PerrySimm says, "Logging now."

GM cues Dramatic Theme Music (tm)

GM says, "So! When last we left our intrepid heroes, Cat was scampering back to the workshop where they'd left Rodolphe Pervenche and his vampire/shadowdemon daughter, and Arvid was escorting Edgardo the handyman in the same direction."

Cat run jog sprint... fast walk... stagger

GM says, "Hans was keeping watch over the vampire/shadowdemon with Gert, who is played today by a sock puppet."

Arvid . o O ( I wonder if Cat saw anything -- he was talking to his wife a long time )

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "And Gert and I are still with Rodolphe?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "right."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "this is where Mis contrives to have me abducted and y'all have to pretend you don't know who the bad guy is for the next three sessions"

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

GM says, "I'd say Cat gets back first, breathlessness notwithstanding, having had a good headstart."

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "But just before she opens the workshop door, aliens beam her into outer space!!1!one!!"

Cat exclaims, "Gert! Hans! Treachery! Deceit! Ooh it's so exciting I could faint except I'd miss all the fun!"

Hans asks, "What is it?"

Hans asks, "Did someone do this to her intentionally?"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "What's the story?"

Cat is about to babble her story, sees Rodolphe, hesitates

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "Come on, out with it."

Cat exclaims, "Oh, to blazes with it. Edgardo and his boring little mouse aren't Castillian at all! She's a seductive deadly witch-kiss harpy and he's got a dagger in his boot and they've been putting on fake accents the whole time!"

GM says (to Arvid), "You and Edgardo arrive at the workshop door."

Cat says, "All the time I was chatting with that dreary woman over tea she was probably meddling with my SOUL"

Hans thinks very hard, trying to figure out what Cat is talking about. "...witch... kiss... harpy...?"

Cat exclaims, "except that she was so evil, she didn't *offer* me any tea!"

Arvid knocks loudly.

Arvid exclaims, "here's Edgardo!"

Arvid exclaims, "ready to explain things to us!"

(From GM) Edgardo says (to Arvid), "You didn't really ask me here to look at a wardrobe, did you?"

Cat exclaims (at Hans/Gert), "(whispered) Vodacce fate-witchery!"

Arvid says, "I asked you here to look at ... HER"

(From GM) Edgardo looks at Cat.

Arvid exclaims, "no, HER!"

Arvid says, "--and stop looking at Gert."

Hans's eyes bet big.

(From GM) Edgardo looks at Lucille, keeping his distance. Crosses self. "What's this to do with me?"

Arvid says, "we saw this girl emerge as a ghostly apparition from the wardrobe"

Arvid says, "the very same one you were so intent on earlier"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "was there any other connection? I don't actually remember any"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess I thought he was painting it against my express orders but maybe he was just a goofball"

Cat moves quietly to close and bolt the door behind Edgardo

[Helvetica] Hans says, "The hook, too."

(From GM) Edgardo says, "Is that so? Then I should have burnt it instead. But then I might have gotten the sack."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "wait, hook?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Wasn't the crochet hook from his wife?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "oh right"

(From GM) Edgardo isn't bothering to hide his accent anymore, since he thinks Arvid already knows. And since he's overheard enough to guess that Cat knows.

Arvid says, "furthermore, your wife's crotchet hook was found at the site of the murder"

Arvid says, "furthermore, you're talking funny"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I am the worst columbo ever"

GM says, "(which means he's probably already said more to you in the past two minutes than he says to the headmaster in a week.)"

Cat says, "Edgardo di Ravenna, you have some explaining to do."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Columbo would have taken a minute to search his pockets until he found the crotchet hook, then showed it to Edgardo and told him that he found it in his wife's crotchet basket adn apologize for accidentally taking it with him and asked him what it was for and then at the end after Edgardo had accidentally admitted that it was his wife's told him that it was actually found at the scene of the crime."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "man, you should be running this"

(From GM) Edgardo says, "Lucia must have dropped the hook when I took her to look at the dead man. What would you do? It was a mystery. You know what Lucia could do."

(From GM) Edgardo says, "...who else knows?"

Cat says, "And I am sure you have a wonderful, long, *detailed* explanation, which is why we're going to ask you to sit down and relax while you tell it."

Hans asks, "If Lucia can do... those things... then is there anything she can do to help Lucille?"

Hans asks, "Can she tell us if Lucille is gone, or if she can still be returned somehow?"

(From GM) Edgardo perches on the edge of a bench well away from Lucille. "We never knew anything about Lucille. Lucia told me there was something evil in the wood of the wardrobe and that I should try to keep it from coming out."

Arvid says, "aHA"

Cat asks, "But she didn't suggest how?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "we should really get the priest"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "do we have a priest?"

(From GM) Edgardo says, "I gave it three coats of paint. Three! I even stole some holy water from the monastery to mix into the base coat...."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Priest? What do we need a *priest* for?"

[Helvetica] Alex says (to Hans), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Priest is Adam's favorite writer."

[Helvetica] Hans spits.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "You have Brother Etienne. Who should be done with Vespers by now."

Cat asks, "doesn't theft kind of do something to the holiness?"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "oh yeah"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "let's hope he got the Good ending"

Arvid says, "it's true it's got a nice, even color there"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid exclaims, "ha!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Monks are alright. But priests are just symbols of the oppressive Vaticine system."

Roger arrives, looking for booty.

Arvid goes outside and finds a generic servant kid to make the trek to fetch Brother Etienne

Hans asks (of Edgardo), "So she didn't know about Lucille before, but what about now? Can she come and... *look* at her or some such thing?"

Cat asks, "A nice line. Care to explain why you're here in the first place?"

Hans flails a bit, having now idea how this whole kiss-witchery works.

(From GM) Edgardo says, "I'll get her if you can promise me that our little secret never gets further than this room.

[Helvetica] Cat says, "it doesn't seem to me that we have to trust what he says"

Hans says, "I don't want to tell secrets. I just want to help this girl."

(From GM) Edgardo says (to Cat), "A simple enough story. Lucia and I eloped. Our parents are unhappy."

Cat asks (of Edgardo), "And then you came to Geneva to share your mutual interest of innocently looking at dead people?"

(From GM) Edgardo says (to Cat), "Wouldn't you want to know if whatever killed him might come after you too?"

GM says (to Arvid), "you do find a servant kid who's stealing cookies from the kitchen. He scampers off to fetch Brother Etienne."

Arvid says, "and don't let me catch you -- hey, cookie"

Arvid says, "numf scrumpf"

Cat says, "I will give my word that this goes no further, on condition that you're just a perpetually unlucky innocent."

Cat says, "If you're more involved and you didn't tell me, I have a very good idea of some people to whom I might write some long and extremely detailed letters."

(From GM) Edgardo says, "hmph."

[Helvetica] GM says, "(anything else before Brother Etienne arrives?)"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "I'm thinking it's all over but the exorcism"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "er, here, but whatever"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I guess not, although I'm nervous about the number of NPCs we're letting in on our secret"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I am still hoping that Lucia can check Lucille's strands."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "it would be polite to at least let Edgardo withdraw before Etienne shows up"

(From GM) Edgardo glances around at the others. "All right then. No further?"

Hans says, "Fine."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I guess we don't actually have a real explanation of what happened, do we? just speculation that wosshisface killed her and that's why she killed him"

Cat says (to Edgardo), "Very well. Let's get you home before the priest turns up and starts wondering what you're doing here."

Cat says, "And do wear that stiletto where I can see it, there's a good chap."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah."

(From GM) Edgardo stands up.

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So, did Edgardo just agree that Lucia will come and help? And if so, shouldn't that be done before Etienne goes and burns the body or something?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Since, even if the GM is wrong and she can still be saved, that's going to make it a lot harder."

[Helvetica] GM exclaims, "The GM is never wrong!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I'm sure you can restrain him if he gets overexcited"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks (of GM), "ok, can we have Lucia come in and say a few words?"

[Helvetica] GM asks, "Also, is Arvid agreeing to the whole secrecy deal about Edgardo and Lucia?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "well, he left the room to get the priest, so it's moot"

Arvid says (to Edgardo), "if things are as you said, I see no reason to tell anyone else about them"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh, right, he sent the boy and came back"

(From GM) Edgardo nods.

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I'm sure their cottage is a lot closer than the monastery."

GM says, "So, Edgardo goes (with escort if you decide it's safer) and returns with Lucia."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "I just want to get the fate witch and the priest in the same room together and watch the sparks fly"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "but her heart belongs to Edgardo!"

GM says, "And Lucia's verdict is: whatever that creature is, it's got no real connection to Rodolphe Pervenche; which means that Lucille is dead."

Arvid frowns.

Arvid says, "well, at least now we know"

Hans sighs.

GM says, "Lucia stares a little longer, then says that perhaps someone had better go check on the students' dormitories."

Hans says (to Rodolphe), "I am so sorry."

Cat puts a supportive hand on Rodolphe's elbow

Arvid says, "not again"

Arvid and Gert go to check them out.

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "I never knew your daughter, except as an undead monstrosity, but I'm sure that she was a very special person."

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

GM says, "Brother Etienne arrivesas Arvid and Gert head up to the dormitories."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I mainly feel bad for Ed."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "For one, not many people can do that twisty-head projectile-vomit thing."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "get hallmark on the phone, stat"

(From GM) Brother Etienne says, "What's this? Sacre bleu!

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It occurs to me that if there's no Lucy left, we could just chop it up ourselves..."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Or simply burn the wardrobe and the body."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "no way, it'd just regenerate"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "If you want to be less gruesome."

Cat says, "it seems we have a demon of sorts, Brother."

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "Burn it and bury it in the middle of the school. Then in a few years we can have Helvetica II: SAPLING"

(From GM) Rodolphe says, "That used to be my youngest daughter Lucille. It seems that an exposure to -- what was it? Blackwood? -- was rather bad for her health."

Cat says, "If you could exorcise the spirit in such a way that Lord and Lady Pervenche would have something to bury, I'm sure it would be *deeply* appreciated."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "awesome"

GM says (to Arvid), "In the second year girls' dormitory, you find Carmilla Karnstein lying under a blanket of black-shadow-fabric. She's alive, but pale and unconscious."

Arvid says, "...damnation"

Arvid and Gert (well, mostly Gert) get her out from under the shadow stuff and carry her to where the others are.

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hm, this is actually weird"

(From GM) Brother Etienne says, "Exorcism! Oh my. I think we should take her -- it -- to a room with a window. I've heard stories about sunlight ... wait, we should burn the wardrobe first."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Weird that the killing didn't stop? Or that Carmilla was targetted?"

Cat says (to Etienne), "Somewhere where nobody'll inhale the smoke."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah, the former"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Wait, what am I saying? 17th Century, no electric light, there is Always A Window."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I haven't gotten around to trying to remember who Carmilla is yet"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Do we know that she wasn't attacked before we caught Lucille?"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "was there time for her to be attacked before we captured Lucille?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah"

Hans asks, "Sunlight at this time of night?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "from recap it looks like Camilla was Gert's special friend"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm, and helped unload furniture"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Ha ha."

Arvid asks, "how much longer until sunrise?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Hmm."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So maybe it's killing everyone who touched the wardrobe?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "...whoops."

(From GM) Brother Etienne checks a clock and says, "X hours."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "possibly also suggestive:"

[Helvetica] Arvid | GM says, "Arvid dozes off and dreams of a girl who looks a lot like Suzanne Pervenche, only blonde ... wandering in the moonlight. One by one, other girls follow behind her: Camilla Karnstein, Laura Schriftsteller, Adelheid and Klara Sessemann, Arielle Sainte-Seraphine...."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "maybe this is a hit list"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Did you dream of a wagon-driver too?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "also, the people who ran off the first night to the waterfall: Camilla, Adelheid, Suzanne, and Arielle"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "though maybe these are actually the only four students"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "so next step: waterfall?"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "(Man. Girls school. Burly guy shows up to delivery heavy furniture. In the context of Arvid's dream, that is so the plot of a pr0n film.)"

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

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So is someone checking on the other dream and/or waterfall girls?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "possibly with Lucia in tow as a magic geiger counter?"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks (of GM), "we checked on all the girls in the dorm, right?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "right."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I mean, 'are they missing and/or covered in black gauze'"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "right, and I think the answer is no"

[Helvetica] GM says, "All the girls seem to be okay. Adelheid is mumbling something about goat cheese in her sleep."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "aHA"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "so I think the next step is to try to revive Camilla as we wait for sunrise"

GM says, "Rodolphe stops pacing about and grabs an axe to have a good go at the wardrobe."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and we will interrogate her on the assumption she knows something"

Arvid says, "that seems like a good idea to me"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "and let's ditch the priest"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "will no one rid us of this troublesome priest?"

Cat yawns mightily

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I'll be happy to help."

Cat says (to Rodolphe), "watch out for splinters, now"

Hans says, "We should burn it as well when we're done."

Arvid says, "perhaps we should wait and burn it in sunlight"

Hans draws his sword.

Arvid attends to Camilla, meanwhile.

Hans helps Rodolphe with the destruction.

GM says (to Arvid), "Her pulse is a rather weak. Looks like bloodloss."

Cat says, "in sunlight, well away from the town"

GM says, "'Lucille' grows agitated as the wardrobe is hacked to pieces, but won't (or can't) get past the circle of lanterns you've placed around her."

GM says (to Arvid), "re: Camilla, she'll be fine. Probably what she needs now is a diet of iron-rich food. Like liver and spinach."

Arvid . o O ( frankly, it's a wonder she suffered any ill effects at all -- you'd think she had blood to spare )

GM says, "Camilla does wake up after a bit. She's a little woozy. And crabby from being woken up. Camilla is NOT a morning person."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "plus the whole waking up on a floor with a demonic dead body next to you thing"

Arvid says, "ah, Camilla"

(From GM) Camilla says, "what?"

(From GM) Camilla says, "ugh, why am I *here*?"

Arvid says, "considering we just saved you from a vampire, that's not a very grateful way to be talking"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I don't really know what I'm doing here, if anyone else wants to help"

Arvid asks, "but that raises an interesting question -- why, out of all the students, would it come to you?"

Arvid studies Camilla.

(From GM) Camilla coughs. "My throat is killing me."

Hans says (to Arvid), "Perhaps it thought she would taste good."

Arvid says, "have some wine"

(From GM) Camilla says, "How should I know? What time is it?"

Arvid says, "you're low on blood"

Arvid says, "past bedtime, and before morning"

(From GM) Camilla tries to get up, but gets dizzy instead and sits back down. She accepts the wine.

GM says, "She doesn't know anything about the attack, other than dreaming of something sitting on her chest."

GM says, "(Should we fast-forward to morning?)"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah"

GM exclaims, "Morning breaks!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "where I guess we're going to expose the Lucille thing and see what happens"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and Camilla too, in case she's going to turn into one"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims (at Arivd), "Give the family some dignity!"

GM says, "By now the wardrobe is a pile of itty-bitty splinters and Rodolphe has almost worked off a fraction of his frustrations."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Her arms and face should be plenty of skin."

Hans sweeps the splinters up onto a sheet so they can carry them out into the sun.

GM says, "Rodolphe insists on taking 'Lucille' out into the sun himself, since he's her father and therefore Responsible."

GM says, "And out into the sun you go."

Hans keeps half an eye on Rodolphe, in case the erstwhile Lucille tries anything.

Arvid keeps watch for curious onlookers.

Cat's studied dalliance with his venal muses is little to our taste.

GM says, "Lucille is too busy writhing madly to try anything quasi-intelligent."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "oh, I didn't realize that was Cat's disconnect for a minute"

Arvid says (to Hans), "perhaps we should burn those"

Arvid . o O ( I suspect we'll be needing to burn a body, too )

Hans says (to Arvid), "Argeed."

GM says, "Something shadowy and translucent comes pouring out of her nostrils, tries to latch onto the nearest person (Rodolphe) but fries up in the sun before it can get to him. Finally, Lucille goes limp."

Hans pours a flash of oil over the pieces of the wardrobe and lights it from the lantern Gert made him carry.

GM says, "That's the end of that, it looks like. The bits of wardrobe are burned. Rodolphe talks about getting funeral arrangements for Lucille."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Hope Cat gets back soon."

Hans asks (of Etienne, Arvid), "Is it safe to just bury the body?"

Hans asks, "And what of the ash of the wardrobe?"

Arvid says, "I think whatever spirit was inhabiting her body has left"

Arvid says, "for the ash, well, perhaps Brother Etienne should scatter it in the mountaissa but yes, perhaps we should scatter the ash -- somewhere outside of the forest"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "er, whoops"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "but you get the idea"

(From GM) Brother Etienne nods and scoops up the ashes into a bucket.

Cat arrives, looking for booty.

[Helvetica] GM says, "Yay Cat"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "sorry about that. what'd I miss?"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "Demon burned up, wardrobe also."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "Lucille left limp, lifeless."

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "Br Etienne going to dispose of ashes. Rodolphe going to make funeral arrangements."

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "ITYM pooty"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "Arvid going to have a nap"

[Helvetica] GM says (to Cat), "and everybody gets 3 XP."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "hooray"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "woo"

[Helvetica] GM says, "including Gert."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "is this the second night in a row we've had no sleep? or were there some cooldown days in there between getting back from montaigne and this?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "We had a few hours of sleep last night."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Like, I figure we probably got back around four or five and then slept until nine or ten or something."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Probably more like five to ten, since it was technically morning when we arrived."

GM says, "There's a tomb further up the mountain where noble guests and/or former teachers (those who die while still in service to the school) are buried. Lucille is taken there."

Cat says, "I'm a little worried that noble guests die here regularly enough for there to be an established graveyard for them."

GM says, "She's the ninth to go in there. The Baron mutters something about hoping he won't have to have another tomb carved out."

GM says (to Cat), "the earliest one there is a Wilhelmina Murray, from 100 years ago."

GM says (to Cat), "so these are pretty much spaced out over the past century."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid looks up Wilhelmina Murray

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "I guess it's appropriate to have Lucille in the same tomb"

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "uh-oh"

GM says, "The last one before Lucille was Annette Locksley. Sir Galahad explains that she was his aunt, the very very black sheep of her generation. He pointedly does not look at Cat as he says this."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "do I know anything about this aunt?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Let's see a Wits+gossip roll."

[7thsea] Cat rolls 4k3: 5 2 2 6 | 13

[7thsea] Cat says, "I'm guessing that's a no"

[Helvetica] GM says, "You only know that she left home on the usual sort of 'grand tour' thing and refused to come back."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "what's the rules on spending XP, by the way? in between sessions only?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Yeah. But there's going to be an in-game break of a few days, so I'm going to allow spending now, before things get exciting again."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "XP expenditure on skills is 2x the rank you're buying?"

[7thsea] GM says, "Yeah"

[7thsea] GM says, "And no skipping ranks."

[7thsea] Cat says, "right"

[7thsea] Cat says, "and for base stats, it's..."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "I'm going to buy natural philosophy from 1 -> 2, and occult from 0->1 and 1->2"

[7thsea] Arvid says, "5*new value"

GM says, "A bunch of people from the school come up for the funeral."

GM says, "It's all very black and sober."

[7thsea] Cat asks, "is there a only-buy-stuff-you-can-justify-having-learned thing?"

[7thsea] Hans asks, "Are you good at justifying?"

[7thsea] Hans says, "Also, new skills are 10XP."

Arvid watches everyone at the funeral suspiciously

Arvid has spent the past few days reading books, sleeping, and drinking

Hans has not been reading books.

GM says (to Arvid), "Andre-Nicolas seems more interested in reading the tombstones. Meanwhile Agustin Trujillo seems to have attached himself to Franz Bergen."

[7thsea] Cat says, "okay, I'm taking diplomacy 0 -> 1 and gossip 1 -> 2"

GM says (to Hans), "You have three new students. Andre-Nicolas Valois, Pierre Pervenche and Antoinette Guillot."

[7thsea] Arvid says, "ha ha"

GM says, "Agustin Trujillo begins teaching. Most of the students seem quite impressed by him. The exception is Andre-Nicolas Valois, with whom he has a disagreement on the very first lecture."

Hans says, "Right! Pair off and try to know each other down."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "I forget, what does Agustin teach?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Knock. Knock each other down."

Cat spends the next few days carefully timing her naps to avoid having to actually meet with the Baron

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Did we know?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hmm, maybe not"

[Helvetica] GM says, "It was never mentioned. His specialty is actually medicine, but he can manage a few other less specialised lessons as well."

GM says, "Pierre Pervenche and Erich Schreiber take Andre-Nicolas's side against Trujillo, of course. And Erich's siblings as well -- he comes from a huge family, and if they all decide to hate Trujillo, he's going to have a hard time of it for several years down the road."

GM says (to Hans), "Pierre and Andre-Nicolas pair up for sparring. This leaves you with Antoinette."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "How old is Antoinette?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I'd have figured she was too old to be a student."

Hans asks (of Antoinette), "Welcome to the school. Have you ever used a full-sized sword before?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Yeah, she's probably in her late 20s."

(From GM) Antoinette says, "No. You'll have to show me."

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "Wooooooooooooooooooooo"

Cat sits in a corner of the gymnasium, writing an irate letter to her parents and looking up only occasionally

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "that's LITERALLY what SHE said"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "man, we are so heading for a catfight with Gert"

Cat glances up over her paper and raises a dangerous eyebrow

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "we are indeed."

(From GM) Antoinette says, "Is it like this?" as she holds the broadsword in a manner calculate to destroy her wrists within two parries.

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "and unluckily for Hans, Cat is practicing her gossip"

Cat says, "Maybe you're better-suited to a *modern* weapon, dear. One that suits your mechanical proclivities."

Hans says, "No, no. First, you must start with something a bit less sharp."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid . o O ( ...a vibrator? )

Hans gives Antoinette something about half the weight of a proper sword, without an edge.

(From GM) Antoinette says, "Ooh, that's much better."

[Crows-Nest] Cat says, "I was thinking a wheel-lock musket"

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "well ok"

[Crows-Nest] Gunther says, "mmmm.... gunsword"

GM says, "...surprisingly, it is Andre-Nicolas who manages to knock Pierre down, rather than the other way around."

Hans says, "You need to build up your strength first, before you try to use a real sword, or else it will be controlling you rather thant he other way around."

Hans says, "Now, try holding it with the left hand here and the right hand there, and then..."

Hans shows Antoinette a few positions and the standard transitions between them.

Hans exclaims (at Andre), "Well done, Andre!"

(From GM) Antoinette is Enthusiastic.

Cat smiles brightly. "And we wouldn't want our steel to do our thinking for us, now would we?"

Hans says (to Cat), "Quite."

(From GM) Andre mutters, "....laugh at *me*, will he? i'll show him! i'll ... eh what?"

Hans asks (of Pierre), "Now, can you tell me what you did wrong?"

Cat says, "P.S. The nasty man you sent to abduct me in Reims was quite dreadful at it. I hope you didn't pay him too much. Hugs, Kitty"

(From GM) Pierre says, "I imagine it was trying to face up to Andre while he's in one of his mad rages. (Master Trujillo was really rather rude this morning.)"

Hans laughs.

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

Hans says, "That may be, yes. But you also let him control the area."

Hans says, "When he advanced, you didn't defend: you just gave ground."

(From GM) Pierre says, "Have you seen Andre in one of his mad rages?"

Hans says (to Pierre), "Your enemy's strength can be your own strength, if you are in control."

Hans says, "Here, come at me like he did."

[Crows-Nest] (from GM) Pierre says, "The font in his speech bubble goes all weird and wonky."

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

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

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says (to Hans), "find out what the disagreement with Trujillo was about"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "What? I'm in the middle of a class here."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "he better not have been finding anything subversive from Stefan about potatoes"

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, ";I ahve got to teach these boys to fight! I cannot be off chasing plot hooks."

GM says (to Hans), "Pierre gets up, thinks a bit, then charges in rather over-agressively."

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

Cat says, "Anger is the enemy of a good swordsman! For instance, I was so furious at having to take Swordsmanship that eventually they said I didn't have to take it any more."

Hans catches his own blade against Pierre's wild swing and, with a flick of his wrist, sends Pierre's sword flying across the floor.

Cat says, "And that ladies shouldn't bite."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says (to Cat), "ha ha"

Hans asks (of Andre), "So! Can you see now what *you* did wrong?"

GM says (to Cat), "Albert des Amis comes up behind you. 'Oh, so *you* were that student.'"

Hans says, "Anger is a powerful thing, just like a sword. But like I was just telling Miss Guillot, it is important that *you* control it, and not the other way around."

Cat says (to Albert), "I certainly was! The school's disciplinary code has me to thank for its exhaustive subclauses."

(From GM) Andre says, "Wrong? WRONG? I'll tell you what's wrong! It's when so-called *experts* haven't an original thought in their heads!"

Cat says, "oh dear. I'll bet he bites."

Hans asks (of Andre), "What *did* Master Trujillo say to you, anyway?"

(From GM) Albert des Amis says, "Ah. They call it Schwartz's List, no?"

(From GM) Albert des Amis says, "Pity about old Master Schwartz. I understand they re-pad his cell every six months or so."

(From GM) Andre says, "So a man claims to have written these exciting treatises on life and the complex working of the brain ... can he not see that if you could replicate these cells in -- I don't know, glass tubes or something...."

Cat says, "Really? I had been told he absconded to the Canarias with a student and the petty cash fund."

(From GM) Andre gets more and more technical and more and more incoherent. Also, more ridiculous.

Hans exclaims (at Andre), "It is all well and good to say what you can do, but it means little if you have not done it!"

Cat says, "Vicious rumour, doubtless."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "well, that clears that up then"

(From GM) Albert des Amis says, "Oh, he did. Except that the 'student' was a dressmaker's dummy."

GM says (to Arvid), "Meanwhile, you are woken up from your latest nap by none other that Trujillo, screaming and ranting in the corridors about his privacy."

Hans says, "You can recite to me the thirty primary stances and the sixty-eight transitions and the four modes of defense and the Laws of Knocking People Down and so on, but until you actually hit me with a sword, you are not a fighter."

Hans says, "And until you build your brain in a glass, then you cannot say that it can be done."

Arvid removes the handkerchief from his face and sits up and sets aside his empty wine bottle and closes his book and goes out into the corridor to see what is the matter.

Arvid asks, "what on earth are you shouting about, Trujillo?"

(From GM) Pierre says, "He's got you there, old chap."

Hans says, "Now, I want the two of you to alternate attacking and parrying, just as Pierre and I just did."

(From GM) Trujillo shouts, "Someone's been into my rooms! I demand a new lock on my door! AND a bar on it! What is this world coming to?"

Cat says, "sigh. my campaign to get the swordfighting exam changed to a written test never bore fruit, I see"

Arvid asks, "been into your rooms? was anything taken?"

(From GM) Trujillo shouts, "Look! Spiders! Spiders all over my bed! Someone's been into my room and put them there! Spiders don't breed like that!"

Arvid asks, "...spiders?"

Arvid exclaims, "spiders!"

Cat says (to Albert), "so how long has this waterfall rumour been circulating? I certainly don't remember it from my time here"

(From GM) Albert des Amis says, "Interestingly enough, one of my best students was an advocate of the written test. I understand he's a representative of the Revolutionary Council now, though."

(From GM) Albert des Amis says, "Waterfall rumour? I'm afraid I haven't heard that one."

Arvid says, "well, the first thing to do is shoo them out"

(From GM) Trujillo shouts, "A jarful of spiders!"

Arvid says, "I wonder who would have put them in there"

Arvid says, "it's a little early for you to be making enemies at school"

Cat says, "I think I may take a constitutional this afternoon"

Arvid inspects the lock on the door to see if it was actually picked or what.

GM says (to Arvid), "Pedro emerges from Trujillo's room with a jar full of (squished) spiders. He looks almost as furious as Trujillo."

GM says (to Arvid), "There are no marks on the lock."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Trujillo has been targeted by Lucia and/or What's-Her-Name, eh?"

Cat asks, "would one of you big strong sharp-object-flourishing men care to escort me?"

Arvid says, "hmm"

Arvid asks, "window?"

Arvid inspects the window.

GM says (to Arvid), "Trujillo's on the third storey. He insisted on a top-floor room. The window opens easily; there's ivy all up the wall outside."

[Helvetica] Hans says (to Arvid), "Check for crotchet hooks."

GM says (to Cat), "Albert would be happy to accompany you."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

Arvid says, "well, I suppose someone could have climbed up"

GM says, "(Antoinette rather insists on Hans staying to show her how to swing his sword.)"

Arvid looks under the bed.

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "do we actually know where the waterfall is, more or less?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Yes"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Yes"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "yeah, we went out there the first night"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "or near enough"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "then I shall wander that way, hoping the day stays warm and sunny"

GM says (to Arvid), "There's nothing there but dust. And a moment later, both Trujillo and Pedro come in and insist that there's nothing to see in here."

Arvid says, "I cannot deny it"

(From GM) Trujillo says, "I will NOT have anyone poking about in my private quarters!"

Arvid exclaims, "somebody already was!"

(From GM) Trujillo says, "That is not the point!"

Cat eschews the school's main entrance, opting for the East Wall scramble down into the Alley of Illicit Pipe-smoking

Arvid says, "oh, very well"

GM says (to Cat), "Albert seems perfectly well aware of this route as he follows you."

Arvid walks casually from the room and goes to find Hans and Gert and Cat.

Cat makes sure to allow plenty of time for students to duck into concealment

Cat whistles tunelessly as she strolls through the woods

GM says (to Cat), "You arrive at the waterfall. It's not very impressive."

(From GM) Albert says, "Well, here we are. Nice spot for a luncheon al-fresco, but not much else.

Hans says, "Not bad, all of you. For your homework, you should find some heavy objects and practice picking them up, lifting them over your head, and setting them back down again. Say, thirty or forty times ought to suffice."

Cat rolls up her breeches, finds a pokey-stick and pokes around behind, around, above and beneath the waterfall

Cat says (to Albert), "That was your trouble, des Amis. No sense of adventure. If your classes had included more swinging on ropes and kicking over candelabras, I would have paid much more attention."

GM says (to Cat), "There doesn't seem to be anything unusual about the waterfall."

(From GM) Albert says, "Hah, I'll bear that in my for next year's curriculum."

Cat hunts for crayfish until her feet get too cold, and heads back to the school

Arvid arrives at the gym around now and fills Hans in on the spiders and the ivy and the mysteriousness

GM says (to Hans), "As the students file out, Erich Schreiber is approached by one of the girls -- his younger sister Franziska. A moment later, he, Andre and Pierre are laughing like schoolboys. Which they are."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "So my guess is that the waterfall stunt was a one-off, and the rumours were a set-up for it"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "though why she should mention this to *me*, though..."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Well, it's nice to see that Andre's relaxed again."

Hans asks (of Arvid), "Spiders? How strange. Who around here would keep spiders?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "normally girls make him all stressed"

Arvid strokes his chin

Cat exclaims, "Look! Crayfish!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Also, since you just arrived, there no reason I shouldn't have said that IC."

Arvid says, "well, I've heard certain .. vodacce women are known to have some affinity ofr them"

(From GM) Albert says "Got it!"

Hans says, "Hmm. Mmm? Oh! Hmm."

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

Arvid asks, "what happened to Cat?"

Hans says, "I believe she went to the waterfall."

Arvid says, "oh? interesting"

Arvid says, "I wonder if she'll find anything there"

(From GM) Albert says "So, what's this rumour about the waterfall?"

Arvid says, "I don't trust that Elena, spreading rumors everywhere"

Hans says, "She wanted me to go with her, but I had a class to teach."

Cat says, "I think some of the girls got a silly idea about how it magically produced husbands. To me it seemed like a hair-brained scheme to wangle Montaigne exiles into the country and then get them set up."

Hans says, "Speaking of which, Mr. Valois was certainly agitated earlier."

Arvid asks, "oh yes? about what?"

Cat says, "So maybe I was expecting a secret hideout behind the falls, or something of the kind. But I suppose it's just a rumour."

(From GM) Albert looks thoughtful. "You don't say. It doesn't explain how they get wangled up here, though."

Hans says, "Something AUgustin said, apparently, about brains wearing glasses or somesuch."

Arvid says, "Augustin again, eh"

Cat says, "Anyway, I think we have enough crayfish now to put in someone's be - er, bowl. Of soup. Crayfish soup. Yes."

Arvid says, "I wonder if Andre would have had time to dump the spiders in his room"

Hans says, "Which is apparently impossible, but Andre disagrees. So I tried to encourage him to build one."

Hans thinks. "But I hope that he does not try to use any brains which are still in use..."

Arvid says, "well, he did manage that grappling gun"

(From GM) Albert chuckles. "I don't know. I can think of a couple of people I'd like to have find a crayfish in their beds. Preferably alive and squirming."

Hans asks, "That would be unfortunate for the owner. They are very important for cooling the blood, no?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "cooling the blood? No, you're thinking of mud, mud, glorious mud."

Arvid says, "actually, I was just looking at some research suggesting an even more vital function"

Hans asks, "Wait, spiders?"

Cat strolls barefoot back to the college, dripping water all over the corridors

Arvid says, "though naturally this sort of thing is hard to test without the subjects dying"

Arvid exclaims, "spiders!"

Hans says, "Oh, right. Spiders."

Hans says, "Carry on."

Arvid asks, "...what?"

Hans says, "Don't ask me! You brought them up."

Cat says (to Albert), "Who might that be? Perhaps I can arrange something."

[Crows-Nest] Hans says, "I'm not sure if I've just baffled Arvid or also inky as well."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "yes"

Hans says, "So! Spiders do not sound like Andre's style."

[Crows-Nest] Arvid says, "I mean"

(From GM) Albert says, "Well ... there's that useless fop, Sir Galahad Locksley, for one. No offence, but I rather hope they are not all so stupid in Avalon."

Arvid says, "well, no"

Hans says, "And in any case, he seemed to be a bit more relaxed when he left class."

Hans says, "After meeting up with Schreiber"

Hans says, "After meeting up with Schreiber's sister."

Arvid says, "oho"

Hans says, "And with Schreiber and Pierre, of course."

Arvid says, "sa well, it's always good for young lads to have a hobby"

Hans asks, "Spiders?"

Cat says (to Albert), "Gally *does* rather set the standard in that department."

Arvid exclaims, "spiders!"

Arvid says, "girls, I was thinking"

Hans says, "Ah."

Arvid says, "which brings us back to vodacce ladies"

Arvid says, "I wonder if Cat had any success at the waterfall"

Cat exclaims, "I certainly did! Look at all these crayfish!"

Hans says, "I do not think that Franziska is Vodacce."

Hans says, "Erich would surely have noticed."

Hans says, "Even if Andre did not."

(From GM) Albert says, "I'll be taking this one." (grabs a particularly feisty crayfish.)

Arvid says, "I cannot deny it"

Cat dumps an armload of scuttling pinching dripping carapaces in the nearest container

Cat says, "I think these are illegal for students to keep in their rooms, but *I* am an alumnus so I'm sure it's perfectly all right."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Hmm."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So current plot hooks: spiders in bed. Anything else?"

(From GM) Albert says, "Just be sure not to get caught. Don't take them out when there are teachers present, for example."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And whatever Franziska told Erich, of course."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "But I'm not sure our characters are justified in considering that a lead to follow."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "waterfall, sorta"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Oh, has anyone seen Elena since that night?"

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "the waterfall seems like a dead end - unless - what were the conditions, again?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Elena is still about, doing her usual maid stuff."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "moonlight on the fifth Sunday in the month during a transit of Mercury?"

[Helvetica] Hans says (to GM), "Huh."

[Helvetica] GM says, "Elena told Cat it was the full moon. Camilla, in her written confession to Gert, said it was the new moon."

[Helvetica] GM says, "At sunset."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Oho."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So the next full moon is in about a week and a half?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "A bit closer."

[Helvetica] GM says, "When Dramatically Appropriate (WDA)."

[Helvetica] Cat asks, "so sundown, then?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "right"

Cat says, "Albert was right - it *is* the perfect spot for a picnic, but we didn't have any food"

Cat says, "how about we make up a hamper and have dinner there? It'll still be warm, I think."

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Do we have any plot hooks to follow besides those three?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Not yet. I'm waiting for sundown to plant the next one."

[Helvetica] Hans asks (of Arvid), "What kind of spiders were they?"

Hans asks (of Arvid), "What kind of spiders were they?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Spiders it is, then."

[Helvetica] GM says, "ordinary garden spiders."

Arvid shrugs

Arvid says, "nothing unusual"

Arvid says, "not deadly poison, I don't think"

Cat spirits the crayfish away into her room, and then sneaks into the kitchen to mooch up some supper

GM says, "Supper: mooched."

Hans asks, "But were they Eisen spiders or Montaigne spiders?"

Cat says, "My, the servants here seem to need an awful lot of cooking wine. I wonder why it never seems to be in any of the dishes."

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Hans), "If we could answer that, we'd have no game."

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

Arvid says, "wars have been fought over smaller political questions"

Hans says, "I don't suppose they had an accent."

Cat asks, "Come along, boys. Carry this, Hans, there's a dear. Arvid, I don't suppose you have a bottle-opener about you?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "ask a silly question"

Hans says, "What is this basket? It smells good."

Cat has everybody halfway out of the college before they notice that they're being ushered.

Cat says (to Hans), "I just sort of grabbed one of everything."

Arvid looks around

Arvid asks, "wherever are we going?"

Cat says, "The cook tried to chase me off but I misquoted the school charter at her until she cowered in terror."

Hans asks, "We have a charter?"

Hans asks, "WHy did no one tell me of this?"

Hans thinks for a minute.

Cat asks (of Hans), "if you're not sure, how do you expect the cook to be?"

Hans asks, "Wait. Is it blue? About this thick?"

Cat asks (of Hans), "heavily dog-eared, with a note pasted to the cover saying 'DON'T LET STUDENTS READ THIS ANY MORE'?"

Hans says, "Ah, yes."

Hans says, "Very useful, that is."

Hans says, "The cabinet in the teacher's tearoom hardly wobbles at all now."

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

Cat exclaims, "Here we are!"

GM says, "There's already someone there."

GM says, "Two someones."

Arvid blinks

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "Is one of them Franziska?"

GM says, "Justine Locksley jumps up, looking a little guilty."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Uh-oh."

GM says, "The other person ... Hans and Arvid might recognise him as Joseph du Paix, one of the lawyers from Bois-Franc."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "well, you can't blame her"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ok, that we can blame her for"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "I can't?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Timing."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "particularly for the same-surname bit"

[Helvetica] Arvid pulls up the transcript to see what he remembers

[Helvetica] Hans says, "Yeah, hey, wha."

Hans asks, "Mrs. Locksley! What are you doing here with this man?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "No better way to get an explanation out of someone than to jump to an unwarranted conclusion."

(From GM) Justine says, "Nothing!"

GM says, "And Joseph takes off into the woods."

Cat casts a suspicious eye over the two for rumpled clothing, grass-stains and other damning evidence

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "hey, where are we?"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "The waterfall?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Waterfall"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I had thought we were going to the waterfall but I gues-- oh, ok"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I.e. make-out point."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "so these two showed up after Cat had left before?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "right."

Hans asks, "You, a married woman! And who was that man?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "It is a shame Gert is not here."

(From GM) Justine says, "No-one important. We were planning something for my husband's birthday."

Cat says, "A pair of horns is an unorthodox birthday gift. Though I can't say they wouldn't suit him."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "so should we confront her or play dumb?"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "Hans seems to be voting for dumb"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "You should confront her; I should play dumb."

Cat says, "Why don't you sit down and join in our picnic? Without your guiding influence, who knows what strange ideas we might come up with."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "though I am not sure how much of our adventure we want to fess up to"

Cat says, "And circulate."

(From GM) Justine says, "...you are a very strange person, Mlle Matravers."

Arvid says, "I seem to recollect him as one of the bright stars of the revolution"

Arvid says, "though I am sure Justine would never be assisting such a man in any political intrigue here"

Arvid says, "as she knows the Baron would hardly look kindly on it"

(From GM) Justine smiles and says, "but of course I'd never."

Arvid says, "lucky you have such a clean conscience"

Cat says (to Arvid), "oh, you know him? do tell"

Arvid says, "he's a fellow from Bois-Franc -- I may have mentioned .."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "I assume we at least mentioned something about this to you"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "he showed up at the end blocking the gate"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "and we sent a flaming wagon at him"

Cat says, "oh, of course. A relation of Justine's, so of course this is all perfectly proper."

Arvid says, "..I'm sure"

(From GM) Justine says, "Yes, Joseph is my brother. He so rarely gets the chance to visit."

Hans exclaims, "Oh!"

Hans says, "Of course. That explains everything."

Hans asks, "So when is Sir Galahad's birthday?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "dammit, I'd been pinning my hopes on 'husband, and Galahad/Justine is a fake marriage'"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "How do you know that's not true?"

[Helvetica] Cat says, "oh, it's still perfectly possible"

[Helvetica] Arvid exclaims, "we don't know she's telling the truth!"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I am not sure she would be inclined to tell us if that were the case."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "but damned if I can work out how to weasel it out of her"

(From GM) Justine says, "And of course we have to be discreet. The Cap-Royals have not formed a very good impression of him, after all."

[Helvetica] Arvid asks, "is it suspicious for justine to have kept her own name after marriage?"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "I don't think she did."

[Helvetica] Cat says (to Arvid), "not when the name in question is Locksley. urgh."

[Helvetica] Hans | GM says, "Justine Locksley jumps up, looking a little guilty."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

(From GM) Justine says, "As for Galahad's birthday -- oh, that was three months ago. I'm afraid the business about planning something for it was a bit of a fib."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "oh, I guess lpsmith's notes just list her as du Paix because saying she's a Locksley doesn't add new info"

[Helvetica] Hans says, "And I think the GM introduced her as, '...blah blah du Paix blah blah married Locksley...'"

(From GM) Justine says, "All I could think was that it looked so terribly suspicious -- but you see, it just now occurred to me that the truth would save us all a great deal of confusion."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "(How lps inferred all that information from 'blah blah', I have no idea.)"

Arvid says, "it's funny how rarely people try that"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "hee hee"

Arvid says, "I, for instance, never do"

Hans says, "So I am confused now."

Cat says, "Do share, dear. Have some sausage and cheese."

Hans asks, "Which part of this was true, again?"

Hans asks, "And which parts were simply lying to us?"

Cat says (to Hans), "well, you see, there's this magic waterfall that does an excellent and commendable job of not producing husbands"

(From GM) Justine says, "I must get back to my husband now -- that part is the truth -- I believe he's playing at archery with Baron Walter and the Comte, which is a bit of a bore...."

Hans exclaims (at Cat), "If it did produce husbands, then Sir Galahad would be here now!"

Cat says, "and Justine was walking along here in the hope that it could magically unproduce a husband for her"

(From GM) Sir Galahad appears. "I'm sorry, what? Did I hear my name?"

Cat says, "but it got it wrong and magically produced her brother instead, who of course cannot be her husband"

Arvid blinks

Arvid says, "how providential"

Cat says, "it just goes to show how mysterious such things are"

(From GM) Sir Galahad says, "brother? Oh, I say, Justine, is Joseph around? I think it a dashed shame that he doesn't visit more often, being right down the hill, as it were."

[Helvetica] Cat says, "okay, need to take off fairly shortly"

Arvid rolls eyes

(From GM) Sir Galahad says, "Now, I'm just here to let this crayfish go ... it somehow managed to find its way into my bed, goodness knows how...."

Hans exclaims, "Huh!"

Hans says, "How mysterious."

[Helvetica] Hans says, "How could that ever have happened."

[Helvetica] GM says, "I seem to have miscalculated the projected cliffhanger a bit."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "ha ha"

[Helvetica] Hans asks, "So we'll have to break in the middle of the next session instead?"

(From GM) Sir Galahad says, "Then we can all sit down to this lovely picnic I see here. Jolly good luck, I call it. Now, what was it about Joseph, again?"

[Helvetica] GM says, "Okay, break here, I think."

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "that'll give us time to get our story straight"

[Helvetica] Hans exclaims, "I didn't know we even had a story!"

[Helvetica] maga exclaims, "okay. thanks all!"

[Helvetica] Arvid says, "see, that's the problem"

[Helvetica] Arvid says (to maga), "byebye"

maga's studied dalliance with his venal muses is little to our taste.