New chat room entered at 3/22/2007 9:16:29 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw03222007.”
circlmastr has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (9:17:05 PM): Sorry about that.
Umbrafer (9:17:40 PM): Unfortunately, it'll be a few minutes yet until we start. I'm still wrapping something up that went long myself. In the meantime, you may discuss, if you wish, whether or not this is going to turn into a Hitchcock film.
circlmastr (9:18:31 PM): I wish I'd had the foresight to have a gun on the van. Or at least the space for one.
MilesMk1 (9:18:39 PM): ... I'm afraid I missed the reference, there. And I will also be another few minutes, I need to get a really quick shower. Spending several hours dressed in impermeable lab clothes makes me understand how Glitch must feel.
Thematrian1 (9:19:04 PM): heh. He means 'The Birds'
Thematrian1 (9:19:11 PM): in reference to the ones now bearing down on me/us
Umbrafer (9:19:14 PM): Heh. No problem, go for it. And we'll fill you in on the reference when you get back, I think you were gone for that part of the session.
MilesMk1 (9:19:33 PM): ...are there hawks again? What'd you guys do at the end of last session?
circlmastr (9:19:40 PM): I don't remember.
Thematrian1 (9:20:12 PM): We didn't do anything, they just showed up
circlmastr (9:20:19 PM): I only remember what happened Monday because Todd actually participated for the first time in months. Hound, still is idle. I just remember the incident of the stick'd meat.
Umbrafer (9:20:48 PM): They were giant crows.
MilesMk1 (9:28:49 PM): Ah. Good, let's kill and eat some people's souls.
Thematrian1 (9:29:06 PM): ...do you know how?
Umbrafer (9:29:21 PM): I'll let Seiler fill you in on what happened at the end of last session, and then we should be ready to go.
circlmastr (9:29:26 PM): I recommend butter and garlic.
MilesMk1 (9:29:26 PM): ... ah, you know, a crow joke?
MilesMk1 (9:30:08 PM): Like in the movie, where a crow brings someone's soul back from the dead?
Thematrian1 (9:30:15 PM): Never saw it, I guess
circlmastr (9:30:16 PM): Like I said, I recommend garlic and butter with your typical soul. Some might need marinating.
Thematrian1 (9:30:29 PM): oh. I had a spirit fly me around under the bridge, to get a clear look at some skittish spider-things
Thematrian1 (9:30:44 PM): they ran away, I scouted a bit more, then started back to the van for a nap
Thematrian1 (9:30:56 PM): then dozens of giant crows showed up
circlmastr (9:31:01 PM): Can Gem make wards?
Thematrian1 (9:31:47 PM): I believe so. But she'll need to make it to the van first.
circlmastr (9:32:05 PM): I doubt spiders with tool lasers could fend them off.
MilesMk1 (9:32:15 PM): I see someone is making sure he gets as much use as possible out of his "Paranormal Animals of..." book, because there might not be another chance for a long time. :)
circlmastr (9:32:24 PM): Though one could make an expensive explosive baseball, at need.
MilesMk1 (9:34:49 PM): (BTW, I had a chance to play the game "Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl" yesterday, for a bit, and parts of it made me think of Bug City or the Barrens.)
Thematrian1 (9:35:08 PM): (Oh, is it good?)
MilesMk1 (9:35:55 PM): (It's not bad. A trifle shallow, so far - they missed out on a chance to make it more like Deus Ex or System Shock - but still a lot more non-linear and involving than most FPS games.)
circlmastr (9:36:29 PM): (Sounds fun.)
MilesMk1 (9:37:45 PM): (And the realistic translation of the Chernobyl containment zone really makes it creepy. The mutated denizens are kind of an afterthought... In fact, they almost detract from it. They just seem so... cliche, in comparison to the
MilesMk1 (9:37:53 PM): devastation of the real thing.)
Thematrian1 (9:38:19 PM): (brrr. I hadn't heard that bit)
circlmastr (9:38:41 PM): (Those crazy ruskies)
MilesMk1 (9:38:48 PM): (Oh, yeah. They based the game on thousands of photographs of the real zone.)
MilesMk1 (9:38:52 PM): (Ukrainians.)
MilesMk1 (9:39:48 PM): (Heh... I can't believe I'm saying this, but you guys are probably too young to remember the real thing - or are you?)
circlmastr (9:39:56 PM): (Whatever. You ruin my stereotypes!)
Thematrian1 (9:40:09 PM): (I am)
circlmastr (9:40:16 PM): (I am fairly sure I am.)
MilesMk1 (9:42:42 PM): (They made all of us kids take something vile that was supposed to stop our thyroids from taking up radioactive ioadine.)
circlmastr (9:42:57 PM): (Ahahaha)
Thematrian1 (9:42:59 PM): (Yeah, I postdate that. Thankfully)
MilesMk1 (9:43:35 PM): (You weren't around in '86? I think they just didn't do that in the US.)
circlmastr (9:44:00 PM): (I was 3 years old at the time.)
Thematrian1 (9:44:15 PM): (Well, I was 2 then, I probably wouldn't have had to take it in any case. And, as you say, it's less of a threat in the US)
MilesMk1 (9:46:25 PM): (I think we only got like one or two lousy days off from school, in the end. I remember being disappointed.)
circlmastr (9:49:15 PM): I may be forced to abdicate before the game actually gets going, at this rate.
Thematrian1 (9:50:25 PM): resign your position of authority?
circlmastr (9:50:48 PM): Well, my position of being online.
MilesMk1 (9:51:21 PM): It does seem like we're encountering delays all around...
Thematrian1 (9:51:44 PM): come to that, I should sleep before too much longer
Umbrafer (9:51:50 PM): Ok.
Umbrafer (9:52:04 PM): Sorry about that, let's get what fraction of a session we can in.
Umbrafer (9:52:07 PM): Sorry about that, everyone.
Umbrafer (9:52:14 PM): I just said that.
Umbrafer (9:52:15 PM): Hm.
Umbrafer (9:52:23 PM): Anyway, you can tell what my week's been like :)
Thematrian1 (9:52:34 PM): I flee.
Thematrian1 (9:52:37 PM): in character
Umbrafer (9:53:03 PM): Running to the van?
Umbrafer (9:53:05 PM): Or somewhere else?
Thematrian1 (9:53:18 PM): definitely the van
Umbrafer (9:53:23 PM): Meanwhile, what is Glitch doing in his explorations?
Umbrafer (9:53:34 PM): Are you rolling Athletics to run faster? What's your running speed?
Thematrian1 (9:54:22 PM): Running in this context means 'ordering my spirit to send me down to the van'
MilesMk1 (9:54:23 PM): Uh... I dunno, where was I in relation to the van? And did I see the crows?
Umbrafer (9:54:31 PM): Ahah
Umbrafer (9:54:45 PM): Ok, then, your spirit is flying you off to the van. It isn't gentle, but then you didn't specify.
Umbrafer (9:54:53 PM): Glitch was exploring the far side of the ravine.
Umbrafer (9:55:02 PM): And no, you have not seen the crows yet.
MilesMk1 (9:55:06 PM): ... last thing I remember doing was walking down the bridge to... right.
MilesMk1 (9:55:52 PM): My idea was to examine the far side - 10 or 20 meters past the far end of the bridge - then think about checking out the underside.
Umbrafer (9:56:31 PM): Ok, then you'd probably have been coming back. Perception.
Umbrafer (9:56:43 PM): (And yes, I do love my copy of PaoNA. I just wish they'd put up PaoE)
MilesMk1 (9:56:46 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 5 4 2 4 6
MilesMk1 (9:56:51 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (9:56:55 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (9:57:14 PM): Yeah, there's definitely a gigantic murder of crows headed your way.
MilesMk1 (9:57:28 PM): #Uh, guys?#
Umbrafer (9:57:29 PM): Where gigantic applies both to the crows and to the murder. Their wingspan's gotta be at least a meter and a half.
circlmastr (9:57:39 PM): #Yeah?#
Umbrafer (9:57:43 PM): You also see Gem booking it back to the van. She's apparently learned to fly.
MilesMk1 (9:58:10 PM): #Why are there giant crows?#
MilesMk1 (9:58:23 PM): *takes off for the van at a run*
circlmastr (9:58:32 PM): #Hell if I know.#
MilesMk1 (9:58:46 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 5 2 3 2 4 4 2
Thematrian1 (9:58:50 PM): #I'm not sure. They might be mad that I was flying around in their domain.#
circlmastr (9:58:53 PM): Hound ponders locking the doors just to get revenge for the meat-on-a-stick incident, but passes.
MilesMk1 (9:59:00 PM): That was Athletics, BTW.
MilesMk1 (9:59:06 PM): Let me know how many times I need to roll.
Umbrafer (9:59:14 PM): Mmk. So you're moving pretty quickly.
Umbrafer (9:59:16 PM): Hm.
MilesMk1 (9:59:23 PM): That gets me to 18 MPT, I believe.
Umbrafer (9:59:46 PM): I'll put it this way: if you're happy with that result I'll let it stand until something important happens. If you want a chance to do better you get chances to do worse as well.
MilesMk1 (10:00:13 PM): I'd like to try harder.
MilesMk1 (10:00:43 PM): 18MPT is only 13.something miles per hour.
Umbrafer (10:00:49 PM): Ok. You cover about 18 meters. The birds close. Gem's about 3 rounds from the vehicle. No need for init, as the only thing important happening is movement.
Umbrafer (10:01:07 PM): (It's also a Quickness 6 human's running speed, FWIW)
MilesMk1 (10:01:14 PM): (Right.)
MilesMk1 (10:01:38 PM): (Someone needs to write an edge that lets dwarves run faster.)
Umbrafer (10:01:40 PM): Next turn. Gem floats closer.
circlmastr (10:01:52 PM): (It's called being human.)
Umbrafer (10:02:01 PM): (Does "metavariant" count as an edge?)
Umbrafer (10:02:09 PM): (IIRC there's at least one with no running mod)
MilesMk1 (10:02:10 PM): (No.)
MilesMk1 (10:02:38 PM): (Humans are an overpowered race that only munchkins play. ;))
circlmastr (10:02:45 PM): (Heh)
Umbrafer (10:02:59 PM): (Then you want Elves)
Umbrafer (10:03:26 PM): Are you making another try at "running fast"? Is Hound doing anything?
circlmastr (10:03:43 PM): Hound jacks into the van.
Umbrafer (10:04:08 PM): You are surrounded in the familiar sensation of the van's sensor array.
MilesMk1 (10:04:15 PM): Yes, please.
MilesMk1 (10:04:18 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 3 6 4 3 1 1 1
MilesMk1 (10:04:38 PM): Damn. I stumble, or something. 16 mpt this turn.
Umbrafer (10:05:00 PM): Not stumbling, you just need to cross some parts of the bridge and make a sharp turn.
Umbrafer (10:05:09 PM): The birds, meanwhile, grow closer still.
circlmastr (10:05:10 PM): (And I am dragged off now.)
circlmastr has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 (10:06:46 PM): #This is what I get for going places I can't bring my grenade launcher!#
Umbrafer (10:07:15 PM): (Man, an airburst antipersonnel grenade in a flock of crows? That's too messy to contemplate.)
MilesMk1 (10:07:33 PM): (Isn't grenade link great?)
Thematrian1 (10:08:00 PM): #Technically, it's what I get.#
Umbrafer (10:08:12 PM): Another turn passes. Gem will reach the van at the end of this turn.
MilesMk1 (10:08:18 PM): #You're a lot closer to the van.#
MilesMk1 (10:08:29 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 6 2 1 2 1 4 6
Umbrafer (10:08:35 PM): (Gem was able to shortcut over parts of the ravine)
MilesMk1 (10:08:38 PM): 18 mpt again.
Umbrafer (10:08:43 PM): Ok. Perception.
Thematrian1 (10:08:50 PM): #Open the doors, I'm coming in!#
MilesMk1 (10:08:53 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 2 1 3 1 6
MilesMk1 (10:08:57 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (10:08:59 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (10:09:02 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (10:09:08 PM): 20,5
Umbrafer (10:09:08 PM): Presumably Hound opens the doors.
Umbrafer (10:09:30 PM): There's a flicker of motion out of the corner of Glitch's eye. When he turns to look, he sees a few crows diving into the trees.
Umbrafer (10:09:35 PM): The sky is otherwise clear.
MilesMk1 (10:10:22 PM): *slows down to a jog after a couple of seconds, but still heads for the van*
MilesMk1 (10:10:45 PM): #I suppose I should be grateful we'
MilesMk1 (10:11:00 PM): re just being fucked with instead of attacked by giant birds.#
Umbrafer (10:12:15 PM): Glitch makes it about halfway back to the van. There's a sound of raucous cawing coming from deeper into the trees.
MilesMk1 (10:12:40 PM): #Is there some organization devoted to paving over the NANs? Aside from all those racist fucks, I mean. Something purely anti-wildlife and the great outdoo... Aw, shit.# *speeds up again*
Umbrafer (10:13:07 PM): Straight run? Run+Athletics?
MilesMk1 (10:13:10 PM): #'Cause if there is, they're totally getting a check from me.#
MilesMk1 (10:13:14 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 7 6-sided dice: 3 1 6 6 3 6 3
MilesMk1 (10:13:18 PM): 18 mpt again
MilesMk1 (10:13:35 PM): And I'll stick with it.
Umbrafer (10:13:43 PM): You dash the last twenty-five meters or so to the van.
Umbrafer (10:13:47 PM): The cawing stays in place.
MilesMk1 (10:16:24 PM): ... we were humiliated by a bunch of birds. A very large bunch of oversized birds, but still.
Thematrian1 (10:16:31 PM): fine with me
Umbrafer (10:16:41 PM): At least it wasn't two smallish birds this time ;)
Thematrian1 (10:16:46 PM): feh
MilesMk1 (10:17:00 PM): Meh. I didn't actually get injured by those. :)
MilesMk1 (10:17:16 PM): ... just failed to hurt them in any way. I think.
Umbrafer (10:17:47 PM): You got "hurt", where "hurt" is defined as "wounds smaller than L"
Umbrafer (10:17:52 PM): Some scratches, that kind of thing
MilesMk1 (10:17:58 PM): Yeah, yeah...
MilesMk1 (10:18:46 PM): "Any idea what those crows are?"
MilesMk1 (10:19:01 PM): Does my wilderness survival chip say anything about giant avians?
MilesMk1 (10:19:08 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 5 1 1 1 1 5 6 5
MilesMk1 (10:19:13 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (10:19:16 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
MilesMk1 (10:19:19 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (10:20:09 PM): It mentions them, but mostly says that it's rumored that they bring bad luck to picnickers and outdoor campers. It advises keeping food in well-sealed containers when they're around.
Umbrafer (10:20:41 PM): Also to avoid leaving shiny belongings unattended, even larger ones like pots or hunting knives.
MilesMk1 (10:21:16 PM): I suppose we'd better not leave Hounds outside, then. Although he did say he was wearing long pants...
Thematrian1 (10:21:29 PM): heh
MilesMk1 (10:21:35 PM): Hound
Thematrian1 (10:21:39 PM): anyway, once I'm in the van I start laying wards
MilesMk1 (10:21:46 PM): Is this a good point to stop, maybe?
MilesMk1 (10:22:06 PM): Since we're missing a person again, and it's getting late-ish...
MilesMk1 (10:22:18 PM): I know it's my fault we didn't get more done, but...
Umbrafer (10:22:21 PM): Heh. Bear with me for no more than ten more minutes, probably more like five :)
Umbrafer (10:22:29 PM): (It's my fault tonight.)
MilesMk1 (10:22:40 PM): Well, yeah, I didn't mean right this second.
Umbrafer (10:23:29 PM): You start working on wards. Roll if there's anything necessary for that, I don't remember offhand. Hound keeps an eye out the sensors. Glitch doing anything?
Thematrian1 (10:23:50 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 1 1 3 4 1
MilesMk1 (10:24:27 PM): Just looking around.
MilesMk1 (10:24:41 PM): Making sure there are no large snakes headed for us, that kind of thing.
Umbrafer (10:25:26 PM): No giant snakes.
Umbrafer (10:25:27 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 4 2 2 4 1 2 3 1 3 3 2 2 2 1
Thematrian1 (10:25:37 PM): actually, let me check the ward rules...
Umbrafer (10:25:59 PM): After a few minutes Hound does call attention to a small group of crows perched in some trees near the van.
Umbrafer (10:26:40 PM): They're looking at it. Possibly with interest, it's difficult to read those beady eyes.
Umbrafer (10:27:48 PM): One of them caws, then flies over and lands on the roof of the van.
MilesMk1 (10:28:52 PM): I just had this image of the sunroof opening, and a hand with a gun coming out, persiscope-like.
MilesMk1 (10:28:56 PM): periscope
Umbrafer (10:29:12 PM): It pecks at the roof.
MilesMk1 (10:30:07 PM): There's only one, right?
MilesMk1 (10:30:15 PM): So far, anyway.
MilesMk1 (10:30:27 PM): More in nearby trees, but not the whole flock.
Umbrafer (10:30:30 PM): Yep. There are about half a dozen others in the trees nearby, but only one on the roof.
Thematrian1 (10:30:38 PM): actually, forget wards. These things are dual-natured
Umbrafer (10:31:04 PM): After a few more pecks, it finds a perch on the roof and closes its eyes.
Umbrafer (10:31:07 PM): (Hm?)
Thematrian1 (10:31:16 PM): (aren't they?)
MilesMk1 (10:31:30 PM): *opens the door a bit, then - standing inside the van - sticks his head above roof levels and scowls at the crow*
Umbrafer (10:31:50 PM): (Evidence is inconsistent. What about it, though?
Umbrafer (10:31:52 PM): *)
Thematrian1 (10:32:03 PM): (Means they can't go all ghosty through the van))
MilesMk1 (10:32:09 PM): *under his breath* "...should have gotten an eye laser..."
Umbrafer (10:32:26 PM): (Unless they're spirits somehow, or have mist form)
Umbrafer (10:32:30 PM): The crow opens one eye and looks back at you. It doesn't react, though.
MilesMk1 (10:32:40 PM): (Though wouldn't wards keep them from getting in in other ways?)
Umbrafer (10:32:40 PM): React more than that, I should say.
MilesMk1 (10:33:18 PM): *ponders smacking the roof with his shock glove*
MilesMk1 (10:33:25 PM): "Shoo."
MilesMk1 (10:33:42 PM): *keeps an eye on the other crows as well.*
Umbrafer (10:33:49 PM): It rustles its feathers.
Umbrafer (10:33:55 PM): The other crows appear to be keeping an eye on you.
Umbrafer (10:34:13 PM): Whether or not Soviet Russia is involved is unclear.
Thematrian1 (10:34:42 PM): (Very funny, Mr. Smirnof)
Umbrafer (10:35:26 PM): (Please, call me Yakov)
MilesMk1 (10:35:50 PM): "Gem? Hand me a piton, would you?"
MilesMk1 (10:35:58 PM): *holds his hand out inside the van*
Thematrian1 (10:36:05 PM): If I can find a piton, I grab one and hand it over.
Umbrafer (10:36:17 PM): Probably pretty easy to find.
MilesMk1 (10:36:19 PM): (my climbing gear bad definitely has plenty)
MilesMk1 (10:36:31 PM): *shakes the shiny thing in the crow's view*
MilesMk1 (10:36:37 PM): bag
Umbrafer (10:36:49 PM): It opens its eye and cocks its head.
Umbrafer (10:36:58 PM): Other eye, I should say.
MilesMk1 (10:37:10 PM): *resists the urge to ask Gem for the piton gun*
MilesMk1 (10:37:39 PM): *flicks the piton so that it goes over the crow and towards the other half dozen in the trees*
Umbrafer (10:37:51 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 1 2 3 5 2 3 2 5 6 2 2 6 5 5
Umbrafer (10:38:12 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 6 2
Umbrafer (10:38:18 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
Umbrafer (10:38:21 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Umbrafer (10:38:49 PM): It pecks at it as it goes overhead, then flies off to pick it up. It then flies off into the woods.
MilesMk1 (10:39:41 PM): "Hmm."
MilesMk1 (10:39:51 PM): *gets back in the van, closes the door*
MilesMk1 (10:40:15 PM): "Assuming it wasn't just humoring me, it looks like they are distracted by shiny things."
Thematrian1 (10:41:21 PM): "Good"
Umbrafer (10:43:00 PM): Any actions in the next 20-30 in-game minutes?
Thematrian1 (10:43:05 PM): "I need a nap. Let me know if they try to kill us."
Thematrian1 (10:44:39 PM): so, no
MilesMk1 (10:44:41 PM): I can't think of any...
Umbrafer (10:44:59 PM): Ok. The one thing you notice over that timespan is that the skies grow increasingly overcast.
Umbrafer (10:45:25 PM): And we'll break here. It is…
Umbrafer (10:46:05 PM): Now about 3:00 PM.
MilesMk1 (10:46:58 PM): Ok. See you guys on Monday.
Thematrian1 (10:47:01 PM): have fun
MilesMk1 (10:47:07 PM): (See? I remembered this time. :))
Thematrian1 (10:47:14 PM): oh
Thematrian1 (10:47:20 PM): I'm not oging to be in until 9 next Thursday
MilesMk1 (10:47:34 PM): We forgive you.
Umbrafer (10:47:34 PM): Oh, right
MilesMk1 (10:47:39 PM): Later!
Umbrafer (10:47:40 PM): Which means the game starts at 9:00 then
Umbrafer (10:47:50 PM): Take care! See you Tuesday ;)
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Chat room exited at 3/22/2007 10:51:01 PM.