You have just entered room "Nobilis."

Dessa has entered the room.

Feng Po has entered the room.

Vashti has entered the room.

HG: Okay, good. We're all here. I'm making one last call for names for your Chancel that are better than Winterport (best my tiny mind can do). Then, we'll start playing.

Vashti: I still like Widowsport, but Winterport will do

HG: Hm. If there are no other thoughts, Winterport it'll be, and we can begin.

Dessa: aok

Vashti: ::uneasy silence::

Vashti: :-)

HG: The three of you are standing in an open field. It's night. Behind you is a dark forest of brooding pines, and below are the ruins of what appear to be a city. You've never seen one-another before. Please describe....

HG: ...yourselves physically.

Feng Po: ::appears as an asian male, short spikey black hair, athletic if slender build underneath a black  traditonal chinese suit ad an overcoat::

Vashti: I'm what Princess Jasmine would look like if she lived in Manhatten for five years, exotic-looking yuppy in nice, slimming black, with impenetrable shades

Dessa: ... incrediably ugly, old and diseased. cloaked and covered as much as possible, but slivers of skin still reveal scars and viruses that have affected my body. Walking stick, and other vitals.

HG: The city below is on the ocean, which laps at docks on its far side. The architecture is strange, although most of it has been brought to the ground as if by a terrible Earthquake.

HG: Okay folks, take it away. It's all yours.

Vashti: ::shakes head in confusion::

Vashti: what the... dear lord,  how'd I end up here?

Feng Po: ::looks at the two others, turns, wanders away towards the city::

Vashti: ::chases after::

Vashti: "Um, sir?  Sir?!?  Excuse me"

Dessa: ::sees the other two and decides to follow, slowly::

HG: Po, as you head toward the city, you can make out people bustling around. They're shambling about, looking like those pictures of people who survived the Second World War's worst bombardments.

Vashti: "Do you know what town that is down there?"

HG: Most of them are Caucasian.

Feng Po: dually noted.  have they started rebuilding, or are they still tallying the dead?

Dessa: ::Young people these days seem to have no manners for the older generation!::

HG: There's some burial work going on. Most of them are clustered together in small groups, talking.

Feng Po: I'll approach the nearest group, and wait to be addressed.

HG: Odd. Vashti just spoke in Arabic. Po just spoke in Mandarin. You're all understanding one-another.

Vashti: ::blink::

Feng Po: Actually, I just thought in Mandarin, but that's still neat.

HG: And apparently Russian seems to be a common language, too.

Dessa: finally, someone I can understand

HG: Po approaches one of the groups. Getting closer, you realize that the pale skin is caused by masks. Everyone is wearing a mask. Most are white or gray, while others are blue or green or purple.

Feng Po: check.  Have they noticed me yet?

Vashti: ::follows closely behind, now in dumbfounded silence::

HG: Yeah, a few of them have turned toward you, though they appear more nervous than friendly. Most are moving away.

Feng Po: I'll take the closest one who looks capable of speech.  "What has happened here?"

Dessa: I slowly approach Vash.

HG: "Who...are you the replacements? You wanna speak with Anamalech." He points to a once-glorious building, like a cathedral, now shattered and surrounded by rubble and gears.

HG: (They're speaking American English.)

Feng Po: thinks for a moment, nods, and walks in that direction, carefully noting the two tag-alongs

HG: You two following?

Vashti: ::looks at other two, lightly shrugs, and heads forth::

Dessa: I guess I'll have to, just go slower, or I'll loose a leg

Vashti: (heheh)

HG: The three of you approach the ruins of the great building. Inside is an enormous, broken contraption of gears and screws, and on the floor are broken masks. Someone is moving around in the back, banging and cursing.

Dessa: or, perhaps that strapping young man would care to carry me, and we could go faster.

HG: The strapping young man backs away and flees.

Feng Po: I will move to the center of the room, and stand, politely waiting to be addressed.

Dessa: ::knocks walking stick on the wall:: UMHUM!!

HG: "Feng Po! Vashti Aghraeradha! Dessa Novikov!"  That didn't take long. A...creature...steps out from behind the broken machine.

HG: He...or it?...is hideous. It looks like a sheep with two long black horns and seven green eyes placed about its head. It wears a silk robe, and it holds a wrench in its chicken foot-like hands.

Dessa: bring me a chair.....please

Vashti: ::stares with palpable horror and confusion::

HG: It glares at the three of you, its eyes blinking out of order, and gives a brief, reluctant bow.

Feng Po: "You are Anamalech?"

HG: "I...am Anamalech, the watcher of Winterport," the creature says, dragging several stools into the middle of the room. "You are the Nobilis of Lord Gideon, I presume?"

Feng Po: "As do we."

HG: It sits down on one of the stools, its rotund body squirming in an attempt to get comfortable.

Feng Po: ::remains standing::

Dessa: ::painfully try to sit, and eventually does::

HG: "I suppose you don't know what you're doing or who you are?" Anamalech says with a revolting sigh.

Dessa: "That is why we seek your counsel"

HG: Anamalech picks up a broken mask, stares at it for a moment, and finally tosses it away.

Feng Po: how many masks are on the floor?

Vashti: "Well, I for one know exactly who I am, though I haven't the slightest idea what's happened to me in the last 24 hours"

Feng Po: roughly

HG: Maybe a hundred. It's a big room.

Vashti: ::sits pouting on the stool with her arms crossed:::

Feng Po: good good.  I'm standing silently

Feng Po: with maybe a little sneer

HG: "Well, I can certainly offer you counsel. Which of you saw the death of Manaechus the Ebon Serpent? Which of you met Dahlia Thorn, Anguisher and Lady of the World That Was? Which of you defeated the Cammoran, Viktor?"

Dessa: "no reason to be crabby, Vashtii."

Dessa: Viktor was my accomplishment

HG: "Ah, Old One. If Viktor was your accomplishment, you must be the successor to Asoun, the Hound of Disability. But I suppose you do not know whom Asoun battled."

Feng Po: "I witnessed the death of The Sepent."

Vashti: ::glares through her shades at the old woman:: well, I think there was mention of a woman named Dahlia during the chaos that just happened downtown today

Dessa: I remember it was a man who seemed of little strength

HG: "The Hound fought a servant of Malahdi, who was a Noble of the Ebon Serpent, as you are now a Noble of Gideon the Fallen."

Dessa: yes

HG: "And yes, you must have heard of Dahlia. She was an Excrucian, an enemy of Creation. The Ebon Serpent bartered his annihilation for secrets that would benefit the Anguisher. Fortunately, Manaechus was consumed before...."

HG: "....he could extinguish himself."

HG: "For the defeat of Manaechus, of course, the Fallen Lord must thank Feng Po." The creature bows again, wobbling awkwardly on its stool.

Feng Po: ::stays silent and stoney::

Vashti: ::glances over at Po with raised eyebrow::

HG: "All of you were once mortals. You were caught up in events beyond your understanding. Now you are here. You have been given power. You will use your power to aid our Master who has given you that might."

Dessa: "You should show your appreciation for such a geuture, PO"

HG: Anamalech absently picks up another mask, then tosses it, disgusted, to the ground.

Dessa: Those masks must be of some importance to you Anamalech.

HG: "The masks? Yes. That brings me to why you are here. I am a humble demon, but I speak for our Master. He has brought you here to restore his Chancel, where his body slumbers while he wages war in the Spirit World."

HG: "You are to be his generals and kings, but sadly, you are now the kings of ruin after the battle with the armies of Manaechus. Horrors roam the streets and Winterport has been nearly destroyed."

Feng Po: "How would he have it rebuilt?"

HG: "He does not care. The Earth is merely a cradle for his form. This is our home. Restore it, and you may rebuild it in your image. But there's much to do after the battle."

Vashti: "Well, before I even consider this task, why were we chosen for such 'power' as you call it, such responsibility, and servitude to a master of which I've only heard mention?"

HG: "Why? I neither know nor care. Humans are weak and indistinguishable to me. You were chosen because you were there. Your glory is your Imperator's, not yours. Maybe something about you impressed our Lord, maybe not."

HG: "Regardless, you now serve him."

Feng Po: "Where does his physical form rest?"

Dessa: certainly, I cannot build a house. Who will be doing the labor for us, or, at least, me.

HG: Anamalech stands up and hobbles outside. He points to the hill where a ruined tower stands. "I would not trouble him now."

HG: "The people here will do the labor for you, though it would be wise to assist them with your newfound power. They are loyal and hard-working, though not nearly enough. Which brings me to one of your tasks."

Feng Po: "We will rebuild his tower.""  ::looks to the others::  "It will be greater."

HG: "There are normally a little over 6,000 humans in this town. Half are dead. We need our population back up. Find 3,000 humans and bring them to Winterport."

Dessa: "Our first concern should be for the people, Po"

HG: "Oh, and the unleashed hordes of hell. I forgot about them." Anamalech smiles sadistically.

Feng Po: "Our first concern is for our beneficiary.  You would do well to flatter him."

Feng Po: "Will they hinder us?"

Vashti: ::still sitting back, deeply perplexed and trying to digest this information::

HG: "Well, they're still eating people. I'd deal with them, but I'm busy here. They are three; the three demons whose acts were so horrendous that they drove Manaechus to madness all those eons ago."

Dessa: "Sounds like a couple of parasites to me"

HG: "There is, above the factory, a great bird. There is, somewhere near the ocean, a lashing wind. And there is--I don't know where--a creature whose touch rots all things. It would be best to bind them away."

Feng Po: "How would we do that?"

Dessa: " These creatures must be stoped before we can begin work"

HG: "Oh, no doubt you'll figure it out. Oh, and there are other things to do." Anamalech takes a spiral-bound notebook from his robe. Yes...stop demons...rebuild buildings...Oh yes, here we are...."

HG: "First, of course, this--" he points to the machine "--needs to be repaired. This is the Cipher of Masks, which determines the fates and moods of the people of Locus Gideon and provides power to the city."

HG: "It's reparable, but sadly, its key component--the Dream Dynamo--is not. The fae have such devices. You'll have to find and barter with them. Oh, and there's this..."

HG: "Our army was decimated in the battle. While the spirits of the soldiers still remain, they need a chief to lead them. Track down a suitable creature of great power--a demon or elemental lord or some such--and make it serve us."

HG: *Flip flip.*  "Oh yes!" Anamalech smiles cruelly, showing blunt, yellow teeth. "Gideon would have all of you claim one and only one Anchor for now. Someone who will be of use to you."

Dessa: "And these fae, I suppose, live very far away?"

HG: "That should be it. I'll keep you apprised of any new developments." He bows again.

Feng Po: "I know nothing of enslaving demons.  Nor making deals with Fae.  The old one makes a valid point; at least direct us to these Fae."

HG: "Oh, the fae? Well, most of them live deep in the mythic world or on other branches of the World Ash. You can find many, though, at Locus India. That is, if you wish to brave the wrath of the Dark Lord India."

Feng Po: "Perhaps the 'mystic world', then?  And how would we get there?"

Dessa: "I believe that Po has made a valid decision, please direct us."

HG: "You don't know about the--" the demon sighs, and picks up a wrench. "Look at this. What does it look like?"

Feng Po: ::stares at him, not dignifying the hypothetic question with an answer::

HG: "Humor me, Meno. This isn't a rhetorical question."

Feng Po: "A wrench."

HG: "Yes. A wrench. Now, look again." The wrench wavers. It's now...um...a gnome? It's a small, grumpy-looking creature with a beard and thick arms. Anamalech bends down and removes a bolt--you see that--

HG: --and simultaneously you see the gnome thing hop down and use its tough little arms to drag a little worm thing (that would be the bolt) kicking and screaming out of its little hidey-hole.

Dessa: "My eyes cannot be that bad."

Vashti: ::chuckles:: "Yes, of course, I see now...  It makes a frightening amount of sense now that I think about it..."

Vashti: "...How extraordinary!"

HG: "There's one world. Two ways of looking at it. Here on this filthy little planet, things operate on principles of cause and effect and torsion and all that. But they also operate by will and hope and choice...."

Dessa: "Is there nowhere we can find these Fae without having to exert huge ammounts of energy?"

HG: "Where things operate on will and hope and choice, you're looking at the mythic world. Rivers are naiads, mountains are giants, and Microsoft is a big dragon on a pile of gold."

HG: "The fae are difficult to find. Thing is, it's--what?--the 28th now. When the month rolls over, everyone needs new masks. However, dealing with India can be--unpleasant. The Dark Lord can be preachy."

HG: "Perhaps you should deal with lesser problems first."

Vashti: ::nods with a self-satisfied grin:: let's take a look at these demons, ,shall we?

Feng Po: "Taming the hordes and demons, finding the people, rebuilding the structures?"

HG: "Oh, and don't leave the Chancel without consulting me. As much as I hate and loathe you--and I do hate and loathe you--our Lord has required of you one day of courtesy, and you're too important to be fed to locusts just yet."

Dessa: " sounds fair to me. Perhaps I could get a cart, so as to not slow you two speed demons down."

HG: Anamalech waves his hand, and a small car-like thing with a giant steam boiler on the top rolls up outside.

Vashti: "We'll make a point of it, Anamalech"

Dessa: "Impressive, Thank you"

HG: Anamalech goes back to tinkering with Cipher of Masks.

HG: So, rebuilding needs to be done, there are a bunch of demons loose...now what?

Feng Po: Are there any apparent demons running amok in the streets?  like the little pink ones from doom?

Dessa: I say we secure the 3000 people

Feng Po: Nah, the demons first.  they appear to be eating the people

Vashti: well, apparently there's a great bird above the factory

HG: Actually, yeah, but most of them seem fairly congenial. One's selling snacks to the local children. This place is much weird than Greenwich Village.

Dessa: If we secure the people, then they wont be eaten while we try to find who's eating them

Feng Po: I have a sneaking suspicion that it eats faces

Vashti: heheh, mm, yes, I think I gather that sense as well

HG: The town has a central square, and then three big looping roads--residential, commercial, industrial. The ocean's to the east, and the industrial area's southeast.

Dessa: The wisdom of the old never outshines the laughter of the young, so sad.

Feng Po: No people until we have stopped the number we have from going down.  Let's take a trip to the factory

Vashti: ::grin:: yes, let's

Dessa: fine, but don't come to me when we need 3000 people out of 20.

Vashti: shall we destroy it, subdue it, or,  heh, train it?

HG: The factor is an enormous building where love and hate, fear and laughter are smelted, melted, and made into any number of vital household items. You pull up in your little cart. The creature is plainly visible on the steeple.

HG: People cower in a secured area below. A few looks like they'd tried to make the run--they're the ones like in the dirt without faces. High above, the creatures sits like some enormous vulture.

HG: It is pale as a maggot. Its face is a single pointed beak, from which a bright red tongue occasionally flickers, and its eyes, set far back on its pointed head, flicker a dull black.

Dessa: We'll have to lure it down here

HG: The Bird That Eats Faces notices you and trills.

HG: What are you doing?

Vashti: to get a better view of it, I remove my shades and move closer

Vashti to HG: how powerful are my eyes again?

HG to Vashti: You have Glorious, which means that you can overawe mortals and impress even Nobles.

Vashti to HG: okay, so they'll show him his bizarre reality, but won't traumatize him,  right?

HG to Vashti: Probably not.

Vashti to HG: and how do my wings sprout?  any special conditions?

HG to Vashti: Nope. If you wanna fly, you can fly.

Vashti: hrm, okay

Feng Po: Calling it out, I suppose.  I'll take a bold step forward.

HG: It flaps awkwardly. It looks like a huge ugly bird with sparse white feathers, corpse-white skin, and a lashing tail. Its face is covered in blood. When people approach, it hisses and flaps its wings.

Dessa: I know animals, I think I can afford to wait for it to come to me

HG: It's about thirty feet straight up to the top of the steeple.

Feng Po: Does he look interested in coming after us?

Vashti: ::gets the urge to jump up to it::

HG: No. He's waiting for more people to come out of the factory. You can see them behind the glass, their eyes nervous behind their masks.

HG: Well, a climb is Aspect 1 and it'll take you a few minutes. A jump is Aspect 4.

Dessa: why would he want to keep them in?

HG: It looks like he's been picking them off one at a time as they panic and make a run for it.

HG: There are other people in nearby shacks, all biding their time.

Dessa: so, why dosen't he come after us, we're easy targets

HG: He probably senses the mojo.

Vashti: ::starts making normal-person jumps out of an odd compulsion, when draping, shimmering wings rip out of my back, surprising me for a moment::

Vashti: I quickly shake my surprise and fly up to it

Vashti: shades still off

Feng Po: ::turns and looks at her, and watches::

HG: Vashti launches thirty feet into the air, shimmering mirrored wings trailing from her shoulders, hips, and ankles. She's at the Bird's height now, and the creature snaps viciously and prepares to fly off.

Dessa: " what are you doing Vashti. You barely have your earth legs, much less air."

Vashti: and in a loud, impetuous voice "Great Bird who Eats Faces!  In the name of Lord Gideon and by our collected powers, we command you to desist your current habits."

Feng Po: (go get her, Ray!)

HG: It's not working. The creature hisses, steps back, and soars into the sky.

HG: Heh.

Vashti: foo

HG: There's a scream from one of the small shacks. A few people rush out of it.

Dessa: well, at least now we have some people

Feng Po: ::watches, wondering if he can fly, too::

HG: The bird is circling--it's spotted the people and is circling around to dive.

Vashti: well, fine, if the damned thing won't listen to reason

HG: Okay, we're gonna move into task resolution mode.

HG: First: Dessa, what are you doing?

HG: There's a bird in the air, a Noble in the air behind it, a bunch of people running out of a shack, and screaming coming from said shack.

Dessa: Head in hands, I repremand Vashti for her foolish behavior, then drive to the closest people to try and save them

HG: Alright. Dessa's now standing in front of the nearest person (of the six or so that made a break for it). Anything that attacks that person will have to go through Dessa first.

HG: Feng Po, what are you up to?

Feng Po: I'm trying to stay behind and underneath the Bird, occasionally attempting flight myself (nothing much will surprise me at this point.  Sea World?)

HG: Yeah, you're still not flying, unfortunately. You can sorta stay underneath the creature, though it can move fast. You'd have to be at Aspect 4 to keep up with the thing on the ground.

HG: Now, Vashti: what are you doing.

HG: ?

Vashti: can I make a lesser creation of a large, reflective surface beneath him to deflect his plunge and hopefully confuse him? or would that be a major one?  does this stuff even work against demons?

Vashti: by large I mean at least the size of the bird

HG: That'd be a Lesser Creation. (If you're making one thing smaller than, say, a Mack Truck, it's lesser).  That's a level-4 miracle, so you needn't spend any Domain Miracle Points....

Vashti: excellent

Vashti: then,  after he's deflected by that

HG: A giant mirror comes into being just in front of the bird. The creature squaks in fear and confusion and jerks away at the last minute, and clips a building as it flaps away desperately.

HG: And sorry, that's all you get for now.

HG: Dessa?

HG: The bird is now buzzing down one of the avenues. There's a huge reflecting thing like a mirror floating above you.

Dessa: That stupid bird needs a broken wing

HG: And how do you intend to effect this?

Dessa: what can I do in the means of Genetical defects?

HG: Well, you have your bags of sticks and stones--that should work. In terms of horrible defects, you can do a Lesser Preservation of Soreness to give the bird arthritis like it's never felt before--level 3, so it'd cost 1 DMP.

Dessa: I'll save my point and break some sticks for it.

HG: Dessa takes a stick from her pouch and whips it at the bird. The branch flies through the air like a bolt and slams into the bird's wing. The creature howls in pain and outrage as it spirals to the ground.

HG: Its wing flops uselessly.

HG: Po? Broken-winged demon bird, people running all over the place (most of them have gotten into other shelters now), and some terrified screaming.

Feng Po: Can I inspire the populace to storm it en masse?

Feng Po: at least the ones in the area

HG: Storm what?

Feng Po: the bird, the one that's been terrorizing them

HG: Yes, that'd be a Lesser Preservation (1 pt), but even wounded, there's a good chance it'll rip apart a good number of them before they bring it down.

Feng Po: Can they use chains or something to ensnare it from a distance?

HG: Yeah, they can tie it down with the factory chains. That's what you're having them do?

Feng Po: yes.

HG: Okay, one DMP later, a furious mob pelts the wounded demon with rocks and thrown pipes, then covers it in fishing nets and industrial chains. One fool gets too close and loses his bowels, but the creature is...

HG: ...finally weighed down under chains, helpless and bound.

HG: Okay, now what, anyone?

Dessa: how do we kill it?

Feng Po: "Don't kill it, maybe we can use it."

Vashti: I don't know,  a bird like that might be useful...

Vashti: yeah, I'm with Po.

Dessa: okay, sounds good, but how?

Vashti: Can I make it sit in a corner, think long and hard about what he's done, and thus shame him into following us? :-)

HG: The bird hisses furiously under the burden, but it can't free itself.

HG: A demon doesn't have the capacity for guilt and shame that a human does--it would reflect and gloat, unless you wanted to make a Lesser Change of how the demon saw itself. But then, it'd be a sissy-ass demon.

Feng Po: "We need to train it.  It needs to fear us."

Vashti: can I offer it visions of The Fall?  That might be traumatizing and depressing enough

Feng Po: BRB

Vashti: hrm, I dunno, physical punishment might just be Dessa's department

HG: None of you specializes in Visions, though Po could do that with his Realm score. It'd be a Lesser Creation of Visions.

Dessa: I don't think this demon will respond to visions, I think it needs something more personal

HG: And there's always more sticks and stones.

Vashti: well, it would be personal, reliving the horror and agony of warring against what once were your fellow angels, falling from the paradise you once knew....

Dessa: how about I just bend it's leg until this bird finally realizes we have the power to kill it.

Vashti: but yeah, I suggest Dessa rig something up so that if he does anything without our okay, he feels great, physical pain

Vashti: or, yeah, twisting his leg might work :-)

HG: Going to just beat the crap out the creature until it's listening?

Dessa: sure

Vashti: hehe, if it works for the mob, I guess it can work for us...

HG: *Punt punt smack bludgeon bludgeon squawk thwack thwack!*

HG: It's listening.

Vashti: (LOL!)

Feng Po: (bak)

HG: The mob is fanning out, getting people out of the shacks--though someone's still screaming, loudly. It's gotten colder, and the wind has picked up.

Feng Po: "All right, I'm going in."  I'm going to approach the birds very dangerous head.

Dessa: can I do a Lesser Destruction to heal that poor man who's guts are pouring out

HG: The creature tries to glare balefully at Feng Po, but it's too weakened. It sniffs, then bows its head.

HG: The man died of shock. Sorry.

HG: And you deal with Disability--not wounds.

Dessa: sorry Vashti.

Vashti: ah well, they always sprout more...

HG: The wind is really picking up. The smell of salt from the sea comes roaring in, and it's gotten darker. Someone in one of the shacks is still screaming, and people have begun to leave, stepping nervously away from the demigods.

Feng Po: I'm grabbing it's beak, so it's forced to look at me

Vashti: ah, right, the next demon approaches!

HG: The creature looks at you, thoroughly cowed.

Dessa: I think we got this guy under control, I think we should head for the screaming person, who's probably being eaten

HG: The bird doesn't even attempt to look away.

HG: Actions all around?

Feng Po:  to the bird "You will take orders from me now.  Follow us."

HG: The bird shivers and nods.

Feng Po: "Let it go."

Dessa: Enough with the bird, he has the message, let's go help the dying person!

Vashti: I'm running towards the next demon, which I hope is near Dying Man

Feng Po: ::glares::  "the Demons are more important then the peasants.  If he is going to die, let him die.  I will not be rushed on his account."

Dessa: I'm with Vashti.

Dessa: If demons are more important, then let's get the next one

HG: Vashti, you head toward the shack and look in. There's a woman there. Around her leg is a young girl, hugging and pleading. The woman appears frozen in place, though she screams in terror.

Vashti: Not that I really care about saving the person, but, hey, where there's smoke...

Vashti: "Woman,  what frightens you?"

HG: The other two of you get another blast of icy wind, and salt coats your eyelids and lips as a terrible presence rears up before you. A salty wind surrounds a tangled mass of fishing hooks, on which hang two screaming citizens.

Feng Po: ::to the bird::  "come, show me where your comrades are hiding."

Dessa: Ok, so how do we stop a freezing wind

HG: The bird squeals in fear.

HG: Okay, action time. Dessa, what are you doing?

Dessa: I'm with Vashti, trying to figure out how to control a wind demon who's salting my wounds!

HG: The demon hovers for a moment, as tall as a building, then it explodes outward, slashing wildly with its razor-sharp hooks. It nearly catches Dessa, who ducks--the building behind her is lacerated by the shredding wind and iron.

HG: Feng Po, what are you doing?

Feng Po: Can I create some sort of concave wall to keep it from, ya' know, killing us?

HG: Yeah, Lesser Creation of A Big Wall.  1 RMP.  That's what you're doing?

HG: (And eventually it will get around it.)

Feng Po: yes

Feng Po: give us some time to think

HG: Okay. A massive wall of gleaming bronze burns its way into reality, forming a near-hemisphere around the three of you and blocking off the Evil Wind of Salt and Hooks, which howls in fury.

HG: Vashti, what are you doing? You're still just outside the shack where the screaming woman is, and the starlight just got blotted out behind you by a huge bronze dome.

Dessa: wouldn't the salt rust the hooks?

Vashti: crap, I should be behind that dome, huh? hrm... can I make his hooks swing back on himself?

HG: Apparently not.

HG: How would you make his hooks swing back?

HG: One of the bodies that the Evil Wind had snatched squips to the ground, salted over and covered in bloody gashes.

Vashti: hrm, well, certainly not as simple as a mirror.... could I somehow make a field that would reflect the force he's throwing out?

HG: Yep. Lesser Creation of Reflection. 0 points. That's what you're doing?

Vashti: yes sir

HG: Vashti steps to the side, presenting a target for the Evil Wind. The demon lashes out with its hooks, and Vashti waves her hand as they come close. The hooks snap back, entangling themselves on the sharp...

HG: ...lines that make up the demon's inner form. It recoils like someone just tied its shoelaces together, lashing around like a madman in a straightjacket and slashing at itself to free its hooks.

HG: Dessa? That slowed it down a lot. What are you doing?

Vashti: (::beams proudly::-)

Dessa: trying to cover my wounds, but once I get a good look at this thing I can break it

HG: Your wounds are trivial--barely scratches that are already flaking over. What are you doing to break the Evil Wind?

Dessa: Can I make the wind feeble

HG: Well, the Wind's already pretty enfeebled from the tangled hooks that Vashti made it. With a Lesser Preservation (1 pt) you should be able to horribly amplify the weakness already given it, and probably incapacitate it.

Dessa: okay, maybe that'll help out

Vashti: but wait, so long as it isn't permanent

HG: The Evil Wind struggles to free itself from its own hooks, only growing weaker and more helpless. The full force of the briny wind starts to die out as the creature grows smaller and smaller.

Vashti: doh, oh well

HG: After a minute of struggling, it's a tiny tangled ball of plastic fishing line and sharp hooks, sitting on a small mound of salt. The wind is down to a light breeze. The creature howls, feebly.

Dessa: we should be able to contain/train it now, right

HG: That's one thoroughly vanquished Evil Wind. What's everyone doing? (Scream scream.)

Feng Po: let's intimidate this one into service as well, then move onto the next potential pet.

Vashti: where's that last demon?

HG: Po, what are you doing to the Wind to knock it into shape?

Feng Po: It doesn't have eyes as such, eh?

Dessa: yes, I say leave the training to Po, while Vashti and I try to find the next demon

HG: No eyes. Just a line, and hooks, and a big salty wind gust.

HG: One of your handy tricks as a Noble is a Realm-driven divination. It's level 0, so anyone can do it, and it's good for spotting threats to your Chancel. Just so ya know.

Feng Po: "I am the master hear.  You will obey the commands I give you, or be cowed like this until you cannot support the wieght of your own salt.  Make your choice."

Feng Po: *here

HG: The Evil Wind hisses and snarls. Threats (at least Aspect 1 threats) aren't gonna do much without some greater threat behind them.

HG: Vashti, Dessa, what are you two up to?

Dessa: waiting for a clue as to where this next demon is

Vashti: I think I'll try that divination

Feng Po: I'll let those two do thier thing while I work on this

HG: Concentrating on your Realm, you turn up that it's in that shack--with the screaming woman. Maybe you've encountered the Demon That Screams Like an Idiot or something.

Vashti: LOL

Dessa: I'll go there

Vashti: well, we need the one that rots flesh

Dessa: we need to get them all

Feng Po: just like pokemon

Vashti: there are more demons here than there are bookies in Chicago

Dessa: This is no card game po

Vashti: and most of them are just part of the scenery

HG: Looking into the shack, you see the woman again, stilling screaming in terror, with the child still clutching to her leg, pleading for love. You notice two things: the child lacks a mask, and the woman's leg is skeletal.

Vashti: hrmmm...

HG: Provind Vashti's point, a pair of cephalopoidal horrors stroll by, carefully avoiding the salt.

Vashti: almost as if her flesh had rotten off!

HG: The woman is screaming, but she doesn't seem able to escape.

Vashti: what's the girl doing, again, in more detail?

Dessa: ::to woman:: can you speak?

HG: Clinging to the woman's leg, begging and pleading not to be left alone.

HG: "Help! Oh God, help!" Yeah, she can speak.

HG: Po, what're you doing to the Evil Wind?

Feng Po: still thinking, come back to me

Dessa: "What is haunting you Woman"

Vashti: "Young girl, who are you, and why are you not wearing a mask like the others?"

HG: "Stop it! Stop it!" she's screaming, and the child screams "Don't let me go! Don't let me go!"

HG: Looking closer, you see that the girl's fingers are inside the woman's rotted leg, like roots.

Vashti: I knew it!

Vashti: hrm

Vashti: hrmmmm

Feng Po: ok, whenever my turn comes around, I have a plan

HG: Go ahead.

Dessa: Can I amputate the woman's leg freeing her from the child's grip

Vashti: yeah, I'm fresh out of ideas, go for it, Po

HG: Dessa, thoughts on how to deal with this crisis?

Feng Po: It's pretty weak now.  can I whipe up a wind of my own that will slowly carry it far out to sea?

Dessa: yes, see leg amputation above

HG: There's a bit of a wind now. A Lesser Preservation (no cost) will cause the creature to waft out to sea. Eventually, though, it'll be back.

HG: Ah! Yes, you can take the woman's leg off. The "roots" don't trail farther than her thigh.

Dessa: good, hopefully her pain will be relieved as well

HG: Taking the leg off?

Vashti: well, aside from the pain of getting a leg removed, yeah ;-)

Dessa: sure

Feng Po: Well, I was hoping being taken away from the oppurtunity to destroy things would cause it to think twice.  No luck, eh?

HG: Ah, yeah, if you're doing that--yeah, it's real pissed off about being shipped off to sunny Key Largo, and it hisses that it might be willing to negotiate.

Feng Po: I slow it's wafting and bring lets it use up some more of it's on power dragging itself back

HG: *Whack* goes the leg, and the woman falls to the ground, shrieking, as blood pours out. The Rot Demon stares, confused, for a moment, then starts toddling toward Dessa.

HG: The creature finally struggles back. Reluctantly, furiously, it forms itself into a vaguely man-like shape, and bows, its hooks dangling from twisted lines.

Dessa: BRB, grrrrrrr

Vashti: could I do the same sort of thing I did for the bird, only this time actually contain the flesh-rotter in a mirrored box?

Vashti: at least for now?

Feng Po: "As I said, I am ruling this place now.  But I am in need of someone to defend my ports from intrusion.  Will you do it?"

HG: Yeah, a Lesser Creation (no cost) would allow you to create a box that would just have the creature reflecting around inside.

Vashti: poifect

HG: The man-like hook thing nods, though it shakes its wounded and shredded lines to indicate that it must recover its strength.

Vashti: (hehe, that high realm score is so darn handy)

Dessa: back

Feng Po: ::looks around::  "take what you need.  I'll be back to investigate your progress."

HG: The woman on the ground is rapidly bleeding to death. The Rot Demon is just sort of bouncing around inside a five-foot cube.

HG: The Evil Wind of Salt and Hooks slinks away to nurse its wounds.

HG: By this time, the Bird That Eats Faces has also extricated itself. It walks slowly, unable to fly, but it too should be healed fairly quickly.

Dessa: can I do something to stop her bleeding?

HG: Yeah, you can grab some rags. An Aspect of 1 makes you a professional doctor. She stops bleeding in a few moments, though she's delirious.

Dessa: good

Vashti: maybe I'll do a lesser destruction and make her forget what just happened

HG: Oh...and of course, you have an Aspect of 3, making you Asclepian in your skills. She's sitting up, completely lucid.

Vashti: oh, hehe, nevermind

HG: Okay, what's everyone doing? The Evil Wind has slunk away, the Bird That Eats Faces is hobbling about, and the Rot Demon is bouncing off of invisible walls.

Feng Po: I guess I'll head over and check on these two

Vashti: well, unless the box is easily transportable, yeah, I call Po over

Dessa: I've stabilized the woman, now the demon. Po should be able to handle him

HG: The demon keeps trying to give someone a hug, then bouncing around.

Vashti to HG: aww... she's the huggle monster!

Vashti: "will she be any use to you?"  ::indicates the mirrored constraints::

Vashti: or towards, rather

Feng Po: ::takes a look::  "What does this one do?"

Vashti: rots flesh, apparently

Dessa: rots everything

Feng Po: "A little girl?"  ::looks at it::

Vashti: Though she seems a bit different than the others

Vashti: yes, that's what's different

Vashti: and she seemed to be rather despairing in the whole endeavor as well

Feng Po: how so?

HG: The creature could pass for a normal little girl. She's black, with her curly hair done up in a "Minnie Mouse" style. She's wearing a neutral blue dress, and her hands exude oblivion and death.

HG: "I need a hug!" the demon exclaims like some twisted Teddy Ruxpin.

Vashti: she was clutching this woman's leg, begging her to not leave her

Vashti: yes, like that

Vashti: I almost fear this is a real girl possessed

Dessa: I was just thinking that

Dessa: I almost feel sorry for her

Vashti: could I make a lesser divination and see if this girl's herself?

Feng Po: How much mojo would it take to whip up a great big living doll house to keep her in when we didn't have specific need of her..."talents"?

HG: Poking around in the creature's head, looking for its seat of self-awareness...yeah, it's a demon alright. No conscience whatsoever. A complete monster.

Feng Po: actually, to hell with that, let's make the peasants do it

Dessa: what?

Vashti: hehe, yes, I'm comfortable with that

HG: Well, a nice little cottage is doable as a Lesser Creation (level 4, 1 point).  A Barbie Mansion is doable as a Major Creation (level 7, 4 points).

Feng Po: Well, how about this...can we have a regular babrie house built by the peasants, and have Vashti mirror all the doors and windows, so she can't get out unless we let her out?

HG: Okay, the demons are all immobilized for now, and two are willing to serve. However, the Chancel is still in ruins. What now?

Dessa: gather the workers?

HG: A mass-mirroring like that would be a Greater Preservation of Reflection--level 6, or 2 DMPs.

Dessa: or find the Fae

Vashti: hrm... miracle points grow back after each session, correct?

HG: That ward Vashti has up now will last a couple more hours.

HG: After each story.

HG: (When you finish restoring the Chancel, you'll refresh your pool.)

Vashti: oh, well then...

Feng Po: hmm, well, for right now she's not a problem, let's hold onto her

Feng Po: let's start rallying a work force.

HG: Although, you know--she doesn't seem that strong, and you are in a shack adjacent to a warehouse. There are a bunch of metal barrels and crates.

Vashti: you know, that doesn't sound half bad

Vashti: so long as she isn't in a crate made of flesh

Feng Po: good point.  no flesh crates

Vashti: hehe

Feng Po: dump her in a oickle barrell until we have a house built for her.

Feng Po: *pickle

Vashti: maybe just a strong padlock or something

Vashti: hehe, rightio

HG: Fortunately this port was popular in the oikle trade before it became a Chancel. In she goes.

Feng Po: blow me where the pampers is

HG: Now what?

Vashti: (laughs while drinking soda, which goes flying everywhere)

Feng Po: rallying a work force

Feng Po: slave labour, anybody?

Vashti: hurrah!

HG: There are probably 3,000 people still around. Just gonna stand in the center of town and get them all to show up and listen? (You can, by the way.)

Dessa: I'm sure they'd be more than willing to work

Feng Po: Hmm, let's play.  Can I do something a bit more dramatic?  Like a divine voice from the heavens?

HG: Lesser Creation of Divine Voice from the Heavens. 1 RMP.

Feng Po: what am I down to?

HG: You've spent 1 DMP and 1 RMP.

Vashti: hrm, can I do something similar?  I can make lesser creations for free

HG: I dunno--can you find a way to work Reflections into making a Divine Voice from the Heavens?

Vashti: bloody hell

HG: There is a main square in the heart of town. I suppose that's where you are. What's the plan?

Feng Po: Couldn't her voice be reflected infinitely through out town so that it seems as though it were coming from everywhere and everything?

Vashti: ooh, good call

Vashti: echoes

HG: Major Creation--4 points.

Vashti: doh

Feng Po: bite me, I'll spend the point for my voice from above

HG: Is this on?  Um...hello?  You're on.

Feng Po: "Thy demons are tamed and driven away.  I will protect you, but in return, you must rebuild thy city in tribute."

HG: The voice booms from some place high above the city. People within the market approach and bow down before you, while you sense that others farther away have begun to organize repairs and projects.

Dessa: you make it sound so horrible, you couldn't just gather them and motivate them?

Vashti: Yeah,  it's wretched, but hey, miserable conditions and back breaking labor makes for self-knowledge, it's all existential and whatnot.  Just look at the Russians! Let's give them the blueprints and put the whips to their backs.

Dessa: Those whips landed on my back!

HG: Alright, then. Do any of you have any particular plans for fanciful constructs within Winterport?

Feng Po: "It is horrible, or havn't you noticed?"

Vashti: heh, well, you of all powers should know that shit happens.

Vashti: I think a manna mine would be in order

Feng Po: I want the ruined tower to magnificent

Dessa: MANNA!!!!

Vashti: mm

HG: As far as you can gather, the masks serve the purpose of locking people into particular moods. Power in the town is provided by the differential between love and hate, joy and sorrow.

HG: Different emotional combinations serve to empower different devices.

Dessa: we need to find the Fae to fix the mask machine

Feng Po: Should we go to India, or not?

HG: It'll take about a month to restore the Chancel without overtly miraculous help.

HG: Half that at full population.

Feng Po: well, let's throw some miracles at them

Dessa: what do they need?

HG: A Greater Creation will save a week of work. A Greater Preservation will save three days.

Vashti: hrm...well, actually, I think we might need to visit the Fae before we can start rebuilding, don't we?  All of the technology here depends upon those masks

HG: If you wanna hurl miracles around to speed things up. You could also use a cranked-up Aspect to do lightning construction.

HG: The masks are good for a few more days before they start to unwind.

Dessa: Thank you Vashti

Vashti: alright

Feng Po: Eh, that's a lot for little gain.  Let's see about the dream dynamo

Dessa: where do we go India, or mythic?

HG: Alright, the Dream Dynamo. Available from the Fae. Remember that Anamalech the Erus wanted to speak to you before you left the Chancel.

Feng Po: well, let's go visit him then

Dessa: yes

Vashti: and we should try the mythic world, I think

Dessa: let's see what he thinks

HG: You take your little vehicle (you really need a glorious chariot or something) back to the Cipher of Masks. Anamalech is there, reading a book. He looks up as you approach. "The demons are vanquished. Well done."

Feng Po: "We are going to find your dynamo, Erus.  Where do we begin?"

HG: He puts the book down. "If you travel to Locus India, expect him to teach you a terrible lesson. He is a Lord of the Dark, foe of all humanity, and he will teach you the horror of man, for he will turn you into beasts to live in....

HG: ...man's world. But he possesses a Dream Dynamo, or can procure one easily."

Vashti: "How does one enter, exit, and navigate the mythic realms? Will we have any greater luck than with India?"

HG: "Or, you can journey onto the Tree of Worlds, Yggdrasil. There are paths, here and there, in nearby Chancels--you could even meet your fellows. Out among the leafy baughs are worlds where the fae live and create."

HG: "Both will be difficult and painful journeys, but sadly, there is no other way."

Feng Po: "I would like to 'meet our fellows'.  what do you think?"  ::turns to the others::

Dessa: good

Vashti: "I'm personally drawn to the path along Yggdrasil, where the doom does not seem as certain"

HG: "A wise choice. India is an ally of last resort."

Feng Po: "Then through the mythic world we shall go.  We will not upset Master Gideon this way, shall we?"

HG: "No, you will not, so long as you understand the Code Fidelitatis of Lord Entropy, who rules this world and who has been given jurisdiction over the Nobles of Earth."

Feng Po: (have we, in effect, learned this already, or should I ask)

HG: (Ask--you don't know this.)

Vashti: (heee, thanks)

Feng Po: "So, about that Code Fidelitatis...?"

HG: "Engrave these rules in your hearts and minds, because if you get dragged before Locust Court and are forced to confess to the Power of Guilt, it'll be my head on a lance."

HG: 1. THOU SHALT NOT LOVE ANOTHER

HG: Love is a lie: it claims to be beauty, but there are no lovers in Heaven.

HG: Love is a weakness: it gives the Excrucians a possible hold on a Power's soul.

HG: Eternal love will outlive Creation…but nothing can or will.

HG: Ephemeral love is not love at all.

HG: Therefore love is a lie, a weakness, and a contradiction.

HG: 2. TREAT NO BEAST AS YOUR LORD

HG: Surrender to no beast-and man is a senseless bull.

HG: Swear no oaths to beasts-and woman is a witless doe.

HG: Accept no insult from beasts-and each child is a serpent.

HG: Each submission to mankind is a drowning of the immortal spirit.

HG: 3. PROTECT NO POWER FROM THE JUSTICE OF THE CODE

HG: Justice is the sentence of the Court.

HG: Justice is the Code Fidelitatis.

HG: Justice is the Wild Hunt that Lord Entropy calls.

HG: Who guards a Power from Justice shares their crime.

HG: 4. SERVE THY IMPERATOR BEFORE THE WAR, AND THE WAR BEFORE THYSELF

HG: Yours is your Estate: let no others subdue it.

HG: Yours is your Familia: suffer not their desecration.

HG: Yours is your Imperator: serve him before all else.

HG: Better to ruin an ally than to suffer defeat.

Feng Po: (everyone got that?)

Dessa: (yes, let's get going)

HG: "There are unwritten laws, as well. The most important is this: do not harm humanity. Further, there is something you must know about humanity: they are weak."

Vashti: ( ::furious note-taking:: )

HG: "You can move between the Prosaic and Mythic Worlds with a flicker of the eye. If humans learn the truth of miracles, they are driven to madness: dementia animus. Lord Entropy, for his own reasons, guards humanity--don't harm them."

Dessa: who or what enforces these laws

HG: Lord Entropy, the Bloody Imperator. Beneath him are Meon, Baalhermon, and Joktan, the Regals of Desecration, Destruction, and Scorn.  Beneath them are the Cossets and Nimblejacks and Ogres and Domicelli...

HG: ...creatures human or monstrous who hunt those who would violate Lord Entropy's laws. Should you violate the Code, you will be brought to Medan, the Locust Court, where Deuteronomy, the Power of Guilt, sits in judgment."

Dessa: right

HG: Ah, and one final law:

Feng Po: (is that all)

HG: THOU SHALL HARM NONE WHO HAS DONE NO HARM

HG: The future matters not: a crime is always committed in the now.

HG: The victim matters not: hypocrisy is the first tool of corruption.

HG: The situation matters not: each action is its own.

HG: All these things matter not: the innocent are the Nobles' charge.

HG: That is all. "I would recommend going to Precipice Citadel, Locus Ambrolam, deep in the Sierra Nevadas. There is a gate to the World Ash."

Dessa: let's go

Feng Po: we're off

Vashti: zoom

HG: Alright. One of the luxuries of being a demigod is ready access to money--I suppose you're taking a nice jet?

Feng Po: yes sir

Vashti: mmm

Dessa: of course

HG: You land in Los Angeles. There's supposed to be a highway that leads to Locus Ambrolam, but right now you've only got your rented Benz and an ability to peer into the Mythic World.

Feng Po: well, should we start asking the roads for directions, then?

Vashti: could we just divinate them or would that cost points?

Feng Po: well, we should just be able to hop into the mythic world and ask the spirits of the roads for free.

HG: Certainly a reasonable excuse. You're standing on the side of the road on one of LA's massive freeways. The road spirits are contentedly carrying car spirits to their appointed destinations, as malevolent traffic jam monsters hiss.

Vashti: hehe

Dessa: What about a Rite of Passage?

HG: The rite would probably do it. Anyone got a crystal or a bit of whiskey to splash on the eye?

Feng Po: fresh out

Vashti: well, my wings gots some jangly stuff...

Dessa: I have some vodka?

HG: (The rite of passage, for the curious, illuminates passages to the World Ash or to other Chancels.)

Vashti: hehe, well, we have ready access to cash, we can get both crystal and whiskey quite easily in LA,  correct?

HG: Yeah, Vodka'd work. A quick splash later and...yeah, looks like a glow is somewhere nearby--an adjunct to the 110 that no one seems to be taking. (This takes a couple hours of driving around.)

Feng Po: well, I supose time is another thing we have plenty of

HG: Unless the Excrucians eat your Chancel.

Vashti: mm, that would blow

Feng Po: Well, ok, barring that.

HG: So, taking this road?

Dessa: I say yes

Feng Po: aye

HG: As you travel down the adjunct, the highway starts to resemble less a road and more a giant ribbon of land, soaring high into the sky. Another ribbon joins it, twining around and around, like a DNA strand...

Vashti: I assume the BMW's handling this with ease? ;-)

Feng Po: Kyle's DMing, it's a mercedes

HG: ...Sitting between the two is an artfully balanced city of steam and sparkling lights, resting on a giant outcropping of rock: Precipice Citadel. Birds of titanium and coal and water fly about the Chancel...

HG: ...and people in steam-powered gondolas or wearing great metal wings soar through the air, gathering the creatures.

HG: You appear to be approaching some sort of check-point: a tall metal tower with something like a clockface in it.

Feng Po: fly casual

Vashti: heheheh

HG: A gate lowers at your approach. You stop, and an elderly man steps out of his little booth and scrutinizes you. "Can I help you?"

Feng Po: "We wish to enter...?"

HG: Beyond the gate, the city around Precipice Citadel sprawls for miles, both on the top and bottom of the ribbons. Below you is Earth--you must be thousands of miles up--and above you is a twig the size of a Galaxy.

HG: "And to what end, sir?"

HG: He tips his hat to Feng Po.

Feng Po: "We're seeking out some fae, to do business."

HG: "Ah, you wish to use the outbound ribbon. In that case, sir, you'll have to speak with the Augur on Two Roads. Follow the Gray Route marked on the ground, and you'll arrive at the correct destination."

HG: The gate opens.

Feng Po: "Thank you.  Let's be off."

HG: After some driving, and following an odd little mechanical ribbon that flip-flopped to gray every time you needed to make a turn, you reach a large palace of gray masonry and glittering steel. A kind valet takes care of your car.

Feng Po: (keep going, bathroom break)

HG: What are you folks doing?

Dessa: Walking to the building.

Vashti: I say, after giving it a brief look-over, entering the palace and requesting a visit with the Augur

Vashti: who I assume lives here

Dessa: sounds good

HG: A few nervous mortals quickly realize that you're Nobles and wave you in. You find yourself in a lushly appointed room before a figure of indescribable majesty and horror: a True God of Earth....

Feng Po: (bak, with them)

Vashti: ::gulp::

HG: The creature is like green water, constantly flowing and dividing. Within it or circling about it are what appear to be eyes, circling and swimming. A few focus on you, washing over your mind and thoughts.

HG: "What?" it asks, its voice a monsoon and death by sea.

Feng Po: "We seek permission to pass through, so that we might meet with the fae."

HG: "A tithe," it roars. "From the cripple, her next triumph over adversity. From the angel-kin, a week of her deepest contemplations. From you, servant of corruption, your next atrocity."

Feng Po: ::looks amongst his peers for reactions::

Vashti: "Though I don't speak for my companions, I am willing to grant you this"

Dessa: yes, this I can afford for passage

Feng Po: "It will be done in your name."

HG: "If it is decided, my servant will show you the way to the World Ash." An odd-looking fellow with an enormous smile stumbles into the room, looks around as if surprised he's there, then waves you on and disappears around a corner.

Feng Po: ::follows::

Dessa: let's go

Vashti: ::deep breath::  yes, onwards

Vashti to HG: hrm... could I perchance meet with an angel in one of the next few sessions?  maybe help me get my moral compass aligned?

HG to Vashti: Sure.

HG: "Ah, I don't recognize you, but I'm feeling generous with knowledge today. I am the Power of Chaos, Patrick Romney's-Son Olam's-Serf Precipice-Lord.  Pleased ta meetchya."

HG: You walk through several hallways and finally emerge outside, surrounded by more tall buildings.

Feng Po: ::is confused by the power of chaos, so follows silently::

HG: "Well, don't be shy. Who might you be? I'm always curious to know what sort of Imperator just landed on Earth. Who are what? C'mon, do tell!"

Feng Po: "I'm the power of Vengeance..."

Dessa: Disability

Vashti: "The Power of Reflections, Vashti Aghraeradha, I'm please to meet you as well"

Vashti: pleased, even

HG: "Vengeance! Ha, and I thought Manaechus had had it! I'm sure Ada will be thrilled to hear the old worm's still around."

Feng Po: ( I was under the impression that Manaechus had bought it - wasn't I?)

HG: "Now, assuming you're new, I want you to watch the hazards. The Appian Way is not a place for foolish powers, and I'll be good enough to stick around a give you a few pointers."

HG: (Yes, Manaechus is very dead. Your Estate was subsumed by Gideon.)

Feng Po: ::listens for pointers::

Vashti: ::follows, full of curiousity::

Dessa: ::may as well follow::

HG: "Remember, seek your destination. You can usually see it, so if you can't, walk toward what you can see. Heaven is up, Hell is down, and Earth is on a twig of the Milkweed Branch of the Appian Way."

Dessa: well, we seek the Fae

HG: You step out of the city, and climb up, up, up to where the ribbon of land that is Precipice Citadel becomes the Milkweed Branch. A road of pure white cuts straight across the World Tree, touching hundreds of other worlds....

HG: ....scattered like ripening fruit on the great boughs. Far above is the cold light of Heaven; far below you can feel the dark and maggoty fires of Hell. Creatures so huge you can't imagine them soar from branch to branch....

HG: While great serpents coil above the trunk of Creation, battling draconic horrors that gnaw at the roots. From above fall effusions of hope and rivers of wonder, while rivers of malice and poisoned ice tumble up from the....

HG: Shadowed Realm.

HG: We'll stop there for the night.