Detect Magical Aura: debunking world religions since 1937.

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Erin's brief foray into method acting is over with and you seem to have got away with your brazen daylight robbery without problems. OOC: your next move?
<Erin> Erin doesn't seem entirely certain what to do with the money now that she has it, and continues to peek into her bag every now and then at the rather excessive sum of notes within. "Are going to head to Mecca, now?" she asks, glancing at Yomi and Nadia.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Why don't we look for a means to travel there, but at the same time see if we can find anyone who might have heard some German soldiers in the city talking about where they were heading next? We might get a better idea that way, but if all else fails we can try Mecca," Nadia suggests.
<El-Cideon> OOC: feel free to roll GI for all that whenever you're ready.
<Erin> "I wouldn't know where to look... unless we could guess where the soldiers might have stayed," replies Erin. "If we're staying for the moment, then I'll take the time to send another telegram to Grace."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Train stations and the airport would be the best place to start - and also where we'd be looking for our own travel arrangements, so it's an easy fit," Nadia shrugs.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+10 gather info on zee germans, someone else can roll for Mecca travel
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+10 gather info on zee germans, someone else can roll for Mecca travel and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
* Nadia_Chekova reports her findings. "It sounds like they never came back here after Petra - the last anyone saw of them was heading South a few days ago. So I suppose it's as the English say, 'Mecca or bust'?"
* Yomi looks confused at the expression, but shrugs her shoulders lightly after but a momentary delay. "Nothing's keeping me here, anyhow."
<Erin> "Leaving quickly is best, then. We still might not catch up with them before they complete their works in Mecca, but this time we should aim to have a conversation with the Doctor, if possible."
<El-Cideon> OOC: how are you planning to get there?
<Erin> OOC: Should we GI routes?
<Erin> OOC: How did *they* get there?
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+10 gather info quickest way to Mecca
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+10 gather info quickest way to Mecca and gets 30."12 [1d20=20]
<Nadia_Chekova> "A smuggler I just met is willing to fly all of us to Mecca for about the price of a single train ticket there," Nadia announces upon her return from whatever mysterious rituals she performs to gather the secrets of men.
<Erin> "Are you sure he doesn't plan to, um, sell us somewhere? I hear they do that in some parts of the world, you know!"
<Yomi> "He would be very surprised if he tried that," Yomi asserts.
* Nadia_Chekova nods, confident in Yomi's ability to protect them. "I'm sure it'll be fine," she agrees.
<Erin> "What's he smuggling?" asks Erin, a bit curious despite herself.
<Nadia_Chekova> "I didn't ask," Nadia admits. "It's not polite to enquire as to another's crimes."
<El-Cideon> The pilot--who gives you know form of identication beyond insisting that you can call him "Al"--allows you to sit in the cockpit with him during the flight. It seems to be his preference that you not sit in back with nothing to do but poke at the cargo, and he himself pointedly doesn't ask why you need to go where you're going. (more)
<El-Cideon> The flight is uneventful, and the landing strip at which you arrive is a blip in the vastness of the desert, a small collection of tents well-camouflaged to blend in with the sand from afar. You're about a mile from the outermost settlements of the city proper, you're told, and can follow a local...distributer of whatever it was that "Al" flew in...whenever you're ready. (more)
<El-Cideon> Al gives you a few parting words before you go, however: "I don't know what you came here for and I'm not going to ask, but you should know that the locals aren't real used to women walking around unattended--and most of the city isn't even open to us heathens. I don't know how you plan to keep yourself out of trouble, but I'll be here until tomorrow morning if you need to get out quick."
<Erin> Erin's familiar rapidly takes wing and begins to fly towards the city, and Erin gives the man a nod. "We'll make do. Do you know your next destination yet, if we take you up on your offer?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Thanks Al," Nadia gives him a smile, somewhat worn out from the steady stream of flirtatious banter she fed him on the flight to keep themselves entertained. "Hopefully our business here won't take long, so we might be able to take you up on that."
<Yomi> Hostile locals. Such a delight! Yomi can't help but frown as she looks at the sand stretching out in every direction, merely nodding at Al's words in acknowledgement.
<El-Cideon> "Well...this is a normal run for me. Usually I turn around and head back where I came from, or head east to pick up another shipment. I might be persuaded to fly somewhere off route for the right sum, but it'll take a bit more than last time if you three are the only cargo I have."
<Nadia_Chekova> "We'll see what we can find in the city. Don't hold up your schedule on our account," Nadia reassures him.
<El-Cideon> OOC: So yeah, you're in a place that's under sharia. Anyone walking around openly being female is taking -10 to GI checks and anything else CHA-based if it comes up and failing rolls might be bad. Plan for dealing with this?
<Erin> OOC: I am a master of disguise and can serve as an escort for a good twenty minutes.
<Erin> OOC: So we should pick our investigation carefully.
<El-Cideon> OOC: *nods* Means you have to roll the GI, unless Nadia wants to try masquerading as a muslim man!
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: I have +12 to disguise! I can totally do it!
<Yomi> OOC: Masquerade as a Frenchman!
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay. -2 for impersonating the opposite gender, otherwise go ahead.
<El-Cideon> OOC: you two going to check around and see what you can get with GI, then? What's Yomi going to do during this?
<Yomi> OOC: If it's reasonable for me to easily find out I can walk around with a sheet over myself while supervised by my manly escorts, we'll go with that
<El-Cideon> OOC: *nods*
* Nadia_Chekova purchases some nondescript arabian clothes and finds someplace quiet to dig out her disguise kit and get to work. Once she's done, swathed in bedouin robes from head to toe and with what skin she is showing now tinted a dusky hue, she finishes up with some darker makeup that hints at stubble unless inspected too closely.
<Nadia_Chekova> She could hopefully pass for a young arabian man at this point, and she alters her poise and stature accordingly, losing her elegant gliding stride in favour of something more masculine.
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: taking 10 for 20 on disguise
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 average spot check for locals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 average spot check for locals and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> Nadia succeeds at pretending to be a man with disturbing ease!
* Yomi resigns herself to covering her entire body with a heavy outer garment, worn over her regular clothes. It might impede her movements somewhat and be slightly suffocating, but she had had to fight in worse before, so merely using it while walking around should not be too difficult a trial for her.
<Yomi> Keeping quiet would be far more difficult, but she has faith in her ability to abstain from making sarcastic comments for at least a couple hours.
<Erin> "Perhaps you were onto something when you suggested the elemental magicks," mutters Erin, having acquired a similar state of dress to Yomi- as well as a small paper fan, which she incessantly flutters.
* Yomi shrugs, and tries to think of herself as a ninja, which surprisingly helps with handling the situation.
<Nadia_Chekova> "The heat is worse than Petra, isn't it?" Nadia agrees, hoping she doesn't sweat too much and ruin her heavy duty makeup. "Anyway, shall we see if we can hitch a ride into town and then... look for holy sites that bracelet could work in?"
<Yomi> "If we pretend to be on a pilgrimage, we should fit right in without the need to investigate over half the city," Yomi suggests quietly.
<El-Cideon> The city is aswarm with pilgrims dressed much the same as Nadia and she finds it easy to blend in and listen to the local talk of the town. It's early in the afternoon and it is indeed sweltering, both from the relentless sun and from the crush of bodies on the streets.
<Erin> "The last few sites have all been Christian, but there may be trouble finding such a place about here," replies Erin, pulling her cowl tightly over her head.
* Nadia_Chekova likes Yomi's idea and so leads her little entourage after the biggest group of pilgrims she can find. The Hagia Sophia was the biggest cathedral in Istanbul, so it could well be a large and well known site they need to find here.
<El-Cideon> OOC: action? You can roll GI or anyone with a relevant knowledge (T&P, I'd accept History here too).
<Erin> roll 1d20+9 religion practially IS history, I suppose
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+9 religion practially IS history, I suppose and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<Erin> "The Kasha Stone," states Erin, after ruminating on the matter for a moment. "Of course. All Muslims face it during prayer, and it's in the largest mosque in the world. If history and tradition count for anything- and they often do, then it would be my guess for a.. way between the worlds, I suppose?"
<Erin> *Kaaba stone
<Nadia_Chekova> "Lets go see it, then," Nadia agrees quietly with Erin. They can formulate a plan for safely using the bracelet without being seen once they know exactly what their goal is.
<El-Cideon> The crowd at the mosque is huge and claustrophobic, the focus of their attention inside being the black stone cube at the center of a wide, open space.
<Erin> "Let's see if we can get close," murmurs Erin, leaving it to their athletic escort to lead the way in squeezing through the crowd.
* Nadia_Chekova would prefer it if they could come at a quieter time, but isn't sure if the mosque ever closes, so she defers to Erin and works to finagle a path through the throng without stepping on any toes.
<El-Cideon> It takes some effort, but you're able to work your way close to the stone, as the crowd circulates constantly to let new worshippers in and old ones out. About two-thirds up its surface run inscriptions from the Quran in gold.
* Erin mutters a few words under her breath and activates her magical senses, decided to see if this famed relic has any real power behind it, or if it's all just an unfortunate fantasy.
<Erin> "It doesn't appear to have mystical power behind it," murmurs Erin. "Still, shall we try the bracelet now? The crowd is large... the disappearance of a few may go largely unnoticed."
* Yomi nods in agreement.
* Erin links hands with her escort and counterpart, and murmurs the words under her breath that might take them away to a faraway land!
<El-Cideon> Nothing happens. The bracelet seems to have no effect here.
<Erin> "No effect... so it's not just places of great prestige we need to search for," posits Erin, starting to make her way out of the crowd.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Maybe we have to be closer?" Nadia wonders, nonetheless following Erin out.
<Yomi> "Or we need to go below, like in Jerusalem?" Yomi suggests quietly. "Maybe we could try to ask if anyone sought a guide to an unusual location recently."
<Erin> "Perhaps the people are getting in the way. In the last occasions, the area was usually deserted."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Lets ask if anyone's seen any Germans. They're quite visible normally, so that's probably the simplest route," Nadia posits as they make their way out of the mosque.
<El-Cideon> OOC: GI if that's the plan? Also--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 general spot check again since you've been at this a while
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 general spot check again since you've been at this a while and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+10 GI zee germans
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+10 GI zee germans and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<Nadia_Chekova> "No one's seen any Germans," Nadia reports to her friends after again asking around the holy city. A different holy city, this time. "And they would surely raise a lot of attention if they did appear. But people talk of a man owning a mansion North of the city who frequently entertains foreign guests. It's not much to go on, though."
<Yomi> "We could try to approach him and see if he knows any useful lore, being a local?" Yomi proposes, not really having any other ideas at this point.
* Nadia_Chekova shrugs. "If nothing else, he'll be better disposed to help a pair of foreign women than most of the people around here."
<Erin> "He would surely know a great deal. But how can we direct our questions?" asks Erin, a little frustrated. "What we've found is difficult to research, to say the least."
<Nadia_Chekova> "You're the expert on such matters, not I," Nadia admits regretfully. "Perhaps you could pose as a scholar investigating links between Christianity and Islam?"
<Yomi> "And if you posit that a tie might exist between the locations we already know of, someone here might know of a connection that we have missed," Yomi adds.
<Erin> "Perhaps. Is he an expert on theological and historical topics, then? A scholar in his own right?"
<Yomi> "If he is a wealthy, worldly man, then he either has the knowledge or keeps someone with it on retainer," Yomi posits reasonably.
<El-Cideon> OOC: going to head north to check the place out, then?
<Erin> OOC: Alright. Nadia can be my agent!
<Erin> OOC: Set us up a meeting, fixer-girl!
<El-Cideon> OOC: assume you got a phone number if you mean to try calling before heading straight out there, the roll was certainly good enough for that. If you're just gonna walk right up to the place, then I'll line you in.
* Nadia_Chekova decides to call in advance if she can find a phone to use, explaining that 'he' is escorting two foreign scholars and has heard that Mr Hassan is a good first contact for such people looking to get the lay of the land without causing undue disturbance in Mecca proper.
<El-Cideon> Someone with the disinterested tone of a servant answers the phone and listens to your claim with apparent skepticism. OOC: make a bluff check./
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+12 and gets 14."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20 SM
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20 SM and gets 7."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> The servant leaves the line for a moment, then returns and says that Mr. Hassan would be free to entertain guests for dinner around six o'clock.
* Nadia_Chekova offers a thousand gratitudes, as seems to be the custom in this part of the world, and says that 'his' charges would be delighted to accept such gracious hospitality.
<El-Cideon> Finding the mansion is not difficult, it being not far from a prominent highway, though travelling through the sweltering afternoon heat likely does not leave you smelling your best. The estate is circle by a thick stone wall around ten feet tall and the only passage through this is a sturdy, wrought iron gate. Through it you can see the front of a sprawling, one-story mansion, its outer walls painted a gleaming white. (more)
<El-Cideon> white. (more)
<El-Cideon> Two guards loiter outside the front door of the house itself. Each carries a pistol, a saber, and a look of professional unfriendliness. They grudgingly open the gate for you after verifying that you're expected, however, ushering you towards a sitting room just inside the front door of the house.
<El-Cideon> OOC: what do you all look like right now? Still keeping up appearances?
* Yomi is still clad in the burqa, but could easily shed it once inside if this becomes an option!
<Erin> OOC: I would wear a robe, but underneath it I'd look like the foreign scholar I am!
<Erin> OOC: This implies.. tartan, I think.
* Nadia_Chekova is still dressed as a young bedouin, the shapeless robes not hinting at all to the feminine form beneath.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Erin's familiar, staying outside?
<Erin> OOC: Well yes
<El-Cideon> The sitting room is well-furnished and, curiously enough, distinctly European. The sofas, tables and paintings would look right at home in an English manor. The guards wait by the door until your host shows up. He's tall, handsome, with a well-trimmed beard and mustache, and gives the impression of an educated gentlemen just entering middle years. "Welcome to my home," he says. "I am Abdul Hassan."
<El-Cideon> OOC: anyone with knowledge: current events can make a roll here (first time you've heard the full name)
<Yomi> roll 1d20+2 epic roll!
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+2 epic roll! and gets 5."12 [1d20=3]
<Nadia_Chekova> "Mr Hassan, thank you for allowing us into your home," Nadia bows deeply, modulating her voice to try and sound more like a young man as she lays the obsequiousness on thickly. "May I present the esteemed scholars, Erin Callaghan and Yomi Isayama."
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Hassan spot check for disguise
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Hassan spot check for disguise and gets 5."12 [1d20=3]
* Yomi bows in greeting as she is introduced.
<El-Cideon> "'Isayama?' Japanese, isn't it? Interesting. I see you've dressed carefully to avoid offending local sensibilities. Wise, but there's no need for that within my home if you don't wish it. You are scholars, eh? Of what, exactly?"
<Erin> "Hello, hello! I can't say how pleased I am for your hospitality," adds Erin, a trifle uncertainly. "Ah, well, we're scholars of theology," she adds. "We've come to Mecca to study some links between Islam and Christianity, you see- and, seeing as we've heard you're the man to come to for foreigners just starting out in Mecca..."
* Yomi parts with the burqa at the offer with her natural grace, spending a moment to make sure her hair is still gathered in a ponytail. "We simply could not avoid coming to Mecca given our interest, as you well understand," she adds.
<El-Cideon> "Have you heard that?" he looks amused. "It's not the sort of reputation I've endeavored to cultivate, but it has found me nonetheless. I suppose it's true enough." OOC: Erin's stretching the truth enough that I want to call for a bluff check here.
<Erin> OOC: I am?
<Erin> roll 1d20+1 well, if you say so
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+1 well, if you say so and gets 11."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: I suppose it's *technically* true given what the group discussed earlier, but it's not your primary interest.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 SM
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 SM and gets 14."12 [1d20=12]
<Erin> OOC: It's not? >_>
<El-Cideon> OOC: Mm. I thought finding Germans was your primary interest! I suppose we can disregard rolls if theology is more than a cover, though.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Carry on, then, strike the above.
<Erin> OOC: They're pretty closely linked
<Nadia_Chekova> "A thousand apologies," Nadia puts on a few more bows. "The people, though, they talk of you hosting many foreigners. The esteemed scholars were then most eager to meet you when I mentioned this."
<El-Cideon> "Well, I have spent much time abroad and made many friends. Some times I do wish to show them the same hospitality they showed me," he says, sitting down and motioning for you to do the same. "Dinner will be ready soon enough. until then, you can brief me on what it is you wish to know?"
<Yomi> "In particular, what brought me this far is that while sacred locations to Islam and Christianity are reasonably commonplace around the globe, some are more sacred than the others," Yomi ventures. "It is between these holy places that I seek to establish a viable link of some sort, and thus prove my theory. One of them is, without a doubt, located in Mecca."
<Erin> "Well, it's like this," starts Erin, rapidly launching into a small discourse on how both islamic and christian believers have often built their holy places close by, or even had their churches change hands in the past; she references Petra as an example, and wonders if there are any similar locations in or around Mecca?
<El-Cideon> He looks rather taken aback by Erin's enthusiasm. "Well, that's true enough in many cases, but Mecca is the holiest city in all of Islam and has been such for nigh on thirteen-hundred years now. I am not the utmost authority on these mattersbut I think I can say with confidence that any Christian presense has long since been erased."
<El-Cideon> "Non-believers are not even allowed within the city, as I'm sure you know."
<Yomi> "This is indeed consistent with a study I have conducted," Yomi agrees. "That Jerusalem fit the pattern is also not confusing in the least. What I cannot explain, however, is that I am unable to tell why the Istanbul and Petra would also be linked to two such holy sites. For the former, there is, perhaps, the Hagia Sophia... but even that seems a bit of a stretch."
<El-Cideon> "Well...As I've said, this is not precisely my area of expertise. I am more a man of the world than of book learning, and most of my travels were in Europe and Africa. I believe Iw as even mentioned in National Geogrpahic once or twice."
* Yomi inclines her head, rationalizing that she had heard the name there before while reading the local journals. "A man of the world might have extensive connections. Friendships, acquaintances. Even if the matter would not fall under his specialty, he might know where one would go, to whom one might turn to for answers."
<El-Cideon> "Connections are my specialty," he says, "though the circles I move in are more...political than scholarly. I may be able to point you in the right direction, given the proper compensation." He looks pointedly at Erin here.
<Erin> "Um..." replies Erin, rapidly losing her grace and composure in the face of such real-world concerns. "What kind of compensation?"
<El-Cideon> He frowns. "The usual sort, of course." If anything, he seems to be watching Erin even more closely.
* Yomi is undecided whether to be insulted or amused, but shows signs of neither outwardly.
* Nadia_Chekova is just a dumb guide, and plays the part to a tee.
<Erin> "Well, uh, name your price, then," replies Erin, not quite sure if she has to haggle. What is this, a fish market?
<El-Cideon> "I trade in information, mostly. I could tell you, for example, that you are not the only outsiders to visit me with questions such as yours."
<Yomi> "We have encountered other scholars before," Yomi mentions. "Germans, in that case."
<El-Cideon> "I would not call the men who visited me scholars, per se, but they did know many curious things."
<Yomi> "Perhaps they were a different group... or flunkies, for lack of a better term. The doctor I came across employed many such men."
<El-Cideon> "Yes, they did have the air of errand boys," he says with a smile.
<Yomi> "If information is what you seek, and you employ an open mind, then we could share some of our findings," Yomi offers. "Would that be an acceptable price, if you shared the details of their visit with us?"
<El-Cideon> "Yes...But I see no need for your guide to take part in this conversation. He can amuse himself in the billiard room while we speak. It's just down the hall; my guard can escort him. Refreshments can be sent if desired."
<Nadia_Chekova> Yomi can surely protect Erin if the need arises, and no one has reason to give an ignorant local any trouble. "It will be no trouble. Please call for me when it is time to leave," Nadia bows humbly before going to play some billiards.
* Yomi is confident enough that Nadia's gun can allow her to defend herself in a time of need, or alert them to said time of need, at least.
<Erin> Erin is confident that a flashy display of magic can easily buy her time to escape!
<El-Cideon> One of the guards leads Nadia out of the sitting room and down the main hallway of the mansion; she passes open doors into what looks like some manner of trophy room (you get a glimpse of antlers and animal heads mounted on the wall) and a dining room gleaming with silver tableware before the guard opens a door into a smaller room across from the dining room. A pool table occupies the center of the room. (more)
<El-Cideon> The room's decorations can only be described as anglophiliac, the paintings of archetypal english hunting scenes and the like. The guard leaves you and closes the door after a moment before returning to the sitting room.
* Nadia_Chekova eyes the room with a thief's eye but then shrugs and puts such thoughts aside, setting up the balls on the table and entertaining herself for a little while.
<El-Cideon> "Now, where shall I begin?" Hassan says. "These men came seeking artifacts. Is that, in fact, your interest as well?"
--------------------

[Sierra]

<Yomi> "It is certainly one of them," Yomi responds, wishing to see what Hassan has to say.
<El-Cideon> "Their interest was very particular. I have a penchant for collecting...rare things, the more singular and unique the better. A certain devotional object came into my possession a couple years ago and the Germans wished to claim it for their own."
<El-Cideon> OOC: listen check, Nadia.
<Yomi> "When you say 'wished'," Yomi says slowly, uncertain she had understood him right, "you mean that the Germans made threats, but you refused to deal with them?"
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20 and gets 18."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> "They offered to buy the object, which I preferred not to sell. They were quite insistent, however, and when they arrived in numbers I concluded it was in my best interest to part with it at the best price I could get and be glad to see them on their way. I have made my own enemies in my time and am prepared for a certain amount of trouble," he gestures in the direction of the guard standing by the door, "but I'd rather not risk a fight with a squad of soldiers."
<El-Cideon>  "but I'd rather not risk a fight with a squad of soldiers."
<El-Cideon> Nadia can hear someone in the hall, though it's not the heavy tread of a guard's boots. The soft patter of bare feet approaches her door, then stops outside.
<Yomi> "They don't take no for an answer, we've found," Yomi agrees. "It was the best choice to make. Might we ask what the object was, and about its history?"
<Erin> "If they ask at all," adds Erin.
* Nadia_Chekova presumes it's probably a servant or a child, so pauses in her game of billiards to regard the door in case whomever's stopped outside it plans to come in.
<El-Cideon> "It was an idol, of sorts. A few years ago we unearthed some manner of cult in one of our coastal cities. A small number of people, but engaged in blasphemous and bloody rituals. We purged this group and kept the scandal as quiet as possible. Some of the objects of worship fell into my possession. As I said, I collect...unusual things. I don't know how it came to the Germans' attention that these objects were now mine."
<El-Cideon> mine."
<Erin> "A.. cult?" asks Erin, looking a bit worried. "You purged them? Wiped them out, in other words?"
* Yomi is more worried over the blasphemous, bloody rituals, and asks, "What sort of terrible rituals were these?"
<El-Cideon> There's a slight rattle at the doorknob of Nadia's room, as if someone is considering entering, but soon the sound of bare feet hastily retreats back across the hall. A guard's bootheels sound in the hallway sooon after, passing by Nadia's door and continuing out of earshot.
<Nadia_Chekova> How very odd. Nadia decides to forgo her game and loiter close to the door, on the side it opens towards, in case whomever just visited feels brave enough to try again once the guard passes.
<El-Cideon> Hassan looks at Erin. "We afforded them as much due process as was warranted, though I assure you that was not much in their case. I'd hazard a guess that the authorities in your country are no more fond of human sacrifice than are ours. I'd rather not dwell on the details."
<Yomi> "Why would the Germans want an object related to this?" Yomi can't help but wonder.
<El-Cideon> Eventually the sound approaches Nadia's door again. There's a moment of silence, then a tentative rap on the door followed by an immediate retreat back across the hall.
* Nadia_Chekova pulls opens the door almost immediately after the rap! It's towards her to offer cover and she just pokes her head around to see her mysterious visitor.
<El-Cideon> "They did not deign to explain their interest to me," Hassan says. "I am not certain that the officer in charge knew exactly why he was required to retrieve it. However, I played the gracious host and managed to learn a little about his travels, through means of drink and other passive persuasions."
<Erin> "Did they speak of other articles they had an interest in?" asks Erin, wondering if they can find a clue.
<Yomi> "Or their other destinations," Yomi adds.
<El-Cideon> Nadia sees someone scurrying away as soon as she opens the door. It's a woman, wearing a simple white shift and nothing more. She doesn't pause long enough for Nadia to get a very good look at her before disappearing into the dining room, however.
* Nadia_Chekova pokes her head out and looks to see if any guards are nearby to explain the sudden retreat.
<El-Cideon> "I was able to glean some details about their future destinations," Hassan continues. "Or at least where this particular squad was bound. My impression is that there are many such detachments in operation."
<El-Cideon> No one else is in the hall as far as NAdia can tell.
* Nadia_Chekova slips out, quietly closing the door behind her and creeping down to the dining room to see just what's going on!
<El-Cideon> There's another door in the far back corner of the dining room, which Nadia can see closing just as she looks in. She can get a glimpse of what looks like a greenhouse just before it does so.
* Nadia_Chekova wonders how her visitor expected her to follow if she hadn't opened the door instantly the way she did. Skulking on over, Nadia unashamedly opens the door into the greenhouse!
<Yomi> "There was certainly one in Petra," Yomi agrees. "Are they headed further east?"
<El-Cideon> "That was not my impression. Several locations were mentioned, all to the south and west of here. Luxor, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Cape Town...It was not made clear to me what they had in common, merely that his squad or a similar one had business at each."
<Yomi> Well, that certainly plays havoc with the theory that Christianity or Islam ruled over their destinations.
<El-Cideon> The greenhouse is filled with lush plantlife--as expected, of course. Most of the plants are obviously not local flora--without the greenhouse walls to protect them they would surely wither and die in the heat and blowing sands. It's a sizable structure, with exotic flowers ringing the outside walls and twin rows of planters running down the center of the room. (more)
<Erin> "With the same sorts of things, I'd guess," replies Erin, unhappily. "I'll be honest with you; we've been paid a visit by these fellows, as well. Unfortunately, our respective partings weren't quite so amiable."
<El-Cideon> There's another door in the wall opposie that from which Nadia entered, though this one is obviously and heavily locked. At the far end of the greenhouse is a stone bench, on which a woman sits. She's caucasian, with a luxurious mane of flowing brown curls, a striking figure that's barely disguised by her clothing, and a face that would not be out of place on a movie star or fashion model.
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes?" Hassan says, curiosity seemingly piqued. "I trust that means I was well advised to take their offer while I still had a choice? What did they demand of you, and what ill came of refusing?"
<Nadia_Chekova> Well Nadia looks really pretty too, when she's not crossdressing as an arab boy, so doesn't suffer from any petty jealousy. "I've seen children play a game where they knock on a person's door then run away before they answer it. You look a little bit old for that," she muses, still in her artificially deepened voice to maintain the disguise.
<Erin> "They didn't make any demands. Common citizens aren't worth playing nice with, I suppose, when burglary will do." Erin harrumphs. "They stole an alchemy journal of mine! The nerve..."
<El-Cideon> The woman's expression is very flat and still. It hardly changes as she speaks, and even her voice is level and emotionless (though there are occasional overtones that slide out of nowhere and make your ears itch, and she has an obvious German accent). "I never played games," she says. "Is that what you are here for?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "I am simply curious what your intentions are," Nadia replies, resisting the urge to slip into German herself. "Clearly you knocked for a reason, but then you ran away."
<El-Cideon> "And you?" Hassan says, turning to Yomi.
<Yomi> "A sword, though it was not taken from me," Yomi responds. "I've thought that by understanding the thefts and their destinations, I might understand how it all ties together. I even thought I had it, until now...."
<El-Cideon> "It would not do for me to be found outside the greenhouse," the woman says. "Are you here with others?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "I am acting as something of a guide and assistant for them, yes," Nadia nods, set vaguely on edge by the woman and wishing she'd get to the point.
<El-Cideon> "A sword and a book?" Hassan looks thoughtful. "Curious. My impression was that they were interested largely in devotional objects, regardless of origin. Who was it that took these things from you? Perhaps the same officer?"
<El-Cideon> The woman nods. "Those that you assist, are they in a position of authority?"
<Yomi> "Elgin," Yomi says, before her voice grows more forceful, "And the sword was not taken from me."
<Nadia_Chekova> "I'm sure they're very important back wherever they come from," Nadia replies dryly. "Here they're just two foreign women."
<El-Cideon> Hassan raises his hands in apology. "Of course, my pardons. This Elgin was not the man I met--a Sergeant Kurtzmann visited me--though I do know the name. My guest spoke a little of his superiors when the drink took hold, as disgruntled lackeys are wont to do."
<Yomi> "That would be Doctor Evo, perhaps?" Yomi suggests, relaxing once she sees that he understands.
<El-Cideon> The woman nods again. "Not German? Not soldiers?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "No, not German," Nadia shakes her head. "And not soldiers - they are women," he reiterates. "If you have a point it would be nice if you got to it."
<El-Cideon> "Among others," Hassan confirms. "Many of the rank and file are quite put out to be serving a scientist, I gather. And an SS man to boot."
<El-Cideon> "I wish to leave this place," the woman says simply. "If you assisted me in this I would be very grateful."
* Yomi has the strange thought that she should have cut Doctor Evo down instead of Elgin when she had the chance.
<Nadia_Chekova> "There is a door, why do you not sneak out of it?" Nadia asks flatly, her accent slipping slightly due to irritation.
<Erin> "He is a strange man, Ivo. More than a little eccentric, to further distance himself from his men."
<El-Cideon> "Outside is a desert," the woman says, still practically without intonation. "I could flee the house on my own. I could not flee the country."
* Nadia_Chekova folds her arms under her bound chest. Despite disliking the woman's helplessness, she's not without a heart. "The German soldiers left you here, didn't they? You were payment for something, weren't you?" she asks, not unkindly.
<El-Cideon> Hassan nods. "This was my impression as well, though I have not met this Ivo myself. My guest spoke quite poorly of him; even the colonel nominally in charge of the brigade chafes at working with him, as I recall."
<El-Cideon> The woman stands up and steps forward. "Yes, that's correct. Will you help me? I have little to reward you with but myself, though Iw ould be very thankful."
<Nadia_Chekova> She might have useful information. "We have a flight out of here tomorrow. Can you leave the mansion on your own after we leave, or will you need help?" Nadia asks.
<El-Cideon> "I do not know where this flight of yours is, nor how I would get there on my own," the woman says. "Assistance in avoiding the guards would be appreciated as well."
<Nadia_Chekova> "We could wait for you by the highway, but very well," Nadia nods, "I will come to help you escape after midnight - where would you be at that time?"
<El-Cideon> "I should be here unless he calls on me. I am almost always here."
<Erin> "Well, I can't be too forceful when I say that what was stolen from us is very dear, and we're hoping to reclaim our belongings. They've been quite forceful with other people we've come across, too- they haven't mentioned the other items they're seeking, have they?"
<Nadia_Chekova> Accepting that, Nadia looks out the greenhouse windows to see if they can be opened and are big enough to crawl through, and how exposed a person would be to the rest of the building in doing so. "What's your name?" she asks while professionally casing the joint.
<El-Cideon> "I do not have a comprehensive list, sadly," Hassan says. "Though I gather that they are much the same manner of artifact as that which I gave them--principally religious objects that were once the focus of worship."
<El-Cideon> The greenhouse is glass from floor to ceiling. It doesn't look like most of the panes open, but they're individually broad enough that you could slip through without trouble if you broke one of them. "My name is Rena," the woman says. "What is yours?"
<Erin> "Our problem so far, you've got to understand, is that while we've been able to figure out where the Germans are *going*, we're quite behind when it comes to figuring out what they're after. It makes warning anyone else, well, a problem."
<Yomi> "So it just needs to be worshipped by someone? That is the only requirement?" Yomi asks dejectedly. "It is an impossible task, then, to understand their purpose or predict their movement."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Call me Mohammed for now," Nadia replies with a faint smile. "Now, I'd better return to the billiards room before my absence is noted. Be ready tonight," he tells her before slipping out of the greenhouse, checking the windows in the dining room.
<El-Cideon> "Ah. Well, Sergeant Kurtzmann's detachment, at least, was bound for a public auction on Zanzibar. Some manner of estate sale, I believe. The man entered the long, rambling stage of intoxication soon after telling me that much, however."
<El-Cideon> Nadia can see two windows in the dining room. They're broad enough to afford a nice view of a statuary garden outside and you should be able to climb through them easily.
* Nadia_Chekova goes over and unlocks the one closest to the greenhouse door, leaving it slightly ajar, and then creeps back to the game room, making sure not to be spotted by any roving guards on the way.
<El-Cideon> There are no guards presently in the hallway and Nadia can return to her game without any trouble.
* Nadia_Chekova does so, and resumes whiling away the time until Yomi and Erin are done.
<Erin> "An estate... yes, they've had an interesting in particular landmarks, as well."
<El-Cideon> "He mentioned as much but did not go into detail since the retrieval of artifacts seemed to be his particular assignment.I am not sure he knew much more."
* Nadia_Chekova decides to give up on billiards and look out the window, actually, watching the exterior guards to get an idea of their placement and movements which would be useful tonight.
<Yomi> "Would you know if they carry all these artifacts along with them?" Yomi asks suddenly. "Or do they store them some place?"
<El-Cideon> "My impression was that detachments such as Sergeant Kurtzmann's liaise with the main force frequently. I suppose it's possible that they deliver the items at such time, but I have no way of knowing this for certain."
<El-Cideon> The billiard room itself has no windows, but Nadia can see a single guard walk by the dining room window eventually.
<Nadia_Chekova> Oh well. Killing time it is.
<Erin> "There's a main force? Back in Germany, I'd suppose? Or a regional detatchment..."
<El-Cideon> "He spoke of it as such, or at least as a somewhat larger body of soldiers that contained his commanding officer--a Colonel...Mueller, was it?--as well as this Ivo and Elgin of yours. I could not say where they are headquartered."
<Erin> "Do you feel any resentment, by the way?" asks Erin, raising an eyebrow.
<El-Cideon> "I regret the imposition, obviously. They come into my country, my own home, and do as they like with that swaggering bragadoccio characteristic of all the great European powers...Present company excluded, of course," he adds graciously. "It was very galling, though of course I cannot claim the same manner of loss you yourselves suffered. I at least was compensated."
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> The meeting ends with idle chatter and pleasant snacks provided by Hassan's cooking staff. Night falls, and the temperature drops with it. It's a breezy, moonless night when you make your way back to Hassan's estate. The wrought iron gate at the front is again closed, two guards sharing a cigarette at the front door of the house itself. There is no other visible entrance through the ten-foot perimeter wall.
* Nadia_Chekova is out of her bulky bedouin robes and back in her sleek cat-burglar clothes! For the first time since this whole mess started, even! She hasn't bothered to remove any of the makeup she's wearing, but it shouldn't matter since she won't be seen, and creeps around the perimeter towards the side with the dining room, keeping well away from sight of the guards.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+11 hide, i'm far away and it's dark
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+11 hide, i'm far away and it's dark and gets 18."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 epic guard spot check
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 epic guard spot check and gets 7."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: they like their cigs more than doing their jobs. Proceed?
* Nadia_Chekova examines the wall now that she's close for anything like barbed wire or broken glass on the top before she commits to climbing it.
<El-Cideon> It's a plain stone wall, rather sparse on handholds but no inconveniently spiky objects embedded in it.
<Nadia_Chekova> Good. Taking a quick jog up, Nadia jumps and grabs onto the top, hauling herself up and then dropping down to the ground on the other side!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9 climb
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 climb and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> Nadia accomplishes little apart from falling onto her posterior with a painful thump. This wall is a troublesome foe!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-2 distant guards hearing thump?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-2 distant guards hearing thump? and gets 2."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Nope!
* Nadia_Chekova dusts herself off, glad no one saw that, and then tries scrambling up without the run this time.
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: taking 10 for 19
<El-Cideon> More fruitless scrabbling, but at least Nadia doesn't fall this time! OOC: not *quite* enough.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9 I hope Rena has ranks in climb
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 I hope Rena has ranks in climb and gets 29."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> Finally, this attempt proves successful! Nadia finds herself on the grounds of the estate in a statuary garden, most of the decorations being of the classical European variety.
<Nadia_Chekova> Looking around to check no guards are nearby, Nadia creeps along to the dining room window she left open earlier, avoiding any brightly lit areas as best she can.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 9."12 [1d100=9]
<El-Cideon> Nadia sees no guards patrolling the perimeter at this time. The window is still open.
* Nadia_Chekova peeks through it to ensure no one lingers in the dining room.
<El-Cideon> The dining room is empty at this time, the only light inside the room coming through the doorway from somewhere down the hall.
* Nadia_Chekova opens up the window and then clambers through it, going to the greenhouse door without delay.
<El-Cideon> The greenhouse door is closed but apparently not locked.
<Nadia_Chekova> This is clearly no barrier to a woman of Nadia's door-opening talents!
<El-Cideon> Rena is again sitting on the bench inside, seemingly staring at nothing. She looks up when Nadia enters, and stands. She's wearing no more than she was at the last encounter and her expression is as devoid of emotion as ever, but she approaches quickly. "Let us go," she says simply.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 15."12 [1d100=15]
* Nadia_Chekova is a little bit disappointed at the complete lack of surprise shown at her revealed femininity, but isn't about to delay the job. "Come with me, there's sturdier clothes for you outside," she whispers. "Can you climb?"
<El-Cideon> "I don't know," Rena says. "We will find out. Why are you a woman now?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "I was always a woman, that was just a disguise earlier," Nadia whispers. At least she can probably boost Rena over the wall to make things easier. "Come on," she doesn't linger further, leading Rena to the window and waiting for her to climb out first.
<El-Cideon> Rena hops up into the window and slides outside, after taking a quick glance around to make sure no one was coming.
* Nadia_Chekova follows her out and guides her towards the wall, kneeling down and holding out her hands palms up. "I'll boost you over," she says, eager to be gone from here.
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll aid another?
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3+2 athletics, what are they?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3+2 athletics, what are they? and gets 24."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> Rena goes up and over the wall. It's probably a good thing it's a dark night given how little she's wearing.
<Nadia_Chekova> Modesty isn't much of a concern but the temperature is. Luckily Nadia has her own spare clothes left with Yomi and Erin, and quickly jumps up to vault over after Rena.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> Nadia successfully exits the estate without any trouble. Rena's waiting on the other side. "Now where do we go?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Follow me, my friends are waiting by the highway - stay low in case the guards look over this way," Nadia whispers, starting to creep back towards the main road, staying well away from the gate guards. "My real name's Nadia," she adds informatively.
<El-Cideon> Rena nods, following you silently until you're well away from the estate. OOC: regrouping with the others, I presume?
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: yep
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 14."12 [1d100=14]
<El-Cideon> Soon Nadia returns to her comrades with mystery woman in tow, their passage utterly uneventful. "Hello," is Rena's simple greeting.
<Yomi> "Hello," Yomi returns, looking Rena over curiously.
* Nadia_Chekova recovers her bag and offers Rena some bedouin robes to wear, along with slippers for her feet. "So, what were you doing with the Germans to start with that they would hand you over like that to Hassan?" she asks curiously.
<Erin> "Hello?" asks Erin. "And who might you be?"
<El-Cideon> Rena remains strikingly attractive despite walking around in a desert with nothing on her feet. Her hair's rather tousled by the breeze, but she seems fairly unflappable. She looks at the new clothes silently for a moment before accepting them and putting them on. "I am Rena," she says to Erin. She looks at the two newcomers. "Who are you?"
<Yomi> "Isayama Yomi," she introduces herself with a friendly and quite relieved wave. "Nice to meet you!"
<Erin> "A very tired Irishwoman," replies Erin, squinting. "Erin by name."
<El-Cideon> Rena shrugs at Nadia's question. "They took me from my home one day. The scientists found me interesting for a time, though none thought to tell me why. When they were no longer interested, they got rid of me." All of this is delivered with her usual flatness, without apparent rancor.
<Yomi> "So, what now?" Yomi asks the question that must be on everyone's mind.
<El-Cideon> "I have no plans," Rena says. "Nadia said you could take me out of this country?"
* Nadia_Chekova glances askance at Erin at this, wondering if it means Rena could be a potential witch or something. "We'll go back to the airstrip and get on tomorrow's flight with Al. Either back to Jerusalem or following one of the leads Hassan gave us," she posits. "Did you know what they were doing here, Rena?"
<El-Cideon> "Sergeant Kurtzmann came to buy something. The snake idol Abdul acquired some time ago."
* Nadia_Chekova nods as they start walking along just off the road. "Do you know what he wanted it for?"
* Erin glances askance at Nadia, looking entirely clueless, and a bit freaked out.
<El-Cideon> "I do not know," Rena says as she starts walking. "I do not think Sergeant Kurtzmann knew either."
<Yomi> Since Nadia is asking her new friend for useful information, Yomi sidles by Erin, gaining her attention before gesturing towards Rena and shrugging.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Hmm... what about Colonel Ivo or Elgin? Have you heard of either of them?"
<Erin> "Was there someone you wanted to go?" asks Erin, staring towards the sky. "We're sort of looking for those- what IS it, Yomi?"
<El-Cideon> "Ivo is a colonel now? He was only a scientist when I met him." To Erin: "I have no plans. I merely want to leave this country. This is not my home."
<Yomi> "That's about it," Yomi agrees. "What happens once we do leave the country?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "SS, so I don't know how it compares to a real colonel," Nadia shrugs. "So can you tell us about how you were taken and what they did to you before you ended up here?"
<El-Cideon> "I don't know, Yomi. There are many places I haven't been. I could see some of them?" To Nadia: "They came for me after Father died. I was alone for some months. It was peaceful; some of the villagers disliked me so I avoided them. There were many tests after I was taken, examinations; they would draw blood or ask me questions." (more)
<El-Cideon> "I think they were dissatisfied with the answers. Ivo was one of the scientists, though he was only one among many. This was perhaps two years ago, though I have not kept close track of time since. When they grew bored with me, they gave me to Abdul."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Where were you kept while they studied you?" Nadia asks, thinking that might be the best lead on where their stolen belongings were collected.
<Yomi> Much as she would want to find some place to leave Rena at, Yomi doesn't remain untouched by her story.
<Erin> "Hold on. Doesn't this seem a bit odd? When exactly did they, um, you know, hand you over?"
<El-Cideon> "I don't know. They put me in a truck and drove for some hours. I saw as little when I left. They brought me to a plane in a hangar, we flew, and I have been with Abdul ever since." Rena looks at Erin. "It was two years ago. didn't I say?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Two years since Ivo took you or two years since you were given to Hassan?" Nadia clarifies.
<El-Cideon> "Since I was given to Hassan," Rena says. "I apologize for the confusion. I was taken some months before that."
* Nadia_Chekova feels an upswelling of pity towards Rena, guessing what the last two years must have entailed. "They've been at this far longer than we thought, then."
<Erin> "Don't you think it's strange that he's had past dealings, then- and of such a disgusting nature- with the Germans before now?" asks Erin, sounding frustrated. "When I discover something like this, it's hard to trust him..."
<Yomi> "The chances of him lying to us grow all that higher," Yomi concurs.
<Nadia_Chekova> "The leads he's given us become suspect," Nadia agrees. "Unfortunately that leave us with nothing to go on."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes, he meets with the Germans frequently. You didn't know this?"
<Yomi> "We do now," Yomi says sourly. "Just how many guards does he have?"
<El-Cideon> "I know of six. There are some servants as well."
<Erin> "If only I could speak German!" complains Erin, before she thinks for a moment. "Wait, can he speak German himself?"
<El-Cideon> Rena nods to Erin's question.
<Erin> "Dammit..."
<Nadia_Chekova> "I can speak German - it's easy to learn if you know English," Nadia points out helpfully. "The two languages are very similar."
<Yomi> "I could take six of them down without fatal injuries," Yomi considers. "If we cared to interrogate that man about what he truly knows."
<El-Cideon> Rena nods again. "It was simple for me to learn English when Abdul decided to teach me."
<Erin> "But could you take six down before one of them escaped to summon help? Also, unless you can teach me in a few days..."
<Yomi> "Your magic might help with that?" Yomi voices, trying very hard not to project her doubt at the prospects.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Not enough to be fluent, unless you have any tricks to speed things up," Nadia apologises.
<El-Cideon> "Why do you ask? Are you thinking of returning?" Rena queries.
<Yomi> "We need to either find out the plan Ivo and Elgin have, where their base is, or where to intercept them," Yomi elaborates for Rena's sake. "They've stolen something very important to us, and we need to get it back."
<Erin> "If it was just a matter of listening, it would be within my power," replies Erin. "Well, yes, and there are things he might say to Doctor Ivo that he may not say to us. So, we would have to become Ivo, and gain knowledge through his form. But since I can't speak German it's impossible for me."
<Erin> "And it is.. chancey. Even if we were to corner him, I'm not sure what I'd ask him. Figuring out his lies would also be a struggle," admits Erin.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Could you disguise me?" Nadia asks, since that would neatly solve the problem.
<Erin> "No."
* Nadia_Chekova sighs.
<El-Cideon> Rena nods. "Segeant Kurtzmann did mention several places when he was there. The names meants nothing to me, but I am not well-travelled."
<Nadia_Chekova> "They'll be two years out of date, but probably still better than what Hassan had. Tell us?" Nadia asks.
<El-Cideon> Rena repeats the same names Hassan gave you.
<Erin> "I suppose we're off to Zanzibar after all, then!"
<Yomi> "Following a two year old lead?" Yomi asks incredulously.
<El-Cideon> Rena looks confused. "But Sergeant Kurtzmann was just here days ago, Yomi."
* Nadia_Chekova nods. "It sounds reasonable - hopefully Al can get us that far. You're welcome to travel with us until we get back to Europe, Rena," she graciously offers the destitute dispossessed German.
<El-Cideon> Rena nods. "I have no other plans. It would be interesting to see more of the world than home and Abdul's mansion. I am told there is a lot of it."
<Erin> "Why, yes! And most of it is horrible, simply awful," replies Erin, with a nod. "But there are some good parts, too!"
<Yomi> "There's certainly a lot," Yomi agrees. "The company you see it with matters quite a bit, too."
<El-Cideon> Another nod. "I am not used to travelling. I hope you will be good guides."
<Erin> "I suppose that much is true. Until recently, I'd never gone farther from home than France."
<Nadia_Chekova> "I'd never left Monaco, but it seems people are much the same wherever you go," Nadia admits.
<Erin> "Really? I've never met anybody like you two before," remarks Erin, curiously. "I'd say people are full of surprises."
<El-Cideon> -----------------------