[ We find Kenji and Seylin talking to Alfred, who has so far revealed, among other things, that someone or something called The Red Skull killed Kenji's parents and kicked Our Heroes' asses, recently. That's disturbing, all things considered. ] [ Session..... Start! ] ( Don't forget that he killed Alci, too! ) I find that I would like very much to blame myself for not having a plan for this event, but I can't, because I didn't think of it either. [ Alfred looks up. "I beg your pardon, sir? Oh, of course." ] [ "Well, it's fairly understandable, considering where we are." ] I don't understand. * Seylin has seemed fairly stunned since hearing of Alcinoe's death. She takes a small sip from the glass Alfred poured for her and her eyes blink very rapidly. [ "This world, sir, is not... a true world." He frowns. "I never understood it completely, but the way Master William - your remaining party cleric - explained it, it is made... cobbled together out of bits of other worlds where terrible, horrible things happened." ] [ "I cannot remember all the details. Apparently, the world is fashioned as a sort of private hell for the great sinners that cought the eye of the Dark Powers who rule here. Why everyone else is brought along, nobody knows." ] But we fight. Or our other selves did. [ "Yes. Many believe that an act of greater good than the origional was evil will cause the entrapped nation to disappear again." ] [ "That's the theory, anyway. For individuals, it's accepted that it's extremely difficult to get in, and absolutely impossible to get out." ] [ "Master Will even made refence to a demigod who remains trapped in the northern reaches of the continent." ] Nothing is impossible. Only improbable, inadvisable, or unfeasible. It is absolutely imperative that we escape. [ Alfred looks dryly at Kenji. "Then you're in a bit of a pickle, sir." ] We have done the impossible before. If necessary, we will do it again. [ "The former Lord of Darkon, a mighty lich and wizard, tried leaving for 1200 years." Alfred takes a swig. "The new lord who deposed him is a lich, a wizard, and a god. He can't leave, either." ] Well, we'll just have to try harder than they did. But if this world is ruled by Dark Powers, why would someone like that really want to leave? [ "Competition, for one." Alfred smirks. "For another, it's said that Vecna craves information, secrets, and power. All of these things are limited while he's in here." All this means that we need information and equipment. I find my equipment sadly lacking in the area of variety. Well, I'm pretty sure that we have some decent equipment back at Patrick's and my base. Yes, those guns will be useful missile weapons after Patrick has had his way with them. [ "Oh, you have plenty of equipment, sir. Besides the Benz, you have other vehicles, including off-road autos for when you get out into the uncivilized lands." ] Good. I find that the more I practice with that mount, the more I enjoy it. [ Alfred quirks an eyebrow. "'Mount', sir?" ] * Seylin smiles a bit. The large conveyance we arrived in. I believe you called it a "Benz?" It was clearly alive, though it sleeps soundly. [ Alfred smirks. "Mercedes Benz SR600, sir. It's called a 'car' hereabout, and it is a manufactured contrivance, not a living thing." ] I see. That explains why it didn't want the money. [ He waves. "At any rate, you are now, sir, in the Demiplane of Dread. If you wish to leave, you will need one wiser than I to tell you how... the money, sir?" ] The guide in that... car. It directed me here, so I tried to reward it appropriately, and it refused to take a reward. [ "The guide is also a device, sir, not a person." He looks thoughtful. "Well, you are certainly more alike with your other self than I had thought." ] Oh? [ "Yes. He was free with 'tips' as well." ] I'm not surprised. Unfortunately, our means of telepathic communication did not come with us to this place. We will need to secure communications devices, as well. If they exist. [ "Yes, sir. I believe you will enjoy the wonders of the telephone." ] Right. Where do I keep my equipment, then? [ "Which equipment, sir? You have a great deal stored in many places, most company holdings." ] I don't know, that's the problem. I should look at what I have immediately on hand. [ He nods. "Well, if you can form an idea of what you wish to do, I can tell you more." ] * Seylin looks at Kenji. "All our resources are at your disposal, of course." A small, portable light source, at least, and means of communication for all of us. Anything else, I'll just find a use for. [ Alfred nods. "A moment please, sir." ] [ Alfred walks off to get some things. ] * Kenji sighs. * Kenji leans back and closes his eyes. This was worse than I was expecting. I'll get you out of here. All of you. If there's anyone who can do that, it's you. When we get back. Don't let me forget the contingency plan. Got it. If this happens again, I can at least make the process easier for whoever ends up in our bodies. So... do you think there's a connection between worlds? Our Alcinoe died, too, but at least Will was able to bring her back. I don't care to speculate on the possibilities. Alcinoe, OUR Alcinoe, is alive. * Seylin nods. [ Alfred comes back with a box. In it are several headbands, among other things. ] [ "First, sir, for the basic, long-range communication." He pulls out a small device, flips it open, and hits two buttons. Something in Kenji's pocket starts vibrating and playing a song. ] * Kenji blinks and looks for whatever's vibrating. Your pocket is excited. [ "That is your cellular phone ringing, sir." ] I see. * Kenji pulls out a little plastic thing. [ "If you will pull it out, flip it open, and hit the 'call' button, it will allow you and whoever else is holding one to communiate across any distance, even if you are divided by the Mists." ] Impressive. * Kenji flips the little thing open and presses "Call" Nice! I wonder if I have one. * Seylin starts searching through her pack. [ The plastic thing stops songing and shaking, and when Alfred speaks into his, "Like so, sir,", Kenji hears it. Seylin does indeed have one. ] ...interesting. * Kenji starts ransacking his brain for the memories of anything else this little wonder can do. [ "Then, sir, there are these." ] Hmm? * Seylin finds hers, opens it up, and starts perusing the features. This is an exceedingly useful device, and I would like to officially commend myself for having it. * Kenji presses another button and rings Tia. [ "Of course, sir. Shall I have a trophy ordered?" ] A trophy? But I didn't kill anything. Oh good, I found everyone else's numbers. [ "Of course, sir." ] * Kenji says VERY loudly into the tiny device, "HELLO, TIA? CAN YOU HEAR ME?" [ "You do not need to shout, sir. A conversational tone will suffice." ] Oh. Oh, okay. * Kenji says "Hi, Tia! Alfred told me about this device, he calls it a cellular phone. I'm not certain what that means, but it lets us talk. I wanted to be sure it works." * Kenji says, "Neither did I. Alfred also says that our last mission was an information gathering one, on a small cult. He said that I said that you said you got quite a lot of useful information. Could you look that up before Seylin and I return?" /me actually lets some emotion into his voice as he says, "Yours too? He got my mother, father, and Alcinoe. We'll get him, Tia. But first, we need information. I have a lot to tell everybody when I get back, too." (Huh, wonder why that didn't work? I'll fix it in the logs.) Yes. The cult, and whatever information you got from it. And anything on our last attempt on Red Skull. Thank you. I'll see you all before too long. I think you'll like this place when we bring you here. Goodbye, Tia. * Kenji punches the "call" button again to turn it off and closes the phone. An -extremely- useful device, with more functions than just communication. * Kenji shakes his head to clear it. Okay. What were you saying, Alfred? * Seylin puts hers away, having familiarized herself with it to her satisfaction. [ Alfred nods and pulls out headbands. "These are frequent favorites of yours." ] Telepathic? The ones that I had made previously were broken when Max destroyed himself. [ He has a seat. "No, sir. I'd best demonstrate on myself, first." He sits and slips it onto his head. He pulls down an eyepiece from the front, and a long tube from the side. ] [ "The occulars allow seeing in most darkness-rich conditions, such as startlight. They also register heat sources and visualize them for you. In addition, they warn you of certain hazards such as poison in the air, or radiation." ] * Kenji lets out a slow whistle. "I like my alternate self more the more I learn about him." [ "This is actually an invention of the company you currently run. Aside from you and your companions, it is only available to the military." ] [ He shows the tube, which has a small round device at the base and a small round bit further up. "You place this in your ear, sir, and this against your larynx - your voicebox. It allows you to talk very quietly, without opening your mouth, and be heard by your companions, so long as they are within range." ] What is the range? ["On open land or forest, about a mile. Underground in cities, about a thousand feet. Underground caverns, about three hundred." ] [ "Only in modern cities, of course. Those without electricity don't have as great a conductivity for the signal." ] I see. Five of those, plus at least two spares. Extremely useful. What else have we got? [ He pulls out a lightly padded vest. "This is a standard- weight kevlar vest, sir. Kevlar is a synthetic fabric with a tensile strength signifficantly higher than steel." ] [ "You and your team normally wear something similar, but lighter, save Lady Tia, who rarely has need of such things. Kevlar protects by simply not being cut when someone hits or shoots it. Heavier versions with stiffened sections also exist, and are much lighter than the metal armors still in use in some nations." ] I see. Like the one that I'm already wearing. I should make certain that everybody has their preferred armor, then. [ "Yes. Yours is light and intended to be worn under clothing without being seen." ] [ "Heavier armors such as this are mor difficult to conceal, naturally." ] Obviously. That should be sufficient for now. I'll have to make do for anything that happens to come up. Thank you, Alfred. [ Alfred nods. "When you settle on a course of action, sir, I shall help you prepare for it, whatever it may be." ] Seylin, we should get back to your house. Right. Alfred, do you recommend another vehicle for getting the whole group around? [ "If you can't fit everyone in the benzes, sir, perhaps the bus." ] Bus? * Kenji tries to connect "Bus" with a memory in his head. [ Kenji sees a giant thing bristling with hidden weapons in his head. ] ... * Kenji opens his mouth, doesn't say anything, and closes it again. I have excellent taste in vehicles. That will work quite well, I think, Alfred. [ And, end in here! ]