GM says, "ok, that's better"

[rpg] Efram says, "I think I did. Something's loading."

[rpg] Efram says, "except I can't see all of it"

Jack asks, "Who be in our party today, then?"

[rpg] GM says, "hmm, I guess you can try either the strackenz url or the one on Roger's site"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Now we're logging?"

GM says, "schep is going to be taking over as Efram"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "http://roger.carbol.com/rpg/efram.pdf or http://strackenz.spod-central.org/~lpsmith/rpg/transcripts/SOT7th/efram.pdf"

GM says, "so ok, a recap of the story and system while we straighten out technical difficulties"

[rpg] Rob says, "whoa this is starting already? oh it's 11"

Minnie says, "At this point I'm only taggin' along so's you don't get yerselves into worse trouble"

Jack says, "Meh, faithless and insufficiently witchy witch."

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Good luck with that."

[rpg] Taleslinger asks, "on which channel is this happening?"

[rpg] Efram says, "is there anything important to the right of "Stunts"? both versions look cut-off there."

[rpg] GM says (to Taleslinger), "mostly in the 7th sea room"

Rob arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] * Rob has joined the channel.

Taleslinger arrives, looking for booty.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "OOC stuff will be on this channel and #crows, but the game is mainly in the room."

[rpg] Jack says (to Efram), "I see a little rules primer there."

Nitku arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "the story so far: our heroes (protagonists? dudes who the camera is following?) came to this town in quest of Captain Danvers, who they had thought dead, but apparently had in fact cheated them and run off with the fabulous jewel the Sea's Blood that he had agreed to split with them and the rest of the crewe"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "nothing that's a total loss"

[Crows-Nest] * Nitku has joined the channel.

JohnnyFalcone says, "Curse him and his cleverness."

GM says, "now he's reappeared and announced his intention to throw a fancy ball on his estate (or, rather, the estate he is leasing from Lord Roderick) north of town"

GM says, "at the conclusion of which the jewel will be auctioned off"

GM says, "futhermore there was the business of a cryptic note in Vodacce about some kind of rite and a handkerchief with the monogram "U" on it found in his room"

[Crows-Nest] Minnie says, "unfortunately 75% of the party is utterly unpresentable for a fancy ball"

Jack says, "With any luck we'll be auctionin' his several parts to the four winds instead."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I have a perfectly logical solution for that"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says (to Minnie), "Right, and even I'm a little out of practice."

[Crows-Nest] Rob says, "are you sure it's a U? what if it's upside down or sideways"

GM says, "and also some mysterious thing about Baron Stone, ancestor of Sir Roderick"

[Crows-Nest] JohnnyFalcone asks (of GM), "Does it involve fighting over who gets to be in which end of the horse costume?"

GM says, "anyway, the party took a small boat up the coast in quest of some smuggler's tunnels, which they located, and took them into the cliff under Lord Roderick's estate, whereupon they stumbled on the tomb of Baron Stone"

GM says, "and stole a small amulet with an indentation and an engraving of a weird squid thing from his coffin"

[Crows-Nest] Rob says, "ow my foot! hey, it's the tomb"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Stole?"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "You can't steal something that doesn't belong to anyone!"

GM says, "then Efram decided to have a seance, which Minnie refused to participate in as heathen nonsense, but nevertheless the seance caused you all to have a weird vision"

Jack says, "And then as I recall it, we all had some extremely bad rum, or something along those lines."

[Crows-Nest] Rob says, "spoken like a graverobber"

GM says, "wherein you were back on the Golden Parrot, now captained by a peculiar mix of Captain Danvers and Baron Stone, who went tumbling away through the air when Efram banished him"

GM says, "and (after you fought your way through a horde of pirates) turned out to have turned into a lighthouse, or the Sea's Blood in a lighthouse or something"

GM says, "and the last scene was Johnny picking up the Sea's Blood and sliding it into the amulet from the coffin (which he wore even in the vision)"

GM says, "while outside the wind was shouting and berating him"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Score!"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, now for the system recap"

[rpg] GM says, "you all have skills on your sheet; normally to roll a skill you type 'fudge great' (or whatever your skill level is) and try to hit a difficulty"

Jack says, "As long as that great squidy thing don't come lookin' for his property and split us all from starboard to larboard an' all"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "And then the dice will sneer and roll about 1-2 lower than your skill level."

[rpg] GM says, "you also have aspects on your sheet; you can spend a fate point (not listed on your sheet, but you have five) in combination with an aspect (of your own or of the scene or of your opponent) to get a +2 to the roll, or to reroll"

[rpg] GM says, "skill rolls can be used to accomplish something (like climbing a wall), to damage an opponent (either physically with a punch, or socially/mentally with an insult or intimidation), or to place an aspect on an opponent"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Did fate points refresh to five and wound boxes clear for the new session?"

[rpg] GM says, "if you place an aspect on an opponent, then you or your friends can use it once for free without spending the fate point"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "yep"

Efram says, "Lord Dagon is not to be trifled with, to be sure."

[rpg] GM says, "so against tough opponents, it is a good idea to spend some time placing aspects on them, and then use them all for a big hit"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Never met him, myself. But I'm sure he could be reasoned with."

[rpg] GM says, "finally you have stunts, which modify skill rolls and should be self-explanatory"

GM exclaims, "anyway!"

GM says, "as our story resumes, the camera cuts back to the tomb"

Minnie says (to Johnny), "fool boy, don't know what you were thinkin', mumble grumble"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Or teaming up with other PC's to have one person put on an aspect and another person use it."

Jack says, "You'll sooner reason with a typhoon!"

Minnie says (to Efram), "AND YOU"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "If need be, I could give it a try."

Jack asks, "Wasn't we in that lighthouse a second ago?"

GM says, "where Efram, Johnny, and Jack stand, their arms on Efram's to restrain him if anything had happened (how little they knew)"

GM says (to Jack), "yes, you still are"

GM says, "(this is for the viewers)"

Jack checks how many hats he's wearing.

JohnnyFalcone says, "We-- wait."

JohnnyFalcone checks the amulet.

Jack checks the fourth wall.

GM says, "the three of them stare into space, mumbling and cursing, as Minnie watches, unsure what to do"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "I can't see it from here..."

GM says, "and then watching in horror as Johnny pulls the amulet he is wearing up to his lips and begins to kiss it passionately"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha."

Jack says, "...no buggerin' tentacles gettin' anywhere near... mutter... not on my ship, ye lubbernecks!..."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I don't think I remember this part of the vision exactly."

GM says, "this being all the more unsettling as there is clearly not enough room inside the indentation in the amulet for --"

Minnie jabs an accusing finger into Efram's sternal notch. "How'd you call that 'not involved', hmm? Severin' me eternal soul from me body and draggin' me along on your fancy yomp through hell and beyond!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "I don't think that's how it happened."

[rpg] Efram asks, "oo, so is Minnie both inside and in the real world at once?"

[rpg] GM says, "is she ever"

GM exclaims, "and then! Minnie hears the creak of a door and distant footsteps!"

GM says, "(coming, naturally, from the other exit, since the cave maze entrance had no door)"

Jack says, "...me hand! ...cost me six guinea, ye plaguey anenome..."

Minnie digs around for her smelling salts

Minnie says, "(contents: gunpowder, sea-salt and snuff)"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am starting to figure out whose voice the wind may have sounded like."

Minnie shoves a liberal version up all six nostrils

[rpg] GM says, "just so"

[rpg] GM says (to Minnie), "ok, let's see a medicine roll to see how long it takes you to revive them, given that time is critical"

Minnie rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 -1 | Great (4)

GM says, "Minnie's expert application makes the walls of the tower crumble and shatter, the island heaving below and just as the vision dissolves, you three think you see great tentacles coming up from the deep"

GM says, "...and then find yourself back in the tomb room, sneezing and cursing"

Jack asks, "Nidhogg's knackers! What was in that snuff, ye crazed washerwoman?"

Minnie cuffs Efram mightily over the back of the head.

Minnie says (to Jack), "Secret recipe."

JohnnyFalcone checks the amulet and the sack on his belt.

Efram falls onto his back as though struck by a yardarm.

Jack says, "I might needs to write that one down, might I"

GM says, "Johnny is, of course, distressed to find out the loot from the ship is no more"

Jack counts his hats, twice.

GM says, "and the gem has vanished"

Minnie says, "C'mon, c'mon, git."

Jack asks, "What's the panic?"

[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger asks, "what's with the hat counting?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Drat."

Minnie exclaims, "Some'uns comin'. Hurry!"

GM says, "meanwhile, the footsteps are getting closer"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "I picked up a second hat in the dream sequence."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Robbed twice by Danvers."

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) Jack says "It was .. glorious!"

Minnie slings Efram over one shoulder and chivvies the other two back down the passage.

Jack says, "Confound and bugger it."

[rpg] GM says, "hrm"

Jack chiv chiv

Efram says, "I am fine ... the spirits..."

[rpg] GM says, "it occurs to me you left the coffin open"

[Crows-Nest] Rob says, "I totally want to eat the fudge dice but I guess it'd be rude while a game is going on"

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to try to shut it?"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Hee hee."

[rpg] Minnie says, "oops"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "won't that be hella noisy?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Nah, we can leave it."

[rpg] GM says, "yes, and take some time"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "We are sufficiently disoriented that it seems likely enough."

[rpg] Minnie says, "and let's just go far enough into the darkness to be hidden, but have a view"

[rpg] GM says, "okey doke -- are you going to just -- ok"

JohnnyFalcone whispers (to Efram), "So, did you learn anything from that ritual?"

[rpg] Jack says, "With any luck, those approachin' footsteps will be those of blind morons"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hard of hearin' to boot"

Efram regains his balance and sense of where he is.

Efram asks (of JohnnyFalcone), "Much. Did you?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I learned you can't trust anything you find in a sorcerer's dreams."

Jack mutters, "We should keep quiet, and listen and see what's happenin'! Yep, we should do that!"

GM says, "as you skulk in the shadows the footsteps get closer, and you begin to hear a thin, mumbling voice: "...where did I leave the .. straighten the ... tell cook to kill another five lambs .. the ritual will be fulfilled ... dust the bannisters""

Minnie clamps a paw over Jacks' physog.

Jack says, "mrmf!"

GM says, "and then you see a slightly-elderly man of butlerine aspect come into the room"

[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "heh"

GM says, "dressed in formal but ancient clothes"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Befitting a formal but ancient man."

GM says, "he starts for the altar (on which is a parrot skeleton), blinks, and turns back to the open coffin"

GM says, "he rubs his eyes and looks again, and sees it is still open"

Jack mimes, LET'S GET HIM

JohnnyFalcone shakes his head.

GM says, "he leans over to look inside, and then turns and runs for the exit he came in by"

[rpg] Efram asks, "Mysteries check on the butler's clothes and/or aura?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure, roll it"

Jack mimes, CROM'S BOLLOCKS BUT YE'RE A COWARDLY WRETCH, JOHNNY FALCONE

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 -1 | Good (3)

JohnnyFalcone rolls his eyes.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I assume this involves doing the Chicken Dance."

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "well, he doesn't look enchanted or anything; with a roll like that you note he was carrying a number of small bits of paraphernalia (matches, incense stick, knife) suitable for doing some kind of ritual"

GM says, "as he runs he shouts "Master! He is risen! It will come to pass!""

Jack says, "!"

JohnnyFalcone grins.

GM says, "but the shouts gradually fade and then the door is slammed shut"

Minnie hisses, "Don't tell me that nasty skellington's *gone*?"

Minnie releases Jack and hurries over to the tomb

JohnnyFalcone says, "Let's double check. But I think I have a plan."

GM says, "interestingly, no"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Step one: find a portrait of Baron Stone."

GM says, "(though of course the amulet is, and the bones were disturbed a bit by Johnny removing it)"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Step two: Baron Stone is crashing the party."

Minnie says, "They're most likely be one upstairs."

JohnnyFalcone taps his amulet. "And he wants the Sea's Blood back."

Jack asks, "Right, but what be we doin' about it?"

Minnie asks, "How's 'bout we have a snoot about up there?"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "You be helping him out."

Efram says, "I's not so certain the Baron really is gone."

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Minnie), "Depends. Do you think old butler-bones will be coming back down here?"

Minnie says, "pretty soon, I'll wager"

JohnnyFalcone says, "We don't want to cross paths before everything's ready, I don't think."

Minnie says, "s'pose we should make ourselves scarce"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I think so."

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Efram), "You remember the way back?"

Minnie says, "now of course, portraits back then were awful flatterin' on account of nobles bein' such swine-ugly inbreds"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "...through a mazy of twisty passages all alike in the pitch dark which you only threaded the first time by following the magic in this room back to its source..."

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Oh, good. That'll make the disguise easier."

Minnie says, "so's if we just dress an ugly old feller in old-timey nob clothes, put an amulet 'round his neck..."

Jack asks, "Where's we goin' to get an ugly old feller?"

Minnie says, "their imagination does the rest"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, I think we'd better have a skill roll from people to see how well you get back"

JohnnyFalcone says, "The disguise has to look like the portrait."

[rpg] GM says, "Survival is the obvious skill but I am open to others"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Because that is what people believe Baron Stone looked like."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Which skill?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Oh dear"

Minnie says (to Jack), "I dunno, but he'd have to be a thrice-accursed old demon"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Sure, why not."

JohnnyFalcone rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 +1 | Average (1)

Jack rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 0 | Good (3)

[rpg] GM says, "hey hey"

Minnie rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 -1 -1 0 | Poor (-1)

Minnie exclaims, "I swear it was up those stairs!"

Jack sniffs the air.

GM says, "Jack inexplicably manages to lead you through the caves just the way you came"

GM asks (of Jack), "what's your secret?"

Taleslinger goes south.

Jack says, "Aha! I knew I left me luncheon-box behind. I'd smell it anywhere. Good turn o' luck, that."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Jack opens the box.

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Is *that* what it was?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I thought that was another tomb."

Jack says, "All the bacon a man could want!"

Taleslinger arrives from the west.

GM says, "(end scene)"

Jack looks at the others suspiciously, quicky closes the box and stows it away.

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so it's (when the scene ended) like four in the morning, with six days to go until the party"

[rpg] GM asks, "what would you like to do before the party starts?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "What does everyone else think of the 'pretend to be Baron Stone and crash the party' idea?"

[rpg] Jack says, "It sounds like a good distraction, but we need something else."

[rpg] Minnie says, "very good if you're looking for dramatic trouble"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If we do a little research, we could probably even find out about some friends/servants/hangers-on of his."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Minnie), "Perfect!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "I plan to sneak in as an old servant woman who nobody notices, yeah"

[rpg] Efram says, "I think we don't want the same person holding the amulet and gem at the same time, ever."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Efram), "Why not?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "give me an armful of laundry and I can get in anywhere"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Efram), "Superstitious?"

[rpg] GM says, "also, partly there is the question of how heist-y you want this to be"

[rpg] Jack says, "I'd like to get the know the house a bit beforehand somehow."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "We could go with the 'do three things at once' plan."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "Yeah, some time when the butler's not calling everyone down to our location?"

[rpg] Efram says, "helping the Lord of the Seas would probably get Capn Danvers what he deserves, aye, but also a whole heap more trouble."

[rpg] GM says (to Jack), "well, you could try to dig up floor plans, or ex-servants, or current servants, or Lord Roderick, or"

[rpg] GM says, "(or just sneak onto the property and investigate)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(The three things at once plan: one person distracts everyone as Baron Stone, another person goes for the gem, and a third person... um, does something else...)"

Jack asks, "We still plannin' on gettin' away on the Vesten Courage?"

Jack says, "Seems a little obvious, but maybe we can pretend somebody's on there instead."

[rpg] Minnie asks, "how's 'bout we get Johnny to sweet-talk this daughter of his?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Might as well keep that option open."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That sounds good to me."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I guess I should probably not wear my new amulet openly in town."

[rpg] Minnie says, "posh lass, good-lookin' conman, bob's yer uncle"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "What's my goal, though?"

[rpg] Jack says (to Minnie), "If you can get yourself hired on for cleanin' and whatnot, maybe you can sneak me in to get the lay of the land."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Getting invited up to the house would be nice, I suppose."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "scope out the house under the guise of a lovelorn suitor?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I could get a chance to look around."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "And maybe even get an invitation."

[rpg] Jack says, "If we can *see* an invitation I can probably forge some more."

[rpg] Minnie says, "you'd have to fake bein' nobbier than you are, though"

[rpg] GM says, "remember that technically Lord Roderick and his daughter aren't living on the estate any more, they're leasing it to Danvers"

[rpg] Jack says, "Then it's just a matter of alterin' the guest list"

[rpg] GM says, "though they could probably find an excuse to stop by"

[rpg] Minnie says, "ach dammit"

[rpg] GM says, "(they are certainly getting invites to the party plus some extras, though)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Do we know where they are?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "it'd be useful to find some random person on the guest-list"

[rpg] Minnie says, "in fact, it'd be nice to get our hands on the guest-list, full stop"

[rpg] GM says, "they're at their not-as-nice manor in the town"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah, we can probably find some excuse."

[rpg] GM says (to Minnie), "it is not hard to surmise the contents, at least: the nobility of the town and surrounding countryside for miles around and a few of their hangers-on, plus the important merchants in town, plus the important members of the civil service (ie, the mayor), plus a few other socially-important folks (the head of the local church)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Do I need a Deceit check to dress nobby?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Or is tht pretty simple?"

[rpg] GM says, "that would be the skill to check, yeah, but we may as well wait until someone challenges you on it or something"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "OK."

[rpg] Minnie says, "I guess I'll see if anyone's hiring downstairs staff or cooks or anything"

[rpg] Minnie says, "given that there's a big party to cater for"

JohnnyFalcone puts on his finest suit and some decent false jewelry.

[rpg] GM asks (of Jack,Efram), "ok, what are you guys going to do?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hmm, I'm no good at insinuatin' into places"

[rpg] GM asks, "do you want to chat up people?"

[rpg] GM asks, "or do research?"

[rpg] Efram asks, "hmm. roll on the random encounter table?"

[rpg] GM asks, "or prepare something?"

[rpg] Efram says, "if there's somebody knowledgeable in local history and/or local voodoo, might be worth learning a bit more about the Baron from that angle."

[rpg] Jack says, "I wonder where they're plannin' on doing this hoodoo ceremony."

[rpg] Minnie asks (of Jack), "so you're not going to be dressing up as the Ghost of Baron Stone?"

[rpg] Jack asks, "ME??"

[rpg] Alex says (to Jack), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Jack is what Iain doesn't know."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "It depends on who looks most like his picture."

[rpg] Jack says, "Okay, so let's find a picture."

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "well, you are probably the most knowledgeable voodoo guy in town, but you could do, uh, mystic research (like, investigating ley lines and astral conjunctions and stuff) or you could do historical research"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "And we know how well mystic research goes..."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Efram says, "sure, I'll work out how the astral alignments were around the time of that 'storm'."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, one obvious place to look for a picture would be the Danvers estate, and another would be the manor in town"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I will start by hanging around the manor with a leash but no dog."

[rpg] Jack says, "Heh."

[rpg] Jack says, "Oh, here's an idea. I'll make a fake Sea's Blood."

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

[rpg] GM says, "I don't see how that fits in your plan but it's always a good thing to have in a heist movie"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Woo."

[rpg] Efram says, "also, might as well double-check the portents for the night of the party."

[rpg] Jack says, "Maybe even a couple. One that looks decent close up, and one that'll dissolve in water in a cloud of smoke, or some such, dependin' on what fancy materials I can lay my hands on."

GM says, "ok, so Minnie goes to the estate to see about getting a job; Johnny hangs out outside the manor in town to make some acquaintances; Efram researches mystic history and portents; and Jack constructs some props"

GM says, "it sounds like Johnny should roll Rapport, Efram should roll Sorcery, Jack should roll Craft"

GM asks, "and Minnie should roll, hmm, Rapport? or something else?"

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 -1 +1 +1 | Good (3)

JohnnyFalcone skulks around in the bushes until he thinks he sees Miss Roderick about.

Jack rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 0 | Superb (5)

JohnnyFalcone rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 +1 | Superb (5)

Jack says, "This looks better'n the original!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Thanks, these dice are much better."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Did you oil them or something?"

[rpg] GM says, "strategic nibbling off of fudge"

[rpg] Minnie says, "hm. I'd rather use Contacting, but Rapport works"

[rpg] GM says (to Minnie), "oh, sure, whatever"

Minnie rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 -1 | Fair (2)

[rpg] GM says, "or if you have a job-skill skill"

[rpg] Minnie says, "and I guess I'll call on Hardtack Chef to boost that"

[rpg] Minnie says, "explainin' that as an old sea-dog Danvers just doesn't feel at home unless he can have properly-prepared rat"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Donner, you mean."

GM says, "ok, so Minnie heads out to the servant's entrance of the estate and knocks on the door, which is answered by the butler from before"

GM says, ""Yes?" he says"

Minnie says, "I was told in town you're lookin' to take on skilled kitchen staff temp'ry."

GM says, "meanwhile, Efram works out some calculations and goes into some (lighter!) trances, Jack carves things, and Johnny waits outside the manor"

Jack says, "...never guess it were made of prosciutto!..."

GM says (to Minnie), ""The household is having a party in less than a week but I'm not sure--" he eyes you dubiously"

GM says, "(in an "what does she know about canapes?" kind of way)"

Minnie whips out a list of recommendations, selecting for the captains who later went on to greater things rather than the ones who ended up hanged

Rob heads right on out.

GM says, "His eyebrows raise. "Well, we can keep her out of sight in the kitchen," he mutters. "Really? In that case, do step this way -- Mrs Brown will get you started.""

Minnie says, "...and the Princesse de Soublanc, though we didn't know she was nothin' but a skinny cabin-boy at the time, bless her socks."

GM says (to Efram), "ok, it is looking a lot like around the time of the storm was a really strong water-associated conjunction (a good time to plant crops, have sex with the intent of having kids, find lost ships at sea, and summon up beasts from the depths)"

GM says, "which, needless to say, is going to repeat itself the night of the party"

Minnie sets to work, developing as far as possible an impression of being hard-working, unnotable and trustworthy

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Lost ships? Hmm."

Efram says, "So Danver's meddling ... or whoever is leading him ... isn't entirely off."

GM says, "Johnny continues to wait .. and eventually a carriage discharges Lord Roderick's daughter, slightly intoxicated surprisingly early in the day"

[rpg] Jack says, "Oho"

JohnnyFalcone shakes the leash. "Lady! Lady, come here!"

JohnnyFalcone whistles. "Lady!"

GM says, ""Eh? You talking to -- hey, who are you?" she wanders over to you"

JohnnyFalcone says, "What? Oh, I'm sorry -- my dog escaped the leash, and seems to have run off."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "I think she might have come this way. Have you seen her?"

GM says, ""No, no, just got back m'self," she says, putting a hand on your shoulder to steady herself."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Ah, well. I suppose she's likely run back to old Jack. I swear sometimes, she's more fond of him than of me."

GM says, ""I can't think why," she says, looking you over."

[Crows-Nest] (from Efram) Johnny says, "But enough about me. Let's talk about your mad great-grandfather."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Heh."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I realize I've neglected to introduce myself! I'm Richard Carrington. But my friends call me Ricky."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Please, call me Ricky."

GM says, ""Ricky," she says. "I don't recognize the name -- are you new in town?""

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Yes, I'm here from Luthon, for the ball. Do you live here?"

JohnnyFalcone gestures to the manor.

GM says, ""Yes, right now," she says, making a face. "*I* don't see why we have to let that man take over our estate and make us stay in town at the grungiest part of the season.""

GM says, "She brightens. "Still, there's a ball coming up! That will be nice!""

[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "Oh Ricky, you're so fine, you blow my mind..."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh! Then you must be the Lady Roderick? I am honored to make your acquaintance."

JohnnyFalcone bows and kisses her hand.

GM says, ""Please," she says, "call me Samantha.""

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, so she is obviously pleased to see you -- do you want to direct things somewhere, or just make a good impression for later?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Samantha -- that's a beautiful name."

[rpg] Jack says, "Evidently both."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "May I reserve a dance with you at the ball?"

[rpg] GM says, ""if I made a good impression, would you hold it against me?""

GM says, ""Of course!" she says, and then giggles and adds "Who are you going to be dressed as?""

JohnnyFalcone says, "If, that is, I'm able to attend -- unfortunately, my invitation was lost when we were travelling here, and I don't know how I'm going to convince the doorman who I am..."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Fancy dress, eh?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I'll be the masked highwayman."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Isn't *that* convenient."

[rpg] Efram says, "oo, masquerade? even more dramatic confusion."

JohnnyFalcone says, "And you, you must surely be the sidhe princess."

GM says, ""How did you know??" she says"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I can see it in your eyes. There's a bit of the fae blood in you, I'll bet."

[rpg] GM says, "I assume 90% of avalon women dress up as either sidhe princesses or naughty pirates"

GM says, ""But surely I must get you an invitation -- it would be a great pity if you couldn't attend!""

[Crows-Nest] Minnie asks, "no? would you like some?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Jack says, "'naughty pirate' is sort of like 'outgoing stripper' or 'tetchy axe murderer'"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Oh, I would be eternally grateful if you would!"

GM says, ""I will speak to the butler when I go in and have him arrange it -- perhaps you could call tomorrow and pick it up""

[rpg] Minnie says, "the other 10% being Cat, who dresses up as soldiers"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am trying to think up a good excuse to go tromp around the estate, but I'm not coming up with one."

[rpg] GM says, "Cat conforms to no stereotype, except the one about what happens to people who don't listen to their teachers at school"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "well, I think Minnie has that angle covered"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Good point."

[rpg] Jack says, "I need to get *into* the estate."

[rpg] GM asks, "is there anything else you'd like to query Samantha about?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Then it is a date. I'll be counting the hours until then."

[rpg] Jack says, "I wonder if they'd call a rat-catcher in if they suddenly found themselves with a rat problem."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I don't see a good way to work Baron Stone into this conversation."

[rpg] Minnie says (to Jack), "that can be arranged"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "On the other hand, Johnny's got the Rapport skill, not me."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So in theory he could probably think of a way."

[rpg] GM asks, "oh, ok, was that the point of the fae blood question?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Partly."

GM says, ""Oh, no," she says, "there isn't any magic in my family -- well, not except wicked old Baron Stone""

[rpg] Jack says, "Man, this is like seducin' fish in a barrel."

[rpg] Jack says, "Er, or so I've heard."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "long days at sea"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Oh?" He asks conspiratorially, "Wicked old 'Baron Stone'?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha."

GM says, ""He was my ancestor ever so many years ago," she says. "I don't really know much about, but he has quite the wicked cast in his eye in the family paintings.""

GM says, ""Supposedly he sold his soul to Legion for magic power but it swallowed him up instead and he was dragged down to hell""

GM says, "She shivers. "It's quite frightening!""

JohnnyFalcone says, "Maybe I should dress up as *him*, then! I could put a bit of a scare into that nasty old Donner who's kicked you out of the house."

GM says, ""Oh, no," she says, "You don't look a thing like him -- he's a nasty old gnarled man with nasty old gnarled face -- here, come inside and look at the portrait""

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "But is he missing a hand?"

[rpg] Jack says, "I gots a bad feelin' about this."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

JohnnyFalcone follows her closely.

GM says, "that is a pretty apt description"

GM says, "they've got one of those front halls lined with family portraits through the agesa"

GM says, "and probably these are the better-looking ancestors and they left the really ugly ones back at the manor"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I wonder if she's at that rebellious age... (which, I think, is most ages when you're the daughter of nobility)."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Maybe she could be convinced to switch careers to Adventuress when this is all over."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Minnie says, "man, she totally invited you inside to look at her etchings"

GM says, "ok, meanwhile back at the estate"

[rpg] Jack says, "Har har"

GM says, "Minnie is cooking and chopping and scrubbing and trying to work out how to make hardtack recipes that will seem authentically nautical to noble guests without actually being made with authentic weevils"

[rpg] GM asks (of Minnie,Jack), "did you guys want to do something?"

Minnie fancifies up a grog recipe with cask-aged rum

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "and/or you"

[rpg] Jack says, "Less plum, more duff! There's too much pork in this salt pork!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah, it sucks to have to work with artificial weevil. It doesn't have anything like the right crunch."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Jack says, "In the way of heist prep, any time I can get inside the alleged crime scene beforehand would be useful."

[rpg] Jack says, "I could demonstrate my patent Better Mousetrap in the town square, maybe, if Minnie wants to help out with rats."

Minnie also uses every opportunity she has to scope out the house, although this is probably limited to downstairs

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Minnie says, "I am a little hesitant to risk my fine upstandin' reputation, but if needs be"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Also, I was half joking, but if it comes down to it during the actual heist, I bet she'd be more willing to cooperate and help us steal the gem from Danvers than to turn us in."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "sure, what the hell"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Minnie), "Do you have a Burglary skill?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "no"

Jack says (to Minnie), "Well, I've captured a fine squaddy of the little fellers on the Vesten Courage. With me patent trap, see."

Taleslinger disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(Apparently you can use it to Case someplace to get free Aspects to tag later.)"

Minnie selects the fattest bilge-rat of the bunch and inveigles it into a dumbwaiter going up to the master bedroom

Jack asks (of Minnie), "How does the food arrive?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

GM says, "5..4..3..2..1 <shriek>"

[rpg] Minnie says, "see, you only really need one rat to make a decent infestation"

GM says, "parlor-maids run around upstairs and there is general confusion"

Jack disguises himself with a different hat, and sets up a little stall in the town square.

GM says, "some hours later the butler is in town looking around, and comes over to Jack's stall"

Efram is also at the stall playing the assistant.

Jack says, "Come ye, one and all, and see the wonder o' the age! Them mousey fellers, and their ratty cousins also, will be 'mazed and perplexed at the Rodent Maze!"

GM says, "The butler regards the two of you suspiciously. "I do indeed have the need for an exterminator, and urgently, but I am not sure I hold with these modern methods of rat-catching -- surely a terrier and a stout stick is all a man really needs?""

Jacqueline hollers, "At the top of the hour we shall play Floatpoint by Emily Short in the Toyshop and Floyditorium."

Jack says, "See how they end up confused and exhausted in the center, and ye can release them if yer religion so demands it, or maybe onto your enemy's property if yer religion be a little more forgivin', or mayhap cook up a fine stew!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

Jack says (to butler), "Aha, but this needs but little supervision, once ye've determined the correct spot to lay it down!"

GM says, "He looks thoughtful. "Well, it's true that might be useful -- we have had some boundary disputes with the Jenkinses""

GM says, ""Oh? And how do you determine the correct spot?""

Jack says, "And it won't be chewin' on his lordship's slippers, like yer typical terrier once he gets tired o' rats"

GM winces, as if this brings up a painful memory

Jack says, "Well, now, I admit that can be a tricky task, but I have a special introductory offer on that partic'lar service"

Jack says, "I'll come roun' and do it meself, for free, just for the publicity like"

GM says, ""Hmm, very well," the butler says. "I can't think what the harm would be""

GM says, "(cut to the estate)"

Jack says, "Done! Ye won't regret it!"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, let's see"

Efram says, "Every home has its rodent ley-lines. Place a trap at their heart, and you'll catch all of them in two nights."

[rpg] GM says, "I feel like Jack should make a burglary roll and Efram and Minnie should make some kind of assisting rolls"

[rpg] GM says, "and then you guys should declare aspects about the house which you can make use of for free later"

Jack rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 -1 | Fair (2)

Jack says, "Yikes"

[rpg] GM says, "it seems like you might want to use a fate point to reroll that"

[rpg] Efram says, "I am totally BSing some stuff about helping with ley lines to get an excuse to wander around more. And anybody who doesn't believe it can try and argue with me."

[rpg] Minnie says, "I guess Rapport or Alertness or something"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "in that case I guess you can roll sorcery"

[rpg] GM says, "I admit I like the rodent ley lines concept"

Minnie rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 -1 +1 +1 | Average (1)

[rpg] GM says, "they move with the prevailing location of cheeses"

Jack, while sneakily casing the joint under the eye of the butler, trips over a rat and tumbles down into the wine cellar.

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 0 0 -1 | Fair (2)

[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "The Emily of ley lines."

Jack says, "I'm too sober for this. I'm sure his lordship won't miss a bottle or two..."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, I think Efram and Minnie give Jack's roll a +2 between the two of them"

[Crows-Nest] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am not sure how she would feel about being compared to a magical rat."

[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "I was refering the cheese concept, not the rat."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Any Aspects jumping out at you?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Jack says, "Maybe we can rig the chandelier to fall, or plant some bombs."

[Crows-Nest] Efram says, "Not That Many Rats After All"

[rpg] GM says (to Jack), "ok, so let's see the reroll"

Jack rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 +1 | Legendary+1 (9)

[rpg] GM says, "wow, crazy"

[rpg] Minnie says, "woot"

[rpg] GM says, "plus two more"

[rpg] GM says, "uh"

[rpg] Jack says, "...interesting."

[rpg] GM counts on his fingers

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Woah."

[rpg] Minnie exclaims, "secret passages nobody else knows about!"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, I guess that is enough for five aspects"

[rpg] Jack says, "If I happen to find the Sea's Blood here, I'm totally pocketin' it."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha."

GM says, "so, your investigation determines the map for the ball is going to look like this: http://inky.org/rpg/oneshots/parrot/images/ball.png"

[rpg] Efram asks, "or swapping it?"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "dim lighting, to facilitate sneakery and disguises?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "These are all Aspects that he'll get to tag for free when making rolls here later during the Heist?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(s/He/We/, I guess, presuming we share info.)"

Jack says, "Stone me, but this wine be fit for Satan himsel'."

GM says, "the gem is going to be kept in the study for the first part of the ball, and then at some point it'll be brought down onto the dance floor, and then the dance floor will be cleared of dancers and turned into some kind of silent auction deal"

GM says, "and then a final dance and everyone staggers off home or has to be put up for the night or whatever"

[rpg] Minnie says, "okay, so let's have a balcony outside the study with some ivy growing up it"

[rpg] Jack says, "Sounds good"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, that'll be two (balcony and then ivy)"

[rpg] Jack asks, "I like the idea of a secret passage... Private Rooms to the Gambling room?"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "Hilariously Incompetent Security?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Minnie says (to Jack), "sounds good"

[rpg] Efram says, "we must have an easily-dropped grand chandelier in the ballroom. If we don't use it, just hit it on our way out for extra flash."

[rpg] Jack says, "It's true."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Jack says, "It's totally rat-free -- I carefully investigated it -- but it looks due to tumble at the drop of a hat."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "A falling chandelier would be excellent for Baron Jack's entrance."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so I count balcony, ivy, secret passange, chandelier, incompetent guards, and one more"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "that's five, isn't it?"

[rpg] Jack asks, "Magnificent and Probably Highly Flammable Wine Cellar?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Awww"

[rpg] Efram asks, "can we assume Jack and I got a look at another portrait of the Baron along the way?"

[rpg] GM says, "oops, right"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "oh, yes"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "What if the path from the study to the dance floor is out of the way and has conveniently shady alcoves lining it?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, sorry, I said five, not six, you're right"

[rpg] Jack says, "Those first five sound fine."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "How many hands *does* the Baron have?"

[rpg] GM says, "three"

[rpg] Jack says, "I can do anything up to... let's see, twenny two"

[rpg] GM says, "one is in a little jar in his desk"

[rpg] GM says, "he has the normal amount, yes"

[rpg] Efram says, "you could go back to the tomb and get one of his actual hands"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

GM says, "ok! the joint is pretty cased"

[rpg] Jack says, "I was just thinkin' that. Pointin' the accusin' skeletal finger at our man."

[rpg] Minnie asks, "so, what's our procedure?"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "Jack tries to break in from upstairs beforehand and nab it from the study, Johnny mingles downstairs, we do some sort of hand-off?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Are we getting back together to discuss The Plan?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I see four possible ways to steal the gem."

[rpg] GM says, "you've got five days before the party, so I imagine you can meet up"

[rpg] GM says, "maybe only four days, I dunno"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "One, someone swaps it with the fake while it's still in the study."

Jack says (to JohnnyFalcone), "Say on."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I see four possible ways to steal the gem."

JohnnyFalcone says, "One, someone swaps it with the fake while it's still in the study."

Minnie says, "Well, if we can think of a fake, so can he."

Jack drains his beer.

JohnnyFalcone says, "One, someone lurks in the hallway and bops the courier on the head while it's on its way out to the dance floor."

Minnie says, "So we need Efram at the point of theft to confirm it's the real one."

Jack says, "This fake'll fool him at a glance, but he knows that gem too well, so if he suspects knavery he'll soon figure it out"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Three, Baron Stone shows up at the party and demands it. Let superstition and intimidation do our work for us."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Four, win the auction."

JohnnyFalcone says, "That's not counting the usual Plan Zero: wait until all the other plans fail, then just grab it in the confusion and run for the exit."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Anyone see any other good alternatives?"

Jack says, "Wait for someone to win the auction, follow them, club them over the head later."

Minnie says, "pull out guns during the auction, stick everyone up"

Jack says, "If you think there is goin' to be an auction, and not some creepy hoodo ceremony"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "Didn't Minnie already decide we weren't going that route?"

Jack says, "Yeah, I'm just buggerin' straw men."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "I mean, didn't we already decide...?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

Efram says, "If we act too late, we'll have to deal with the gem and the Cap'n separately."

[rpg] (from GM) Johnny says "ow, my shin"

JohnnyFalcone says, "And I have to admit, I'm not pleased with the idea of Danvers walking away with a pile of cash while some innocent nob gets his pockets effectively picked."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I mean, I don't object to picking a few pockets, so long as we get the right one."

Efram says, "and yes, I suspect the Captain is up to worse than just trying to get away with money."

Minnie says, "You're a good lad at heart, Johnny."

Jack says, "I likes the idea of breakin' in more than dressin' up as some old dead man walkin'."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Thank ye, Minnie."

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Jack), "But there's no reason you can't do both!"

Jack says, "True that."

Minnie says, "So let's wear belt, braces and carpenter's glue, just like Bosun Strackles."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Baron Stone's entrance'll be all the better if he shows up out of the bowels of the earth, rather than just walking in the front door."

Jack says, "So I needs to get into the study, and then get out afterwards."

Jack says, "I can hide in the secret passage if there ain't nobody in those rooms."

JohnnyFalcone says, "We should get you dressed up first, so you'll be all ready."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I've got just the suit. It just needs to be ripped up a bit and doused in seawater for a couple of days."

Jack says, "I am dressed! This is me best sackcloth!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Minnie says, "One: Jack goes in through the balcony window, switches gems, drops the original down to Efram to check it's the right 'un."

Minnie says, "He's already in his ghosty get-up."

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Sounds good."

JohnnyFalcone says, "We should keep a bucket or two of water to dump on him right before he goes on."

Minnie asks, "If it's the right 'un, Efram howls like a... what can you howl like?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "The Baron was dragged down under the sea, so that's gotta be where he's coming back from."

Jack asks, "What if there's sumbody in the study?"

Efram rolls back his eyes and lets out a wail like a tortured soul.

Jack says, "We needs to distract them away."

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "ha ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "awesome"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Is this before or after the dancing starts?"

Minnie says, "that'll do, one way or another. Anyways, we hear that and we all get out."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Maybe I could talk Sam into giving me a tour up there."

Jack says, "Prolly after is better."

Jack says, "More noise, more distraction."

Minnie says, "If not, Jack hides himself in the secret passage, ready for a big entrance."

Jack says, "Efram ought to do the voice, somehow."

Jack says, "If the coast is clear he can sneak up into the study and hide in the passage too."

Jack asks (of JohnnyFalcone), "Meanwhile, you'll be trippin' the light fantastic, I'll wager?"

Efram says, "crossing the grounds to the gardens might be another way to enter."

Minnie says, "We need to arrange a drop-off for if we get the gem when inside the building, with no good way out."

JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "I'll find some way to occupy myself."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, the usual way this goes is the plan all goes to hell once it starts"

JohnnyFalcone says, "So: if we make the swap, then Efram will have the real gem, and the fake gem will be in the study."

[rpg] Jack says, "Not if our planning is perfect!"

[rpg] GM says, "so maybe we should just jump into things and if you want to have planned something out you can announce it retroactively"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Will Jack still make an appearance as the Baron?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That sounds good."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "We've got a half dozen half-plans."

Jack says, "Well, if not I'll be squattin' in the secret passage all night, which don't sound too fun"

[rpg] Efram says, "so I say try all the plans at once, and start improvising five minutes after we're in"

Jack says, "I'll come out if you knocks the chandelier down"

[rpg] GM says, "as a meta-game thing, it seems obvious that if you get the gem from the study and clear out that is too easy"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Sounds good."

[rpg] GM says, "so it seems like you should either plan to fail at that or have some other goal you guys want to accomplish"

Minnie says, "So, if you have the gem and you can't make it outside without being caught, drop it in the gumbo Montagnais at the refreshments tables. By half-six I wager nobody'll want to touch the stuff, the way I'm going to make it."

[rpg] Efram asks, "is 'Create mayhem' not enough of a goal?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Maybe you can even find a way for the Baron to smash the fake gem, so they won't come looking for the real oen."

[rpg] GM says (to Minnie), "ha ha"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee"

Jack says, "Oho"

Jack says, "Now there's a bright idea"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I get those once every few weeks."

[rpg] Minnie says, "Then I'll spirit it back to the kitchen once the coast is clear and palm it off to one of you at the servants' entrance."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Is everyone but me sneaking in?"

Jack says, "The biggest risk as I see it is gettin' in."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Well, you know the smugglers' caves."

[rpg] Efram says, "Minnie works there"

[rpg] Minnie says (to JF), "*I* am turning up for regular employment."

Jack asks, "Where does those tunnels come up inside the house, do you reckon?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh yeah."

[rpg] Efram says, "oh yeah, whereabouts on the map..."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Did you get any sight of that when you were in the cellars?"

Jack says, "Could be. There's a *lot* of cellars..."

GM says, "(if you'd rather spend an aspect on that, you can)"

[rpg] Minnie says, "For the balcony plan, Jack should come in through the gardens."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Maybe Efram could leave some kinda voodoo X-marks-the-spot in one of 'em."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Something he could trace back to from down below."

[rpg] Jack asks, "What aspects do we have, again?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "He has to get into the estate first, of course."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Balcony, ivy, chandelier, poor guards..."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "And I think one other."

[rpg] Jack says, "Secret passage."

[rpg] Jack says, "Which, er, we might want to move."

[rpg] Jack says, "A secret passage from somewhere down into the tombs might be handy."

[rpg] Jack says, "And that's our way in, too."

[rpg] Minnie asks, "move it from the dancing-hall to the tombs?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That sounds good."

[rpg] Jack says, "Sure, that sounds fun."

[rpg] Efram says, "I'd also be okay with just following where Jeeves came from up and then figure out where we popped in."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Also, will Efram be in costume too, in case he's seen?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Efram), "Unless they're doing a ritual down there at the time."

[rpg] Minnie says, "he can be a voodoo priest"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Minnie), "Ha ha perfect!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I like the idea of everyone being dressed as themselves."

[rpg] Jack says, "I can see the plan going wrong in a way that forces Efram to mingle casually, make small talk, and possibly gavotte."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I shall be the dashing rogue, Efram can be the voodoo priest, Jack will be the nasty old gnarled man..."

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee"

JohnnyFalcone gives Jack the amulet. "You'll be needing this, of course."

Jack holds the amulet a little gingerly.

Minnie says, "I thought that Efram said -"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Minnie), "But Efram will have the real gem, right?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "And he can't play Baron Stone without the amulet."

JohnnyFalcone says, "Unless we make a fake one of *those*, too."

Jack says, "...could do."

Minnie says, "That'd be my preference."

JohnnyFalcone shrugs. "Fair enough."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I'll just hang onto this, then. Make sure Danvers doesn't get a hold of it."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Should I roll for that?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Jack) Jack says (as Hannibal), "Now, one last thing -- we need to customise the van!"

[Crows-Nest] Minnie says, "now I am seeing Jack doing his big Evil Baron Stone entrance and everyone going 'ooh' and then being all 'I say, old chap, best entrance ever. not a bad costume, either'"

[rpg] GM asks, "wait, for what?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Making another amulet."

[Crows-Nest] JohnnyFalcone says, "Heh."

[rpg] GM says, "oh, hmm, I think you had time to do that as part of your previous work, given you rolled pretty well"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Excellent."

[rpg] Jack says, "Cool."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Anything else we need to prep before the ball?"

[rpg] Jack says, "I also had some time to spare at the end, so I carved this ice swan."

[rpg] GM says, "i thought you worked exclusively in prosciutto"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "It takes real talent to make an ice swan out of prosciutto."

Minnie concocts her famed gumbo, but goes rather overboard on the chili and squid ink

GM exclaims, "ok!"

GM says, "so the night of the ball arrives at last"

Jack practices his lines. "I BE BARON STONE RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE FOR WHAT WAS STOLE, YE BUGGERIN' FISHBAIT -- wait, that's not it"

GM says, "Johnny slips in with his forged invitation and soon finds Samantha on the sidelines of the dance, Minnie is working away in the kitchen, and Jack and Efram slip in through the secret passage and head to the gardens"

Efram says, "no, sounds good."

GM says, "so it looks, in shortly a little like this: http://inky.org/rpg/oneshots/parrot/map.html"

GM says, "er, in short"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Samantha), "You look like you're waiting for someone."

[rpg] Efram says, "that's the ship"

GM says, "(the green ones are miscellaneous nobles and servants and merchants and miscellanous civil servant types)"

Minnie is already lording it over the less assertive kitchen-maids

[rpg] GM asks, "hrm, try refreshing?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "N = Noble, S = Servant?"

[rpg] Efram says, "okay, got it"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Psst, I think you've got company."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(What's a C?)"

[rpg] Alex says (to JohnnyFalcone), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that C IS C. Furthermore, ascii 67 is C."

GM says, "Samantha looks up. "The highwayman!" she gasps, dramatically."

[rpg] Efram asks, "we came in through the tomb and nothing was going on there?"

GM says, "she's got like a cone-shaped hat with some gauze trailing from it, and a sparkly wand with a star on the tip"

[rpg] Minnie says, "g'wan, sweep her off her feet"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Samantha), "You're caught, my dear. Now you give me what I demand. Your money... or a dance!"

Jack whispers (to Efram), "Arr, who be this nob hauntin' the garden? Apart from me, I mean.""

GM says (to Efram,Jack), "as you passed through the tomb and out (which turned out to lead out of a secret passage in a shed on the grounds) you notice the coffin lid had been replaced and the altar and its furnishings removed"

Jack says, "Them bones is up to no good, looks like"

GM says, "so the room is bare except for the coffin and the inscription on the wall"

GM says, "("Here lies Baron Stone / his mortal flesh has failed / but he will yet conquer")"

GM says (to Johnny), "ooh, she says, I yield"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "So the map can be assumed to have an extra passage between the NE corner and the SW corner?"

GM says, "and allows you to sweep her off to the dance floor"

JohnnyFalcone sweeps indeed.

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "whoops! no, sorry, I just changed my mind about where I wanted to put it"

[Crows-Nest] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "And now, m'lady, see that my Athletics skill is nearly as high as my Rapport!"

[Crows-Nest] JohnnyFalcone dance dance dance.

[rpg] Efram asks, "so tomb <-> gardens?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "I was originally intending tomb <-> wine cellar, but it seems like if you're going to make a balcony and ivy and so on"

[rpg] Jack says, "Gardens is a traditional place for a tomb, anyway."

GM says, "in the garden this noble is a solitary drinker, declaiming something to the stars"

Efram tries to get a bearing on that bright pulsing spiritual presence.

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 +1 | Good (3)

GM asks (of Efram), "looking for the gem, right?"

[rpg] Efram says, "assuming gem was the bright thing mentioned when Efram sensed three things in the boat last session, yes"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah ok"

GM says, "ok, so it's both easier and harder to find it"

[rpg] Efram says, "(if not, it's bound to be something else interesting)"

GM says, "something is clearly burning like a fire from the study window (which you can faintly see from this part of the gardens)"

Jack whispers (to Efram), "How're we going to get rid of this cove? We can't have him watchin' us shinny up the ivy!""

GM says, "but it's actually harder in some ways to locate it, both because you're close (so it's harder to pin down) and because overall the area seems to be saturated with mystical energies now, from the ocean (which you can faintly hear and smell from the gardens) to the ground beneath your feet to the house itself"

Jack whispers (to Efram), "Hey, shouldn't your eyes have pupils?"

GM says, "you realize that magic is actually flowing in off the ocean up the tunnels and out the shed, reversing the direction of the previous flow"

Efram gazes beyond what mortal eyes can see. "Much magic is drawing nigh. But the fire still burns in the study."

Jack says, "Well, that sounds promisin', but you need to distract this feller for me. Get him drunker or something."

Efram finally notices the noble sitting there.

GM says, ""Ah, fair Samantha!" the man declares suddenly. "Tonight you will be mine!""

GM says, "He gestures a little unsteadily. "On such a night, who can resist my charms?""

[rpg] Efram asks, "the garden guy?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "possibly Johnny too"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee."

GM says, ""But no," he sinks down again, depressed. "I dare not even speak to her, to kiss the hem of her garment""

Efram approaches. "It is true, tonight is a portentous night."

Jack spits on his hands, sneaks over to the ivy.

[rpg] Minnie says, "sell him phoney love-charms"

[rpg] Minnie says, "or boldness potion"

GM says, "The man starts as you approach, and then laughs. "Such a disguise! What a clever fellow you are, I would almost think you are a heathen voodoo priest indeed""

Jack says, "Buggerin' idiot, agreein' to a plan with me climbin' an all..."

Efram laughs, a little too disturbingly.

[rpg] Jack says, "It's getting dark by now, I hope."

GM says, ""So tell me, then, witch doctor, what is my fate? Dare I?""

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "A thought occurs to me."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, the sun's been down for a bit and it's getting on real darkness"

Efram says, "Apologies if I have intruded. But there are ways and times we can choose our own fates."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "This is a party full of Avalon nobles."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "How many thumbs are going to be pricking when that gem comes out?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hrm, I bet climbing ivy is something that wants Athletics."

[rpg] Minnie says, "right, and you can tag the ivy aspect for another dice"

[rpg] GM says (to Jack), "yeah, probably, although you can get a +2 or a reroll on the roll from this free tag"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Fortunately, if you need to spend a fate point, you've got that climbing hand attachment..."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh, right, or that."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yay, free tags."

[rpg] Jack says, "I'll keep the grapplin' hand in reserve for now."

GM says, ""Yes?" the man says. "You mean I should speak to her? Tonight?""

Jack checks that nobody's watching, resignedly gives the ivy a try.

[rpg] Minnie says, "duel duel duel"

Efram asks, "You know what will happen if you do not. Why not learn what may happen if you do?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That would certainly make for a good distraction."

Jack rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Average (1)

[rpg] Jack says, "Rarr!"

GM says, ""That's right!" says the man. "I will!" He tosses down his drink, flings the glass into the bushes, and strides determinedly into the house"

[rpg] Jack says, "That ought to do it, with +2"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Yay."

[Crows-Nest] Minnie says, "why, when I was but sixteen I harboured a longing for a fair lady, and so I sacrificed a chicken to Chango to win her love. She died horribly, but at least I found out"

GM says, "meanwhile, Jack shimmies up the ivy and onto the balcony"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ha ha"

Jack says, "puff puff pant arse bugger puff"

GM asks (of Minnie), "meanwhile, what are you up to?"

Minnie says, "serving aperetifs, keeping an eye on proceedings"

Minnie says, "hoping that the gumbo turns out to be as unpopular as intended"

GM asks (of Johnny), "and you are dancing with Samantha -- are you trying to do anything in particular, or just making conversation?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "At the moment, making conversation."

JohnnyFalcone says, "If I don't hear Efram howl eventually, I'll try to sneak upstairs."

GM says, "alrighty"

GM says, "meanwhile Minnie notices three servants she's never seen before suddenly in the kitchen, but before she can do anything about it we jump to Jack, who has just pulled himself onto the balcony"

GM says, "and then is forced to flatten himself against the floor, because, blast, there's Danvers himself in there"

Jack says, "Okay, now to check carefully for traps and hidden watchers. All the while remaining completely si -- crap, it's himself!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "OOC, that seems like a good sign that it's time to go upstairs..."

GM says, "Danvers is crooning and chuckling to himself, and stroking something in his palm that gleams in the light"

Jack strains to see.

GM says (to Jack), "perhaps an investigation roll if you want to see better"

Jack rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 0 -1 | Mediocre (0)

[rpg] Jack asks, "Drat. Is *is* dark, isn't it?"

[rpg] GM says, "apparently"

GM says, "ok, I guess that is as much as you can make out -- there's something white on his desk but you aren't sure what"

[rpg] Efram asks, "who's the orange E? the pathetic suitor?"

GM says, "meanwhile, downstairs, Johnny is dancing with Samantha, getting increasingly more impatient"

Jack mutters, "Well, I'm not fightin' the bugger on me own, much as I'd like to slit his throat for him..."

GM says, "when, yes, Edward, the man from the garden shows up, barging his way across the dance floor"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Samantha), "It's so crowded here, and noisy..."

GM says, ""Lady Samantha, may I have this dance??" he says"

JohnnyFalcone frowns.

[rpg] Minnie says, "if you want me to spill caviar all over him at this moment that can be arranged"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Edward), "The lady and I are a bit busy. Perhaps you could try one of the many other eligible young lasses here tonight?"

Jacqueline hollers, "ClubFloyd in five minutes!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "or you may be glad of the excuse to ditch her, I dunno"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "emergency plan C"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "She was part of my 'embarrass whoever upstairs is getting in Jack's way into leaving' plan!"

[rpg] Jack says, "Heh"

GM says, "Edward gets a stubborn-and-slightly-drunk expression on his face. "You can't monopolize her for the whole dance!""

[rpg] Minnie asks, "okay, caviar, then?"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Samantha), "Perhaps this would be a good time to excuse ourselves and find someplace quieter, without so many..." He glances at Edward. "Distractions."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That could work, yes."

Jack tries to remember if he had some kind of signal for Efram in this situation.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I do feel slightly guilty about doing this to him. I'll have to make it up somehow later."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Minnie directs the clumsiest kitchen-maid onto an interception course with Edward with a pile of caviar

GM says, ""And I for one--" Edward says. SPLORT"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Ambassador, with this pile of caviar you are spoiling us!"

GM says, ""Why you..." and before he notices anything else, Johnny and Samantha have disappeared"

[Crows-Nest] Minnie says, "well, it's just fish eggs, innit? you serve 'em in a pile"

GM asks (of Efram), "meanwhile, what are you up to?"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Samantha), "Dear me. Do you know someplace we can hide away until that little mess is cleared away? Perhaps someplace quiet, like a library or a study...?"

Efram is waiting and watching, expecting some ruckus to start soon. Hmm, a shouting caviar-covered noble doesn't quite qualify.

GM says, ""Oh, yes," Samantha says. "Just upstairs here.""

[Crows-Nest] (from JohnnyFalcone) Johnny . o O ( And haven't you always wanted to make out with a boy in daddy's study, you rebellious little minx? )

Nitku gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop.

GM says (to Jack), "ok, and you? Danvers is sort of crooning to himself and making notes"

GM says, "(and not showing signs of leaving soon, althoigh surely he will have to put in a party appearance)"

Jack says, "I'm a cocked hat in a fork and no mistake."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ha ha"

Jack says, "Better hold snug for a bit and see if he leaves."

Jack says, "I ain't goin' back down that ivy."

GM says, "finally Danvers steps out of sight for a minute and when he comes back, he doesn't have the gem any more"

GM exclaims, "worse yet, he's coming right towards you!"

Jack mutters, "bollocks bollocks"

[rpg] Jack says, "Time to brave it out."

Jack sits up and hunches down, looking out over the garden.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "What was Edward dressed as, anyway?"

GM says, "ok, you squash yourself out of sight as best as possible"

[rpg] GM says, "hmmm! good question"

[rpg] Minnie says, "a sturgeon"

[rpg] GM says, "I believe he is dressed as a faux-medieval courtier with like a lute and stuff"

[rpg] GM says, "and a bunch of fringes that just make him look droopy"

GM says, "Danvers comes up and stares out over the water -- either he doesn't see you or he doesn't react"

GM says, "then he gives one of the nastiest sniggers you have ever heard and reaches up and drops the curtains shut"

[rpg] Minnie says, "give him a shove, go on"

GM says, "there is the snick of a locking window and then footsteps and the door shuts"

Jack says, "Drat and buggery."

[rpg] Jack asks, "He locked me out?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I think so."

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] Efram asks, "a locked window is going to stop you?"

Jack listens at the window.

GM says (to Jack), "sounds like it's empty"

[rpg] Jack says, "Not for long, unless there's somebody behind it trainin' a gun."

[rpg] Jack says, "And I don't mean trainin' it to fetch."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "That would be a pretty good trick, though."

Jack says, "Lockpick time, tum de dum"

Jack rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 +1 | Great (4)

GM says, "Jack slides a flat bit of metal under the crack in the window and pops the catch"

GM says, "meanwhile"

GM says, "out in the gardens, Efram notices three men dressed in black cloaks and masks, rather like Johnny's highwayman disguise"

GM says, "they emerge from the bushes and head into the dance"

[rpg] Minnie says, "well, crap"

[rpg] Minnie says, "we're about to be nobbled by a heist team more efficient and dangerous than ourselves"

GM says, "in the kitchen, the trio of new servants grab up plates of hors d'oeuvres and start to head out as well"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "More efficient, perhaps, but there is no heist team more dangerous!"

[rpg] Efram says, "except they didn't have the forethought to get hired ahead of time."

[rpg] Minnie says, "I bet they have rapelling cables and controlled explosives and everything"

GM says, "and in the passageway, Danvers is about to cross paths with Johnny and Samantha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "At least, as long as Jack can find a case of gunpowder."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Who needs *controlled* explosives?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Efram decides it's time to keep a closer eye on the ballroom, and heads inside.

JohnnyFalcone nuzzles Samatha's neck, his face hidden in her hair.

Minnie shadows the fake servants with her own platter, having first hidden a cleaver under it

GM says, ""Ah, Lady Samantha," Danvers says, sounding exactly how you remember. "Enjoying the ball?" He doesn't stop to get an answer, but passes onwards and downstairs. "I'll be bringing the gemstone out shortly for the guests to admire -- I just had to make a few last preparations.""

GM says (to Efram,Minnie), "they appear to be, as it were, casing the joint"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Oh no, they're going to steal our fake gem!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Probably right after Danvers sells it."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So that he can go sell it again someplace else."

[rpg] Minnie says, "only if we actually make this damn switch"

GM says, "there's a sort of dais with a column on it with a glass box on top, and presumably the gem goes in the box for observation"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Efram checks on whether the ballroom is indeed a center of ley lines and the flowing magics.

GM says (to Efram), "hrm, no, actually"

GM says, "well, sort of"

GM says, "it is more like the ocean is the source and it's flowing into the house and the cliff tunnels and filling it like a vessel"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Or like a tick."

[rpg] GM says, "hrm, no, there is more, uh, intentionality in the design of the house than that"

[rpg] Efram says, "so just the house, but no room in particular."

[rpg] GM says, "(though also clearly more power is flowing out of the ocean than is being caught by the house)"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "yeah"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So if we were truly wise, we would wait until we were on a ship before we tried putting the gem into the amulet."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Minnie says (to JF), "ahahahaha no"

[rpg] GM says, "I would not bet on that happening"

GM says, "Minnie, following the servants, overhears a few bits of conversation "...just grab and go ... wait for the ruckus ... hostage or two ... meet up back at the warehouse""

[rpg] Minnie says, "okay, so they are *worse* heist-type-guys than us"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Overhears from the other servants, or from the masked men?"

Jack asks, "Hellfire and crapstone, why haven't walkie-talkies been invented yet?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "someone tapped our incompetent guards against us"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Considering that they all arrived in a group, *dressed for a heist*..."

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "there is a set of three suspicious servants as well as the three masked men"

GM says, "and meanwhile, Jack has slipped into the study"

[rpg] Efram says, "the other group has some who showed up from the garden also has some disguised as servants. Unless there are three of us."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Anything interesting on the desk?"

GM says, "sitting on the desk is a small notebook and a sheet of paper covered in writing, plus an inkwell and so on"

Jack has a quick read.

[Crows-Nest] (from Minnie) Jack says, "Yup, still illiterate."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Hee hee."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Is it damp?"

[rpg] GM asks, "like, just written, you mean?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Right"

GM says, "the sheet of paper has some fresh calculations on it; it appears to be similar notes to the one you found in Danvers' hotel room"

GM says, "at the bottom is written "GATEWAY TO ALL THE TREASURES OF THE SEA""

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Yeah?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I smell a sequel..."

Jack picks up both, for later perusal.

[rpg] Minnie says, "stuff the writin', find the gem"

GM says, "and "how many to sacrifice?""

[rpg] Efram says, "oh, the fool"

Jack says, "I guess the gem's gone, but better take a quick look anyway..."

GM says, "meanwhile, the small notebook is a journal"

GM says, "which has some backstory in it you can get flip through now or wait til later for"

Jack has all the curiosity of a dead horse.

Jack says, "Later!"

GM says (to Jack), "ok, the room has a lamp, a statue, a mounted wolf head, a pair of paintings, and a tapestry"

[rpg] Jack says, "So I'm sure the gem is on Danvers, but better search anyway."

GM says, "(it's one of those overdecorated studies)"

[rpg] Minnie says, "check the inkwell"

[rpg] Jack asks, "You want like a search order?"

Jack says, "I ain't never heard of wall safes, so I'll try the wolf head first."

[rpg] GM asks, "I dunno, do any of those feel inspirational?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] (from Jack) >LOOK UNDER

GM says, "Jack prods at the eyes and peers inside the ears and finally manages to hook his hook inside the wolf's mouth"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Superb Burglary, and he's never heard of wall safes?"

[rpg] Jack says, "They're new-fangled futurey things, like those blasphemin' walkie-talkies!"

GM says, "he yanks out a rather nice pearl necklace and a scroll tube"

Jack asks, "All sorts here. Anythin' inside this tube?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "I hope we're not stealing from Samatha's father!"

[rpg] Jack says, "Perish the thought."

[rpg] Efram says (to Johnny), "you can apprehend the thief later"

[rpg] Jack says, "'We' ain't stealin' anything outside the main plan."

GM says, "Jack it's got some kind of diagram on it -- it'll take a bit to puzzle out"

[rpg] Minnie says, "only his daughter's heart"

[rpg] GM says (to Jack), "hee hee"

Jack says, "I just wanted a gem, not the bleedin' Crystal Maze."

GM says, "and then, naturally, footsteps are coming down the corridor"

[rpg] Efram asks, "map of the subterranean maze, perhaps?"

[Crows-Nest] Minnie says, "this joke will make sense to nobody outside the UK but rest assured I am sniggering"

[rpg] Jack asks, "Anywhere in this room to hide?"

[rpg] GM says, "well, you could try behind the tapestry, or out on the balcony"

GM says, "or put the wolf's head on"

GM says, "er"

[rpg] Jack asks, "Is this the time to make a ghostly appearance?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "I suspect that'd be of more use on the mob than just Danvers"

[rpg] Minnie says, "particularly if Danvers is already possessed by Stone"

Jack says, "Tapestry it is"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Although theoretically, Danvers is already on his way downstairs."

[rpg] Jack asks, "...!?"

GM says, "Jack ducks behind the tapestry, just as the door unlocks and opens"

GM says, "it's the butler (from the tomb) with a couple bored-looking guards"

GM says, "obviously they would rather be watching the refreshments table"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "Didn't he pass us on his way down?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(Us == me and Samantha.)"

[rpg] Jack says, "You just had me wonderin' what kind of zombie horror might be lurchin' in here."

Jack mutters, "well, this is a rum do and no mistake"

GM says, "he tells the guards to turn their backs, and he goes over to the painting and lifts it, unlocks the door behind, and removes the gem"

Jack says, "door behind the safe! amazing!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Where are Samantha and myself, by the way? I had figured we'd been on the way to the Study (to run into Danvers and somehow get him out of the way), but he's already made his exit."

[rpg] Minnie asks, "Johnny creates a distraction, Jack jumps him?"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "sorry, I skipped you -- I sort of figured you guys were in the corridor heading to the study, and then you heard the butler coming and ducked into a side-room"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ah."

[rpg] GM says, "(if that is not OK I am willing to be flexible)"

[rpg] Efram says, "I thought those smoochies were timed so Danvers wouldn't recognize Johnny."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I think I would have been more likely to try to distract him and make noise enough for Jack to hide, but the hiding seems to have worked out OK anyway."

[rpg] GM exclaims, "don't tell Samantha that!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I assume she is hiding with me."

[rpg] Jack says, "Hmm, I could start some sort of ruckus and switch gems on them."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Good idea."

GM says, "The butler finishes removing the gem and gets ready to reclose the safe"

[rpg] Jack asks (of GM), "Is the lamp lit?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure"

[rpg] Efram asks, "What's the other heist group(s) up to? Sort of hanging around waiting for distractions like I am?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am not exactly sure what my current goal is, I admit."

[rpg] Jack says, "Okay, ruckus time."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "In theory, I was originally up here to facilitate Jack getting the gem by running interference."

Jack fortunately happens to have a small flash bomb with him.

[rpg] Jack says, "(What did you *think* his Universal Gadget would be?)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So I am thinking that when we hear the noise, we should run in."

[rpg] Minnie asks (of Johnny), "help the guards apprehend Jack, triumphantly pluck the fake jewel from him?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Yeah."

Jack throws it at the lamp!

GM says, "kaWHOOMPF"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Samantha), "Did you hear that?"

Jack tackles the butler!

GM exclaims, "the gem goes flying!"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "I'd better see what's going on!"

JohnnyFalcone charges in!

GM says, ""Wait!" Samantha says. "It might be dangerous!""

GM says, ""I want to see it too!""

Jack says, "ARRRR TAKE THAT YE SERVILE LUBBER"

Jack says, "Buttle this ye scurvy wretch!"

GM says, "the guards are incompetent but not incapable, so I guess they jump onto Jack and the butler"

JohnnyFalcone draws his sword. "Stand back, ye knave!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Onto Jack *and* the butler?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Jack says, "Well, you can't trust a butler."

[rpg] Efram says, "they are incompetent."

[rpg] GM says, "they're -- yeah"

[rpg] GM says, "if they were competent they would try to retrieve the gem from the corner"

[rpg] Jack says, "Also they're blinded in a dark room."

[rpg] GM says, "good point"

Jack says, "You'll never take the gem! THIS GEM, HERE! THE ONE I'M HOLDING!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I would like to use my fencing skillz to interpose myself between Jack and the guards, so the real guards don't get to him."

JohnnyFalcone steps in heroically, parrying Jack's... hook... and protecting the butler? And Samantha, of course.

[rpg] GM says, "ok, sounds good"

[rpg] GM says, "let's see a weapons roll"

JohnnyFalcone rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Superb (5)

[rpg] Jack says, "Nice!"

GM says, "ok, I think that is pretty good interposin'"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Jack), "Stay back! Back, into that corner over there!"

GM says (to Efram,Minnie), "meanwhile, you see some folks getting interested in the ruckus upstairs"

[rpg] Jack says, "This disguise AKA my normal clothes may still work later if I don't get caught."

GM says, "(both normal folks and suspicious folks)"

Jack gauges how fatal a leap off the balcony would be.

GM says, "(and a few more guards)"

Minnie says (to Efram), "psst - take the secret passage in case you're needed for a hand-off"

GM says (to Jack), "well, there are bushes"

Efram says, "Right."

Efram returns to the garden to keep an eye on the Study from below.

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Hand over that gem, you scoundrel! And don't go running out that window over there as soon as you toss it over, or else there's no way we'll be able to catch you!"

Jack says, "The gem shall never be yours, dog!"

GM says (to Jack), "I think it would be a sort of "athletics roll to see how much damage you take" deal"

Jack throws it at Johnny

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

JohnnyFalcone snatches it in the air. "Aha! Victory is ours, and the Sea's Blood is safe!"

[rpg] GM says, "cut to: Johnny and Jack in a mockup of the study doing endless rehearsals"

Jack says, "NOOOOOO"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yay."

Jack runs for the window, but does *not* leap over the balcony like a fool.

JohnnyFalcone flourishes it, then bows dramatically to Samantha (with lots of waving of his sword) and presents it to her.

GM says, "The butler has extricated himself from the pile of guards and points at Jack. "Seize him! Don't let him get away!""

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Perhaps you'd best hold this, my dear -- who knows, perhaps it will be yours before the night is done?"

[rpg] Jack says, "I'd like to coolly close window against them, leave a timed bomb, and clamber down the ivy, if that's possible."

GM says, ""Oh!" says Samantha, and swoons into Johnny's arms (but never at any point releases her grip on the gem)"

[rpg] GM says, "sure, what the hell"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Did he get a chance to grab the real gem, or is it still hidden in the shadows?"

[rpg] Jack says, "And meanwhile try to think of a way to telepathically tell Johnny where the real gem s."

[rpg] GM says, "it kinda seems to me like he didn't"

[rpg] Jack says (to Johnny), "Er um er"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha ha."

[rpg] Jack says, "I had other issues! There was a wolf head!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "I guess Johnny will realize that something is up when Efram doesn't howl in a bit"

GM says, ""I'll stop him!" shouts a guard, and rushes to the window."

[rpg] Jack says, "Right, lack of howling being clearly the most salient aspect of the situation."

Jack climbs for his life.

GM says, "He flings it open. "Wait, I don't see anything here -- just this box""

[Crows-Nest] (from Jack) Guard says, "I smell... bacon?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

GM says, ""Hey, I love bacon!" says the guard, and pops the lid open"

GM says, "kaBOOOMF"

[rpg] (from Efram) Guard says, "Hey, everybody, come here and check out this weird box"

[rpg] Minnie says, "ha ha ha ha"

[rpg] Minnie says, "we got the high-grade idiot guards"

Jack asks, "Efram! Efram, where are you, you devil?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "This is great."

Efram asks, "Right here. Accomplish anything?"

Jack says, "We need to switch to plan F! No, G!"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Samantha), "I think this is the moment when we should make our exit."

Jack says (to Efram), "I did the switch, sort of, but the real gem is sitting on the floor up there."

Jack says, "That bugger Johnny has the fakey."

Efram says, "Well, maybe the other thieves will yet steal it."

Efram says, "Back inside, then."

Jack says, "We can maybe still get up there, unless I blowed up the balcony too bad"

GM asks (of Johnny), "ok, are you going back to the dance floor?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah."

GM says (to Jack), "a piece of ivy hits you on the head -- presumably the bit that was connected to the balcony"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Where I will try to spot Minnie."

GM says (to Johnny), "ok, on the way back you meet a number of people wondering what the heck is going on"

Jack says, "Time for plan H."

GM says, ""Samantha!" says Edward. "There you are! Did that fiend hurt you?""

JohnnyFalcone says, "No worries -- just an attempted robbery."

JohnnyFalcone says, "But the gem is perfectly safe, as as the Lady Roderick."

GM says, ""...Attempted?" says Danvers."

JohnnyFalcone, as an afterthought, sheaths his sword.

GM says, ""Where is it?""

JohnnyFalcone says (to a completely random servant -- say, Minnie, perhaps), "There's a bit of a mess in the upstairs study. Would you be a dear and go clean it up? Thanks."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha, nice"

Minnie raises her eyebrows significantly

[rpg] Efram says (to Johnny), "excellent"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I assume Samantha will answer Danvers' question, since she's got it."

Minnie scurries upstairs

[rpg] Jack asks (of Efram), "Can you do a good scary voice for Lord Wossname's big entrance?"

[rpg] Efram says, "yeah, waiting for it"

[rpg] Minnie says, "let's hope nobody notices that I'm a *kitchen* servant"

[rpg] Jack says, "Nobody notices the servants."

[rpg] Minnie says, "if they're in the right place, sure"

[rpg] Efram says, "especially not when there are thieves and swooning young heiresses and so on"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "So... is Samantha not telling Danvers she has the gem?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "but I'm wizened and covered in kitchen grease, and upstairs servants should be comely and well-dressed"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Minnie), "Don't give the GM excuses!"

[rpg] Jack says, "Oh stop finding flaws in our seamless plan"

GM says, "Samantha reluctantly unpeels her fingers from the gem and hands it to Danvers. "Here it is!" she says. "Ricky was ever so heroic!""

GM says, "Edward scowls"

[rpg] GM says, "well, there is plenty of confusion at the moment"

[rpg] Jack says, "If he spots it, somebody tumble the chandelier."

Minnie reaches the study, finds the light impossible to light, and pulls out a candle-stub

Jack hands the books and scroll and stuff to Efram, while he remembers.

Efram steps forward, and speaks in a powerful rumbling voice. "Baron Stone! Your time has come. Arise!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Have I mentioned that I am grateful to the GM for letting this be the sort of party that one wears a mask to?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Because I am."

GM says, "Danvers grabs the gem, starts to say something, weighs it in his hand, and then turns and heads for the glass cabinet"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Minnie starts ostentatiously, but rather slowly, cleaning up the mess from the shattered light, casting many looks around

Jack asks, "WHO CALLS? WHO coff coff coff CALLS?"

GM says, "ok, like three things happen at once"

GM says, "1) Minnie spots the gem in the corner"

GM says, "2) Jack makes a dramatic entrance, voiced by Efram"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Is anyone taking down the chandelier?"

GM says, "3) The house suddenly shakes"

GM says, "4) People shriek"

GM says, "(ok, I guess that was four)"

[rpg] Jack says, "See 3)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh, handy. That'll do."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Also, I hope you did dump a bucket of briny seawater over Jack's head."

GM says, "and sure, what the hell, the chandelier smashes down onto a table"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Since that is a vital part of this disguise."

Minnie says (to gem), "This is all your fault, you horrible thing."

Minnie grabs it.

[rpg] Jack says (to Minnie), "Er, sorry about the ivy."

Minnie scurries over to the window to see if anyone's beneath it.

[Crows-Nest] (from JohnnyFalcone) Jack says, "I hope you have a good recipe for lotion."

GM says (to Minnie), "you are no voodoo sorcerer but it feels a little warm and as your hand closes around it, you detect the faint scent of sea-salt"

GM says (to Minnie), "yeah, uh"

GM says, "you see half a balcony"

[rpg] Jack says, "Of course it had to be Minnie who picked it up, after her earlier complaints."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Now we just need to find a way for her to end up with the amulet as well."

[rpg] GM asks, "oh yeah, who has the amulet?"

Efram says (to 'Stone'), "It is I, priest Fesma. All is as we agreed."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Me, since no one else would take it."

[rpg] Efram says, "I think Jack/Stone does."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Jack has the fake amulet."

Minnie says, "Oh, cod's heads."

Jack asks, "Deep in the briny depths for lo these many years I haff slept! Who dares call me back, by flauntin' around my own gem??"

[rpg] Efram says, "oh yeah, Johnny has the real one, Jack's wearing a fake."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Because he didn't want to have the real one on him when he picked up the real gem."

GM says, "ok, now there is serious shouting and shrieking"

Jack says, "My own gem which was tore from my own amulet here!"

JohnnyFalcone gasps!

GM says, "also the clock is striking eleven or midnight or something"

GM says, "it's possibly the shaking house may have unsettled it"

GM says, "Samantha flings herself against Johnny"

[rpg] Jack says, "I wonder if the shaking is going to knock open all my non-lethal rat traps."

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Samantha), "Just like that portrait!"

GM says, "The suspicious guys are forming two little clumps, eyeing Danvers and Jack and wondering what the hell"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "But there were no rats!"

GM says, ""Exactly!" she shrieks. "It must be him!""

Minnie stuffs the gem into her apron and starts making for the nearest downstairs exit.

Jack rattles the amulet's chain for a bit.

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "What... what do you want?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "Which I am guessing is the servant's entrance, through the Refreshments area, through the ballroom. Yay."

GM says, "Danvers gasps. "It's impossible!" and stands frozen, gem in one hand, halfway between the up staircase and the glass case on the podium"

Jack says, "I want what's mine! And I wants... revengeance!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Jack sloshes towards Danvers.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha."

Gunther arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, ""But I was promised--" says Danvers"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Promised...?"

Minnie finds herself at the top of the staircase with Danvers between her and the exit.

Jack says, "I promise ye a century in hell, ye black-hearted devil!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "dammit, where is the servants' stair"

GM says, ""He said -- power, all the treasures of the sea--""

[rpg] GM says, "ok, I think here would be a dramatic point for Jack to roll Deceit"

[rpg] Jack says, "Ohhh dear"

Efram smiles. "And when exactly did you perform your ritual?"

[rpg] GM says, "which presumably he has a free aspect for, since you guys spent time prepping"

JohnnyFalcone mutters, loudly enough for others around to hear and pick up the muttering, "Who? Who promised that?"

GM says, "Danvers points a shaky finger at Jack. "He! Stone himself!""

[rpg] Jack asks, "I certainly hope so. Who planned this fiasco, anyway?"

Jack rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 -1 -1 -1 | Terrible (-2)

[rpg] Minnie says, "aie"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

Jack's hand falls off.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Fortunately, tags can be used to reroll..."

[rpg] GM says, "the thing is it totally works if this roll fails"

[rpg] GM says, "it's just scooby-doo style"

Jack rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 0 | Terrible (-2)

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha ha ha ha."

[rpg] Jack says, "Oh boy"

[rpg] Minnie cracks up

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Do you use a Fate Point? Or do we roll with it?"

Jack says, "Danvers! Ye... big bugger! Ye scurvy... scurve!"

[rpg] Efram asks, "Can I assist by being the guy you'd more expect to make a deal with a dead soul than Danvers?"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "why did we get a guy who couldn't act to do the acting part of our plan?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Because he looks like the guy he's pretending to be!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Blame the GM -- he painted the portrait!"

[rpg] Jack says, "Right, as opposed to my real skill, which is cunning and silent burglary"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, uh, I think we are going to roll with this"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "We're not going to say how well that burgling went, right?"

[rpg] Jack says, "I don't have the real gem or anything, so it seems like not a huge deal."

[rpg] Jack asks, "Somebody has the real gem, right?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Minnie."

GM says, "Jack's beard falls off"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So we just need to create enough of a distraction for her to escape."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "And then we need to escape."

[rpg] Minnie exclaims, "yarr! 'tis the face-scurvy!"

GM says, ""Wait, you?" says Danvers. "Jack Handy! You're dead!""

Jack says, "I'M NOT DEAD YET"

Jack pulls out a really big bomb.

Efram asks, "Surprised to see us here? Or just afraid?"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

GM says, "Guests, who had stopped shrieking for a minute to get closer to hear what was going on, shriek again when they see the bomb and back up"

Jack says, "This is on a hair trigger! You may not have heard of a bomb with a trigger before, but you know me and gunpowder!"

Minnie jitters back and forth near the top of the staircase, trying to work out how to get around Danvers

Jack says, "I was lyin' before about wantin' me property back. I just wants to even the score, Danvers!"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Everyone, get out of the room! He's a madman!"

Minnie exclaims, "Aie! A bomb! Lawks! Panic!"

Minnie runs down the stairs, waving her arms about

GM says (to Minnie), "you barrel into a pair of the suspicious servants creeping up behind Danvers"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Samantha), "Go, to the gardens! I'll meet you there!"

GM says, "Samantha flees the room as the house continues to shake"

[rpg] Jack is trying to remember if they ever planned an exit strategy,

Minnie checks that she still has the gem after bumping into those two

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "In the panic, can I grab Edward by the elbow and pull him behind a large statue or something?"

GM says (to Minnie), "yes, but they smash into Danvers and *his* gem goes flying"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "sure, what the heck"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I still owe him one for ruining his suit."

[rpg] GM asks (of Jack), "is this actually a real bomb or anything?"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Edward), "Give me your costume. Quickly. Don't argue."

GM says, ""wait, what?" says Edward, pulling off his raggedy outfit and lute"

JohnnyFalcone takes off his cloak and mask and puts his hat on Edward's head.

GM says, ""I'm confused!" says Edward"

[rpg] Minnie says, "ah, seduction-by-proxy"

GM says, "also, the house continues to shake and the clocks are now striking midnight, which can't be right"

[rpg] Jack says (to Edward), "Well, now's your chance to experiment on the other side of the fence."

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Just go out there, find Samantha, and keep your mouth shut!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

GM says, ""oh!" says Edward, and runs off obediently"

JohnnyFalcone . o O ( Ugh, caviar stains. Oh well. )

[rpg] Jack says (to GM), "Oh, just noticed your question."

[rpg] Jack says (to GM), "I was wondering that myself."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Minnie makes for the servant's entrance as fast as she can scuttle

JohnnyFalcone gets re-dressed and then waits behind the statue to see what Jack and Danvers do next.

[rpg] Minnie asks, "nobody's making a dramatic leap for the fake gem?"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "oh yes!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "knowing our luck it's been switched twice while we weren't looking already"

Efram watches the gem arc through the air, and tries to join in with everybody else grabbing for it.

GM says, "there is a big exciting scuffle over it"

Jack says, "Man, Edward isn't the only one confused."

GM says, "mostly by the suspicious servants, since they aren't afraid to elbow the merchants"

Jack says, "EVERYONE GET BACK! THAT'S MINE!"

Jack waves the thing in his hand around menacingly.

GM says (to Jack), "it starts to whistle like a teakettle"

Efram says, "You wouldn't!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "The fake gem or the bomb?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Efram backs off fearfully.

[rpg] GM says, "the bomb"

GM says, "the house shakes again and the clocks strike thirteen"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "do I make it to the kitchen?"

Jack says, "I'd blow myself to kingdom come if it meant I clawed that gem out of Danvers' scaly hand! Now that I thinks about it I guess it wouldn't but I'd do it anyway!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "I wasn't joking! That was a really good craft roll!"

[rpg] GM asks, "wait, which fake gem was this, anyway?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "...which?"

[rpg] Efram says, "the one the suspicious folks are fighting for"

[rpg] Efram says, "and which Jack doesn't actually have"

[rpg] GM says (to Minnie), "yeah, which is full of a confusion of servants"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Don't we only know about one fake gem?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, but Jack made several"

[rpg] GM says, "at least, I think"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh, I missed that."

[rpg] Jack says, "Hmm I guess I mentioned that in passing but I didn't think we were going for it"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I thought he just made a gem, an amulet, and a swan."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, that fine, I just wanted to know if it was going to explode"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ha ha."

GM says (to Jack), "meanwhile the actual bomb seems to be both whistling and vibrating"

[rpg] Jack says, "Man I don't think I could resist that"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "It seems not unlikely to contain some amount of gunpowder."

[rpg] Jack says, "Even if it wasn't in the plan"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I would happily spend a fate point to make that retroactively true."

[rpg] GM says, "cut to scene of Jack, sitting down for a meal with jars labelled "salt", "pepper", "gunpowder""

Minnie ducks into the kitchen, and is just making for the servant's entrance when her eye lights on a large and imposing-looking pestle and mortar

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "But, um. What do we do about the bomb, which we'd really prefer not to have kill everyone here?"

Jack asks, "Bugger it, I pull out the first thing I find in my pocket and pretend it's a bomb, and it *is* a bomb??"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Oh, you are not going to..."

Jack says, "At least I was lying about the hair trigger."

Jack tosses the bomb at Danvers!

GM says, ""I've got it!" shouts one of the men, finally, on top of the table."

GM asks (of Minnie), "are you going to?"

GM says, "because if you are, it's going to happen now"

Minnie says, "I'm going to try."

Efram screams something nasty-sounding in a language nobody else here knows, and runs for cover.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "Are you running?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Because if you are running, I am running."

[rpg] Jack says, "I'm legging it like there was a world shortage of legs."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "I see that I am running!"

GM says, "Danvers instinctively grabs for the bomb, yelps, throws it in the air, and fails to catch it as it lands again"

Jack puts on a spare hand, which in this case is an extra leg.

GM says, "The man on top of the table is pushed and the gem flies free from his hand and lands in the punchbowl, which dissolves the coating on the outside"

Minnie throws a handful of herbs over it first to conceal it from random servants

GM says, "and Minnie slams down the pestle"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Mmm, prosciutto punch."

GM says, "there is a simultaneous roar on the material and mystical planes"

GM says, "and the whole cliff collapses"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "the cliff that... the mansion's on?"

GM says, "people shout and shriek and fall and get crushed by things as the cliff collapses and bits of the house shear away"

[rpg] GM says, "goodness yes"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Oh dear."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "What about the garden?"

[rpg] Jack says, "Not my fault!"

GM says, "and you tumble down and down and crash bang boom splash"

[rpg] Minnie says, "oops. hope you weren't too attached to your characters"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "I guess it depends if they're in the lucky half or the unlucky half"

GM says, "...so, uh, this is a little improbable"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "I wanted Samantha and Edward to have a happy ending!"

Efram says, "fate often is improbable"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I hope they were at least kissing the instant this happened."

GM says, "but apparently the main part of the manor is actually designed for this"

GM says, "and is watertight"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "('Did Theah move for you?')"

[rpg] Jack says, "They can still live happily even if it isn't ever after."

[rpg] Minnie exclaims (at JF), "but you told him to keep his mouth closed!"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "ha ha ha"

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Hee."

GM says, "and is floating in the ocean below the cliff"

GM says, "(as additional rubble tumbles down)"

JohnnyFalcone . o O ( This seems... improbable. )

Jack says, "That weren't me bomb what did that!"

Jack says, "Leastways, I don't think it did!"

JohnnyFalcone . o O ( But probably no less improbable than when we magically leapt back to the Golden Parrot and Baron Danvers flew away and turned into a lighthouse. )

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

GM says, "people are slowly picking themselves up, groaning"

GM says, "Danvers is limp in the corner"

GM says, "there is great confusion everywhere"

JohnnyFalcone climbs out from under a large statue.

[rpg] Efram says, "I don't suppose there are any live chickens or sheep nearby."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Jack), "I forget, which plan was this a part of?"

Jack ponders running over and giving Danvers a kick, but waits to see how the situation develops first.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "So are the people who were in the garden still up on the land?"

Minnie staggers out of the kitchen, still gripping the pestle

Jack says (to Johnny), "Well, looks like we got ourselves a ship."

Efram trances, pleading, "Madame Dlo, guide my path"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Having just watched this happen?"

[rpg] GM says, "um, you might conceivably be able to rustle up a recently-slaughtered chicken in the kitchen"

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "you'd have to go up on deck (I guess upstairs?) to see, but probably, yeah"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Mmm. I suppose there are worse ones."

JohnnyFalcone climbs upstairs to the ... roofdeck?

Jack whispers (to Minnie), "So who got the gem? You know, the real one?"

GM says, "ok, somehow the top part was torn away or something, so it's basically open"

GM says, "normally you couldn't see anything, given that it's probably midnight-ish"

GM says, "but tonight the sea is alive with phosphorescence"

Minnie grins broadly, brushing brick-dust out of her apron

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I guess after this happened once before, they knew how they ought to rebuild it."

GM says, "up on the cliff and what remains there, you can see groups of people who fled in time, their cries getting fainter as you drift away"

GM says, "but you can faintly hear a "Johnny!""

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee."

[rpg] Efram asks, "really? or do you mean 'Ricky!'?"

JohnnyFalcone shouts (to a speck that might be Samantha), "SORRY ABOUT YOUR HOUSE!"

[rpg] GM says, "whoops, sure enough"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Does that mean my clever ruse with Edward failed?"

[rpg] GM says, "no, I'm sure there was some smoochin'"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Phew."

[rpg] GM says, "but c'mon, dude's no good in a crsis"

[rpg] GM says, "er, crisis"

[rpg] GM says, "he might console her afterwards, though"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah, but at least he stick around."

Jack says, "Now, I ain't sure how stable this 'ouse is, but the rats ain't leavin' yet so I dare say it ain't sinkin' just yet."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Rather than sailing off in your house."

GM says, "meanwhile Efram's trance leads him upstairs as well"

Minnie, slightly dazed, totters around. "Where's the sails on this thing?"

GM says, "but Johnny sees he's looking away from the cliff"

Jack decides Danvers-kicking can wait, follows Efram.

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Minnie), "Oh, hey, you got the gem?"

Minnie says, "Oh, I got it all right."

JohnnyFalcone turns to face her and Efram.

GM says, "you can hear a faint roaring, getting louder"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Great! Didn't go *quite* the way we planned, but at least it all worked out in the end..."

GM says, "and as you look into the water, phosphorescence marks out an enormous whirlpool"

Minnie says, "Won't be doing no more mischief now, I can tell you that."

Jack says (to Minnie), "Good girl! I knew you'd come fru!"

GM says, "one in which the ship is already trapped and gradually getting pulled towards the center"

Jack asks (of Minnie), "...what?"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Excellent. Give it here, and I'll put it back in the amulet where it belongs."

Jack says, "And then we can slice it up 30% each where is belongs."

Jack suddenly notices the whirlpool.

[rpg] GM says, "ok, time check"

Jack asks, "Mateys, be I dreamin', or be we buggered six ways to Sunday?"

[rpg] GM says, "basically there are two things to decide here"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I'm starting to wonder if swimming might be a good idea here."

Minnie giggles.

[rpg] GM says, "one is if you want to play more or finish up here (technically we have a half-hour; I think last week we went over by an hour, so thta'd be 90 minutes more)"

JohnnyFalcone says, "But I figure my arms are no match for that."

[rpg] GM says, "the other is if you want to finish up with this session or have a third"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If there is more story, I am fine to keep playing."

[rpg] Jack says, "I could go for either."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Although I am not clear on how we could recover the gem at this point."

[rpg] GM says (to Johnny), "well, the two obvious endings are "the PCs escape the sinking ship" or "the PCs are drawn into the vortex""

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, I am afraid the gem seems like a dead loss"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Dang."

[rpg] Jack says, "Don't give up hope! There's glue!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Minnie says, "I'm okay to keep playing for a bit, yeah"

[rpg] Jack says, "Let's do that."

[rpg] Minnie says, "though I'm really not sure where this is going"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If there is no more gem, then it seems weird to go for a third session unless there is a new plot twist to explore."

[rpg] GM says, "well, sure"

Jack asks, "...what be the chances that a manor this size'd have let's say a jollyboat?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "So if there is a new plot twist, I am fine for a third session. If there is not, I am still fine with playing for another hour to wrap up here."

Jack asks, "Or a small skiff?"

[rpg] GM says, "okey doke, I'll run the long version then"

[rpg] Efram says, "I'm not really clear on whether my patron deity is happy/upset/neither about what has happened."

[rpg] Jack says, "Yay"

Minnie says, "bathtub"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "hrm"

Jack says, "Good thinkin'! I knew there must be a use for those things."

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "I think the deal here is you are kind of out of your patron's area of influence at the moment"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Empty barrels float."

JohnnyFalcone says, "But I think we left the cellar behind."

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "like, ok, what you know is this whirlpool heads to Dagon's realm"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "On the other hand, tonight *is* supposed to be a good night for recovering things from sunken ships..."

[rpg] Efram says, "but the god below the vortex is furious. got it."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Perhaps this will lead us to the Golden Parrot."

[rpg] GM says, "well, maybe"

Jack asks, "Dining table, for a raft?"

GM says, "in any case, the mansion-boat suddenly rocks -- and you see the maw of the vortex is suddenly full of giant tentacles"

Jack says, "Ooer"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "How would a raft be any safer from what we're on now?"

GM says, "like a giant squid is trying to force itself through a very narrow hole"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Oh, tentacles!"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "This is just another vision!"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Minnie), "Hey, get out those smelling salts again, would you?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Jack says, "I'm too young to die by tentacle!"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "How old do you need to be to die by tentacles?"

Efram's trance fades.

Jack says (to Johnny), "I don't want to find out!"

[rpg] GM says (to Efram), "like, it's clear what happened was the barrier was intentional breached, presumably by Danvers"

Efram says, "Perhaps Lord Dagon would like His amulet."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Huh, you think this is his?"

Efram says, "No clue."

JohnnyFalcone holds it up, dangling at the end of its chain.

JohnnyFalcone says, "I guess it does have his picture on it."

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Lord of the deep, hear me! Is this fine portrait the object which you seek?"

Jack says, "Gibber once for yes!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "the mariner's revenge has just come up on the CD player"

JohnnyFalcone whispers (to Minnie), "He'll probably want the gem too -- we may have to give it to him to save our lives."

Jack says, "Or he'll give it to us, in a manner o' speakin'."

JohnnyFalcone says, "A waste, but that's how it goes, sometimes."

Minnie says, "Heh heh heh."

Minnie scootches up the mortar.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I think she's snapped."

[rpg] GM says, "cor, she's totally scootched up the mortar"

Jack kicks Danvers.

JohnnyFalcone asks, "That's... you didn't... it couldn't be...?"

Jack says, "Here, you, you might as well be awake when the god o' horror is chewin' your bits off."

GM says, ""Opened portal .. wants sacrifices .. damn it all .. can't bargain now ..""

Jack asks (of Efram), "What's he mean, sacrifices?"

Efram says, "I nominate Danvers as the first sacrifice."

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Lord Dagon, we will return your amulet, as well as the myriad tiny facets of the powerful Sea's Blood, its mate!"

Jack whispers (to Johnny), "You don't think he'd go for 90-20?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am willing to make a Rapport roll if need be."

JohnnyFalcone kicks Jack.

Efram suddenly remembers something, and glances over the note-paper Jack handed him earlier.

GM says, "there are a series of thumps -- apparently the ship has now drifted close enough to be in range of the tentacles, and they're started to grab onto the ship"

Efram says, "Ah. This house and the whole party was a set up to bring human sacrifices to Dagon. Seems to be working."

GM says, "one grabs onto a noble and lifts him, screaming, into the mouth at the center of the maw"

Jack asks, "You mean, everybody in the 'ouse is a sacrifice?"

JohnnyFalcone cringes.

Jack asks, "What kind o' bargain is he talkin' about?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "I would like to think that the only people left here -- i.e. the ones not safely on top of the cliff -- are the ones who saw the bomb and the gem, and decided that they'd rather hang around hoping for a chance at the latter instead of fleeing from the former?"

Minnie says, "well, you won't be eatin' me, you horrid thing"

Minnie grabs the Montagnais gumbo and slings it at the maw

[rpg] Jack says, "Yay!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, probably"

*Eolo 04h52 04h52 always, the family

Uptime: 41d11; pollster: Matthew; Users: 1; Online: 55

End of List.

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "(This, of course, describes the four of us reasonably well.)"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Jack asks, "So even if we're not Party Lawful Good, you think we might be Party Accidental Justice?"

Efram asks, "Now, what did Master Jodd say about closing mystical portals?"

Jack asks, "Don't try it when you're hung over?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says (to Jack), "Could be."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, so I feel like dice should probably come out here"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Isn't that when you're most likely to need to?"

Jack says, "Right, that's the sad irony of it"

[rpg] GM says, "I can imagine driving off tentacle things and sailing things and closing the portal things"

[rpg] GM says, "I am not sure what else is obvious but there is probably something"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims (at Lord Dagon), "Furthermore, if you allow us to safely escape, we will offer you this house and all of the priceless treasures within it, accrued over the centuries by Baron Stone, Lord Roderick, and all their lineage!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "I'm going with the bathtub-broom-and-bedsheet plan, I think"

[rpg] GM says, "oh, right, just straight-up fleeing"

[rpg] Jack says, "I wonder if there's something explosive to ram down his gullet."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks (of GM), "Can you imagine Rapport? Or do you think Dagon is kind of out of range for that?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, I think he is too squid-like to negotiate with"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Alright."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "It was worth a try, anyway."

Jack says, "I feel like maybe we ain't in a good bargainin' position, like the man said."

jwalrus arrives, looking for booty.

JohnnyFalcone says, "Could be."

Jack asks (of Efram), "Does 'e want *livin'* sacrifices?"

Jack asks, "What we we threaten to kill everyone first?"

Efram says, "He is Master of the Deep. He wants everything."

Minnie searches around for a bathtub or similar largeish, watertight object

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Does this thing have any means of propulsion?"

GM says (to Minnie), "yeha, you can dig up a fancy bathtub"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Sails, oars, wings...?"

Minnie says (to Jack), "here, help me fix this mop onto it"

Jack says, "Right you are"

GM says (to Johnny), "well, you might be able to rig something up with a Craft roll if you can convince some people to help"

GM says, "(I don't think it's a one-person job)"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am not sure why exactly being in a bathrub in a whirlpool is safer than being in a large, watertight houseboat in a whirlpool."

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "We need sails!"

[rpg] GM says, "it's cleaner"

[rpg] Efram asks, "rig up the house, or the bathtub?"

Jack says, "Jump to, boys! We be makin' ourselves a jollyboat out of bathtubs an' string!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "it's harder to propel an entire house"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I vote the house."

Jack says (to Johnny), "Find some oars!"

[rpg] Efram asks, "the giant squid is less likely to concentrate on the bathtub?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "You're thinking the bathtub might be faster?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I'll buy that."

JohnnyFalcone has little trouble finding a few loose planks that should serve well enough.

Minnie pulls some curtains out of the rubble

Jack rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 +1 | Epic (7)

[rpg] Jack says, "Woo!"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Who's allowed to come with us?"

[rpg] GM says, "nice"

GM says, "ok, Jack gets to work building stuff and it's going along swell"

Jack says, "This bathtub ain't big enough for everyone."

GM says (to Efram), "ok, if you want to close the portal, let's see a roll"

Minnie says, "Well, you need me to crew the dern thing."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

Jack says, "And you needs me if anything needs blowed up! Also I made it"

Efram finds a recently-living chicken from the kitchen, borrows the amulet, and attempts a hasty ritual to help the portal seal sooner rather than later.

[7thsea] Efram rolls good dice:

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Great (4)

Jack asks (of Efram), "Is this somethin' we should be doin' inside the house, or outside?"

JohnnyFalcone says, "If it's not big enough, make it bigger."

Efram says (to Jack), "I fear nothing I can do will work right away."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I'm sure there are more bathtubs."

Jack says, "Let's launch 'er!"

Jack says, "People can hang onto the sides"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "And kick?"

Jack says, "If they want!"

Efram says, "And finally, I'll need a pinch of those smelling salts."

GM says, "ok, Efram finishes his ritual at the same time that Jack finishes his boat"

Jack says (to Efram), "Get your hoodoo arse on board! Quick!"

Minnie grabs a big plank to serve as rudder

GM says, "you guys start lowering the boat into the water as Efram feels the portal's attraction slow and then, finally, calm"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of Survivors), "OK, you can grab onto this bit of planking here... you three, straddle this bannister lashed between the two tubs. Look, you want to get out of here or not?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] Jack asks, "I made a catamaran out of bathtubs?"

[rpg] Jack says, "I guess it was a 7"

Minnie says, "What's this tub o'junk called? Can't sail without a name."

GM says, "two of the suspicious servants are arguing who has to ride on the underside of the barrel"

[rpg] Efram asks, "wait, it closed? Danvers lived?"

Jack asks, "Who's got Danvers?"

GM says, "Danvers is probably not going to make it -- he was pretty much at ground zero for the bomb"

GM says, "but perhaps you'd rather bury him on land than at sea"

JohnnyFalcone plucks a bottle of wine out of the floatsam.

[rpg] Efram says, "I was actually hoping Dagon would get him."

[rpg] Jack says, "He still can..."

[rpg] Jack says, "Everything that sinks is his."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I dub thee, the Zombie Parrot! *smash*"

GM says (to Efram), "whoops, sudden tremble in the ether"

Minnie exclaims, "All aboard!"

GM says (to Efram), "I think, uh, the portal might be about to reverse direction"

Efram hops onto the back end of the bathtub. "Wait, what's that?"

GM says, "waves are picking up as you start to paddle"

Minnie exclaims, "All aboard who's going aboard! Heave to!"

Jack says (to Survivors), "Now, I only had time to rig four sails, and it ain't what you'd wall proper seamanlike works, so ye'll have to bear with me. You lad, you handle the mainsail here, and you..."

GM says, "some of the guys with a cask are busy splicing the mainbrace"

GM says, "ok, now the waves are seriously picking up"

[rpg] Minnie asks, "Sail check?"

Jack says, "Zombie Parrot, don't fail us now!"

GM says, "looking back at where the portal was, there is bubbling and frothing and darkness"

GM says, "yeah, let's see some sail checks"

Jack rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Good (3)

GM says, "or something else if you are doing something else"

Minnie rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 -1 | Fair (2)

JohnnyFalcone rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 +1 | Average (1)

[rpg] Minnie says, "ugh, let's reroll that with Superstitious Sailor"

Minnie rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 0 | Superb (5)

[rpg] Efram asks, "hmm. Athletics? Or just go with a zero?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure, athletics if you want to paddle or something"

Efram rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 -1 | Fair (2)

Minnie exclaims, "We gave you a name, dammit! You're a *ship* now, not some gobshitten wreck!"

[rpg] GM says, "nice"

Jack says (to Minnie), "That's it! Ye figured out how best to sail this entirely novel design of sailing vessel, which I think I'll call the 'dogeraman', quicker than I'd have thought possible!"

GM says, "ok, you guys get going and as the wind fills your sails and Efram paddles, you're soon 3/8ths of the way back to the shore"

GM says, "looking back, the wind is really starting to roar now and the seas around you are full of fish"

GM says, "one actually leaps up onto the boat -- it's a bizarre fish with huge jaws and a phosphorescent light that dangles in front of its face"

Jack says, "If them fish starts comin' down from the sky, somebody let me know"

Efram says, "Jack. Fish."

GM says, "it tries to take a bite of Jack's leg"

Jack says, "Gah!"

[rpg] Minnie says, "presumably it then explodes from the low pressure"

[rpg] Jack says, "My kind of fish!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Jack, stop playing with the fish."

GM says, "ok, next round -- you're getting closer to shore, but up ahead is a newly-made pile of rubble (presumably part of the cliff) and the winds are blowing you right at it"

Jack says, "I'm not losin' another limb to another fish!"

GM says, "also some chunks of stuff like barrels and large hunks of seaweed and things are drifting by"

GM says, "(not from the house, but looking much older and more worm-eater)"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Were there this many barrels in the house?"

Jack says, "I checked that wine celler verra carefully, verra carefully, and there were not."

Minnie says, "Not ones covered in barnacles and limpets, I'll wager."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If we notice anything from the original Parrot, let us know..."

Efram says, "Things are returning from the deep."

Jack asks (of Minnie), "So how do we avoid bein' wrecked on that cliff, cap'n?"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Does that mean Danvers' plan is working?"

Minnie exclaims, "We tack hard and row like devils! Set to!"

Jack rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 0 | Good (3)

Efram says, "Today be no plan by any mortals."

GM says, "the first things spewed up are really crazy old stuff -- canoes and crude rafts, gradually going through time and the history of ships"

Minnie rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 +1 | Superb (5)

GM says, "a prow drifts by labelled "...CELESTE""

[rpg] Jack says, "Hee hee hee."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Ah, this portal is FIFO."

Efram doubles his back into the paddling.

Efram rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 +1 | Great (4)

GM exclaims, "nice!"

GM says, "ok, you guys are basically almost all the way to shore"

GM asks, "going to try and land anywhere special?"

Jack says, "Row, exactly as if your lives depended on it! Exactly as if!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If we are making paddling rolls, then:"

JohnnyFalcone rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 0 0 +1 | Superb (5)

[rpg] Minnie says, "I think just 'shore' would be nice"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Even if it means being smashed to pieces?"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "On the rocks?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "maybe 'not on ship-crushing rocks' too"

GM says, "ok! Johnny and Efram their back into it, and you're flung onto the beach"

GM says, "so, uh, it's all great except for the massive wave coming up behind you"

GM asks, "what's the plan?"

Jack says, "RUN"

JohnnyFalcone says, "I concur."

Jack says, "Less concurrin' and more runnin'!"

Minnie says, "Damn my old bones -"

GM says, "I guess the cliff is kind of a rubbly slope now"

GM says, "if you just want to straight-up run, that'll be athletics rolls"

Efram says, "Behind large rocks! And hope there's just the one wave..."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "As opposed to?"

Jack says, "TSUBLEEDINAMI!"

[rpg] GM asks, "I dunno, do you have any clever ideas?"

[rpg] Minnie says, "well, rolling Athletics would doom me"

Jack says, "Who's got the amulet? Throw it back!"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Get on my back."

[rpg] Minnie says, "I'd probably do better hanging onto a particularly firm-planted rock and rolling Endurance"

Efram heads for a convenient boulder and leaps behind it.

Efram rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 -1 | Fair (2)

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "I am going to make a guess that 'carrying someone while running/climbing up a crumbly rock face' is exactly the sort of thing that Acrobat would apply to."

[rpg] GM exclaims, "I would agree!"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "In which case, the penalty for carrying Minnie would be reduced by two."

[rpg] GM says, "I would agree with that too -- let's just make it a normal roll"

Minnie jumps onto Johnny's back and hangs on with a vice-like grip

JohnnyFalcone rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 -1 +1 +1 | Great (4)

GM says (to Jack), "I think Efram has the amulet"

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "If Efram wanted the amulet for his ritual, then he's got it."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Otherwise, I do."

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone says, "Either way, I think we will happily throw it yo you."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

GM says (to Jack), "ok, you probably want to tell me something other than straight running"

Jack says, "No wave is gettin' me!"

Jack never admits defeat!

[rpg] Efram says, "I don't think throwing it at the ocean would do much good at this point, but I don't particularly want to keep it either."

[rpg] Jack says, "I'll try the leaping behind a rock too."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, you could roll endurance n that case, if you want to hang on"

Jack rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 +1 | Great (4)

Jack says, "NEVER GIVE UP"

GM says, "kerSPLOOSH"

GM says, "Johnny and Minnie scramble up the rocks and Jack and Efram hunker down"

GM says, "it seems like you've been scrambling or hunkering for hours when the waves finally stop with the first light of dawn"

GM says, "the stormy skies clear and it's morning"

GM says, "and you're alive"

GM says, "and the beach is covered in all manner of crazy stuff"

Jack says, "Morning!"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Phew. Finally."

Jack says, "Me with only my breakfast hand left, but no breakfast."

GM says, "and the cliff-top (or what remains of it) has a few stragglers wondering what's going on"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

JohnnyFalcone wearily climbs back down.

[rpg] GM says, "egg-poacher"

Jack says, "Unless there be somethin' in this prehistoric junkyard."

JohnnyFalcone says, "That looks like it might be a biscuit barrel."

Minnie says (to Johnny), "Knew you was a good 'un."

JohnnyFalcone says, "If you like soggy biscuits."

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Thanks. I wasn't sure myself, 'til now."

Minnie says, "Son, I can make food out of soggy biscuits like you wouldn't believe."

Jack hunts for rum.

[rpg] GM says, "hmm, I guess if you want to look for stuff, you should make an investigate roll"

Jack rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Great (4)

[rpg] Jack says, "Man, the dice like me today."

GM says, "ok, Jack finds some biscuits and rum and jerky"

Jack says, "An entire barrel of... cognac!"

Jack says, "Corked a little, sad to say."

GM says, "also a few handful of coins covered in verdigris"

Minnie converts these into something delicious

JohnnyFalcone says, "If these are the treasures of the deep, then there ought to be some treasure here."

GM says, "some silver bars"

GM says, "oh, and one more thing"

GM says, "as dawn is rising and you guys return to the beach, you look out onto the water and see the faint lines of a ship fading away"

Efram looks around for Mysterious things while waiting for breakfast.

GM says, "but you'd recognize it anyway -- that's the Parrot"

JohnnyFalcone exclaims, "Hey!"

Efram rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 +1 | Epic (7)

[rpg] JohnnyFalcone asks, "Faint like a ghost ship, or just faint far away?"

[rpg] Efram asks, "darn bathtub. Or is it the Golden Monkey?"

Jack asks, "Efram? Be that the real parrot?"

[rpg] Jack says, "The original ship was the Golden Parrot! I think."

GM says, "Efram stares out after it as it vanishes, and finally speaks. "It's the Parrot, but it didn't make it fully out of the portal -- it's trapped halfway between the worlds""

Jack asks, "And who be its cap'n?"

GM says, "no telling now, or its crew"

[rpg] Efram says, "huh, the character sheet says 'Former Crew of the Golden Monkey'"

GM says, "at least, not without boarding the ship the next time it reappears ..."

[rpg] Jack says, "Maybe that was our rival ship."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "and that is THE END"

GM says, "FOR NOW"

GM says, "OR IS IT"

Minnie says, "hooray"

Jack says, "cue piratical exit music"

Minnie says, "nice work, inky"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Yay."

GM says, "thanks, guys, this was awesome"

Jack says, "Good work all!"

Jack says, "After all that planning, it turned out that cocking up the plan completely was the most fun part."

Jack asks, "Who'd ever have thought it?"

GM says, "hee hee"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Yeah, the bit with the butler and the guards and the gem was great."

JohnnyFalcone says, "But as usual, I am curious how much of that was planned, and how much was completely off the top of your head."

Minnie says, "yes"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Like, were you expecting us to do a voodoo ritual in the first session? Did you consider that we might destroy the gem?"

(From Jack) inky says, "Actually, I played the whole thing word-for-word from an old AD&D module. Just changed the monster stats around a little."

GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "in the first session I had a bunch of maps planned which didn't get used"

GM says, "I wasn't expecting any kind of voodoo ritual although I had considered a dream sequence on the parrot"

GM says, "I did come up with Samantha on the their someone might want to hit on her"

GM says, "er, the theory"

Efram says, "I was a little disappointed the other burgling team didn't do anything interesting. They could have caused a little havoc without stealing our spotlight."

JohnnyFalcone says, "They were probably insurance."

JohnnyFalcone says, "I don't think we really gave them the chance."

Minnie says, "just in case we failed to cock it up ourselves"

GM says, "in the second session the only things I planned in advance were that the butler would come in and that the portal would open up and the mansion would crash down the cliff and turn into a ship"

JohnnyFalcone says (to Minnie), "Right."

JohnnyFalcone asks (of GM), "Would that have happened even if the gem remained intact?"

GM says, "(I decided that was what the weird construction was last time -- Stone decided the sacrifices would have be done at sea)"

GM says, "um, probably"

GM says, "I mean, it is the sort of thing that might have been triggered by you putting the gem in the amulet"

GM says, "also Stone himself was all an ad-lib"

GM says, "I don't remember why it seemed like a good idea but it did"

JohnnyFalcone says, "And, of course, was."

GM says, "the original speculated-on plot, which is basically trashed now, is Danvers lost his memory and ended up in Vodacce working with some kind of mob there"

GM says, "(but retained the gem)"

Jack says, "Hey, let's trick the players into disguising the one character with zero relevant skills."

GM says, "he talked to some fate witches there and learned some mystic stuff and found out about the sea's blood and remembered who he was"

GM says (to Jack), "that was pretty awesome"

GM says, "(so the disguised servants in one iteration were members of that vodacce gang coming after Danvers)"

JohnnyFalcone says, "It is a shame that Danvers died, since even though he double-crossed us, he didn't seem *that* evil."

GM says, "also there was one theory that the suspicious guests were going to look like Johnny"

Minnie says, "as we might have discovered had we not ransacked first and asked backstory questions after"

JohnnyFalcone says, "But I guess that is kinda the definition of what making deals with Legion is."

GM says, "but that didn't seem necessary"

JohnnyFalcone asks (of GM), "'Going' in the sense of 'were trying to..' or 'were intended by the GM to...'?"

GM says (to Johnny), "yeah, I wasn't totally sure how much he was possessed by Stone or misled by Stone or cheating you guys intentionally or what"

JohnnyFalcone says, "(I can see why they might want to look like me.)"

JohnnyFalcone asks, "Oh yeah, who's U?"

GM says (to Johnny), ""were put in by the GM and then it occurred to him that it might be a good idea but it wasn't really needed by the plot after all""

GM says, "oh, yeah, U was Danvers' name in vodacce, since he'd lost his memory"

GM says, "presumably it stood for something"

JohnnyFalcone says, "Aha."

JohnnyFalcone says, "He had almost as many names as I did."

Jack says, "cthulhU"

GM says, "hee hee"

maga says, "anyway, thanks all"

maga disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Jack says, "Night all!"

Jack says, "(blast your eyes)"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "thanks!"