Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Chapter Six: Hillside Dreams
Scene One: Best Laid Plans
mgrasso> So, as we left off last time, James had discovered his car was in the hands of Jay Leno and Gemma had undergone a trance with some weird results.
*** Julia is now known as Ingrid
mgrasso> And now, we're all back in Gemma and James' room to discuss our next plan.
Roger> James do you still have the name of Jay's Insurance agent
Roger> And look in the computer for some other large Insurance company
Roger> any company
James> sure
James> easy enough
Chet> Do you need a computer to find the name of a random large insurance company?
mgrasso> (I don't think I ever gave an actual name for the insurance co. of the car)
Roger> (i know)
mgrasso> (What's the plan, Roger?)
Chet> Cause I can think of a few.
James> in this region?
Ingrid> What are you thinking of, Chet?
Chet> I'd venture to guess there's an Allstate around here somewheres.
Roger> Anyone would do
Roger> it doesn't matter I just need a name and a city
Roger> we can look in the yellow pages
Roger> James, can you find the name of Lenos personal insurance agent
Roger> If you cant thats cool, but it would be better
James> I'll freaking get something else assholes.
James> sure, I can probably find his name
Gemma> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 3 8 9 7 8
* Chet wanders over by the window and takes a seat.
mgrasso> James? Care to look for it?
James> yeah
mgrasso> Intelligence + Comp. Hacking, diff. 8
* Roger begins pacing around the room holding his cell phone mumbling to himself.
Roger> (mike whats the VIN)
* Ingrid finds a chair, slumps in it, and looks at the ceiling.
mgrasso> (Cripes, I never made one up)
Roger> (ok)
mgrasso> (Chet, Ingrid, Gemma, I want to keep you guys in it, so maybe you should talk amongst yourselves)
* Chet scoots his chair over next to Ingrid and taps a cigarette out of his pack and offers one to her. "Smoke?"
mgrasso> (Sorry, it's taking a bit to get things started)
Ingrid> No thanks. I could use a cup of coffee, though.
James> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell James rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 2 2 3 2 10 7 5
Chet> Let me see what I can do.
mgrasso> James gets into the database of the company, but needs to work some more on finding this individual's name and office location.
mgrasso> Another roll, James?
Gemma> Chet, unless that thing's going to emite orange dragon butt fumes, you probably shouldn't light it in here.
James> alright, I think I'm on it, Ingrid, do you want to have your people call his people and see if you can get an interview?
James> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell James rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 7 6 3 3 2 4 3
mgrasso> No wp left, right?
* Chet gets up and starts fiddling with the mini coffee maker. He takes the pot into the bathroom, fills it with tap water, and returns.
* Ingrid pulls out her cell phone.
James> yeah, so difficulty goes up one
James> !dice 7 9
* DiceWell James rolls 7d10 at difficulty 9. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 5 1 8 6 3 8 4
James> that's the end of that
mgrasso> James is unable to find the name of Jay Leno's insurance agent.
* Chet starts the coffe maker. "Anyone else?"
Gemma> No thanks.
Roger> thats ok do you have the phone number of the office
* Chet pours out a plastic cup of coffee and offers it to Ingrid.
Ingrid> Thanks, Chet.
* Gemma flops on the bed and stares up at the ceiling. "Maybe we should ask Angus up on the hills for help."
Chet> Who is Angus?
mgrasso> James does have the phone number of the office, yes.
* Ingrid sips her coffee, scrolling through the stored numbers.
James> alright, Roger you call them
* Roger begins dialing his cell phone
Roger> whats the name of the company
Gemma> The guy drowning in the butt fumes, Chet.
Roger> and whats the VIN
Chet> Ahhhh...
* James spouts the vin "we need to do something soon.. I'm sick of waisting fucking time"
Chet> Anyone want to play a game of Dead Celebrities?
* Roger speaks into the phone
Ingrid> ! dice 7 8
Ingrid> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 5 2 10 3 4 3 6
Roger> "Hello, how are you today? I'm edward furlong from statefarm insurance in Oakland."
Ingrid> (Dicey apparently does not like chocolate chips.)
mgrasso> Roger: "Hello, Inspire Auto Insurance. How may I direct your call?"
mgrasso> Ingrid: "Hello, Channel 4 programming."
Roger> "I'm looking for the agent in charge of car number (insert VIn here)"
mgrasso> Roger: "Hmm well, may I ask the reason for this call?"
mgrasso> (Roger: Charisma + Subterfuge, diff. 6)
Roger> !dice 7 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 7d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 8 5 10 2 1 5
mgrasso> (Go ahead and answer, Roger)
* Chet picks up the remote control and starts flipping through the channels.
Roger> "Unfortuneatly, a client of mine has filed a claim against that car."
* Gemma goes over to James and wraps her arms around his shoulders
James> hey baby
* James pats her arm
mgrasso> Chet: It's about time for the 5 o'clock local news. Top news is a smog alert for L.A., quite rare this time of year.
* Gemma nuzzles James' ear and whispers to him
Chet> Crap. News...
mgrasso> "Very well, I'll need your agent number before I can connect you to that car's agent."
* Chet flips past the news without stopping.
Chet> You'd think that they'd have the common decency to show the Simpsons or something this time of day.
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 10 2
Roger> "Sure hold on 1 sec please, someone just came in."
mgrasso> Chet finds Univision and sees some weird talk show with a hostess with large breasts. :)
Roger> Fuck, james find out how many digits are in an agent number
Roger> quick
Gemma> (Don't forget the dancing girls in thongs. They always wear thongs...)
* Roger says as he holds his hand over the phone
James> what? wher...
Ingrid> Hello, this is Ingrid Kane from Channel 4 KVOA in Tucson? I'm calling about an interview with Jay Leno. I was wondering if this afternoon would be all right.
* James begins typing furiously looking.
Roger> the computer, it should be on this companies site
* Chet stops for a few moments on Univision.
Chet> Ah. They speak the universal language of cleavage.
mgrasso> James: Wits + Computer, diff. 7
* Chet keeps flipping.
mgrasso> Ingrid: "Um, I don't think that'll be possible... are you looking for an EPK (electronic press kit) interview?"
James> !dice 9 7
* DiceWell James rolls 9d10 at difficulty 7. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 2 1 10 1 5 1 1 6 6
mgrasso> (another roll, Ingrid.)
James> mother fucker!
* Chet accesses the hotel services channel looking for a good movie.
Ingrid> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 2 6 6 4 4 10 10
Roger> fuck
* James bangs his head onthe keyboard
Chet> Anyone want to order a movie?
* Gemma gently massages James' shoulders
James> and flips the phone back to roger
James> make something else
Roger> "sorry about that, delivary, oh the number yes its 345-672-9763
mgrasso> *click*
Roger> Fuck
mgrasso> (Sorry, that was RogeR)
mgrasso> Chet: There are four mainstream movies and three pay-per-view porn channels.
Roger> (huh?)
Ingrid> No, I was told that we were looking good for this afternoon. I hope lines didn't get crossed somewhere...
mgrasso> (The click was for Roger)
Roger> (thanks)
Ingrid> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 2 7 4 2 5
Roger> There goes that plan
Ingrid> We were going to meet at the studio. I hope it's not a problem! I drove in from Tucson just for this!
* Ingrid sounds slightly flustered.
mgrasso> Ingrid: "Look, I'll see what I can do for you, and I'll get back to you. Give me your number, please."
mgrasso> Wits + Empathy, Ingrid, diff. 6
Ingrid> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 10 2 2 5 5
Roger> Well that sucked
* James hangs his head, throws off his glasses and rubbs his eyes
Ingrid> Oh, please, I'd appreciate any help you can give. Thanks so much.
Roger> Sorry james, we'll have to see what Ingrid can do.
James> I'm sorry guys
Roger> we can't go bacxk to that now, someone will get suspicious
* Ingrid gives the woman her cell phone number.
Chet> Well, it looks like we have a choice between "The Ladies Man" or "Angels in Heat". Anyone have a preference?
Ingrid> Oh wait! I forgot! Do you know Mr. Papendorf? He was the one who authorized it. I just remembered.
mgrasso> (Don't forget "Dude, Where's My Car?")
Chet> Oops. My bad, we don't even *get* the Ladies Man. So it's either Angels in Heat or Miss Congeniality. Speak now or forever hold your peace people.
Ingrid> !dice 4 8
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 4d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 3 1 10 2
James> what time is it?
Ingrid> argh.
Chet> Anyone?
mgrasso> A little after 5.
* Roger starts rolling a cigarette
* James looks up from where he's been whispering to gemma
mgrasso> Ingrid: "I will check and get back to you."
James> Are you done?
mgrasso> *click*
Roger> Any luck Ingrid?
Roger> My plan bombed
* Chet accesses the adult channel selection and orders "Angels in Heat".
* Ingrid mutters under her breath, "bitch..."
Scene Two: Resolution
James> We're going to the hollywood sign tonight
mgrasso> (*snort*)
Ingrid> Uh, not really.
* Chet settles back in his chair and watches TV.
James> you all don't have to but Gemma and I are
* Gemma plops herself onto James' lap and gives him a kiss
Roger> Shit, its like someone doesn't want us to get this car.
Gemma> Damn right.
mgrasso> (brb, keep talking)
James> and then tommorow, I'm just gonna go to the mashion and see if I can just tell him the fucking truth
James> (mansion)
* Roger lights his cigarette and walks onto the balcony
Ingrid> Well, that is something we haven't tried yet.
* Ingrid smiles a little.
Roger> First he'll shut the door in your face
Roger> then he'll call the police
Roger> Thats if you even talk to him
Gemma> No, he won't.
James> so that's the plan, everybody got it?
* Chet watches the television raptly.
Gemma> Yes. THe plan is truth.
* Gemma giggles -- then suddenly notices what Chet's watching
mgrasso> So, an expedition to the Hollywood sign... who's up for it? :)
* Gemma nudges James. "Remember when we tried that in the park?"
Roger> What? huh? whay are you going to the hollywood sign
Ingrid> Because we're tourists?
Roger> Oh
* Chet turns up the volume a few notches.
Gemma> No! Because we're going to visit my uncle Angus.
Roger> You have an uncle...Angus
Gemma> Yes. And his dragon makes the sweetest exhaust you'll ever find this side of Mexico City.
mgrasso> (*chortle*)
James> rihgt, everybody's an u ncle
Gemma> You people in LA are always bragging bragging bragging about your smog, but you can't even see it from space like you can with Mexico City's. Amateurs.
Roger> Why is it that I am continueally convinced that she is insane
Ingrid> You get used to it.
Roger> Thanks
Chet> What?
* Gemma glances at James. "Are they talking about me?"
* Chet turns to face the others.
Chet> What's going on?
Roger> !dice 3 7
* DiceWell Roger rolls 3d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 2 4 3
James> anyway he rides a flying dragon
* James hugs her around the waist
James> because she is
James> yes babe
Gemma> GEt your hand out of your pants and I'll tell you.
Ingrid> Gemma was telling us about her uncle Angus's flatulent dragon. Or something,
Chet> Oh yeah. That dude. What about him?
James> Let's *GO* we can talk on the fucking way!
Chet> Go where?
Ingrid> We're going to visit.
Gemma> Down on Roger.
James> just pee and then get in the car .
Chet> Dude, you might want to stay for the end of this. If I read it right, this flick is costing someone about 15 bucks.
Roger> I'll go with you, but I need to go by pinks to get my car
* Gemma laughs and slides off of James' lap
mgrasso> (heh... pee)
* James walks out of the room grabbing Gemma and Ingrid by the wrist
James> we're all going now
Chet> OK. Whatever.
Gemma> Fifteen -- and they didn't even show any penetration!
Chet> Are we leaving?
James> YES
Ingrid> Yes. Yes we are.
Roger> If you want penetration, I know of a place in Sherman Oaks.
* Gemma glances over her shoulder at Roger. "Really?"
* James runs down the hall to the elevator, shouting "Now people"
* Chet turns up the volume. "OK, let's get going, then."
* Roger laughs and grabs his coat
Ingrid> I think James is in a hurry.
Roger> He's always in a hurry
Gemma> He really wants to meet Uncle Angus.
Roger> He needs to relax and slow down a bit
mgrasso> So, first things first... we need to go get Roger's car. After that, who will ride in whose car?
* Gemma hurries to catch up to James
* Chet turns the volume almost to the max on the hotel porn before leaving the room.
Roger> the sign will be there tomorrw
mgrasso> (*snort* chet goes unseelie )
* James drives the van
Chet> (Someone should enjoy it. Maybe the people next door can. Chet's trying not to waste the 15 bucks (: )
Ingrid> I'll ride with Roger, shotgun.
Roger> Cool
mgrasso> Okay, cool. I'm going to eschew conversations on the way to the sign, if you don't mind.
Ingrid> Aw, okay. ;)
* Ingrid stores her questions about Court in LA.
mgrasso> Do Chet, James, and Gemma want to talk?
Ingrid> That's okay, I can wait.
mgrasso> I'm willing to do it! I just want to know how everyone feels about time.
Gemma> I'm cool.
James> only the usually, meaningless witty banter
Ingrid> Let's get there.
Chet> (I'm OK - we can skip it)
mgrasso> (all right.)
a name=scene3>
Scene Three: Guardian at the Gate
mgrasso> So, there is a way up the hill which holds the Hollywood sign. Parking on Glen Holly Rd. in the Hollywood hills, you are able to reach the beginning of this old dirt path, no wider than a car's width. It's almost dark by now, as the orange and blue twilight of Los Angeles descends on the brush-covered Hollywood Hills.
* James pulls out his night vision goggles and holds them in his hand
* Ingrid very quietly hums the tune of "Mission Impossible".
mgrasso> The hill is steep, about 20 to 30 degrees, and the way up looks to be about a quarter of a mile in length. It winds in a snaky path all the way up to a strata below the sign.
mgrasso> No details can be seen from this distance except the floodlights which illuminate the sign, and the radio antenna which sits next to it.
mgrasso> Are we on our way up?
James> yes
Roger> Your uncle Angus lives up here
mgrasso> Very well. I need everyone to give me Dex + Stealth rolls, diff. 6
Ingrid> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 3 8 4 10 4
Roger> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 10 8 4
Gemma> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 2 5 2 8
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 9 1 5 2 9
mgrasso> (Chet?)
mgrasso> Chet lags a little behind as you guys ascend the hill. :)
* Roger whispers:
Roger> why are we sneaking up here
* James puts on the goggles as it gets darker
James> dunno
* Gemma whispers to Roger, "Uncle Angus is a bit of a recluse. He'd as soon shoot you as make you pie."
mgrasso> Now, as you get closer to the sign itself, you can see it is fenced off by a ten-foot tall black fence that's virtually invisible from a distance. The fence is ringed with barbs, from what you can see. Your path is taking you actually to the side of the "D" and above the sign, to the base of the antenna which dominates the sign like an exclamation point.
mgrasso> Roger, Perception + Security, diff. 8
mgrasso> Anyone else with Security can also try.
Roger> !dice 4 8
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 8. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 2 1 3 1
* mgrasso shakes his head
Chet> I got a bad feeling about this.
mgrasso> Shall we continue up the hill to the base behind the sign?
mgrasso> (This hike has taken about 30 minutes, so far, by the way, so it's now almost completely dark except for the lights on the sign.)
Gemma> (sure!)
James> I can see good still!
* Chet keeps walking.
* Roger begins to slow down, peering around into the darkness
mgrasso> Eventually, you make it to a small dirt-covered plateau behind and above the sign. Looking down upon the sign, its light shining up on you, you can now come face-to-face with the black fence which surrounds the perimeter of the sign. It's only about 80 feet beyond the fence here.
Roger> This is creepy
mgrasso> On this plateau is the antenna, also enclosed by a ten-foot-tall black wire fence with barbed wire ringing the top.
James> So where now?
Chet> What is this place again?
mgrasso> DOOWYLLOH
mgrasso> (Except backwards letters, of course)
Roger> (how high is the fence)
mgrasso> Ten feet tall.
James> Oh Chet, get a Furbbing Grip!
Roger> (any signs?)
Gemma> You should invent a rubber cap for his head, James. To keep the brain dribbles in.
mgrasso> NO TRESPASSING. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.
Roger> Well, so where is this uncle of yours
Ingrid> I hope he doesn't shoot us.
James> god I know!
Roger> What
Chet> As long as we're not smooching, we should be OK.
Gemma> Well, I'm not afraid. What's one more person trying to kill me?
mgrasso> (*snort*)
Roger> Don't tell me this is normal for you.
Gemma> Oh, very.
Gemma> In fact, this is a breeze.
* Roger looks up into the sky, hands raised
Roger> why me
Chet> Bonnie and Clyde here have busted in to more secure places than this.
Roger> So have I, but this crazy uncle angus business creeps me out
* Gemma claps her hands, bows her head, and closes her eyes. Those of you closest to her can hear her saying something under her breath.
Roger> So are we trying to get past the fence
James> yeah, anyone got wire cutters?
Chet> Well, I'm more concerned about the No Trespassing sign. The places we went before didn't threaten legal prosecution.
Chet> I don't know that it's a good idea to ignore that kind of warning.
* Roger pulls something metal out of his pocket and walks upto the fence
Chet> So we're breaking in? We don't even know what this place is or who is in there. This is insane.
* Roger opens up his leatherman and begins cutting the fence near the bottom
mgrasso> BACK AWAY FROM THE FENCE.
mgrasso> A staticky voice BOOMS from a hidden speaker.
* Chet takes several steps back and raises his hands.
* Roger stops what he is doing
Ingrid> I think you'd better get back here, Roger.
mgrasso> "YOU. BACK AWAY NOW."
mgrasso> "IF YOU ADVANCE BEYOND THE FENCE, LAPD WILL BE CALLED."
James> WHY? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
* Roger slowly raises his hands and backs up
* Ingrid yells "We're sorry, sir. We're looking for my friend's uncle!"
Ingrid> James. shut up. Do you want to get us shot?
Chet> Jeez. His balls are bigger than his brain. No wonder you like him, Gemma.
Roger> (where is the speaker, trying to pinpoint the sound
mgrasso> Perception + Security, diff. 6
Roger> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 10 1 6
Roger> wp
James> Oh fuck off guys, I'm sick of all this pussying aroung.
mgrasso> Roger: there's at least two speakers by the fence as well as a video camera which you can now see.
Gemma> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 10 5 7 4 4 5 9
Ingrid> Now is perhaps not the best time to get impatient, James!
Roger> (is it behind the fence, how high0
Gemma> !dice 1 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 1d10 at difficulty 8. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 1
mgrasso> The camera is mounted on the top of the fence, cloaked in barbed wire.
Chet> Well by all means, maybe you can bare knuckle fight your way in James. That's something I'd pay to see.
* Roger takes off his jacket
* Gemma begins coughing violently
James> You okay?
mgrasso> Around Gemma, a cloak of black chimerical smoke is surrounding her.
Roger> dice 3 7
Roger> !dic 3 7
* Gemma starts frantically waving her hands in front of her face
Roger> !dice 3 7
* DiceWell Roger rolls 3d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 8 8 6
Roger> (yse)
mgrasso> In fact, now it's positively billowing out of the ground.
Ingrid> Oh great. Thanks a LOT, James.
* Chet takes several steps further away.
mgrasso> Roger tosses his jacket on top of the one camera he spooted.
mgrasso> (spotted)
* James pulls off the vest of his voil offering it to her as a mask
mgrasso> The smoke is now billowing forth towards the rest of you.
* Chet tries to stay outside the range of the spreading cloud.
* Gemma covers her face and tries to move out of the cloud
* Ingrid backs up as the cloud approaches.
* James helps her out
mgrasso> It makes you cough, and it smells of coal, and wood smoke, both wholesome and noisome odors invade your noses and make it difficult to breathe.
mgrasso> Everyone, Stamina rolls diff. 8
Chet> !dice 3 8
* DiceWell Chet rolls 3d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 2 5 9
Roger> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Roger rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 7 5
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 1 9
mgrasso> Chet, used to inhaling such clouds of smoke, seems to resist.
Ingrid> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 7 10
James> !dice 1 8
* DiceWell James rolls 1d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 8
mgrasso> Roger and Gemma both drop to one knee.
James> (phew
James> Gemma?!
mgrasso> But all of you have been exposed to the smoke. You cannot see each other now.
mgrasso> James moves around, looking for Gemma, and finds himself blindly rushing into a wooden wall. There was no wood on the plateau where all of you were standing.
a name=scene4>
Scene Four: Anvil and Hearth
mgrasso> Eventually, the smoke rises preternaturally, and clears.
* Roger drops to the ground and begins crawling away
mgrasso> You find yourselves in a spacious wooden shack. It looks like a cabin, but without any of the amenities of a living space.
* Chet stands still, waiting for his vision to return.
mgrasso> The only object, in fact, of any consequence in this roughly 10' x 15' space is a large anvil, sitting in a fire pit in the middle of the floor.
Roger> (is there a door)
mgrasso> There is also a hearth. There is something else weird about this shack... there's no apparent door!
* James rushes to Gemma's side
Roger> Fuck
mgrasso> Orange smoke starts to pour out of the fireplace, and coalesce.
Ingrid> This is not good.
* Gemma coughs and rubs her eyes
James> Are you okay?
mgrasso> The orange smoke forms in the far side of the room, into a shape... a reptilian shape, with broad leathery wings and a long, sinuous neck.
* Gemma rasps, "Sure. It's like hanging out with Chet."
mgrasso> Scales sparkle from within the orange cloud.
Gemma> Only now ... crap. Uncle's dragon's going to eat us now.
mgrasso> And the head of a dragon emerges.
* Chet elbows Ingrid. "See. She gets him shot full of arrows and he gets her gassed. It's a sweet relationship."
Roger> (is this the dreaming)
* James stands between the Gemma and the head
mgrasso> The cloud stays around him like a noxious cloak. It smells of the product of millions of cars... the ozoney smell of smog.
mgrasso> (as far as you can tell, Roger, yes)
* Gemma scurries to her feet, practically clinging to James
Roger> Well now what
mgrasso> "Greetings, little ones." The dragon's voice is deep, and gravelly, and seems to roar like a car engine in his profoundly deep thorax.
Gemma> Dragon? Do you speak? Or do you just eat?
* Roger backs away from the dragon
Chet> What's up, dude.
* Gemma sighs
mgrasso> "Ah, you're the one who's been trying to find me!" The dragon points a talon in Gemma's direction.
* Ingrid curtseys to the dragon.
Gemma> I...
* James stands infront of her more
James> yes she is
mgrasso> (Ingrid, Apperance (sidhe) + Etiquette, diff. 6)
Gemma> No I haven't!
Ingrid> !dice 8 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 8d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 6 successes.
* DiceWell 10 7 8 7 4 7 2 6
mgrasso> "Why do you seek me? I thought I'd created quite the perfect home for myself here."
mgrasso> The dragon's head bows deeply. "Milady."
*** Ingrid is now known as Artemisia
mgrasso> Ingrid sees his eyes avoid her gaze.
* Gemma peeks around James at the dragon
mgrasso> His eyes sparkle like glowing coals in a fire.
Gemma> I'm a cat, sir.
mgrasso> "Yes. Yes you are." The dragon surveys the male fae cursorily.
Gemma> I'd be remiss in my animal duties if I didn't get myself and my friends into trouble because of my curiosity.
mgrasso> The dragon seems to approve of this sentiment, and grins widely, showing his blackened teeth like shards of charcoal.
mgrasso> "You sought my lair, here, in the highest point of the City of the Angels. My cloud lair. What do you wish of me?"
mgrasso> He directs this especially to Ingrid and Gemma.
*** Retrieving #Changeling-Tucson info...
*** mgrasso changes topic to 'Pictures of the sign area taken by flakey LA poets: http://litrave.com/photos2/index.htm'
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 1 9
* Roger begins scanning the room for any route of escape.
Gemma> !dice 2 9
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 9. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 1 1
mgrasso> (There's the fireplace, Roger. :) )
Roger> (FU)
James> (how farthest away mountain)
mgrasso> (Of course, that's also behind the dragon)
Roger> :)
mgrasso> (Sorry, James?)
* Gemma sort of stammers her way to an answer. "I can't say that we had wishes of you -- I mean, maybe that you not eat us, but that was before we met you."
James> (it'a a kids book)
mgrasso> (Oh. :) )
Artemisia> Not that we want you to eat us now.
mgrasso> "You aren't natives to this city. None of you."
* Artemisia shoots Gemma a look.
James> no. We came here to find a car.
mgrasso> James faces the dragon's maw as he laughs deeply and spews what smells like diesel exhaust fumes all over James. "You came to the City of Cars for a car, then?"
mgrasso> "Tell me, then, what is your car that it is so special that it would deserve a quest?"
* James smiles
James> My grandad's car
mgrasso> "A legacy, then?"
James> A legacy, a chimerical mechanical wonder, the finest work of a master Knocker
mgrasso> The dragon settles into his corner, expecting a tale from James.
mgrasso> "Oh really? You know, when the car came into this world, I rejoiced. Never before had I seen such an innovation that would strengthen and bolster me."
mgrasso> "And I thought the English countryside in the early 19th century was a halcyon era."
James> Oh dragon, to see this car...
mgrasso> "You wish to find it?"
James> More than anything.. well, we sort of know where it is already, I wish to aquire it again!
mgrasso> "I could aid you in this endeavor."
mgrasso> "But do you know who I am?"
mgrasso> "That is the question I ask you... all of you. And I give you each a guess."
mgrasso> "But after five guesses... no more."
mgrasso> "Everything you need to discover who I am has been shown to you or said so far in our parley."
Artemisia> Can we have a hint?
mgrasso> "Good lady, there have been hints all around."
Artemisia> That's hint enough, then.
James> may we have a moment to converse?
mgrasso> "Although," pointing to Gemma, "she may know more through her attempts to contact me."
mgrasso> James: "Surely."
mgrasso> --new scene---
mgrasso> (Gemma, you can roll anew. :) )
Gemma> (whoo!)
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 5 3
Gemma> (d'oh! again? :D)
James> CHet, take out your notebook.
mgrasso> (Do you guys want a week to think about this? :D :D :D)
Artemisia> Yes!
mgrasso> That'd be kinda cool, in fact. Cliffhanger! :)
James> yeah!
mgrasso> Cooooool! :)
Roger> absolutely
mgrasso> You guys can do it over email, or in chat next time.