Ramon says, "Okay, you're still at the library with Travis."

========================
========================

You spend the next day and a half doing research.

You are able to track down 22 shadow with shadow-travelling crusaders,
13 with shadow-travelling lizard men.

You also locate references for 353 Giant Flesh Eating Banyan Trees.

A consultation with Lady Yumi reveals that the turtle riding girl may
be Suu, daughter of Lord Alars.

You track down 40 babies imprisoned inside various sorts of things
after killing sprees.

Jacqueline asks what Suu's disposition is... friendly? hostile?  and
What strengths and weaknesses lord Alars is known for.

Lady Yumi says, "Suu is a sweet little girl if you survive her
experiments.  Lord Alars is noted for his keen mind and his
shapeshifting skills.  And for being both ingenious and ruthless."

You find 29 different 'Croatoans'.

You locate 358 different nine-person shadow races held on a regular
basis.

Jacqueline feels a headache coming @.@

You, in general, find far more clues than you know what to do with, in
fact.

Anything you want to look up we haven't covered?

Jacqueline aaaghs and scratches her head.

Jacqueline asks, "Um.... is there anybody else we can ask that might
help narrow this down?"

Lady Yumi says, "I'm afraid hardly anyone knows the archives better
than we do."

Travis says, "Let me see if Anna has any insights."

Jacqueline says, "aiyaaaaah....."

Mercutio has arrived.

Mercutio has left.

He calls in the mousy assistant librarian, Anna.  "What are we looking
for?" she asks.

Jacqueline says, "Well.... anything to help figure ou t this..."  She
conjures a replay of hte shadow girl theater once more, complete with
bloody ending.

Anna says, "Hmm."

She says, "Well, I understand the words 'Taylor wuz here' and
'Croatoan' appeared at your father's death.  Perhaps this indicates
the Banyan Tree somehow is connected to it...perhaps a house that uses
that as a symbol?

Jacqueline says, "A house that uses that as a symbol?  Does any house
use that?"  She flips through the books quickly

Travis says, "Good idea."

Some searching reveals there is a minor house of Chaos, House Banyan,
which uses that symbol.  They are noted for their skills at making
things grow.

Jacqueline frowns.  Chaos again.

Jacqueline says, "aiyaaaah.... fifth time back to chaos.... I guess I
can't avoid it."

Anna suggests, "I think you could also try walking in shadow to the
Banyan tree the vision mentions."

Jacqueline nods

Jacqueline says, "maybe... maybe this will lead me to Taylor... or
some answers."

She speculates, "The tree which had the ring taken out of it might be
the resting place of the Spikard of Wood.

Jacqueline's ears perk up. "Spikard?"

Anna says, "It seems logical to me."

Jacqueline says, "hm.... "

Anna says, "The one with the person cutting themselves indicates
someone made creatures from their blood, then left them to run amok."

Jacqueline pauses a moment, then remembers something.  "Oh!  Um, do
any of you know who the son of the walking man might be?  I think I'll
have to find him to help get mo fixed up all the way."

Yumi, Anna, and Travis twitch in unison.

Jacqueline says, "um, uncle mo... dad's construct, that is."

Jacqueline blinks

Jacqueline asks, "what?"

Jacqueline asks, "I, um, guess he's not friendly?"

Travis says, "The Walking Man is the Herald of the Outer Gods.  He
doesn't have a son...I hope.  And if he did, the son would be so evil,
you would NEVER want to bring him near Morgenstern."

Jacqueline frets.

Jacqueline says, "Well.... it seems the oracle well in chaos thinks
so...."  She replays the oracle's line about the walking man and
morganstern

Travis says, "It seems like a bad idea, whatever the oracle may have
said."

Jacqueline sighs.  "I don't wanna leave uncle mo incomplete... but I
guess if he might be that bad....."

Lady Yumi says, "I'm sure Gabrielle and Nagisa can fix Morgenstern up
good as new."

Jacqueline's expression saddens at the mention of those two.  "I... I
guess... though I worry they won't fix him how he was, but how they
want him to be.  Auntie Gabrielle is mad at me too.... for everything
that happened with mo, I guess."

Jacqueline looks at Anna curiously.  "Is there anything else you can
think of?"

Lady Yumi nods.  "I can understand her concern."

Anna thinks hard.

Anna says, "You might try tracking those lizardmen or the crusaders
through shadow...perhaps the lizard men, as they might somehow be
connected to the banyan tree.  It only arrived in the visions after
they did, I think."

Jacqueline frets.  "They, um, seemed the more hostile of the two."

Jacqueline asks, "OOCly how close is the shadow theater to ohtori?"

Anna says, "Oh, and the bit with the vampires sounds like House
Tremere to me."

Jacqueline asks, "OOCly a few minute's walk?"

Moriya OOCly says, "Right next door, it should be."

Ramon says, "OOC They're fairly close."

Jacqueline says, "house.... tremere.  chaos again. *sigh*"

==========
==========

Jacqueline asks, "OOCly what day am I on now?"

Ramon says, "OOC Day 26"

Ramon says, "OOC Same day as Kanna."

Ramon says, "OOC One day behind Beowulf."

You page, "So I take it we finished mid-day in Lipun and went straight
home?  As day 27 was the breakfast I was planning with Ukyou, Corrine,
and myself?" to Akemi.

Jacqueline asks, "OOCly speak of the devil, will i be able to trump
dear old Wulf?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Heyo, folks..."

Akemi pages, "Hai.  The breakfast will be on day 27" to you.

Ramon says, "OOC Since Travis just logged on, you can trump him if you
like."

============
============

Jacqueline trumps Beowulf

Beowulf takes the trump call. "Hello?"

Jacqueline waves tenatively.  "Um, Uncle Wulf?  Do you have a minute?"

Beowulf asks, "A little bit, yes. What's up?"

Jacqueline says, "well... I was watching the shadow girl theater, and
saw a bunch of strange stuff... and then a bunch of lizard men and
people in armor and yellow crosses came in and started killing each
other.... i was wondering if you might be able to help me figure out
what was going on?"  She conjures images of the men and the lizardmen.

Beowulf says, "The lizards seem to be similar to the ones of Dinosaur
World; Mitsune visited them a while back, I'll put her on in a
minute."

========
========

Jacqueline says, "OOCly how are my relations with mitsune? O.o"

Ramon says, "OOC Pretty good."

Ramon says, "OOC But then, Mitsune likes almost everyone."

=========
=========

Beowulf says, "The Knights remind me a bit of a group called the
Knights of the Circuit; they're a rather odd group of
cyberpaladins. It would be a bit unusual for them to show up out of
their shadow, though, since they don't have any way to travel shadow
that I know of."

Jacqueline asks, "are theu, um, friendly?"

Beowulf says, "They're friendly to people who follow their
faith... not so friendly to others. Rather hostile, in fact; they tend
to be a bit fanatic. Though they do try to convert you first, before
deciding you're an infidel and trying to kill you."

Jacqueline says, "aiyaaah.... glad I stayed invisible."

Beowulf asks, "Hm, yes. Probably a wise move. Why where you there, by
the by?"

Jacqueline says, "I... well... I don't know what to do
anymore... especially after what happened to Uncle Mo... so I wanted
to visit some oracle-like things."

Beowulf asks, "I see... is Uncle Mo okay now? And your mother?"

Jacqueline says, "Aunt Gabrielle's fixing mo, though she's really mad
at me now.  Mom... mom's okay now, but she's.... missing a lot of
memories.  We... we had to tell her dad died."

Beowulf asks, "Really mad? What happened?" He sighs a bit at hearing
how Kasumi's doing. "How'd she take it? And is losing those memories
bothering her?"

Jacqueline says, "I guess she's really upset at having to fix uncle mo
again... I'm too scared to ask.  And mom.... mom's... she has lots of
friends in the castle, she'll be okay."

Beowulf asks, "That's good." He makes a little patpatting
gesture. "Hopefully they'll help her; is there anything that can be
done to help her recover the rest of them?"

Jacqueline says, "I don't know... maybe give some of my memories to
her, but unless mom can walk the pattern, I don't think there's
anything else."

Beowulf asks, "Actually, that should be possible; didn't cousin Keiko
walk the Fire pattern with Gabrelle's help?"

Jacqueline says, "Oh!  The shadow play!  You should see the shadow
play!  Here, let me show you..."  She conjures a re-play of the events
of the shadow play, complete wtih bloody climax between the lizardfolk
and the paladins

Beowulf observes the events thoughtfully. "The plays have too many
interpretations... but it seems the two groups weren't expecting to
find each other there."

Jacqueline scratches her head.  "Have you ever seen a banyan tree that
eats people?"

Beowulf asks, "Well, there are about 80 different species that
do. Anything particularly notable about this one?"

Jacqueline's expression darkens.  "It did write 'Taylor wuz here'."

Jacqueline says, "after it ate people dancing around it."

Beowulf frowns. "Hm. The 'Taylor wuz here' was found where your father
died, wasn't it?" He pauses in thought. "Only five of the Banyan trees
could produce writing, that I know of."

Jacqueline asks, "oh?"

Beowulf tells Jacqui where those five can be found.

Jacqueline nods

Jacqueline asks, "Um... where are you at right now? Is everything
okay?"

Beowulf says, "As for Croatoan... it's a specific oak tree, the sacred
tree of a werewolf clan in a shadow that has a lot of were-creatures."

Jacqueline frets.

Beowulf says, "We're on our way to investigate a clue that could be
fairly important in tracking down that item I was looking for, and
keeping it out of dangerous hands."

Jacqueline says, "ooh.  good luck with that." She smiles.  "Does
Mitsune-san have anything to say about the lizard men?"

Beowulf says, "In a moment, I'll put her on." He smiles. "One more
thing... the playlet with the vampire shopkeepers was probably a play
on House Tremere of Chaos; they like to pose as vampires."

Jacqueline pales and sighs at the mention of 'chaos'.

Beowulf says, "And thank you for the good-luck wish." He smiles again.

Jacqueline laughs nervously and quietly mutters, "Not that I have any
luck to give....."

Beowulf lifts an eyebrow sympathetically. "Well, one of these days
things will pick up, I'm sure." He brings Mitsune into the trump
contact. "Jacqui has some questions about Dinosaur World; you visited
there a while back, didn't you?"

Mitsune nods.  "Sure, what you need to know?  Besides the fact that it
sucks rocks."

Jacqueline says, "um, I think some of the dinosaur people went to
ohtori.  they were in the shadow theater two days ago."

Jacqueline says, "i was wondering, um, maybe, you might know why they
were there or what they would want?"

Beowulf nods. "Along with what looked like the Knights of the
Circuit."

Jacqueline asks, "and are they, well, unfriendly?"

Mitsune blinks.  "How strange.  I can't imagine how they got out of
their hellhole."

She continues, "They are friendly if you play along with their stupid
beliefs."

Jacqueline thinks of the paladins and laughs nervously.  "Sounds
familiar."

"They think the goddess of life wants everyone to run butt naked
through the forest with no possessions and do really crazy dangerous
things so she can experience those things through them."

Jacqueline says, "..."

Beowulf refrains from comment.

Jacqueline asks, "so... um... the dinosaur people really shouldn't
have been able to be there at all?"

Mitsune nods.  "They have no means of shadow travel that I know of.
They have some magical powers, but they didn't even understand teh
idea of other shadows when I was there."

Jacqueline nods.  "I think... I'll try to see if any of them are still
around.  Mitsune-san, uncle Beowulf, thank you for your help, and good
luck with your quest."

Beowulf says, "Good luck, Jacqui. Don't do anything *too* risky. :)"

Jacqueline blushes slightly and laughs nervously

Jacqueline says, "I... I try, uncle."

Beowulf asks, "Just be a bit calmer, yes? Is anyone coming with you?"

Jacqueline says, "Um... I'll try to see if Shinobu-chan can
come...she's really good with a sword."

Beowulf asks, "That could be good. How about anyone who could help you
get a better handle on your magic?"

Jacqueline says, "ah... um... not really, no... I don't want to
trouble too many people... they keep on getting shot off to chaos."

Mitsune says, "I suggest you read up on my report on Dinosaur world.
Dad should have a copy."

Beowulf asks, "Hm. Perhaps someone who could cope with being sent off,
or help you keep from doing it, then?"

Beowulf smiles. "School project?"

Jacqueline frets nervously.  "I really don't know anyone I want to
fling off to chaos..."

Beowulf says, "Well, the idea is that they can keep from being flung
off." He winks.

Jacqueline blinks, then realizes that was a joke.  Um.  Sort of.

Jacqueline says, "I-I'll be okay, uncle, really I will."

Beowulf patpats. "I'm sure you will, Jacqui. Good luck."

Jacqueline says, "thank you."

Jacqueline shuts off the trump, then trumps Shinobu

==============
==============

Ramon says, "OOC I need to cut here; I'm just wiped uot."

Kanna OOCly nods.  Go sleep, John.

Jacqueline says, "OOCly aye, that's fine, go get rest :)"

Beowulf says, "OOC Sleep well, John."

Ramon exclaims, "OOC see y'all tomorrow!"

Akemi has disconnected.

Jacqueline says, "most of the shadow play seemed like stuff beowulf
would want o.O"

Jacqueline says, "foreign lands, magic rings from trees, carniivorous
banyans, etc"

Beowulf says, "Well, I asked John about it, and he said most of 'em
wouldn't have made sense to Bey anyway."

Jacqueline says, "huh"

Beowulf says, "Which may have been his way of saying 'You'll have to
go there if you want your own visions. :)"

Gabrielle says, "Really? Given that he's got a copy of Kanna's
prophecies, you'd think theyd make TONS of sense."

Mercutio has arrived.

Jacqueline says, "I think john was just tired :)"

Mercutio has left.

Finn says, "Most of them were so obscure or required so much
foreknowledge that even with John explaining them, about half of them
didn't make much sense."

Jacqueline says, "the refs do indeed require a bit of thought"

Gabrielle says, "they weren't THAT bad, Dan. i got about half."

Finn says, "No, no you didn't."

Jacqueline says, "i only got hte one about baby nanami and suu messing
wtih fred"

Gabrielle says, "I'm pretty sure I did."

Beowulf says, "Baby Nanami and Suu? o.o"

Finn says, "You think you did, but I know for a fact that several of
your guesses are just outright wrong, as I saw you make connections
that weren't there."

Kanna OOCly says, "ahwell, bed for me."

Kanna waves.