From tbutler@birch.net Wed May  9 11:09:01 2001
Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 09:04:15 -0500
From: Travis Butler <tbutler@birch.net>
To: Philip J. Moyer <pmoyer@jurai.net>, Chris Bremner <chrisb@thekeep.org>
Subject: [Amber/UnS] Spellvis!


GM asks, "Okay, what you going to do now?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Does Lian have Temporal Scrying?"

Beowulf says, "OOC If not, I'll make a quick rack and ask Lily to rack a
temporal scrying for Kanna before we move on."

GM says, "OOC Lian can do it, Lily can do it, Mitsune can do it.  In
fact, all of you can do it except Beo."

GM says, "So you can get Kanna set up with that very easily."

Beowulf nods. "OOC Good 'nuff. Probably next talk to Grandmother and see
if she'd be willing to teach Sidar, then."

GM says, "OOC Yep.  SHe's willing to come give you lessons, so we can
gloss over your years of fast time, and you know know Sidar."

Beowulf says, "OOC Sounds good. :)"

GM asks, "OOC Okay, what's next?"

GM asks, "OOC Okay, how do you plan to find Spellvis?"

Beowulf asks, "OOC Can we seek him in shadow?"

GM says, "OOC Yes."

Beowulf says, "OOC All right, let's try seeking him in shadow. Keep an
eye out for Dinosaur World, though; having it pop up twice in Kanna's
path is a bit unusual."

Beowulf says, "OOC Keep an eye out for it popping up, that is."

GM says, "OOC Righto."

Beowulf sets off on a hellride for Spellvis.

GM asks, "OOC Horses?  Humvee?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Humvee, I think."

You drive through shadow for two days, and find yourself cruising into
Graceland.

Beowulf says, "Ah, I should have expected this. Old Home Turf."

Some inquiries lead you to Spellvis' house.

Beowulf says, "Lily, please keep an eye on me and stop me if I start
gushing about the music here? Oh, and both of you, *don't* go to church
services here." He shoots them a rueful look.

It's a nice two story house with a white picket fence and a neatly kept
lawn.

Beowulf knocks on the door.

Lily nods.  Mitsune says, "Why not go to church here?"

Beowulf says, "Because they slipped a High Compelling on me there. Very
nice work, subtle, never even noticed it."

Mitsune urks.  "Right, no churches."

There's a long pause before Spellvis opens the door.  He's wearing his
usual rhinestone jumpsuit.  "Ahh, there you are," Spellvis said.  He
checks off something on a notepad and puts it away.

Beowulf smiles and cocks an eyebrow. "Expecting me, eh? Good to see you
again; how's it been since Panopticon?"

Spellvis says, "Oh, things have been pretty good.  And you?"

The inside of the house is pretty typical middle-class American
interior, though with more Elvis memoriablia than the average house.

Beowulf rolls his eyes. "Getting in a lot of trouble, staying
crazy-busy, getting shoved around by mysterious forces... same old, same
old, I guess."

Beowulf says, "What've you been up to lately? Heard an interesting tale
from a cousin of mine, not sure how much credence to give it."

Spellvis says, "Ahh yes, Kanna.  I'd heard stories about her, but hadn't
realized how much of a gullible idiot she is."

Spellvis continues, "She's very nice, but I'm surprised she's lasted as
long as she has."

Beowulf raises an eyebrow. "Indeed? I find her general faith in humanity
rather refreshing, but I suppose that's just me."

Lily winces a bit at that.  Mitsune starts wandering around, poking into
things.

Beowulf asks, "Ah, Mitsune, it *is* his house; perhaps you don't want to
mess around with it?"

Beowulf asks, "So how exactly was she 'gullible' this time?"

Spellvis says, "She's been suckered by Kuonji Inji, or possibly one of
his agents, into helping him recover the keys Anno scattered around
Shadow to the spikard 'The Hoard of the Dragon'."

Spellvis continues, "With a bullshit story about a supposed gate that
needs closing which shouldn't have fooled a five year old."

Beowulf raises an eyebrow. "Ahh, I see. I was wondering about that,
based on her descriptions."

Beowulf asks, "I take it that the 'key' he left with her was not the
right key?"

Spellvis says, "As if keys which didn't exist until months ago could
close an ancient gate."

Mitsune sits down, pouting.

Beowulf says, "Well, there are people who could put something like that
together... but yes." He sighs and rolls his eyes again. "Cousin,
cousin..."

Spellvis says, "I got one of the keys, mainly by making sure Kuonji
never got his hands on it."

Beowulf smiles. "I was wondering if that part of her story was true."

Beowulf asks, "Planning on going for it yourself?"

Spellvis says, "Well, my basic problem is that while I'd like the
spikard, I'm fairly sure that if I try to go up against him, I will
likely die, unless I find the perfect trap."

Beowulf asks, "Hmmm, yes. Remember the Master?"

Spellvis says, "Who can forget such a moron?"

Beowulf says, "Yes, he is getting a bit tedious, isn't he?" He shakes
his head. "Unfortunately, he's still playing his little tricks with the
TCE. Left a swath of bodies behind him in Ashante, recently."

Spellvis winces.

Spellvis says, "Just the usual random swathe of destruction?  Or was he
on his way to the key segment there?"

Beowulf says, "Fortunately, my friends here were able to restore most of
them. Three of them didn't make it, though."

Mitsune sighs.  Lily pats her hand.

Beowulf says, "On the way to the key, yes. Finally beat him down -- with
these ladies' help." He smiles at them. "We returned him to Panopticon
for justice. Hopefully he'll be stuck there for a while."

Spellvis nods.  "I certainly hope so.  The madman's a disgrace to our
school and a menace to everyone."

Mitsune says, "Don't let the sphinx eat you before it eats a bomb. 
That's what I learned from that trip."

Beowulf says, "I suppose I'm probably going to have to go after it
myself, if only to keep the nutcases from getting it. Like Tirthos."

Spellvis says, "Oh, spikards are worth having in their own right."

He says, "Which is why I went out after the keys to the Hoard of the
Dragon.  Having seen the competition, I am somewhat less optimistic
about getting it than I was."

Beowulf nods. "I suppose so... though I wonder if it's worth the bother,
all those people interrupting you trying to kill you and steal it."

Spellvis says, "If you've come to try buying it off me, I might be
willing to sell it.  What are you offering?"

Beowulf nods. "That could be arranged, if you're interested. What might
you like?"

Spellvis says, "Something real, not conjured, so it can't be dispelled."

Damasq says, "OOC:  I want one of your women... just one of them will
do..."

Beowulf nods. "Well, I can do Pattern conjuration, which would be a bit
harder to dispell, but I see your point." He hmms.

"Ideally, I'd like something which can help me cast faster or which
could cast spells for me."

Beowulf nods. "Well, I doubt you'd want a Lion Spikard and have your
mind taken over by the Outsiders... and I doubt CAFAM would have another
one on sale anyway."

He says, "Which is why I was going to get a Dragon Spikard."

Beowulf nods. "Of course, getting one Anno made could have its own
interesting quirks."

Beowulf says, "Well, we could always do a little shadow walking to find
one, if you like."

He nods.  "Well, once you have something to trade, I'll be here, and you
can trade it to me."

Beowulf nods. "Just be careful, eh? There are some pretty heavy hitters
in this game, and I'd prefer not to attend your funeral."

He asks, "Oh, would you like somethign to drink?  I'm getting myself a
Pepsi in just a second."

Mitsune says, "Beer for me."

Lily says, "I could use some water."

Beowulf smiles. "Thanks for the offer, but I'd better be going; lot to
do, little time to do it in. Still have to figure out how to take out
that construct the Master was going after..."

You pace the room.  Spellvis sighs.  "Feeling paranoid today, Beowulf? 
Do I look suicidal enough to try to take on three people who outclass
me?"

Beowulf says, "Well, if you'd like something to drink, I suppose we
could stay for a few minutes."

Beowulf smiles ruefully. "Well, it's been that kind of month around
here."

Spellvis says, "If I was going to do something like that, the air would
be full of poison, and you'd already be dead."

He reaches out with broken pattern tendrils and pulls some drinks out of
the fridge for everyone.

Beowulf says, "The family is... rather upset about cousin Shaft, and
that sort of thing spills over."

Spellvis nods grimly.  "Yes, I have heard of how he perished.  A
terrible way to go."

Spellvis says, "I now have a better understanding of why no one in the
Royal family had ever tried that before."

Beowulf nods. "Lowen of Chaos appears to have been involved, but there
was someone else as well. And I suspect they will be very sorry when the
family catches up to him."

Beowulf sighs. "Shaft was always... impulsive."

Beowulf says, "It gives you quite a bit of power, but it's also very
risky."

Beowulf asks, "You wouldn't happen to have heard more about someone
named 'Taylor', would you?"

Spellvis says, "He's a sorceror from Leng, I believe."

"I heard he killed his master a few years back; the usual means of
succession in Leng."

Beowulf smiles. "Interesting... it would explain a few things. I've
heard his name bandied about quite a bit lately. Not a pleasant person
to be on the wrong side of."

Kuonji Ukyou falls asleep.

Beowulf murmurs as if to himself, "I wonder if Inji realizes the leagues
he's playing in..." He blinks. "By the way, my cousin mentioned a Kuonji
Ukyo... is Inji shapeshifting these days, or did he rope in someone else
to play the role?"

Spellvis says, "Kuonji Ukyou might be Inji, or might be a relative.  I
don't know for sure.  I didn't know Kuonji Inji very well, but whoever
it was exactly, he had the skills of a Panopticon graduate combined with
being a very deadly combatant."

Beowulf says, "Which would certainly fit Inji." He sighs. "Poor Kanna."

Beowulf asks, "I wonder what the key he gave her could have been, then?"

Spellvis says, "I suspect he probably just contacted someone with Logus
skills to make him a fake."

Beowulf says, "Makes sense, certainly. Oh, well."

Spellvis says, "Given the keys are basically hand-crafted Logrus
tendrils."

Beowulf says, "One of these days, I'm going to have to ask Anno how he
does that..."

Beowulf asks, "Anyway, time we were off; anything else I can do for
you?"

Spellvis says, "He's the Keeper of the Logrus.  Comes with the
territory, I'd assume.  No, I'm fine.  See you later."

Beowulf nods. "Take care."

Beowulf heads out of Graceland.

GM asks, "OOC Where ya heading to?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Well, did Bey get a chance to spread the news about
The Black Crown before he set off? In any event, should probably pass
along the info about Taylor being a Leng sorceror, if they don't know it
already."

GM says, "OOC You haven't told anyone about the Black Crown yet."

Beowulf says, "OOC probably find a safe spot and trump Nanami, then."

You trump Nanami.

Nanami asks, "Good day, Beowulf.  How is the spikard hunt going?"

Beowulf says, "Well, we have one key to the spikard, and I've found a
second and just need to get something to trade for it... on the track of
the third one now."

Kuonji Ukyou wakes up.

Nanami nods.  "Very good.  What sort of thing are you looking for to
trade for it?"

Beowulf says, "Looking for a non-conjured item that would help him cast
spells."

Nanami says, "A lesser spikard?"

Beowulf says, "Yes, that would certainly work."

Nanami says, "Well, you could possibly buy one at CAFAM, or you could go
to Wayland Smith and have him handcraft one."

Beowulf says, "I was about to do a little shadow-walking for one, but if
you know where I could find one? Ah, meet the master craftsman himself?"
He blinks. "I've heard of him, but I wasn't aware he was still around."

Nanami looks thoughtful.  "Well, it depends on if he WANTS to be found."

Beowulf nods. "Ah. That would be the question, wouldn't it?" He thinks
for a moment. "I wonder what kind of thing he might enjoy? Do you know
much about him?"

She continues, "You could try making one on the Forge of Vulcan, if it
wants to be found."

Nanami says, "Wayland typically requires you to gather him three things
as payment."

Nanami continues, "One of which usually turns out to be something needed
to make the item, and the other two which he keeps for himself."

Beowulf nods. "Still, I would like to find him something nice in
appreciation."

Beowulf says, "Above and apart from the usual fee."

Nanami says, "Well, you'd want to get something he couldn't make
himself, like maybe fine wines or a nice chair to sit in, or something."

Kuonji Ukyou falls asleep.

Beowulf says, "I'll probably try finding the Forge first, unless you'd
recommend talking to Wayland instead."

Nanami says, "The Forge is faster...IF you can find it."

Beowulf nods. "Right. Will give that a try, and if it doesn't seem to be
working out, will talk to Wayland."

Beowulf says, "Anyway, the main reason I called was to pass along a
couple of bits of information that I thought you should know about."

Beowulf says, "First off... according to the gentleman who had the key,
Taylor is a sorceror of Leng. He went through his succession by killing
his master a few years back."

Beowulf says, "Not sure if that information had made it to yet, or if
it's entirely accurate, but it does seem to make sense."

Nanami nods.  "Hmm. Nausicaa is in Leng; I'll have to see if I can ask
her to check on this."

Beowulf says, "Secondly, I ran into the Master again, and this time
managed to get him back to Panopticon successfully. And looked through
his notes and library while I was at it..."

Beowulf says, "There's apparently a couple of constructs out there that
he had his eye on. One, The Black Crown, is particularly nasty; set up
by the Outsiders."

Nanami's eyes widen.  "Yes, that does sound particularly nasty."

She says, "That will bear looking into."

Beowulf says, "It's apparently designed to tempt people into becoming
tyrants and helping them build cross-shadow empires."

Beowulf says, "The Master didn't know exactly where it was; he was going
to trace it through one of its manifestations, held by a
warlord/sorceress named 'Pella'."

Nanami nods.  "Keep me informed if you learn where it is.  Sounds like
something in dire need ot destruction."

Beowulf says, "Oh, yes. I wanted to make sure as many people up there
knew about it as possible, in case someone could get to it before I can
make it there."

She nods.  "Thank you."

Beowulf says, "The other one is called the Heart of Ice... it seems
fairly benign, but it's currently in the hands of an evil witch. It
sounds like it's something attuned to control of ice and snow, like what
I've heard of Kafuin, but for one element only."

Beowulf says, "I was wondering if Shizumaru might have some insight into
it, because of that."

Nanami nods.  "Yes, he might."

Beowulf nods. "Good enough; I'll probably contact him fairly shortly."

Beowulf says, "That's the main bits I've found."

Beowulf asks, "Before I go, anything going on up there I should know
about?"

She says, "Oh, I've managed to track down the shadow that obelisk comes
from.  In case you ever want to visit it."

Nanami says, "It's run by a cackling madman named Pharoah Mobius."

Nanami says, "I'm wondering if he might somehow have aquired that 'Black
Crown' you mentioned, as his minions seem to have means to travel across
shadow."

Nanami says, "THough he certainly isn't named Pella and isn't female at
all."

Beowulf smiles wryly. "Sounds like fun already." He blinks. "That's
right, you said it was a manifestation. That makes an unnerving amount
of sense."

Beowulf says, "Although I doubt they have acquired the Black Crown, it
may have sucked them in to its little plot."

She nods.  "That's a good point."

Beowulf says, "I'd suspect they'd have been more powerful if they'd had
control of the Black Crown... but they seemed perfect pawns for it."

Nanami nods.

Beowulf sighs. "Oh... any progress on the bounties?"

Nanami shakes her head.  "Not yet."

Beowulf asks, "I suppose I'm not too surprised... the KTC sounds like it
holds a grudge. Much of anything I can do to help from this end?"

Nanami says, "Not that I can think of, although I suppose if you did
something good for the KTC, they might be willing to call it even."

She continues, "But I don't think you'd want to conquer Sind for them."

Beowulf nods. "Yes... well, I'm probably not going to go out of my way,
but if I run across a good deed that also benefits them, that might
help. And no, I certainly don't plan on conquering Sind for them." He
smiles sardonically.

Nanami says, "I didn't think so."

Beowulf says, "Well, I'll probably talk to you later, especially if I
track down anything more on Taylor or the constructs. Good luck on your
end."

She nods.  "Good luck to you, Beowulf."

Beowulf smiles and breaks the trump connection.

Beowulf says, "OOC And now Miki..."

Beowulf trumps Miki.

Miki exclaims, "Hi, Beowulf!"

Beowulf asks, "Hi, Miki! How's things going on your end?"

Miki asks, "Things are going well here.   How about you?"

Beowulf sighs. "Oh, the usual hurly-burly..." He smiles ruefully. "Wish
I'd had time for you to teach me trump caller ID, as it would helped
when Lord Alars attacked."

Miki nods.  "We've been having some trouble with him lately, yes."

Beowulf says, "I can imagine, especially since he had Justice." He
frowns. "I was hoping to try and snag it from him when Lily, Lian and
Mitsune helped me hold off his psychic attack, but he closed the
connection before I could."

Beowulf asks, "Any idea why he's gone on the attack?"

Miki says, "You heard about Morgenstern blowing up, correct?"

Beowulf says, "A somewhat confused version, yes."

Beowulf says, "Jacqui called me up to apologize for losing the training
spikard I gave her, but wasn't terribly clear about how it happened."

"Well, first Queen Anthy got flung into Alars' realm.  Jacqui broke in
and rescued her, and twelve of Alar's relatives died."

"Then Morgan got flung by Morgenstern into Alar's realm, and Hiko set
off an Akira in the process of rescuing her and levelled much of the
place."

Beowulf covers his eyes. "Oh, dear. That would do it, I suppose. How
much of the fireworks were justified?"

Beowulf asks, "As in, how coercive was he being in holding on to the
Queen and Morgan?"

Miki says, "As I understand it, Anthy killed or possibly had killed one
of his ancestors, so he was holding her captive for that."

Miki continues, "As for Morgan, she fell into his hands after Amberites
had already slaughtered some of his people rescuing Anthy."

Beowulf sighs. "Oh, dear."

Miki says, "I suspect this will lead to war."

Beowulf says, "What a mess. Yes, it could. Especially with the outrage
of cousin Shaft's murder."

Beowulf says, "I was hoping that things could be at least kept to the
Houses we have actual cause against, as an all-out Chaos/Amber war could
be a disaster... especially with some of the other things going on."

Miki nods.  "Well, I've been working on establishing diplomatic
relations with House Aesir; if we are lucky, we should ahve some allies
within Chaos."

Beowulf says, "If it'd help, I recently beat an old enemy who'd stolen a
number of books of lore from various Chaos houses, including allies to
Tremare, Alars, and Nurgal; I was hoping we might get some goodwill from
returning them."

Beowulf asks, "Aesir... weren't they the ones who took in and raised
Shinobu Minor when she was flung to Chaos?"

Miki nods.  "Yes."

Miki says, "Hmm, yes, I think returning those books might make a good
component for a dimplomatic initiative."

Beowulf hms. "Sounded like fairly decent folk, then."

Beowulf says, "I'll try to get them to you as soon as I can, then."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Lily's had a chance to make copies of them, right?"

Miki says, "OOC Yes."

Beowulf asks, "OOC Can he get to the originals at the moment, without
dropping the connection, or should he just get them to Miki as soon as
he digs 'em out?"

Miki says, "OOC You can get them for him right now."

Beowulf digs out the books and passes them along to Miki.

Miki asks, "OOC It's 12:14.  You want to keep going or wrap this up?"

Beowulf says, "OOC Was planning on wrapping up as soon as we finished
talking to Miki. Was going to pass along the Mutsumi/cones info as an
unreliable rumor, and ask for the trump, and that's basically it unless
Miki had anything else for Bey."

Miki exclaims, "OOC Okay!"

Beowulf asks, "How's Mutsumi doing, by the by?"

Miki says, "Mutsumi is doing pretty well."

Miki says, "She's trying to compose some music for the Marching
holiday."

Miki says, "I've seen her with Keiko a lot lately, ever since we rescued
Ramon.  Not sure what they're up to."

Beowulf says, "I ran into a very... questionable... reference to a group
of shadow-dwellers doing mind-exchanges with a 'Princess Mutsumi of
*Gamber*'; it sounds like the Mutsumi of a flawed Amber, but I thought
I'd pass along the info on the remote chance that it might mean
something."

Miki says, "I'll tell her, but I suspect it's some Flawed Amber
Mutsumi."

Beowulf says, "With Keiko? Hm. That's an interesting pairing; now *I'm*
wondering what they're up to." He smiles. "Though I'm sure it'll be
something pretty skillful."

Beowulf asks, "What happened to Ramon?"

Miki says, "He is among many people flung into Chaos by Morgenstern."

Miki says, "We had to bust him out of House Darios."

Beowulf sighs. "Oh, dear. Was it very bad?"

Miki says, "We used a forced trump contact.  Davros was badly injured,
but no one else died."

Miki says, "No body else was HURT"

Beowulf asks, "Davros... oh, Shizumaru's old acquaintance? Is he all
right?"

Miki says, "He's fully recovered, but he got nailed with anti-shifter
poisons."

Beowulf winces. "That must have hurt. I'm glad he's all right."

Miki says, "Me too."

Beowulf asks, "Anyway, one final thing -- would you happen to have a
trump of Bill Vincent?"

Miki says, "I can make you one and get it to you fairly soon."

Beowulf nods. "Thank you; I'm going to try and make a magical item or
two, if I can track down the proper materials, and he's one of the most
skilled craftsmen I know of. But I don't want to drag him along looking
for the materials and waste his time like that."

Beowulf says, "Since I'm not sure if I can find the requirements yet."

Miki nods.

Miki says, "I will get you the trump as soon as I can."

Beowulf asks, "Thanks, uncle. Anything else I can do for you?"

Miki says, "If you can find some good martial music for Marching, I
would appreciate it."

Beowulf says, "I'll see what I can come up with for you." He smiles.

Beowulf asks, "OOC Wrap here?"

Miki says, "OOC Wrap here."


Travis Butler
tbutler@tfs.net

...Cats are the proof of a higher purpose to the universe.