Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

January 4th 12:15 PM
<Brian> You've just closed out of your network connections, and are still sitting in the room above the noodle-shop.
<Brian> Currently you're on one of those small, nameless villages that can only be reached by boat under normal circumstances.  Fortunately, it's not far from where you are to a major ferry, which can get you back to Honshu, should you need to do so.
Death considers, am I strong enough to go help the noodle shop owner?
<Brian> Not only do you feel better, and rested, you feel like you've been oddly empowered.  Almost as though a smaller, weaker part of yourself has healed.
Death decides to go down and help the noodle shop owner in thanks before getting ready to leave for the ferry.
<Brian> The ferry comes by in two shifts.  One early morning, one late afternoon.  You estimate you've got about three hours to help out.
Death does so.
<Brian> It's not terribly busy in the shop (this is, after all, a very small village) but he readily agrees to let you help him dismantle the stove, and scrub some of the old gas tubes.  It's quite a bit of work....
<Brian> When it's all done, while not as good as new, the stove is something you wouldn't be ashamed to cook on, which is good (your initial ventures into the art of noodle-crafting had resulted in a spill or three).
<Brian> You've got about fifteen minutes to get to the ferry once you finish packing, and it's a five minute walk to the dock.  The shop owner has made you a farewell lunch, and thanks you kindly for your assistance.
<Brian> And yes, it's in a take-out box.
Death grabs his stuff, checks to make sure it all there, thanks the shop owner, grabs the lunch and bikes down to the ferry Goldenboy style.
<Brian> You make it without incident, bouncing a bit on the streets.  Might want to get those shocks checked.  But, you board the ferry without trouble; the pilot was an occasional customer, and nods as you board.
Death enjoys the ferry ride
<Brian> The breeze is cool, as this is winter, but it's not really cold.  More crisp.  The chill makes an excelent counterpoint to the warm take-out container you're carrying.
Death decides to enjoy lunch with the sun.
<Brian> You open up the container.  Mmm.  Delicious udon.
<Brian> You realize, however, that the shopkeeper has stuck five 1000 yen notes to the inside of the lid, which you had not previously noticed.
Death pockets the yen in gratitude.
Death eats the udon.
<Brian> It's pretty dang good.
<Brian> After finishing your lunch, you have a few minutes to idle, and then the larger island you're heading to comes into view.  From this island, you can catch one of those newer high-speed ferries to Honshu.
<Brian> Sakajima, specifically.  If you were to take a sleeper to Kyoto, you could take the express to Tokyo, and get in at around 5:00 AM at this rate.
Death will take the ferry to Honshu.
<Brian> Unless you delay, your transfer goes of without a hitch.  While you're on the next boat (which is larger, and much more modernized than the last), you've got a little time to plan out your trip.  A convenient 'touristry' cabin offers a desk with phamplets of the outlying regions for both the Ryu-Kyu islands and most of Honshu.  Hokkaido is not included, though.
<Death> Simplest route towards Tokyo.
<Brian> The simplest route is also the fastest.  And the most expensive.
Death reconsiders.
<Brian> But with the extra money from the old man you can make it comfortably without breaking into any of your savings.
<Death> What's the cheapest one?
<Brian> The cheapest would be traditional trains once you reach Sakajima, which would take about 18 hours longer, all told.
<Brian> Or just rode your bike the whole way (that might take a few days, though).
Death will take the train.
Death is stingy, not crazy.
<Brian> Alright.  You will need to rush to get a train that serves dinner, or you can hunt down something to eat and catch the later sleeper.  Doing this would allow you to hunt for local wireless access without worrying about losing connectivity on the train, as well.
Death will take the sleeper.
<Brian> Okay.  There's a few wireless cafes, but you also find an unsecured access point somewhat near a beef-bowl cart.
Death will scope out the unsecured point before accessing.
<Brian> Well, it's someone's LAN, but the rest of it is blocked off.  You could use the DHCP access, and it's free, but you have no idea if whoever runs it has set up any kind of packet-sniffer, or logs your activity.  There are warmarkings on the side of a nearby building, but there's no guarantee that the person who set up the system is trustworthy.
Death contemplates.
Death opens an SSH connection from the access point.
<Brian> Okay.  Your key WILL be broadcast, once the SSH session is secured.  However, the data is encrypted, and your session is chained your your NIC card's MAC address.  So if packets start coming from a different NIC, the server will drop them.
<Brian> You are now connected, and can use the internet securely through your tunnel.  You're limited to about ISDN speeds because it's wireless, and encrypted, but it does work.  And hey, that beef bowl place is within signal range.
Death makes a quick grab of e-mail and logs off.
Death hopes to find a response from #void
<Brian> You're disconnected.  Your password (which may have been copied) is reset on the remote server as per the script set up by you, and is already a new key (based on the time and date).
Death decides to go wait by the station to buy a ticket for the sleeper train, then hang around the station and read the dled e-mail.
<Brian> Okay.  You've got your e-mail, you doubt too many people saw you, and in short order you are at the train station.
<Brian> The platform is pretty busy at this hour, but hardly any one is actually staying still.
Death watches his wallet.
<Death> And by watch I mean always make sure I know where it is.
<Brian> Not a problem.  I assume you're reading your e-mail, now?
Death nods.
<Death> after getting the ticket
<Brian> Aside from the normal messages from friends (and a few spams) you have new e-mail: http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=770
Death notes to set the laptop desktop alarm to go off 5 minutes before the train he's catching is supposed to arrive
<Death> Lest I miss it while reading.
Death reads.
<Brian> Your ticket is stowed in your wallet, which you are keeping an eye on.
Death slaps a hand over his face in disbelief.
<Death> "Wonderful, we're probably all going to die now."
Death writes and posts his e-mail.
<Brian> You've sent the e-mail to Ginrai.  It's also just about time for you to board the train.
Death boards after logging off.
<Brian> It's a sleeper train.  You have a cubby for yourself, arranged much like one of the capsule hotels.
<Brian> Not a bad deal, all told.
Death catnaps.
<Brian> You sleep.
<Brian> While sleeping, lulled by the motion of the train, you dream.
<Brian> You are on a boat, lying on your back, looking up at the bright, blue, nearly cloudless sky.
<Brian> As you watch, someone blocks the light of the sun from blinding you.  You can't make out a face against the change of light, merely a soft voice.
Death tries to identify the voice.
<Brian> "Do not go to the ancient holy lands," the voice whispers.  You THINK it may be Kanon, but it's hard to tell.
<Brian> "Danger lurks there, and you are wise to fear ... but you fear an ally, when you should be fearing for your friends."
<Death> "How do I fight what I can't even see?"
<Brian> You have a brief glimpse of the wolf, again, curled up at the feet of Kanon, innocent as a 600 lb puppy.
<Brian> You see her face -- it is Kanon -- and then she shakes her head.
<Brian> You wake up when the train luches to a halt.
Death blinks.
<Brian> The conductor quietly assures everyone that this is a standard refueling stop, apologizes for the delay, and urges everyone to go back to sleep.
Death goes back to sleep.
<Brian> Indeed.  Your sleep is undisturbed, other than brief, dark glimpses of clouds around San Fransisco, again, and something stirring beneath the polar storms.
<Brian> You wake up, not as refreshed as before, but still feeling well, at around 9:00 AM.
<Brian> Your train won't be pulling in for another 6 hours or, so, though.
Death checks to see if he can log on.
<Death> If not, I will start running a checklist of easily obtainable household chemicals useful for making explosives
<Brian> You watch for a bit.  There's no wireless (or wired) access points for LAN on the train, though.  Occasionally you pass by a station, but those windows are too short to even log in through SSH.
<Brian> As far as obtaining chemicals, explosives are (generally speaking) very difficult to manufacture without having it be tracked back to you, especially since the terrorism of recent years.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> However, in the ways of alternatives you can make cost-effective napalm with some things you know could be gotten easily in the states.
<Death> Brian: I'm not going for high explosives, alcohol and simple black powder level
<Brian> Ah.  That is possible, then, though it would take some patience to gather, and care to assemble correctly.
Death nods.
Death knows how to make some basic boobytraps using average easiy obtainable civilian material.
<Brian> Black powder is going to be difficult to get in Japan, and you probably don't want to start collecting until you're closer to wherever you intend to use them.
<Death> Brian: Sulpher, Charcoal and Saltpeter?
<Brian> But you can indeed compile lists.
<Death> are hard to get?
<Brian> If you want to manufacture actual black powder, that's fine.  I thought you were looking for more bang for your buck, so to speak.
<Death> Brian: conventional gasoline with a 120 proof liquor is as big as I wanna go for the moment
Death likes having the means to making explosives, not the actual explosives on him, easier to alibi that way.
<Death> and less hazardous to my heath ^^
<Brian> Of course.  In that case, there's no real need to manufacture a list; you know what you want.
<Brian> But you can put it together on your computer before you get anywhere.
Death meant a shopping list
<Brian> In time, of course, you come to the end of the line, at about 3:00 PM....

Death disembarks from the train and decides to check the station's local directory for the nearest temple dedicated to Kanon in the city. Although by now his stomach is growling a bit, Death ignores it for now in favor of more important matters.

You find a pamphlet at a tourist booth:

QuoteSenso-ji temple
(Senso-ji)
The origins of the Senso-ji temple find their way back to 628, in the Asuka period when Buddhism was still young in Japan, The legend is that a figure of the boddhisattva Kanon was found by fishermen in the Sumida River, and the temple was built to commemorate this miraculous event and over the centuries has counted warriors as well and literary personages among the members of the parish. During the Edo period (1600-1868), it was a major Buddhist temple for the townsman culture of the shogun's capital. Today it remains a symbol of downtown Tokyo and is a favorite mecca for visitors.

It also gives an address.  Would probably take you about an hour to get to, by bus.

Death decides to get a map and bike it out to the temple, figuring it'll be faster then waiting in the city traffic.

By your estimates, you actually beat the bus to the temple.  [http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html]

Now that you're in front of it, it looks more touristy than you had hoped, however.

Death takes the disappointment in stride and locks his bike up
on a bike rack before entering the Kaminarimon. Browsing briefly
through the Nakamise, Death decides to buy some small inexpensive items
as an offering for Kanon and then go in through the Hozomon to
make his offering and brief prayer for luck and guidance in the temple
proper.

Praying at the temple doesn't grant you any new information or guidance, but you do feel a little more at peace with yourself afterwards.

Luck roll:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 for luck --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}

On your way out of the temple, someone slams into you with a bike, nearly knocking you over, and throwing themselves off of the bike.  Your shin is bruised, and you're holding the bike up with one hand.  A youth is lying on the ground in front of you, looking to be perhaps sixteen years old, and still wearing his highschool uniform.

It's a nice bike you're holding, too.  Especially since it was yours in the first place.

Death smiles down at the youth.

Then gets ready to kick the crap out of the thief while yelling loudly "You dirty thief!". Aiming for mainly for the head, ribs, groin, knees. If he goes for a weapon, crack his elbows.

Once he's out cold, loot the body.

<Brian> We're begining combat with phase zero.  Shade, you're a speed 2, so you act on phases 0, 6, and 12.
<Brian> Your assailant does not get a phase 0 action, as he is prone (and at 1/2 DCV).
<Death> which way is he facing?
<Brian> He's on his back, staring up at you with wide eyes.
<Death> head toward me or feet?
<Death> or his sides?
<Brian> Side, really.
<Death> right or left?
<Brian> His head is to your right.  His feet (and the bicycle you're still holding with your left hand) are to your left.
<Death> are his feet still tangled up in the bike?
<Brian> Well, his left ankle is underneath the centerline of the bike, but generally speaking, no.
<Death> He wearing shoes?
<Brian> Yes.
<Death> School shoes or actual ones that can take punishment?
<Brian> Actual outdoor shoes.
<Death> you said he was in a school uniform so that means those long dark pants right?
<Brian> Yep.
<Death> okay, for phase 0 I'll use the bike to pin his left ankle under the gears
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> It's a bit awkward, but you roll the bike onto his ankle.
<Brian> Phase 4.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> The kid rolls away, getting out from under the bike, and climbs to his feet a few steps away.
<Brian> Phase 6.
<Death> facing to me or away?
<Brian> Facing you.
<Death> I grab the pouch of salt and fling it open in his face
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Right.
<Brian> He raises his sleeve over his face and blocks the salt from hitting his eyes.
<Brian> Phase 8 -- he already aborted his action to dodge.
<Brian> Phase 12.
<Death> Run up and kick him in the groin while his vision is blocked.
<Death> Hard.
It's phase 12, so you can't actually do it while his vision is blocked (he gets an action at the same time, and sequences first, because he's got a higher dex).
<Brian> However, he's holding his action, so you can get the first attack in.
<Brian> First, roll 3d6 to see if you can push your strength.
<Death> Roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> ]{13}
<Brian> You failed your ego roll -- no extra strength.
<Brian> You may still attack as normal, though.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {11}
<Brian> You hit.
<Brian> Roll 3d6 normal damage
<Death> roll 3#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> You do 1 body, 7 stun to your opponent.
<Brian> He grunts in response, stepping back, but you only got in a glancing blow.
<Brian> In retaliation, he pulls a box-cutter from his pocket, and attempts to slash at you with it.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Your DCV is 4, so you are hit.
<Brian> This is a 1/2 die killing attack, plus his strength mods (total 1d+1 killing).
<Brian> roll 1d6+1 killing damage
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 killing damage --> {6}
<Brian> roll 1d6-1 stun multiplier
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6-1 stun multiplier --> {2}
<Brian> You take 6 body and 12 stun in killing damage (PD does not apply)
<Brian> There's now a cut from your thigh to just over your heart.  People all over the temple are staring in shock, and at least a few of them are running away.
<Brian> The kid looks genuinely shocked at what he's done.
<Brian> You're currently dazed (12 stun is more pain than your CON 8 can handle).  Post segment 12 -- take a recovery, and regain 4 Stun.  You're no longer dazed.
<Death> its his move now I believe
<Brian> His move is to run like hell.
<Brian> A pair of policemen enter the court at a run from the East, and see the kid, box-cutter in hand, and you, bleeding from a long cut.
Death takes one of his locks and checks it hard at the guy's head as he runs.
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6 for an ego check first.  You're in an awful lot of pain.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {14}
<Brian> After CON is applied, you have the presence of mind to throw a lock at him, though it will be at a -1 penalty.
<Brian> So, roll 3d6 to hit.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {13}
<Brian> He's at DCV 0, so you hit him by exact count.
Death cheers
<Brian> roll 3d6 for hit location
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> -5....  You've pegged him straight in the back of the head.
<Brian> Go ahead and roll 3#1d6 normal damage
<Death> roll 3#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Brian> x5 stun, x2 body.
<Brian> 6 body, and 60 stun.
<Brian> You've dropped him like a bad habit, and he slides across the ground like a rag-doll.
<Brian> The police officer who was chasing him slows to a halt, eyes wide, and looks at you in astonishment.  The other runs up to you, and insists that you sit down while the ambulance is on its way.
<Brian> You are bleeding pretty badly....
Death tells the incoming officers that the kid tried to steal my bike and then attempted to kill me when I tried to apprehend him for the police, request they arrest him and tells him if he's got something to slow the bleeding.
Death will use what's left of his shirt as a crude bandage too.
<Brian> The policeman nods, and explains that they'll take a statement once you've been tended.  Before you can get your first aid kit, however, one of the temple priests runs out to you with his own, which is better equipped.  He quickly field-dresses your wound, while muttering about thieves.
<Brian> It doesn't take long after that before the paramedics arrive, and you're rushed to a hospital (the police officer says that your bike will be kept at the station, since you can't take it in the ambulance).
Death thanks the priest and the police, requests a receipt for his bike so he can collect it from the station later.
<Brian> You're given one.  At the hospital, they decide that the cut is particularly nasty (it's actually gone deep enough to cut into your intestines, and has scored your ribcage), and that you're going to need to be put under so they can put in sutures.
Death mutters "Send the bills to that thief's parents."
<Brian> You wake up the next morning in a hospital bed.  There's a flowerpot sitting on the table next to your bed (next to your laptop) with a card wishing you well.  It's from the temple.
<Brian> roll 2#1d6 for luck
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 for luck --> {6}, {4}
<Brian> You notice that they've got you on an antibiotic drip, and you read the label, realizing that they never asked about your allergy ... luckily, it's not penicillin.
Death claps his hands and thanks Kanon for large favors.
<Brian> You don't know which hospital this is, but there's an ethernet cable on the table.  It must be a good (and modern) one, though.
Death checks for his laptop.
<Brian> After you clap, a nurse walks in, bearing a bowl of soup.  "Good morning!" she greets.
<Death> "Morning. Excuse me, but where am I now?"
Death looks for the name badge on the nurse.
<Brian> She sees you reaching for your laptop, and frowns.  "You mustn't move your abdominal muscles," she chastizes you, pushing you back into the bed to lie down.  You are powerless to resist Takahara Kaori's nurse-ly might, but she does give you the remote to raise the bed so you can eat.
Death eats the soup and asks the nurse what happened while he was out.
<Brian> "This is Nerima general," she says.  "Well, they had to open you up a little more to put some sutures in your intestines -- you were cut in three places.  You've got some staples in you, so you're not going to be able to do a whole lot of moving around for a few days."
Death groans.
<Brian> "Until everything heals nicely, you're restricted to a bland liquid diet.  If you behave, and don't stretch your abdominals, I'll help you get your computer set up."
Death nods eagerly.
<Brian> Your soup is particularly tasteless.  But then, that's probably for the best, given you don't want it leaking through holes in your intestine into the rest of your body.
<Brian> Once you finish, she slides a stand with a reaching ledge across the bed in front of you, and hands you your laptop.  "Now, I'll be back in a bit, so don't push yourself too hard.  If you need anything, the call button's right there."  She smiles at you, then takes the empty soup bowl away, leaving you a large sealed glass of water, and a straw.
Death sticks the straw in the water and sips as he goes online.
<Brian> Your wounds burn a bit.  Not horribly blindingly painful, but a constant minor ache.  You suspect that the gash in your thigh is going to become a problem, if you don't exercise it properly once it heals.
It's about 11:30 AM local time (about 6:30 PM PST), on January 5th.

Death decides to take it easy, resting and surfing the web. Looks like its time to heal up.

It seems quite likely you won't be able to do much more than that for a while.

But seeming is not truth.

You have enough time to catch up on your e-mails, and send a few out, when you're interupted by someone knocking on the door.  When you glance up, you see a police inspector, and his assistant.  "Hello," he says in almost completely unaccented English.  "How are you doing today, Mr...."  He trails off, then looks at the name in a paper card stuck through a frame on the door below the room number (4), "Mr. Fujinaka?"  He turns back to face you, and smiles warmly.

He is slightly shorter than average, dressed in the severe brown suit all Japanese businessmen seem to wear when they aren't wearing blue.  His hair is neatly trimmed, and he wears a pair of wire-frame spectacles.

His assistant, by contrast, is taller, a little thinner, and wears no glasses.  He also looks like he hasn't cut his hair in a while, which is somewhat surprising, all things considered.  It's just the slightest bit unruly.  Both are carrying pads of paper, and pens with silver taps and nibs.  They step into the room uninvited, and await your reply to their question.

Death nods politely.

"Takeshi Fujinaka. Forgive me, but I'm unable to get up to properly greet you."

"You're here about the incident that put me in here, I presume?"

"That would be correct," the investigator says, nodding.  "I'm Kenichi Yamada, and this is my partner, Yosaku Moboshi."  The unkempt, and still silent assistant offers a polite bow.  "Now, with regards to the incident, if you're feeling up to it, could you give us a complete rundown of the incident from your point of view?  And please, spare no details."  The man seems sincere, putting his pen to the paper in preparation of taking notes.

"I was just finished making an offering at the temple when (detailed description of thief here) nearly crashed into me and I noticed he was using my bike as his means of transportation. I attempted to stop him and he pulled out a boxcutter and slashed me. That was when the officers showed up so he turned and tried to run, so I stopped him by throwing one of my locks at him. After that your officers probably know better then I do, I think I went into shock when the ambulance arrived."

"I see," the inspector says, frowning, and scribbling in his notebook.  "Well, we just needed a statement from you.  Everything seems reasonably straightforward from here."

The assistant nods, not scribing anything, and merely staring at you intently the entire time.  With that done, the pair turns to leave, their voices echoing indistinctly in the hallway, though you can't make out what they're saying.

Shortly thereafter, another nurse enters the room, and quickly checks your chart, before nodding to herself.  She then goes about tidying up your room as though you weren't there, completely ignoring you.

She appears of average height for an Asian woman, with slightly less than shoulder length hair.  Her eyes are dark but don't ever meet yours.  Regardless, your laptop is still running and connected, granting you time to catch up on your e-mails, surf the net, or work on fanfics.

Death decides to check #void.

All of the ops seem to be missing, except for Slacker.  Who is, predictably, AFK.  Some of the regs are there, though.

Death quits IRC and checks his e-mail again, wondering if there is any new information about the others. If there is nothing new then Death will just have to go back to work on his fanfics.

Perception check:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {4}
You notice, while the nurse is dusting the table beside you that she's got:
A. Decent cleavage, which is odd, considering the normal nurse's uniform doesn't display that at all.
B. A necklace, which looks like a cross with four extra (smaller) spokes radiating at 45 degrees from the main crucifix itself, and the base of which is jagged like a lightning bolt.
C. A hypodermic needle in her other hand, which she probably thinks is juuuust out of your sight.

Pretending that he didn't see anything, Death quietly closes the laptop and reaches for the remote with the tv remote and nurse call button on it with one hand. The other hand calmly grasps the half empty glass of water and a chopstick held inbetween the thumb and index finger, narrow end facing out and away from him.

While keeping tabs on the nurse in the room (not directly looking at her) Death will press the call button and turn the room's television on at the same time.

You are now holding a cup (half full or empty, depending on your point of view), a pair of chopsticks (still connected), and press the 'Call Nurse' button.  The 'nurse' in the room (given the lack of a badge, at this point you have doubts) seems not to notice, until the TV clicks to life.  She glances at it briefly, as an afternoon news program comes on.  Her attention quickly shifts from that, to your adrenaline drip, however.

Standing at the head of your bed, such that you would have to make it obvious you were looking at her to watch, she reaches for the bag of antibodies that's being trickled into your system.

Death turns to face the nurse.

"Excuse me, could you get a bucket or something for me quick, I really need to take a leak."

If she goes for the bag of antibodies, then I'll pull the drip from my arm.

If she goes for me and I have initiative to act first, I'll try to throw the water from the glass in her face.

If she's got the initiative, I'll block with the laptop. (Yeah I know its an expensive piece of equipment, but I can always buy another one ^_^')

And if she's just going to talk, I'll be quite happy to stall her until help arrives.

Shade awaits the nurse's reaction
<Brian> Shade: You are currently turning to look at the nurse and ask her question.  She flips the hypo around in her hand and nods non-chalantly, setting it on a nearby tray (just barely out of your reach, unless you're willing to lunge), and moves around the bed to collect a bedpan.
Shade quickly snaps the chopsticks open and uses them to try to grab the hypo
<Brian> Please make a dex check, at 3d6
<Shade> when she bends down to get the bedpan
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> I assume you're applying your +1?
<Shade> yep
<Brian> Your attempt is not perfect.  You don't actually snag it, you end up launching it towards you, but you're able to catch it in your other hand (nearly dropping your cup in the process) without sticking yourself.
<Brian> She says, "Ah, here it is," and turns around to face you.
Shade turns the hypo so the point faces *away* from me
<Brian> Are you trying to hide it?
<Shade> yes, using the laptop as cover
<Brian> This is relatively easy.
<Brian> There is a catch, that being that it will most likely be uncovered by the actual use of the bedpan.
<Brian> However....
<Shade> "Say, what happened to your ID badge?"
<Brian> The nurse looks momentarily flustered.
<Shade> "I thought it was a rule or something for hospitals"
<Brian> Kaori chooses this moment to appear, calling out, "Sorry for the delay, Ta-  Ah, excuse me, who are you?"
<Brian> She's looking at the mystery nurse in confusion.
<Shade> Does the mystery nurse look back?
<Brian> At you?  No, she's turning to face Kaori.
Shade will take this wonderful opportunity to jab the hypo in her back and inject her
<Brian> Kaori looks upset and skeptical at the appearance of the other nurse.  Mystery Nurse looks less than pleased to see Kaori.
<Brian> This will require a bit of a lunge from your point.
<Brian> You may attempt it, however.
Shade will attempt it
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Okay, please roll 3d6
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Mystery Nurse acts first, stepping out of your range, and right into Kaori.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Er, no, I was rolling, not saying you should. ;)She slams a palm into the Kaori's surprised
<Brian> Ack.
<Brian> She slams a palm into Kaori's surprised face.
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
<Brian> Kaori makes a pained noise, and falls down.
<Brian> The Mystery Nurse looks furious, and steps out into the hall.
Shade yells "Murderer" loudly
<Brian> A moment later, she re-enters, glaring at you, and grumbling under her breath -- you catch a reference to money, but that's about it.
<Brian> "Save your breath," she snaps.
<Shade> how far away is she?
<Brian> From where you are?  4 meters.
<Brian> She motions to someone in the hall, and a larger figure (probably a few cm taller than you) steps into view.
<Brian> He's wearing black fatigues, and carrying a baton.  "Clear," he says in a bored tone, in unaccented Japanese.
<Shade> is it a standard baton or does it look like a techie one?
<Brian> Collapsible, but doesn't look like a stun baton, no.
<Shade> "All this over one thief?"
Shade says in disbelief
<Brian> Mystery Nurse nods to him, kneeling to examine Kaori momentarily.  "How long until evac?" she says, completely ignoring you.  The man does not, however, eyes boring into you relentlessly.
<Shade> "Sorry, not interested. You aren't my type" to man
<Brian> "Five minutes, give-or-take," he replies.  "And kid, shut up.  Your money, meat, not a value."
<Brian> "You're worth just as much with your hands shoved into your mouth."
<Shade> "And you're stupid, picking on a cripple and a crook, all in all I think I rate higher then you in the grand scheme of things" in reply
<Shade> "And you're a
<Shade> "crook"
<Brian> The Mystery Nurse eyes him, rises, and pulls a small PDA from her pocket.  "Be nice," she chides the man.
<Shade> "He wouldn't know nice if it bit him on his vasctemy scars"
<Brian> He grunts, and turns his back to you.  Mystery Nurse actualy snickers at the comment.  "Got bite, doncha?"  The PDA is turned on, though she maintains her distance from you for the moment.  "Oh, sweet mother of -- Jack, he reads P-9.  We're fucking rich!"
<Brian> "Check again," Jack retorts.  "I betcha anything he didn't see this coming."
<Brian> Shade: You see Kaori twitch slightly, though only one hand moves.
<Shade> "When that guy told me he saw beautiful women in my future, how was I supposed to know that dumb gorillas came in the same package?"
Shade eyes Kaori out of the corner of his eye
<Brian> "Guy?" Mystery Nurse asks, looking up from her PDA, and stepping closer.  "What guy?"
<Shade> how close?
<Brian> She's still about three meters back.
<Shade> "The one in my dreams"
<Brian> She frowns.  "Oh, well, good for you."  She turns her attention back to the PDA.
<Brian> Kaori's hand is very, very slowly moving across the floor, towards her hip pocket.
Shade raises his voice to keep attention on himself "He also warned me that Death would stalk the footsteps of those behind me"
<Brian> "Tell me something I don't know," she says in a bored voice.  "He's been behind both of us for years."
<Brian> "What's taking so long?" Jack says looking back in annoyance.  Kaori's hand freezes.
<Shade> "Really? because the one following me blows large holes through things"
<Brian> "The damn thing ... it's not reading right," Mystery Nurse complains, shaking the PDA. "I'm getting two signatures here."
<Shade> "Like beds, rooms, doors, people...."
-Dracos- I admit, I just played that amv for the 'howwwwww appropriate' line.
<Shade> "Ah, he found me sooner then expected"
<Brian> "What's his E-rating?" Jack asks, looking away from you.
<Shade> "If you have a poison pill, I suggest taking it now, it'll save you a lot of pain and suffering"
<Brian> "Um ... zero.  And 16.  It's not reading right."  Mystery Nurse looks up sharply.  "Can the crap, kid, where's your friend."
<Shade> "I wouldn't call him a friend, more like...a shadow"
<Brian> Now annoyed, Mystery Nurse steps closer to you, another meter.  "I know you're BSing, so tell me who's the second signature."
<Brian> There's still one meter between you and her.
Shade breaks into a coughing fit and bends over slightly
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Hmm.
<Brian> Kaori whips a pocket-knife from her pocket and suddenly lunges for Jack's ankle.  Maybe he saw it coming, and maybe she was just at a bad angle -- but she missed.  Jack spins around, baton held high, and Mystery Nurse whirls, incidentally jumping next to you to avoid her.
Shade jabs the hypo into her
<Shade> and injects it
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> You get her.  You don't know what the clear liquid is, but you slam the needle into her back, and the stopper follows a half-second later.  Whatever it is, she doesn't like it, and she shrieks, clawing at the hypo.  Jack's eyes widen, and he steps back in alarm, as Kaori staggers to her feet, holding her little six centimeter pen-knife up menacingly.
<Shade> how far is Jack?
<Brian> Just past the doorway -- 5 meters, and Kaori's between you.
<Shade> "I did give you fair warning" to Jack
<Brian> He ignores you, and steps forward, lashing at Kaori with his baton.
<Shade> "Of course, its not us you should be worried about"
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Ouch.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Kaori tries to deflect the baton, but the pen-knife is just too small -- it doesn't work.
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> She stumbles backwards at the same time Mystery Nurse collapses, and Kaori staggers.  The blow on her shoulder leaves her clinging to your bed-rails for support.
<Shade> how close is jack now?
<Brian> He's about 3 meters away.
<Shade> "That's all you're good for, beating up women? What, you get your kicks out of stealing candy from babies too?"
Shade whispers to Kaori "Stay down and wait for it."
<Brian> "Screw off, kid," he growls.  Stepping forward menacingly.  With a whimper, Kaori slips to the floor, her little pen-knife laying on your bed.
Shade knabs the pen-knife
<Shade> how heavy is it?
<Shade> nabs even
<Brian> Not very.  It looks pretty sturdy, all things considered, but it couldn't weight more than .4 kilos.
<Shade> "I can't, your mom was too loose to get a decent grip."
<Shade> how close is he now?
<Brian> You will get a chance to attack him first, if that's what you're asking.
<Brian> But he's definately going to beat on you with that baton.
<Shade> is his attention focused on me, split or focused on Kaori?
<Brian> On you.  He's pretty sure he's got her beat, and he's probably right.
Shade will switch his chopsticks for the glass of water, penknife in the other hand
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> Are you going to attack first?
<Shade> is he in range?
<Shade> how far is he?
<Brian> He's within striking distance, and he's about to smack you with the baton.
<Shade> toss the water in his face
<Brian> Okay, roll 3d6
<Shade> (Oh, btw I forgot to ask, what kind of cup is it?"
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Well, it's water.  You hit his hex, which accomplishes the effect.  He doesn't really seem to care, though.
<Shade> "You're all washed up"
<Brian> "Shove it," he says, as he swings at you.
<Shade> Use the laptop to block and then make a lunge for his throat with the penknife.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to block
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You did better than him.  Let's see how well your laptop fares.
<Brian> roll 8#1s6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1s6 --> {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}, {1}
<Brian> That'd be nice, but....
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> Shade: Please roll 2#1d6 for luck
<Shade> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> That's a bummer.  Your laptop saves you, but is toast.  A shower of components and circutry sprays over your head as you let go of it, and lunge with your knife.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 for your ego check
<Shade> roll 3d6 for ego check
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 for ego check --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> You can use one half of your strength for this attack.
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Jack's no fool, and after smashing your laptop, he steps back, growling.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> roll 5d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=19 ]{19}
<Brian> Er.
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> He does not, however, step out of range of Kaori's footsweep, and he goes down.
<Brian> She wastes no time, and is on him instantly.  You can't quite see what's going on over the edge of the bed.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 5#d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#d6 --> error: malformed expression
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
<Brian> roll 8#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 8#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
Shade will yell "Why can't you Japanese Police bring GUNS instead of those stupid clubs?"
<Brian> Yeah.  It sounds like you're missing a pretty awesome fight, but when it's all over, Kaori staggers to her feet, blood trickling down her face.  "Don't fuck with my patients," she growls, kicking, and eliciting a meaty 'thump'.
Shade applauds
<Brian> She smiles at you, and checks your equipment briefly, adjusting your IV and making sure everything is in order.  She also takes her pen-knife back.  Once that's done, she presses an intercom button on the far wall, and calls for assistance.  "And to think, they were moving in on my take," she sighs.
<Shade> :_;
<Brian> "Rest well, Fujinaka-san," she says, on her way out.  Shortly thereafter, security personel swarm onto the scene, and haul away Jack (still breathing) and Mystery Nurse (starting to recover).
<Shade> "Why can't I get a nurse not trying to sell me off?"
<Shade> Hospital Security?
<Brian> The security ignores you, and you're left alone.  The TV's still on, though.
<Brian> So.  You're in a hospital, and the staff seems intent on selling you to the enemy.  What do you do, in your weakened condition, now that your laptop is a pile of components?
Shade takes inventory, what's left in the room?
<Brian> Well, your IV, the remote (which weighs almost nothing), and ... that's it.
Shade checks himself, is he strong enough to move without spilling his innards all over the floor>?
<Brian> To make the movements?  You doubt you could get far.  You are stapled together, of course.  Moving would hurt quite a bit, you have no doubts about that.
Shade checks the bed, is it the kind with wheels?
<Brian> Yes.
Shade tries to peer over, anything keeping those wheels in place?
<Brian> They've got those wedge-shaped build-ins that you have to step on to lock/unlock.  Looks like they're locked right now.
Shade will try to slip over enough to get one foot down to unlock it
<Brian> Go ahead and roll 3d6 for ego check.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> Okay, you steel your resolve, lever yourself up, slide over the edge of the bed, and put one foot on the lock.  It gives, but slowly, and isn't exactly kind to your feet.  You nearly slip in a smear of blood on the floor, which ignites a line of fire across your abdomen, and makes you whimper in pain.
<Brian> But.  You manage to undo one lock, and get back into the bed to catch your breath and recover.
Shade will rest a little until the pain stops and then try with another lock
<Brian> That was intensely sapping.  You feel you may doze off if you rest too long.
<Brian> While you're looking around, trying to stay alert, your attention is drawn again to the room number.
<Brian> 'Four'.  Please roll 3d6 for your knowledge skill: Japanese Culture.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Hospitals often don't use that number.
<Brian> It's a bad omen, as the number four is also 'shi', which is a word for 'death'.
Shade notes that no modern hospital knows that number
<Shade> er, uses that number
<Brian> That is correct.
Shade decides perhaps no pain, no gain
Shade will resume attempting to unlock the locks
<Brian> Indeed.  It's a slow and painful process, each lock hurting a little more than the prior, until you're actually immobilized with pain on the fourth one.  But you have succeeded, even if you wish they'd given you morphine.  Lots and lots of morphine.
Shade unplugs from the IV drip
<Brian> Make another EGO roll.
<Brian> Or, are you leaving the permanent IV in your arm, and just disconnecting the tube?
<Shade> the tube
Shade knows better then to mess with things stuck in the body
<Brian> Oh, that's fine, then.  The antibiotic drip is disengaged without too much fuss.  A relief after the locks.
Shade checks to see if anything else is holding the bed in place
<Brian> Nothing you can see.
Shade will use his arms to push off from the wall to the doorway
<Shade> less power then using legs, but less strain on the abdomen
<Brian> Easy as pie.  Aiming is a bit more difficult.  But you manage to get yourself through the doorway, and into the hall.  Currently, it's deserted, though you can hear muffled speech echoing from various corridors.
Shade checks the hallway, what's in here?
<Brian> A few pieces of stray medical equipment -- IV stands, empty beds.  What you're really looking for is probably a wheelchair, and none of those are in sight.  You see a few posters advertising various medicines, a few of puppies, and some doors to other rooms.
<Shade> no fire alarms?
<Brian> Now that you're looking?  One right beneath the 'floor four' sign.
<Shade> fire exits? Exstingishers, hoses, axes in those "break glass" compartments?
<Brian> Just a lever.
<Brian> "In case of fire, pull."
<Shade> There are no fire doors or exit signs in this hallway?
<Brian> Exit signs, yes.  Down the hall and left, or the othwer way, and right.
<Brian> Fire doors, none are visible.
<Brian> You hear approaching footsteps.
<Shade> how far is the fire alarm?
<Brian> Hmm.  A good, strong push might take you to it.  Anything else would probably leave you stranded in the middle of the hall without leverage.
Shade will risk using his legs to push off for the fire alarm
<Brian> Turning around to make this attempt is doing to be pretty painful.  But you've come this far, why back down now?
<Brian> Your push carries you a little further than planned, and you bounce off the wall (though not out of reach of the fire-alarm) a bit.
Shade pulls the alarm
<Brian> The alarm ... is pulled.
<Brian> It takes a second, then the alarm cranks to life, blaring out a noisy warning.  Also, a jet of paint coats your hand.
<Brian> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Brian> No, I'll ask you to roll if you have to.  (Trust me, you want my roll instead of yours.)
<Shade> ah
<Brian> And, apparently (luckily!) this hallway, or maybe the entire building, is NOT wired to activate sprinklers.
<Brian> There's that, at least.
<Brian> A nurse you haven't seen yet rounds the corner, panicking at the alarm, sees you, and says, "Don't worry!  I'll take care of it!" and immediately begins trundling your bed down the hall.
Shade lies back for the ride and does his best to keep his hands out of sight
Shade keeps his eyes open for an opportunity
<Brian> You round a corner, and are quickly stowed in an emergency elevator with another bed-ridden patient (this one unconscious).  The nurse frets for a minute, then sends the elevator down, and dashes outside before the door closes.
<Shade> any blankets on this patient?
<Brian> Yep.  But you've got blankets of your own.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=12 ]{12}
<Brian> And, hey, look, he's got a medical chart on his bed, just like yours.
Shade will try to switch the charts
<Brian> make an ego roll
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Oh ... that did NOT feel good....  You think you may have loosened a staple.  But, you did get the job done.
Shade will smear some of the paint on his hands on the bed ridden patient's palms
<Brian> It's stuck to you like glue.
Shade nods
<Brian> The elevator reaches the bottom of the shaft just about the time you settle back into your bed, hoping, perhaps, to never have to move again.
Shade hides under the blanket
<Shade> his hands
<Brian> It opens, and a pair of nurses enter, one grabbing each bed.  The one with your bed glances at the chart, frowns slightly, and wheels you on.  The other stares at your old chart for a long moment, then nods decisively, and wheels him down a different corridor.
Shade makes groaning noises
<Brian> In short order, you find yourself (awkward as this is) with a number of other patients in the parking lot, while firemen rush in side to investigate.
<Shade> what kind of patients?
<Brian> You're abandoned quickly, three nurses watching over about fourteen beds.  Hopefully none of these other people have communicable diseases....  It's uncertain.  Injury patients, it appears on a casual inspection.
<Brian> Arm in a cast.  Leg bandaged.  Burn marks.  Most likely that's what's going on ... a few of the others APPEAR healthy, but....
<Shade> but?
<Brian> You never really know.
<Brian> There's a swiftly growing crowd of onlookers.
<Brian> One of them looks familiar.
<Shade> how familar?
<Brian> Holy shit!  It's the box-cutter kid!
<Shade> O-O
<Brian> He sees you, and blinks in surprise.
<Brian> Immediately thereafter, he vanishes into the crowd.  A sense of uneasiness washes over you....
Shade considers his options, any wheelchairs in sight?
<Brian> Nope.  The wheelchair bound appear to be placed elsewhere.
<Shade> how busy are the nurses watching over us?
<Brian> Not terribly, but it's going to be pretty hard to manuever a bed away what with a whole crowd of witnesses.
<Brian> However, of more pressing concern, the crowd is trying to advance past the beds to get a better view of something, and someone's whipping the crowd up into a mob.
Shade actually wants to know how hard it would be to get the attention of one of them
<Brian> At this point, it's getting increasingly more difficult, as people start running between the beds, towards the building.
Shade keeps an eye out for the box cutter kid
<Brian> In a moment of surreality, four indentically-dressed Yakuza-likes surround your bed, as the crowd begins to push the nurses away from the beds, lift a corner each, and start hauling you away.
Shade sighs and decides to lie back and rest
<Shade> might as well save my energy now
<Brian> Ah, nothing like a peaceful summer vacation.  Making noodles.  Getting cut open with a box-cutter.  Kidnapped by Yakuza.  What was so alluring about Japan again?
Shade decides a quick nap is in orddr
<Shade> order
<Brian> But first....
<Brian> You end up seeing the box-cutter kid in a bit, as you're loaded into the back of a van.  The bed is (in its entirety) wheeled in.  The Yakuza-likes crowd around you, a fifth in the driver's seat.  The door behind you closes, and Box-Cutter kid climbs into the passenger seat.
<Shade> "It figures."
<Brian> "Looking good," BCK advises you.  "Nap for a bit, and we'll have you talk to Dad."
Shade naps as he has nothing better to do
<Brian> You do.
<Brian> You awaken in a similar environment ... at a casual glance.
<Brian> You're in the bed.  The same bed.  You've got an IV hooked up to your arm (thankfully, still not pennicilin).
<Brian> But this room is lavishly decorated.  Yakuza lavish.  There's nice wallscrolls and everything.  The window looks out to about mid-level for the branches of a tree, and you can hear birds chirping.
<Shade> "The view's a lot nicer this time around"
<Brian> "Thank you," a gruff sounding voice says in slightly accented English.
<Brian> When you turn to look, you see (standing in the doorway) the stereotypical Big Yakuza Boss, right down to the complex and massive tattoos on his forearms.  He's dressed in traditional Japanese garb, his arms clasped behind his back.  On either side of him, two larger men in dark blue suits (wearing sun-glasses) stand impassively.
<Brian> He meanders into the room at a leisurely gait, looking at the window, until he reaches the foot of your bed.  From there he turns, examining your chart.  "I see you have yet to pass your kidney stone," he remarks, raising his eyes from the chart to meet yours, and smiling very vaguely.
<Shade> "Mixups happen all the time"
Shade smiles politely
<Brian> "You're clever.  Resourceful, too.  And my son owes you somewhat for the ... incident.  I am interested in a ... business proposal for you, hmm?"
<Shade> "I'm listening, though I suspect I don't really have a choice now, do I."
<Brian> "It's a good deal, I think," he insists.  "But where are my manners?  I'm Namida Tatsoya.  It's nice to meet you."
<Shade> "Fujinaka, Takeshi. I am honored by such a gracious host. And one with elegant taste" Death inclines his head around the room
<Brian> He laughs good naturedly.  His goons glance between you and he curiously, but remain silent.  "Thank you, you are too kind.  My son is, shall we say, rash?  He does things he should not, and he does them sometimes ... poorly.  But he is young.  This sometimes happens.  I would like to offer you my hospitality until you recover, if, in exchange, you were to find it in your heart to forgive him for the misundersanding at the temple of Kannon."
Shade nods, "I hold no grudge against him from our last encounter. And I will gladly accept your offer in the spirit it is given."
<Brian> He claps his hands together.  "I am pleased we could come to an accord!  I would like to speak with you again, soon, but I understand that you are wounded.  Your day's activities must have tired you ... I shall leave you to rest.  He bows to you, deeper than an acknowledgment of an inferior, and holds it long enough to indicate that he means it.
<Brian> His goons echo the bow, and hold it a fraction of a second longer.
Shade does his best to return the courtesy.
<Brian> It's painful, but also clear that they understand the difficulty.  After the bows, the yakuza clear out, and a woman dressed in standard house-wife wear enters, bearing a thermometer and a stethescope.
<Brian> "Before you go to sleep, we need to ensure that your ... activity hasn't aggravated your wounds," she says in a very quiet voice.
<Brian> After the checkup, you're left alone, and you're tired ... really tired.  It's kind of strange, but you feel much safer with the yakuza than you did at the hospital.  Though, you kind of miss the laptop.
<Brian> Well, rest is good for healing.  You drift off to sleep ... and you dream.
<Brian> I will set the scene here.  Dracos, Rez, you are asleep.
<Rez> OK.
<Rez> ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .
Dracos snores.
<Brian> Death, unfortunately, your actions at the hospital have cost you.  They've aggravated the wound on your chest, and you did, in fact, get an infection.  You quickly fade into delirium, though you are dimly aware of the yakuza-nurse and a few doctors injecting you occasionally with something that seems to help.
<Shade> ;_;
<Brian> You've completely lost track of time due to the haze of illness, though.  You no longer know what time it is, what day it is, or are you entirely certain of where you are ... but you drift off to sleep.  And you dream.
<Brian> You find yourself standing on one edge of a grassy clearing, your senses preternaturally sharpened, your mind entirely free of the fog that's been building in it from pain-killers and delirium.
<Brian> Outside of the clearing is a grainy, black-and-white forest of thickly packed fir trees.
<Brian> The grass is green, the sky is blue.  No clouds or sun in sight, but it's brightly lit nonetheless ... in the clearing.  It's hard to see through the forest any distance, but it's much darker there.  A stream leads to a small pool near your feet, and a path leads the opposite direction.
<Brian> You're wearing the clothes you had on before you encountered Box-Cutter Kid, and have all of your things with you, except the bicycle.
Shade looks into the pool
<Brian> It's clear, and looks to be perhaps ankle deep.  Near the far end from the stream there's a half-meter wide well that descends into darkness.
<Brian> You see tiny fish flitting about through the light filtering towards what you imagine is the bottom, out of your sight.
Shade avoids the well and investigates the path
<Brian> It leads off to ... well, you don't really know which direction.  It leads away from the clearing at an angle, and curves out of sight; the plants immediately bordering the path are lush, fully colored.  But beyond the edges of the path, they fade to black and white, again.
Shade goes back to the pool and takes a drink
<Brian> The water is clear, and cool.  It seems miraculously pure for some reason.  From here, you can see that the stream is probably about ankle-deep, too, if not shallower in places.  The forest on either side of the stream, as you look up it, is lushly colored, like the path.
Shade follows the stream up by walking on the bank
<Brian> Well, splashing through the stream is going to be an inevitability if you want to go far, but you can get to about a bend in the stream by stepping carefully on rocks and roots.
Shade does so
<Brian> From your new vantage point, you can see that the stream widens, large, flat rocks scattered across the surface.  You don't think you could reach any of them with a standing jump, though.  It looks about eight meters to the nearest one, though from there, you could probably jump along all the others.
Shade wants to know if he can follow the stream's path by walking on the forest side
<Brian> The banks are steep.  You could try it, but you don't really know that it'd work too well.  The roots look pretty slimy, and the rocks looks pretty dry by comparison.  You could still try, though.
Shade cautiously tests the footing in the stream
<Shade> itself
<Brian> It soaks right though your shoes.  And it's cold.  Other than that, it's about 6 CM deep here, and moving really sluggishly.
Shade walks to the first flat rock
<Brian> You do so.  However, as soon as the water touches your skin, you hear a crash, and the sound of hundreds of birds taking flight behind you.  You get to the rock only needing to get about 12CM deep in the stream.  When you look back at the clearing, the trees seem to have shifted, thick clumps of branches blocking the way back.
Shade nods at this sign and continues forward
<Brian> You do so.  The rocks seem randomly placed, but provide excellent traction, even with your wet shoes.  The branches seem to thicken overhead momentarily, as birds, it really does look like hundreds of them, fly outward from the clearing in a spiral.
Shade takes a moment to see if he can get some idea of what kind of birds they are
<Brian> They look like crows.
Shade has a bad feeling
Shade decides to quicken his pace as fast as safely possible
<Brian> You probably get another 30 meters down the stream, which is deepening, when you round another bend and see three things.
<Brian> One, the stream splits from where you're headed, to a smaller stream on your right, without any rocks, though it looks much shallower, and the skies above it are exposed without the benefit of the concealing tree-branches you have right now.
<Brian> Two, the stream has widened (even though you're going upstream) and deepens.  Your rocks are now stone pillars, probably a good 3 meters tall, though the water isn't moving very quickly.  Looking back towards the smaller stream, you see that the riverbed rises in a sharp shelf, so that the new stream is only a few cm deep.
<Brian> Three, if you continue on the wide river across the rock-tops, you're going to enter the side of a cliff-face, though there's enough light filtering in to see where it's going, and there's room enough for you to jump.  One of the rocks ahead is different from the others, looking more like a proper boulder than the platform stones you've been traversing.
Shade stays with the left stream.
<Brian> You draw near the boulder, and will have to pass near it on your way into the cliff face.  As you draw near, it stirs, and you realize it is not actually a boulder, it's that massive wolf, curled up and sleeping on a platform stone.
Shade freezes.
<Brian> The wolf stirs, yawns, and rises, looking at you sleepily before it scratches the back of one ear with a hind-leg.
Shade continues to watch it quietly
<Brian> It blinks, then stares at you, watching curiously.
<Shade> "Hello."
<Brian> Well, if a wolf can smile, this one does.  It starts panting, tongue lolling out, and makes a motion with its head, a though to usher you into the cliff-face.
<Brian> *a as
Shade slowly moves to the cliff face
<Brian> The wolf watches, moving to follow a few stones behind you once you move past it.
Shade keeps an eye on the wold as he moves
<Brian> It follows you docilely.  Once you pass under the face of the cliff, you see that it opens into a massive underground grotto.  There's a gargantuan flat boulder in the center, like a stage.  The guy from that dream ... the one who ran on clouds is inside, sitting in the lotus position on the middle of the stone.
<Brian> Light seems to be filtered in through veins of crystal on the sides of the grotto, though it's still pretty dim.  The wolf hops ahead of you by some of the stones, then pauses before leaping to the stage, and looks back at you questioningly.
Shade moves toward the boulder.
<Brian> The man blinks, seeming to come out of a trance, or to have just woken up.  He nods at you, climbing to his feet after unfolding himself from his meditative position.  There's a sheathed sword beside him, and he quickly picks it up, belting it in place.
<Shade> "Well, trying to stop Gin from freeing the wolf was a bust."
<Brian> He stares at you blankly, then smacks himself on the forehead.
<Brian> A black bird flies in through the entrance to the cavern, wheels around once, caws loudly, and flies away.
<Brian> "Firstly, you shouldn't have spoken here, of all things, you'd think we taught you that much.  Secondly, the wolf was sent to protect your friend."
<Brian> The man looks annoyed.  You hear a distant sound, somewhat like the noise of a drum, and the buzz of an insect, melded together into something ... strange.
Shade looks apologetic.
<Brian> "Time is short.  The wolf will guide you -- I will stall the foe.  Listen carefully.  You must seek out Ezmereth.  Remember this name.  Ezmereth."  With that, he leaps forward, jogging across the air above the stream, and vanishing through the tunnel entrance.
Shade nods and turns to the wolf
<Brian> The wolf bounds over to your side, then leans low, as though to get you to climb onto its back.
Shade gets on
<Brian> The wolf takes off like a rocket -- you barely hang on, but it's careening off of any surface you can see.  You're half certain a few of its bounds are off of the top of the water itself.
<Brian> The second you emerge from the cave, you see that the sky is darkened, thick with crows.  Your friend is fighting them with a sword, and he's fast.  Inhumanly fast.  But there's crows as far as the eye can see, and dozens of them are streaming after you.
<Brian> "I bet you can't wake up," a voice says, as you and the wolf fly through the forest, quickly scaling a ridge, and running across the top of it.  The birds are still behind you.
Shade remembers not to talk this time.
Shade decides to test one of those theories about dreams.
Shade bites his arm.
<Shade> Not hard enough to break the skin.
<Brian> A: You probably should have hung onto the wolf with that arm.  B:  OW.
<Brian> Luckily, you don't fall off the wolf, though you hear a voice snickering at you.
<Brian> Now, something you remember far, FAR too well.  The woman who looked at you before -- the one who was riding a giant black bird.  That bird, and the woman, show up seemingly from nowhere, and are right behind you.
<Brian> "You can't escape," she yells at you.
Shade thinks 'Never stopped me before'
Shade attempts to wake up
<Brian> You don't wake up.  This is more than a little freaky.
<Shade> is she above behind me or behind behind me?
<Brian> Above and behind.
<Brian> "We've got your partner," she warns.  "I will find you."
Shade decides to hang on tight and hope the wolf has an idea.
Shade thinks 'News to me, I didn't know I had a partner.'
Shade thinks 'Thank you for telling me about them.'
<Brian> "You can talk now," your advising voice chides you.  "Kannon can't help us now, so fix this image into your mind, and try to make us go there."  Your mind briefly fills with a grecian temple, at night.
<Brian> Then the image is gone, and the wolf is drawing upon the edge of the ridge -- indeed, on the edge of what looks like this entire world.  A steep cliff and endless fog sweep out below you forever....
Shade fills his mind with the image of that temple and yells back at the woman "Thanks for the help!"
<Brian> The world fades around you as the wolf leaps into nothingness.
<Brian> You come to your senses rolling across a twilight lawn, the wolf landing gracefully beside you.
<Brian> Faster than you can blink, two entirely spectral Grecian warriors hold lances to your respective throats.  "Why are you here?" the one confronting you barks.
<Shade> "That
<Shade> "That's a very good question, one I'd like to know myself actually."
<Brian> Both of the guards look away from you, towards the temple, and vanish.
<Brian> Now that you can look around, you're on a large, gently sloped lawn.  Downhill is a pool, lined with lit torches, and uphill is a series of marble stairs, leading up to a column-lined temple face.
<Brian> In the distance, is only quiet blackness, and stars, save a single mountaintop, glowing slightly red.
Shade looks at the wolf and asks "Got any ideas?"
<Brian> The wolf shrugs, and says, "Go ask the oracle for advice," looking towards the temple.
Shade nods and starts walking to the temple
<Brian> You hear a voice from the temple, a woman calling out, "And as ever, I am called."  She comes into view, stepping out from behind a column before you enter the temple proper.
Shade pauses
<Brian> You recognize her -- she's the woman from the dream that was taken from the Vatican by the man with a golden right hand.
<Shade> "My lady." Death bow
<Shade> bows
<Brian> She nods, but doesn't smile.  "I am no lady, merely a voice ... a conduit to something greater than myself.  Tell me, questioner, what you wish to know."
<Shade> "What do I need to do?"
<Brian> "What do you wish to accomplish?" she asks.  "All questions have beginnings ... but a vague question will only ever yield a vague answer."
<Shade> "What is the darkness in San Francisco? And why was it after Ginrai?"
<Brian> "The darkness ... the darkness that is the hearts of men ever contaminates the waking world, corrupting it as man reshapes the world to suit itself."
<Brian> She pauses, considering something.  "Ginrai?" she questions, cocking her head to one side.
<Shade> "The one in Albany"
<Brian> "I don't..." she pauses, considering things.  "You are being followed," she says quietly.  "Can you wake?"
<Shade> "I have tried. I cannot wake on my own
<Shade> "Who hunts me?"
<Brian> "A woman ... a woman who hunts those who I would protect," she says quietly.  "Are you Shade?"
Shade nods "yes"
<Brian> "I see."  She considers something for a moment, then nods decisively.  "I will try what I can, perhaps we have an opportunity."

This thread briefly combines with Hazy Shade of Winter (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=27671#27671).

<Brian> You wake up, dizzy, confused, and ... MAN does your wound ITCH.
Shade looks down at his wound
<Brian> There's a pink scar running from your rib-cage to your thigh.  Also, a bunch of staples in your bedclothes.
<Shade> "Impressive."
<Brian> Getting rid of the staples scattered across you lessens the itching a bit.
Shade takes a look around
<Brian> You're still in the Yakuza stronghold, though now that you're awake, you feel more clear-headed.
Shade wonders how long he was out
<Brian> By the clock and calendar, about two and a half days.
<Brian> It's light out, but only just.
Shade does a low whistle, that's pretty quick healing alright
Shade checks to see if he's strong enough to get up
<Brian> The nurse sweeps in to inspect you, and blinks at the wound you're still inspecting.  "Feeling ... better?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
<Shade> "Much."
<Brian> "Well, are you feeling up to getting out of bed?  The Boss has something for you, if you're feeling better," she says.  But the capital "Boss" still stands out.
Shade checks to see if he is strong enough to get up and move around
<Brian> You feel like a million bucks.
<Brian> Like you woke up that day in the noodle-shop.
<Brian> Hmm.  Hope this doesn't get to be too regular.
Shade inquires with the nurse "Could I impose for a change of clothes and a quick shower to clean up first? This (indicating the bedclothes) doesn't seem appropriate to meet him in."
<Brian> "Oh, certainly."
<Brian> She ducks out, and comes back with a change of clothes for you.  Nice, high quality, traditional stuff.
<Brian> After she hands you that, and a bucket of bathing supplies, she guides you to the furo.
<Brian> Man.  This guy ... REALLY knows how to live.
<Brian> And he's got money.  Money means power.  Hmm.  It's probably a good thing that his son gutted you, instead of the other way around, all things considered.
Shade cleans up quickly and gets dressed
<Brian> Comfy clothes.  You could get used to this.
<Brian> After that, the nurse reappears, and asks you to follow her.
Shade follows quietly
<Brian> You are led to a dining room.  It's also traditional, as is most of the rest of the house (though, they did have a pretty modern-looking hospital bed).
Shade tries to make an internal estimate of the money we're talking about for furnishings here.
<Brian> Easily millions, and most of it's tasteful, too.
<Brian> You see the Boss, Box-Cutter Kid, someone you expect is Boss's Daughter, and someone else that should be the Boss's Wife.  Boss is wearing traditional clothing.  BCK is wearing a school uniform, as is Boss's Daughter.  Boss's Wife is wearing a power-suit, making her look somewhat like an OL.  Four goons are standing at the corners of the room quietly, hands clasped behind their backs.
Shade bows to the boss.
<Brian> He bows to you, too, then motions you to take a seat at the table.
<Shade> are they already sitting?
<Brian> On cusions on the floor.
<Brian> But yes.
Shade takes the seat offered
<Brian> After you sit, you're served the traditional breakfast.  Miso, rice, etc.
Shade waits until the cue is given to eat
<Brian> It comes shortly.  And man, this stuff is good.  REALLY good.
<Brian> Then again, you haven't had anything but bland soup and water for half a week.
Shade takes time to savor the meal
<Shade> and observe the boss and his family as well as the 4 goons
<Brian> The goons are unremarkable.  They act like normal people, passably attentive, but also a bit bored.
<Brian> From what you can see, BCK and his sister are both obedient children, who only do what their parents tell them.  This is proven when Boss finishes his breakfast, and puts down his chopsticks.  "Ahh," he sighs.  "Wonderful."  He turns to BCK.  "Did you bring the present?"
<Brian> BCK nods, and reaches under the table, pulling out a cloth wrapped bundle the size and shape of a book, and handing it to Boss.  Boss accepts it, turns it over, and then hands it to you.
Shade bows and accepts the gift with a soft "Thank you."
Shade carefully unwraps the bundle
<Brian> He says, "It's the least I could do, since my son failed to find you before the Enemy."
<Brian> Woah.  It's a new laptop!  Not the same as your old one, but beggars can't be choosers, right?
Shade quirks an eyebrow. "The Enemy?"
<Brian> The Boss nods pensively.  "There are friends, and there are enemies.  People often forget their spiritual roots."
<Brian> He turns to BCK, and says, "Some seek to take that which is spiritual, and meant to be free ... and turn it into a tool, or a weapon for their own usage, forgetting why we have spirituality in the first place."
<Shade> "And perhaps even seek to exploit such?" Death inquires.
<Shade> "Ah."
<Brian> "Exactly," BCK says, whipping the box-cutter from his pocket, and setting it on the table in front of him.
Shade eyes the boxcutter
<Brian> Boss's Daughter rolls her eyes, and holds her hand out over the table, palm down.  Box-Cutter Kid slaps the box-cutter with his palm, and you see the weapon drop from the daughter's palm.  She catches it, then rolls it across her knuckles, and pockets it.
<Brian> BCK looks mildly annoyed.  Boss just shrugs.
<Brian> The weapon on the table is gone.
<Shade> "That must come in handy"
<Brian> "Of course.  And potentially useful," Boss says.  "Imagine how useful that would be to someone else.  But this spirituality ... it is not meant to be harnessed -- it is a gift, made for the people who have it to enjoy."
<Shade> "All gifts bear responsibilities as well."
<Brian> "Of course, which is why we wanted your attention," Boss says, looking at BCK sharply.
<Brian> The kid looks sheepish.  "Sorry," he says quietly.
<Shade> "The bicycle was a diversion?"
<Brian> "Well, I was told to get your attention, and you looked like the fiesty type," BCK says defensively.  "I figured you'd chase me with your bike, as opposed to me running up to you and saying, 'Woah, like, I know you've got some freaky magical power, and you can totally trust me, so come on over to my father's yakuza stronhold and hang out with me.'"
<Brian> He shrugs.  "After you threw the salt, I thought I'd cut you a little, then run.  Guess I just didn't know my own strength."
<Shade> "And what made you think I would be in any mood to talk after chasing you?"
Shade asks curiously
<Brian> "That would be after you were on the compound and surrounded by a bunch of big guys, and hey, you know, I'm not the best planner, I just kinda ... tried.  Anyway, the point is you are here, now, and not in the hands of the people who want to chain you to a machine, or use your powers for their own benefit, right?"
<Shade> "Had you simply asked, I think you would have been more pleasently surprised by the result."
<Brian> "Anyway," Boss says, overriding BCK, and cowing him into submission.  "We'd like to make our apologies, and see you on your way."
<Shade> "Since you went through such grat trouble to gain my attention, I would be amiss not to listen."
<Shade> great
<Brian> "Of course," Boss says.  "And we're glad to hear that ... but in all honesty, we have nothing to offer you.  Instead, we owe you an apology."  He shrugs.  "You must have things to do ... and I feel it would be poor of us to ask you a favor after that display."  He looks at BCK meaningfully.
<Brian> BCK bows his head.
<Shade> "It does not hurt to ask."
<Shade> "We seem to share a common enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is at the very least one I would like to avoid hindering at worst, and aid at best."
<Brian> Boss looks like he's considering it for a while, then shakes his head.  "While you are correct, we have deflected that enemy's hostility upon us.  We will fight them, and you need not get drawn into our conflict."
<Shade> "I suspect I already am a part of it."
Shade tells the Boss about the PDA that detected him
<Brian> "You may be," he allows, climbing to his feet, after listening to the speech.  He paces across the room, and then back, deep in thought.
<Brian> "No," he finally decides.  "You might be a liability.  You require a partner, or someone else to help you in your endeavors.  Someone who compliments your skills...."
<Brian> "That, I cannot spare."
Shade nods
<Shade> "Although, should I acquire such a partner...."
<Brian> "If you had that, then we could use another complete team to fight our enemy," he allows.
<Shade> "I would be honored."
<Brian> "Until then ... you must be careful.  Is there anything I can do to help you?  Anywhere you need to go?
Shade considers carefully
<Shade> "My...talent has allowed me to know that I must find a place in Hokkaido, where an ancient tree rises at the juncture of three rivers."
<Brian> Boss nods, and claps his hands more loudly.  "We shall find this place for you, and see that you get there, then."
<Shade> "Thank you."
<Brian> "Until then, your own belongings have been retrieved from the hospital.  That was my son's task."  Boss eyes BCK.
<Brian> "Would you like them back?"
Shade nods
<Shade> "Yes, please."
<Brian> In short order, you're brought your things.  In even shorter order, he's got a crew of goons combing maps of hokkaido for a three-river juncture.
<Brian> They find three likely matches within an hour, one far enough south to still be 'river' at this time of year, instead of frozen.  Boss is gone, but Bosss Daughter thinks you can get there by the end of the day, if you're willing to take a helicopter.
Shade will take the helicopter
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> The chopper is a sleek, black affair, piloted by one of the nameless goons, and naviguessed by another.  You're sitting in the back, which is relatively spacious, along with an amiable, shades-less goon (he's the chaperone) and Boss's Daughter.
<Brian> She introduces herself as Yukari.
Shade introduces himself
<Shade> "Fujinaka, Takeshi."
<Brian> She smiles, and makes small talk with you until come into sight of Hokkaido.  You stop briefly to stretch your legs at a local airport, and get some more fuel for the chopper.
<Brian> Yukari picks up some boxed lunches -- one for each of you.  The chaperone is the slightest bit distraught over this, consoling himself with a cup of instant noodle.
<Brian> After that, you're airborne again, though you can't suppress a certain anxiety....
Shade studies Yukari
<Brian> She's kinda cute, in that, "look at her too hard, and her father's goons will flay you" kind of way.  She's got long hair, doesn't die or curl it, and looks pretty, even without makeup.  She's also dressed in her school uniform, still, which is a plus for some fetishists.
<Brian> She's also almost always smiling.  The kind of smile that suggests she knows something you're about to find out, and it's going to be great.
<Brian> Eventually, just before the sun reaches the horizon, you come into view of the valley you've been striving to reach.  It indeed does contain three rivers -- one of which is pretty big, and two smaller ones.  This place is way up in the mountains.  It's got to be almost 65 km to the nearest town.
<Shade> "This is the place."
<Brian> There's a titanic tree at the juncture of the three rivers.  Either it was on an island, or just raised the ground around it while growing.  Yukari looks thrilled to see it.  "I can't wait to see what happens!"
Shade takes this opportunity to study the terrain from the air
<Brian> This is inhospitable and rugged ground if ever there was any.  The hillsides are half raw stone, the remainer scrub brush and thin pines.  They're also quite steep.  There's a small spot with a collapsed section of the mountain having fallen into the lake, which the goons make for as a landing site.
<Brian> Outside of that, it's the three rivers, with the tree.
<Shade> no signs of anyone else around?
<Brian> You see a rabbit running off, but really, that's all.
<Shade> no smoke, vehicles, or flashy or shiny things that should not be here?
<Brian> Just the helicopter, which you're in.
<Brian> The goons set down, and you can see the area -- fairly well.  Looks like you're going to need to get across about 160 meters of icy water to get to the base of the tree.  And man, is that thing HUGE.
<Brian> We're talking at least a hundred meters high, and ... you have no idea how wide.  But it's big.
<Shade> "Interesting."
Shade asks the goons if they brought a raft
<Brian> The pilot-goon and naviguesser-goon begin to inflate a portable raft, grumbling all the while.  You're currently on a shelf composed of rocks that have fallen down the side of the mountain, and then been reduced to sand by repeated freezing and thawing of the lake.
Shade studies the water
<Brian> It's blue.  It LOOKS cold, even without ice.
<Shade> anything under the water?
<Brian> Rocks.
<Shade> anything moving in the water?
<Brian> The angle of the sun isn't too cooperative to seeing through the water, though.  It's going to get dark pretty quickly.  Not that you can see, actually.
Shade checks the sky for birds
<Brian> You see an eagle.
<Brian> It cries something, then dives at the surface of the lake.  Comes back up with a big fish, too.
<Shade> how big?
<Brian> Hard to say, but judging by the distance, it's fair sized.  Got to have a really respectable wingspan.
<Brian> Yukari scampers to the edge of the water, her concession to the cold being a scarf.
Shade is impressed
<Brian> The sun's almost set by the time the goons finish with the raft, then produce two paddles.  The raft has enough room for two people comfortably.
<Brian> It seems obvious that you're going to go, but Yukari wants to go with you.
Shade wonders what the goons are going to do
Shade decides as he has no real official status here, its Yukari's party
<Brian> The goons motion you to go; it's your friend you're going to meet.  But Yukari invites herself to join you in the raft.
Shade looks at the goons
<Shade> reaction
<Brian> They don't seem to like the idea of her doing this, alone, with you ... but she is the Boss's Daughter.
<Brian> They're not going to put a stop to it.
Shade decides if they can't stop her, he sure as hell can't
Shade accepts her offer
<Brian> Alrighty.  You feel amped, after all that healing, and row the raft across the surface of the lake.  This entire area feels completely ... natural, and undespoiled.
Shade does his best to enjoy the scenery as he rows
<Brian> It's easy going.  But the scape seems off, for some reason.  It makes sense that the tree gets bigger, as you get closer, but it's getting bigger much faster than the parked chopper is getting smaller.
<Brian> *scape -- scale
<Brian> Anyway, you get to the base of the tree, and damn if there isn't enough room on the island for a chopper or three to have landed easily.
<Shade> "Hmmm"
<Brian> It just didn't look that way from the air.  The branches of the tree spread wide, covering what looks like half of the lake, and you see an eagle playing about the branches overhead.
<Brian> As soon as you set foot on the island, you feel warm ... comfortable.  You feel sleepy.
Shade turns to Yukari
<Brian> She claps her hands together in excitement and stares up at the tree.  "It's beautiful!  Where's your friend, though?"
<Shade> "That's what I'm going to find out."
Shade lies down under the tree as the oracle told
<Brian> It takes you almost NO time to fall asleep.
<Brian> You fade instantly into a dream.
<Brian> You're now sitting on the shore of a lake, and you can feel the warmth from where you sit.  There's a skillfully built teepee to one side, a fire crackling in it.  A man sits by the side of the fire, looking at you, and the sky is filled with stars that are flowing across the sky in a broad river, complete with currents and eddies.
Shade studies the man
<Brian> He looks ... young.  But at the same time, it's like you get the feeling you're looking at an older model of a human.  Not a cave-man, just someone ... ancient.  He's dressed in animal skins, various scraps stitched together with leather cord.
<Brian> "Why are you here?" he asks you, furrowing his brow in confusion.
<Shade> "I seek Ezmereth."
<Brian> He stands up, and you see he's thin, and has a tall build ... but he's shorter than you by a hair.
<Brian> "That is I," he replies coldly.  "And you are of man, the ways of man come confused and worthless.  Why do you come to bother me?"
<Shade> "I was directed to come here by the oracle of Delphi."
<Brian> "Ah," Ezmereth says, grimacing.  "Her."  He seems pensive for a minute, then turns to look at you curiously.  "What would you have me do, young Man?"
<Shade> "She mentioned a key in your possession."
<Brian> "No," he says shaking his head.  "I do not carry a key.  I am a key.  And the door I unlock requires a number greater than three."  He nods.  "Very well.  If Man's hand is to be stayed, let it begin here."
<Brian> You wake up.
Shade blinks
<Brian> It's light already, sun trickling in through the tree branches.  Yukari is cuddled up with you, her head resting on your shoulder.
<Shade> "Answers that always lead to more questions, the story of my life....."
<Shade> "Ara?"
<Brian> She wakes up, and blinks at you tiredly.  "Good morning!" she chirps.  "Where's your friend?"
<Brian> "Friend?" Ezmereth asks, seeming to emerge from the tree to one side of you.  "Indeed," he snorts, narrowing his eyes.
<Shade> "Its not my fault."
<Shade> "And this is not what it looks like"
<Brian> Yukari scrambles to her feet, eyes wide.
<Brian> "What isn't what?" Ezmereth asks, completely bemused.  You can see he's hefting a bladed club with one hand, which he didn't have in the dream.  Otherwise he's dressed identically.
<Shade> "Never mind."
Shade scrambles to his feet
<Brian> "Well, you found your friend!" Yukari enthuses.  "That's fantastic!"  She rushes forward to give you a hug.
<Shade> "Um, yes it is. I think."
<Brian> Her arms wrap around your neck.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> And you have the point of a gun pressed to your temple.
<Shade> is it hers?
<Brian> She's holding it, as far as you can tell.
<Brian> "Good work," Yukari chirps.  "Now, both of you just sit tight, while the boys come to pick us up."
<Shade> "Why, why does it always have to be the cute ones." ;_;
<Brian> "'cause we're the smart ones," Yukari reasons.  You can see the yakuza on the shore rowing another pair of rafts towards the island, and someone near the chopper is set up with a sniper-rifle pointed towards you.
<Shade> "Does your father know about this?"
<Brian> "Of course," Yukari says sweetly.  "It was his plan."
<Brian> Ezmereth sighs, and shakes his head.  "The Wanderer did not release me to become a prisoner again," he tells Yukari apologetically.
<Brian> "Now, now," she says.  "We won't hurt you, as long as you work for us."
<Shade> "If you surrender now, I won't feel bad about this later." To Yukari in a regretful tone
<Brian> Shade: Ezmereth looks at you consideringly, then nods.  You get an image, in your mind, of you clutching a dagger in your right hand.
Shade feels with his right hand
<Brian> You're actually holding it.  Grip is cool, feels like stone.  Serious weight to it, for a knife.
<Shade> what are our positions?
<Brian> "Ta-chan, sweetie," she says, "I really do like you.  And we're not going to hurt you either.  If you behave, I might even play with you once in a while."
<Brian> You're standing about three meters from Ezmereth.  Yukari is directly behind you, one arm across your throat, the other holding a gun to your head.
<Brian> To your right, two yakuza are rowing in, though they're minutes away, at best.  Beyond them is another yakuza with a sniper-rifle.
<Brian> You see the muzzel-flash from the sniper-rifle.
<Shade> "So why do you people want me anyway?"
<Brian> We'll enter combat time here.
<Brian> Okay.
<Brian> First off, Shade, you feel like someone strung you up, scraped you out of your body, and filled it with angry infantry-men.  Lots of them.
<Brian> Secondly, you feel like your bloodstream is pumping raw combat drugs.
<Brian> Now.  You can see (at this point) the guys you missed before, already hidden on the island.  Maybe they came over while you were asleep.  You're not sure.  But there are six of them, and you get the idea that they're normall somehow invisible, but you can see them.
<Brian> So.  We'll go in speed order.  First, speed sixes.
<Brian> Shade: That's you.
<Shade> wait, what do these guys look like?
<Brian> Like yakuza thugs with funky electronic mesh across their ghillie suits.
<Shade> and where are they in relative positions?
<Brian> They're arrayed around you in a semi-circle, on the side away from the tree (towards the lake).
<Shade> armaments?
<Brian> They're holding tazers, or guns that look blocky and plastic.
<Brian> Dart-guns, since you have the KNO skill to recognize them.
Shade goes limp and sags his dead weight in Yukari's arms
<Shade> falling to the ground
<Brian> She pulls the trigger.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> ...and the side of the dart bounces off the top of your head.
<Shade> Ow
<Brian> Phase 4, speeds 3 and 6.
<Brian> Dex order.  Shade, you're first.
Shade tries to trip Yukari's legs and keep her between him and the sniper
<Brian> Make your attack roll.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=9 ]{9}
<Brian> Please roll 5d6 for your damage.
<Shade> roll 5d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5d6 --> [ 5d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Er.
<Brian> 5#1d6, I meant.
<Shade> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Shade> 0_0
<Brian> You slam her to the ground.  Technically, she's between you and the sniper, but she's lying prone.
<Brian> Next in dex order: Yukari.
<Brian> She recovers from being dazed.
<Brian> Next in dex order: Ezmereth.
<Brian> He steps towards one of the Yakuza thugs and yells something primal, swinging the club high.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> roll 2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{5}
<Brian> The blow from his bladed mace tears off a lot of skin, and the knockback flings the thug into the water.
<Brian> Next in dex order:  One of the yakuza thugs bleeds into the lake a bit.
<Brian> The thug farthest to your right brings his gun to bear, and attempts to shoot you.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> He misses.
<Brian> Another thug (this one right next to the last) tries the same.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> He misses just as badly.
<Brian> Phase 6.  Speeds 2 and 6.
<Brian> First: Shade.
<Shade> did Yukari drop her gun?
<Brian> No.
<Brian> And you're already holding that knife.
<Shade> how close are the two who shot at me?
<Brian> About 3 steps away, each.
<Shade> grapple Yukari and use her as a human shield against these guys, try to get her gun away from her hands too
<Brian> Well, she's still on the ground.  So you'd have to pick her up.
<Shade> I couldn't roll her over?
<Brian> You could try that; it'd probably be easier to just kill them all, what with the boost you've got right now.
<Shade> Hmm, point
<Shade> okay
<Shade> Take the one farthest to the right, belly stab
<Shade> Yakuza to the right
<Brian> Oh, easy.  Roll to attack.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> You hit.  Roll 1d6 and 1d3 for your damage, and 1d5 for your stun multiplier.
<Shade> roll #1d6#1d3#1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : #1d6#1d3#1d5 --> error: malformed expression
<Shade> roll 1d6#1d3#1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6#1d3#1d5 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=1 ]{1}, [ 1d3=2 ]{2}
<Shade> >_<
<Shade> roll 1d6 1d3 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 d3 1d5 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Shade> >_<
<Shade> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}
<Shade> roll 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d5 --> [ 1d5=3 ]{3}
<Brian> You stab at the thug, but he leaps backwards.  You've cut him, but not as effectively as you would have liked.
<Brian> The other yakuza act now.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=14 ]{14}
<Brian> Two miss you; one misses Ezmereth.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Something from the shore fires into the side of the tree,.
<Brian> Segment 8, 3s and 6s.
<Brian> Shade: You first.
Shade slashes at the gun arm of the other thug on the right
<Brian> Please roll 3d6 to attack.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You hit.  Roll your damage.
<Shade> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
<Shade> roll 1d3
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{3}
<Shade> roll 1d5
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d5 --> [ 1d5=2 ]{2}
<Brian> That arm flies cleanly off, as though it were surgically severed.  The thug stares at it in horror, and shrieks like a little girl.
<Brian> Yukari's move is to hobble back to her feet.
<Brian> Ezmereth moves to the next thug, and attacks, ignoring the one he knocked into the lake.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> He hits (barely).
<Brian> roll 2d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{4}
<Brian> This guy is smacked right atop the head, and also knocked down.  Not dead, but he's not getting up for a while....
<Brian> The first thug on the right (that you stabbed) shakily levels his gun at you.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> He misses.
Shade goes for his gun wrist
<Shade> when its my turn
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Sniper's shot goes wide.
<Brian> Phase 10, speed 6s.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Hit.
<Brian> Please roll da... no, this guy's toast.  You killed him.
<Brian> Your dager's heavy, and he was already beaten up.
<Brian> Phase 12, everyone gets to go.
<Brian> Shade, you first.
<Shade> who's left?
<Shade> 2 yakuza of six left in fighting condition, one dead, one in the lake, one missing his arm
<Brian> Three thugs, and Yukari.
<Brian> Er, 2.  And the sniper.
<Shade> What's Yukari's condition?
<Brian> She's wavery, but furious.
<Brian> Probably better call off the wedding.
<Shade> Kick her down
<Brian> Make your attack roll.
<Shade> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Again, 5#1d6 damage.
<Shade> roll 5#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 5#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> You break her leg -- she goes down.
<Brian> Ezmereth's move.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=7 ]{7}
<Brian> roll 2d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{9}
<Brian> roll 1d6+1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{6}
<Brian> This thug tried to dodge, and got the mace swept across his neck for his troubles.
<Brian> He dies.  Pretty gruesome.  1 thug standing, and he turns and runs.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=15 ]{15}
<Brian> Sniper goes wide.
<Brian> Post segment 12.  Everyone who needs a recovery gets one.
<Brian> Combat is effectively over ... except for that sniper.
<Brian> So.  What do you do?
Shade grabs Yukari and tells her in a quiet serious voice "Call that sniper off."
<Brian> She whimpers and nods.
<Brian> We'll drop out of combat time.
Shade hoists her as a shield between himself and the sniper
<Shade> btw, what about the 2 rowing in?
<Brian> She produces a cell-phone in her empty hand, while Ezmereth squats, inspecting one of the downed yakuza.
<Brian> They're a long way off, still, though they're now rowing furiously.
<Brian> Rising Ezmereth says, "We should be away."
<Brian> * Rising,
<Shade> "That's sorta problematic at the moment
<Shade> "Unless you know another way off this island?"
Shade keeps a close eye on Yukari's hands
<Brian> "Oh, I do," he says, putting two fingers in his mouth and whistling shrilly.
<Brian> Hey, it's that eagle you saw a while back, flying down from the tree-top....
<Brian> Yukari makes a cell-phone call (you're kind of surprised there's reception out here, honestly), and calls the sniper off.
Shade binds and wraps her hands tightly
<Brian> A strip of her skirt serves that purposes suitably, though she seems kind of worried about her shattered leg, really.
<Brian> The eagle swoops down, and you see now that the scale of this tree is seriously weird.
<Brian> It's HUGE.  This is a passenger eagle, if ever there was one.  It has to land on the edge of the island, as its wingspan is too great to allow it any closer.  We're talking about thirty meters, at least.
<Brian> You dimly remember a physics lecture about a cube-square law ... and figure that if you mentioned it to this bird, it would just tell physics to sod off.
Shade will check Yukari's leg
<Brian> Looks like someone broke it.
<Shade> broken as in joint out or broken as actual bone in two?
<Brian> Bone is split.
Shade sets the leg as best he can
<Brian> You do what you can.  Ezmereth ignores you, and climb's onto the eagle's back.
<Brian> Once he's there, he whistles for your attention, and motions you to join him.
Shade grabs Yukari
<Shade> Yukari's gun
<Shade> "In a sec" to Ezmereth
<Brian> It's a dart-gun.  Loaded with tranq rounds.  Looks like it's got six shots in it.
<Shade> "Just tying up some loose ends"
Shade looks down at Yukari
<Brian> "You don't have much time left," Ezmereth warns.
<Shade> "You really should have surrendered when you had the chance" to Yukari sadly, then shoot her once.
Shade grabs his stuff and climbs up after Ezmereth
<Shade> discarding the gun
<Brian> It's a bit tough, at first, but the feathers seem to grip onto your shoes.  Once you're behind Ezmereth on the eagle, it takes off.  And you pass out instantly.

You wake up on a rocky island, rife with tiny plants.  The eagle looms above you, on a massive boulder, but it looks like it's asleep.

When you sit up, you think you're on a small island, but all you can see is ocean, no other nearby islands.

Also, when you sit up, you feel dizzy.  It's almost like you lost a portion of your strength in that push in Hokkaido.  Ezmereth is nearby, looking at some of the foliage intently, and the sky overhead is gray and cloudy.

Your island, if you stand up and look around, is perhaps 500 meters long, and about 300 wide, narrowing as it goes to the end furher from you, like a giant teardrop.  At your feet is a coconut someone split into two perfect halves.  Your new knife is lying to one side, all shiny and stone.

"Fish," Ezmereth says, breaking the silence.  "There aren't enough fish."

Death waits for a little while for the dizziness to pass.

"Depends on how picky you are actually."

Death eats one coconut half and then gets up and looks around.

Specifically looking at the shore and shallow tidal areas of the island.

It's easy to find.  The island is curved, making it somewhat like a comma, when you look at it closely.  The interior of the curve is the lower area, but before you get there, Ezmereth says, "I wonder how many fish are gone now?"

When you turn back to look at him, his eyes are distant.  "What does man do to his world," he sighs.  "Less and less ... we should take none of them, for now.  The plants, here, are plentiful.  Let them sustain."  He turns and focuses on you.  "And you ... you must be tired after your exertion."

As soon as he says it, you realize it's true.  Even after all that sleep, your body feels weak.  He gestures to the remaining half of a coconut.  "Drink, and rest," he instructs, turning to stare across the sea moodily again.

Death takes his advice and eats and drinks the rest.

Once finished, Death decides to question the brooding druid.

"What was that back there, anyway?"

Death struggles to find words to describe the sensation.

"That...boost? It felt savage, wild, like Rage given life itself."

"Imagine, if you will," the druid intones, turning to look at you, "that you were to compress a season of your life into a handful of moments.  Imagine, then, what you could do with the power, the patience, and the strength of a season ... stuck in that grouping of heartbeats."  Ezmereth nods to himself.

"Imagine, also that the power to do this, to take a year, and live it in a heartbeat was granted to you by a world angry at the men who treated you so poorly ... and imagine the payment she would expect for your in exchange for that bargain."  He shrugs.  "Or, perhaps, you can think that for a moment, you were stronger, and far more powerful ... but with a breath of the earth, that strength wanes."  He smiles.  "Ours is not always to question, hmm?  Rest, and heal."

Death winces.

"Trading Long term capital for short terms benefits to use against people who embody the very same problem, Nature really does have a sense of irony."

Truly, a double edged sword. And one Death hopes he will never experience again.  Power holds no real interest for him, especially one with this high a price.

Death decides to rest.

You doze off almost instantly.  When you wake up again, you're on another island, this one covered in snow.  Ferocious winds scream across it, evidenced by the gouges in the rock formations about the island, and the beaten, nearly sideways trees.  A bear-skin has been tossed over you, and you're not cold at all.  A small fire burns nearby, and the eagle again nestles overhead on a rock outcropping.

Windward, someone -- probably Ezmereth -- has stuck a handful of snowdrops in the snow.  The wind gently ruffles the flowers, but does not blow through the campsite.

The man is again staring moodily into the sea, this time towards an island you can see to the north-east.  "No further north," the druid declares, not turning to look at you.  "Something wicked sleeps there."

Turning to face you, he pulls a wooden skewer out of the fire, some unidentifiable animal-meat on it, and offers it to you.  It smells good, though you're not sure you want to think about what it is.  "Where do we go?"

Death considers.

Now he realizes what he forgot to ask Rez and the others in the dream.

Where were they? And more importantly, where were they going?

The Oracle had spoken of Bjorn being held by the crow woman. Unfortunately he didn't know exactly where they were.  And then there was the darkness that had pursued Ginrai, it had found him in Albany, but it had been sent from San Franciso. And finally,  Ezmereth had spoken about being a key, but a key to what? And where?

Death eats and thinks.

"I'm not really sure at the moment. It would depend on what priorities we have. The enemy after my friends is in San Franciso, California. But I'd sorta like to find out what Rez and the others know before barging in there, especially given that he seemed to know the Oracle pretty well.  Unfortunately I don't really know much about where they live, the only place I know about is Albany, which last I heard Gin was leaving with all due haste."

And then a thought hits Death

'I don;t suppose you know how to contact any wolves in the world of dreams, do you?"

"I do," Ezmereth says, nodding slowly.  "But this is not the world of dreams.  Few live in the world of dreams fully enough to speak with another.  You may be one, with practice.  Are your friends such?"

He motions you to eat, then squats opposite the fire and rubs his hands together, despite the fact that it doesn't really seem that cold.  "San Francisco.  I remember that place, and you would do well to avoid it."

"I don't think so, but the Oracle seems to be. But she's not the one I had in mind, more like a wolf assigned to keep an eye out on me. Big as a boulder, sharp teeth, quirky sense of humor, doesn't bother with a name. Don't suppose you know him?"

Death finishes eating.

"What's in San Fransico anyway? The Oracle  and Kanon have both been vague about the details but I find it easier to avoid things if I know what I'm trying to avoid first."

"If you've seen one wolf, you've seen them all," he opines, drawing another chunk of meat-on-a-stick from the fires, and tearing into it messily.

"The worst of men reside there," Ezmereth says humorlessly, after a few thoughtfull mouthfuls.  "I do not know Kannon, but the Oracle you speak of ... she and I have crossed paths long ago."  Ezmereth considers something for a moment, then adds, "I think, in all truth, those in San Francisco are much the same as those we fought before leaving the lands where I slumbered."

"You've obviously never been to D.C., if you think the fruits and nuts in California are the pits of humanity."

"I guess its too much to hope for that you know about any women who like to control crows?"

He grimaces.  "The crow is her sign in the world of dreams," he spits.  "In the waking world, she merely preys on the minds of men.  Spinning deciet and confusion through the gullible.  There is one such as she, and she is with the men in San Francisco.  They call themselves ... the Workshop."

"I was afraid you'd say something like that."

"So San Franciso it is."

Death decides that since he has some time that now is good to check all the items returned by the Yakuza for any unwelcome surprises (such as homing devices, wires, boobytraps..etc).

You don't see anything out of place, even if you open up the laptop they gave you.  Except for the fact that it looks like they stuck an old hard-drive in the new casing, everything is as it should be.

Ezmereth shakes his head, and mutters.  "I will take you to Drake's Point," he finally decides.  "But I will not again go to San Francisco."

Death nods.

"That's fine."

"I don't suppose you can unlock whatever it is you unlock before we reach there? Frankly I think we're going to need all the help we can get."

"There are not enough of you," Ezmereth says, shaking his head.  "As I said, at least three others are required.  You may be one, but you must find your friends, first."

"Of course."

Death would rally against Fate, but knows its a futile gesture.

"Okay, if I know Dracos and Rez they'd probably go gung ho headfirst into danger without thinking twice. I dunno about Ginrai but Bjorn in San Franciso definitely makes four."

Death sighs. Wonderful, he's going to have to find Dracos, Rez and Bjorn before any of them get their fool heads enslaved by a witch who likes crows or this "Workshop" gets them.

"Can you at least give me a way to contact you once I find the others?"

Death decides to setup his new laptop in preparation for the long hunt ahead.

It's a new laptop with your old laptop's hard-drive.

Ezmereth actually looks a bit annoyed.  "You woke me on the call of the oracle," he gumbles.  "I require you and your friends so that I may do my work, and then sleep.  I truly care little for the affairs of men, but I owe a debt."  He sighs, flinging the remainder of his meal upwards -- the eagle you had thought was sleeping snags it out of the air without effort, then settles back down.  "Earth and fire," he mumbles to himself, staring into the flames.  "We will sleep here," he decides.  "We will reach Drake's Point in the morning.  I will wait for you there."

On a whim, Death checks to see if he can get online before going to sleep.

No wireless networks are within range, unfortunately.

You sleep, again without dreams, and wake up on a beach.  Ezmereth and the eagle are nowhere in sight.  It's cold, but you've still got the polar-bear skin thrown over you, and a burnt-out firepit sits next to you.

Death gets up and looks around.

The sun is either setting or rising, and you're therefore either on an eastern coast, or a western coast.  Taking what Ezmereth said to you, this should be Drake's point, just north of San Francisco.  You see a lighthouse in the distance, what should be north of you.

Mostly, the beach is just sand, though there's a lot of pebbles in it.  Further inland you can see various scrub brush, and coastal flora, though it's all dried and brown.  You see distant stormclouds from the southwest, and the wind is blowing east.

There's a marker, or a sign of some sort near the trees, and a path through them; ostensibly to some more major road.

Too bad the yakuza kept your bike.

Death grabs his stuff anf starts legging it toward the sign near the trees.

The bearskin is huge, but rolls up into a surprisingly compact bundle.  Warm, too.  You dislodge the knife that Ezmereth gave you while rolling it up, and pack that away as well.  Now that you have a chance to look it over, you see that it's stone, alright.  The core of the blade is granite, but the blades are obsidian, smooth and sharp.  It looks flawless.

The handle is carved bone, wrapped in what grips like leather, but feels softer, and is colored a light red.  A series of tiny, tarnished copper and gold beads are impressed across the face of the cross-guard in a pattern that looks like a sun.

When you get to the sign, you see it says, "No camping, no pets, no fires, no littering," and so on.  There is a crudely asphaulted path that leads through the trees, and you think you can get a glimpse of a wider road though there.

Death  decides to take the path up to the road.

It wends about a bit, but takes you up to a major road.  US HWY 1, to be exact.  You're near a parking lot, and you see a side-road that you imagine leads to the lighthouse.  There's also a sign from some resturaunt to the south, peeking over the top of a hill, but you can't quite make it out at the sun's current angle.

Death decides to check out the lighthouse first.

Back across the beach.  There is a paved (and somewhat raised) road across the beach.  As the sun is setting, the moon is also rising.  It's between 3/4 full, and 1/2.  You have enough light to get to the door, but it's locked, and a sign says, "No entry."

It looks like it's probably automated, all things considered.

Death goes back to check out that resturaunt.

It is a resturaunt, as by the time you get back to Highway 1 (still no cars, oddly), the light is turned on, and you can read, "Sams!"  It looks like they stole the color scheme, font, and, once you get in site of the building, the blueprint from a Denny's.

And two things occur to you here.  For one, you've got no US currency on you.  For another, even though you've done nothing but sleep and eat for ... how long has it been, anyway?  It doesn't matter.  You are ravenous.

Death checks for his credit card.

Intact, accepted world wide.  Looks like you're set.  You start feeling a bit weak as you top the hill, like something sapped your strength and you're still recovering from it.

Death enters the resturaunt and hopes the service here is fast and the food at least edible.

A waitress offers to seat you at either the bar or a table.  Once you have a seat where you choose, you can scan the resturaunt, and see two people at one table, looking like refugees from college, and a lone man at the far end of the bar, chugging coffee like his life depended on it.

After you're seated, you're approached by a woman wearing the uniform (knee-length pink skirt, pink blouse, white apron) and a badge that says, "HI, I'M:  Samantha".

"What can I get ya, honey?" she asks, smacking her bubble-gum loudly.

"Water please, and a menu."

Death checks the overall condition of his table. How clean is it?

It's California Resturaunt Code Clean.  Clean enough to eat off of, at any rate.  Samantha comes back with a menu and a glass of water, just in time for your stomach to growl loudly.

Death checks the menu.

Sheesh, it's almost like they ripped that off of a Denny's, too!

Death orders the cheapest filling burger available.

They've got a few.  Within minutes, you're given a burger, fries, and garnish.  Mmm.  Garnish.

The food's not half bad, either.

Death eats and observes the other people inside.

The coffee-chugger is the one who seems most attention-worthy.  He's apparently a trucker, and he talks to Samantha whenever she refills his mug.  From what you can gather, he's headed down through San Francisco, though he doesn't sound like he's looking forward to it.  In his words, "It's a creepy ghost town."

Death decides to introduce himself and mention to the trucker that he's headed in that direction too. Perhaps it would be less creepy if someone rode along with him?

The trucker hesitates, then eyes you for a bit.  Maybe he decides you're trustworthy, and maybe he just thinks he can handle you if it gets to a fight.  Either way, you can tell he's genuinely afraid of going to San Francisco alone, because he offers to pay for your dinner.

Death accepts gracefully.

Death waits for whenever the trucker is ready to go.

He's ready to go right then, so after he forks over a few bills, you climb up into the cab of a semi after him, and start cruising south on Highway 1.  You're about an hour and a half away from San Francisco at the start of the jouney, and the trucker wants to talk about his kids.  Could be worse.

The interior of the cab is sparsely decorated, except for a faded pair of fuzzy dice.

In short order, you come into sight of the Golden Gate, barely illuminated in the darkness.  The trucker asks you, as you approach the bridge, where you would like to get out.  You can't see the city in the distance.

Death says he will ride with the trucker through San Fran, the trucker can let him off once he's at the other edge of the city.

He's immensely cheered by this, and then starts to regale you with the story about when he used to drive between L.A. and Sacramento, briefly switching to a tangent on how nice San Francisco used to be.

You reach the southern edge of the city, though the city itself is a blur.  Everything seems abnormally dark, the streetlights only just able to illuminate the ground.  There's no traffic, and every traffic light is green when you get to it.

You can honestly understand the trucker saying the place is creepy -- it's almost like it's deserted.  He drops you off at the edge of the city, wishes you good luck, and drives off, leaving you in a pool of moonlight barely able to dispell the darkness of the city to your north.  Immediately around you are abandoned houses, and scrub brush.  You only have enough time to look around before clouds cover the moon.

Shortly after, it begins to snow.

Death grabs his stuff and heads for the nearest building that looks the most intact.

It's not Nob Hill, but it was someone with money.  A two-story house, door boarded up.  No visible holes in the walls or anything else like that.

It takes you a minute or two to get the boards out of the way, and someone's long-since broken off the lock.  Once you're inside, the air of an abandoned lodging is unmistakable.  Wedging the door shut with some of the broken boards that had sealed the home in the first place, you've gotten secured lodgings.  You even find a room with all of the windows intact.

Death pulls out a flashlight from his backpack and checks for a fireplace and/or the kitchen.

This house must have belonged to someone well off, and it does have a fireplace.  You don't have a whole lot in the way of firewood, though, unless you're willing to pull of cabinet doors and such.  Additionally, when you inspect it, it looks like it's a gas fireplace, and burning live wood in those often results in lowering the real-estate value of a home.

Death checks for the kitchen and any bathrooms or closets. Specifically looking for containers, canned or preserved food, household chemicals, blankets, and anything else useful or valuable.

Judging by the fact that the lock was already broken, you deduce that the place has already been looted.  Whoever got here first was pretty thorough, too.  All you find is a dirty towel, a roll of toilet paper, and a small carboard box of empty soda cans.

Death sweatdrops but takes the towels and toilet paper.  Death sets the aluminum cans up along all the entrances, including by the windows so that if someone tries to break in, they'll kick the cans and make a noise. Then Death investigates to see if there's a basement or attic in here, or maybe even a hidden place the owners or looters might have missed.

You've set up a simple, yet effective alarm system.  Searching the house yeilds a basement which is A: Cold, and B: contains a box of DuraLogs.  With a gas fireplace ... maybe the owner's forgot.

Also in the basement is an old mop handle, and a bucket.  Some random litter (candy wrappers, discarded papers for cigarettes) and a discarded copy of Playboy suggest that someone used this place as a hide-out at some point.  That might explain the DuraLogs.

Death removes the metal handle from the cracked bucket and brings it and the mop handle up from the basement, then goes back down to scoop up the cigarette paper scraps and shove them in his jacket's inner pocket, then taking up the playboy and the duralogs.

You're set.  You've got all sorts of abandoned goods in this place.  And, of course, that polar-bear skin that Ezmereth left you.

Death stacks his scrounged material to the side in the living room and covers himself with the polar bear skin. Making sure the flashlight is in his hand (turned off), Death drifts off to a light sleep.

You have no idea how deeply you sleep, but again, you dream.  This time, you hope your dream has no meaning, as it was nonsensical, and fades as you wake.  It involved an endless buffet, you remember that much.

Either way, you wake after sunrise.  Your defenses are undisturbed, and the polar-bear skin was warm enough you didn't need to use any of those instant-firewood gadgets.  You're not certain of the time, but you feel pleasantly rested, if still a bit hungry.

Death yawns and stretches before getting up.

Death goes to his backpack and puts his watch on, having finally remembered it. After checking the time, Death takes out his swiss army knife and carves one end of the mop handle to a crude dull point.

Then leaving his backpack in the corner of the room concealed under a frame  of duralogs with the bearskin draped over it, Death goes out foraging with his digging stick

You whittle the mop quickly into ... well, not spear quality, but definately dirt-shoving quality relatively quickly.  A good shovel would be ideal, but....  The wood shavings join your collection of cigarette paper bits and other scraps.  It occurs to you breifly, as you set up the polar-bear skin to hide your goods that it's likely worth much more than the things you're hiding with it.

Though, as you drape it, you notice a pair of leather ties that you think would turn the bearskins into a cape, if you were to secure it about your shoulders.  On the other hand, that's probably not a fashion statement you want to make in San Francisco.

Death blinks, then decides to take a quick look outside before making any decisions about using the skin as a cloak, replacing the skin with the dirty towel instead.  If its snowed in outside, then wearing white might actually be more beneficial then his normal dark clothes.

If it is nice and white outsaide, Death will put the cape on and take his digging stick outside to forage around. Might want to check for anybuildings that look promising too.

Six centimers of snow.

In California.  And with the 'warmer' costal breezes to warm the area, too.  Should be fun seeing how meteorologists spin this one.

Most of the buildings look similar, save one with a car out front.  That one's probably got people in it, though.  You do find a hilltop that allows you a fair view of your surroundings, after a bit.  Your trucker friend seems to have dropped you off on the southern-most fringe of suburbia, abandoned houses radiating around you for a good block or two further ... further north than that, however, nearly every single home has been bulldozed.

They weren't kidding when they said they were taking the city apart and building it back into a nature conservatory.  It's going to take a lot of work to clear out the rubble, but you can see earthquake damage from here.  The city itself, north of you, looks dessicated, like someone drained the life from it.  A few of the skyscrapers look like stand-ins for some high-quality special-effects disaster movie.  It's bleak, and the snow makes it look dead, instead of pure.  A few of the buildings bear obvious cracks visible from here, and more are just piles of rubble ... though you can distantly make out what looks like armies of trucks hauling the rubble away.  Though, you do wonder where they're taking it.

Death tugs the polarbear skin a little tighter around his shoulders and decides to do a little recon of the area, avoiding the house with a car for now, specifically looking for any signs of green or even a few rocks that look like they'd be good to throw.

Death wonders, if this place is going to be a nature conservatory, where's the nature?

Not really rocks, but lots of nice, jagged concrete lumps.

Other than that, and litter, this place looks picked clean.  You wonder who actually lives in a place like this, now.

Death pockets some of the rocks that are of a size that makes them suitable for throwing. Then Death decides to scout out that house with a car in front of it. Any signs of life?

You approach the house, and it looks like someone does ineed live there.  The tired buzz of a generator clunks away from a garage, and light comes out of a window.  There's also smoke from the chimney.

The mailbox is empty, for whatever that means.

Death decides to be neighborly and knocks on the front door.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

You hear the barking of a dog, but no one comes to the door.  Maybe it's your cloak....  You do feel really comfortable, considering that you're in snow, and still wearing your 'light' winter clothing from Ryu-Kyu.

Death knocks again.

"Hello?"

Your reward is more dog barking.  Maybe they're avoiding you....

Death checks to see if the door is locked.

It is.  You think you hear someone moving around inside, but no one opens up.  The dog is now barking more loudly, and you can hear it scratching at the door.

Death decides to withdraw quietly, keeping a wary eye on the door.

No one emerges from the house, and you get back to the street without any difficulties.

Death decides to study the car. Does it look usable?

Hard to say under the snow.  You'd guess so, though.  It is worth noting, since you're looking, that it's not snowing right now, but you don't see a gap in the snow that would indicate a car being parked next to the one there.  This suggests that someone is probably home, unless the fire's been running since before the snow began.

Death checks to see if the car is locked.

It is, in fact.  And the door to the house opens up enough for a large German Shephard to slip out before it slams shut.  The dog begins barking like it's an army come to route the interloper as it rushes you.

Thinking quickly, Death grabs the stone knife and smashes the driver's side window in, then reaching in to unlock the door. Then twirling the polarbear skin to wrap around his arm as a buffer, Death prepares to deal with the dog.

Reacting quickly, you use the blade of your stone knife to smash through the window of the car.  It's easier than you thought. Hey, that wasn't so bad....Germen Shephard Attack!
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 attack {6}
Lucky Bastard Dice:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 --> {2} {6}
...and the dog lunges, firmly sinking its teeth into your cloak.

Either it doesn't like the cloak's taste, or something else upsets it, because it lets go and snarls at you menacingly.

Death slowly uses one hand to open the car door while keeping his knife hand ready between him and the dog.

Oooh....  It doesn't like that.

This time it lunges:Attack roll:
<Chibi-Suu>Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> {12}

...and misses.  You manage to get into the car while it's on the ground.  It begins to back away, as though gearing up for a jump.

Death pulls out a concrete lump and throws it at the dog's face. Death gets ready to stab it if it tries to jump in, ideally aiming for its throat.

The thrown rock repells the dog, leaving you alone with the car, an the broken glass.  So ... now what?

Death does a quick look for some keys in all the usual hiding places, dashboard, shades, in those little pockets in the door, etc.

Failing that, and if nobody comes from inside the house, guess its going to be  good old hotwiring the transmission.

No spare keys in the car.  Shades, though.  Going to have to do this the hard way....Electronics skill roll:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> {10}
This is harder than you had thought ... luckily, this is an older car, and it's possible.  The newer ones have all sorts of strange security, but this one (once you crack open the ignition with your swiss army knife) is the old-school style.  You take a brief, minor shock, but the car roars to life.

Look out, ladies, Ta-chan's got himself a Datsun.

Death checks out the fuel gauge before taking off on a roundabout route back to the building where the rest of his gear is.

You're looking at about 3/4ths a tank.  You cruise in your stolen car back to your illicit lodgings.  This seems to have turned out rather well, all things considered.

Death proceeds to quickly load the stuff from the house into the car, logs and pipes first, then his backpack and laptop last, after that, time to drive over to where Death saw the truckers and tail them to where ever they go.

This is easy.  Once you enter the city proper, it shows some more signs of life, but not many.  You see occasional people wandering the streets, but they look up at you as though a passing car is an irregularity.

The earthquake damage is also much more visible from this range.  Splits run through many of the buildings, earthquake retrofitted or not.

There's a small number of stores still open, almost all mom-n-pop type places.  No chains, except for a bleak looking Chevron.

The trucks are all heading out of the city in the same direction, along a route that also seems to be bearing the only other 'normal' traffic you've seen so far.  A few construction workers line various points along the route, supervising the movement of rubble into trucks to be carted off.

And that appears to be what it's all about.  The rubble drop-off point is about fifteen miles east of town, where they've set up a conversion factory to pulverize the cement, extract any rebar or non-concrete scraps, and then grind it back up into powder.  This powder is then (from what you can see) stuffed into large sacks, and loaded onto semis headed out somewhere east.  About the same time you reach the processing plant, you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you.

Death checks the rear view mirror.

It's the fuzz, and they're coming up behind you, lights and sirens on full.

Death pulls over to a stop.

The police car blasts past you at unknown speeds, leaving silence in its wake.

Death blinks.

Death decides to follow the police car at a safe distance.

Skidding a bit (okay, a lot) on the icy road, you see the police car flag down, and then pull over a semi.

Death decides that perhaps it would be better to head back to town, first stop, the bank.

You find a bank.  It's a large building with a skeleton crew staffing it.  Looks like they're just waiting for everyone else to clear out of town so they can, too....

Death grabs his laptop and backback and heads inside, looking for someone who can do a currency exchange for him. Or failing that, help him withdraw some folding green from his accounts to go shopping with.

This bank is too small to actually host a currency exchange.  But, they do have the ability to aquire funds from your account for you.

Death withdraws enough to last for awhile, unsure of how long it will take for him to find the others.

Next stop, try to find a copy of the local newspaper.

You find a news-paper stand across the street from a run-down looking police precient, and check it out.  The San Francisco Chronicle seems to take second billing to the San Jose Mercury.  Kind of sad, when you think about it, that the local paper has less pull than that from a neighboring town....

But you do find a paper, and the change sitting in the ashtray of your car (along with some unopened gum) pays for it, and you can now peruse the headlines at your leisure.

From the local news, the LA 49ers have made it official that they won't be coming back.  Alcatraz tours are now only going to be run three days a week, instead of the current schedule.  The Metreon is being re-located (along with a new 15-screen IMAX theater) to San Jose.

Well, at least local economy is booming, even if all the jobs currently are supporting the people who are clearing out the abandoned buildings and preparing the area to return to a nature conservatory.

Also, comics.  Garfield isn't as funny as he used to be, but the strip features snow, which is a rarity.  And your horoscope says, "You'll meet someone new today, and this time it might be different.  Mercury is in Gemini, and that could mean love!"

Death checks the help wanted section and the 'For Sale' section.  Also for any ads involving groceries, electronics, or the other little necessities of life.

Seems to be a major chain of electronics stores called 'Fry's', but their closest branch is town in San Jose, and that's a good hour away from here.  There's a few local hardware and electronics stores, though.

For anything else you're looking for, there's a few mom-and-pop places likely to cater to your needs.

In the Help Wanted section, you see that all the jobs are working in hauling rubble, the hauling rubble industry, or hauling rubble administration.  Well, there's dock work, but that requires certification.  Though, there's a tech company called BioWire that's looking for "talented interns".

Death decides to get supplies and more reliable transportation. Next stop, the used car lot.

Al's Used Car Emporium!

Wow, he actually went out and knocked the snow off of each car ... now that it's getting on towards noon (though you are feeling a bit peckish), the snow has stopped.

Al stays in his office, where it is warm, waiting for you to go in rather than coming out to you.

Death decides to inspect the cars in the lot since the dealer isn't in a hurry to come out, ideally looking for one with room, good milage, and beaten up on the outside but working smoothly on the inside.

<Brian> The scene is thus.  You are driving down the snowy streets of S.F., Al's Car Dealership on your left.  The name isn't on a sign, it's painted across the top of his angled roof, and raised slightly.  The snow appears to be covering the 'Honest', which appears in the window....
<Death> An Omen.
Death eyes the lot.
<Brian> It's got a few dozen cars in it.  Most look decent, you think, though there is snow on a lot of them.
Death parks by the dealership and goes out to inspect the merchandise
<Brian> Al watches you from inside the door, but doesn't come out to greet you until you start looking at other cars.  Al himself is a great man, in stature, assuming stature is measured from side-to-side.  He emerges from his glass-walled office after seeing you, and pulling on a jacket.  "Howdy!" he yells, stomping within proper speaking distance, and wearing a grin.
<Brian> "What kin' I do ya fer?"
Death goes "Hmmm" and starts inspecting the cars for defects
<Brian> They look okay for used cars.  No gems, and he didn't really repaint them so well.  From what you can see, decent attention was paid to the actual working of the cars, instead of the look, so it's not a total loss.
<Death> "Not bad."
<Brian> "Crazy weather, huh?" Al asks, as a police cruiser turns down the street, slows, and stops behind the car you came in with.
Death nods
Death inquires as to prices, keeping track of that police cruiser out of the corner of his eye
<Brian> Two officers emerge, one to lean strenuously against the car and catch his breath after the arduous task of door opening, the other to approach the stolen car and inspect the license plate, as though it were somehow more visible from the street than behind the wheel.
<Brian> "Oh, well, prices are gonna vary, depending on the model and the year, you know.  You want a cheap car, I got cheap cars.  You want a dependable car, I got dependable cars.  You want a totally riced out civic, well, I got one of those, too."
<Death> "How about dependable and with room in the trunk?
<Brian> "Family man, eh?" Al says, nodding good naturedly.  "I got a station-wagon, if you're looking for it, and a mini-van, if you're looking for something bigger."
<Death> "Mini-van sounds abour right"
<Death> about
<Brian> You hear the crackle of the officer's radio, though you can't make out anything beyond a few sylables.  You catch, "...match ... ... ... pect ... ... onfirm ...."
<Brian> Al rubs his chin, then nods, and leads you towards a minivan.  Looks like a late 80's Chevy Astro, powder blue.
Death checks it out
<Brian> "This one's good -- I had to replace the engine when I got it, so we're talking solid.  Transmission had to go, too."
<Brian> Looks like Al really deserves that 'honest', as you inspect it.  The interior is not flawless, but good, considering it's used.
<Death> "How much?"
<Brian> The officers close their doors and begin meandering across the street towards you.
<Brian> "This one's a real beut -- especially if you're looking up to pack up and move out, like most people.  I could probably let it go for, oh ... three thousand two hundred.  Full tank of gas, and spare tire thrown in, too."
<Brian> Well, maybe Al ain't so honest.
<Death> "$1800"
<Brian> Al looks wounded.  "My friend!  That's gonna hurt -- $2800."
<Brian> The cops are in the lot behind you, and you hear (through the static) "...fur coat.  Over."
<Death> "Let's keep it platonic, $2000."
<Brian> "$2700."
<Death> "$2300."
<Brian> "$2600, and I'm going hungry tonight."  He pats his rather obvious stomach.  "And you know that's gonna hurt me."
<Brian> You can now hear the police.  "...looks like him, alright."
<Death> "$2500, you can stand a little hunger pangs. And that's my final offer."
<Brian> "Well, that sounds fair," Al drawls slowly.  "But ... how about ... 1500, if you trade in your old car?"
<Death> "Done."
<Brian> The police officer's footsteps are crunching through the snow behind you.
<Brian> "Great!  Let's go inside, I'll get the paper ... oh, uh, hello, officers, can we help you?"
Death turns around to face the officers
<Brian> The police are now right behind you, a few steps away, each.  "Hello, Sir," one says, nodding at you.  You feel oddly self-consious in your polar-bear skin.  "Is that your vehicle?" he turns to point to the old Datsun.
<Death> "It was."
<Brian> "Actually," Al puts in helpfully, "he was just about to sell it to me, so if it's got a bad smog sticker, or something, I'll take care of it."
<Brian> One of the officers takes a few steps back, and hits his walkie-talkie button.  "Got a confirmation on that, HQ, south-west of market district on Gable, looks like 20345 Grant road."
<Brian> "Okay," the other one says.  "Do you mind if I ask to see your ID, and registration?"
<Death> "They're in the car."
Death points
<Death> "why, is there a problem?"
<Brian> "Sir," the man says frankly, "this car was reported stolen.  Is this car yours, or a family member's?"
<Death> "I didn't know they passed a law outlawing buying used cars."
<Brian> "I'm afraid I don't understand your logic, Sir.  I'm going to have to ask you to show me your ID, and provide proof of registration for your vehicle."
<Death> "That jerk! Trying to pull insurance fraud on me!"
<Brian> Al steps backwards slowly, looking nervous, and the further officer rests one hand on his baton.
<Brian> "Al," the officer says, nodding respectfully.  "Mom says 'hi'."  Turning back to you, he says, "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to come with me."
<Death> "First he tries to welch out on his debt, then tries to kill me, and now he's trying to collect the insurance on that hunk of junk."
<Death> "Gladly, I'll be pressing charges for attempted murder."
<Brian> The officers stare at you.
<Brian> "Are you resisting arrest?" the first one asks, narrowing his eyes.
<Brian> roll 2#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 2#1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
<Death> "You heard me, let's go down to the station so I can press attempted murder charges against that lying welcher."
<Brian> Right at about this moment, a roaring engine sounds, and a car TEARS down the road behind you, screeching to a halt on the road, and spinning around to a halt in the middle of the road.
<Brian> One of the officers (the closer one) stares resolutely after it, while the other turns around to look at what's going on behind him.
<Brian> Two people climb out of the car -- a blonde woman with short hair, and a tall, somewhat thin man in a lab coat.  He's got dark hair, semi-unkempt, and you can tell from here he's got a nervous habit of chewing bubble gum, which he's doing right now.
Death blinks.
<Brian> They stat dashing towards you, the woman calling out, "Takeshi sweetie!  Takeshi sweetie!  Please don't shoot, officers!"
<Brian> The officers both look mildly offended at this.
<Brian> "Takeshi," the man in the lab coat scolds.  "I've TOLD you not to forget to take your medicine."
Death blinks again.
<Brian> Both of the officers turn to look, though they're warily keeping a half-an eye on you.
<Death> "And you would be?"
<Brian> The blonde woman runs up and hugs you tightly.  "Takeshi, how could you forget your own aunt?"
Death points at the lab guy, then the girl.
Death blinks again.
<Death> "Since when do I have a caucasian aunt?"
Death points to his black hair, then to the woman's blonde hair
Death looks at the officers for help
<Brian> The woman looks mildly offended.  The officers look very confused.
<Brian> "My sister married his father," she explains apologetically.
<Brian> The man in the lab coat hangs his head, and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a wallet with slow deliberation.  "Officers, that's my car -- it wasn't actually stolen.  Or, well, maybe it was, but I don't want to press charges.  This is all just a misunderstanding."
<Brian> The second officer (the one further away) turns to face the doctor directly.  "Mr. Peterson?" he reads off the driver's license.  "I assume, if I go over to that car with you, that you can produce the registration and verify that this vehicle is actually yours?"
<Brian> "Yes," Dr. Peterson insists emphatically.  "Please, it's cold -- I'd like to get this taken care of, and Takeshi back home with his medicine."
<Brian> The officer looks doubtful, but follows the doctor to the car.
Death studies the doctor.
<Brian> The woman kisses your cheek affectionately, and loudly scolds, "Don't scare us like that!"  When the first officer looks away, she hisses, "Keep up the act -- we'll get you out of this."
Death mouths "Why?" when the officer looks away again
<Brian> Al looks very confused.  "Does this mean I won't be making a sale?" he asks, frowning.
<Death> "Sorry. Maybe once we get this all sorted out."
<Death> "At $2400."
<Brian> "Japan to America without any records through customs," she answers back, ruffling your hair as though you were a child.
<Brian> Loudly, she says, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"
<Brian> Al nods doubtfully at you.
<Brian> The doctor looks like the kind of guy who either thrives on stress, or is going to die from it shortly.  He adjusts a pair of spectacles, and shows paperwork (license, registration, etc.) to the officer nearby.
Death restrains his eyebrows from shooting off of his face at the sight.
<Death> "Steak, blood rare."
<Brian> "Oh, you know that red meat aggravates your condition," she chastizes.  The officers relax, and seem to believe the doctor, and the woman.
<Death> "I suppose Sashimi is out of the question then?
<Brian> "Oh, all right," she agrees.
<Brian> Finally, they agree to let you go in peace, ushering you to the car to verify that you're being taken care of properly.  Peterson explains that he'll have the Datsun towed later today, and that he doesn't want to press charges.
<Brian> "Go on and get in," the woman encourages, opening the rear door of the car, and motioning you in.
Death keeps an eye on the doctor's and woman's hands.
<Death> "Ladies first."
<Brian> She nods at you, and climbs into the seat, sliding over and then patting the seat next to her.  Peterson remains waiting outside for you to get in before he takes the driver's seat.
<Brian> The officers remain behind, one watching you suspiciosly, the other speaking with Al like an old friend.
Death slides in carefully after her.
<Brian> Peterson closes the door, and then hits the power lock, climbing into the driver's seat, and closing his own door.
<Brian> The officers continue to watch as he starts the engine up, and slowly drives down the street you came in on.
<Death> "Well, you certainly seem to know a lot about me."
Death studies the woman.
<Brian> "An open mind is an easy read," the woman says casually, fumbling for something in her purse.
<Brian> "Ridiculous," the doctor mutters.  "Completely ridiculous."
Death coughs.
<Death> "Telepaths?"
<Death> "So that would put you on which side then? I'm starting to lose count here."
<Brian> "I am," the blonde says casually.  "Section two?" she asks the doctor.
<Brian> "Four," he replies without hesitation.
<Brian> "Japan," the woman murmurs.  Her eyes widen, and she starts to tremble slightly.  "Ezmereth."  It comes out in a deep, hate-filled hiss.
<Brian> The woman's face distorts into raw fury.  "EZMERETH!" she yells at the doctor.
Death pulls out his stone knife and stabs at the woman.
<Brian> Make a roll.
<Death> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Death> ^^
<Brian> Nice.  You got her.  Now, roll 1 and 1/2 die of killing damage.
<Brian> "Count to fifty," Peterson replies placidly, before you make your move.  "Ezmereth is merely a component -- he may not even lead to the Wanderer."
<Death> roll 1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
<Death> roll 1d3
<Brian> And, roll 1d6-1 for stun multiplier.
<Death> roll 1d6-1
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=1 ]{1}
<Death> "Well that answers that question."
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Death ... : 1d6-1 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{2}
<Brian> You inflict: 2 body, 2 stun killing damage.  She is not Wounded, she is not Stunned, and she is not Dazed.
<Brian> You are at full ECV.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> Your dECV is 3.  Her oECV is 6.
<Brian> You are hit.
<Death> Ow.
<Brian> roll 4#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 4#1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
Death kicks Suu.
<Brian> It feels remarkably like the doctor reached over the back of his seat, stuck an eggbeater in your skull, and began to whip vigorously.
<Brian> You take a total of 15 Stun, and are Dazed.
<Brian> The woman injects you while you're dizzy.
<Brian> Everything fades to black.

<Brian> You come to your senses (groggilly) strapped to a table, wearing a stark white jumpsuit.
<Brian> The doctor is leaning over you, and looking down with a smile.  The blonde is glaring at you with something bordering on murderous rage, and rubs at her bandaged arm almost compulsively.
Death hums mentally and pictures the blonde naked and doing obscene things in his mind while testing the restraints.
<Brian> "How are you feeling today?" the doctor asks pleasantly.
<Death> "I feel like I want my stuff back."
<Brian> Right now, wiggling your fingertips is going to be a serious achievement.  Whatever they hit you with was POTENT.
Death keeps the picture of the naked blonde in his head.
<Brian> "It's good to want," the blonde says, holding your stone knife aloft.  Looking up from the table she stares at the doctor intently.  "Let me go after Ezmereth.  We KNOW where he is.  He'll take me to the Wanderer, and I'll get it back."
Death smiles.
<Brian> "Sense of irony?" the doctor asks, eyeing the woman coolly.  "Patience, Miss Taylor.  Patience."
Death keeps the picture in his head as he attempts to get his body to cooperate.
<Brian> "I.  Want it.  Back," Miss Taylor says through gritted teeth.  The flecks of a frenzied foam line the corners of her lips.
<Brian> It's slow work -- everything below your waist is hitting snooze, but your fingers are a-twitchin'.
<Brian> "Calm yourself," the doctor says severely, eyeing her sharply.  "Do you require more medicine?"  She relaxes instantly, looking down and away.
Death concentrates on getting his fingers working.
<Brian> "No," she mumbles.
Death decides the picture needs music.
<Brian> Your fingers are now moving right, and you feel more awake.  Your wrist straps aren't budging, though.  The chest-straps only make it worse.
Death starts mentally replaying anime songs in his head, having the naked blonde dance.
Death tries to get his feet working.
<Death> "Yes, she does."
<Death> "I recommend a double dosage for her."
<Brian> The blonde's eyes widen.  "He's seen him.  The ... new guy.  What's his name," she says, throwing the knife onto a tray.  It clatters loudly.
<Brian> Her eyes widen more.  "The bracelet.  Ashnod's supposed to use it for something."
<Brian> "Mmm," the doctor grunts, eyeing you thoughtfully.
<Brian> "Is he dangerous?" he asks, looking up at Taylor.
Death continues trying to work his feet.
<Brian> They're tingling.  Ouch.  Feels like they've been asleep for hours.
<Brian> She runs her fingers through her hair, scrubbing at her scalp.  "Not ... half as much as he thinks he is," she says slowly.  "I ... there's more he doesn't know.  I can't ... figure it out.  He doesn't KNOW yet!"
Death tries to figure out how she's seeing into his head.
<Death> "You aren't very good at this mind reading gig are you?"
<Brian> She grabs the knife from the table, and slams it into the bed, centimeters from your head.  "Let me cut him," she says.  "I get a better read when they're dying."
<Brian> "Patience," the doctor stresses again.
<Brian> She growls like a feral animal, but backs away, leaving the knife stuck in the bed, right next to your head.
<Death> "She really needs an injection."
<Death> "Actually better make it two, the extra one should take the edge off of her PMS."
<Brian> "Calm, calm," Peterson soothes her, frowning.  "The bracelet.  Well, well, well.  We fish for the Wanderer and catch Ashnod's secret ... and find Ezmereth.  I think today has been..." he pauses, then smiles, pulling a stick of gum from a silver case tucked into his jacket.  "...quite lucky."  He claps his hands, and two S.W.A.T. armored guards arrive.  "Dose him, and drop him off in section four," he orders.
<Brian> He smiles at you, and tucks the gum into the neck of your shirt.  "Good boy," he says mockingly.  "Behave, and tomorrow, maybe you'll get another."  Taylor grumbles, and injects a needle into your arm ... and everything goes black again.
<Brian> We'll move back to the forums from here.

This thread now merges here (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=28285#28285).