New chat room entered at 5/4/2006 8:39:18 PM.
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You are now in chat room “sotsw050406.”
MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:39:37 PM): Yarr.
Umbrafer (8:39:59 PM): I'll be a few minutes before I'm entirely here, we'll be started shortly.
MilesMk1 (8:40:00 PM): Hey.
MilesMk1 (8:40:13 PM): Or we could wait for Dave...
MilesMk1 (8:40:29 PM): Is he still playing? I'm surprised not to see him on a Thursday.
Thematrian1 (8:41:36 PM): well, I can tell you what I found out, at any rate.
MilesMk1 (8:42:01 PM): Right, right. Please, do.
Umbrafer (8:42:06 PM): He'll be delayed from here on. Shift change.
MilesMk1 (8:42:14 PM): Ah.
Umbrafer (8:42:23 PM): That said, the early portions still need to wrap up stuff with Gem.
MilesMk1 (8:42:27 PM): I, on the other hand, should be slowly returning to a normal schedule again.
MilesMk1 (8:43:02 PM): Next Tuesday I might be absent again, but after that, I figure I'll either have done everything I need or will be fired, so either way, I'll have free time again.
Thematrian1 (8:43:02 PM): there's more with Gem? Ok, lay it on me.
Umbrafer (8:43:11 PM): Heh
Umbrafer (8:43:33 PM): Well, when we last left off you were still looking at a couple of dog-things eating a maybe-human. Adam was looking decidedly less than cool with this.
Thematrian1 (8:43:38 PM): oh yeah
Thematrian1 (8:44:07 PM): "I don't dare call out here...no telling what might answer."
Thematrian1 (8:44:19 PM): "Listen, Adam, just stay with me and they won't attack you."
Thematrian1 (8:44:20 PM): I approach.
Thematrian1 (8:45:08 PM): I just keep walking until they react to me.
Umbrafer (8:47:02 PM): Once you get to about five feet, the one closest to you lifts its snout and sniffs.
Thematrian1 (8:47:43 PM): I keep walking.
Umbrafer (8:48:03 PM): It turns and looks at you. Well, that last point is debatable, since as far as you can tell it's had its eyes removed.
Thematrian1 (8:48:14 PM): assense!
Thematrian1 (8:48:17 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 1 2 5 1 3
Thematrian1 (8:48:19 PM): never mind
Umbrafer (8:49:26 PM): On the astral it looks identical to what it looks like on the physical (beyond the degree to which this is usual, like everything else here). The one difference is that it does have faint points of light in its sockets on the astral
Thematrian1 (8:50:02 PM): At three feet out I'll squat down and look at him. What's Adam doing?
Umbrafer (8:50:32 PM): Cowering, but he hasn't actually started running away yet.
Umbrafer (8:50:37 PM): He has his bat held out in front of him.
Umbrafer (8:51:13 PM): The dog-thing gulps down the chunk of flesh in its mouth and turns to face you.
Umbrafer (8:51:57 PM): It growls.
Umbrafer (8:52:07 PM): The other two take notice.
Thematrian1 (8:52:09 PM): I tsk. "No, you're nice doggy, aren't you?"
Thematrian1 (8:52:22 PM): ("Torn apart by dogs" is probably a bad way to end a vision)
Umbrafer (8:52:50 PM): (Could be worse. Could be "audited by IRS then torn apart by dogs")
Umbrafer (8:53:05 PM): It takes a step towards you as the other two turn.
Thematrian1 (8:53:18 PM): Still growling?
Umbrafer (8:53:50 PM): Yes.
Thematrian1 (8:54:16 PM): Trying for a voice of command: "Stop that!"
Umbrafer (8:54:58 PM): Roll an animal handling skill, or default to intimidation or… hm. Any social skill you can convince me should apply here.
Thematrian1 (8:56:17 PM): Etiquette. I'm trying to take my position as the dominate one in a social situation. Vying for authority is a big part of dog culture.
Thematrian1 (8:56:27 PM): (Don't blame me, blame the guys who removed mandatory specializations)
Umbrafer (8:57:17 PM): (I may have to declare that Etiquette(Dog) isn't covered by the base skill, but go for it for right now :) )
Thematrian1 (8:57:23 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 4 3 2 3 2
Thematrian1 (8:57:31 PM): sigh
Thematrian1 (8:57:44 PM): that's, um, a 3 and 2 2s after my mods
Umbrafer (8:58:57 PM): It does stop growling, actually. On the other hand, the other two are now walking out sideways-ish to encircle you and the one in front is not looking any less aggressive.
CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (8:59:33 PM): Hey all
Thematrian1 (8:59:34 PM): Fair enough. I stand.
Thematrian1 (8:59:38 PM): (Good evening)
CirclMastr (8:59:45 PM): (Is Gem still in TrippyLand?)
Thematrian1 (9:00:02 PM): (I'm afraid so. I'm about to be mauled)
Thematrian1 (9:00:14 PM): Hey, can I see the corpse any better now?
CirclMastr (9:00:18 PM): (Try shouting "No means no!" ?)
Umbrafer (9:00:22 PM): You can.
MilesMk1 (9:00:30 PM): Hey.
Thematrian1 (9:00:31 PM): awesome. What's it like?
Umbrafer (9:01:14 PM): At this point, missing most of its soft fleshy bits. It looks to have been wearing clothing at one point (still has meaningful portions of pants on), and the head is quite definitely missing.
Thematrian1 (9:02:03 PM): not recognizable, no clown makeup or floppy shoes, no popped balloons nearby?
Umbrafer (9:02:55 PM): Not that you can see, no.
Umbrafer (9:03:11 PM): Perception.
Thematrian1 (9:03:19 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 2 5 3 3 2
Thematrian1 (9:03:22 PM): 3 after mods
Umbrafer (9:03:27 PM): As I said.
Thematrian1 (9:03:44 PM): (That's 18 dice without any sixes. How long can this streak continue?)
MilesMk1 (9:03:44 PM): You're, ah, hurt?
Thematrian1 (9:04:02 PM): Yep. I'm still at M from the last run's escapades.
Thematrian1 (9:04:09 PM): It falls off in six more days, I think.
MilesMk1 (9:04:20 PM): Ouch.
Umbrafer (9:04:28 PM): Six days of rest, mind you.
MilesMk1 (9:04:42 PM): Her body is resting.
Umbrafer (9:05:10 PM): Are you taking any action before you're flanked by the dogs?
Thematrian1 (9:05:35 PM): yes. Adam still cowering?
Umbrafer (9:06:22 PM): Yes. He's got his back flattened against a nearby wall.
MilesMk1 (9:06:23 PM): (Mmm, creme brule...)
Thematrian1 (9:06:51 PM): sigh. I make an imperious "come here!" gesture, and start walking backward.
Umbrafer (9:07:31 PM): The dogs keep pace, Adam takes a few steps forward and halts.
CirclMastr (9:07:48 PM): (Just cast an illusion spell so he is dressed like a mailman, and run while the dogs chew him apart.)
Umbrafer (9:08:31 PM): (That would, among other things, require Gem to be able to cast spells)
Thematrian1 (9:09:15 PM): I keep walking until Adam's behind the dogs.
Thematrian1 (9:09:36 PM): As I go: "I need you to check out that body, all right? Tell me what he was carrying."
Umbrafer (9:10:29 PM): He twitches a little, then sidles along the wall towards the body.
Umbrafer (9:11:01 PM): The dog to your left increases its pace.
Thematrian1 (9:11:26 PM): Oh good. Do I have my chipped martial arts skills?
Umbrafer (9:12:09 PM): Hm. Was the chip in when you went to bed?
Thematrian1 (9:12:34 PM): No. Dammit.
Umbrafer (9:13:41 PM): Unless action is taken, the dog is going to be behind you momentarily.
Thematrian1 (9:14:20 PM): What's Adam doing?
Umbrafer (9:14:48 PM): He's backing away from the dogs, towards the body. He occasionally glances behind him.
Thematrian1 (9:15:01 PM): Not there yet, eh? Rats
Thematrian1 (9:15:55 PM): I take a breath. "Hear me o gods above! Send me one of your servants!" (Specifically, I want one of force four)
Thematrian1 (9:15:59 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 9 6-sided dice: 4 2 4 5 2 6 4 3 2
Thematrian1 (9:16:05 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 1 5 6 3 4 1 4
Thematrian1 (9:17:20 PM): no drain, 1 service, assuming I live
Umbrafer (9:17:32 PM): You call.
Umbrafer (9:17:44 PM): What sort of spirit was it you were looking for?
Thematrian1 (9:17:54 PM): Sky
Umbrafer (9:18:16 PM): Several things happen, roughly simultaneously.
Umbrafer (9:18:54 PM): The first, a patch of air in front of you… /thickens/. It has a delightful blood-rust colour.
Umbrafer (9:19:43 PM): The second, Adam reaches the body, turns, and crouches next to it to look at it. He stumbles back, retching.
Umbrafer (9:19:55 PM): The third, the dog directly in front of you wheels and looks directly at Adam.
Umbrafer (9:20:02 PM): Initiative.
Thematrian1 (9:20:08 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Thematrian1 (9:20:13 PM): 9
Umbrafer (9:20:19 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 6 2 4
MilesMk1 (9:20:23 PM): Is Adam someone I should know, or is he a stranger and I'm not simply forgetting everything?
Thematrian1 (9:20:31 PM): he's the guy I met in the vision
Thematrian1 (9:20:45 PM): he's got a baseball bat, and he's an upper middle class ork
Umbrafer (9:22:12 PM): Hm. *Digs to find the list of Initiative tiebreakers*
Thematrian1 (9:22:21 PM): Reaction is high on the list. Mine is 5
Umbrafer (9:22:33 PM): Yeah, I know.
Umbrafer (9:22:36 PM): We're past that point :)
Thematrian1 (9:22:45 PM): oh
Umbrafer (9:23:02 PM): Any of that from cyber?
Thematrian1 (9:23:06 PM): none
Thematrian1 (9:23:10 PM): sorry
Umbrafer (9:23:17 PM): Roll 1d6.
Thematrian1 (9:23:21 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
Umbrafer (9:23:22 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Thematrian1 (9:23:30 PM): yeah, I can't say I'm surprised by how that came out
Umbrafer (9:23:52 PM): The dog in front of you and the dog to your right immediately begin running full-out at Adam.
Umbrafer (9:23:58 PM): Your action.
Thematrian1 (9:24:39 PM): Hm. Defaulting to unarmed, I get one whole die. Did that spirit finish coalescing?
Umbrafer (9:25:06 PM): It's hard to tell what is "finished" with this thing. Like the blob in the apartment, it feels very wrong.
Umbrafer (9:25:24 PM): (Do you really have Strength 1?)
Thematrian1 (9:25:38 PM): (Yep)
Thematrian1 (9:25:52 PM): (It rarely comes up)
Thematrian1 (9:27:01 PM): well, no time to be choosy.
Thematrian1 (9:27:15 PM): Speaking to the spirit, pointing to Adam: "Get us out of here!"
Umbrafer (9:28:20 PM): There's no immediate response. That's your Free, doing anything else?
Thematrian1 (9:29:13 PM): Yes; running away from the dog behind me (and toward Adam and the other dogs, alas)
Umbrafer (9:30:10 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 4 2 3 4 6 6 3 6 1 3 4 5 3 2
Umbrafer (9:30:15 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 2 5
Umbrafer (9:30:41 PM): You run. You hear a very unpleasant chomping sound slightly behind your left ear, but there's no associated pain.
Umbrafer (9:30:49 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 4 5 4
Thematrian1 (9:31:01 PM): (Target running FTW!)
Umbrafer (9:32:10 PM): Adam controls his heaving stomach just in time to see two dog-things bearing down on him. He scrambles backwards over the body, breaking into an extremely awkward run.
Umbrafer (9:32:29 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 3 1 3 6 2 6 3 4 3 6 4 2 2 3
Umbrafer (9:32:37 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 3 5 1
Thematrian1 (9:32:42 PM): (I'd complain that he's unprofessional, but - yeah. He's not a professional)
Umbrafer (9:33:11 PM): Unfortunately he doesn't run far enough—the dog nearest him takes a leap and latches its jaws on his forearm.
Umbrafer (9:33:15 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 6 5 3
Umbrafer (9:33:20 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Umbrafer (9:33:24 PM): He does not, however, slow down.
Umbrafer (9:34:05 PM): Init again.
Umbrafer (9:34:17 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 6 5 6
Thematrian1 (9:34:18 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Thematrian1 (9:34:21 PM): 10
Thematrian1 (9:34:25 PM): no matter what, I continue to run
Umbrafer (9:34:43 PM): Roll 1d6
Umbrafer (9:34:46 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Thematrian1 (9:34:55 PM): aww
Thematrian1 (9:34:57 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 6 4 4 3 5 4
Thematrian1 (9:35:00 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Thematrian1 (9:35:03 PM): drat
Umbrafer (9:35:10 PM): Hm?
Thematrian1 (9:35:18 PM): missed the tiebreaker again
Umbrafer (9:35:19 PM): Ah
Thematrian1 (9:35:48 PM): (So, yeah, did the SR MMO thread degenerate rapidly into dickwaving or what?)
Umbrafer (9:36:06 PM): (At least it's comparatively peaceable dickwaving)
MilesMk1 (9:36:33 PM): (I haven't really paid attention.)
Umbrafer (9:36:36 PM): The one dog continues to chew on Adam's arm as he thrashes about. The other one tries to jump at him, but is denied an opening by the flailing possibly-canine already attached.
Umbrafer (9:36:49 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 5 3 2 6 4 3 4 1 4 3 4 5 1 1
Umbrafer (9:36:56 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Umbrafer (9:37:04 PM): Unarmed for Gem
Thematrian1 (9:37:22 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Thematrian1 (9:37:28 PM): too bad it's a default, huh?
MilesMk1 (9:38:24 PM): Hmm... So for 4 Karma, you can double your strength. ;)
Thematrian1 (9:38:50 PM): Yeah. Not sure I will, though; situations like this aren't exactly Gem's norm.
Thematrian1 (9:38:57 PM): Is that spirit doing anything of note?
Umbrafer (9:39:13 PM): It does appear to be flowing in your general direction.
Umbrafer (9:40:37 PM): Resist 5M, impact applies.
Thematrian1 (9:40:54 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 12 6-sided dice: 2 5 4 2 2 6 2 3 5 6 1 5
Thematrian1 (9:40:59 PM): (That's with combat pool)
Thematrian1 (9:41:02 PM): easily soaked
MilesMk1 (9:41:46 PM): True, but then again, you never know when you'll need to be able to carry two cans of soda at once, or something. :)
Umbrafer (9:41:52 PM): You soak. Combat pool is a lot more powerful when everyone is slow :)
Umbrafer (9:42:07 PM): Meanwhile, it's your action.
Thematrian1 (9:42:32 PM): Haul ass in Adam's general direction, staying out of melee range of his dogs.
Thematrian1 (9:42:37 PM): Behind me, to the spirit: "Faster!"
Umbrafer (9:42:53 PM): The street leads dead ahead, and is where Adam and the dogs are going. There are alleys every so often, and a cross-street about forty meters ahead.
Thematrian1 (9:43:01 PM): (Matt: I'll have you know that Gem can carry a whopping ten kilograms without complaint)
Thematrian1 (9:43:18 PM): (Luckily for her, sailing doesn't involve pulling ropes and turning steering wheels anymore)
Umbrafer (9:43:27 PM): Umbrafer rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 2 1 2 6 1
Umbrafer (9:43:30 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Umbrafer (9:43:34 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 4 2 3 4 6 3 4 1 2 1 3 3 1 4
Umbrafer (9:44:21 PM): Adam keeps running, and awkwardly manages to club the dog on his arm in the head.
Umbrafer (9:44:32 PM): The dog is dislodged, but lands on its feet running after him.
Umbrafer (9:45:04 PM): Meanwhile, in the ordinary world, Glitch and Hound are… where?
Thematrian1 (9:45:04 PM): Can I simultaneously run and summon?
Umbrafer (9:45:32 PM): I'm not actually certain.
CirclMastr (9:45:52 PM): (Conjuring is an Exclusing action I'm pretty sure)
CirclMastr (9:45:59 PM): (Er, Exclusive
CirclMastr (9:46:01 PM): )
Thematrian1 (9:46:09 PM): (Yes, it is. You can't do those while running?)
CirclMastr (9:46:17 PM): (I have no idea)
Umbrafer (9:46:39 PM): (You can't do those while performing any other magical action, including sustaining or projecting.)
Umbrafer (9:46:56 PM): (Running is just fine, unless it's become magical last I checked)
Umbrafer (9:47:02 PM): (Which seems sorta odd, but it's in.)
Thematrian1 (9:47:32 PM): Ok. While Glitch and Hound have adventures that don't involve ravenous undead dogs, Gem gasps out an invocation:
MilesMk1 (9:47:59 PM): I'm really not sure where Glitch was last.
MilesMk1 (9:48:10 PM): I remember buying people dinner.
MilesMk1 (9:48:25 PM): And then I think I (not Glitch) left early, and that was some time ago.
MilesMk1 (9:48:43 PM): The events between then and now are hazy.
Umbrafer (9:48:54 PM): *Nods* My guess is Glitch went home and went to sleep, though you can of course rule otherwise.
Thematrian1 (9:48:58 PM): "Spirits of the rainy streets! Of the light in dark places! Come to me!"
Thematrian1 (9:49:03 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 9 6-sided dice: 1 5 6 2 6 3 1 2 4
Thematrian1 (9:49:07 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 2 2 2 1 4 3 1
Thematrian1 (9:49:30 PM): ouch. M stun drain, but I have a F4 City spirit. Or whatever passes for one in nightmare-town here.
Umbrafer (9:50:36 PM): The air around you grows darker. It seems to absorb meaningful portions of the light for several meters around. You hear a whine from the dog behind you.
Thematrian1 (9:50:45 PM): Good
Umbrafer (9:52:41 PM): Roll Perception.
Thematrian1 (9:53:11 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 2 2 2 3 1
Thematrian1 (9:53:16 PM): that's a 1 after mods
Thematrian1 (9:53:19 PM): no
Thematrian1 (9:53:20 PM): -1
Thematrian1 (9:53:56 PM): (I don't think I used up more than my share of luck today)
Thematrian1 (9:54:18 PM): (Did I step on a kitten without noticing?)
Thematrian1 (9:54:21 PM): (Kittens are small)
Umbrafer (9:54:28 PM): (Maybe you used it up and no one emailed you about it ;) )
Umbrafer (9:55:04 PM): Well, the thing that is plainly obvious is that being inside this darkness is very unpleasant.
Umbrafer (9:55:31 PM): It feels thick, restricting, and oppressive.
Thematrian1 (9:55:45 PM): good. As long as it's on my side, I'm all for it.
Thematrian1 (9:56:05 PM): If it approaches me, I start chanting "There's no place like home." and clicking my heels together as I run.
Umbrafer (9:56:49 PM): It appeared around you.
Thematrian1 (9:57:14 PM): oh. Ok, no chanting yet.
Umbrafer (9:58:11 PM): Actions?
Thematrian1 (9:58:37 PM): Summoning that guy. Or did you mean the two who aren't dreaming of being devoured?
Umbrafer (9:59:14 PM): Well, them too, but you've got another action coming.
Umbrafer (9:59:36 PM): The perception test was for you to see what everyone else's actions were now that there's a lot of hazy darkness in the way :)
Thematrian1 (9:59:42 PM): oh
Thematrian1 (9:59:51 PM): Pointing behind me, I say "Kill it!"
Umbrafer (10:01:02 PM): A head-sized darker spot appears in front of you. It passes slightly over your shoulder and behind you.
Thematrian1 (10:01:18 PM): (It takes my orders, thus it's on the right team and I am satisfied)
Umbrafer (10:01:47 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 5 2 2 3 1 5 2 3 5 2 5 3 5 2
Umbrafer (10:01:52 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 5 6 3 5 2 3 4 6 6 5 5 5 2 1
Umbrafer (10:01:55 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 4 2 5
Umbrafer (10:02:14 PM): You hear a howl that turns into a scream that turns into a very unpleasant wet crunching sound.
Umbrafer (10:02:26 PM): Action?
Thematrian1 (10:02:37 PM): can I see the dogs chasing Adam? Or Adam, for that matter?
Thematrian1 (10:02:46 PM): either way, I run some more
Umbrafer (10:02:50 PM): No. The haze obscures your vision.
Umbrafer (10:03:06 PM): A head-sized darker spot appears in front of you.
Umbrafer (10:03:20 PM): Roughly chest-height. Actions?
Thematrian1 (10:04:34 PM): I run around it, and not through it. I let that ride for two more actions or until the next wet crunching sound.
Umbrafer (10:04:54 PM): It tracks you horizontally, and moves closer.
Umbrafer (10:05:27 PM): Action?
Thematrian1 (10:05:36 PM): "Kill another of those dogs!"
Umbrafer (10:06:15 PM): The spot moves closer. It's now about six inches in front of you. Action?
Thematrian1 (10:06:41 PM): Same command.
Umbrafer (10:07:28 PM): The spot touches you.
Umbrafer (10:07:30 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 6 6 6 5 6 3 3 3 2 5 4 4 6 1 4
Umbrafer (10:07:34 PM): Umbrafer rolled 5 6-sided dice: 4 4 3 2 5
MilesMk1 (10:08:19 PM): (This isn't me complaining, or anything, but I have a feeling that by the time things come around to Glitch, I'll be ready to pass out... so I think I'll see you guys next week?)
Umbrafer (10:08:34 PM): (We're almost done here and ready for group time)
Umbrafer (10:08:37 PM): Resist… 7S Stun +3 successes with Willpower.
MilesMk1 (10:08:45 PM): (Ah, ok.)
Thematrian1 (10:08:50 PM): yeah, this is it, right here
Thematrian1 (10:09:04 PM): astral pool, combat pool?
Umbrafer (10:09:15 PM): CP.
Thematrian1 (10:09:18 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 12 6-sided dice: 5 6 3 2 3 3 2 1 6 5 3 2
Thematrian1 (10:09:31 PM): oh. Another M. Sorry Matt.
Umbrafer (10:09:36 PM): Hm?
Umbrafer (10:09:39 PM): I see S
MilesMk1 (10:09:50 PM): +3 Successes...
MilesMk1 (10:09:52 PM): ?
Thematrian1 (10:09:54 PM): oh. Right.
Thematrian1 (10:09:59 PM): 9 boxes
Thematrian1 (10:10:49 PM): I try to dismiss it on my action. No luck?
Umbrafer (10:10:52 PM): Your vision swims. Your veins feel like they're being torn apart from the inside.
Thematrian1 (10:11:14 PM): Is it a pleasant experience?
Umbrafer (10:11:17 PM): No luck. You can commute that to a Banish action at no cost as desired.
Umbrafer (10:11:27 PM): Depends on what you go for :)
Thematrian1 (10:11:58 PM): a banish at a mere +5 TN, with four dice. No, I just whimper.
Umbrafer (10:13:00 PM): Another dark spot begins moving towards you. Any particular plan of action?
Thematrian1 (10:13:15 PM): The whimpering has worked out so far, I'll stick with that.
Umbrafer (10:14:12 PM): The spot reaches you.
Umbrafer (10:14:16 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 5 5 1 1 2 4 4 3 5 6 1 3 4 6
Umbrafer (10:14:19 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 5 6
Umbrafer (10:14:22 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Umbrafer (10:14:27 PM): Roll Willpower out of formality.
Thematrian1 (10:14:29 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 12 6-sided dice: 1 1 3 1 6 5 2 4 1 4 1 1
Umbrafer (10:14:42 PM): Blackness.
Umbrafer (10:14:56 PM): You have a splitting headache. It's dark.
Thematrian1 (10:15:06 PM): "This had better be my apartment..."
Thematrian1 (10:15:10 PM): I grope for my phone.
Umbrafer (10:15:40 PM): You slap your hand down on the phone. It makes an almost intolerable amount of noise.
Thematrian1 (10:16:06 PM): I pick it up. Do I remember Glitch's number?
Umbrafer (10:16:25 PM): Do you have it programmed into the phone, or do you memorize it?
Thematrian1 (10:16:30 PM): that second one
Umbrafer (10:16:35 PM): Willpower.
Thematrian1 (10:16:38 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 4 6 6 5 3
Thematrian1 (10:16:40 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 2
Thematrian1 (10:16:46 PM): yeah, now the boss rolls come out
Umbrafer (10:17:10 PM): After what seems like an eternity, the numbers stop stabbing you in the eyes and instead form themselves into a number.
Umbrafer (10:17:15 PM): Er
Umbrafer (10:17:17 PM): Phone number.
Thematrian1 (10:17:37 PM): I dial it.
MilesMk1 (10:18:09 PM): *sleepy* "Yeah..."
Umbrafer (10:18:10 PM): The ringing noise causes showers of colour to appear in front of your eyes.
Thematrian1 (10:18:22 PM): "Uhargh"
Umbrafer (10:18:25 PM): If Glitch decides to look at the clock, it's about 4:30.
Umbrafer (10:18:29 PM): AM, natch.
Thematrian1 (10:18:59 PM): "Did you just have a weird dream?"
MilesMk1 (10:19:12 PM): "Who... Oh..."
MilesMk1 (10:19:15 PM): (did I?)
Umbrafer (10:19:41 PM): Yeah… it involved your fourth-grade teacher chasing you with a vat of clotted cream…
CirclMastr (10:19:51 PM): (Pervert)
MilesMk1 (10:21:47 PM): "Sort of. Something about 4th grade... why?"
MilesMk1 (10:22:09 PM): "...you don't sound too good. Hope it wasn't the sushi."
Thematrian1 (10:22:25 PM): "I found some dogs eating a guy. I started out in my apartment, but there was blood and rust everywhere, and the spirits were wrong..."
CirclMastr (10:22:43 PM): (Nobody calls Hound. :( And he's even awake, probably.)
Thematrian1 (10:22:47 PM): "They chased me, and I called out to the city, but the thing I got grabbed me. Then I woke up."
Thematrian1 (10:22:58 PM): (Our relationship is a bit new for calls like this one.)
MilesMk1 (10:23:02 PM): (Hey, she's only met you... It'd be rude to wake you in the middle of the night.)
Thematrian1 (10:23:02 PM): "Just me, then?"
Umbrafer (10:23:17 PM): He's probably on the road at this point
CirclMastr (10:23:27 PM): (I am?)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:23:54 PM): Yeah. This is early Sunday morning, timelines are still mixed up.
CirclMastr (10:24:03 PM): (....Oh)
CirclMastr (10:24:24 PM): (Okay, so Hound's not showing up this session.)
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

Umbrafer (10:24:52 PM): (I can't say for sure, but I suspect Gem will be sleeping through most of Sunday)
Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (10:25:53 PM): "Well, there was a vat of cream, and I'm slightly lactose intolerant, but... No, it definitely wasn't one of those dreams."
MilesMk1 (10:26:08 PM): "Are you ok?"
Thematrian1 (10:26:50 PM): "No. I feel like hell. I found out a bunch of drek about Ehran, but it's going to have to wait. Sorry to wake you."
MilesMk1 (10:28:11 PM): "Are you going to be ok? Do you need to see a doctor, or something?"
Thematrian1 (10:28:34 PM): "I need to sleep for about a day. The dream...crossed over somehow."
MilesMk1 (10:30:17 PM): *dubious* "Are you in shape to tell whether you're not... I dunno, bleeding internally, or something?"
MilesMk1 (10:30:39 PM): "Maybe I ought to stop by."
Thematrian1 (10:30:49 PM): "Bleeding internally wouldn't hurt this much."
MilesMk1 (10:31:17 PM): "Well, I can't make you do anything..."
Thematrian1 (10:31:43 PM): "Go back to sleep, I just had to find out whether it was both of us..."
Thematrian1 (10:31:52 PM): "I don't think it's a clown thing."
MilesMk1 (10:31:53 PM): "...all right."
Thematrian1 (10:32:06 PM): "Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
MilesMk1 (10:32:11 PM): "Call me when you're up again. Sure."
Thematrian1 (10:32:28 PM): "Good night." And Gem's out of it for the foreseeable future.
Umbrafer (10:32:46 PM): Any actions from Glitch on Sunday?
MilesMk1 (10:33:41 PM): Well... What happened in my absence that Glitch would know about?
MilesMk1 (10:33:59 PM): Was Hound up to anything run-related, or just doing his own thing?
Umbrafer (10:34:18 PM): He was doing his own thing, Gem was doing her dream-thing
MilesMk1 (10:34:32 PM): I'd assume (unless I have reasons to think otherwise) that I'd let Gem crash, and see whether Hound was up to doing some recon.
Umbrafer (10:34:39 PM): In-character, the phone call is only about an hour and a half since you parted ways.
Thematrian1 (10:34:47 PM): (Also, I'm still curious about that weird oblong from long ago)
Umbrafer (10:35:02 PM): You call Hound, but get answering machine. He did say something about having something to do today, you can't remember what.
MilesMk1 (10:35:11 PM): Give him a call in the afternoon, see whether we can't take some of his drones out for a spin, get a good look at the target building.
MilesMk1 (10:35:29 PM): I leave a message for him to call me back.
MilesMk1 (10:36:05 PM): Then, I spend some more time in a futile attempt to figure out what that strange black object I have is.
MilesMk1 (10:36:15 PM): Or, you know what...
MilesMk1 (10:36:33 PM): Hmm, no, no good, my fixer is out of town.
MilesMk1 (10:36:58 PM): But someone else might know... Do I know someone similar to the "Finn" from Count Zero / etc.?
MilesMk1 (10:37:22 PM): Or do any of my friends know someone like that? I finally want to figure out what that damn thing is.
MilesMk1 (10:37:42 PM): Or even, just someone I could rent some time in a real electronics workshop from. Discreetly.
MilesMk1 (10:37:56 PM): Man, that just all spilled out.
Umbrafer (10:38:23 PM): Hm. You could probably find someone, with some digging. It'll take time, though. Etiquette test if you're trying.
Umbrafer (10:38:45 PM): Still answering machine. Gem drifts between sleep and consciousness, with the consciousness being largely painful. After the consumption of every vaguely sugar-containing liquid in her apartment, the headache finally starts to
MilesMk1 (10:38:50 PM): Sure. Though discretion is the primary concern.
Umbrafer (10:38:56 PM): subside in the late afternoon.
MilesMk1 (10:39:03 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 5 5 4 2 5 1 2
MilesMk1 (10:39:06 PM): Bah.
Umbrafer (10:39:12 PM): It's now merely intolerable as opposde to totally incapacitating.
MilesMk1 (10:39:14 PM): Quantity over quality?
Umbrafer (10:39:40 PM): You've got some promises to get back to you, but everyone says it'll take at least half a week.
Thematrian1 (10:39:43 PM): Oh good. I contemplate the merits of sending the rigger for take-out.
Umbrafer (10:40:31 PM): You're still very tired, but simple thought is no longer an exercise of will.
Thematrian1 (10:40:43 PM): I sleep instead.
MilesMk1 (10:41:07 PM): Mhmm... Ok, in that case, I make my own attempt to crack its secrets... My bi-weekly electronics roll to fail horribly at figuring it out?
Umbrafer (10:41:26 PM): Go for it.
MilesMk1 (10:41:35 PM): (See, we called you, and Hound didn't answer.)
MilesMk1 (10:41:40 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 4 3 3 2 1 5 1 1
MilesMk1 (10:41:44 PM): ...yeah.
MilesMk1 (10:41:59 PM): 16 dice without a single 6.
Umbrafer (10:42:15 PM): Nothing new. Worse yet, one of the sequences you thought you'd identified now seems random again.
MilesMk1 (10:43:36 PM): I sit down, and watch TV in a desultory fashion for about an hour, then start looking up info on legal ways of getting out of the city for a bit that'd not result in me getting arrested for possesion of illegal cyber.
Umbrafer (10:44:44 PM): Bus, rail, ferry, private plane, forged permits, bribes to the security guys. Those are the general categories, more specifics takes a roll.
Umbrafer (10:45:40 PM): Ok, I guess the latter two aren't "legal"
Umbrafer (10:45:45 PM): But the first four are.
MilesMk1 (10:47:38 PM): So, bus/rail has no inconvenient scanners?
Umbrafer (10:47:43 PM): There's also car, but getting back into Seattle by car without being searched can be tricky.
Umbrafer (10:47:52 PM): Rail has more than bus, but neither are particularly stringent. Too high-volume.
MilesMk1 (10:48:04 PM): Ah.
MilesMk1 (10:48:31 PM): Well, I look up some info for a trip by rail to some quiet place on the coast where I could relax for a few days.
MilesMk1 (10:48:44 PM): scratch that first "some"
MilesMk1 (10:49:06 PM): Like, say, next week. (or whenever it was that I was warned to leave town)
Umbrafer (10:49:21 PM): Next week it was.
MilesMk1 (10:49:37 PM): How many days from now, as of today?
Umbrafer (10:50:09 PM): You weren't given a specific figure. The timeframe starts next Saturday, but was phrased inexactly.
MilesMk1 (10:53:08 PM): All right. I look up several possible departure times, then... And spend the remainder of the day relaxing.
Umbrafer (10:53:10 PM): There are some nice-looking places available.
Umbrafer (10:53:16 PM): Bellingham, Vancouver
Umbrafer (10:53:19 PM): Portland, but it's higher-security.
MilesMk1 (10:53:29 PM): Something low-security, definitely.
Umbrafer (10:53:32 PM): The day ends quietly and peacefully for Glitch.
MilesMk1 (10:53:37 PM): Good...
MilesMk1 (10:53:51 PM): (and now, I'm sorry, but I'll do my usual lame disappearing act)
Umbrafer (10:54:02 PM): Gem wakes up at 4:30. To call her refreshed might be stretching, but she's rested.
MilesMk1 (10:54:27 PM): (I'll be of more use beginning late next week, I hope)
Umbrafer (10:54:33 PM): (*Nods* Sleep well.)
Thematrian1 (10:54:40 PM): (It's ok. If you go to grad school you'll have all the time in the world ;-))
MilesMk1 (10:55:03 PM): (See you guys next week.... Hah... Actually, I'm thinking of going for a comp sci degree...)
Umbrafer (10:55:15 PM): (Join us :D )
CirclMastr (10:55:46 PM): (Am I the only non-comp-sci major here?)
MilesMk1 (10:55:56 PM): (Not sure if I precisely have a passion for it, but tinkering with software (most espcially games) is one of the few occupations I can think of that genuinely appeal to me)
MilesMk1 (10:56:11 PM): (not that there's really money in games, but...)
MilesMk1 (10:56:23 PM): (I'm definitely not one yet)
MilesMk1 (10:56:30 PM): (Anyway, good night.)
Thematrian1 (10:56:32 PM): (Depends what you mean. I'm under strict orders not to accept offers of less than 70k/year starting)
Thematrian1 (10:56:39 PM): (And I only have a bachelor's)
MilesMk1 (10:57:06 PM): (True... Not every game job means working for EA. *shudder*)
Thematrian1 (10:57:20 PM): (Yeah, you want to stay away from that)
Umbrafer (10:57:23 PM): (Heh. Depends on whether you learn CS or programming.)
Thematrian1 (10:57:44 PM): (There's a fair degree of overlap)
MilesMk1 (10:57:54 PM): (I have enough programmer friends to understand the difference... Hmm, or maybe not.)
Thematrian1 (10:58:22 PM): (Especially now that VB9 is apparently going to do type inference and have real closures)
Thematrian1 (10:58:27 PM): (I'm confused too, believe me)
Umbrafer (10:58:32 PM): (…)
Umbrafer (10:58:36 PM): (I'll believe it when I see it.)
Thematrian1 (10:58:54 PM): (Sure. I have the paper right here, though, and the author isn't speculating)
MilesMk1 (10:59:00 PM): (I thought you were talking about the difference between getting the degree and actually learning to do something practical with it, but, VB9?)
Umbrafer (10:59:01 PM): (No, I'm lying. I'll… I'll start trying to accept it when I see it.)
Umbrafer (10:59:14 PM): (I may not be able to believe it even when it comes to pass.)
Umbrafer (10:59:30 PM): (Actually, quite the opposite. I was speaking of the difference between a science and a trade)
Thematrian1 (10:59:56 PM): (That is the difference, sort of. The stuff I just described is what you often see in research languages like Haskell, while Visual Basic is the ultimate in, um, research-free development)
MilesMk1 (11:00:16 PM): (Oh. Well, I sort of had enough of research and anything resembling pure science...)
Thematrian1 (11:00:24 PM): (For an entire generation of programmers, "Basic" has been synonymous with brain damage)
MilesMk1 (11:01:09 PM): (So, uh, which one are you? :P)
CirclMastr (11:01:34 PM): (Did the game end and no one told me?)
Thematrian1 (11:02:11 PM): (I wanted to do research, but the state of programming language design depressed me too much. Now I'm (about to me) in industry. I don't think there's actually such a big difference)
MilesMk1 (11:02:34 PM): (Ah.)
MilesMk1 (11:02:47 PM): (Ok, good night, this time for real, before Dave has a stroke. ;))
MilesMk1 (11:03:09 PM): (Let Hound get to his date with the J, or whatever it is he's got planned.:P)
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

CirclMastr (11:05:27 PM): (OH yeah, forgot to mention)
CirclMastr (11:05:38 PM): (You all officially have to refer to me as The Rev)
Thematrian1 is not online, and therefore cannot chat.

MilesMk1 (11:05:53 PM): Forgot to log off...
MilesMk1 (11:05:57 PM): Rev?
CirclMastr (11:06:04 PM): THE Rev
MilesMk1 (11:06:10 PM): You took holy orders?
CirclMastr (11:06:11 PM): As in Reverend
CirclMastr (11:06:24 PM): Well, I'm an ordained minister thanks to a free online church thing.
Thematrian1 is offline and not available.

CirclMastr (11:06:35 PM): So technically, it's as holy as clicking "Submit"
MilesMk1 (11:06:38 PM): Hmm.
MilesMk1 (11:06:56 PM): Well, that'll give me nightmares... See ya. ;)
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (11:09:09 PM): So what is Hound up to on the wee hours of Monday morning, oh the Rev?
CirclMastr (11:09:41 PM): *drops his guest back home and calls Gem*
Umbrafer (11:11:14 PM): She will presumably answer once her connection issues are sorted…
CirclMastr (11:11:35 PM): Indeed.
CirclMastr (11:18:40 PM): Rather lengthy absence.
Umbrafer (11:20:01 PM): Indeed. Worrylingly so.
Umbrafer (11:20:02 PM): Er
Umbrafer (11:20:05 PM): Worrylingly
CirclMastr (11:20:10 PM): Heh
CirclMastr (11:24:08 PM): Call him?
Umbrafer (11:25:26 PM): He hates phones. While he does actually own a cellphone, it's off unless he has a specific reason to turn it on.
Umbrafer (11:25:45 PM): Where specific reason means "calling medical, fire, or police services", roughly.
CirclMastr (11:32:53 PM): So...
CirclMastr (11:33:13 PM): Do we have a freeciv strat?
Umbrafer (11:33:26 PM): "Flood the opposition"
Umbrafer (11:33:37 PM): At least that's my strategy.
CirclMastr (11:33:44 PM): So, I'm basically here to research and hand over techs? heh
Umbrafer (11:33:59 PM): Heh, roughly ;) either that or to build stuff that can actually poke holes in cities.
CirclMastr (11:34:30 PM): What city of yours should I do a trade route with?
Umbrafer (11:34:39 PM): What city are you coming from?
CirclMastr (11:34:48 PM): Kyoto
Umbrafer (11:35:06 PM): Moskva.
CirclMastr (11:35:47 PM): Somehow that taught me Combustion
Umbrafer (11:36:04 PM): You get some bulbs from the trade route.
CirclMastr (11:36:14 PM): 160 apparently
CirclMastr (11:36:22 PM): Hah, I can build subs now.
CirclMastr (11:36:24 PM): Should I?
Umbrafer (11:36:52 PM): Depends. If we were going to war against the Inca I'd say go for it, but I don't see our immediate enemies as being real sea powers.
CirclMastr (11:36:59 PM): Okay
Umbrafer (11:37:02 PM): What're you researching next?
CirclMastr (11:37:08 PM): Theory of Gravity, then Flight.
Umbrafer (11:37:15 PM): *Nods*
CirclMastr (11:38:35 PM): You got a shitload of fanatics there, man.
Umbrafer (11:38:47 PM): Yes, yes I do.
CirclMastr (11:39:15 PM): Can I hire you to capture Pragersko for me?
Umbrafer (11:39:39 PM): Hm. I'll see what I can do.
Umbrafer (11:42:03 PM): Aw shit.
Umbrafer (11:42:09 PM): The Inca have Mobile Warfare already.
CirclMastr (11:42:12 PM): ...
CirclMastr (11:42:16 PM): We're dead, aren't we?
Umbrafer (11:42:19 PM): Yes.
CirclMastr (11:42:23 PM): :(
CirclMastr (11:54:30 PM): I don't think he's going to come back.
Umbrafer (11:54:54 PM): Nor I, at this point.
Umbrafer (11:54:56 PM): Ah well.
CirclMastr (11:55:07 PM): Kyoto is up to 46 trade, solo
Umbrafer (11:55:26 PM): Heh
CirclMastr (11:55:34 PM): Er
CirclMastr (11:55:37 PM): 46 science
Umbrafer (11:55:41 PM): Oh
Umbrafer (11:55:45 PM): Whew
Umbrafer (11:56:05 PM): Moskva is at… 22?
CirclMastr (11:56:15 PM): Trade?
Umbrafer (11:56:21 PM): Science.
CirclMastr (11:56:22 PM): Kyoto is 29 trade
Umbrafer (11:56:30 PM): 26 Trade here.
CirclMastr (11:57:32 PM): Any upgrades Kyoto should have to help this trade out?
Umbrafer (11:58:30 PM): Trade routes just go off of raw trade
Umbrafer (11:58:38 PM): So building trade routes to other cities will help ;)
Umbrafer (11:58:50 PM): I've got some caravans in the pipeline myself
Umbrafer (11:58:51 PM): Well
Umbrafer (11:58:52 PM): Freight
CirclMastr has left the chat room.

Chat room exited at 5/5/2006 1:47:57 AM.