Prologue: E-mails

[Brian]

This'll be the thread where you can write up e-mails to whoever you're sending them to (in game) and wherever e-mails you recieve from other players (or NPCs) will show up.  Since we're focusing on fun, just include the To,CC,BCC, etc fields, and a subject line.  Forging the entire headers does indeed lend it that artistic touch, but is quite, ultimately, unneccesary.  I'm trusting you all to be mature enough RPers to not metagame if (for some reason) you stumble across an e-mail that was not addressed to you.

E-mails can be truncated to nicks.  Generally, I'll know when you guys want more information (for example, if it's from an NPC) and include that in the tagging, etc.  If you want something I didn't include, then just bug me about it.

Also, if you happen to have multiple e-mail accounts (maybe a fake account, for whatever reason (you're paranoid (or are you, Shade?))), you can just add some indicator to the e-mail that it's from whatever account.

I wouldn't worry about time-stamping.  Not yet, anyway.

Whee!

And now, for fun, a sample of what an e-mail could look like:

From: Brian (Yahoo account)
To:  Ginrai
CC:  Rezantis, Dracos, Bjorn
BCC:  Shade
Subject:  in-game e-mails

This is the system in all of its glory.  Let us hope that it ends up being usable (and fun) enough to overcome the annoyance in using it in the first place.

Wait, that sounded wrong.

[Ginrai]

The following is an e-mail I sent to Shade in the middle of my drive to Boston (stopped at a rest area and wrote it then):

From: Ginrai
To: Shade
Subject: Small Problem....

Okay, well... seems that almost immediately after you gave your warning I started to get a *very* bad feeling.  After packing my necessary items, I tiptoed to my backyard.  What should I find there but this circle in the middle of the snow!  Recalling your warning, I went around the circle and decided to hop over the fence and find a way to my car or the bus station....

Thing is, the feeling got even worse and then I heard some noise from inside the house (that of glass breaking and roomates shouting) and at that point the only safe place seemed to be from within the circle.  As I got ready to jump into the circle (without breaking it, so don't worry), all the lights go out.

Now, the good news is that when I was able to see where I was, I was within the circle and it *wasn't* broken.

Bad news is that there was this large, transparent wolf next to me, who then jumped into the house.  At least he took care of whomever was coming after me (without harming my roommates from what I could see before getting to my car and out of there).

So now I'm off to Dracos' house in Boston and thought you might want to know this bit of information.  If I don't get there in time, you might want to pass this on to the others and think of what this means and what to do next.

Ginrai

[RangerShade]

From: Shade
To: Ginrai
BCC: Dracos, Rez, Bjorn

Subject: There Goes the Neighborhood

First, the Bad News.

You broke the circle when you crossed the lines, that wolf was *NOT* supposed to get out.

Second, the Worse News.

Odds are very good that thing sent from San Fran is still hunting you. Watch your back. Did it take anything from your room that belongs to you? You might be being tracked via supernatural methods. And if anything looms ominiously out of the shadows, RUN!

Third, the I have a Plan news.

Going to check out a connection on my end. Will try to be in touch as time goes, but no promises. Might see me later if all goes as planned, but if the North gets too hot, I hear that Rome is a nice place to cool off. Never was one much for religion, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to call ahead for a visit.

-There and Back Again
Shade

[Bjorn]

To: Shade
From: Bjorn
CC: Ginrai

Subject: Re: There Goes the Neighborhood

Okay.  Stop.  Take a deep breath.

Let's pretend for a second here that I have no clue what you're talking about  (*who* broke *what* circle -- Ginrai?), why I should take any of this seriously, and why you think it involves me in the least.

Care to fill me in?  I feel like I missed half the movie or something; one week I'm in Japan, and everything in normal, and then I move back to Canada, log on, and Shade is reporting prophetic dreams of doom that lead Ginrai to take off like a paranoid rabbit, while insisting that I start acting like vampiric computer hackers are after me.

Bjorn

[Dracos]

To: Shade

Subject: Re: I loike circles

Okay, right... so, let me get this straight...

This is a movie reference right?  Where I type back: "Man, get some help, you sound whack."  Sending off what sounds like sound advice before turning around and seeing someone trying to kill me....

but wait, since I turned around already and no one is trying to kill me... I am left with just having sent off that first message:
Get help, you sound like you've gotten a bad hit of drugs and gotten really messed up.  Either that or you let your paranoia go overdrive.

Dracos
Who likes logic and background with his randomly sent emails

[Ginrai]

From: Ginrai
To: Bjorn
CC: Shade, Dracos, Rez
Subject: What Shade Forgot to Mention to You

Okay, since it seems that Bjorn has no idea what Shade's previous e-mail was about, I decided to send a copy of what I originally sent Shade.

***

From: Ginrai
To: Shade
Subject: Small Problem....

Okay, well... seems that almost immediately after you gave your warning I started to get a *very* bad feeling. After packing my necessary items, I tiptoed to my backyard. What should I find there but this circle in the middle of the snow! Recalling your warning, I went around the circle and decided to hop over the fence and find a way to my car or the bus station....

Thing is, the feeling got even worse and then I heard some noise from inside the house (that of glass breaking and roomates shouting) and at that point the only safe place seemed to be from within the circle. As I got ready to jump into the circle (without breaking it, so don't worry), all the lights go out.

Now, the good news is that when I was able to see where I was, I was within the circle and it *wasn't* broken.

Bad news is that there was this large, transparent wolf next to me, who then jumped into the house. At least he took care of whomever was coming after me (without harming my roommates from what I could see before getting to my car and out of there).

So now I'm off to Dracos' house in Boston and thought you might want to know this bit of information. If I don't get there in time, you might want to pass this on to the others and think of what this means and what to do next.

Ginrai

[Rezantis]

From:Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')
To: "ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com"

Here, there, everywhere.  Nice tricks, I must say, thanks for the saves - and I got your message, which is why you're getting an email.  Nice to know you're still around (and forgive me for being slightly worried, but if nothing else I sorta didn't think you'd be there already - it's not like you had the best to work with).

Working on what I have, but then I don't know if I have the resources to get it done quickly.  Patience, I suppose is key.  I don't know about you, but I -hate- being patient.

In any case, got anything much you can tell me?  I hate being so far out of the loop.

--N

[Brian]

To: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

Re: tricks

I don't know as much as I would like, but that is ever, and always the case.

But I begin to learn more as I progress.  As you've doubltess gathered, I have managed to aquire a new host, and am trying to track those who are tracking you.  I don't know if they are looking for me, though I (perhaps this is concett) would like to think that they think me valulable enough to reaquire.  At the same time, I don't wish to be recaptured again.

I have remembered enough at this point to know that I do not like my former captors, and that that's what they were.  I know I was something else before, and while my vision grows clearer, at the same time it becomes more difficult to understand.

There are two factions currently vying for control of the Vatican, and what I know for certain is this: The Seventh Cabal and Pax Arcanum are their names.

Their goals are uncertain to me -- I could know more if I could read that file I gave you, but I abandoned it when I fled the land of the 'wicked witch'.

Regardless, someone, or something, involved you with me specifically to draw you out and get you captured.  Do you know of anything you would or could have done that would elicit the attention of these secret societies?   (Aside from freeing me, but I suspect that was merely to trap you.)

Aside from that, I have set up a mailing list on a server I believe to be clear.  I know your friend Dracos (Mr. Bloom) is someone you trust, and I trust your judgment.  Additionally, they are tracking his movements for associating with you.  Therefore, you may both wish to subscribe to 'fansofunricedcivics@topica.com'.  This list is hidden from all non-subscribers, and only I can approve new entrants.

I realize that it seems that all I care about is information, but even before I was made a program, I know that information was the center of my universe.

Good luck, my friend, and may Apollo guide you.

-----------------------------------------
o/` The river song so pure and sweet~
A balm to soothe my aching feet o/`
-----------------------------------------

[Rezantis]

To: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

None of us ever know as much as we'd like to, it's simply the nature of things.  It won't stop us trying, though.

I don't know why they'd be after me, but I've heard of Pax Arcana -once-.  That website hack, which ended up leading me to you, had a small text note with it.  "They are watching all of you.  Contact Pax Arcana."  Nothing more.  The guy's name was Ceran and he apparently came in via a finnish ISP, but . . . means nothing to me.

I should be able to break through the encryption of that file within the next two weeks . . . I hope.  If I'm wrong in my guess it could be a couple of months; but unfortunately I'm slightly limited in hardware.  Nothing I can really do about that, unfortunately.

I wouldn't worry about being addicted to information.  You may have noticed how much I hate being in the dark on things, and if nothing else, it could be the single most helpful trait around right now.

One question.  Do you know any way I could -contact- Pax Arcana?  I don't intend to until and unless I have a better idea of what's going on, but if it comes down to the wire I'd like a way to chase up what seems to be the only real lead as to why -me-.  ^^;;

Luck to you as well, Ayame - I don't know if that's your name, but it's the closest thing I know of.  I have the sinking feeling we're going to need all the luck we can get.

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')


I do not know if it would be wise to contact Pax Arcana.

Contacting them would be relatively simple, but it would be quite difficult to send a message to them without revealing it to the Seventh Cabal.  From what I can discern, they watch one-another quite closely.

They war for control of the Vatican -- it has occured to me that we may even be used as pawns.  It could be that one side wishes to oust a representative by showing my being freed as a sign of weakness.  This is merely conjecture....

I feel I should share this with you, however.  Last night I dreamed of a desert, and a statue within that desert.  I could not read the inscription, but I think it may have been relevant.

I am uncertain.  This confusion worries me greatly.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')

I know, I don't think it would be wise, either.  It's liable to bring an entire shitstorm (if you'll pardon my language) down on my head . . . however, since it's not entirely impossible for all hell to break loose anyway, I'd like the option.  As I said, it may end up being one's only option (and I'm a big fan of keeping options open).

Us being used as pawns, quite possibly . . . even somewhat -likely-, I'd think (the thought had occurred to me, too).  But what can we do?

No idea about the statue . . . if I learn anything, I'll mention it, but . . . :/

Oh well.

--N

[Rezantis]

From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')
To: Shade
Subject: Questions, questions.

Before you ask, it's Rez.  I'm just not game to be touching my personal email account right now.  So I'm using this, AFAIK it's clean.

Alright.  Weird shit has happened to Ginrai and you seem to be in the know, at least somewhat.  You ALSO know something about Rome.  So answer me this: do the names 'Pax Arcana' and 'Seventh Cabal' mean anything to you?

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com')

I understand.  I will let you know if I discover aught else.  Please keep me informed, as well.

[Rezantis]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: Karelais ('shelim_manaya@hotmail.com')
Subject: Got it, but . . .

"My name is Ozymandius, King of Kings!  Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!"

That turned out to be the decryption key . . . but I don't recognize the file format, at all.  I think it's compressed, and I think there's some databases in there, but . . . hm.

Any ideas, or am I on my own?  :)

--N

[Brian]

To: Fans of Unriced Civics
From: ORiverSoBlue ('ad3lphi_reader@hotmail.com)

Yes.  The file format is semi-complex -- the database is a self-sorting series of n-dimensional matrices.  Essentially, it's a table that exists in n dimensions.  The technology was pioneered in late 2003.

Download this executable -- I will replace it with something harmless after a twenty-five minute window has elapsed:  [orbitaljesus.com domain and file 'wysiwyg.exe']

Additionally, once you load it you may be able to find an executable labeled 'cypher'.  Do not attempt to run it, if you do find it; this application will attempt to restore the archive using parity data from the vatican, and remove any doubt as to your current location.  I may be able to use a copy of that file on another server I've compromised, and get a copy of the database for us to use.

If I can do this, I can in a worst case scenario have access to their complete archives (both the Pax Arcanum and the Seventh Cabal use portions of the database, but I believe their primary data centers are elsewhere) and at best, I will be able to garner some information on their current activities.