Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Chapter Five: Valley of the Moon
Scene One: Readying
mgrasso> Well, last time, our characters went through their daily lives, after the catastrophic destruction of the freehold of the Barony of the Black Mountain.
Mandy> ?
Erica> I thought we were of the Burning Masculine Itch or something like that. Something burning.
mgrasso> James had a corporate meeting to attend at work, Ingrid and Roger headed to the TV station in an attempt to glean some more info from the tape of the mission, and Gemma and Chet went to the office of Prof. Wynderven and found a clue there.
mgrasso> Barony of the Black Mountain, County of Old Pueblo, Duchy of the Firebird.
Erica> (Where the hell am I getting a Burning something? Kingdom?)
Erica> (Drugs? I bet it's drugs. I've been slugging down nyquiladas all week.)
mgrasso> Bringing the CD back to Gemma and James' and meeting everyone back there, we found the CD-ROM had maps of *three* Tucson freeholds: the mission, Chet's house, and one in the north of town.
mgrasso> (Kingdom of the Burning Sun)
mgrasso> Along with a last message from the Prof to Chet.
Erica> (Ah-ha. Thanks. Sorry for the distraction. Uh, I'll be quiet now.)
mgrasso> A grainy image of a weird garden accompanied the files on the CD.
mgrasso> And now, I leave it to you. We're in Gemma and James' living room.
mgrasso> (I'll work on getting the log up as we go)
*** Mandy is now known as James
*** Erica is now known as Gemma
*** Bill is now known as Roger
*** Julia is now known as Ingrid
*** Joe is now known as Chet
* James scratches the back of his neck furiously
Ingrid> I don't know if you should be scratching that,
Ingrid> James.
mgrasso> (I'm going to post the last scene for now, guys)
mgrasso> (Give it a couple minutes)
mgrasso> (Pardon my interruption, go for it)
Ingrid> It looks a little raw.
James> but it feels weird.
Gemma> Well, how else should an alien implant feel?
Gemma> Do you want to go to urgent care, or should we call the Moon Line and see if we can get a visit in?
* Roger paces around the room looking thoughtful, rolling and smoking a cigarette.
James> i was thinking I might call mistress cleo.
Gemma> Roger! Smoke more, please. I love the smell. It's great for the antiques.
Roger> oh, what, oh sorry.
* Roger goes out to the backyard.
Gemma> James, dear heart, why don't you pop onto your little magic box and type in a quotation mark V-A-L-L-E-Y O-F T-H-E M-O-O-N quotatoin mark?
mgrasso> (http://www.homegame.org/mgrasso/diversion/chapter50.html)
James> by all means
* James searches
mgrasso> (might want to throw in a "Tucson" for good measure)
mgrasso> For those of you who can browse, this is the page that comes up: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/extra/mondo/mondo10.html
Ingrid> (Can you summarize it?)
mgrasso> (Julia, I know you can't, so... right. :) )
mgrasso> Ingrid tries to maneuver to get a peek at the screen, but James' head is in the way. :)
Ingrid> (:P )
mgrasso> (I thought it might be interesting for the *characters* to summarize it for you, but I'll print you out a copy right now. :) )
Chet> Is that where we're going, then?
Gemma> How could we not? The weirdo may be dead, but his freehold lives on.
mgrasso> (still printing for Julia, one moment)
mgrasso> ngrid will be the last one to get a peek at the webpage.
mgrasso> That doesn't mean you guys shouldn't talk about it.
James> Neat! this thing is even better than hammonds castle.
James> (neat= shit... I forgot who I was for a minute)
Gemma> (Truly? Or is it an effect of the weird triangle? dun dun dun...)
Roger> (james your from mass, you've probably been to hammonds castle
Roger> )
mgrasso> (spooky X-Files theme..)
Chet> Well, we hope his freehold lives on.
* Roger walks in the backdoor.
Gemma> Well, if it doesn't, the place still exists. Or should. I guess.
Roger> guys, i'm thinking we should take a drive by chets house, and this other freehold
Chet> But I just came from my house.
Gemma> Chet's been home. Haven't you been home, Chet?
Roger> if anyone survived they might go to one of these places and maybe leave a message or something
Ingrid> We should try the Valley of the Moon.
Roger> oh, well then this other freehold then
Chet> I guess I could stand to run in and get a Snapple.
Gemma> Go check the fridge, Chet.
James> right. I'm driving.
Gemma> I'm not promising Snapple, but I bet there'll be some fun liquid there.
* James grabs his keys, and the various pages he had been printing for chet and heads for the door.
Gemma> I know I've been saving a cup of James for later...
mgrasso> (*snort*)
James> heh
* Chet walks into the kitchen and peers into the fridge.
Roger> TMI
mgrasso> So, we're leaving all the cars here and going to Chet's in James' car, thence to the Valley of the Moon?
Ingrid> I could drive too if it's more convenient.
James> if chet went home that's enough for me.
Chet> (It depends what Gemma and James have to drink in the fridge)
James> we can stop at go mart for a snapple
Roger> Yeah, if we need to split up, it will be easier
mgrasso> You guys decide. It's up to you, but James' car does fit five *easily*.
Gemma> {Chet sees kiwi strawberry snapple, an empty gallon of milk, various sodas, and a couple of bottled waters.)
James> because she's a sweet ride.
James> yeah baby yeah.
* Chet makes a sour face at the contents of the fridge and shuts the door.
Ingrid> Well, I guess I can't put off riding in it forever.
Chet> OK, time to go, I guess.
James> alright.
Roger> ok
Chet> Can we swing by my place for something cold to drink and that way I can get the mail, too.
Ingrid> (What time is it?)
Gemma> Sure. Go get in the car.
mgrasso> (Mid-afternoon, around 3 or so)
* James raises and eyebrow at gemma
James> maybe he can pee while we're there.
Gemma> You want him to pee in the car?
Ingrid> You guys are way too touchy about Chet's urinary habits.
Gemma> He pees too often, Ingrid. I'm worried about his prostate.
Roger> I am inclined to agree, but he is pretty touchy himself
Chet> Can everyone stop cracking wise about my bladder and get this show on the road?
James> maybe he's just marking his territory.
Scene Two: Journey
Gemma> Oh! You know, I just thought of something -- are we just going to go sneak onto this place, or are you wanting to sneak in with a tour?
* James slides in all smooth like and starts the car.
Gemma> Because I remember something about having to call first for tours. They give you candy at the end, though, so it's worth it.
* Chet gets in the back seat of James' car.
* James 's glasses change from clear to dark shades
Ingrid> Let's scope it out when we get there, but a tour's not a bad idea.
mgrasso> It's likely that the tours will be ending soon.
* James whips out his cell phone and dials 411
mgrasso> "What city please?"
* Gemma takes shotgun, of course
James> tucson, valley of the moon
* Ingrid gets in behind James.
mgrasso> (Chet, I'm assuming you've taken all of the effects from the Prof's CD?)
mgrasso> James gets connected to the number.
Chet> (Yes)
mgrasso> (You guys should keep talking while James is on the phone)
Ingrid> Have any of you been there?
Gemma> Nope.
James> hey do you mind giving me the run-down on your tours?
James> do i need reservations or anything?
Chet> I don't remember.
Gemma> It's not like they had tours for kids or anything.
Chet> I don't think I've been there.
James> five adults
Gemma> Yeah, it's a very forgettable place.
James> yes
James> will that be fine?
* Chet leans up over the front seat.
* Gemma eyes Chet suspiciously
Gemma> May I help you?
Roger> Not to sound uninformed, but who was this professor anyway?
Ingrid> I've been curious about it since I moved here, but I never managed to make it out there.
* Chet presses the car radio buttons to see what stations James has preset.
Roger> Chet, i know he was your teacher, but can you tell me more about him?
James> uh... thanks, great. bye.
Chet> Oh, he was an OK guy. Better than OK, really...
Chet> He kind of helped me out when I was in a spot of trouble, you know, helped me get some direction in life.
James> alright, we have to go there first, sorry chet but your drink will have to wait
James> they close at four.
Chet> Whatever.
* James pauses
James> the weirdest fucking thing...
Chet> Why do you have Christian rock preprogrammed into your car stereo, James?
James> at the end the signal started to break up, and I heard something.
Chet> Anyway, was there something in particular you wanted to know about the Prof, Roger?
Ingrid> Heard something like what?
Roger> He seemed very prepared for...this, well did he ever mention anything?
James> because I'm that unjewish Chet.
James> A voice
Gemma> Yes. I hear voices on the phone all the time.
James> It, it said "they killed me..."
* Gemma eyes widen
* Ingrid blinks a few times.
James> then, it said "I staggered through the street and no one would..."
Chet> Probably the ghost of the dude who built the thing.
Ingrid> That's... weird.
James> yeah.
James> to say the least
* James pockets his phone.
mgrasso> So, we are not headed to Chet's?
James> later, afterwards.
Chet> Well, you had to know Joe, Roger. He was prepared for just about everything. Except to enjoy the writings of Mark Leyner.
Gemma> (I wouldn't think so; not if we need to make it to VotM before 4)
Roger> He was always ready for anything?
Roger> could you give me an example
* Ingrid pulls out her cell phone and stabs at the buttons.
* James lovingly caresses the wheel as he drives.
Chet> Nothing in particular. He was just the most together guy I ever knew, is all.
Chet> I mean, he always thought the man had it in for him.
mgrasso> James turns onto Oracle Road headed north.
Chet> Let's just say that he had a "healthy distrust of authority".
Roger> Was he the sort of man who would leave a cryptic hint, rather than just spit it out>
Roger> .
Chet> He was always talking politics, but that wasn't really my thing. Damn, I wish I had listened to his boring talks about the nobility vs. the common man.
Roger> I don't mean to pry.
Chet> If he had something to say, he would've just said it. I'm pretty sure that his message on the disc was plain enough.
Roger> Its just his vague message, something bothers me about it.
Chet> Vague?
* Ingrid speaks into the pjone, "Hey Danny, it's me, Ingrid. I need some information from you if you have a minute."
Roger> He didn't really tell us anything
Roger> just sort of pushed us in a direction
Gemma> Some say the best sort of teachers do that.
James> like socrates
Gemma> Others would say the man wasn't psychic and did the best he could.
* James scratches the back of his neck again.
Chet> Well, I don't know that he could've said much more. I mean, I guess he could've told me who killed him, but I'm not sure he would've had time to write that information down and hide it for me.
* Ingrid continues after a short pause, "What can you tell me about the Valley of the Moon? Anything interesting?"
* Gemma smacks James' hand
Gemma> Stop that.
Roger> I understand that, but an after-death message, well, i would think it more informative.
Gemma> Are you saying you think he was the voice on the cell pohne?
James> I- it's like chicken pox- they don't even itch but you know you're not supposed to so you scratch
Chet> Well, I'm pretty sure he left the message before he died.
Roger> It just seems like he knew what was happening, and i'm sure his death is somehow connected to the freeholds destruction.
* Ingrid goes on, "Anything unusual that sticks out in your mind about it?"
Roger> He sounded like he knew it, thats what bugs me.
Gemma> Well, he knew the sidhe are murderous bastards. Is that what you're talking about?
Chet> He never said as much.
Roger> Don't start gemma.
Gemma> Can't stand to hear a pooka tell the truth, can you?
* Ingrid rolls her eyes.
Chet> No, she's right. I mean, he had no love for the sidhe.
Roger> He said, "If you're reading this, and
Roger> everything's gone to shit, then there's really only one place to go.
Chet> I remember that time at my cookout and he freaked out when that one guy, what's his name, Doug-E Fresh, or whatever showed up.
James> fucking doug
Gemma> Sir Dough Ass! I love him. He's so trustworthy.
* James sneers a little as he grips the wheel
* Ingrid sighs audibly and disgustedly.
Chet> Yeah. That guy.
Chet> The professor didn't like him.
Gemma> I wonder if he's a traitor... Kind of suspicious that he was the only one to survive whatever little trip he went on.
Gemma> Ingrid, have you talked to the male at all since we came back?
Chet> He showed up after someone kicked the living hell out of him and the professor was pissed that I even let him in to fix him up.
James> if he's even still alive.
James> well, he is, among other things, an oath breaker.
mgrasso> Ingrid is still on the phone.
* Ingrid changes her tone as she continues talking into the cell, "Hey, how's the um... atmosphere down there?"
Chet> I guess I just figured that when he said, "There's only one place to go", he meant this valley of the moon. I mean, one place is burned down and the other is my house, and I already live there.
Roger> What (whats the term, Breed) was the professor?
Gemma> (kith)
Roger> (thanks)
Chet> The professor was just like me. Except older and stuff.
Roger> What sort of creatures bring on the winter, I'm sorry that I'm not as informed as I might like.
* James runs a hand over the buttons on the car, looking tempted.
* Ingrid whispers now, "No, not that.. I mean at the station. Is everything okay?"
James> banality
James> men
James> fae
Roger> fae
James> everything.
Gemma> sidhe.
* Gemma drums her fingers against the door
James> for example-
James> one of us one day desides we don't really want to do, well, whatever
Roger> Chet, if there was any single thing that the professor though was the most dangerous to the dreaming, what was it?
James> so instead we stay in,
James> we watch tv
* Chet thinks about Roger's question.
Roger> I'm listening james.
James> we drink perrier and we order from infomercials
Roger> eww
James> suddenly, we're undone, and that helps to bring the winter
* Ingrid looks a bit irritated. "All right. Thanks for the info, Danny. I'll talk to you again soon."
Roger> i see
* Ingrid hangs up.
James> every person who thinks the economy will colapse if they don't go to work- they bring the winter.
James> anything that destroys glamour.
James> but lets call me an optimist, because where I come from after winter comes spring.
Roger> That's not what i'm asking.
mgrasso> We're coming up on Allen St.
Roger> Those acts are by just being tired or unimaginative.
James> are you talking about fomori?
mgrasso> James turns right and heads down E. Allen towards the park.
Roger> Who would actively try to destroy glamour
James> ravagers
Gemma> Oh, please.
* Ingrid shoots a quick glance at James.
James> lol.
James> wrong term.
James> rhapsodizers
* Ingrid coughs politely. "Um, right."
* Roger looks perplexed
James> (really!!!!)
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 3 3
Roger> Ingrid, don't scoff, this is important.
Gemma> !2 9
Gemma> !dice 2 9
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 9. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 2 5
James> rhapsodizers are fae who take glamour without moderation
Roger> someone destroyed the freehold, we need to find out who.
mgrasso> As you come up to the parking lot to the Valley of the Moon park, you can see the park's ornate stone entryway arch and behind a short wall, a large garden of vines.
James> (can we edit out my slip up? james would *never* make that mistake)
Roger> I see
mgrasso> (No problem, James)
*** Ingrid has quit IRC (Connection reset by peer)
mgrasso> (She'll be back. It's just Juno cutting out on her)
*** Ingrid (jsober@01-045.056.popsite.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
Roger> Chet, any idea to my question.
Scene Three: Tracks on the Moon
mgrasso> James pulls into the lot, and I need everyone to make Wits + Alertness rolls at diff. 8, except Ingrid, who will make a Per + Scan roll at 6.
Ingrid> !dice 6 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 6d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 9 4 2 5 6
Chet> !dice 4 8
* DiceWell Chet rolls 4d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 7 10 8
Roger> !dice 4 8
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 2 9 8
James> !dice 3 8
* DiceWell James rolls 3d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 9 4 6
James> !dice 5 8
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 5 3 5 7 4
mgrasso> (Hhhhhhemma?)
Gemma> (sorry)
Gemma> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 10 10 7 3 4 4
mgrasso> (Okay, sorry about that)
mgrasso> Anyway, back to what we were doing.
Ingrid> There's Douglass's motorcycle! Speaking of the good Sir.
* Gemma makes a moue of disgust
* Ingrid glowers at Gemma.
Gemma> Aw. I'm so glad to see his horse survived.
Chet> Yeah - but something's missing.
Ingrid> The fae steed is no more, though.
James> what?
Chet> Like the horse...
* Ingrid looks very sad.
* James looks that the motercycle.
James> (at not that)
mgrasso> Where the three point, you can see a blue-grey import motorcycle, sitting behind an SUV in a corner of the lot under a tree.
Gemma> Let's go say hi to the horse and the hippo next to it.
James> let's fucking key it
Roger> Who is this douglass anyway?
Chet> James. I'd think you'd at least have a little respect for the machine.
Gemma> The biggest ass in the world. He made promises and never followed through. He brought us together for the sheer pleasure of watching us tear each other apart.
Gemma> And to see what kind of gorgeous babies James and I would make, of course.
Chet> So far as I've been able to gather, he's Bosley.
Ingrid> He was in service to Rogelio, Count of the now-estroyed freehold at San Xavier
Roger> Who?
Roger> ok
James> he made an oath with us, and deserted us.
Roger> I see
Ingrid> He's a busy guy, apparently.
br>* Ingrid sighs.
Ingrid> It's nice to see he survived, though! If indeed it's him driving the motorcycle.
mgrasso> James, are you still parking near the entrance, or are we driving over to the cycle at the other end of the lot?
Chet> Survived?
Ingrid> Would you park over by it, James?
James> yeah. fine
Chet> Ingrid, I don't mean to sound crass, but i wouldn't get your hopes up.
Gemma> He could just be a boring old man again.
Gemma> I mean, he was one to begin with, but now he doesn't have the pointy ears.
* Ingrid look at Chet blankly. "Yeah. Survived. You know, the destruction of the Freehold and all?"
Gemma> Ooh! Yes! Maybe he really did survive it, Ingrid.
* Gemma claps her hands excitedly
Ingrid> But why would he be here if her weren't hinself?
James> to go on a tour?
Chet> Ingrid, get a hold of yourself. You're talking nonsense.
James> like we sould be fucking doing right now.
Gemma> Maybe he wants to destroy this place, too.
Ingrid> What do you mean nonsense?
James> (her weren't hinself)
Gemma> What did he do mundanely, Griddy? Was he a fry cook or a suit?
Ingrid> (Sorry, my fingers aren't in practice. :)
Chet> (I just thought Ingrid was overcome at the thought of Douglass in peril :) )
Roger> None of you are making any sense.
Ingrid> (That too. :)
Gemma> *I* make sense.
Roger> I have no idea what your talking about
Gemma> Look at all this land.
* James grabs roger by the shoulder, listen for a second buddy:
James> Sir douglass asked us to perform a task with him and we all made an oath- that makes us an oathcircle.
* Gemma mutters, "*made*"
Roger> (is the car parked)
James> anyway, he did not perform said task, but we did, making him an oath breaker
James> (yes.)
James> which is very wrong, and banal and shit.
Roger> Ok, and he screwed you, I got that part.
Gemma> When he did that, a little bubble of glamour lost its wings.
James> he was also ingrids sponsor at her saining-
Ingrid> He gave me his sword.
James> giving her a soft spot in her heart for him.
Roger> Ok, yes, but why is he here.
James> anyway, he said he was fighting the invading commoners out at the frontlines
Chet> Well, Roger, that's his motorcycle.
Roger> Ah, I see.
James> anyway, he's probably here because he wasn't killed and wants answers like we do.
Chet> However, it also used to be a horse, but it's not any more.
Gemma> That's what he *said* he was doing, James.
Chet> Which means something bad has probably happened.
James> right I said he *said*
Roger> What do you mean invading commoners?
James> um, hasn't any of this reached california?
Roger> no, not really
James> shit you fucking boarder do nothing new age... anyway, the world is chaos.
* Ingrid looks around carefully, hoping to find any sign of Douglass himself.
mgrasso> (We were just there 2 days ago. :) )
mgrasso> Ingrid: Per + Investigation, diff. 6
Ingrid> !dice 7 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 7d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 2 4 5 10 7 6 8
James> we're at war man.
James> and nobody knows what the right side is.
* Gemma shoots James a Look
Gemma> May we go in now?
Roger> With who?
James> but it's the wrong way to degrade the social structure.
James> that I'm not sure.
James> ourselves?
James> maybe.
James> lets go in.
Gemma> Please.
Ingrid> Let's do.
Roger> Thanks for the crash coarse.
Chet> I thought we were looking for Doug...
Roger> alright, lets go
Gemma> Doug's inside getting his candy.
* Gemma slides out of the car and slams the door shut behind her
James> I'll tell you more later- anything you need to know.
James> GENTLE!!!
* Ingrid gets out and heads for the entrance, not waiting for the others.
* Chet climbs over Roger and gets out.
James> Gemma, baby, the car...
* James follows.
Scene Four: Beast
mgrasso> Heading through the archway, you see a small stone platform, like an altar. A girl is sitting down in a folding chair behind it, and she says, "Welcome to the Valley of the Moon! Is this your first trip here?" She stands up.
* Gemma looks like she's dying to say something, but merely glares at James instead
* Ingrid smiles and says "Yes, in fact it is."
mgrasso> She looks to be about 18, and holds a roll of tickets and has a small strongbox on the stone altar. Inside now, you can see paths leading off from this entry garden in almost every direction.
* James whispers to gemma
* Gemma mutters something back to James
mgrasso> "Well, I'm Tina, I'll be your tour leader today. I hope you enjoy the vision of George Phar Legler!"
Roger> Five tickets please.
mgrasso> Tina hands Roger five tickets and collects the money. "We'll start off by making our way to the Magic Tower, one of the first buildings Mr. Legler built in the Valley of the Moon!"
mgrasso> As you head to the right of the entrance, sunlight trickles in through moderately-heavy foliage inside the garden.
mgrasso> A soft wind whispers through the leaves... as well as a faint sound, like scissors cutting.
Ingrid> Did you see the man who came in on that motorcycle in the parking lot, by any chance?
mgrasso> "As you may know, Mr. Legler's vision was influenced by his three favorite authors, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lewis Carroll, and Edgar Allan Poe."
mgrasso> Tina points out a bust of Poe on a nearby column.
mgrasso> "No, ma'am, I'm sorry, I didn't."
* James twines his fingers into gemmas hand
mgrasso> "As we approach the Magic Tower, I'd like to point out these trestles for the vine garden. They were one of the first structures erected here, back in the 1930s. While Mr. Legler was building his vision here in the Arizona desert, he sought to bring green, a natural arboreal presence, into this living desert."
mgrasso> ....*snick snick snick*... That sound... is it knives being sliced against one another's surface? Whatever it is, it's larger, and coming from no particular direction. Tina seems not to notice it.
* Chet looks around.
* Ingrid looks around too.
mgrasso> "And here we see the Magic Tower. Handbuilt by Mr. Legler, its stones conceal a hiding place for young children to play hide and seek, or use as a clubhouse!"
* Chet looks into his bag and gets out his sunglasses, tucking them into his shirt collar.
mgrasso> http://www.deuceofclubs.com/rv/rv301.jpg
mgrasso> Looming over the tiny tower, though, is a shadowy shape, with eyes of fire. Numerous arms, way too many to count, tipped with razor sharp claws, extend out from each arm. The creature's pinched eyes are reminiscent of an insect... it is truly horrible.
mgrasso> When it sees the six of you, it moves, fluidly, from its perch over the Magic Tower, and swoops down upon you all!
mgrasso> Wits + Alertness, diff. 4 :)
Chet> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Chet rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 5 7 7 2
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 2 7 9 10 8
James> !dice 5
Gemma> !dice 6 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 4 4 7 4 2 2
Roger> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 3 1 9
Roger> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 5 4 3 6
mgrasso> Why'd you roll twice?
mgrasso> And James, we're waiting.
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 7 5 3 7 2
James> (sorry I thought I did)
mgrasso> Great. Roger, what will you do?
Gemma> (You did, but left off the diff :) )
James> (ah)
Roger> (I typed, but it didn't show up on my computer for 20 seconds
mgrasso> (Ah)
mgrasso> (Bill is very lagged)
Roger> I'm going to dive out of the way.
mgrasso> Great. Chet and James?
* Chet slams on his sunglasses
* James shoves Gemma out of the way
mgrasso> And finally, Ingrid and Gemma?
Gemma> (whoo! My hero.)
Ingrid> Diving out of the way too.
James> (a regular prince fucking charming)
Gemma> I'm being shoved out of the way -- and aiding it.
Gemma> (in that "out of the way, not on the ground" way)
mgrasso> All right, first things first. I need Gemma, Ingrid, and Roger to give me Dex + Dodge rolls. The claws of the beast go "snick snick snack" as it dives into pitched melee with you. Tina, seeing you all dive around for no apparent reason, begins to back off.
Ingrid> (Diff?)
mgrasso> 6, sorry
Ingrid> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 10 3 6 1 4
Gemma> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 5 1 4 1
mgrasso> Chet, Manipulation + Fae, diff. 8
Roger> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 9 6 5 6
mgrasso> James shoves Gemma roughly to the ground, where she is impaled by the beast's claws immediately.
Gemma> (Can I fall on Tina? Is she still there?)
Chet> !dice 8 8
* DiceWell Chet rolls 8d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 2 6 5 6 8 4 9 3
Gemma> (oh, never mind. I meant to say, "Can I die horribly?")
James> (what?)
mgrasso> Gemma takes two levels of aggravated chimerical damage.
mgrasso> Chet winks from sight.
mgrasso> Ingrid, too, is sliced by the creature's claw, but manages to evade most of the worst damage.
mgrasso> It is now next round.
mgrasso> Wits + Alertness, diff 4 all.
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 10 10 7 2 1
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 5 5 4 1 6
James> (do I reroll those?)
Roger> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 9 8 6 6
mgrasso> (Specialty?)
James> (not applicable.)
mgrasso> No, then. Gemma, Chet?
Gemma> !dice 6 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 6 5 3 8 1 5
mgrasso> *snick snick snack snicker-snack*
mgrasso> One less die, Gemma.
Roger> (somebody give it a snickers quick)
mgrasso> (Chet?)
Gemma> (sorry)
Gemma> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 8 1 4 3 1
mgrasso> Gemma you're going to go first regardless.
mgrasso> Go first in declaring, that is.
Gemma> Am I still impaled?
* Chet pulls a piece of chalk out of his bag and starts drawing a circle on the ground.
mgrasso> The beast has withdrawn its claw, leaving a nasty wound two inches to the right of your heart.
mgrasso> Chet, i need Wits + Alertness.
Chet> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Chet rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 7 1 8
mgrasso> And you're invisible, so msg me. :)
Chet> (OK)
Gemma> I'm dodging. And yelling for Tina to get her sweet, banal ass over here.
mgrasso> Tina, completely confused by all the falling around on the ground and such, is running for help.
mgrasso> James, then Ingrid.
* James draws and fires his crossbow.
mgrasso> Go for it.
James> ???
mgrasso> Dex + Firearms.
mgrasso> diff. 6
James> !dice 8 6
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 6 2 9 1 1 4 10 3
James> wtf.
James> !dice 1 6
* DiceWell James rolls 1d10 at difficulty 6. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 5
mgrasso> Damage is 5 dice, diff. 6
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 5 9 9 8 2
mgrasso> The crossbow bolt buries itself in the creature's leathery hde, where it burbles and melts before the acidic ichor in its veins.
mgrasso> Crap, we're in the wrong order.
mgrasso> I screwed up. Dammit.
mgrasso> Well, Ingrid, go ahead.
mgrasso> And Roger. Fuck.
mgrasso> I screwed up.
mgrasso> Roger, Ingrid, whatare you going to do?
* Ingrid pulls something from her purse, a small frisbee! As she throws it it turns to a silver cirle slicing through the air, headed for the thing's claws.
mgrasso> Roger?
Ingrid> (circle) -> [Roger] PING
mgrasso> (He's really lagged, Ingrid, so go ahead. Dex + Athletics, diff. 6)
Ingrid> !dice 3 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 3d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 7 4
mgrasso> Great! Damage is 5 dice as well, diff. 6
Ingrid> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 1 7 4 10 9
mgrasso> The circlet richochets off one of the beast's claws, as it brings a heavy blow down on James.
* Roger runs to stop tina.
mgrasso> James, you take two levels of agg damage as well, as the beast's claw flattens you.
mgrasso> Gemma, Dex + Dodge please?
mgrasso> diff 6?
Gemma> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 6 9 8 2
mgrasso> Gemma dodges oddly to her left as the beast tries to get her again. She leaps nimbly away.
mgrasso> Okay, this round, we'll do it right.
mgrasso> Everyone please roll Wits + Alertness please.
Chet> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Chet rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 8 10 6 6
Roger> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 9 5 9 4
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 8 3 7 7 5
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 6 4 10 4 1
mgrasso> Gemma?
Gemma> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 7 10 4 10
mgrasso> Wow, good job this turn, guys? Roger has almost caught up with Tina. Ingrid, you can see the beast is making an attempt to slice at you and James, since you're the only two left in combat with it.
mgrasso> Ingrid, could you declare your action now?
Ingrid> Sure! I think it's time to slice and dice with my sword.
Chet> !dice 8 8
* DiceWell Chet rolls 8d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 7 8 3 9 2 6 2
mgrasso> Gemma seems to have also disappeared from vision.
Roger> !dice 7 7
* DiceWell Roger rolls 7d10 at difficulty 7. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 1 1 9 3 1 7 5
Ingrid> !dice 3 7
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 3d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 6 6 6
mgrasso> Ingrid swings wildly, but the beast seems cowed by her stroke! It's now that something, the inkling of an idea, begins forming in James' head. Int + Mythlore, diff. 8.
mgrasso> Chet, you give me Int + Literature, diff. 7
*** Ingrid has quit IRC (Connection reset by peer)
Chet> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Chet rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 7 4 6 5
James> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 2 9 7 8 10
James> (bo yeah baby!)
*** IngridK (jsober@01-045.056.popsite.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
mgrasso> Ingrid's form is gleaming in the half-light of the garden, and her sword glints in the late afternoon sun.
mgrasso> James? What are you going to do?
James> I'm going to strengthing Ingrid.
mgrasso> Excellent. Damn, I need Nockers.
mgrasso> Int + Fae, diff. 8
James> !dice 8 8
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 5 3 7 8 4 1 7 6
James> fuck.
James> why do I suck so hard?
mgrasso> Ingrid goes into combat ungirded with James' strength. The beast's claws snap and slice at Ingrid.
mgrasso> Ingrid takes a fairly good-sized wound to her upper shoulder, doing two levels of chimerical agg damage.
mgrasso> It is now time for next round. Wits Alertness diff 4 please.
Gemma> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 5 9 1
Chet> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Chet rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 7 1 7 2
*** IngridK has quit IRC (Connection reset by peer)
Roger> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 3 1 7 9 -> [Roger] PING
mgrasso> Let's see, James and Ingrid.
mgrasso> Need their inits. Ingrid's just about back.
*** Ingrid (jsober@02-085.056.popsite.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
mgrasso> James, Ingrid, init please.
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 6 8 1 9 10
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 2 6 6 10 7
mgrasso> Wow, excellent? Chet, Roger, whatcha doing?
mgrasso> Then Gemma.
Gemma> (Les invisibles have to msg it, right?) -> [Chet] PING
mgrasso> Yes, please!
mgrasso> Roger?
* Roger turns and runs back towards the fight.
mgrasso> Okay, Ingrid?
Ingrid> Striking again with the sword.
mgrasso> And finally, James.
James> /me begins mumbling Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
James> Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
James> beware the Jabberwock... his vorpal sword...
James> (that's a mess :)
* James trys to harden ingrids sword
mgrasso> Go ahead! Int + Prop, diff. 7
James> (yikes just a sec, there are a million things going on here!!!!)
James> :)
mgrasso> (Just giving you the roll)
* Ingrid starts for a moment as if someone poked her, then nods and focuses again on the monster.
James> !dice 8 7
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 4 5 6 1 10 5 10 8
James> !dice 2 7
* DiceWell James rolls 2d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 4 3
* James yells the poem at the top of his lungs
mgrasso> Ingrid's sword takes on a harder form. It seems sharper, lighter... as she sweeps down on the creature it leaps to meet her and.... that's where we'll leave off!
mgrasso> heh heh heh
Ingrid> Hey!
mgrasso> Muahahahahahahahahaha
Ingrid> :P
James> screaming "BEWARE THE JABBERWOCK MY SON..."
James> lol!
Ingrid> You big meanie. :)
mgrasso> Okay, before people bail, we need to talk about changing the gaming night.
Chet> Ha!