[Helvetica] Hans asks, "lps expected to be late, so this is everyone, right?"

GM says, "Logging"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Right"

schep_char1 has connected.

[Helvetica] * schep_char1 has joined the channel.

GM says, "So, when last we left everyone, Arvid was checking out the records of the burials at the glacier tombs. Hans and Cat were still hanging out with Morgana, I think. Gert is ... somewhere."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "sleeping, I'll bet"

Hans asks (of Morgana), "Where is the Queen of Swords now?"

GM says, "Morgana pulls the four of swords (a tomb with a sleeping knight) out of the deck."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hunh. that blows that theory out of the water"

Hans says, "Ah."

Hans whispers (to Cat), "Do you have an idea what that means?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "(well, a *marble* sleeping knight, anyway.)"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It could be a tomb, but it could be Antoinette's armor."

Cat whispers (to Hans), "either way, I think it means that she's not an immediate threat"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Hmm. Tarot cards have a standard iconography, don't they? We could actually look up what most of these look like and see them for ourselves..."

Hans says, "Threat? I thought she might help."

[Helvetica] GM says, "True. I'm mostly using the Ryder-Waite deck, except for The Lovers."

Hans says, "Morgana herself has certainly been... helpfull... in her way."

Gunther arrives, looking for booty.

Cat says, "Well, that would depend on who was doing the construction."

Hans asks, "Do you think?"

Hans asks, "You don't believe she would still act of her own free will?"

Cat asks, "Did you see Arvid? Remember Lucille?"

Hans says, "But then, look at Morgana."

Cat says, "People can be twisted."

Cat says, "Andre didn't have an agenda when he built Morgana; he was just trying to get a brain to work."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I wonder what sort of person 'Trujillo''s head was part of before."

Hans says, "True."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "he had an agenda to prove Trujillo wron"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "g"

Hans asks, "Speaking of which... Morgana, do you know where Andre is now?"

(From GM) Morgana doesn't move.

Cat says, "I find it difficult to imagine that Trujillo is totally unaware of all these projects, close as they are to his own interests..."

Cat says, "the workshops are hardly secure; he could tamper with things quite easily"

Hans says, "Mmm."

Hans says, "I suppose Andre is still the one who could best tell us what's been happening there, though."

Hans says, "And Pedro -- or, I suppose, Trujillo -- said he had come here."

Cat says, "Let's find Andre, then."

Cat says, "It may be time we tell him about Morgana's personal Judgment Day plans."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "When we were in Etienne's workshop, did we see anything blood-related?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "no"

Hans nods.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "who knows what's in the antidote"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Heh."

[Crows-Nest] schep_char1 says, "you all forgot the important question: 'What card to you use for me when other characters ask about me?'"

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

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "FOOL"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I have been OOC tempted to ask that several times."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I have been OOC tempted to ask that several times."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "But never IC."

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "the hanged man"

Cat asks (of Morgana), "Does anyone else ask you questions?"

(From GM) Morgana puts the four of swords back in the deck, shuffles, and lays down the Magician.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "oho"

Hans asks, "Is that Andre?"

Cat says, "Hmm. So Andre has probably figured it out."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "That would make sense."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid takes another look at the reading involving the guy he thought was andre but --

Cat says, "Though he has probably been using it to ask about girls."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Which reading/guy was that?"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "or repair questions"

Hans asks, "Like you, Gert, Antoinette, Nicolette, Elena...?"

[Helvetica] Arvid | She lays down the Magician and the High Priestess. Then those eight other cards from her nine-card spread. #2 (The Queen of Swords) and #8 (Strength) are face-up, the others face down. She puts the *** of Coins (either the eight or the seven). A craftsman at his bench. She sweeps all the cards up again.

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "I wonder which card translates as 'RTFM'"

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

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says (to Cat), "the blank one they include for when you lose one"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "'Do you know where I left that fromitz wrench?' THREE OF CUPS 'Oh! Thanks, there it is.'"

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "also, the four of coffees"

[Helvetica] GM says, "oh yeah, I checked after the game. It was the eight of coins."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ok, I'll fix it"

Hans says (to Morgana), "Thank you for your help."

Hans says (to Morgana), "I hope we can find a way to help you that doesn't involve imperiling anyone's souls."

(From GM) Morgana has no response to that.

[Crows-Nest] schep_char1 says, "I figured the Craftsman is Antoinette. Whether that particular plan is a good idea is another question."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "that would make sense"

Hans steps out to find someone who might have seen Andre earlier and might know where he went.

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Yeah."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "Trujillo is also a craftsman but I imagine he'd have a different card (like the aforementioned hanged man)"

GM says (to Hans), "Erich and Franziska are nearby."

Arvid comes back from talking with the Abbot and shares his info on the women in the tombs.

Cat bows to Morgana and goes looking for Andre

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Especially if that solution translates to 'get my kick-ass friends some robotic bodies so they can kick the aforementioned'."

K-Y arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] Hans asks, "Man, how often does that word come up coincidentally twice in a row?"

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

[Crows-Nest] Arvid asks, "the aforementioned word?"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "aforementioned word aforementioned"

Hans asks (of Erich and Franziska), "We heard that Andre was here earlier. Do you have any idea where he might be now?"

Arvid says (to Erich and Franziska), "if this is all an elaborate scam to get out of writing those essays for my class, you'll be in trouble later"

(From GM) Franziska says, "um. well. i tried to stop him, honest i did, but a little while before you arrived, he suddenly started shouting that he knew what he had to do and ran off before i could do anything."

Hans says, "Ah."

Hans says, "Then we should definitely speak to him."

Cat asks, "Tombs?"

Hans says, "I would very much like to be that confident about what must be done."

Cat says, "Tombs. Let's go."

Arvid exclaims, "but I told you who was in the tombs!"

Cat asks (of Arvid), "did you just visit?"

Arvid says, "well, no, the Abbot checked his records"

Arvid says, "but I assume they're up to date"

Hans asks (of Franziska), "Is that indeed the direction that he ran off in?"

Arvid says, "though, admittedly, they still show nine heads as being there"

(From GM) Franziska nods.

Hans says, "Right, then."

Hans follows Cat.

Cat says, "people generally don't spend much effort on updating death records"

Cat says, "once you're listed as dead your status tends not to fluctuate too much"

Arvid tags along, still a little mystified.

Arvid says, "except around here"

GM says, "Geneva cemetery. Cemetary. I can never remember the correct spelling."

Cat checks the tombs for signs of recent tampering

GM says, "The expatriate tombs are down that passage there, right into the glacier. Someone in there is doing a lot of hammering."

Hans calls out, "Andre?"

Cat motions for quiet just as Hans roars out

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

GM says, "It is in fact Andre. He shouts out to come back later, he's busy."

Arvid says, "...yep, that's Andre"

Cat says (to Hans), "remind me sometime to explain the idea of a covert mission"

GM says, "(hammer hammer hammer)"

[Crows-Nest] schep_char1 asks, "isn't this Erich's job?"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Yeah, but we took him out of town with us."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I don't recall why exactly."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "to id wosshisface"

Cat says, "Hans? I think this is a disciplinary issue. It's all yours."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "back when we weren't worrying about invasions"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Oh, right."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Raoul Menard or Gabriel or whoever."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says (to Arvid), "Yeah, but we've always been worrying about undead."

Hans says, "Right."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "true"

Hans marches inside.

Hans asks, "Andre, what did I tell you about desecrating corpses?"

Arvid says, "well, we may as well look at the other tombs while we're in there"

Arvid follows Hans

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

Arvid says, "arguably we shouldn't have had to tell you anything about it"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I hope he remembers, because I don't."

Cat rummages around in a pocket, pulls out a tobacco-box, confirms that it is empty, sighs deeply, and puts it away again

GM says, "Since the last time you were here, someone has gone and poured water over the fronts of all the tombs, sealing them in a thick layer of ice."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "Cat is running out of tobacco now that she hasn't had a chance to impound it from the junior-school girls"

Arvid says, "hrm"

Arvid says, "effectively, admittedly"

GM says, "No. 2 has had some signs of hammer-chisel action on the ice over it, but now Andre is in fact chipping away at the ice on No. 5."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "(queen of swords (Elisabeth Sommer) and six of cups (Elise de L'Isle))"

Hans asks, "Five... five... who was number five?"

Cat asks, "Now *that* is interesting. Does Morgana have any enemies that we know of?"

Hans asks (of Cat), "By 'enemies', do you mean 'people who want to prevent anyone from getting into the expatriate tombs and stealing the corpses'?"

Arvid goes over and stares at the undisturbed tomb #8

Hans says, "If so, then probably quite a few."

Cat asks (of Andre), "Who did this?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "#5: Elise de L'Isle. Languages, elocution, rhetoric. Six of Cups."

(From GM) Andre says, "Who knows? Probably that Edgardo ... I don't believe he really is Castillian."

Hans asks (of Andre), "Who are you trying to break into the Six of Cups?"

Cat says, "This is an awful lot of water. It'd have required a bucket-chain. One person couldn't do it."

Cat asks, "Unless... magic? A pumping system of some kind?"

Hans asks (of Cat), "A crack in the ceiling where it could drain in from above?"

(From GM) Andre pauses, then goes back to the chipping. "It must be Edgardo, then. Someone built a pump engine thing once to deal with fires. He's the only one with access to it.

Cat says, "On the other hand, there does happen to be a large body of strong young men just nearby, eminently suited to lifting heavy loads to no apparent purpose."

(From GM) Andre says, "ARE YOU LOT GOING TO JUST HANG AROUND AND TALK?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks (of Hans), "is the tomb under the lake?"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "THose wily Inquisition agents, always trying to keep us from putting science to blasphemous purposes."

Cat asks (of Andre), "just what are you planning to accomplish without access to a functioning workshop, young man?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It's under a glacier."

Hans says (to Andre), "You haven't told us what you're trying to do."

(From GM) Andre says, "Are you questioning me? Of course I

(From GM) Andre says, "Are you questioning me? Of course I'll find the tools!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I suppose there must be a meltwater stream somewhere that you could divert"

(From GM) Andre says, "The monastery has a workshop too, doesn't it?"

Hans exclaims, "Of course I am questioning you, Andre-Nicolas Valois!"

Hans exclaims, "You are accountable for your actions. So make your account, and make it fast!"

[Crows-Nest] schep_char1 says, "I like how nobody bothers to take away his hammer and pick or anything to slow him down"

[Crows-Nest] Hans exclaims, "Well, no. He might be doing the right thing, for all we know!"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "We just want to know what the heck it is that he's trying to do."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says (to schep), "someone's going to have to do it at some point"

(From GM) Andre says, "I know what I have to do! These were all teachers ... well, all except for #9, anyway ... if I can get the swordmistress out, I can maybe build a superlative fencing automaton ... something that could fight back against the invaders AND teach the Baron's men a few new tricks in the process...."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Y'know, even if we are treating Edgardo as a Villain, this story really has been an excellent justification of the position of the Inquisition."

(From GM) Andre says, "But then I realised, she won't be all that effective if she can't talk."

Hans asks, "Isn't that number two, the Queen of Swords?"

Hans asks, "A swordfight won't be effective if she can't talk?"

Hans asks, "Could you not simply give her a slate and chalk?"

(From GM) Andre says, "So I thought, FIRST I will build an elocution teacher ... practice making voiceboxes that work ... and that will go best if I use someone who knows how to MAKE them work and she can teach the fighting automaton how to talk!

(From GM) Andre says, "See? I'm a genius! So I'm taking Mlle de L'Isle out first."

Cat asks, "Did it not strike you that this plan is a little, um, elaborate?"

Hans says, "Ah! Then you want to talk to Pedro."

Cat asks, "When did you last sleep? Or eat?"

(From GM) Andre says, "I don't have time for any of that! Why don't you make yourselves useful and help me get this ice off the tomb?"

Cat asks, "And did it not strike you that the monks might object to people practising resurrectionism in their workshop?"

Hans says, "Hmm."

(From GM) Andre says, "Fools. I'll show 'em all."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "if the NPCs don't have to sleep I don't see why we shouldn't either"

Cat says, "Hans, I think we're at the dunk-in-the-lake point."

Hans says, "I admit that it does not seem to have done Fraulein Scardanelli any harm."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "also, is Andre getting more spark-y as this goes along, or has he always been like this?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I think he was like this when he built Morgana, too."

Cat says, "Andre, this is highly delicate, complicated work. If you drive yourself like this then you're bound to make mistakes. Fatal mistakes, perhaps."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I wonder if we're all Sparks too. But instead of building robots or animating corpses, our powers are all about narrative causality and perceiving connections to stories and such."

Hans says, "On the one hand, it is possible that what he is doing may not actually be the work of Legion."

Hans says, "And furthermore, may be able to help us rescue Geneva."

Hans says, "But on the other hand, Andre is clearly a madman in need of sleep, food, and a firm dose of perspective."

(From GM) Andre says, "Hm. You're right ... maybe I need to build some lab assistants ... yesssss ... a little clockwork pocketwatch-like thing to handle the small, fine work....

[Crows-Nest] schep_char1 says, "ha ha ha ha"

Hans asks, "So dunking first, reanimation second. Are we all agreed?"

Cat says, "Seconded."

Arvid says, "bathing is an important part of the social process"

Cat says, "Motion carried."

Gunther has disconnected.

Gunther left a note saying, "This man was killed because he Knew Too Much. Sincerely, The Conspiracy."

Hans picks up Andre and carries him off to the nearest glacial runoff stream.

Cat says, "We can find some minions to take over the exhumation process."

Cat says, "Preferably ones a little burlier than Andre."

Hans says (to Cat), "That would be Erich, I presume."

Cat says, "In fact, let's task his friends to do it and tell them it's a top-secret resistance mission, and that they'll all get medals."

GM says, "As you exit the cemetery, you meet a troupe of soldiers approaching...."

Hans says, "As he did volunteer the last time."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Montaigne revolutionaries?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "It would seem."

Hans says, "Right, let's say dunking second. Fighting first."

Cat slips one arm out of her coat-sleeve, and cocks a pistol with her now-hidden hand

[Helvetica] Hans says, "If I were skilled with Improvised Weapon, I'd be tempted to use Andre as a club."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "by 'troupe' how many are we talking?"

(From GM) Montaigne Sergeant says, "M. Andre-Nicolas Valois? You are under arrest for sedition, treason and grave-robbing!"

Cat says, "Sorry. We've got a prior claim; he's in detention."

Cat says, "Jurisdiction issue."

Cat says, "Not something you want to get tangled up in. Lawyers might get involved."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Say 6 plus the sergeant."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sounds a bit like a squad."

(From GM) Montaigne Sergeant says, "Hah! I laugh at your pitiful attempts to invoke jurisdiction!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Hans drops Andre and draws his sword.

Hans asks, "Then might I invoke this?"

(From GM) Montaigne Sergeant says, "Then you are accomplices?"

Hans says, "No. Teachers."

Arvid says, "more accompli*shed*"

Cat throws off her coat and draws her pistols in one motion

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "initiative?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "yes"

[7thsea] Arvid rolls 2 dice: 2 7

[7thsea] GM rolls 3 dice: 2 4 10

[7thsea] GM rolls 3 dice: 9 6 4

[7thsea] Hans rolls roll 3 dice:

[7thsea] Hans rolls 3 dice: 6 7 2

[7thsea] Cat rolls 3 dice: 6 2 3

[Helvetica] GM says, "TWO"

[Helvetica] GM says, "the soldiers, I think"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Popular phase."

GM says, "The soldiers draw their swords and charge in. They're going after Andre, and clearly don't much care if they bring him in dead or alive."

Hans exclaims (at Andre), "Remember what I taught you about bobbing and weaving!"

Arvid asks (of Andre), "what on earth did you do?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "does Andre have a sword or just a big ice-bashing hammer?"

Arvid says, "I mean, really, we're much more notorious than you are"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I dunno, but he is at least somewhat trained in Heavy Weapons."

Hans asks (of Arvid), "Are we?"

Hans says (to Arvid), "I thought we were respectable."

[Helvetica] GM says, "man, it's been so long since we've done a proper brawl, i've forgotten how this works."

Cat says (to Arvid), "we should really tamper with the very nature of life and death more often, clearly"

[7thsea] GM rolls 6k3: 1 6 7 9 7 4 | 23

Arvid says (to Hans), "well, in Montaigne we are"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Also, Andre doesn't have anything. He dropped his hammer when he was abruptly picked up by Hans."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "can we bunch up around the NPC?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Yes you can."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oops. Hope he's got Footwork."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Incidentally, that's a hit unless someone does something."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Anyone with a high Wits who can use an active defense for him?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I don't have anything parry-like"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Also, is that the sergeant or his minions?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "the minions."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "minions"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "my defense tactic is usually to shoot the other guy first"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I can parry, but only at 4k1"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "can we throw ourselves in the way and just take the hit?"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks (of GM), "hmm, could I tackle him and knock him over?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "So my rolling a 13 for him probably won't help."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Arvid), "sure"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "Hmm, didn't think of that."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks (of GM), "what would I roll for that? finesse? wits?"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims (at Hans), "you're a meat shield! start thinking like one!"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "finesse + footwork, sure."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Arvid), "to bowl the sergeant over, let's make it a basic attack."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "presumably I can't just shoot them first"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Arvid), "Dirty fighting or wrestling, I guess."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "ok, wait, hang on, is someone saving Andre or not?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "yeah, we're just arguing who"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sure, I'll do like Cat suggested."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "okey doke"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Do I need to roll 23 in order to *get* hit instead of him?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Or just meet some nominal TN?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "..yes"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "OK, I'll throw in a DD, then."

[7thsea] Hans rolls 5k4: 4 6 2 2 8 | 20

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I guess I have the highest Resolve so it makes more sense for me to do it, but story-wise it is more Hans' job than mine"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "...or two."

[7thsea] Hans rolls 1k1: 2 | 2

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Um. How much is it worth trying to save Andre?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oh, fine."

[7thsea] Hans rolls 1k1: 10+3 | 13

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oh, THANKS."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "sigh. here, let me... oh"

[Helvetica] GM says, "heh"

Hans tumbles in front of Andre, just below the soldier's sword. But wait!

GM asks, "Wait?"

Hans grabs the swordblade with his panzerhand and pulls himself up on it like a pull-up bar, twisting aside the blade just before it strikes him, deflecting it toward himself instead.

Hans exclaims, "Hup! Oof!"

Hans exclaims (at Andre), "Get out of the way! This is not a practice match, and these swords are not made of wood!"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "nice!"

[Helvetica] GM asks (of Hans), "against you, that's, like 6 flesh wounds?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Minus one unkept die."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "What is 'minus one unkept die' when you're dealing with brutes?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "In any case:"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 4k4: 9 6 7 3 | 25

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I make my wound check."

[Helvetica] GM says, "brutes are pretty hand-wavey, I think."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "Montaigne brutes are practically limp-wristed"

[Crows-Nest] Hans asks (of Dice), "Now see, why couldn't you have rolled like that for 5k4?"

[Helvetica] GM asks, "Who else on two?"

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

[Helvetica] Cat says, "me"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "go"

Cat moves in between Andre and the main bulk of the soldiers, and fires both pistols into the mob

[7thsea] Cat rolls 6k3: 5 2 7 2 2 8 | 20

GM exclaims, "Aiee, sacre bleu!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] GM says, "20 is exactly enough"

GM says, "One of the waving swords goes down and the soldier attached to it collapses against the fence, looking very much hors-de-combat."

[Helvetica] GM asks, "Arvid, I think?"

Arvid grabs Andre by the ankles and starts dragging him backwards into the safety of the tomb

GM says, "Andre is sort of foaming at the mouth (not literally) at this point and not being entirely manageable."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "That sounds like a euphemism."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "('the safety of the tomb')"

GM says (to Arvid), "you get him into the cemetery grounds, at least."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "'He's where nothing can hurt him, now.'"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "'With the possible exception of a mad scientist with an ice pick.'"

Arvid says (to Andre), "stay still, or I'll have to use the Vendel Neck Pinch"

[Helvetica] GM says, "THREE"

Cat holsters the pistols and swings up the musket

[Helvetica] Cat says, "spending a drama die, going for the sergeant"

[7thsea] Cat rolls 7k4: 6 6 8 6 8 7 7 | 30

[Crows-Nest] Hans says (to Andre), "You should do what he says. You wouldn't like him when he's angry."

(From GM) Andre says, "...fools! idiots! I'll kill them all! I'll smite them ... I'll ... I'll build a lightning generator, yes, that's what I'll do! And and and...."

[Helvetica] GM says, "That's definitely a hit."

Arvid says (to Andre), "dammit, man, get ahold of yourself or you'll end up like Professor Trujillo"

Arvid exclaims, "and he's dead!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "is there a damage roll for non-brutes? I don't think I've dealt with this before"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "for a musket you roll 5k3"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Ooh, a musket. That's 5k3"

[7thsea] Cat rolls 5k3: 7 10+9 6 4 8 | 34

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Musket = 5l3"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Er, timing and typing."

[7thsea] GM rolls 2k2: 10+5 8 | 23

GM says, "The sergeant staggers back with blood blossoming over his shoulder."

Hans says, "We take the care of our students very seriously."

[Helvetica] GM says, "FOUR\"

GM says, "The sergeant raises his own pistol and fires it at Cat (since she's the one who shot him)"

[7thsea] GM rolls 5k3: 8 6 5 4 5 | 19

[Helvetica] GM says, "(what's Cat's Footwork?)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "3"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "presumably Andre's been dragged off far enough that I can dodge without endangering him?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Yes. And at 3, that's a miss."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "if you kick his head by accident, it can only help straighten him out"

GM says, "Also, the remaining five soldiers turn on Hans."

[7thsea] GM rolls 5k3: 10+8 3 8 2 3 | 29

Hans grins.

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Passive Defense = 20"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "No active defense."

[Helvetica] GM asks, "so that's 12, +6 from earlier?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Including the -1 unkept for the dracheneisen? Alrighty."

[Helvetica] GM says, "18"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 4k4: 10+10+1 10+8 9 3 | 51

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "crikey"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "dude is unstoppable"

[Helvetica] GM exclaims, "ping!"

GM exclaims, "ping!"

Hans says, "Thanks. I didn't get my usual workout this morning."

[Helvetica] GM says, "SIX: sergeant, Hans, Cat."

Hans deflects the blows with a combination of his dracheneisen gauntlet and his dracheneisen bare flesh.

Cat tosses the musket aside and goes in for a throat strike on the sergeant

GM says, "The sergeant pulls his own sword and goes in after Cat."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Sergeant's first, I think."

[7thsea] GM rolls 6k3: 7 3 2 10+8 9 8 | 35

[7thsea] Cat rolls 6k3: 5 7 8 10+2 10+4 6 | 34

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oof"

[Helvetica] GM says, "He's hitting Cat unless she's going to try to actively dodge him (which is Wits, by the way)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I'll throw another DD in there"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Was that an active defense?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(Which would use up your action for that phase.)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh. um. dammit."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "it won't kill you to take a few hits, although if your brawn is lower it hurts more"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "but your resolve is pretty high, so"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I have a high Resolve so I guess I'll just take the hit"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "It won't kill you, but it might cripple you!"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "Mmm. That's how Charles always thought."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "That is also why he was walking around with one or more critical wounds most of the time..."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[7thsea] GM rolls 4k2: 6 3 4 3 | 10

[Helvetica] GM asks (of Cat), "brawn k brawn?"

[7thsea] Cat rolls 1k1: 10+6 | 16

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "(But the worst part was how many shirts he used to go through...)"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "nice!"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "huah!"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Every time someone skewered him through the abdomen, there's another shirt with a huge hole in the middle and a blood stain all over it."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so these 10 flesh wounds stick around until the end of combat, so if you get hit again, you have to roll against the new total (ie, including the +10)"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "but if you don't get hit, there's no lasting effect"

GM says, "Despite the Sergeant's flashy and impressive swordwork, he doesn't manage more than a nick ... probably distracted by the flounces in Cat's dress (or so he'll insist)."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "gotcha"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "me or Hans next?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Now Hans"

Hans asks, "One... two... three... four... five against one?"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "it would be a more convincing argument if I was wearing a dress with flounces"

Hans says, "A little unfair to you fellows, but under the circumstances, I'll take advantage of it."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Two raises for three brutes. Plus one DD."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "also, are there any special rules for Throat Strike?"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 8k4: 8 4 8 9 4 2 10+1 2 | 36

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I would be willing to accept that as the most swashbuckly possible line"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "or would it make more sense just to use a generic Dirty Fighting attack?"

GM says, "Boom, boom, boom, three down, two to go."

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Cat), "yeah -- it's -15 to your roll, but it does a dramatic wound automatically (ie, they don't get to roll brawn k brawn to resist it) if successful"

Hans slashes, thrusts, strikes and smacks his way through the mob.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so usually you don't use it unless they're stunned or something already"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "well, he's got a big bullet-hole in him"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "but I guess that doesn't count"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "it doesn't make him easier to hit, but on the other hand, it seems like we have a bunch of drama dice at this point, so you could throw in one or two before the roll"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "also my brawn is useless so it seems like a good idea"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "okay, two DDs going in"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "There are some other knacks which lower someone's TN which are handy here, but I don't remember what they are."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "you roll finesse for attack normally, remember"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Also, if you can get him lying down somehow..."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "...but perhaps this isn't the time for that."

[7thsea] Cat rolls 6k5: 4 1 5 5 10+3 3 | 30

[Helvetica] GM says, "He was 20 before, so you need a 35."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oof."

[7thsea] Cat rolls 1k1: 9 | 9

[Helvetica] Cat says, "(sending good drama dice after bad, but hey, whatcha going to do)"

GM says, "So Cat gets him in the throat, he gives a startled gurgle and falls over."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "(it's not like I can last long in melee otherwise)"

Cat *crunch*

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "expensive but delicious"

[Helvetica] GM asks, "SEVEN: Arvid?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Sorry, Hans then Arvid"

Hans asks, "What, you're still here?"

Arvid says, "I'm just twisting Andre's arm behind his back, anyway"

Cat looks over to see if Andre noticed the rather nasty and lethal technique

[Helvetica] Hans says, "One raise, no DD."

Arvid says, "or kneeling on his forehead or something"

[7thsea] Hans rolls 7k3: 1 10+6 8 3 6 8 5 | 32

Hans smacks one in the side of the head with the flat of his sword, knocking it sideways into the skull of the other one. BONK-KONK-THUD.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

GM says, "The last of the arresting force goes down."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I have always been fond of the 'head-banging' style of retiring brutes."

Arvid eyes the soldiers.

Hans asks, "Now what do we do with them?"

Arvid says, "convenient of them to bring us disguises for getting into town"

Hans exclaims, "Ah. True!"

Cat prods the sergeant with her boot. "Well, he's not going to be telling any stories for a while."

Arvid says, "it would probably be unkind to stick them into the tomb after stripping them, though"

Cat says, "Well, it looks like we just got ourselves a labour force to excavate the tombs from the ice."

Hans asks (of Arvid), "Would you say it was unkind of them to come after an unarmed student with swords and firearms?"

Arvid says, "well, true"

Arvid says, "or at least unsporting"

Hans says, "In any case, I believe we were in the middle of something."

Hans exclaims, "Andre!"

Hans goes off to finish that head-washing.

Cat says, "I think getting yourself almost arrested by an invading force should count for a complete immersion."

GM says, "You can do whatever you like with Andre, at the moment. He's in the middle of designing a lightning storm machine."

Hans exclaims (at Andre), "Don't do THAT!"

Cat says, "you'd better drop that before you go in the water, kid"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Hans says, "Don't you have any... no, of course you don't... but... trust me. Don't DO that."

Arvid strips the soldiers, ties the unconscious ones up with belts and things, and assembles a couple uniforms for us out of the non-bloody-or-shot bits.

(From GM) Andre mutters, "yesyesyes, CHAIN LIGHTNING! ZOT! teeheehee."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Hans asks, "Do you WANT to help Professor Trujillo carry out his insane agenda?"

Cat says (to Hans), "dunk. now."

Hans says, "Boy, you have your OWN insane agenda to worry about."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha more"

Cat says, "less talk. more dunk."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah, maybe if you tell him Trujillo is doing it, he won't want to"

Hans drags him by his ankles outside.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "though at least with lightning he's sticking to literary sources we're familiar with"

Cat adjusts her bicorn at a natty angle

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I like the appropriate use of the plural there."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

GM says, "So, dunkies away"

Hans splash.

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "Hans doesn't speak Montaigne, does he?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yes, but he doesn't read it."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ah, excellent"

Hans asks (of Andre), "Are you calm yet?"

(From GM) Andre glurgle.

Hans unsplash.

Cat removes the sergeant's patches and promotes herself

Hans asks, "I said, are you calm yet?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

(From GM) Andre says, ".........I'm all wet."

Hans says, "Ah, good."

Hans says, "We're getting somewhere."

Cat says, "Back to the monastery for some warming brew before you catch your death."

Hans asks (of Andre), "Do you have any idea what you've been working on for the last... well, at least a day, probably more?"

Arvid has to hem the trousers to make them short enough for him to wear

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arivd), "Oh, you're doing tailoring? In that case..."

(From GM) Andre says, "um. oh. you said not to ... uh, there were extenuating circumstances?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "apparently I do have fashion 2"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "though since I also only have panache 2, I would not rely on getting anything beautiful"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hey, with Gert not around I'm the tallest"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "muahaha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I always thought of Arvid as short but I guess since I didn't pay for it, Hans is really shorter"

Hans asks (of Andre), "Maybe. I think we all need to talk this over before we even think about rush off to evacuate anyone's tombs, don't you?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "My character sheet lists Hans as four feet tall."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "So you are free to be five feet."

(From GM) Andre says, "heh. nothing ... happened...."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "wow, that is short"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I take my munchkining seriously."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "you might have to be our prisoner if we're sneaking into town"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "or we could rig up a hilarious thing with stilts"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hello, we're from the Ninth Circus Dwarf Grenadiers"

Hans says (to Andre), "Nothing except for you singlehandedly trying to dig up two corpses, and us having to fight off a branch of the Montaigne revolutionary army to save you from joining Antoinette in the dungeon."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of Arivd), "What, you don't trust my Montaigne accent?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "Antoinette's in the dungeon *again*?"

Hans says, "C'mon, let's get back to the monastery."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I am just thinking a four-foot guy would be kind of distinctive"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "According to Rupert, she is."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(I was surprised too!)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh, okay, this is her first time I guess"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, they were planning on arresting her in whatever city for blowing stuff up"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "so I suppose it's not passe to rescue her, since this is an entirely new prison"

GM says, "Back to the monastery without incident."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "but we rescued her before they did"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "so we *did* leave the soldiers tied up in the cave?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "er, tomb"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I think Erich and Franzie should be in on this conversation."

[Helvetica] GM says, "I thought you just left them tied up at the entrance to the cemetery."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Tied up, yeah."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, ok, but at least tucked away inobtrusively"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "if they're smart at this point they'll just desert"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sure. Inside the tomb."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "rather than report back that they got their arses kicked by a girl and a midget"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "So, after Andre is warmed up and Erich and Franziska are gathered together..."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "...oh, and Pedro, if he can be found and convinced to join us?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "okay."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I note in passing that we have managed to march straight into the centre of operations for the Resistance dressed in the uniforms of the invading army"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "maybe the Baron is taking a nap before he starts rallying his troops"

GM says, "A few minutes later, you're in a corner of the kitchens, by the fire. Andre is wrapped up in a blanket with a hot mug of 'tea', and Erich, Franziska and Pedro are all gathered."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "...come to think of it, why aren't *we* taking a nap?"

Hans says (to Andre), "Now, first of all, before you dig up any more corpses -- *any* more -- you must sit down and talk it over with someone who is not afraid to disagree with you and possibly dunk your head in a pail of water if they disagree with you."

Hans says (to Andre), "This is not negotiable, Andre."

[Helvetica] GM asks, "Resistance? What resistance?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Technically, the monastery is Neutral Territory."

Hans says (to Andre), "Number two, it is bad enough to dig up a corpse and reanimate it in order to further an elaborate plan, but digging up a *second* one merely to assist you with the the first is nearly unjustifiable."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "ah, okay"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Have we put on the uniforms already? I thought Arvid was still tailoring them to fit."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "works for me"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I guess I am just wearing the hat"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I think since Cat is normal-sized she can probably find something that doesn't need tailoring"

(From GM) Andre looks appropriately abashed.

Cat rousts up a bowl of hot soup, some monk warming brew, and a couple of wool blankets

Hans says, "Now... I am not sure if it is wise -- or even non-sacriligious -- to be awakening Fraulein Sommer in order to let her live again in some sort of mechanical sword-fighting contraption, but Morgana seems to think it is for the best, and she would probably know better than us, so we can at least consider it."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah, surely her body is shaped *exactly* like that of a Montaigne soldier."

[Helvetica] GM asks, "eh, who says all the soldiers were men?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "enh, it's a revolutionary army, nobody's uniform's going to fit very well"

Hans says, "But if you do so, and if you do intend to repair her voicebox sot hat she can communicate to us -- and can let us know if she feels that her new existence is abhorrent to herself and Theus -- then at least get the aid of a competent surgeon."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I am not sure this is really the stern talking-to he needs"

Hans says, "I believe that Pedro may have some skills in that area, if he is willing to cooperate."

Hans says, "But I believe that he will only help if you *promise* not to create any device which will call down lightning anywhere in this area."

Arvid says, "assuming he hasn't learned his lesson"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah, well."

Cat says, "And if you want to endanger yourself in future, make sure it's something you can get yourself out of on your own."

(From GM) Pedro, who was frowning and rumbling at the subject of Morgana, raises an eyebrow and begins to Seriously Consider the idea.

Hans says (to Erich), "Now. It is imperative that you keep this with you at all times."

Hans gives Erich a large wooden bucket filled with water, with a bit of glacial ice still bobbing in it.

Hans says (to Erich), "I believe you know what to do with it if the need arises."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Hans gets a drama die."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yay."

(From GM) Erich says, "Yessir!"

Hans says, "Right."

Cat says, "Clearly, if we're going to go ahead with this plan, we need a better way of breaking them out of the ice than a gangly youth with a mallet."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yay"

Hans says (to Cat), "We have two gangly youths with mallets."

Cat says, "And we probably want to find some discreet diplomatic version of what you're up to so that the monks don't decide that you all need to be burned alive."

Hans says, "That is your department, not mine."

[Helvetica] GM says, "technically Arvid's department, if memory serves."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Should we mention #6 to them?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(Or possibly just to Erich, so we don't give Andre ideas ahead of time?)"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "wait, #6?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sorry, #8"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "oh, right"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(Annette Locksley, Monster Hunter.)"

Hans whispers (aside, to Erich), "If it comes down to it, I think that Anette Locksley has also had practice fending of undesirables. But I do not want it mentioned to Andre unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Agreed?"

(From GM) Erich nods.

Cat says, "Let's say that... the tombs were vandalised by the Montaignais troops. Which is almost true."

Hans asks, "Quite. And now that this is dealt with, I think at least some of us--" at this point, he gives Andre a Look "--should get some rest, perhaps?"

Cat says, "And that the bodies have to be embalmed if they are not to decay away from the glacier."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Man, these Sparks are hard to herd."

[Crows-Nest] Fang asks, "Is this a girl genius thing?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I can certainly see why the Patrician keeps Leonard of Quirm locked away in a dungeon-and/or-tower someplace."

[Crows-Nest] Fang says, "I mean, officially"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "no"

(From GM) Pedro and Erich stand up. The Schreibers follow.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "officially this is the 7th sea setting"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "but Miseri is putting in a bunch of references to other things, and Andre is clearly a girl genius ref"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Jeff has just imported elements from a great many other stories, including GG."

Cat says, "Pedro, you are taking the opportunity to conduct some medical classes in basic anatomy, so that the children when they grow up can heal the sick, etc."

Hans says, "The very, very sick."

Cat says, "But because they are female bodies they are clearly not suitable for monks to be around."

Cat says, "That should earn you all the space you need."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] Fang says, "I'd deny it, myself. But I'd swoon nevertheless"

[Crows-Nest] Fang says, "ilac"

(From GM) Pedro smirks and nods.

Cat says, "Right. All we need is a few burly fellows with a slight morality deficit who take direction well."

Cat exclaims, "To the inn!"

(From GM) Andre, Pedro and the Schreibers go ... well, backstage.

Cat asks, "But first we'll need those uniforms. Arvid, can you fake up some captain's patches?"

Arvid cuts and stitches.

Arvid says, "see, instant promotion"

Cat hefts the jacket on

Cat says, "A-hem-hem."

Hans says, "I am not sure how I feel about wearing the uniform of a Montaigne soldier."

Cat says, "Now we just need to dragoon a squad of raw recruits for a labour detail."

Cat asks (of Hans), "Occupied territory. Covert operations. Were these ever covered in your military training?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Hmm. Rupert or someone said they were letting the town go about its business more or less, right?"

Hans asks, "No?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "right"

Arvid says, "I think they planned to get to subtlety later"

Hans says, "There was a section on 'sneaking through the forest at night so they don't see you coming'."

Cat says, "All right, so think of the soldiers as trees, and the uniform as camouflage."

Hans says, "It was followed by the bit about 'charging in and yelling loudly so they wet their sleeping bags'."

Hans asks, "Will we be skipping that part for now?"

Cat says, "Yes. Concentrate on looking like a menacing drill sergeant who'll break men over his knee for shirking."

Hans says, "Ah, hmm."

Hans says, "I think I could do that."

Cat says, "Growl and glare and so forth."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So if we can get inside, it is possible that we might be able to just go back to being ourselves, going about the business of Geneva College, we've been here all along?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Cat says, "um, we might want to move the existing soldiers away from the tombs first"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, some of the people are going to recognize us"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "From Bois-Franc?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "like Chevalier"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "dammit why do my brilliant plans always have a big gaping hole in them"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, *most* people won't recognize us"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so we are probably good for short trips"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Surely he would only recognize Mr. Skraelitov and his bodyguard!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm, I guess I was in jail"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And, er, his fiancee Cat. Hrm."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "But aside from Chevalier and Azelma and Dupin, we're *relatively* safe."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "anyway, we don't want to stay in town long-term, right?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Right."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "But it'd be nice to move about freely without dressing in silly costumes."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so we'll just avoid people who might recognize us"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "maybe I should just go with Overconfident and go with the plan, assuming I can talk my way over their bound-and-gagged comrades"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Hrm. On the other hand, there's des Amis."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, you don't need the costume unless you want to order soldiers around"

[Helvetica] Cat says (to Hans), "he fled, I think"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "yes, I really think you should."

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "Oh, good."

[Helvetica] GM says, "(heh heh ... heh.)"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "hooray!"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "To the inn!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "OK, now before we do that..."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Remind me why we're sneaking into Geneva?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Instead of going after the letter?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I dunno"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "To secure the tomb bodies before the Montaignais get at them"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "there's no reason to think they want to get the bodies, is there"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Secure them from what?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "other than that they dispatched soldiers?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And how does sneaking into town secure them?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, they sent the soldiers to arrest Andre"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I think we were going to sneak into town to get soldiers and order them to to help us move the bodies"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "then we commandeer a cart, pile up the bodies, say 'well done men, you're excused from latrine duty for the next two weeks' and scarper"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So we were going to bring the fact that seven of their soldiers have been disabled, bound, and gagged to their attention and let them know where those soldiers are?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "this is what I called the gaping hole in my otherwise brilliant plan"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "but I am sure that I'll be able to smooth the situation over somehow!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It seems like it'd be simpler t just leave the bodies tied up in the tomb where Andre et al. can find and deal with them tomorrow."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And then we can save the uniforms to use when we get back from du Sices' place."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "At which point further events will have likely transpired, requiring us to sneak into the town anyway."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Have you considered other possibilities? There's also Pedro (who's wanted for murder) and the Schreibers (currently truant, therefore suspicious, therefore prime candidates for Disciplinary Action From The New Montaignais Overlords)."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "other possibilities for having to sneak into town?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "right, I think anyone we dispatch to exhume bodies is a prime target for getting arrested"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "We can't hang around and beat up *every* troupe of Montaigne soldiers who comes to the monastery to arrest someone!"

[Helvetica] GM says, "for getting the bodies out of the tombs."

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Eventually there wouldn't be any Montaigne soldiers left!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Hans), "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "so we solve the problem by using the people who would be doing the arresting!"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Good plan!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, ok, another plan would be to get Andre & co to jigger up a device to melt the ice, I guess"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and then make them cart the bodies themselves"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "meanwhile we can go get the letter"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "do we really want to warm the bodies up?"

GM says, "So you arrive in town still trying to figure out exactly what you need to get done...."

Arvid says, "but at least we have snazzy uniforms"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Anyway, the way I figure it: if we are worried that something unfortunate will happen if we leave the young mad scientists alone, then 'them getting arrested and locked up where they can't do any harm' does not seem like the most likely possibility."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "right. I think we have amply demonstrated that 'let the kids dig the bodies up' is not a good idea"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "In fact, I suspect that Antoinette has already build a clockwork bat out of her prison mug, two hairpins, a bit of wood she found on the floor and two sheets of paper."

GM says, "Except for the presence of Montaigne soldiers at every street corner, everything seems pretty much As Per Normal."

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Cat), "I dunno, perhaps the problem was Andre wasn't going about it efficiently enough"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "which will stab the jailer with a hairpin, steal his keys and then fly away leaving her to her fate"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "I was thinking she'd just have it fetch her tools from the workshop so she peacefully could get on with her robot-building inside the dungeon."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "so are folks on board with the At Least Half-Brilliant Plan?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sure, if you are going to town, I will follow."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "or shall we do something less likely to use up the remainder of my drama dice and get us all thrown in jail?"

GM says, "Posters are being put up for the upcoming autumn festival."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "You're doing all the talking, though."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Also, are we sure Rupert said des Amis ran off?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I am not finding it in the logs."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And meeting him could be awkward."

Cat pulls her hat down over her eyes

[Helvetica] Cat says, "well, you'll have to duel him at *some* point"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "the pond is going to get pretty full"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Sure. I'd just prefer not to be wearing a Montaigne uniform at the time."

Arvid inspects a nearby poster.

Arvid says, "hey, picture of us -- wait, wrong poster"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(And this coat barely even fits over my armor!)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "if it is indeed a picture of us that would put a slight crimp in my plans"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "but people see what they expect to see, particularly if it's in uniform"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "sorry, that was me ad-libbing"

GM says (to Arvid), "It looks the same as last year. Music festival, mock-duels, archery competition, bake-off...."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Cat throws open the inn door

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we should enter the bake-off in disguise and in the winning move, split their pie with our pie"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Ha ha."

Cat exclaims, "Ten-HUT!"

GM says, "The inn is doing a roaring business with Montaigne soldiers."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "also, the festival seems like good cover for taking back the town"

GM asks, "What?"

Cat says, "I need a dozen volunteers who want to be excused from latrine duty for the next week! You, you, you..."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "all this in shouty Montaigne, of course"

GM says, "All eyes turn to Cat. Including the pair at the far end of the inn ... Chevalier and des Amis, sitting together in a secluded, relatively-quiet part of the inn."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "oh wel"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "l"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "well, of course"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "But if Chevalier's only met her once, and she's in uniform now..."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "I guess we need a Disguise roll?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "good thing all eyes are on Cat and not Hans"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "What are the chances that that voice would be so burned into his mind that he'd recognize her even in this completely unrelated context?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "also with any luck they have been drinking"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arivd), "Quite."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "probably a good idea, yes."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "me or Arvid?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Or Acting"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "or Oratory?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Whoever's standing right there at the door, Wits+Disguise."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Wits? Aw, man."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Oratory will only sway mobs."

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Hans), "well, you're probably behind us"

[Helvetica] Cat throws in a DD

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "I can't use Panache + Stealth to blend in with the background?"

[7thsea] Cat rolls 5k4: 9 10+10+10+8 2 1 5 | 54

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Wow."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Hans), "Heh. Ah, just Cat, really."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "booyah"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "she's disguised enough for three!"

Cat exclaims, "Tuck that shirt in! Do you call those boots? Shovels, picks, commandeer a cart, ten minutes or I'll tan all your hides!"

GM says, "Chevalier and des Amis see nothing unusual going on and turn back to their discussion."

Cat exclaims, "Jump!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "*whew*"

Hans . o O ( Is there any good reason not to beat up Chevalier and des Amis right now? )

Hans starts counting the number of soldiers here.

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

GM says (to Cat), "you get a few soldiers on detail. They grumble, but whatever."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "okay, step two: commandeer a cart"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks (of GM), "hey, how far off is that festival?"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "On the plus side, wherever you go to get the cart, you don't have to worry about finding Chevalier and des Amis there!"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "I assume it goes on for a while, but when do the main events like the mock duels start?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Oh, about four or five days."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "good, good"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And the bake-off?"

Cat marches into the street, looks for the nearest vehicle capable of carrying nine bodies

[Helvetica] Cat says, "or, um, eight"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Bake-off, let's say four days from now."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "if we're going to bois-franc we should visit the meat pie lady and get some tips"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Ha."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "it's the other town, sadly"

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of Cat), "So, just to be clear: are you now planning to disinter *all* of the remaining corpses in the expatriate tomb?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Not just the one that we grudgingly gave Andre permission to reanimate?"

GM says (to Cat), "okay, there it is. It's full of furniture."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "But even the one I just dressed him down for trying to dig up unnecessarily?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "um er gosh"

Hans says, "Huh, that wardrobe looks familiar."

Arvid . o O ( nobody unloaded this yet?? )

Arvid . o O ( actually, wait, we saw him unload it )

Arvid . o O ( maybe they're taking it back for non-payment )

GM says, "oh wait, it's different furniture."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(Yes, I know we burned it.)"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "I thought before that it was the bodies of the soldiers we beat up that the cart was for."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I thought it was the only way we were going to be able to move everyone to somewhere they couldn't be tampered with"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "by someone who is not us"

Arvid helps the soldiers unload the furniture from the cart and pile it up so we can take the empty cart away

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Like, we're hiding them from Andre now?"

GM exclaims, "Hey. HEY!"

(From GM) Chevalier appears at the inn door. "What do you think you're doing!"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "In case he starts jonesing for a resurrection?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Cat says, "Commandeered for essential functions of the revolutionary army, sir."

(From GM) Chevalier says, "over-ruled! Put that furniture back!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "nrgh"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "hmm, is this like the baron's fancy furniture or something?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I guess Chevalier should technically outrank me even if he is a civilian"

Cat says, "Sir yes sir! *salute*"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "the *revolutionary* salute, that is"

(From GM) Chevalier says, "I'm not sure I recognise you, officer...."

Arvid eyes the furniture suspiciously and tries to figure out what's so important about it as he puts it back in the cart.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we should beat up Chevalier and lock him in jail here too"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and then chase him to another city and lock him up there"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "'No sir! I'm just in from Bois-Franc!'"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims (at Arvid), "Ooh, good idea!"

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of GM), "Is anyone else watching? Aside from the dozen soldiers we just commandeered?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "We could lure him into an alley."

Cat exclaims, "Captain Badmarch, Charouse Special Milita, sir!"

[Helvetica] GM asks, "And the soldiers in the inn, and everybody on the street?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So just them?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah, but the people on the street are on our side"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "viva la counter-revolution!"

(From GM) Chevalier says, "Hmph. Thought they weren't sending anyone from Charouse...."

Cat says, "Countersorcery expeditionary force. Hush-hush."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Are we going to end up foiling the Montaigne Revolution?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "nice"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And if so, who's supposed to wind up in power?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we will punch our way right to the top"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "Montegue in canon, I think"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "But he's in Ussura!"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "we got him back on his ship!"

Cat says, "You should have received notification of our arrival, sir, but the post's been so screwed up lately, pardon my Avalonian sir, that it may have been missed."

(From GM) Chevalier frowns, then shrugs. "Well then. Since you've mustered up the manpower, maybe you can have the furniture unloaded at the castle. The butler ... Stab or Slap or whatever his name is ... will tell you where to put it."

Cat exclaims, "Sir!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "he comes back through Eisen, is captured by one of the Eisen leaders, is ransomed back (in an adventure I happened to buy the other day), then goes back to Montaigne and basically takes over and forms a much more moderate version of the revolutionary government"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Cat about-faces a little more hastily than is strictly required

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "also ha ha "pardon my Avalonian""

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "Yay"

Gert arrives, looking for booty.

[Helvetica] GM exclaims, "YAY GERT!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hey hey"

[Helvetica] Gert wave!

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Yay!"

[Helvetica] Gert bows.

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hey Gert! we are all in the soup"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims (at Gert), "We are in Geneva!"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Wearing Montaigne Revolutionary uniforms!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "delicious, delicious soup"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And Chevalier is telling us to unload this furniture at the castle."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Which we will do so that we can steal his cart."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And some of his soldiers."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And use them to dig up the eight bodies in the expatriate tomb."

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "Which one is Chevalier, again?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And hide them from Andre."

Cat nods to Arvid to get a closer look at that furniture

[Helvetica] Cat says, "one of my fiances"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Except for Buffy, whom we've given him permission to reanimate."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Oh, right, him."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(I think that rougly covers the current situation?)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I look dreadfully dashing in a captain's uniform"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "that is about it"

Arvid starts directing the soldiers to take the cart away in the direction of the castle, to give Cat an excuse to come too.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "(and Hans is probably hiding behind the cart)"

[Helvetica] GM says, "You've also got Pedro assisting with the reanimation and Erich standing nearby with a bucket of ice water to dump on any over-enthusiastic sparking."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah. But I would rather be beating up Chevalier."

Cat exclaims, "All right you horrible lot, you heard the man. Move!"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "And I'm in a uniform, etc?"

Arvid grumbles in an authentic soldierly way

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah."

[Helvetica] GM says, "sure, why not."

[Helvetica] Cat says (to Hans), "the one guy *I* should be duelling and you want to steal him"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims (at Cat), "I am politely not killing him yet!"

GM says, "At the castle now."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "can we scope out the furniture en route?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I bet its Chevalier's personal stuff."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I wonder if there's any chance it has the letter in it"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "He probably wants to name himself Governor or somesuch."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "is Stab or Slap or whatever a guy on our side"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "worth going through it anyway"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "yes, I think so"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "he's the guy who suggested the Rodolphe-Baron switch"

[Helvetica] GM says, "You sure can. It's ordinary furniture. Well-made, but not too fancy. There's a desk with inkstains on it. Clearly it's not new."

Arvid gets a servant to summon Slappy

(From GM) Sapt comes to the door and eyes the furniture dubiously.

Arvid exclaims (at Slappy), "orders of occupying commander Chevalier to have this unloaded in his personal quarters!"

Arvid lifts his hat and winks at Sapt

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] (from Hans) Sapt . o O ( Uh-oh, the soldiers are flirting again... )

(From GM) Sapt sighs. "Please to come in. Monsooer Chevalier's rooms are this way." His Montaigne accent is Much Worse than any one of you has ever heard it to be.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I figure he must be acquainted with us, since we've been here for a while"

(From GM) Sapt gives an almost imperceptible nod to Arvid in passing.

Arvid helps carry some furniture into Chevalier's room for a quick look-see.

Gert. o O (Hmm, he's trying to pretend he doesn't know Montaignian?)

Cat exclaims, "Put your backs into it!"

Cat oversees and avoids doing a lick of work

Arvid says (to Sapt), "(whispering) if you have time, look through this stuff and see if there's anything important -- especially a letter from Lady du Sices -- send us word at the monastery if you find anything"

GM says, "Furniture's all in."

(From GM) Sapt whispers, "of course."

Cat says, "Sorry about the detour, lads - you know how brass gets"

Gert arranges to be the placer of the inkstained desk, and as she can't seem to get it quite right, she opens and looks through the drawers as if to see if it could be rearranged.

Cat says, "tell me your commanding officer and I'll see if I can get that latrine duty waived for an extra week"

GM says (to Gert), "the desk is empty."

GM says (to Cat), "you get a few names."

Gert tries to assess whether the dimensions of the drawers match with the outside.

[7thsea] Gert rolls 2k2: 10+9 6 | 25

GM says (to Cat), "(apparently you've managed to get soldiers from a a couple of different platoons)"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "(like if there'd be any secret compartments)"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "(also, that was straight wits)"

GM says (to Gert), "Oh yes, the drawers are fine."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "And it still beat my 5k4..."

Gert asks (of GM), "Nothing taped to the bottom of a drawer?"

GM says (to Gert), "nothing."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "you could just accidentally drop it down a stairwell and then sort through the pieces"

[Crows-Nest] Gert says (to Hans), "Get used to it, sweetie."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Hee"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I suspect Sapt is probably better at sorting through desk drawers than any of us."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I don't doubt that he's spent a few points on Spy."

Gert gives up, finds a good way to arrange the desk, and heads out again.

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

Cat exclaims, "All right. Let's do what we came here for. March!"

Arvid follows the cart to the tomb

Arvid . o O ( now how is she going to handle this? )

Cat directs the grumbling troops up to the glacier

[Crows-Nest] Arvid asks, "how many soldiers are here? like eight?"

[Helvetica] Cat says (to Arvid), "I don't suppose that I'll be lucky enough that our victims will have freed themselves and left"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "I called for a dozen but it sounded like I didn't get that many"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "they only outnumber us two-to-one -- if we take them by surprise .."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "er, two- or three-, I guess"

GM says (to Gert), "oh, hang on. Here's a torn scrap of paper that must have fallen out of the back of the desk or something ... it's part of a report on What To Expect In Helvetica, specifically a short write-up on the Baron's military career."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "what to expect when you're expecting"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "...to conquer a city"

Gert reads aboutthe

[Helvetica] Gert says, "er"

Gert reads about the baron.

GM says (to Gert), "Seems the Baron was not a mere man-at-arms, but a sniper. Quite legendary in certain circles."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hunh"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, if he thinks he can muscle us out as protagonists, he's sorely mistaken"

[Helvetica] Hans . o O ( OK, OK, stories about snipers... snipers... )

Gert pockets the paper and shares it with the rest when she has a minute.

[Helvetica] GM says, "Soldiers: you have Enough."

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to GM), "yeah, I more meant, what if they notice the trussed-up guys and we have to beat them up too"

[Helvetica] Hans . o O ( Maybe *he'll* be splitting the pie. )

[Helvetica] Cat says, "William Tell, clearly"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Arvid), "Ah. Yeah, let's say you have ten grunts."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "given that the GM has been humming that damn tune constantly"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of Cat), "So you're thinking Laura's gotten the apple treatment?"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Cat), "Ha ha."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "oh, right"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess we are in switzerland, hunh"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "it looks like william tell was vs the germans, but who's going to argue"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "I actually wasn't before, but I AM NOW."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Now we just need The Lone Ranger^W^W^WZorro^WEl Vagabond to show up."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "El Vago?"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Er, right. Him."

GM says, "So, you take this bunch of soldiers back to the cemetery."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "But he's Zorro!"

[Helvetica] Gert whispers (to Hans) "I asked you not to correct me in front of other people."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Snrk."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "are we going to try to pass off the trussed-up guys as bandits or something?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Naked bandits?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "maybe the last work detail"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Where'd we leave them, anyway?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "who shirked"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "say we found them earlier and defeated them, so now we have to move them elsewhere"

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Hans), "near the cemetery entrance, bound and gagged"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "The trussed up dudes are at the cemetery?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Hmm. They overheard Cat tell Chavalier that we're in the anti-sorcery division, right?"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "Can we go in the back way?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Gert), "yeah, uh, see, you were wondering where we got these uniforms .."

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Gert), "The soldiers we stole these uniforms from."

[Helvetica] Gert nods.

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Gert), "They tried to arrest Andre."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "We disapproved."

[Helvetica] Gert exclaims, "The cads!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Anyway, if we're anti-sorcery, then certainly we know better than they do whether or not it's safe to ungag this band of bandit-witches."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "there we go"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "they might recognize the guys, but sure, what the hell"

[Helvetica] GM asks, "And if any of the soldiers you picked just happen to belong to the same unit as these guys....?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "also, who bothers explaining anything to grunts?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "double-agents"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess don't let them get too close to the tied-up guys and hope for the best"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah."

Cat says, "All right. Step lively, men."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "They're probably just slumped over in a heap in the corner, right?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "alt: the sorcerers disguised themselves to infiltrate -- you know those avalonian glamor mages"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Ooh."

Cat says, "You've got some digging to do."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Yeah, if we can go in the back way, that'd be great."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Is there a back way?"

GM says, "Well, when you get to the cemetery, you find a couple of monks there tending to the wounded. Of the seven soldiers you took down, only four are still there."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oops."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I am thinking perhaps we should have just let Andre invent a flamethrower."

Cat says, "All right, brothers, clear out. Government business."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "sure, charbroiled brains work brilliantly"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "what time is it?"

GM says, "The men you've pressed into graverobbing service are a little curious as to what's going on over there, but, as soldiers, aren't allowed to wonder overmuch about things they're not told to wonder about."

GM says, "The monks aren't looking for a fight. Just move the wounded away to some place unobtrusive."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Well, it was noon when we had the duel."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Then we rode for, what, 20 hours?"

Cat indicates the ice. "All right. Five minutes smoke break, then you can get digging."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And then we dealt with Divra, talked to Morgana and stuff, dealt with Andre..."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "...denuded some soldiers, went to town, came back from town..."

[Helvetica] GM says, "So, getting close to sunset."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "This is like the five little piggies."

GM says, "The soldiers are quite happy to take the five minutes slack time."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "This little piggy had blood sausages."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "which one was the piggie who got stripped and tied up?"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "I'm sure there are some BSDM/foot-fetishist web sites about that."

[Helvetica] Gert says (to Arvid), "You had a very different childhood than I."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "that'll teach him to take all the roast beef"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Now that you have a few minutes to yourselves..."

Cat says, "All right, that'll do. Up and at 'em! Careful with those tombs now."

GM says, "chip chip chip"

Gert shares the note with everyone, but doesn't have much to add to it.

Cat says, "PUT SOME BACKBONE INTO IT YOU WORMS"

[Crows-Nest] Hans RTA chirp chirp chirp and his first thought was 'cell phone?'.

GM says, "CHIP CHIP chip chip chip"

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

Arvid says (to Gert), "there's going to be an archery competition at the autumn festival .."

[Helvetica] GM gives Cat a drama die

Cat stands by the entrance so as to keep an eye both on the diggers and on any unexpected arrivals

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I love the fact that Edgardo specifically coated these tombs in ice *specifically* to prevent people from desecrating the bodies, and here we are..."

GM says, "Couple of soldiers come up with wheelbarrows to load the wounded soldiers into."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "...are we sure Chevalier and Edgardo and all aren't the heroes of this story?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh hush"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "these women *want* to be graverobbed"

GM says, "Soldiers and wounded go one way, monks head back towards monastery."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Ha ha ha."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "in the early encounters your city is raided multiple times by people freeing the prisoners from your jails"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and then finally in a big encounter you take over the enemy city"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims (at Arvid), "Yay!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "setting up for a climactic battle with the real villains from earlier"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "But they're a lot harder to deal with now that they've raised an undead monster to fight for them."

GM says, "Sun sets as the chipping continues."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to Hans), "ha ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I wonder if a tomb is a 100% smart place to be after sundown"

GM says, "Elise de L'Isle is the first one to get de-iced."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "(this raises the issue of whether they are vampires)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hey, if there are any vampires, we're right here where we can deal with them"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "What, are you afraid that some local teenagers will show up and be surly and throw their empty wine bottles around?"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "To recap, we're doing this so that someone else doesn't?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "uhh"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "somehow we decided to get Andre to resurrect them all"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Wait, we did?"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "I thought he was just resurrecting Buffy!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "or, well, at least another two or three of them"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "Morgana wants us to do so, anyway"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "Just one! Two at the most!"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "For now!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "we have had no particular proof that Morgana is not an evil mastermind"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Clearly Morgana was tugging the fate strands to get all of them resurrected."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "At least if Buffy can talk, we can *ask* her."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "So she can lie to us more directly, instead of being unclear."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Anyway, we've seen no evidence that vampires had conscious rational thought."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "But Morgana seemed to."

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of GM), "Hey, based on Arvid's knowledge and that book, do we know of any rational vampires?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "so she's not a vampire, just an evil undead puppet master"

GM says, "Elisabeth Sommer has been de-iced."

Hans says, "We should move that one to the monastery to defrost."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Um. So where are we going to keep the other seven cold?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Or should we maybe keep them on ice for now, considering how long this one took?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "pack 'em with ice and put 'em somewhere deep"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "a cellar or something"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "Are we worried about someone else de-icing them?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Rational vampires tend to be very very very very old. At least, according to the book. Annette Locksley says that it is imperative that vampires be destroyed before they remember how to think rationally, because once they do, they become a bitch to put down."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I think the only someones likely to do it are Andre, Trujillo, and (now that we've given him the idea) Pedro."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "I'm thinking that if we only want to resurrect Buffy, we should just de-ice that one."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "okey doke"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Gert), "Agreed."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we'll be here all night otherwise"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "(or, since we've done two, just those two)"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "okay, okay"

GM says, "Elisabeth Sommer is, accordingly, brought out from the tombs. Looks like she died fairly young...."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Two?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we did Elise de L'Isle for some reason"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I wonder if we should just ask Morgana, 'Are you a vampire?'"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Elise and now Elisabeth."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess she was the one Andre was working on"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "I don't think we did. But, yeah, he was working on her."

Cat has the bodies loaded onto the cart, and piles up a bunch of ice in there as well to keep them cool

Arvid says, "right, good work"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Drat. Why did we de-ice Elise?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "If we were going to do two, we could have done Annette..."

[Helvetica] Gert exclaims (at Hans), "You all were about to de-ice all seven!"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Andre wanted Elise because he wanted to experiment with making his automata speak. And she was first to de-ice because Andre's already chipped away a fair bit of ice from her."

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "I was not! Cat was!"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "I was just standing around confused and hoping Andre didn't get them!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ok, anyway, I think these are the two we've got, so let's dismiss the soldiers"

Cat asks, "Good work, men. This is, I should point out, highly sensitive secret Government anti-sorcery business, so I don't want anybody blabbing. Hear?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "(yeah, right)"

GM says, "aye aye aye aye aye"

Cat exclaims, "Dis-MISS!"

GM exclaims, "Yay!"

(From GM) soldiers fall out.

Cat exhales.

Hans asks, "Two?"

Arvid shrugs

Arvid says, "Andre will have his hands full with these"

Cat says, "Man, I am so glad that I didn't dress up as a boy and run off to join the navy."

Arvid says, "we can come back for more if we need them"

Hans exclaims, "I already told Andre he wasn't allowed to experiment with Elise de L'Isle!"

Cat says, "However often I threatened to."

Arvid says (to Cat), "I think there's an important lesson here about dishonesty and crime being the fastest way to make captain"

Hans says, "This is getting entirely out of hand."

Cat asks, "So you never planned on helping Morgana in the first place?"

Arvid says, "well, let's discuss it back at the monastery"

Cat starts driving the wagon off

Hans says, "Not... just... all.. but..."

GM says, "You get back to the monastery...."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "by the discreetest of discreet back entrances, I trust"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Like the torn-off door of the laboratory."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "excellent idea"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "we had better find somewhere a little more Guy-proof to store them, though"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "beer cellar"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "A deep locked basement."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And we give Erich the key?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "works for me"

[Helvetica] (from GM) Erich says, "...and Fraulein Josephine said I was 'impossible'."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And, unless another plot twist has happened since the last time we were here, now we go to du Sices'?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "yes."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "preferably in a carriage so I can sleep on the way"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "mm, sleep"

[Helvetica] GM says, "you'll have to hurry, because Sapt is here with some information."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I remember when that used to be awesome"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "figures"

Cat carefully drives the cart a good way away from the monastery before abandoning it

Arvid asks, "Sapt! what news?"

GM says, "Sapt is sitting up in Locksley's room."

(From GM) Sapt says, "You know all about Rodolphe Pervenche impersonating the Baron, I presume?"

Cat says, "indeed"

(From GM) Sapt says, "Chevalier suspects it. He's had word from ... well, all I know is that he doesn't trust his source sufficiently to ruin everything just yet."

Arvid says, "we'll have to work fast"

Gert says, "Or switch the Baron and Rodolphe."

Arvid says, "hmm"

(From GM) Sapt says, "But he's got his men watching Pervenche at all times, just so we can't get swap in the real Baron."

Arvid asks, "he knows the Baron is an expert sharpshooter, right?"

Gert says, "Oh, well."

(From GM) Sapt says, "I believe his plan is to expose Pervenche as an impostor at the upcoming festival."

Arvid says, "so perhaps we could suggest to him he wait and have the Baron exposed at the archery competition"

Arvid says, "ha ha"

Arvid says, "brillian"

Arvid says, "t"

(From GM) Sapt says, "And use that as an excuse to install himself as governor."

Gert asks, "How many days away is the festival?"

Arvid says, "that will just give us time to retrieve the letter proving Montaigne has no right to Helvetica, infiltrate the city, and raise a counter-revolution"

Hans says, "Then the Baron himself should attend in disguise."

Arvid says, "we'll have to smuggle the actual Baron in, but that can wait until we get back"

Hans says, "To be ready to take his rightful place when Chevalier's plans are foiled."

(From GM) Sapt says, "The archery competition opens the festival, in four days."

Gert asks, "And it's two days to duSices?"

Arvid says, "we'll have to work fast"

Cat says, "Excellent. Four days until I can get some sleep."

Arvid says, "perhaps we can take the Baron's carriage"

Arvid says, "(that should be here at the monastery, right?)"

(From GM) Locksley says, "Yes .... you'd have just enough time, if you hurry .... for myself, I'm wondering if I shouldn't give this archery competition lark a go, myself."

Arvid says (to Locksley), "you'll have to do what you can to prepare the city to revolt"

(From GM) Sapt says, "Chevalier will certainly suspect something if the Baron's carriage disappears."

Cat asks, "what, the carriage that has been out of town for days?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "but -- yeah"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "this must be his other carriage"

Gert says (to Sapt), "OK, while we're gone, here's what I want you to do. Have the Baron comission a special outfit to wear at the festival, and secretly have two made. Also, make it really easy to strip off at a moment's notice, and loose enough to be able to wear a different outfit underneath."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "awesome"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "are there any other movie plots we can fit in?"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "I'm imagining an Alias-style switcheroo here."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "perhaps Sapt could paint some Zs around the city, just in case"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Hee hee"

(From GM) Locksley says, "I suppose. It might not have to come to revolt, though. Actual physical proof of Helvetica's independance from Montaigne might be enough. Montaigne doesn't want to risk looking like she's trying to expand."

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "I am in favor of it!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "man, Locksley is spoiling all our fun here"

(From GM) Sapt says to Cat, "Hm, that's true, I'd forgotten."

Gert says, "And four days should be enough for at least some of Hans's family to show up by then--good as witnesses, and as brawlers in a pinch."

Cat says, "oh well. I suppose I can find some excuse to duel Chevalier otherwise"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It is clear which of the five solutions he favors."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And which Andre favors."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Perhaps we can find NPC's to argue for the other three as well."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "if Hans's family is coming, Gert should tell her family to come too, and then you guys can get married after the revolution"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "And put them in a cage."

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "Yeah, definitely."

[Helvetica] Gert exclaims, "At the end of the festival!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "splendid"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Gert), "But I thought we were saving that cage for after the wedding..."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Sounds good to me."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Ha ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "OH LOOK AT THE TIME I HAVE A CARRIAGE TO CATCH"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ok, then, so I take it we're setting out immediately"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "tally-ho"

(From GM) Sapt says, "I'll have the crest removed from the carriage, at least. It'll be less noticeable that way. As for the costume ... I'll see what I can do...."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "And sleeping in shifts in the cart/carriage."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and I also take it we are ending the session pretty soon"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "yeah, but I'd like to get on the road first so that we don't get distracted *again*"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Hee"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] GM says, "heh"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Yeah, it was two sessions ago we said, "Hey, we should go to Montaigne""

[Helvetica] Cat says, "Antoinette is still in prison, frex"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "AND SHE CAN STAY THERE FOR ALL I CARE"

GM says, "About fifteen minutes later, you're in the Baron's de-crested carriage, rolling on out of the monastery."

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Wait, no, we have to let her out so I can fight her."

Cat says, "ah, the open road. zzz"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

(From GM) Sentry says, "Halt! Who goes there!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "man, we're going out with no NPCs"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "it's like going out with no pants on"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh, I'm sure we'll pick up a few along the way"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Maybe we can take the sentry with us."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Gert asks, "Which sentry is this?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess we're still in uniform, come to think of it"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Looks like a Montaigne soldier watching the road out of town."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so maybe we are still the charouse whatever corps"

Gert wakes Cat and pushes her to the window.

Cat says, "urgh gugh what? sleeping"

Cat sighs

Gert hisses (to Cat) "Sentry! You talk to 'im."

Cat leans out of the window, making sure that her badges of rank are visible

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "too bad we didn't swipe any forged handwriting from wosshisface"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Chevalier?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah him"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess the note we have is *to* him but not *by* him"

Cat says, "Second Revolutionary Dragoons, soldier. Secret business; stand down."

(From GM) Sentry says, "Ma'am!"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "just in case our previous fake unit is now Wanted"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

(From GM) Sentry salutes and lets you pass.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we go through identities like other people go through underpants"

Cat pulls back into the carriage and falls asleep instantly

Gert hisses "Good job!" to Cat, waking her up for a couple seconds of annoyance.

GM says, "And the carriage trundles down the mountain towards Montaigne...."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[Helvetica] GM says, "good moment for a break, I think."

[Helvetica] (from Arvid) Gert says (to Cat) "Are you sleeping yet? I can't sleep either! It sure is annoying when you're lying there trying to get to sleep and you can't get to sleep"

Cat pokes Gert ineffectively in the ribs before dozing off again

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Yay"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "woohoo"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "thanks all"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ok, that session was pretty awesome"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "although I am not sure how much we accomplished in real terms"

[Helvetica] Gert says, "Hey, we're on the road. That's gotta count for something."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "We'd better not come back to find Elise chatting up Chevalier or anything."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "good point"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Cat exclaims, "I got to crush a man's windpipe *and* impersonate an officer!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"