New chat room entered at 9/22/2005 8:32:51 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw092205.”
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:33:07 PM): Woah
Umbrafer (8:33:12 PM): Two Seilers
Thematrian1 (8:33:18 PM): oh good
Thematrian1 (8:33:22 PM): I can rock out in duet
MilesMk1 (8:33:25 PM): Really? I only see one.
Thematrian1 (8:33:31 PM): I, also, only see one
MilesMk1 (8:33:38 PM): Well...
Umbrafer (8:33:48 PM): My client screwed up, so I see "4 people here: MilesMk1, Thematrian1, Thematrian1, Umbrafer"
Vernjonal has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:34:12 PM): There, now you don't outnumber me anymore.
MilesMk1 (8:34:14 PM): Well, we're still only splitting the pay two ways.
Thematrian1 (8:34:21 PM): heh
Umbrafer (8:34:34 PM): I'm sure the two Seilers would each gladly take a third of the pay ;)
Umbrafer (8:34:57 PM): But yeah, I only just realized the degree to which you people will be rolling in money after this run
Umbrafer (8:35:04 PM): Provided they're both successful
Thematrian1 (8:35:22 PM): ::stretch::
Thematrian1 (8:35:28 PM): What we get for accepting time limits
MilesMk1 (8:35:41 PM): And improvising.
Thematrian1 (8:35:49 PM): and kicking half the party to the curb
MilesMk1 (8:36:20 PM): I wonder whether, after this one's done, we get anoteher offer for a *really* time-sensitive job involving planting some charges...
Umbrafer (8:36:31 PM): *Laughs*
MilesMk1 (8:36:44 PM): Well, we did try hard to keep things together.
Thematrian1 (8:37:01 PM): haha
Thematrian1 (8:37:05 PM): "You have two hours."
Thematrian1 (8:37:13 PM): At least we wouldn't have to go hunting the bombs
Umbrafer (8:38:47 PM): Anyway. When we last left off our two antiheroes were leaving their two erstwhile companions to their spat
Thematrian1 (8:38:51 PM): Ok, let's get it done.
Thematrian1 (8:38:57 PM): The fixer wanted to end reality, IIRC
Umbrafer (8:39:03 PM): Pretty much.
Umbrafer (8:39:16 PM): He was at wit's end.
Thematrian1 (8:39:28 PM): ok, MacLeod and Gedeon get themselves pinched by the star. Gem sits in the passenger seat
MilesMk1 (8:40:20 PM): I think at this point the fixer was in the car with us.
Umbrafer (8:40:43 PM): Sure, why not. He trusts you and wants to be away from this.
MilesMk1 (8:41:11 PM): Well, Macleod stalked off and Gedeon drove off, so it's all good. Bad people gone.
MilesMk1 (8:41:38 PM): Worse people, anyway.
Umbrafer (8:41:47 PM): We're all bad people here :)
Thematrian1 (8:41:59 PM): The bad people would be gone, if you'd just drive ;-)
Umbrafer (8:42:14 PM): *Vroom vroom*
MilesMk1 (8:42:43 PM): So, I think it's probably not necessary that we re-play the whole conversation and hand-off of info again, right? (at least I more or less remember things)
Thematrian1 (8:42:50 PM): I do too
Thematrian1 (8:43:03 PM): Let's get changed, put our stuff in a bag, and jump in the river
Thematrian1 (8:43:06 PM): discreetly
Umbrafer (8:43:44 PM): Yeah, unless you have new questions that all plays out as it did
Umbrafer (8:43:50 PM): (With the usual modifications)
MilesMk1 (8:44:23 PM): Right. Let's find a secluded spot that's not too far from our destination, get our gear in a waterproof bag, and go. And... Well, perhaps buy a pair of scuba masks before we go?
MilesMk1 (8:44:41 PM): So we can actually see underwater? We can dump them before coming ashore.
Thematrian1 (8:45:09 PM): That's a fair point.
Thematrian1 (8:45:13 PM): let's do that, then
MilesMk1 (8:45:24 PM): And flippers, maybe.
Thematrian1 (8:45:52 PM): Nah, with Movement we've got that covered
Umbrafer (8:45:59 PM): *Voosh*
MilesMk1 (8:46:05 PM): Ok.
Thematrian1 (8:46:15 PM): buying, buying, buying the scuba masks
Umbrafer (8:46:45 PM): Banjo smites you.
Thematrian1 (8:46:52 PM): ow
MilesMk1 (8:47:00 PM): Banjo never did get inducted into the pantheon...
Thematrian1 (8:47:06 PM): (Good thing he's not a god)
Thematrian1 (8:47:21 PM): (That might have stung)
Umbrafer (8:47:46 PM): Scuba masks are easy to obtain, though you nearly get nabbed by the Star for suspicious behaviour. No one really uses SCUBA gear in Seattle.
MilesMk1 (8:48:01 PM): It being landlocked.
Thematrian1 (8:48:18 PM): Fair point. Charm, charm, charm the lonely cop.
Umbrafer (8:49:00 PM): He goes back to waiting for someone else to buy gear.
MilesMk1 (8:49:37 PM): (I actually have a diving soft. Although... Would that work plugged into my jack underwater? Are datajacks waterproof? If they're optical connections...)
Thematrian1 (8:49:41 PM): And we're off. Time to find somewhere secluded
Umbrafer (8:50:01 PM): (I would assume that they are)
MilesMk1 (8:50:03 PM): *drives*
Umbrafer (8:50:33 PM): (You'll probably want to rinse them off after taking a salt-water dip, but I doubt they'd be popular if you needed to take special precautions in the shower, for example)
MilesMk1 (8:50:55 PM): (I keep my jukebox in the waterproof bag, then, but slot the Diving soft - just in case.)
Umbrafer (8:51:00 PM): (If you ever end up spending months in or next to the sea, we'll revisit the question.)
Umbrafer (8:51:09 PM): (Not as unlikely as you may think, but not pressing.)
Thematrian1 (8:51:11 PM): (It's relevant to Gem's backstory :-D)
Thematrian1 (8:51:21 PM): (I'll slot Biotech and, um, Throwing)
Umbrafer (8:51:31 PM): (Gem knows, whatever the answer is.)
Umbrafer (8:52:35 PM): Anyway. Secluded places aren't /too/ hard to find
Umbrafer (8:53:00 PM): Though harder than you'd think. It's apparently considered a good area for swimming and similar aquatic activity.
Umbrafer (8:55:23 PM): A motorboat zips on by somewhere out in the lake
MilesMk1 (8:55:33 PM): (Man... Glitch is actually really good at diving - by accident, more or less... He can hold his breath, on average, 3.5 times as long as the typical human.)
Umbrafer (8:55:40 PM): ( :D )
Umbrafer (8:55:46 PM): (What's the formula again?)
Thematrian1 (8:55:47 PM): (Some impressive)
MilesMk1 (8:56:18 PM): (45 seconds + 20% per success on an Athletics(4) test, +90 seconds for expanded lung volume)
Umbrafer (8:57:07 PM): (Good times.)
MilesMk1 (8:57:34 PM): "Damn, I feel exposed doing this... I want my suit. And shadows. And my gun..."
MilesMk1 (8:57:57 PM): *shivers briefly and begins to change into swimming gear*
Thematrian1 (8:58:02 PM): ::big lazy stretch:: "They'd get in the way"
Thematrian1 (8:58:10 PM): ::the same, sans shiver::
Thematrian1 (8:58:15 PM): behind some trees or something
MilesMk1 (8:58:27 PM): I offer you the use of the car while I wait outside.
Thematrian1 (8:58:38 PM): Gem accepts your gallant offer.
Thematrian1 (9:00:37 PM): Slightly later, we approach the water
Umbrafer (9:00:44 PM): Perception.
Thematrian1 (9:00:56 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 1 6 3 2 4
Thematrian1 (9:01:00 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Thematrian1 (9:01:02 PM): 9 4
MilesMk1 (9:01:28 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 3 6 4 5 2
MilesMk1 (9:01:31 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 3
MilesMk1 (9:01:43 PM): 9,9,5,4
Umbrafer (9:02:25 PM): Glitch notices someone about a hundred-fifty meters away. He appears to be fishing in a small brook leading to the lake.
Umbrafer (9:02:37 PM): Gem, meanwhile, sees something weird in the water.
Umbrafer (9:02:42 PM): She isn't sure if it's a reflection or not.
Umbrafer (9:02:57 PM): Nor is she entirely sure what it was. Looked almost like a face.
Thematrian1 (9:03:05 PM): Great Form over her shoulder, Gem approaches the water
Umbrafer (9:03:44 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 3 4 6 5 5 1 1 1 3 2 6 5 6 4
Umbrafer (9:03:49 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 6 1 3
Umbrafer (9:03:52 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (9:04:43 PM): You see the reflection of clouds in the sky. Then a face definitely appears, winks at you, and vanishes.
Umbrafer (9:04:59 PM): Are you astrally perceiving?
Thematrian1 (9:05:06 PM): Once I see the face, it snaps on
Umbrafer (9:05:13 PM): Roll it.
Thematrian1 (9:05:23 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 5 4 4 2 3
Thematrian1 (9:05:28 PM): (TN 4! TN 4!)
Umbrafer (9:06:01 PM): You see the face clearly on the physical. On the astral, there's barely as much as a slight flow in the mana there.
Thematrian1 (9:06:36 PM): How curious. I don't suppose I recognize it?
Thematrian1 (9:06:49 PM): As I watch it, I reach out and beckon behind me
Umbrafer (9:07:04 PM): Let's get an Intelligence test.
Thematrian1 (9:07:23 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 6 5 4 2
Thematrian1 (9:07:26 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (9:07:37 PM): You don't recognize it per se, but it has a nagging familiarity.
MilesMk1 (9:07:39 PM): I walk up.
Umbrafer (9:07:42 PM): It is not, I will add, the clown.
Thematrian1 (9:07:48 PM): nor the guy I saw in my dream
Umbrafer (9:07:53 PM): Or at least you're almost certain not.
Umbrafer (9:07:55 PM): Him…
Thematrian1 (9:08:00 PM): who looked very similar, but not the same
Umbrafer (9:08:03 PM): Him you're less certain of, but it doesn't seem likely.
Thematrian1 (9:08:36 PM): ::turns to Glitch:: "I saw a face in the water. Created magically."
MilesMk1 (9:08:56 PM): *peers*
MilesMk1 (9:09:13 PM): "Does that mean we ought to look for a boat instead?"
Umbrafer (9:09:20 PM): I'll expand to say that the level of flow observed, while not inconsistent with a magical effect, is quite common without any physical manifestation
Umbrafer (9:09:35 PM): It's the astral equivalent of a shift in a current, say.
Umbrafer (9:09:38 PM): Or a gust of wind.
Thematrian1 (9:10:00 PM): "Like a sudden change in the wind, only the flow is of magic, not air."
Thematrian1 (9:10:10 PM): "No, they'll be watching for that."
Thematrian1 (9:10:24 PM): ::steps into the water:: ready?
MilesMk1 (9:10:42 PM): *takes a deep breath, follows*
Umbrafer (9:11:08 PM): *Splish*
Umbrafer (9:11:14 PM): *Splish, splash*
Umbrafer (9:11:19 PM): *Splish, splash, splish*
Thematrian1 (9:11:24 PM): "Oh spirit, protect us from the water."
Thematrian1 (9:11:26 PM): ::dive::
Umbrafer (9:11:54 PM): *Voosh*
Umbrafer (9:12:19 PM): The spirit settles around you. Something tingles in your lungs.
Thematrian1 (9:12:37 PM): I take a cautious half-breath
Umbrafer (9:13:29 PM): The cold is a shock.
Umbrafer (9:13:54 PM): You start coughing, lungs trying to expel this heavy substance, but that only makes more flow in.
Umbrafer (9:14:04 PM): A few seconds later, you stop coughing. You're still quite alive and functional.
Umbrafer (9:14:14 PM): It isn't comfortable at all, but you're breathing.
Umbrafer (9:14:42 PM): The dense liquid will probably tire your lungs if you spend too long under, though.
MilesMk1 (9:14:48 PM): #I like rebreathers better.#
Thematrian1 (9:15:05 PM): #I guess I can't argue with that.#
MilesMk1 (9:15:18 PM): #Let's go?#
Thematrian1 (9:15:23 PM): I break surface, wait a few seconds, and summon a F4 River spirit
Thematrian1 (9:15:25 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 6 2 1 4 4
Thematrian1 (9:15:27 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 10 6-sided dice: 1 2 4 1 3 5 4 4 1 3
Thematrian1 (9:15:49 PM): "Oh spirit, speed us through this water."
Thematrian1 (9:15:53 PM): #Now we can go#
Thematrian1 (9:15:56 PM): ::dive::
Umbrafer (9:17:08 PM): It takes a few seconds to kick in, and another few seconds before you realize it has.
Thematrian1 (9:17:17 PM): ::swims like a demon::
MilesMk1 (9:18:13 PM): *follows*
Umbrafer (9:18:22 PM): It doesn't feel fast, but the first time you punch through a school of tiny fish caught completely flat-footed by your approach makes it clear what kind of pace you're keeping.
Umbrafer (9:18:42 PM): The water's cloudy, but maintaining line-of-sight with each other isn't too hard.
Thematrian1 (9:18:45 PM): "Sorry, small ones..."
Umbrafer (9:19:10 PM): Not long after, you see the rising of the bottom. You're getting near the shore.
Thematrian1 (9:19:34 PM): #Just in case, I'm going to tell both spirits to wait in the far deeps before we break the surface#
MilesMk1 (9:20:04 PM): #Does that mean we suddenly won't be able to breather water?#
Thematrian1 (9:20:28 PM): #Yes. I'll warn you.#
MilesMk1 (9:21:36 PM): *exhales deeply after getting the warning and swims for the surface*
Thematrian1 (9:22:32 PM): Note: I'm not dismissing either, just getting them away from me so random magicians don't see that the lady in the swimsuit is more than she appears.
Umbrafer (9:22:43 PM): *Nods* Figured.
Umbrafer (9:23:56 PM): (One minute)
Umbrafer (9:25:45 PM): Removing the protection from the waters?
Thematrian1 (9:26:03 PM): After expelling all the water, two or three feet from the surface, yeah
Umbrafer (9:27:19 PM): As the glow starts to fade, something like a kick in the lungs slams your chest. You feel a few little droplets of water hit your mouth, and then you're floating free. Your lungs are starting to protest.
Umbrafer (9:27:30 PM): The tingling is gone.
Umbrafer (9:27:42 PM): (Which is what I meant by "glow".)
Thematrian1 (9:27:49 PM): (Check)
Thematrian1 (9:28:27 PM): Hit the surface, breathe deep
Umbrafer (9:29:17 PM): You reflect on how good air tastes.
Thematrian1 (9:30:06 PM): While I'm working on that, I scan the beach. Can I relate our location to our target?
MilesMk1 (9:30:15 PM): *bobs to the surface and scans the area*
Umbrafer (9:31:10 PM): You're about fifty meters away from your target landing, but you've got a handle on where things are.
Umbrafer (9:31:13 PM): You're pretty close.
Umbrafer (9:31:24 PM): (I'm assuming you were hitting the beach near the resort?)
Umbrafer (9:31:30 PM): (Hotel, whatever/)
Thematrian1 (9:31:30 PM): (That was in the plan)
Thematrian1 (9:31:34 PM): (A month ago)
MilesMk1 (9:31:46 PM): #Let
MilesMk1 (9:32:14 PM): 's look for a spot where too many people won't have the chance to see us and wonder why we were swimming with a bag.#
MilesMk1 (9:32:40 PM): Basically, anything like convenient vegetation, or rocks, or what not.
Thematrian1 (9:32:55 PM): I look
Umbrafer (9:33:20 PM): There are some places that might fit, but you need to go some distance before a guarantee.
Thematrian1 (9:34:07 PM): How many people, and are they watching us?
Umbrafer (9:35:22 PM): A number of people, probably thirty-odd
Umbrafer (9:35:26 PM): None are obviously watching you
Umbrafer (9:35:34 PM): They're swimming and doing touristy beach-things
Umbrafer (9:35:51 PM): One appears to be a lifeguard, but you can't tell where he
MilesMk1 (9:35:52 PM): #If they're male, we can just solve this problem by having you walk out onto the beach first, and then I could drag a great white out of the water unremarked.#
Umbrafer (9:35:55 PM): 's looking
Thematrian1 (9:36:30 PM): Gee, I hope none of them notice Gem bursting into laughter for no reason they can perceive
Thematrian1 (9:36:50 PM): #::still amused:: In fact, I was about to take point#
MilesMk1 (9:37:10 PM): #All right. I'm sure if we time it right, it won't be an issue.#
Thematrian1 (9:37:53 PM): Gem hits the beach.
Umbrafer (9:38:34 PM): The beach does not hit back.
Umbrafer (9:39:18 PM): The lifeguard studiously points his nose at the crowd of people nearest Gem. His sunglasses do the rest.
Thematrian1 (9:39:40 PM): That's kind. #Ok, I've drawn as much attention as I'm going to. Don't come out behind me and you'll be fine.#
MilesMk1 (9:40:11 PM): I try to use the distraction to come ashore unnoticed a little distance away and head in a different direction initially.
Umbrafer (9:40:38 PM): You do so. Perception.
MilesMk1 (9:40:50 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 6 2 5 1 3
MilesMk1 (9:40:54 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
MilesMk1 (9:40:58 PM): 9,5
Thematrian1 (9:41:02 PM): me too?
Umbrafer (9:41:51 PM): If you want, it was just intended for him.
Umbrafer (9:42:20 PM): Someone does spot you: a kid, probably about six years old, stares at you for a while. He then goes back to building a sandcastle.
Thematrian1 (9:42:24 PM): heh, never miss a chance to roll that
Thematrian1 (9:42:26 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 2 2 4 3 6
Thematrian1 (9:42:31 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Thematrian1 (9:44:03 PM): I give Glitch a minute, then start scanning the beach for him
MilesMk1 (9:45:02 PM): Once I'm out of the water, I'm just a guy on the beach with a bag/backpack... I make myself easy to find as I start to head slightly inland.
Umbrafer (9:45:10 PM): If you know what you're looking for, Glitch isn't tough to find at all.
Umbrafer (9:45:25 PM): Quite the change of pace, really.
Thematrian1 (9:46:19 PM): Ok. If I'm not drawing too much attention I'll just follow him. If it's more than one or two, I'll get off the beach, then follow him
Umbrafer (9:47:05 PM): You're drawing occasional attention, but nothing too sustained. You follow him off the beach.
MilesMk1 (9:47:13 PM): If there are any structures provided for sunbathers to change in, I head for those. If not, just for whatever seems to promise the most privacy.
Umbrafer (9:48:11 PM): There are indeed.
Thematrian1 (9:48:31 PM): Nifty. I'll follow him in, and then we're just two more people there for the fun
Umbrafer (9:48:45 PM): There are stern warnings about not swimming if there's a paracritter alert active.
Thematrian1 (9:49:40 PM): Good advice
MilesMk1 (9:49:54 PM): *Gets his clothes on, straps on the jukebox under his shirt, tosses a small backpack with his tools onto his back, sticks his shock gloves into short pockets*
Umbrafer (9:49:54 PM): The structures are currently vacant except for someone in one of the shower stalls of the men's section.
Thematrian1 (9:50:12 PM): Good times. I grab some clothes, get behind a screen, change, and out
MilesMk1 (9:50:40 PM): *has short hair so he doesn't need to dry them*
Thematrian1 (9:51:02 PM): ::has long hair. Could a F1 water spirit dry it for her?::
Umbrafer (9:51:18 PM): (Air spirit a better option probably)
Thematrian1 (9:51:26 PM): (Ah, that makes sense. Could it?)
Umbrafer (9:52:01 PM): (yes)
Thematrian1 (9:53:34 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 2 3 1 6 3
Thematrian1 (9:53:38 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 9 6-sided dice: 1 6 3 6 1 3 1 1 1
Thematrian1 (9:53:44 PM): mmm, dry hair
Umbrafer (9:54:16 PM): *Whoosh*
Thematrian1 (9:54:28 PM): ::tosses her hair a la shampoo commercials::
Thematrian1 (9:54:43 PM): I head back into the common area to await Glitch, if applicable
Umbrafer (9:54:45 PM): Unfortunately, the spirit may have gotten a bit too eager. It takes a few seconds to undo the touseling, but after that you're clear.
Thematrian1 (9:55:06 PM): "Playful little things..."
Umbrafer (9:55:38 PM): You've both emerged, dried and changed.
MilesMk1 (9:55:41 PM): "Vanity, thy name... All right, let's scout this out. I'll check for mundane security, you look for anything astral?"
Thematrian1 (9:55:56 PM): "Makes sense"
MilesMk1 (9:56:14 PM): "I suggest a casual stroll in the general direction of the bungalow."
Thematrian1 (9:56:30 PM): "I approve." ::begins to stroll::
Umbrafer (9:56:44 PM): *Stroll stroll stroll* What's the status of your astral perception?
Thematrian1 (9:56:49 PM): on
Thematrian1 (9:56:57 PM): it'll be on, pretty much this whole mission
Umbrafer (9:57:00 PM): The first thing you notice is spirit activity.
Thematrian1 (9:57:03 PM): ah?
Umbrafer (9:57:05 PM): There's a lot of it on the island.
Umbrafer (9:57:13 PM): A lot of it low-level and unbound.
MilesMk1 (9:57:14 PM): I'm trying to spot the cameras we were told about, but also looking for security I might not have noticed.
Umbrafer (9:57:32 PM): Occasionally a bigger one goes by, clearly on patrol.
Thematrian1 (9:57:37 PM): unbound = not having master magicians?
Thematrian1 (9:57:50 PM): "Lots of spirits around. Figures, with the elves coming to visit."
Umbrafer (9:57:54 PM): Yep. Astral equivalent to small fuzzy creatures like squirrels or chipmunks.
Umbrafer (9:58:53 PM): Let's get perception for camera-spotting.
MilesMk1 (9:59:09 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 5 2 1 3 3
MilesMk1 (9:59:29 PM): To Karma, or not to Karma?
Thematrian1 (9:59:42 PM): I'd karma. Those cameras could break us.
MilesMk1 (9:59:54 PM): Karma, then.
MilesMk1 (10:00:10 PM): How many dice?
Umbrafer (10:00:44 PM): Mm. Throw six.
MilesMk1 (10:01:02 PM): Also, can I get some complementary stuff from Security Design or Security Systems?
MilesMk1 (10:01:16 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 5 5 2 4
MilesMk1 (10:01:21 PM): Damn it.
Umbrafer (10:01:32 PM): Sure
MilesMk1 (10:01:56 PM): I'll use Systems.
MilesMk1 (10:01:59 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 4 5 1 3 2
MilesMk1 (10:02:18 PM): Well, if I got any successes on the initial test, that's one more...
Umbrafer (10:02:57 PM): Well, let me double-check:
Umbrafer (10:03:04 PM): Are you going along the walkway, or cutting through the woods?
Umbrafer (10:03:07 PM): I assume latter
Thematrian1 (10:03:41 PM): I'd sooner the woods
Umbrafer (10:04:00 PM): You spot two cameras.
Umbrafer (10:04:18 PM): One is along your path, and tucked up in a tree. The other is mounted on a tall post.
MilesMk1 (10:04:50 PM): Does either cover our intended target?
Umbrafer (10:05:39 PM): Nope, you're still a moderate way out.
Umbrafer (10:07:09 PM): any action, or just strolling by them?
Thematrian1 (10:07:29 PM): Let's stroll. We haven't done anything illegal, and it's hard to prove that we don't belong here.
Umbrafer (10:07:59 PM): *Stroll stroll stroll*
Umbrafer (10:08:35 PM): Your bungalow looms ahead. Perception.
Thematrian1 (10:08:52 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 6 4 4 1 2
Thematrian1 (10:08:57 PM): astral perception still up
Umbrafer (10:09:44 PM): Reroll that six?
MilesMk1 (10:10:08 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 6 6 2 2 3
Thematrian1 (10:10:11 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (10:10:13 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 1 2 5
Thematrian1 (10:10:14 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (10:10:17 PM): 11,8,7
MilesMk1 (10:10:21 PM): Now we're talking.
Thematrian1 (10:10:35 PM): 14, 4, 4
Umbrafer (10:11:00 PM): Firstly, Glitch spots a brace of well-hidden cameras in the trees trained on the bungalow. This must be a high-priced one.
Umbrafer (10:11:14 PM): Gem spots a spirit on its way by, but it gives her no mind.
Thematrian1 (10:11:19 PM): check
Thematrian1 (10:11:38 PM): nothing else of note?
Thematrian1 (10:11:41 PM): that I see, anyway?
Umbrafer (10:12:42 PM): Nothing in part—wait, what?
Umbrafer (10:12:44 PM): There's a little…
Umbrafer (10:12:48 PM): Plant?
Umbrafer (10:12:54 PM): It looks Awakened.
Thematrian1 (10:12:59 PM): plant? awakened? where?
Umbrafer (10:13:28 PM): It's growing on the ground, right next to one of the trees with the security cameras
Thematrian1 (10:15:05 PM): I continue to stroll. #Glitch, the plant at the base of the tree with the <distinguishing mark> is Awakened.#
Umbrafer (10:15:11 PM): Small, very small. Hard to tell quite what it is.
Thematrian1 (10:15:20 PM): #Someone cares about this place#
MilesMk1 (10:15:56 PM): #Well, the tree has cameras in it, so perhaps it's meant to eat anyone climbing up to disable them... What about those <other trees>?#
MilesMk1 (10:16:44 PM): While she looks, I try to determine if there are any apparent gaps in the coverage of the cameras I've found.
Umbrafer (10:16:45 PM): You see no awakened plants around them.
Thematrian1 (10:17:05 PM): #Nope, just that one tree#
Umbrafer (10:17:14 PM): They cover the door very well. They cover each other minimally—they're more designed to not be seen in the first place than anything else.
MilesMk1 (10:17:15 PM): #Strange.#
MilesMk1 (10:18:17 PM): But I haven't noticed any that cover, say, the windows on the sides? Or I just wasn't in the position to see?
Umbrafer (10:19:16 PM): I should say, rather, that the two you see cover the door and the two near sides of the bungalow quite well.
Umbrafer (10:19:21 PM): The far sides you haven't seen.
Thematrian1 (10:19:44 PM): #Thoughts? Step one is to find out whether anyone is home. Let me know when we're no longer observed.#
Thematrian1 (10:20:06 PM): Just to double check: there's lots of physical security, but no wards, no obviously guardian spirits, nothing like that?
Umbrafer (10:20:50 PM): The bungalow itself is warded. No guardian spirits aside from the ones that pop by every so often, but as far as you can tell they've got a pretty wide patrol.
MilesMk1 (10:20:54 PM): #Well, the cameras cover the door and these two sides of the bungalow very well. We're not currently in their field of view# *repositions to make that true if necessary* "Don't know about the far side, but I'd assume so."
Thematrian1 (10:20:59 PM): dammit
Umbrafer (10:21:01 PM): Nothing else obviously magical protecting this bungalow and this one alone.
Thematrian1 (10:22:27 PM): bah, so much for my awesome 'send a watcher to see if they're home' plan
MilesMk1 (10:22:50 PM): #Let me listen in...#
Umbrafer (10:23:08 PM): Laser-mic time?
MilesMk1 (10:23:36 PM): Nah, just listening myself. I have the equivalent of a shotgun microphone built in. Not quite as good, but...
Umbrafer (10:24:13 PM): Getting up close, or trying to listen from where you are?
MilesMk1 (10:25:05 PM): If I can walk relatively close without it being obvious - just walk by as if walking to another part of the resort - I do so.
Umbrafer (10:25:50 PM): You can, there's a walkway right nearby that leads off towards the other bungalows and the main walkway to the hotel
Umbrafer (10:25:57 PM): Roll it.
MilesMk1 (10:26:08 PM): (though the effect of my hearing amp is already that I hear things as if ten times closer to the sound source)
MilesMk1 (10:26:19 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 3 2 3 1 2
MilesMk1 (10:26:25 PM): Yay.
Umbrafer (10:27:08 PM): There's noise from within the bungalow, but it sounds mostly mechanical—probably an AC unit.
MilesMk1 (10:28:08 PM): #I don't hear people in there, but I'll try to get another shot at it - and any cameras - from the other side.#
Umbrafer (10:28:17 PM): You stroll on past innocently. Doubling back through the woods somewhere unobserved?
Umbrafer (10:28:24 PM): Ah, circling around.
MilesMk1 (10:28:25 PM): Yep.
MilesMk1 (10:28:48 PM): Hopefully any cameras are easier to find now that I know what to look for?
Umbrafer (10:29:16 PM): You had the general idea to begin with, it's mostly a matter of looking in the right place at the right time.
MilesMk1 (10:31:35 PM): All right... I look and listen from the other side.
Umbrafer (10:31:40 PM): Roll it.
Umbrafer (10:31:42 PM): Once for each.
MilesMk1 (10:32:01 PM): But try not to get any closer than the distance those other cameras were placed at.
MilesMk1 (10:32:11 PM): Cameras:
MilesMk1 (10:32:14 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 3 1 4 5 1
MilesMk1 (10:32:20 PM): Hearing:
MilesMk1 (10:32:24 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 1 6 5 1 2
MilesMk1 (10:32:27 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (10:33:30 PM): You don't see any cameras around this side.
Umbrafer (10:33:49 PM): As for noise, you hear some clicking but it could be the AC unit. Nothing obviously biological.
MilesMk1 (10:35:15 PM): #I don't see any cameras, but I'm sure they have to be there...#
Thematrian1 (10:35:29 PM): Windows are tinted, I take it?
Umbrafer (10:35:34 PM): Correct.
MilesMk1 (10:35:45 PM): I'll just take some more time trying to look for them...
Thematrian1 (10:36:23 PM): #If unobserved, could you break the cameras?#
MilesMk1 (10:37:37 PM): #Sure. I can get to them without a problem. Of course, the problem is, as ever, what happens when whoever watches the monitors notices the lost feed.#
Umbrafer (10:39:50 PM): In Glitch's professional opinion it's probably more random than anything
Thematrian1 (10:39:56 PM): #Right. How about the bungalow locks?#
MilesMk1 (10:40:27 PM): (More random if I can break it, or whether someone notices?)
Umbrafer (10:40:42 PM): (Whether someone notices.)
MilesMk1 (10:40:56 PM): #Can't tell you without getting up-close...#
Umbrafer (10:41:16 PM): Hotel locks are usually nothing terribly complex, though this probably is a nice one.
Umbrafer (10:41:28 PM): (Judging from the other security around it)
MilesMk1 (10:41:37 PM): #I'm sure I can, given time, but it'd be obvious.#
Thematrian1 (10:41:51 PM): #Bah. I'm half a breath from walking up and knocking.#
MilesMk1 (10:42:23 PM): #I'm starting to think we might need to take a look at some of the hotel staff. With the right uniform and keycard...#
Thematrian1 (10:42:54 PM): #Better plan. Care to stroll to the hotel with me?#
MilesMk1 (10:43:04 PM): #Coming.#
MilesMk1 (10:43:42 PM): #Oh, and I suggest we switch to talking quietly when possible, rather than broadcasting, in case they have someone monitoring radio activity.#
Thematrian1 (10:43:52 PM): Gem does not respond.
MilesMk1 (10:44:05 PM): *rejoins Gem discreetly*
Umbrafer (10:44:37 PM): Glitch uses the better part of valor.
Thematrian1 (10:47:15 PM): We head for the hotel.
Thematrian1 (10:47:23 PM): "I've never actually done this. Have you?"
MilesMk1 (10:50:09 PM): "Yeah, but usually with much more prep time, and someone else to take care details and let me do what I do best..."
MilesMk1 (10:50:23 PM): (...of the details)
Umbrafer (10:50:35 PM): The walkway, a slightly elevated wooden walkway, joins a larger of its kind.
Umbrafer (10:50:51 PM): It winds through some trees. The hotel looms beyond.
MilesMk1 (10:51:17 PM): I look around for signs of hotel staff around the other bungalows - any maids or whatnot coming in and out, of any of them?
Thematrian1 (10:51:51 PM): "Best I can think of is seduction, then a shock glove once we're somewhere inconspicuous."
Umbrafer (10:52:14 PM): There isn't anyone visible at the moment.
Umbrafer (10:52:19 PM): The bungalows are relatively secluded.
Umbrafer (10:52:55 PM): Perception?
Thematrian1 (10:53:12 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 1 6 5 2 3
MilesMk1 (10:53:18 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 6 3 3 3
MilesMk1 (10:53:25 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Thematrian1 (10:53:28 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
MilesMk1 (10:53:30 PM): 9,5,4
MilesMk1 (10:54:30 PM): "That could work. I was also thinking of maybe breaking into a locker room... Doubt those will have security cameras covering them."
Umbrafer (10:54:35 PM): You don't see anyone in the immediate area.
MilesMk1 (10:56:07 PM): How much time do we have left?
Umbrafer (10:56:33 PM): Oh hell. It was what, early afternoon?
MilesMk1 (10:58:22 PM): I think so.
Umbrafer (10:58:35 PM): You probably have on the order of six hours.
Thematrian1 (10:58:36 PM): yeah
MilesMk1 (10:59:30 PM): All right - shall we continue to the hotel proper?
Thematrian1 (10:59:46 PM): I guess. We don't have reservations, is the thing.
Umbrafer (11:00:25 PM): Give an Etiquette roll
Thematrian1 (11:00:33 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 2 2 6 6
MilesMk1 (11:00:34 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 2 3 3 1 6 2 6 5
Thematrian1 (11:00:36 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 6
Thematrian1 (11:00:39 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 3
MilesMk1 (11:00:42 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 6
MilesMk1 (11:00:47 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Thematrian1 (11:00:53 PM): well, I was only supposed to roll 1 more, but since they're the same I guess it doesn't matter
Thematrian1 (11:01:28 PM): 15 9 5 4
Thematrian1 (11:01:36 PM): and Aptitude
MilesMk1 (11:01:40 PM): 15 8 5
Umbrafer (11:01:53 PM): Verily, you are the truthsayer.
Umbrafer (11:01:58 PM): A few things:
MilesMk1 (11:02:11 PM): Heh. Got me beat after all. :P
Umbrafer (11:02:16 PM): First, there are likely to be a lot of guests here, where by "guests" I mean "people without reservations".
Thematrian1 (11:02:23 PM): If only by a tiny among ;-)
Thematrian1 (11:02:25 PM): amount
Umbrafer (11:02:50 PM): Second, you're unlikely to need to demonstrate a reservation unless you're using a hotel-guest-only service or trying to get a room key.
Umbrafer (11:02:57 PM): By legitimate means, I should say.
Thematrian1 (11:05:08 PM): ok, so in is no trouble
Thematrian1 (11:05:12 PM): in?
Umbrafer (11:06:40 PM): You walk out into a large area dominated by several pools and a bar with a swim-up area. Apart from the temperature it feels more like the tropics than Seattle.
Thematrian1 (11:06:46 PM): Locker room, for choice. We can always say we want it for immoral purposes.
Umbrafer (11:06:51 PM): Around all of it stands the hotel.
MilesMk1 (11:07:21 PM): Ok... Do we see any hotel staff over here?
Umbrafer (11:08:08 PM): There are some wandering about picking up loose towels, as well as some staffing the bar. There's also a bevy of random hotel guests.
Umbrafer (11:08:14 PM): None of them pay you particular mind,.
Umbrafer (11:08:17 PM): *-,
MilesMk1 (11:08:22 PM): Unforms?
MilesMk1 (11:08:28 PM): Uniforms, rather?
Umbrafer (11:09:50 PM): They've got uniforms, yes.
Umbrafer (11:10:07 PM): Ordinary housekeeper uniforms for the folk gathering towels, more restaurant-ish stuff for the folk at the bar.
MilesMk1 (11:10:53 PM): Are they co-ed, or does one gender predominate?
Umbrafer (11:11:25 PM): Bartenders predominantly male, housekeepers predominantly female. Neither is absolute.
Thematrian1 (11:12:44 PM): "Lockers?"
MilesMk1 (11:13:18 PM): "Probably in the basement..."
Thematrian1 (11:13:32 PM): "Lead the way"
MilesMk1 (11:13:59 PM): *looks for stairways / hallways into the belly of the beast*
Umbrafer (11:14:47 PM): You enter. At least three doors named "Employees Only" present themselves, only one of which is obviously into a restaurant.
MilesMk1 (11:15:13 PM): Are any of them covered by cameras?
MilesMk1 (11:15:41 PM): Basically, Glitch will be on the lookout in places his experience would tell him to expect them.
Umbrafer (11:15:49 PM): Not from the outside, no.
Umbrafer (11:16:10 PM): Cameras are minimal and always in high-ceilinged places. Don't want to spook the guests.
MilesMk1 (11:16:11 PM): I don't think hotels are generally big on them, except for things like service entrances, since it tends to send the wrong message to guests...
Thematrian1 (11:16:57 PM): Gem mimes flipping a coin.
MilesMk1 (11:17:14 PM): All right... Let's try one of the non-restaurant doors, then - acting like we're being naughty rather than doing B&E.
Thematrian1 (11:17:38 PM): (aw, come on. This is, at worst, E)
MilesMk1 (11:17:51 PM): (Well, tresspassing, for now.)
Thematrian1 (11:17:55 PM): (Right, right)
Thematrian1 (11:18:09 PM): Ok, I tug Glitch through the door in a sexy and conspiratorial way.
Thematrian1 (11:18:22 PM): I haven't the least idea how that could be done, but I'm sure Gem does.
Umbrafer (11:18:41 PM): No doubt. She does so.
Umbrafer (11:19:22 PM): You're in a little back hallway. There's a staircase and elevator at the end of it, and a branch that goes off to the right.
MilesMk1 (11:20:00 PM): Any convenient signs saying "Staff Locker Room"?
MilesMk1 (11:20:22 PM): If not, I propose we go down one level and look.
Thematrian1 (11:20:24 PM): Under the cover of flirtatious giggles: "Stairs?"
Umbrafer (11:21:13 PM): Nothing saying that. You descend the staircase.
Umbrafer (11:21:36 PM): At the bottom there's another branch, and at the end of the side you can see there's the locker rooms.
Umbrafer (11:21:40 PM): Perception.
MilesMk1 (11:21:46 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 5 4 6 4 6
MilesMk1 (11:21:51 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 2 4
MilesMk1 (11:22:01 PM): 10,8,5,4,4
Thematrian1 (11:22:27 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 4 6 5 6
Thematrian1 (11:22:29 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 2
Thematrian1 (11:22:36 PM): 10 8 5 4 not-4
Umbrafer (11:23:13 PM): The woman's room door is just closing as you get down.
MilesMk1 (11:24:23 PM): Can I try to listen for sounds coming from both the locker rooms?
Umbrafer (11:24:33 PM): Go for it.
MilesMk1 (11:24:40 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 6 3 4 1 6
MilesMk1 (11:24:44 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 3
MilesMk1 (11:24:52 PM): 10,9,5,4
Umbrafer (11:25:04 PM): It's faint, but you hear voices from the woman's locker room.
MilesMk1 (11:25:23 PM): "The men's room sounds empty..."
Thematrian1 (11:25:32 PM): I tug Glitch in there
MilesMk1 (11:25:59 PM): "Of course, uniforms are just half of it... I'm sure they need to check the keys out."
Umbrafer (11:26:30 PM): *Tug*
Umbrafer (11:26:35 PM): It's empty.
MilesMk1 (11:27:04 PM): I proceed to search for uniforms and/or keys (though I have little hope for the latter)
MilesMk1 (11:27:31 PM): Are there any around in the clear, or will I have to break into lockers?
Umbrafer (11:27:38 PM): Uniforms are easy to come by. Uniforms in Glitch's size not quite so much.
MilesMk1 (11:28:00 PM): Glitch is 1/4" over 5'!!!
MilesMk1 (11:28:16 PM): Glitch is not a midget!
Thematrian1 (11:28:42 PM): by about four inches
Thematrian1 (11:28:51 PM): although
Umbrafer (11:28:52 PM): Nonetheless, all the uniforms you're finding are for people in the 5'6" and up range
Thematrian1 (11:28:54 PM): in a world with dwarves
Thematrian1 (11:29:11 PM): "If we could find you something dwarf-sized..."
Umbrafer (11:29:16 PM): (Does a dwarf with giantism look like a human?)
Thematrian1 (11:29:20 PM): (Glitch is human, albeit really short, IIRC?)
MilesMk1 (11:29:37 PM): (Glitch is a Dwarf, albeit with the human-looking edge)
Thematrian1 (11:29:39 PM): (No, they've got too much of the barrel chest thing. Maybe like a troll)
Thematrian1 (11:29:41 PM): (ah)
MilesMk1 (11:30:50 PM): Well, all I want right now is snag one that's closest in size and put it in my bag.
MilesMk1 (11:31:10 PM): I don't plan on walking around in it in the pool area, just being able to pass on camera as staff.
Umbrafer (11:31:46 PM): Done.
MilesMk1 (11:32:30 PM): Ok... Can I put an ear to the wall and determine when the women's room becomes unoccupied?
Umbrafer (11:32:46 PM): You can try. Roll it.
MilesMk1 (11:32:51 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 4 6 1 3 2
MilesMk1 (11:32:55 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
MilesMk1 (11:33:01 PM): 10,4
Umbrafer (11:33:47 PM): Chatter. They are perpetuating the female stereotype in there.
Thematrian1 (11:34:04 PM): "This may be our best chance at a keycard"
MilesMk1 (11:34:43 PM): "That spirit thing you did last time, do you think?"
MilesMk1 (11:35:00 PM): "Still, whatever we do, it'd be best to get one alone..."
Thematrian1 (11:35:02 PM): "Not in a locker room, but if we can find a closet or something..."
Thematrian1 (11:35:05 PM): "Agreed."
Umbrafer (11:35:40 PM): Let's get another perception test.
Thematrian1 (11:35:44 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 6 5 5 1 2
MilesMk1 (11:35:47 PM): "I mean, we don't need to knock her out if you can just confuse her so much we can take the keys off her..."
MilesMk1 (11:35:51 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 1 3 1 5 3
MilesMk1 (11:35:55 PM): 5,5
Thematrian1 (11:35:58 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Thematrian1 (11:36:01 PM): "Ah"
Thematrian1 (11:36:06 PM): "Yeah, that I can do."
Thematrian1 (11:36:09 PM): We're in Hearth, right?
Umbrafer (11:36:40 PM): Mm. I'd say no on that one. The upper floors maybe, but down here no one lives.
Thematrian1 (11:36:52 PM): City then?
Umbrafer (11:37:11 PM): (I seriously need to spend a year or so playing a Shaman. Then I'd have this whole domain thing planned out ahead of time.)(
Umbrafer (11:37:15 PM): *-(
MilesMk1 (11:37:22 PM): "Either way, let's get out of here and do our planning somewhere less compromising."
MilesMk1 (11:37:32 PM): *listens at the door before leaving*
Thematrian1 (11:37:33 PM): (I'll see what I can do to kill Alex off for you)
Thematrian1 (11:37:57 PM): "Ambush in the ladies' room? I like it."
Thematrian1 (11:38:07 PM): Astral perception on
Umbrafer (11:38:11 PM): (Not what I meant, but thanks for the offer ;) )
MilesMk1 (11:38:16 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 6 1 6 6 4
MilesMk1 (11:38:21 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 3 4 1
Umbrafer (11:38:31 PM): City works.
MilesMk1 (11:38:35 PM): Checking to see if the coast is clear.
Umbrafer (11:38:57 PM): Anyway. While you were still chatting up there about the keys, someone walks in the door.
Thematrian1 (11:39:24 PM): As soon as I hear it happening, I grab Glitch and
Thematrian1 (11:39:26 PM): hm
Thematrian1 (11:39:33 PM): spin so I'm facing the door
Thematrian1 (11:40:16 PM): #I'm the ditz, you work here#
Thematrian1 (11:40:22 PM): #?#
Umbrafer (11:40:29 PM): He gets most of the way to his locker before he realizes what's going on. "The hell y—are you two lost?"
Thematrian1 (11:42:20 PM): ::ostentatiously fixing herself:: "Um?"
Umbrafer (11:43:17 PM): "This is an employee only area."
Thematrian1 (11:43:23 PM): (Ok brain, this one's important. Think)
Umbrafer (11:43:42 PM): "You aren't supposed to be back here. Come on, I'll show you out."
Thematrian1 (11:43:59 PM): #Glitch! Take him or not?#
Umbrafer (11:44:09 PM): Though he does an admirable job of concealing it, Gem can tell he'd like nothing more than to bawl you out for being here.
MilesMk1 (11:44:16 PM): #Does he have keys?#
Thematrian1 (11:44:22 PM): Does he?
Thematrian1 (11:44:47 PM): (Valuable intel: the guests are doing all kinds of dumb stuff today, and he can't scream at them. Poor guy)
MilesMk1 (11:45:13 PM): (Come on, a nice fat key-card ring on one of those little pulley-things)
Umbrafer (11:45:25 PM): He has no obvious visible keys, no
MilesMk1 (11:45:38 PM): #Leave him be, I guess.#
Thematrian1 (11:46:03 PM): ::trying to blush:: "Thanks"
MilesMk1 (11:46:21 PM): *follows meekly*
Umbrafer (11:46:36 PM): He holds the door, then ushers you up the stairs and back out the door.
Thematrian1 (11:47:38 PM): I go as I am bid to go.
Umbrafer (11:48:32 PM): He wanders off. Glitch catches an under-the-breath comment about needing to get locks on the employee doors one of these days.
Thematrian1 (11:48:38 PM): To Glitch, once we're clear: "How embarassing."
MilesMk1 (11:49:27 PM): "Well... We did it because the risk was low enough, and we're still in the clear."
Thematrian1 (11:49:49 PM): "True. But now...two employees?"
MilesMk1 (11:50:33 PM): "Why not? I think at these bigger places, they often have more than one person go in to tidy up a place."
MilesMk1 (11:50:55 PM): "Problem is, we still need a key we'll be sure can open one of those bungalows..."
Thematrian1 (11:51:49 PM): "On their rounds, they'll have them. We're sneaking around, but our motives are pure."
MilesMk1 (11:52:29 PM): *looks slightly confused*
MilesMk1 (11:53:19 PM): (Random thought - you described many walkways in the bungalow area. Are any of them high enough off the ground and close enough to the bungalows that I could move under one to our taget, out of camera LOS?)
Thematrian1 (11:53:21 PM): "Two different thoughts. Did we get the name of the guy staying at the bungalow?"
MilesMk1 (11:53:32 PM): (Did we?)
Umbrafer (11:54:06 PM): (Yes, for a good portion of the way. As it gets to the actual bungalow it drops to the ground)
MilesMk1 (11:56:03 PM): (And the name of the guy?)
Umbrafer (11:56:25 PM): (You didn't get that.)
MilesMk1 (11:56:36 PM): "No, we didn't."
MilesMk1 (11:56:48 PM): "Should have asked."
MilesMk1 (11:57:00 PM): "It's been a long night..."
Thematrian1 (11:57:11 PM): "It probably wouldn't have worked anyway."
MilesMk1 (11:57:39 PM): "What's the other one? And I think I might have one myself..."
Umbrafer (11:57:44 PM): Where are you standing right now?
Thematrian1 (11:57:56 PM): I figured we were out of the hotel, where no one's around.
Thematrian1 (11:58:04 PM): given all the super-incriminating dialogue
Umbrafer (11:58:07 PM): Back along the walkway?
Umbrafer (11:58:12 PM): Or somewhere else?
MilesMk1 (11:59:13 PM): Somewhere we can pretend to enjoy the scenery, apart from others, I'd say.
Umbrafer (12:00:36 AM): Umbrafer rolled 1 2-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (12:01:28 AM): Someone in a housekeeping uniform is coming back from one of the bungalows.
Thematrian1 (12:01:41 AM): "Cameras?"
Thematrian1 (12:01:45 AM): What's the astral like?
MilesMk1 (12:02:03 AM): *looks carefully for cameras*
Umbrafer (12:02:26 AM): Perception for both.
Thematrian1 (12:02:31 AM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 1 2 2 5 5
MilesMk1 (12:02:33 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 4 1 2 2 2
MilesMk1 (12:02:37 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Thematrian1 (12:02:41 AM): yay Glitch
MilesMk1 (12:02:43 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (12:02:47 AM): 14,4
Thematrian1 (12:02:48 AM): if the TN is 5
Umbrafer (12:03:07 AM): Glitch spots a camera at one of the divergence points. Gem, meanwhile, spots a spirit leaving the area.
MilesMk1 (12:03:47 AM): "There's one over by the <particular point>."
MilesMk1 (12:03:59 AM): BTW, is the person male or female?
Umbrafer (12:04:20 AM): Female.
Thematrian1 (12:05:16 AM): "Maybe we're locked out?"
MilesMk1 (12:05:35 AM): "You mean, try to talk her into letting us in?"
Thematrian1 (12:05:47 AM): "Right."
MilesMk1 (12:06:24 AM): "I dunno... Seems like a tough con, do you think you can do it?"
MilesMk1 (12:06:45 AM): "And she might always tell us to go get a replacement at the front desk..."
Thematrian1 (12:07:04 AM): "Why couldn't it have been a man? We tell her we're in a hurry. I giggle a lot."
Thematrian1 (12:07:08 AM): "If it doesn't work..."
Thematrian1 (12:07:29 AM): "...it can lead into getting her out of camera range, or to you picking her pocket. Can you pick pockets?"
MilesMk1 (12:07:41 AM): "We thank her and tell her we'll talk to the concierge, then try plan B."
Thematrian1 (12:07:48 AM): "Sounds good."
MilesMk1 (12:07:52 AM): (What skill would that even be?)
Thematrian1 (12:08:02 AM): (I...don't know)
Umbrafer (12:08:31 AM): (Picking pockets? I believe by canon it's Stealth, though that's six kinds of stupid)
Umbrafer (12:08:38 AM): (Well, only three kinds)
MilesMk1 (12:08:42 AM): (If it's rolled under something from the book, I should have it. If it's its own thing, I don't.)
Thematrian1 (12:08:54 AM): (Sigh. This is one place SR4 is a noticable improvement over SR3)
Thematrian1 (12:09:46 AM): ok. Plan A first. I visibly spot her, and walk toward her, pulling Glitch with me.
Umbrafer (12:09:51 AM): (Hm? The palming whatever rules?)
Umbrafer (12:09:55 AM): *-whatever
MilesMk1 (12:10:06 AM): "Can you get her confused out here, or is too public? I might be able to pick them anyway, but it'd help..."
Thematrian1 (12:10:26 AM): "I'd sooner not. There are spirits all over the place; a big unregistered one would draw attention."
MilesMk1 (12:10:34 AM): *comes over, trying to look like an annoyed boyfriend*
Thematrian1 (12:10:56 AM): "Miss? Miss!"
Umbrafer (12:11:02 AM): "Can I help you?"
Thematrian1 (12:12:22 AM): "I hope so. We just got back from swimming, we were hoping we could get a bit of rest before this evening, you know, but I think we left our key inside, and I was wondering if you could...?"
Thematrian1 (12:13:01 AM): (Negotiation?)
Umbrafer (12:13:15 AM): (Neg (Fast Talk), yeah)
Thematrian1 (12:13:35 AM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 4 4 1 5
Thematrian1 (12:13:54 AM): were I to karma, how many would I be rerolling?
Thematrian1 (12:14:08 AM): (By default, TN = her intelligence, minus my assorted mods)
Umbrafer (12:14:18 AM): What are your mods again?
Thematrian1 (12:14:29 AM): (-2 in total)
Thematrian1 (12:14:53 AM): (c'mon, nice dumb waitstaff...)
Umbrafer (12:15:42 AM): (You'd be rerolling three. She has mods too.)
MilesMk1 (12:16:28 AM): (Maybe save it for re-rolling when you tell her just *which* bungalow you want opened...)
Thematrian1 (12:16:36 AM): (She sure does. No karma for me)
Thematrian1 (12:17:43 AM): I don't karma. I do, however, bargain frantically with God.
Umbrafer (12:17:55 AM): "I'm sorry, miss, you'll have to talk to the front desk for that. They should be able to help you."
Thematrian1 (12:18:35 AM): "You're sure? We're in a hurry..."
Thematrian1 (12:18:39 AM): What's the astral look like?
MilesMk1 (12:18:41 AM): Ok, as this goes on... Do I see any keys?
Umbrafer (12:20:23 AM): You don't see any. She's got easily-accessible pockets deep enough to contain a number of cards, and really she'd only need one.
Thematrian1 (12:21:33 AM): (if she is adamant in her refusal) "Hmph. I guess I understand. Thanks anyway."
MilesMk1 (12:22:21 AM): (Now, how does picking pockets work? I mean, if it is stealth-related, than I am really good at it... Technically.)
Umbrafer (12:22:23 AM): "Well… where are you staying?"
Thematrian1 (12:22:48 AM): (Ok, do we have a number for this bungalow, anything like that?)
Umbrafer (12:22:50 AM): (Target is Bungalow 7)
Thematrian1 (12:23:53 AM): "Oh, we're in number seven." I lay a friendly hand on her arm if I can get away with it, to hopefully distract her from Glitch's pocket-diving activities if any.
MilesMk1 (12:24:38 AM): I watch for abortive hand-movements directed at any of her pockets as this is playing out.
MilesMk1 (12:25:10 AM): Anything to get some kind of idea where she might have her card.
Umbrafer (12:25:31 AM): You've got a guess based on the ease-of-access of the pockets
MilesMk1 (12:25:57 AM): Well, I wait to hear her response to our claim.
Umbrafer (12:27:07 AM): (Pocket-picking is an Opposed test, Stealth vs. Intelligence)
MilesMk1 (12:27:50 AM): (Ok... I might take a shot, but I'll want to see how she responds to Gem first.)
Umbrafer (12:28:39 AM): "Sorry, miss, our passes only open the rooms we clean. I don't handle your bungalow." Glitch, roll security-related skill.
MilesMk1 (12:29:12 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 3 1 1 1 3 2 4 3
Thematrian1 (12:29:17 AM): Her shoulders slump. "I understand. Thanks" Eye contact, body contact if I can get it
Thematrian1 (12:29:19 AM): anything distracting
MilesMk1 (12:29:25 AM): Oh for crap's sake...
Thematrian1 (12:29:26 AM): especially after that roll, God help us
Thematrian1 (12:29:34 AM): do you have karma left?
MilesMk1 (12:29:45 AM): Yeah, but I don't want to waste it.
MilesMk1 (12:29:58 AM): Still, her claim seems unlikely to me.
Umbrafer (12:30:10 AM): Poor, but good enough for this: some places do do it exactly as she described, but you aren't sure it'd make sense for here.
Thematrian1 (12:30:14 AM): It's not totally crazy, if it's ultrasuperspecialsecure
Thematrian1 (12:30:28 AM): ah
Umbrafer (12:30:31 AM): If anything, they might split it up hotel/bungalow
Umbrafer (12:30:35 AM): Indeed, they probably do
Umbrafer (12:30:39 AM): But beyond that…
Thematrian1 (12:30:47 AM): for some reason, I thought that was your pick-pocketing roll. Although, if you're right we're in real trouble.
MilesMk1 (12:31:05 AM): #I'm going to try for the key after all.#
Thematrian1 (12:31:19 AM): #Ok#
MilesMk1 (12:31:24 AM): *does so*
Thematrian1 (12:31:30 AM): see the above distracting
MilesMk1 (12:31:35 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 3 6 2 3
Umbrafer (12:31:36 AM): *Sees*
Umbrafer (12:31:39 AM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 5 1 2 2 5 1 3 4 1 4 4 3 2 2 6
MilesMk1 (12:31:40 AM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
MilesMk1 (12:31:43 AM): Shit.
Umbrafer (12:32:13 AM): It's quick and, relatively speaking, clean. You've got the card in your hand. She exchanges a few words with Gem and goes on her way.
MilesMk1 (12:32:24 AM): #Got it.#
Thematrian1 (12:32:32 AM): #Let's book.#
Thematrian1 (12:32:37 AM): ::strolls like the wind::
MilesMk1 (12:32:44 AM): *strolls along with her*
Thematrian1 (12:33:06 AM): Back to #7.
Thematrian1 (12:33:28 AM): "No time to be subtle about the cameras, we just unlock the door and walk in?"
Umbrafer (12:33:30 AM): *Windstroll*
MilesMk1 (12:34:21 AM): "Assuming the guy watching the cameras hasn't been thoroughly briefed on who to let in - I don't see why it couldn't work..."
MilesMk1 (12:34:36 AM): "Only problem is, they get us on tape..."
Thematrian1 (12:35:04 AM): "Very true. Sudden massive camera failure would draw attention, though.
MilesMk1 (12:35:19 AM): "Do they have any shops around here we could get some hats? Cover our faces a bit, avoid looking at the cameras..."
Thematrian1 (12:35:27 AM): Would Concealment, even if it didn't work, prevent our features from being visible?
Thematrian1 (12:35:41 AM): that is
Thematrian1 (12:35:47 AM): even if it didn't make us entirely invisible
Thematrian1 (12:35:51 AM): Is there such on our path?
Umbrafer (12:36:04 AM): Mm. Maybe.
MilesMk1 (12:36:06 AM): Or was there one back in the hotel?
Umbrafer (12:36:18 AM): On your current path there is only paths to bungalows. Back at the hotel there were probably hat-shops, yes.
Thematrian1 (12:36:27 AM): We have very little time until she figures out her key is missing. Even if it doesn't occur to her to blame us...
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (12:37:19 AM): Of all the times...
Umbrafer (12:37:25 AM): Eesh
Umbrafer (12:37:36 AM): Speaking of time, I had not realized it had gotten this late.
MilesMk1 (12:37:47 AM): Yeah.
Umbrafer (12:37:52 AM): Oh sonofa
Umbrafer (12:38:00 AM): I still have a Seiler in my chat, you'll need to do the invite
MilesMk1 (12:38:18 AM): Did.
MilesMk1 (12:38:23 AM): Let's see if it works.
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:40:15 AM): Your departure prompted me to actually look at the clock. Any last actions before we break?
Thematrian1 (12:40:36 AM): No
MilesMk1 (12:40:44 AM): No... We need to think fast...
Umbrafer (12:40:47 AM): Someday I'll figure out how I lose track of time despite the bloody timestamp next to each and every post
Umbrafer (12:41:20 AM): I'm too used to just looking at the minutes and seconds, I guess, and specifically the difference between them and the previous ones
MilesMk1 (12:42:18 AM): Well, I guess we have a whole week to plot this one...
Thematrian1 (12:42:29 AM): yeah, we're done here. Next week, the thrilling conclusion, after which I will build a real mage
Thematrian1 (12:42:36 AM): come to think of it
MilesMk1 (12:42:40 AM): In retrospect, it'd have been better to just pick her pocket...
Thematrian1 (12:42:45 AM): they have our faces on camera already, probably
Thematrian1 (12:42:47 AM): also harder to do
Thematrian1 (12:42:56 AM): if our clothing matches at all
MilesMk1 (12:43:00 AM): True.
Thematrian1 (12:43:18 AM): hm. Back to swimsuits?
MilesMk1 (12:43:28 AM): I still have the help uniform.
Thematrian1 (12:43:45 AM): Good thought. Does it include one of those spiffy caps?
Thematrian1 (12:44:00 AM): nexst game, we open the door
MilesMk1 (12:44:03 AM): Basically, if we go in there, and use the card, they see our faces... Because I bet there's no cap.
Umbrafer (12:44:05 AM): Probably. Which caps do you mean?
Thematrian1 (12:44:13 AM): you know, with a visor
Umbrafer (12:44:35 AM): Yep, there's one there.
MilesMk1 (12:45:01 AM): I mean, hell, if we do get this job done, we can always get cosmetic surgery... Or Glitch can, anyway. Gem has a lot more to lose there.
Thematrian1 (12:45:14 AM): that's true
Umbrafer (12:45:18 AM): Hehehe
Thematrian1 (12:45:19 AM): it's not like we're underpaid
MilesMk1 (12:45:27 AM): I guess it depends also on what the ruling on Concealment is.
Thematrian1 (12:45:29 AM): and I'm sure there's some aspect of her face that she's never quite been satisfied with
Thematrian1 (12:45:34 AM): yeah, if concealment will do it
Umbrafer (12:46:15 AM): I guess my call for concealment is "it's hard to tell". The closer it is to actually accomplishing concealment (as in, rendering you effectively nonvisible), the more likely it is to obscure features.
MilesMk1 (12:46:32 AM): And I can use my knowledge of where the cameras are to figure out which way we should turn our heads...
Thematrian1 (12:46:48 AM): fair enough. I'll see you both on Tuesday
MilesMk1 (12:46:59 AM): But we did walk past cameras before, so unless they're completely incompetent, they'll eventually put 2 and 2 together and get our faces somehow...
Umbrafer (12:47:22 AM): Sleep well, dream of good ideas
MilesMk1 (12:47:23 AM): Oh well... Yep, see you guys Tuesday.
Thematrian1 (12:47:27 AM): yeah
Thematrian1 (12:47:30 AM): ultimately
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (12:47:38 AM): I've the nagging feeling I had something else to say, but I don't remember what
Umbrafer (12:47:55 AM): So it goes. There's always Tuesday.
Umbrafer (12:48:07 AM): *Waves* Sleep well.
MilesMk1 (12:48:09 AM): Ok. See you then. Have a good one.
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Chat room exited at 9/23/2005 12:48:14 AM.