM): CirclMastr rolled 7 6-sided dice: 4 3 3 2 3 5 2
CirclMastr (11:08:34 PM): (That makes me sad...)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:09:09 PM): (Resist 9S-impact)
Thematrian1 (11:09:36 PM): (wuh oh)
CirclMastr (11:10:01 PM): (So, 7S, which is really 6S. Yay for TN 6-7 quirk!)
CirclMastr (11:10:37 PM): (I'll... throw in 2 pool)
CirclMastr (11:10:42 PM): CirclMastr rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 5 1 2 6 5
CirclMastr (11:10:48 PM): (To no effect. God
CirclMastr (11:10:50 PM): .)
Umbrafer (11:11:42 PM): MacLeod is now significantly more open than he used to be.
Thematrian1 (11:11:52 PM): does this mean he'll talk about his feelings?
Umbrafer (11:12:07 PM): Yes. He's feeling like he's bleeding all over everything.
Umbrafer (11:12:22 PM): Action?
CirclMastr (11:12:33 PM): ::ignores the ventilation and attacks hard:: (Desperate times call for... Called Shot for the neck! And CP)
CirclMastr (11:12:46 PM): CirclMastr rolled 12 6-sided dice: 2 2 1 1 3 4 4 3 1 5 4 4
CirclMastr (11:12:57 PM): (....Oh dear God, it' just mocking me now. KARMA)
CirclMastr (11:13:13 PM): (I mean, shit, TWELVE dice and NO sixes?)
MilesMk1 (11:13:22 PM): (Are you increasing his TN, or lowering yours?)
CirclMastr (11:13:36 PM): (His Reach is greater than mine, I do nothing)
MilesMk1 (11:13:46 PM): (Oh, right.)
CirclMastr (11:15:03 PM): (Never one to play it safe, KARMA that)
CirclMastr (11:15:05 PM): CirclMastr rolled 12 6-sided dice: 4 3 3 5 6 6 2 1 2 6 3 2
CirclMastr (11:15:09 PM): CirclMastr rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 3 3
CirclMastr (11:15:12 PM): (That's more like it)
CirclMastr (11:15:23 PM): (11 and a pair of 9s)
Umbrafer (11:15:28 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 2 4 6 4 5 1 4
CirclMastr (11:15:50 PM): (Watch him roll eight successes)
Umbrafer (11:16:36 PM): The Ork made the wrong call trying to keep you at a distance.
Umbrafer (11:17:51 PM): You slide in past his defenses and land a solid blow.
Umbrafer (11:17:55 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 2 3 4 3 4 6 2 6 2 6 3 5 4 4
Umbrafer (11:18:08 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 2 3 2
CirclMastr (11:18:22 PM): (Damage is something like (9+katana)D if I don't stage it up)
CirclMastr (11:18:41 PM): (In fact, if I'm not mistaken it is that)
Umbrafer (11:18:58 PM): He manages to twist away, but he's now sporting a very deep shaving wound.
Umbrafer (11:19:09 PM): He snarls and charges.
Umbrafer (11:19:26 PM): Umbrafer rolled 8 6-sided dice: 2 2 4 5 6 6 2 1
CirclMastr (11:19:28 PM): (Well, I can pray he has wound penalties now...)
Umbrafer (11:19:36 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 3
CirclMastr (11:19:45 PM): CirclMastr rolled 7 6-sided dice: 1 4 1 2 3 1 4
CirclMastr (11:19:51 PM): (...Sob...)
Umbrafer (11:20:22 PM): (You know, if this were a PC I would be supremely annoyed right now.)
CirclMastr (11:20:46 PM): (Dare I ask why?)
Umbrafer (11:21:03 PM): (Well, it still goes against MacLeod. Resist 9S-impact)
CirclMastr (11:21:11 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 5 1 6
CirclMastr (11:21:18 PM): (And that's all she wrote)
Umbrafer (11:21:24 PM): (Because he's switched whether he's giving you penalties or himself bonuses twice this combat)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:21:49 PM): (And both times it's turned a decisive victory into a defeat (your attack) or a much less decisive victory (his attack))
CirclMastr (11:22:17 PM): (His victory was decisive enough, being that it was real)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:24:30 PM): Anyway.
Umbrafer (11:24:34 PM): Actions from everyone else?
MilesMk1 (11:25:08 PM): I shoot him with my sniper rifle?
Umbrafer (11:25:28 PM): MacLeod?
CirclMastr (11:25:30 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 4 4 4
MilesMk1 (11:26:07 PM): I guess the last think I said to Gem was "Don't worry, I'm not about to flip out and try to shoot him if we ever meet him... Well, not without listening to what he might say."
Thematrian1 (11:26:33 PM): (Thanks, I lost track several disconnections ago)
Thematrian1 (11:26:51 PM): "Thanks. Whatever he wants, I hope he tells us about it soon."
CirclMastr (11:26:57 PM): (I'd like to remind the GM and players that MacLeod asked for you guys to come check on him at 1, which is an hour after the scheduled meeting time with Mr. Ork)
MilesMk1 (11:27:21 PM): (Right.)
Thematrian1 (11:27:27 PM): "In the meantime, a friend here mentioned that he might have a smuggling job for me and mine. You up for it?"
MilesMk1 (11:29:24 PM): "Well... I suppose, in principle, but we seem to be short a driver right now, aren't we?"
Thematrian1 (11:30:07 PM): "Truth. I can tell him to look elsewhere, but it won't hurt to find out. If it's small, maybe we can keep it under your back seat."
MilesMk1 (11:30:29 PM): "By the way, we need to stop by the place and check on MacLeod at 1:00."
MilesMk1 (11:30:59 PM): "It's not really the cargo space I'm worried about as much as the ability to out-drive trouble, but we can at least look into it."
Umbrafer (11:31:09 PM): Where's Glitch looking right now?
MilesMk1 (11:31:18 PM): "Maybe we can subcontract..."
MilesMk1 (11:31:28 PM): Looking?
MilesMk1 (11:31:35 PM): On the news, you mean?
Umbrafer (11:32:07 PM): Well, wondering if you're watching the news while on the phone, staring at the wall, out the window, at the ceiling…
Thematrian1 (11:32:12 PM): "As long as I can conjure a spirit, we can out-run anything."
MilesMk1 (11:32:26 PM): Oh, right. Yeah, still watching the same bad news channel while talking to Gem.
CirclMastr (11:32:38 PM): (Can I trouble you all for a quick brb? Remodelers finally left for the day and I want to get back to my room)
Thematrian1 (11:32:44 PM): ::yawn:: "It's about that time, isn't it?"
CirclMastr has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:32:59 PM): (This is different)
Umbrafer (11:33:14 PM): (Oh, missed his note)
MilesMk1 (11:33:22 PM): "That's encouraging... Sure, let's look into it. I'm sure if it's not our speed, you can talk us out of it without making us look bad."
Thematrian1 (11:33:57 PM): ::transmits a satisfied grin through the voice channel::
Umbrafer (11:34:08 PM): The news channel has switched to a view of a large circus tent.
Thematrian1 (11:34:14 PM): "It's another spirit trick, slowing or speeding things in their area of influence."
MilesMk1 (11:34:17 PM): If he got himself really killed because he didn't buy forearm guards after we put up with him for so long, I'm going to strangle him.
MilesMk1 (11:35:07 PM): *vaguely makes the circus->clowns connection and looks more closely*
Umbrafer (11:35:27 PM): It seems there's an Ares-sponsored circus troupe in town.
CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:35:50 PM): Acrobats, animals, spirits, clowns, cotton candy, the whole nine yards.
MilesMk1 (11:35:52 PM): "Sounds useful... Does it require the driver to be able to handle the vehicle at the newly increased speed, or is it a smooth ride?"
MilesMk1 (11:36:07 PM): "Huh. Guess what, there's an Ares circus in town."
Thematrian1 (11:36:14 PM): "Mmm. If you want to know the truth, I've never...what?"
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (11:37:40 PM): "Where?"
MilesMk1 (11:38:19 PM): If the ad makes it clear, I tell Gem where the circus is.
MilesMk1 (11:38:41 PM): Or the news piece, whatever it might be... Same difference, it's all corporate...
Umbrafer (11:38:44 PM): It's setting up shop in a park in Bellevue.
Umbrafer (11:38:55 PM): The news says they just got into town this morning.
MilesMk1 (11:39:11 PM): "A park in Bellevue. Just got in this morning. Hmm."
Thematrian1 (11:39:29 PM): "Anybody waving at you through the camera?"
Umbrafer (11:39:50 PM): (The answer is yes, but it looks like normal crowd-folk)
MilesMk1 (11:40:49 PM): "Just the sort of people who normally wave at cameras..."
MilesMk1 (11:41:09 PM): "Don't see any black balloons."
Thematrian1 (11:41:49 PM): "Coincidence, maybe."
Thematrian1 (11:41:57 PM): "Let's go collect MacLeod?"
MilesMk1 (11:42:00 PM): "Maybe..."
MilesMk1 (11:42:13 PM): "All right. Pick you up the same place I dropped you off?"
Thematrian1 (11:42:38 PM): "Sounds like a plan."
MilesMk1 (11:43:41 PM): *drive drive drive*
Thematrian1 (11:44:11 PM): ::get picked up::
Thematrian1 (11:44:17 PM): has it even been an hour?
MilesMk1 (11:44:23 PM): *drive more*
CirclMastr (11:44:27 PM): (i can't type, keyboard is FUBAR)
Umbrafer (11:45:06 PM): (It has been about an hour)
Thematrian1 (11:45:12 PM): rolling on in to MacLeod's meeting point?
Thematrian1 (11:45:16 PM): nice, I get stun back
Thematrian1 (11:45:19 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 2 6 3 6 6
Umbrafer (11:45:25 PM): *Roll roll roll*
Thematrian1 (11:45:28 PM): next in 15 minutes
MilesMk1 (11:45:46 PM): (Well, rolling as close as I reasonably can.)
Umbrafer (11:46:09 PM): You roll to pretty close.
Thematrian1 (11:47:33 PM): I get out and head for MacLeod's waiting place.
MilesMk1 (11:47:48 PM): I'll look for security guards, ambulances... Then go to he meeting spot.
MilesMk1 (11:47:56 PM): the meeting spot
Umbrafer (11:48:08 PM): You find none of them.
Umbrafer (11:49:22 PM): At the meeting spot you find a lot of blood.
Umbrafer (11:49:38 PM): You also find a blood-soaked wad of thick brown paper.
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:50:00 PM): You also find a very open MacLeod.
MilesMk1 (11:50:14 PM): Very open, but otherwise intact?
MilesMk1 (11:50:30 PM): Or is he missing something, like a head?
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (11:51:07 PM): Umbrafer: You also find a very open MacLeod.
Umbrafer (11:51:13 PM): His ribcage has been sliced open two different ways, and his left arm is fractured so badly there's bone through the skin.
Umbrafer (11:51:40 PM): All the pieces appear to still be there, though.
Thematrian1 (11:51:43 PM): ::hiss::
MilesMk1 (11:51:48 PM): Hmm.
Thematrian1 (11:51:52 PM): "If he lives through this, I might start believing him."
Thematrian1 (11:51:57 PM): I slot Biotech.
MilesMk1 (11:52:09 PM): I run back to the van to get the medkit, and slot biotech...
MilesMk1 (11:52:13 PM): Heh.
Umbrafer (11:52:45 PM): He also appears to have bled over a significant chunk of the ground.
MilesMk1 (11:54:00 PM): Any signs of life, unlikely as that would seem?
Umbrafer (11:54:12 PM): No, not as such.
MilesMk1 (11:54:31 PM): Hmm. Well, he claimed to be able to recover, so...
MilesMk1 (11:55:07 PM): I'll set the arm, then dress the other wounds - as much to help keep the body together than anything...
Umbrafer (11:55:59 PM): You do so to the degree you can. The blood is already drying, which doesn't help matters, but at least MacLeod isn't gaping in places he isn't supposed to be anymore.
MilesMk1 (11:56:42 PM): Hmm... Is his sword around, by the way?
Umbrafer (11:57:01 PM): Yes, it's a few feet away.
MilesMk1 (11:57:11 PM): Ah, ok. Collect that...
Umbrafer (11:57:14 PM): Seems to have a fair bit of blood on it, not all his.
Thematrian1 (11:57:33 PM): I'll help, if I can
MilesMk1 (11:58:12 PM): "I guess the decent thing to do now is to wait a day or two to see if he really recovers... Or shows any signs of... well, anything besides decomposition, really."
CirclMastr has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (11:59:03 PM): I ask Gem's help to load him into the car and onto the tarp I previously used to cover the seats the last time I had bleeding people in my car.
Umbrafer (11:59:26 PM): Hehehe
Umbrafer (11:59:36 PM): You get him loaded into the car.
MilesMk1 (11:59:43 PM): (Did Dave say he was leaving, or did he just disappear suddenly?)
Umbrafer (11:59:55 PM): (Disappeared. Probably keyboard-related.)
CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (12:00:21 AM): load load load
CirclMastr (12:00:33 AM): (Back on the other comp, my PC's keyboard and mouse are both dead)
Thematrian1 (12:00:36 AM): he's small and light, thankfully
CirclMastr (12:01:03 AM): ::is much lighter without blood::
Umbrafer (12:01:13 AM): Anyway. Further actions?
Thematrian1 (12:02:04 AM): I got nothin
CirclMastr (12:02:17 AM): ::dead::
MilesMk1 (12:02:24 AM): While we're in the area... Can I see if there's any sign of increased security presence around the monitoring post? Not looking for specific guards - more like if there are suddenly vans parked around the place, etc.
Umbrafer (12:02:36 AM): Roll it.
MilesMk1 (12:02:42 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 2 2 3 4 4
MilesMk1 (12:02:50 AM): How nice and ordered.
Umbrafer (12:02:56 AM): There's a car parked out front. Other than that, nothing.
MilesMk1 (12:03:11 AM): Can I see if it has any logos or signs on it?
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:03:42 AM): You can't see any from where you are.
MilesMk1 (12:04:57 AM): All right... I get the hell out of there, and start thinking of what to do with MacLeod.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (12:05:36 AM): ::dead, doesn't bleed as heart isn't beating so I can't even say I'm bleeding::
MilesMk1 (12:05:47 AM): "Any ideas on what to do with MacLeod? I can't keep him in my car forever..."
Thematrian1 (12:06:06 AM): "Good question. Do you know where he was living?"
CirclMastr (12:06:09 AM): ::continues to use actions of deadness as karmic spite at my PC's broken input devices::
Umbrafer (12:06:15 AM): It's now about 1:35.
Thematrian1 (12:06:31 AM): "Back when he was living?"
Thematrian1 (12:08:06 AM): "Yeah, me neither."
MilesMk1 (12:08:22 AM): "He said something about a zoo..."
Thematrian1 (12:08:41 AM): "That doesn't sound like a good place to recover."
MilesMk1 (12:09:13 AM): "I think a figurative one. I hope. Otherwise, that'd be some seriously twisted original Peter Pan style shit..."
CirclMastr (12:09:57 AM): (Sleeping with children is the most beautiful thing in the world!)
MilesMk1 (12:10:04 AM): "I was thinking of renting a - forgive the pun - a spot at a coffin hotel, but how would we get him inside without someone noticing?"
Thematrian1 (12:10:33 AM): "I can probably contrive to be distracting."
Thematrian1 (12:10:49 AM): "Half tohse places are automated anyway."
MilesMk1 (12:11:44 AM): (Actually, scratch some of that... Glitch's players finally had the presence of mind to look at his character sheet and realized that he has three spare Low lifestyles and 2 Squatter ones paid for)
CirclMastr (12:11:55 AM): (lol)
Umbrafer (12:11:59 AM): In one of the corner of MacLeod's bandages, little points of red start to blossom.
Umbrafer (12:12:08 AM): *corners
MilesMk1 (12:13:00 AM): "Oh, shit. He's actually starting to bleed again... Ok, let's take him to one of my safehouses and see how this plays out. Can you check in on him while I drive?"
Thematrian1 (12:13:07 AM): "Yes."
Thematrian1 (12:13:11 AM): ::does so::
MilesMk1 (12:14:14 AM): I head for my safehouse (one of the Low ones)
Umbrafer (12:15:18 AM): You detect a very slow, very irregular pulse, but he still shows signs of rigor mortis. If you had more medical training it would probably be driving you up the wall.
Umbrafer (12:17:06 AM): The safehouse is reached. During this time MacLeod's pulse has gotten stronger and more regular, though he's shown no signs of consciousness. The rigor mortis appears to be slowly going away.
Thematrian1 (12:17:35 AM): "He's dying in reverse."
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (12:18:18 AM): (Seiler's connection, however, is still dying forward)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:19:52 AM): What're you doing with the body?
MilesMk1 (12:20:03 AM): "I was pretty convinced he was delusional. Damn."
Thematrian1 (12:20:41 AM): "Leave it. I'll stay with him, if that's all right with you."
Umbrafer (12:21:30 AM): Actions?
MilesMk1 (12:21:33 AM): Did we manage to get him inside the house, or were you asking us what we were doing with the body to figure out how we were doing that?
Umbrafer (12:21:45 AM): The latter.
MilesMk1 (12:21:54 AM): Ah.
Umbrafer (12:21:59 AM): Not that it's likely to be an issue.
MilesMk1 (12:23:03 AM): Well, just to be on the safe side, let's put more bandages on him, throw on a clean jacket over them to make him look less dead, and bring him inside in a way that looks like we're helping him stagger in, or something.
Umbrafer (12:23:07 AM): Just hauling him straight in?
Umbrafer (12:23:14 AM): Ah
Umbrafer (12:23:19 AM): Fair enough
Umbrafer (12:23:24 AM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 2 5 5 2 1 5 5 6 5 5 4 2 1 4
Umbrafer (12:23:38 AM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (12:23:49 AM): You drag him inside, lay him out somewhere.
MilesMk1 (12:23:52 AM): And make sure I wipe off any blood that might drip in transit before we haul him out.
MilesMk1 (12:24:07 AM): It's a low, so it should have a bed.
Umbrafer (12:24:14 AM): The bandages have most of it.
MilesMk1 (12:24:50 AM): "So, you want to stay with him, then?"
MilesMk1 (12:25:30 AM): Oh, and I leave his sword with him.
Thematrian1 (12:25:35 AM): "Yes, I do."
Thematrian1 (12:25:59 AM): "It's likely to be quite an astral show."
MilesMk1 (12:26:28 AM): "Well, unless you want to be alone, I guess I'll hang around... Maybe go grab some takeout first... Got nothing to do but wait, anyway."
Thematrian1 (12:27:02 AM): "No hurry.
Thematrian1 (12:27:15 AM): I assense him
Thematrian1 (12:27:19 AM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 5 5 6 5
MilesMk1 (12:27:23 AM): "Hmm... Better yet, go buy some clothes. Then some food. Got a preference?"
Thematrian1 (12:27:35 AM): "It's all one to me."
Thematrian1 (12:29:04 AM): I poke MacLeod in the temple
Thematrian1 (12:29:08 AM): gently
MilesMk1 (12:29:13 AM): *checks to see what size MacLeod is, then goes out to buy a couple of changes of clothes - and maybe an armored longcoat if that's legal - then gets burgers somewhere*
CirclMastr (12:29:34 AM): (MacLeod already has a Secure Long Coat)
Umbrafer (12:29:50 AM): (Was he wearing it?)
MilesMk1 (12:29:55 AM): (Which is slashed and bloody... Right.)
CirclMastr (12:30:03 AM): (Yeah, which is where I got my 2 Impact armor from)
Umbrafer (12:30:35 AM): (Then he needs another one. This one has several large holes through some of the armoring.
CirclMastr (12:30:43 AM): (Mmm)
MilesMk1 (12:31:33 AM): (You need a second layer of armor too, and some forearm guards... If you'd had some, you'd have staged those serious wounds to M both times...)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (12:32:02 AM): (My Quickness score won't support a second layer of armor. He intends to seek out forearm guards upon his revival, though)
Umbrafer (12:32:11 AM): Glitch goes a-wandering.
MilesMk1 (12:32:14 AM): (It will if it's FFBA)
CirclMastr (12:32:29 AM): (....That only gives 1 Impact, which divides to zero)
MilesMk1 (12:32:43 AM): (Wear it under a rapid transit outfit.)
MilesMk1 (12:32:55 AM): (4 impact, 5 ballistic, no penalties)
CirclMastr (12:33:00 AM): (Then it's 3 layers of armor, which I can't support)
CirclMastr (12:33:13 AM): (Plus I can't exactly walk the streets in a rapid transit suit)
Umbrafer (12:33:45 AM): You're in the shop getting the coat when you catch sight of something passing the window.
MilesMk1 (12:33:50 AM): (Because of the sword? Or because of how it looks? You're a kid, it's skater gear...)
CirclMastr (12:34:04 AM): (Sword. Hiding it only works under a longcoat)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (12:34:22 AM): (There are such things as non-armored tenchcoats...)
MilesMk1 (12:34:31 AM): What is it? Perception?
Umbrafer (12:34:39 AM): Roll it.
MilesMk1 (12:34:45 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 2 3 4 2 3
MilesMk1 (12:34:50 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (12:35:00 AM): It
Umbrafer (12:35:10 AM): 'It's partly hidden, but it looks like a bundle of black balloons.
Umbrafer (12:35:26 AM): Back in the apartment, MacLeod opens his eyes.
CirclMastr (12:35:51 AM): ::looks around quickly, seeing Gem and an unfamiliar place:: "Well, seems you came to get me after all. Thanks. Where are we?"
Thematrian1 (12:36:03 AM): "One of Glitch's hideouts."
Thematrian1 (12:36:09 AM): "He's out getting you some food and clothes."
Umbrafer (12:36:15 AM): MacLeod is: extremely hungry, extremely thirsty, extremely dizzy, and has the largest craving for dirt, of all things, in the world.
CirclMastr (12:36:27 AM): "Ah, well that's good. Ork was gone when you arrived, I take it?"
MilesMk1 (12:36:43 AM): *tries not to make it look like he's running to check on the balloons, but busts a move to get a better look*
Umbrafer (12:36:48 AM): Dizzy and light-headed, I should say.
MilesMk1 (12:37:04 AM): (You've been reading the thread about cravings on DS, haven't you?)
Thematrian1 (12:37:24 AM): "Yeah."
Umbrafer (12:37:29 AM): (Actually, I planned this beforehand)
CirclMastr (12:37:34 AM): (No, I've been without internet for days due to remodel)
Umbrafer (12:37:39 AM): (I was amused when I saw it though)
CirclMastr (12:37:58 AM): "Where's my sword?"
MilesMk1 (12:38:10 AM): (And that was supposed to be "tries to make it look like he's NOT running...)
Thematrian1 (12:38:33 AM): "It's here." ::points::
Umbrafer (12:38:39 AM): You bust a move. It's Mr. Clown, all right.
Umbrafer (12:38:46 AM): Or his twin brother.
Umbrafer (12:38:58 AM): He's passing the shop window.
MilesMk1 (12:39:04 AM): Is he departing, as usual... ah.
CirclMastr (12:39:09 AM): ::doesn't turn head:: "I need a new one, bastard had a fucking claymore. I got inside a few times, almost had him... so close... Fucker gutted me like a fish, though."
MilesMk1 (12:39:33 AM): I try to catch up with Mr. Clown.
MilesMk1 (12:39:52 AM): Once outside the store, I will run if necessary.
Thematrian1 (12:40:36 AM): ::stroke his head:: "I thought duels between you people were to the death. The real death, I mean.'
Umbrafer (12:40:40 AM): You get out just in time to see him turning a corner into an alley.
CirclMastr (12:41:17 AM): "Yeah, but like I said, only one way to kill one of us. Gutting like a fish isn't it. When I say I almost had him, I mean I almost killed him the real way."
MilesMk1 (12:41:21 AM): I sprint to the alley, but stop at the corner and look around it.
Thematrian1 (12:41:44 AM): "And he still left you alive? You're lucky."
CirclMastr (12:42:06 AM): "That just means he didn't break the Rules."
Umbrafer (12:42:09 AM): He's walking up a rusted fire escape.
Thematrian1 (12:42:33 AM): "The Rules" ::Gem correctly pronounces the capital letter::
Thematrian1 (12:42:49 AM): (or rather) "The Rules?"
MilesMk1 (12:42:57 AM): "Hey! Chuckles! Wait up!" *uses his full athletic abilities to catch up*
Umbrafer (12:43:10 AM): Roll it.
MilesMk1 (12:43:16 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 4 4 1 6 2 6 6
CirclMastr (12:43:19 AM): "Duels have two Rules..."
MilesMk1 (12:43:23 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 2 2 5
CirclMastr (12:43:45 AM): "Rule one, no fighting on Holy Ground. Rule two, all fights are one on one, face to face, with single swords."
Umbrafer (12:44:01 AM): You sprint, leap, and scramble up after him. He disappears onto the roof. You pull yourself up onto it and find…
Umbrafer (12:44:16 AM): He's standing there, on the edge of the roof, facing you.
Thematrian1 (12:44:33 AM): "Well, you were fighting, so it wasn't rule one. You made us leave, so it wasn't rule two. And?"
CirclMastr (12:45:17 AM): "Rule two covers a lot, including killing while your opponent is down. Otherwise you just put a sniper round in the other guy, walk up to the body, and kill them."
Thematrian1 (12:45:43 AM): "So once you lost consciousness, he couldn't behead you?"
MilesMk1 (12:45:47 AM): "All right... What's with the constant trailing us, then running away? And who the hell sells all-black balloons?"
CirclMastr (12:46:02 AM): (Ahem. MacLeod never mentioned beheading.)
Umbrafer (12:46:11 AM): He just smiles at you. He looks up at the balloons, selects one, and holds it out.
Thematrian1 (12:46:38 AM): (You sure?)
MilesMk1 (12:46:45 AM): I'll probably regrest this...
Thematrian1 (12:46:52 AM): (How do I even know it, then?)
MilesMk1 (12:46:58 AM): I take the balloon.
CirclMastr (12:47:03 AM): (Positive. I've been careful not to. I suspect from all the OOC talk)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (12:47:59 AM): (My apologies then. Replace that last line with)
Umbrafer (12:48:04 AM): You cross the roof and take the balloon. He gives it to you, then calmly steps backwards off the roof.
Thematrian1 (12:48:09 AM): "So he couldn't finish you off."
MilesMk1 (12:48:26 AM): I take a step forward to see what happens to him.
Umbrafer (12:48:36 AM): You step forward. Reaction.
CirclMastr (12:48:40 AM): "Right. It's about self-preservation. If we break that rule, it lets others break the rule against us."
MilesMk1 (12:48:42 AM): Wary for someone using my momentum to pull me off...
MilesMk1 (12:48:57 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 4 6 6 6 1
MilesMk1 (12:49:01 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 6 5
MilesMk1 (12:49:06 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (12:49:11 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
CirclMastr (12:49:24 AM): "Rule one though, that's the biggie..."
Umbrafer (12:49:45 AM): You jerk your head back as his clump of balloons rises from the spot he fell. You're not sure why, but you've made sure to maintain your grip on the balloon you have.
Thematrian1 (12:49:54 AM): "What makes ground holy, then?"
Umbrafer (12:50:16 AM): (To clarify, had you been less quick on your feet you'd have gotten a faceful of balloons.)
MilesMk1 (12:50:59 AM): And when I look down, he's gone?
CirclMastr (12:51:07 AM): "Sanctification. Used to be just churches and mosques and all. With shamans now, though, it gets harder to figure. Lodges are probably what counts as Holy Ground, but we're extra careful just the same."
Umbrafer (12:51:11 AM): Yep.
Umbrafer (12:51:29 AM): The balloon in your hand gives you really uneasy feelings.
Umbrafer (12:51:33 AM): Not /bad/ feelings.
Thematrian1 (12:51:37 AM): (Take it back with you!)
Umbrafer (12:51:43 AM): Just uneasy.
Thematrian1 (12:51:51 AM): (If you let it go, Gem will kill you with her mind!)
CirclMastr (12:52:08 AM): (Using a spirit would probably work better)
Thematrian1 (12:52:22 AM): (Yeah, probably)
MilesMk1 (12:53:08 AM): I take it back with me. I'll put up with the strange looks while I finish my shopping dragging a black balloon around with me.
Umbrafer (12:53:16 AM): Anyway, that's tonight's session (other than short things like declaring that you go back to the safehouse or not, or that you hold onto the balloon or let it go)
Umbrafer (12:53:20 AM): Hehehe
Umbrafer (12:53:31 AM): That's the weird thing, though.
CirclMastr (12:53:35 AM): "So I guess you believe me now, right?" ::half-grin::
CirclMastr (12:53:39 AM): (Damn my slow typing!)
Thematrian1 (12:54:05 AM): "Guess I do."
MilesMk1 (12:54:23 AM): (Damn it... I want to know whether we suceeded or failed at the last job! :p)
Umbrafer (12:54:31 AM): When you go back in, everyone's very deferential. They don't even smirk at the balloon, they're /extremely/ polite, and when you pick up the burgers the cashier gives them to you on the house.
CirclMastr (12:54:36 AM): "Heh, I don't know what else I could do to convince you."
Thematrian1 (12:55:16 AM): "Total dismemberment, maybe."
CirclMastr (12:55:21 AM): (Hold onto it forever! Free food for life!)
MilesMk1 (12:55:27 AM): *is very freaked out by all this, and hopes he's not just imagining all this as a result of the balloon's brain-washing field.*
Thematrian1 (12:55:33 AM): "But you were dead. I saw it."
MilesMk1 (12:56:06 AM): But I try to act normally... Though i probably check one of the burgers carefully once I get back to the car.
CirclMastr (12:56:11 AM): "And now I'm not. Cut me in half at the waist if you want, just hold the pieces together so they knit when I heal."
MilesMk1 (12:56:24 AM): (Hey, do we get Karma?)
CirclMastr (12:56:48 AM): (Karma would've been nice last session, I'd have had two Karma Pool going into the fight)
Umbrafer (12:57:15 AM): (Karma, yes, you do)
Umbrafer (12:57:22 AM): (And you wouldn't have goten it last session)
Umbrafer (12:57:28 AM): (Gotten)
CirclMastr (12:57:32 AM): (I'm just saying)
Umbrafer (12:58:44 AM): Let me see… thinking.
MilesMk1 (12:59:04 AM): Just pick a number between 20 and 30...
CirclMastr (12:59:10 AM): And double it
Thematrian1 (12:59:50 AM): (c'mon, sweet sweet initiation)
CirclMastr (1:00:09 AM): (I've got 19 unspent karma, I want my KP!)
Umbrafer (1:00:25 AM): I think this one was a toughie, so…
Umbrafer (1:00:29 AM): MacLeod, 11. Gem, 11. Glitch, 13.
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (1:01:13 AM): (One day, I'll make an adept, so I can just go nuts and spend all the karma on becoming a god. But they make such crappy B&E types, despite all claims to the contrary...)
CirclMastr (1:01:17 AM): Can I beg for 12 since I made the IC-appropriate effort with my karma reroll in the fight?
MilesMk1 (1:01:42 AM): Thanks.
Umbrafer (1:01:52 AM): Wait, kick Gem to 12 for the dream sequence. (That kicked you to 11, actually.)
CirclMastr (1:01:58 AM): Doh
CirclMastr (1:02:02 AM): Alright
CirclMastr (1:02:09 AM): So 2 KP and 29 GK
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (1:02:22 AM): And whatever money we'll be paid
MilesMk1 (1:02:42 AM): Umbrafer: Wait, kick Gem to 12 for the dream sequence. (That kicked you to 11, actually.)
Umbrafer (1:02:47 AM): If you're getting paid
CirclMastr (1:02:55 AM): :(
Thematrian1 (1:03:03 AM): haha
Thematrian1 (1:03:08 AM): we're getting paid
Thematrian1 (1:03:15 AM): ::shakes the fist::
CirclMastr (1:03:23 AM): How much does a dikoted claymore cost?
Umbrafer (1:03:40 AM): A fair bit. That's a lot of surface area.
CirclMastr (1:03:45 AM): The visual of pulling a 7-foot sword out of a 3-4 foot coat will be worth it on its own.
MilesMk1 (1:04:15 AM): You'd need the skill to use it... Claymores are covered by Polearms.
CirclMastr (1:04:22 AM): Shit
Umbrafer (1:04:39 AM): I'll note that they're specifically excluded from that power.
CirclMastr (1:04:45 AM): Double shit
CirclMastr (1:05:11 AM): The first makes me question the validity of a claymore as an appropriate duelling weapon.
CirclMastr (1:05:24 AM): Are there any reach 2 weapons covered by Edged Weapons?
Thematrian1 (1:05:28 AM): it's definitely a sword, SR is just dumb
Thematrian1 (1:05:33 AM): Combat Axe
Umbrafer (1:05:38 AM): It's a sword.
Thematrian1 (1:05:42 AM): sorry
MilesMk1 (1:06:00 AM): Polearms are absurd... They cover staffs, harpoons, claymores...
Thematrian1 (1:06:05 AM): I did the same search, when I was outfitting a troll a long time ago. It's axes and axe derivatives
CirclMastr (1:06:09 AM): Can I beg to use a claymore with Edged Weapons since SR is dumb?
Umbrafer (1:06:15 AM): Not /that/ dumb… usage is actually relatively polearmlike.
Thematrian1 (1:06:19 AM): Well, it's for balance reasons
Thematrian1 (1:06:23 AM): game balance, that is
Thematrian1 (1:06:27 AM): not for a staff
Thematrian1 (1:06:31 AM): or a harpoon
Umbrafer (1:06:54 AM): Claymores are less stupid than staffs and harpoons
CirclMastr (1:07:00 AM): :(
Thematrian1 (1:07:06 AM): ok, that's fair
Umbrafer (1:07:11 AM): Those are silly.
Thematrian1 (1:07:20 AM): they wanted most/all of the reach 2 weapons under the same skill
Umbrafer (1:07:30 AM): Spears, too.
CirclMastr (1:07:34 AM): So I'm stuck at Reach 1 because I made the foolish mistake of taking Edged Weapons instead of Polearms for a swordsman.
Thematrian1 (1:07:45 AM): the omission of the combat axe is pretty strange, given that
Umbrafer (1:07:50 AM): Yep
CirclMastr (1:07:54 AM): Curses
Umbrafer (1:08:00 AM): You do have all that karma
CirclMastr (1:08:38 AM): Yeah. But if I spend it all and the money, I'll then have no way to transport it reasonably so I'll not have it on me the next time you start a fight.
MilesMk1 (1:08:43 AM): And it'll let you use fun stuff like the telescoping staff...
CirclMastr (1:08:48 AM): Thus making it all a waste.
Umbrafer (1:09:17 AM): You could wrap it in brown paper
Thematrian1 (1:09:23 AM): Edged 4 (Claymore 8) is a nice round 40 karma
Thematrian1 (1:09:31 AM): Polearm 4
CirclMastr (1:09:36 AM): I've succumbed to the "Whatever I do will turn out wrong" paranoid depression
Thematrian1 (1:09:40 AM): don't judge me
MilesMk1 (1:09:45 AM): We don't.
Umbrafer (1:09:55 AM): It's better for a preplanned duel thjan for normal 'running, though
CirclMastr (1:10:43 AM): So I've got 29 GK and still nothing to spend it on.
MilesMk1 (1:10:51 AM): Seriously... Learn how to use polearms - you can use a folding staff for normal fights, and it's easy to carry...
MilesMk1 (1:11:06 AM): Unless it offends your swordsman's sensibilities. ;)
Umbrafer (1:11:11 AM): Dude. There's always things to spend karma on.
Thematrian1 (1:11:29 AM): Polearm 4 (Claymore 6)! Or give it to Gem
CirclMastr (1:11:36 AM): SR's system has offended my method-roleplaying side
MilesMk1 (1:11:41 AM): I need to figure out what to spend my karma on...
Thematrian1 (1:11:46 AM): she's going to be a karma pig :-/
CirclMastr (1:11:52 AM): What does Polearms 3 (Claymore 6) cost?
Thematrian1 (1:11:58 AM): 29
Thematrian1 (1:12:04 AM): er
Thematrian1 (1:12:09 AM): 27
Thematrian1 (1:12:15 AM): 40 - 8 - 7
Thematrian1 (1:12:21 AM): from my previous math
Thematrian1 (1:12:32 AM): which makes 25
Thematrian1 (1:12:38 AM): leave me alone
MilesMk1 (1:12:57 AM): Should I raise Electronics?
MilesMk1 (1:13:08 AM): I can push it above 6 thanks to the enecephalon...
CirclMastr (1:13:12 AM): I wanted to get Computers but J won't let me :(
CirclMastr (1:13:20 AM): And I have stats to worry about as well. Int 5 is looking mighty tasty
Umbrafer (1:13:27 AM): Er?
Thematrian1 (1:13:32 AM): pretty pointless without a jack, no?
Umbrafer (1:13:43 AM): You could specialize Athletics to Clown-Catching
Umbrafer (1:13:52 AM): Maybe you could get another balloon
MilesMk1 (1:13:57 AM): Har, har. ;)
Umbrafer (1:14:06 AM): (Why wouldn't I let you get Computers? That sounds unlike me.)
CirclMastr (1:14:17 AM): Every time I get free time at the Zoo, J declares the otaku too busy to teach me Computers
MilesMk1 (1:14:23 AM): I think I'll raise Willpower to 5, the 4 I have right now makes me feel like I'm wearing a sign saying "Mind-rape me!"
Umbrafer (1:14:45 AM): (Oh, that. Yeah, you may want to find other teachers.)
MilesMk1 (1:14:55 AM): Of course, you know a couple of other people who know computers pretty well...
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (1:15:36 AM): One still thinks I'm delusional and the other is probably soon to wonder if she is delusional.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (1:15:55 AM): we can stress test the multiple decker rules in SR3R
Umbrafer (1:16:09 AM): Dude, they both saw your missing rib cage bits.
MilesMk1 (1:16:30 AM): Well... Even if I did, why would I not teach you computers because of it?
Thematrian1 (1:17:08 AM): Gem knows she's not delusional
MilesMk1 (1:17:14 AM): And Glitch has been too polite to say he thinks you're delusional IC, anyway. :p
Thematrian1 (1:17:19 AM): being a shaman will do that
CirclMastr (1:17:26 AM): Glitch hasn't seen me alive again yet, so I'm going off of "still thinks I'm delusional"
Thematrian1 (1:17:32 AM): she's starting to wonder if she's paranoid, though
MilesMk1 (1:17:37 AM): Well, he's seen you start bleeding again and regain a pulse.
MilesMk1 (1:17:46 AM): He went to buy you clothes and food...
MilesMk1 (1:18:01 AM): That sort of says "convinced" doesn't it?
Thematrian1 (1:18:11 AM): OOC, I think the harlequin thing is going to involve swarms of horrors or immortal elf blood mages.
MilesMk1 (1:18:24 AM): So you think this is Harlequin?
Umbrafer (1:18:39 AM): That's a non-exclusive or?
Thematrian1 (1:18:48 AM): I do. Harlequin = clown, right
CirclMastr (1:18:58 AM): It'll also probably involve a pissed off Dave as well. I hate IEs and all the canon material on them.
Thematrian1 (1:19:08 AM): true, it could easily be both
MilesMk1 (1:19:18 AM): Everything we do involves a pissed off Dave eventually, so... :P
CirclMastr (1:19:28 AM): :P
MilesMk1 (1:20:16 AM): All right, I'm going to think on what to do with my Karma, and bid you folks goodnight...
Thematrian1 (1:20:26 AM): ok, sleep well
CirclMastr (1:20:35 AM): G'night.
MilesMk1 (1:20:46 AM): See you next week. Have a good one.
MilesMk1 (1:20:57 AM): (and you might try sleeping sometime too)
CirclMastr (1:21:08 AM): I will forget about spending karma and even recreating my character sheet until next Thursday, ten minutes into play.
CirclMastr (1:21:19 AM): At which point I will go "Oh shit, I should have recreated the character sheet."
Thematrian1 (1:21:28 AM): it should be at least this long before anything tries to eat our souls
Thematrian1 (1:21:37 AM): out of curiosity, why?
Thematrian1 (1:21:47 AM): I mean, karma spending I get
Thematrian1 (1:21:57 AM): recreation not so much
MilesMk1 (1:22:18 AM): Heh... Things always get interesting just as I'm about to leave... :D
MilesMk1 (1:22:32 AM): Farewell.
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (1:23:03 AM): My character sheet for MacLeod was lost in one of my great PC tumults.
CirclMastr (1:23:09 AM): And I've been going from memory ever since, always forgetting to formally redo stats.
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Chat room exited at 8/19/2005 1:39:25 AM.