You've Been Dreaming

Terry shepherds the two humanformed angels out through the door of his office, into the corridor beyond. One of the Djinn Thugs guards the far end of the corridor, while the other carries the box with the Kyrio Ball.

Sarah stays very close to Daimonique indeed.

Sephar sitting in the bowl, thinking the other Song of Tongues went off, remembers that Aron is likely wondering where the two Kyriotates went, so invests another point of Essence in doing another Song of Tongues to tell Aron "Hitherby and I are captured by the Media in Hell, we're heading towards the Marches with Daimon and Chephirah."

Daimon doesn't look terribly pleased.

<> Demiurge will inform Aron of that in due course. ;)

<> Sephar grins. Keenness.

The Djinn at the end of the corridor strikes a telegenic pose, and hisses, "This way, boss!"

<> Sephar dies laughing.

Sarah looks moderately grim, herself. All the more so at telegenic poses.

Daimonique stuffs her hands in her pockets and stares at the floor as she walks along.

Hitherby scratches patiently at the globe.

Terry continues to usher the angels down a set of corridors, past editing suites, busy offices, coffee rooms, and the All-Important Television Audience rooms. The two Djinn - and possibly others - seem to be making sure the corridors are clear.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 5.

Daimonique occasionally tries to wander off into one of the rooms, just to see what happens.

Sephar hrms and pulls a feather as well and helps Hitherby with the scratching, just an inch or so further along the wall of the ball.

Sarah does not stare at the floor, but only because she's terrified for Daimon.

Terry or a Djinn assists Daimon back onto the correct cause. Terry whispers, "Hush, baby! You're not supposed to be here!"

Daimonique says "Isn't that an understatement."

Hitherby murmurs, very quietly, to Sephar, "If you have any spare Essence -- I have no specific use, but I am low."

Daimonique starts to look up and stare, unwavering, at the back of Terry's head.

Terry says, "Yeah, well, baby." He preens, secure as any Balseraph in the knowledge that someone else is looking at him in admiration and envy.

<> Demiurge says "I think you've got 2 left, Sephar. And Hitherby has 3."

Sephar murmurs softly, "Only two measures."

Hitherby blinks with several eyes. "Ah. Then we are relatively balanced."

Terry finally leads the way into a storeroom-cum-garage. He gestures with pride at a gleaming black chromed van, about the size of a minibus. "Behold! Your ride!"

Sarah puts an arm around Daimon's shoulders for a moment, and squeezes gently.

Hitherby says, "It looks sort of like a box."

Daimonique hrms. "How tacky."

Terry says, "It's okay, baby. You'll be inside."

Daimonique says "Pray God deliver me from tackiness, or strike me down before any of my friends see me like this. Amen."

The Djinn carrying the Kyrio Box walks round to the back of the van, and opens the double doors there; he climbs inside, still carrying the box, and takes a seat on one of the boxes piled inside.

Terry says, "Ishi'll be riding in the back with you, kids. Just in case of, you know, stuff."

Daimonique says "So Terry, tell me something, oh buddy, oh pal. What's it feel like to sacrifice your friend? Does it make you feel good, deep down inside?"

Terry ripple-blinks. "Daimie, baby, I've got two answers for you on that one. One is that you're going to a rest camp, kid. It's not a sacrifice."

Terry says, "It'll be good for you. Trust me."

Daimonique says "Yeah, like I'll trust you not to betray me and drag me down to Hell."

Terry shrugs. "That's the other answer, baby. It's what my Prince told me to do, kid. Which means it's you or me."

Terry says, "You figure Abraham ever thought about it that way?"

Daimonique cackles.

Daimonique says "You're a fucking cad, man."

Sarah rests a hand on Daimonique's shoulder, gentle.

Terry says, "Into the van, baby."

Daimonique says "I think Abraham was doing his duty to God, because God told him to do so. Abraham assumed that God would provide him with a different sacrifice, and he did. Nice guy, that God."

Daimonique stares at the van for a minute, sighs, and climbs in.

Sarah enters the van just after Daimonique, without needing prodding.

In the back of the van are a number of crates, with "NYBBASCORP" stencilled on the sides, of a size to hold cameras or similar gear, and of a height to be sat on.

Ishi eyes Daimon and Sarah for a moment, then goes back to brooding.

Terry shuts the van back doors with a slam. A single fluorescent slat lights the back of the van, and a six-by-three inch small sliding window gives on the driver's compartment at the front.

Terry slithers into the driver's compartment, and lets the other Djinn take the wheel. The van begins to splutter into motion.

Daimonique settles on the floor against a box, and pulls her knees to her chin.

Sephar winces at the splutter.

Sarah glances at Ishi; closes her eyes, tightly, and shakes her head a little, then settles down beside Daimonique.

Sephar mutters mildly, "Poor thing."

Hitherby scratches. Scratches. "Some people would say that it's better to die than to betray a friend," she says, thoughtfully, if the box permits sound to pass through it. "Sarah here, for example, and I like to think that's what I'd decide."

There is a creaking, as of some big door, and a flicker of different light through the tiny window to the driver's compartment, and then a WASH of sound hits.

Daimonique winces at the sound.

Sarah shudders, and moves instinctively - if pointlessly - to put herself between Daimon and it.

Interviewers, test patterns, television programs, radio broadcasts, street fights, cult preachers, all the familiar sounds of Perdition.

<> Demiurge says "And at this moment, Pat is trekking across Shal-Mari..."

There is the odd bang against the side of the van, faintly perceptible through the metal, as someone slams into the van or is thrown against it. The throttle of a motorcycle sounds nearby. Sound, sound, dark sound.

Terry leans sinuously round to peer through the slat. "Everyone all right in there?" His voice is audible through the glass.

Daimonique starts to recite, "How you are fallen from Heaven, Oh Day Star, son of Dawn. How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low. You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: "Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who would not let his prisoners go home?""

Hitherby hums a Kyriotate scale rather than interrupt Daimon with words.

Terry sighs, and turns back to the front again.

Sarah does not answer Terry; simply smiles at Daimon, warm.

Daimonique finishes the quote. "All the kings of the nations like in glory, each in his own tomb; but you are cast out, away from your grave, like loathsome carrion, clothed with the dead, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the Pit, like a corpse underfoot. You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have killed your people."

Daimonique says "I can pick a different Prophet if you don't like Isaiah, Terry, but I thought he sort of fit the occasion."

Terry says, "We're not in front of the cameras right now, Daimie, but that's a cool reading."

Daimonique says "Thank you. Very apropos."

Sephar simply, steadily scratches.

Ishi mutters, "Prefer Murder She Wrote."

Sarah says to Ishi, "Then there might be hope for you after all."

Ishi grunts, and goes back to brooding.

>From outside in the distance, there is a vast TWANG, and a dopplering scream.

Sephar half ducks simply at the sound, in its bubble.

Terry sighs. "They still haven't got the Puff thing sorted. Told them they should have gone to Vaputech."

Daimonique says "There's always, you know, "Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me. Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. Let those who say "Aha aha" turn back because of their shame.""

Daimonique asks Sarah, "Should I keep quoting the Bible or give it a rest?"

Somewhere in the distance is a sound between *thud* and *SPLAT*.

Sarah winces noticeably at the sound. "If you're enjoying yourself, dear, by all means continue."

Terry says, "Anything you like, kids, but now is probably not the best time. We're nearly at the Hades gate."

Sarah *shivers*.

Daimonique falls quiet, and puts her forehead on her crossed arms on her knees.

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "I'd play a game of chicken, but you probably have some way to shut off the sound from this thing."

Sarah takes off her glasses, lets her hair down, and crawls between Daimonique and the doors at the back; then matches Daimonique's position.

The van slows its speed, coming to a near-halt. The helltongue mutters coming through the wall suggest the noises of a queue.

Daimonique's lips move in silence. "Even though I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil..."

Terry reaches behind him, and slides a cover over the slat, closing the back of the van off.

The van jolts forward again. Phrases drift back through the walls, sounds of Terry arguing in Helltongue with the guards, and clearly brandishing many colours of paper pass.

<> Hitherby murmurs to Sephar, "I sense that he is brandishing many colors of paper pass."

After perhaps five minutes, the van jolts forward again, and the feel of its movement changes, as though there were a different surface underfoot. A muted hum of noise resumes.

Sarah, as the van moves, slips her hand over onto Daimon's.

Suddenly a spreading wave of silence seems to cut through the noise of the crowd, with people's voices hastily being hushed. Pure, absolute silence.

Daimonique takes Sarah's hand and holds it tightly.

Ishi darts a single glance at Sarah and Daimon, then huddles down in his seat, eyes narrowed to slits.

Sephar looks up, listening carefully.

Hitherby stops scratching, just in case Asmodeus is doing a spot-check.

The cool silence of fear bathes the van, which has stopped. Nobody outside even tries to shuffle.

Daimonique's lips move in silent prayer.

Slowly the silence ebbs away, and the sound of talk resumes, though harsher than in Perdition, more on edge. The van jolts into motion again.

Ishi takes a long breath.

Hitherby resumes scratching.

Sarah does much the same as Ishi, her hand tightening on Daimon's, then relaxing.

Daimonique looks up, and moves to take Sarah into her arms.

Sarah puts both arms around Daimonique, holding. Protectively. However laughable one Cherub's protection may be in Hades.

Sephar scratches away again as well.

Daimonique whispers, "Be thankful that you have four walls about your head, and you're not seeing Hades."

Sarah whispers back, "Believe me, I am."

Hitherby murmurs, "Yea, though I walk in the valley of ... um ... darkness?"

As the van drives briskly on, from time to time there are the sounds of a struggle outside, or despairing screams coupled with a quietly reciting voice.

Daimonique says "Psalm 23, Hitherby."

Sarah shudders at each and every one of the screams, though she keeps it restrained.

Daimonique says "Yea, though I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.""

Daimonique keeps holding Sarah, and strokes her hair. "You'll get out of this. It's okay. You'll eventually go home."

Sarah says, calmly, "We."

Daimonique just holds Sarah tighter, and doesn't give that a reply.

Hitherby reflects thoughtfully. "Terry's a nimrod," she mutters, "but that's not very comforting. Nor is his staff. But that's probably not what God meant."

Sephar chuckles quietly.

Daimonique says "I think we're just supposed to believe that faith in God will comfort us and make us strong. But I'm not one to talk about faith."

Sephar just scratches away, though some bits of it seem to tighten with the screams, many eyes slowly narrowing.

Sarah holds Daimonique tighter in turn, and does not ask a reply. Just doesn't let go.

Hitherby says, cheerfully but still quiet, "It does, of course."

Daimonique says "Hell is a blight."

Hitherby admits, "Yes. We'll fix that eventually."

Daimonique says "Interestingly, until two weeks ago, it was also my home."

Sarah leans and kisses Daimon quietly on the cheek.

Hitherby says, "Sometimes, we fix things piecemeal."

The window at the front is uncovered, and Terry peers through again.

Terry says, "Nearly there, kids. Just got to get through into the Marches, so be nice and quiet, okay?"

Daimonique says "Sure, Terry. Let me just turn down my amp here a few decibels, and I'll stop playing these groovy power chords."

Hitherby says, "I will try and prevent any accidental wing-thundering."

Daimonique says "And we won't break out in singing Messiah yet."

Sarah murmurs, "But Sephar likes the power chords."

Terry chuckles. "I like it, I like it. Perhaps we can do you two as a double act! I'll think about it."

Sephar twangs very softly to itself, a chord in G.

Daimonique says "You're SO fired as my agent, Terry."

Hitherby says, "Terry, that's impractical on *so* many levels."

Hitherby then hushes.

Terry grins balseraphically, and slides the slider shut again.

Daimonique says "A Lilim, a Cherub and a Kyriotate walk into a bar...."

Sephar murmurs, "Ow."

Again the van slows, and the sounds of a queue can be heard outside.

Daimonique kisses Sarah lightly, and falls silent again.

Sarah says, softer as the van slows, "Sephar, Hitherby, Daimonique, I'd like to state at this time that I utterly adore all three of you." She returns a light kiss, and quiets.

Sephar grins, relaxing a few tensioned bits and scratches softly some more with Hitherby.

Zebina has disconnected.

The van grinds forward again. Terry's voice drifts back, in Helltongue, mixing threats and assurances of good intent in about equal measure. One other phrase drifts back, from a guard, in Helltongue. "Customs check."

Daimonique says quietly, "Here we go, kiddies."

Sarah glances to Daimon, eyes widening.

Hitherby looks hopefully at the area she has been scratching at, to see if it's even been weakened.

There is a grinding outside as someone fiddles with the handle of the back of the van. Then the two doors swing open. A large-shouldered Calabite peers inside, ragged wings drooping at his back.

The Calabite barks in Helltongue, "You! Names and purposes!"

Sephar eyes the area as well, quietly.

Daimonique lets go of Sarah, and blinks in confusion.

Sarah looks over. She doesn't even have to feign wide-eyed fear.

Behind the Calabite, past the rest of the queue, can be seen the dark towers of Hades, the blocks and fortifications.

<> Daimonique says "Too bad I can't see the Dominicans who are at the Gate. Foo."

Daimonique says in Italian, "I don't understand, sir."

Ishi raises his head. He grunts, "Ishi, Djinn of the Media. Those two are meat for the filming. Girl doesn't know Helltongue yet. Other Woman's a screenwriter."

Hitherby . o O ( Oh boy. )

The Calabite grunts, and leans further into the van, peering at the Calabite, then the two "humans". His breath stinks of vanilla.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 3.

The Calabite points at the box that holds the Kyrio Ball. "What's that?"

Ishi shrugs. "Shedim container. It's one of those films."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 5.

The Calabite grunts. Eventually he leans back out again. There is a loud clang as he slams the van doors shut, and a click as the handle locks.

Sarah relaxes infinitesimally, pressing one hand against her mouth. And waits for the doors to reopen.

Through the van walls comes a mutter of, "Okay, let'em out," and the van jolts into motion again.

Daimonique relaxes a bit, and leans her head back against the box she is leaning on.

Sephar uses the tip of the feather to push at the area it's been scratching on.

The surface under the van changes again, as the hum of background noise quietens. It might be sand that they're driving on now.

The bubble surface doesn't show any particular sign of weakening.

Sephar keeps at it, then.

Daimonique fishes around in her pockets for a smoke and a lighter. She can't remember if she stowed them in this vessel or not.

Ishi grunts, resting his chin on his knees.

Sarah does calm, quiet breathing exercises. She says - aside to the Djinn - "Thank you."

Even the air smells better now. Sweeter. Fresher.

Daimonique sighs. After every trip through two gates of Hades past the Game when you're a wanted criminal - it's Miller Time, baby.

The Djinn grunts. "Just doing my job, kid. And you know what they'd have done if they found me angel-smuggling..."

Daimonique asks the Djinn, "Hey, this van doesn't come complete with beer and cigarettes, does it?"

The air definitely smells sweeter now. The Djinn grunts, eyes half closing.

<> Demiurge says "Will roll, please, people."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 3.

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 2.

Sarah tries not to think about what be making the air smell sweet. "Thank you, anyhow."

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Sarah says "I'm doomed."

<> Sarah says "Not only do I fail, I fail with a check digit of 6 :)"

<> Demiurge says "Sarah. You're falling asleep. Happy sleep."

The Djinn grunts, barely audibly. He looks on the verge of sleep.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, Hitherby, you don't have to roll."

<> Demiurge says "As, like, you're in a sealed environment. :)"

Daimonique looks around as people start to fall asleep. "What the hell..."

The air smells sweeter and sweeter.

Daimonique tries to shake Sarah awake. "Sarah? SARAH?"

Sarah leans her head against Daimon's shoulder, quiet.

Daimonique tries to get over to the closed panel separating herself and Terry, and starts banging on it. Hard. "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Terry calls, through the panel, "It's a need-to-know place, Daimie. Just sit back and relax! I'll get you some smokes!"

Daimonique keeps pounding. "What are you doing to me! LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

<> Demiurge says "Make another Will roll, Daimon."

Sephar says "Hitherby, let's hit the ball?"

<> Demiurge says "At a penalty, this time."

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge says "I'm afraid, Daimon, that you are also sliding towards sweet oblivious sleep. Though you can pose artistically as you drop off."

Daimonique tries to keep up, coughing, gasping, wheezing, and crawls over to Sarah before she passes out on the floor of the van.

Hitherby bobs to Sephar.

Hitherby murmurs, "Count of three, where we scratched."

Sephar holds up three fingers, then two then one, and on none, hits the area they scratched.

Hitherby strikes.

<> Demiurge says "Both Hitherby and Sephar, make Will rolls."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 3.

Sarah lies in the van beside Daimon, unconscious.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 5.

The ball deforms, stretching against the walls of the box, but does not quite break.

>From outside the box comes the sound of the van doors being opened, and someone muttering in Helltongue. The Marches are otherwise quiet.

Sephar murmurs, "Again? Close."

The box, ball inside it, is picked up. Terry's voice says, "Okay in there, kids?"

Hitherby nods to Sephar. "Again, three."

Sephar singsongs, "Sure, Uncle Terry."

Sephar does the three finger synch again and strikes.

Hitherby waits for Sephar to count, and goes for it. The feather protrudes point first between the first and second fingers of her fist.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 2.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 1.

The ball fails to burst.

Terry says, "Cool, cool. Okay, we're just going for a drive now, and someone will sit in the back with you to make sure you don't do anything stupid like trying to pop your environmentally friendly globe. How's that?"

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "It would be a terrible tragedy if your Djinn had to break open this ball and stop us!"

Sephar says "Terrible."

Terry says, "You got it, kids. But at least we'd get it on film!"

The box is put down again, and someone settles down next to it, as the van door clicks shut, and the van grinds into motion again.

<> Demiurge says "At this point, we telescope some travel time. I think."

<> Demiurge says "Can I skip to "a few hours later"?"

<> Daimonique says "Yup."

Outside, Hitherby and Sephar eventually hear the van grind to a halt. They hear challenges in Helltongue given and returned.

Terry says, "See you later, kids! You're here!"

<> Sephar says "Is there any gap in the slats of the box?"

<> Demiurge says "Perhaps a fragment of light, but not more than that."

Someone else takes the box. There is the sound of footsteps as Terry's happy assurances fade into the distance.

The light grows fainter, as though the box were being carried into an area of darkness.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, Hitherby, try an Int roll."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 6.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, you are of the opinion that the noises of footsteps and the like have the particular timbre associated with them that often goes with the echoes in caves. Big caves. Tunnels and caves."

<> Demiurge says "You too, Hitherby."

Behind come heavier footsteps, as though burdened with some weight - say, that of two sleeping bodies.

Sarah hangs limply as she's carried.

Sephar has been steadily scratching at the surface of the ball for most of the trip, anyway, trying to wear at it at all, if there's anything to wear with celestial Stuff, explains to Hitherby the chances of breaking it together.

Daimonique just sleeps.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar - unfortunately, the ball still isn't really showing signs of weakness."

<> Sephar is doing it mostly to not worry. If it's worrying at the surface, it keeps its mind off other things, too.

The Kyrio Ball is carried for a while. The direction might be upwards, though it is difficult to be sure. Flecks of stronger light begin to gleam through the cracks in the box. In the distance, comes an echo that might be a far-off hymn.

The echoes stop suggesting caves, and begin to suggest some sort of building.

Hitherby says, quietly, "We can just keep hitting it until we strain something."

Sephar says "Yes."

<> Sarah shivers, Demi.

Hitherby says "Or until they open it to stop us."

Hitherby murmurs, "I mean, sure, we'll probably strain us first, but hey."

Sephar synchs with Hitherby and hits it as many times as she hits it.

Sephar chuckles, "It's a chance."

Finally, light! The box is opened. An - _Elohite_? - reaches in, and picks out the Ball, putting it on the floor beside the sleeping Sarah, who is the only other person in the ivory-walled, windowless room.

<> Demiurge says "Perception rolls, please, Sephar, Hitherby."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 6.

<> Sephar hrms and was rolling to hit with Hitherby, first, probably during the trip...

<> Demiurge says "Okay, I'll count that as the "to hit" roll."

<> Demiurge waits for "to hit" roll from Hitherby, then Per rolls from you both.

<> Sephar now rolls perception.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar - there's something a little off about that Elohite. It doesn't look quite "right"."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 3 3 CHECK: 1.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 1.

<> Hitherby lags some more. That's 'to hit' and 'Perception'.

<> Demiurge says "Oh lord."

The ball deforms again, but fails to break.

However, Hitherby perceives with all her Kyriotate eyes that the being holding the Ball is a Habbalite, not an Elohite, never an Elohite. The scars go too deep, the eyes are too cruel, the hands too ready to punish.

<> Daimonique says "Hey, Hitherby! You're mind is very sturdy today. :)"

The Elohite - or Habbalite? - sets the ball down innocently, and retreats to by the door, which is near-closed. It holds a technological device of some sort in its right hand.

<> Hitherby's senses are very keen when filtered through a bubble.

<> Demiurge laughs.

Sephar hrms, peering back at the retreating Elohite, "That Elohite isn't quite right, is it?"

Hitherby says, "Habbalite."

Sephar says "Oh."

Sephar says "Hrm. Illusions? No wonder it didn't help us get out."

The Habbalite presses a button - and the Ball *bursts* in a sudden flare of green light. In the same moment, the Habbalite is dodging back and slamming the door.

<> Demiurge says "And the Kyriotates are free."

Sephar blinks and flies free.

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, you can start vaguely waking up."

<> Demiurge says "Daimonique is Not There."

Hitherby doesn't bother lunging for the door, given her non-Corporeal agility-equivalent.

Sephar flies to Sarah.

Hitherby flutters over to Sarah as well.

Sephar snugs Sarah quietly and looks around.

Sarah shifts in her sleep, at the snuggling, and her eyelashes flicker.

Hitherby sings, carefully, in angelic, "Perhaps they wish to convince us we are in Heaven's hands? This is foolish."

Sarah's eyes open. "Mmm? what?"

Sephar says "A Habbalite shut us up here, but looked like an odd version of an Elohim."

Hitherby sings, "I would not let on that you know, if they are not already listening. If they are, then of course it matters not. I was rash."

Sarah sits up, putting one hand to her head. "We're... not in the van," she says muzzily.

Sephar says "No."

Sephar goes to the door to check on it quietly.

Hitherby bobs. "We are in --" She assesses the air. Does it seem to be the Marches?

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 2.

Hitherby admits, "Well, I'm not certain. I believe the Marches, in an internment camp of Nightmares."

Hitherby says "Possibly the Media."

Sarah draws a deep breath, sitting up. "Daimon, did you see --" She looks about, and her eyes widen till the whites show. "Daimon!!"

Sephar flies back and settles at Sarah's back.

Sephar says "No Daimon."

Sephar says "They took her somewhere else."

Sephar says "We need to get out of here, and find her."

Hitherby says, "Be of steady heart. Things will be fine."

Sarah reaches behind her to brush a fingertip at the verge of Sephar's cloud. Deep breaths. "Yes. Yes. Panic serves no purpose."

Sephar rubs gently back against the fingertip.

Sarah says "So: we're in the Marches. Likely under observation. Not immediately restrained, but most likely locked in."

Sephar says "Yes."

Hitherby bobs.

Sephar hrms quietly. "I have two more essence, so we can send a message, but I'd rather have a little more information than 'in some big caves' to give them."

Sarah says "Let's save messages till they're useful, yes."

Sephar frowns quietly at the chain.

Sarah pushes her hair back, raking fingers through it. "We have you, myself, and Hitherby. Not enough Essence, on the whole. Our hands and claws and minds. No artifacts or assistance that can truly be expected. And right on our side."

Hitherby studies the chain wryly. "I never studied how to get *other* people out of traps."

Sephar nods at Sarah.

Sephar says "I have sent messages to Pat and Aron, but I don't think they have anyone that can track us."

Sephar says "So, yes, no expected help."

Sephar says "Though they may now be watching us through our Hearts, which might be useful in the longer run."

Sarah says "Very much so."

Hitherby says, "I have no Songs in the Marches or Hell."

<> Demiurge says "The door is locked. Sarah is still chained. You think that you are in the Marches."

Sephar moves quietly over to Sarah's chain, then and does its level best to break it from the ball.

<> Daimonique sleeps happily. *snooze*

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 5 5 CHECK: 3.

Sarah murmurs, "So this," she prods at the chain, "and that," she nods at the door, "are the first orders of business."

Hitherby murmurs to Sarah, "Hold your ankle thus," positioning it, before lending her efforts to help Sephar.

Sarah keeps it so, as best she can.

Sephar will just keep twisting the chain just a bit more, pulling it and stressing it just a bit more each time, even if it doesn't entirely break with one try...

<> Demiurge says "Want to ping your resonance, Sarah?"

Hitherby lends her hand.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 3.

Hitherby doesn't help very much.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 4.

The chain seems to give a bit - and for a moment an *agonising* shaft of pain shoots through Sarah, racking her whole body.

Sarah arches, with a sudden scream.

Hitherby reflects. The Marches.

Sephar eyes Sarah.

Hitherby blinks.

Sarah collapses to the floor, panting for breath.

Sephar stops and waits, curling up about Sarah.

Hitherby carefully removes her hand from the chain.

Hitherby backs one pace away with a wingflutter.

Sarah says, weakly, "I'm not sure... what that is..."

Hitherby . o O ( Marches. )

<> Demiurge says "BTW, Sarah, roll if you want to try pinging your resonance?"

<> Sarah indeed wants to ping her resonance. She also wants to test whether she can feed it a point of Essence, or whether the chain will eat that. :)

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge says "The chain seems to be blocking your use of Essence. And your resonance fails to locate Daimon. Though you're not getting any immediate-peril-of-death vibes."

Sephar shivers just a bit, "I have little idea. Oh. Hrm."

Hitherby crosses her mental fingers and attempts to use what Aron taught her, attempting to Will the circle around Sarah's anklet to grow. Or, possibly, to make a hole in the wall.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, Hitherby, Sarah, you might correlate trying to break the chain with Sarah's sudden attack of pain. Possibly."

<> Sephar says "Or it might be something happening to Daimon?"

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, as you try using your Will... make a Per roll."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 2.

Sephar eyes the buckling chain and Sarah quietly and at Hitherby who is, possibly, making a Kyriotate expression of intense concentration.

The immediate area fails to be affected by Hitherby's exercise of Will.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, try a Per roll."

Hitherby frowns thoughtfully.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 6.

Sarah pushes herself up off the ground, breathing hard.

Hitherby endeavors, thoughtfully, to wish away everything in the room's shape from about an inch below the floor to two inches below.

Sephar supports Sarah carefully as she gets up.

Sephar says "Sorry, I didn't know it would do that."

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, while your willworking fails to work, you do sense that this is a Domain, and that you could attempt to make alterations in your own self-image."

<> Hitherby says "Interesting!"

<> Demiurge says "Just not really, you think, in the rest of it. Probably."

<> Pat says "Hitherby can be HUGE!"

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "Sarah, if you could wish your ankle and foot away for a moment?"

Sarah says "Neither did I. I wish I knew whether it only caused pain, or did actual damage."

Sarah pauses, and looks at Hitherby. "Beg pardon?"

Sephar nods at that statement.

Sephar says "If it's only pain, we might get through it."

Hitherby shrugs. "If we're in the Marches, then possibly you can do that. I can't, which I can't figure."

Sephar says "Hrm."

Hitherby says "But I'm not really big on, well, the ethereal world."

Sephar frowns at itself and wills itself to look like Daimonique.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 5.

<> Sephar says "With Suit."

Sephar does, indeed, morph into a fairly close likeness of Daimonique. With Suit.

Sephar says "Woah."

<> Pat says "Mighty Morphin Power Sephar!"

<> Demiurge says "However, Hitherby, Sarah, make Perception rolls."

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 5.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 6 4 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Heh. Neither of you can offhand spot any errors in the "Daimonique". Though Sarah's not registering her on the attunement."

<> Sarah hopes. :)

<> Shannen says "'Here in the Marches, we've secretly replaced the real Daimonique with Folgers crystals...'"

Sarah blinks at Sepharnique, and smiles, warmly; then closes her eyes and tries to follow Hitherby's suggestion. Trusting in Sturdy Minds.

Sepharnique laughs quietly, "Well, it might confuse 'em a bit."

Hitherby floats over to the door, looking thoughtful.

<> Demiurge pauses. "Okay, try a will roll."

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 5.

Sarah's foot fades, vanishing. The shackle still seems locked on her leg, however. In fact, the shackle seems to have shifted slightly up her leg.

Sarah attempts to tug it free.

Sepharnique reaches to help Sarah tug, but hesitates to see what happens first.

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, try another Will roll."

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 5 5 CHECK: 4.

The shackle fails to come free, and a *blinding* streak of pain courses through Sarah.

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, you aren't going to be able to _try_ and get it off yourself, after that."

<> Demiurge says "You can let other people try, but you just psychologically can't bring yourself to pull at it. Short of exceptional circumstances."

Sarah arches again, a shriek tearing from her throat.

<> Sepharnique says "Can we see if that pain actually damaged her at all?"

<> Demiurge says "She doesn't look physically harmed."

Sepharnique catches Sarah before she falls and eases her to the floor.

Sepharnique holds her as Sarah gets her breath back.

<> Hitherby says "How big is the room?"

Sepharnique mutters soft machine code sequences to herself.

Sarah gasps for breath, weeping softly, and curls against Sephar.

<> Demiurge says "Perhaps seven by seven metres square."

Sepharnique holds Sarah close and quietly.

There is a knock on the door.

Sepharnique quiets and eyes the door.

Hitherby flops to the ground near the door, where it won't slam into her when opening.

Hitherby braces herself, carefully forming the image of the deadliest cobra in her head to assume, but not *pushing* it on herself yet.

Sepharnique doesn't glance towards Hitherby, simply holds Sarah and watches the door closely.

A cultured voice on the other side says, "We are going to open the door. Please stand back."

<> Sarah presumes she got her foot back when pain zapped? It tends to reassert selfimage :)

<> Demiurge says "You did, yes."

<> arcangel wonders if Sarah went Lioness form, then?

Hitherby edges backwards, making the cobra bigger in her mind.

<> Sarah says "Good thought. I'll go with that :)"

Chephirah leans her head against Sepharnique, crouching and whimpering very softly.

Sepharnique is cradling Chephirah's head and forebody in her lap, then, stroking along fur and behind the ears.

The door swings open. Behind it stand two Malakim, both with dark steel swords drawn, and a fiery circling Ofanite - behind them coils a great Seraph, scales gleaming in the shades of a thousand rainbows.

<> Demiurge says "Perception rolls, everyone except Hitherby."

<> Sepharnique halfway imagines all the erst angels are outof focus, whereas the real ones are sharply in focus...

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 4.

Hitherby shifts, and goes for the Malakite with her fangs; this is her plan, in any case.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, you perceive that these are WRONG WRONG WRONG. Dark Calabite shadows lurk behind the images of the Malakim and the Ofanite, and the Seraph's light conceals the shadows of a Balseraph."

The Malakite brings his sword up to defend himself. Behind him, the Seraph spreads his wings, and Sings something.

<> Demiurge says "Roll for your attack, Hitherby."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 5 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, you perceive that these angels are ... wrong ... but you don't see as clearly as Hitherby what they *are*."

<> Chephirah rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Chephirah, these guys are obviously angels."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 2.

Chephirah's eyes widen, and she whispers, "... Hitherby?"

<> Chephirah REALLY REALLY WANTS the Malakite of Yves attunement right now. :)

The Malakite manages to parry the worst of Hitherby's first attack with his sword, taking only minor grazes. Behind, a Song of Charm ripples from the Seraph, slamming into Hitherby.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, you're down 2 points of Will."

Sepharnique whispers, "They are false." and sings a Song of Charm herself, the last point of Essence into it.

<> Hitherby nods.

Sepharnique aims it at all four of the demons.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, aiming for Will or Per?"

<> Sepharnique says "Will."

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Sepharnique says "So *close**"

<> Shannen says "Almost.."

<> Sepharnique grins.

All four of the angels recoil a step, and the Seraph sings a single deep tone of anger.

Sepharnique then dives forward to hit the Seraph.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, the Seraph is behind two Malakim and an Ofanite, through the doorway."

Chephirah rises to her feet, unsteady and uncertain.

<> Demiurge says "You can head for him, but they're in the way first."

Sepharnique hits whatever she hits first, then.

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 4.

The second Malakite steps into Sepharnique's path, sword bare.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 3.

Hitherby follows them out into the hall and attempts to explode into a cohesive swarm of Australian funnelwebs.

The second Malakite is knocked back a step by the force of the attack, and could conceivably be dodged past.

Chephirah pushes herself up, eyes widening, and drags herself forward to defend Sepharnique, as or if she can.

In the hallway, the Ofanite spins past Hitherby and Sephar, making for Chephirah inside the room.

Hitherby just bites outwards again, then, while her player thinks what to do.

The Seraph spreads his wings and Sings again.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "This time, _everyone_ takes a 2 Will penalty."

Sepharnique tries to wrest the sword from her 'Malakite'.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 3.

Chephirah stares up at the Ofanite, uncertain.

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 6.

The Malakite fighting Hitherby manages to stand his ground and dodge any bites - at least for the moment, as he dances.

The Malakite fighting Sepharnique manages to retain hold of his sword, as the two angelic figures stagger together.

Hitherby tries to shift to a gnat the color of the hall outside, when she has her next action.

Sepharnique just hits the Malakite again, then.

The Ofanite holds paused above Chephirah, spinning blindingly in flames. She sings, "Hold, hold, child, hold, we have a matter to settle." There is something insane at the edges of her words, barbed and sharp.

The Seraph spreads his wings, and Sings Ethereal Harmony, and the word, "CEASE!" echoes through the room and hallway.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 6 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "It goes off."

<> Demiurge says "You can hear the Essence being spent."

<> Demiurge says "Will rolls at a -6, all those wanting to keep on fighting."

Sepharnique pants softly, sighing at the spending of Essence.

Chephirah stares up at the Ofanite. "I don't understand this."

<> Demiurge says "Otherwise you are all going to be nice and peaceful for a few minutes."

<> Hitherby doesn't want to keep on fighting; at this point, she was trying to escape.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, make a will roll at a penalty (beside the Charm penalty already existing) for such a _vast_ change, from large Kyrio to tiny gnat. Also, you'll be at a minus to Perceptions while you're a gnat."

<> Demiurge says "They are not that sensitive. ;)"

<> Hitherby spends an Essence. And fails anyway, most likely :)

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 1.

<> Hitherby says "Yup!"

<> Demiurge says "Unfortunately, the change is perhaps beyond your concentration at the moment."

<> Demiurge says "However, you can always just straight run, I think. The other two are more boxed in."

<> Hitherby nods. Cobras don't move that fast, but they can't very well grab me -- well, without a Will roll -- can they? :)

Sepharnique moves back into the room to be nearer Chephirah as the others cease.

<> Demiurge says "They can't take violent action either, Hitherby."

Chephirah stares up at the Ofanite.

The Seraph mantles his wings, regarding the three angels. "I am Persona. Welcome to my dwelling. I have no wish for violence, and as you can see, I am trying to avoid it."

Sepharnique says "Then unchain her and let us go."

Hitherby attempts to slither out into the hall.

Sepharnique says "We have no desire for violence, either, only our circumstances seem to force it."

<> Sepharnique is trying to draw the attention, first with motion, then with fast talk.

Persona triple-blinks, then glances at Hitherby. "Please stay here. Surely you wish to hear my explanation?"

<> Sepharnique can try fast talk at a penalty on Will?

Hitherby attempts to morph away her ears, although she doesn't know if this would stop her from hearing.

The Ofanite still spins near Chephirah, but almost soothingly. She murmurs faintly, the tone reassuring.

<> Demiurge says "Sure, Sephar."

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "You were at -1, so your roll succeeded."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 3.

The Seraph glances back to Sepharnique again. "I am not sure why you were brought here. We will be glad to let you go, once we are certain that nobody has followed you here."

Sepharnique says "How long will that take?"

Chephirah flutters her wings. "And where is the fourth of us?"

The Seraph says, "Possibly not more than a day or two. After that, you will be taken to a place in the Marches, blindfold, and released."

The Seraph sings, to Chephirah, "He is resting, and still asleep. The gas affected him more strongly than it did you."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge says "Chephirah, Will roll."

Sepharnique lightly strokes Chephirah's head and nods at her question.

<> Chephirah rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 3.

Hitherby slithers on, with or without ears.;>Keep dealing with them, as it's more fun -- I just don't want you thinking I stopped :)

<> Demiurge says "He wasn't trying it directly on you, Sephar. Do a Will roll to see if it personally convinces you; if not, you're free to believe it or not, as you choose."

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, you can slither round the corner. If you don't mind, I'll get back to you later."

<> Hitherby doesn't mind at all :)

Sepharnique murmurs softly, "Can false be true or is it always false?"

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, it's up to you whether you believe it or not. Chephirah, it's obviously true. You know how frail Daimonique is."

Chephirah relaxes, but only a little, wingtips still twitching. "Why is he not here?"

Sepharnique says "Or why are we not with him?"

The Seraph sings, "He was placed in the Hospice, in case he needed further attention. The others of you were brought here because it was feared you might be violent, and you were not expected."

The Seraph glances at the Malakim, who both slowly sheathe their swords.

Sepharnique says "Ah."

The Seraph sings, "Perhaps I should explain?" His wings and scales glitter with many colours.

Sepharnique is so tempted to just say, "No." but doesn't quite yet.

Chephirah leans her head to one side, twisting for a new angle to look. "I must go to him."

Sepharnique says "Perhaps explain why this shackle is still on her while I am held without? And if we promise not to be violent while we visit him, why we cannot be allowed to at least see him?"

The Seraph says, "I will be glad to remove the shackle and let you go to him. I must insist, however, that while you are within my territory, you wear certain... tokens... that will mark you as guests."

<> Pat says "Kinky."

The Seraph adjusts the fold of one wing, looking faintly embarassed. "I would not wish to see you harmed without reason. If you do this - the equivalent of parole - I can let you move around more freely."

Sepharnique says "What will the tokens do?"

Chephirah says, eagerness nigh overcoming sense, "More than reason--" She pauses, glancing to Sephar.

The Seraph says, "I will speak with your fellow Kyriotate later on the matter." He pauses. "I will tell you that they will prevent you from spending Essence."

Sepharnique hesitates just the proper amount before the word 'token'. "And..."

Sepharnique says "What else?"

The Seraph shrugs in a ripple of motion. "They will allow me to locate you, within this domain. Observe, I am being sensible."

Sepharnique nods quietly. "That is acceptable for me, at the moment. If I return here, I may remove the... token?"

Sepharnique says "Or if you ask for it?"

The Seraph nods. "I will remove it if you return to me."

Sepharnique strokes Chephirah on the head, "Is that acceptable for the visit?"

Chephirah agrees, "More than."

<> Chephirah says "More fool, my character."

Sepharnique says "Is there anything else about them?"

<> Hitherby giggles. So much for returning to rescue you guys.

The Seraph shakes his head. "That is, essentially, it. To use the vernacular."

<> Sepharnique has a feeling Hitherby may well be needed still.

<> Sepharnique and is only doing this because she's *out*.

The Seraph says, "Perhaps you will allow me to explain what this place is and why I do not want intrusions, while I remove the Cherub's shackle?"

Sepharnique says "Certainly, but please direct all your comments to me."

Chephirah says "Please, please."

Chephirah pauses, and gives Sephar a mildly perplexed look.

The Seraph triple-blinks, as he moves elegantly across to Chephirah, scales splintering rainbows. He removes a golden chain set with topazes from where several are hanging at his belt.

The Seraph sings, "If you would put this on, and I will remove the other shackle." He bends to examine it.

Sepharnique just scratches Chephirah behind the ears, murmurs softly, "Trust me as you once wished to kiss me."

Chephirah purrs, low, and takes the chain.

<> Demiurge says "Per roll, if you want, Chephirah and Sepharnique."

<> Sepharnique rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 5.

<> Chephirah briefly ponders whether she can arrange it and the scarf to have it actually be around the scarf and not around her. :)

<> Chephirah rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge says "You both perceive the collar is a relic - as are the other ones at the Seraph's belt - and that it does have some sort of Essence-restricting function. Chephirah gets the feeling there may be more to it, but can't quite tell what."

<> Demiurge says "But then, he did say there was more to it."

<> Demiurge says "Chephirah, you can try and get it round the scarf rather than round you, but it's still going to affect you. Sorry. :)"

<> Chephirah says "Okay :)"

Sepharnique says softly, "So, please, explain."

<> Chephirah does try and do that, affect or no. :)

Persona's voice is sad. "We are Outcasts. We are all Outcasts. This place is all that we have, and all that we can remember Heaven by."

<> Demiurge says "Chephirah, the chain locks round your neck. You can _tell_ that you're not going to be able to manipulate Essence while it's on you."

Persona does something to the shackle on Chephirah's leg, and it clatters free.

<> Sepharnique says "Locks?"

<> Sepharnique sighs.

<> Demiurge says "You can't see the lock/catch on the necklace, now that it's on Chephirah."

The discarded shackle-and-ball lies empty on the floor.

Chephirah says, quite softly, "Please pardon me a moment."

Persona continues, "Perhaps we did wrong, in hiding here, in trying to preserve our liberty - but none of us wish to go back."

Persona fans himself a step backwards from Chephirah, turning slightly away, politely.

Chephirah paces aside and gives the chain a vicious kick, then crouches and listens to Persona.

Persona turns to offer a silver-and-sapphire chain to Sepharnique. "The Princess of Freedom, at least, granted us sanctuary."

Sepharnique blinks mildly.

Sepharnique says "And she lets you use chains?"

Persona shrugs, a ripple of motion. "She uses Geasa herself, does she not?"

Sepharnique takes the chain and studies it for a moment.

Persona says, "Once I am satisfied you were not followed here, I can release you safely. But this is our sanctuary, and I cannot have it endangered."

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, same type of relic as the one on Sarah."

Sepharnique says "They why not let us go and let those that followed us keep following us?"

Persona says, "They may already have an - ah, what is that word - a "fix" on this place."

Persona says, "I would rather break your trail, than have the Game here."

Sepharnique raises an eyebrow.

Chephirah flicks an ear back at the mention of the Game.

Sepharnique says "Oh."

Sepharnique says "A small thing. Before I put this on, I would wish a bit of assurance that you will take it off. And if you are acting in good faith... it should be a small thing."

Persona raises his uppermost eyebrows. "What would you like me to do?"

Sepharnique says "Give me what Essense you have, when I take this off, I will give it all back to you."

Sepharnique sings this in Celestial, truth this is.

Persona snorts. "No offence, but you could not hold it all."

Sepharnique grins. "Then what I may hold?"

Sepharnique says "If it is so small an amount, it should be a small favor, indeed."

Persona considers. "Your word that you will not attempt offensive action against me or my place, and that you will not return it in the form of an attack?"

Sepharnique sings, "Yes."

Persona sings, "Also, that you will not attempt anything while you hold the Essence but before you don the necklace?"

Sepharnique chuckles softly, "You imagine me far too clever. But, yes."

Persona sings, "I am sorry. Perhaps living in secrecy has soured me." He floats across the floor towards Sepharnique, and extends a rainbow-feathered wing to brush the shoulder of the Lilim-shaped angel.

Sepharnique says "I am sorry if it is so."

Persona's eyes blink closed for a moment, and Essence rushes into Sepharnique until it holds the full 9 points.

Sepharnique mrrrumbles softly, sighing with the Essence and then puts on the chain.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. The chain seems to work as Persona says. You can't manipulate Essence."

<> Demiurge says "There may or may not be other effects, which may or may not show up later."

<> Sepharnique nodnods and expected that.

Persona refolds his wings.

Persona says, "We will need to locate your friend. In the meantime, you wish to see Daimonique?"

Chephirah extends one wing, and brushes its tip against Persona. "Very much."

Sepharnique says "Yes."

Persona says, "Very well, then. But first, let me explain something. This is important."

Persona says, "We are a community of outcasts. Perhaps some of us are ... not all an angel might wish, but we live and work together in harmony."

The Ofanite still spins, crooning faintly, with a comforted undertone to her voice.

Persona says, "We have brought the favour of the Princess of Freedom. She permits us to exist here, out of the knowledge of other Princes."

Persona says, "In return, we sometimes give ... haven ... to those she sends here, or those in her confidence send here."

Persona looks, for the first time, faintly annoyed. "We do not appreciate having the Game on our heels."

Sepharnique hrms softly, "Then if one of these... might attack us, are we free to defend ourselves?"

Persona nods. "You are. And the rest of us would be defending ourselves from them, also."

Sepharnique nods quietly at that and sighs, flexing her hands slightly.

Persona says, softly, "This place is built in imitation of Heaven. We remember, and we dream." He turns to move to the door.

Sepharnique follows quietly, by Chephirah's side.

Chephirah says, quietly from behind Persona, "It saddens me that you felt you had to come here to be free."

Persona ripples a brief moment of laughter. "Perhaps if we knew each other a little better, I might explain... or perhaps, some other day."

Chephirah agrees, "I will hope, if I may."

Sepharnique simply stays quiet and walks quietly alongside the winged great cat.

Outside, the corridor is one of clean ivory inlaid with gold, bright and fresh - nearly Heavenly.

Awareness comes to Daimonique. The room is a clean, tidy place; a comfortable bed with clean white sheets, walls of ivory, a golden window with the angelic character for "Love" worked into it, a bedside chair, a bedside table with a covered jug of water, a glass, and a book. Outside the window is some sort of walled garden, green and flowering. Daimonique herself is lying comfortably on the bed, hair fanning out around her head; she is wearing loose robes of soft white silk, girdled with a golden cord. Some sort of necklace encircles her neck, cool against her skin. Beside her bed is seated a Mercurian, pale wings fanning slightly as she waits.

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, you slowly begin to wake."

<> Daimonique says "Oooooooh FUCK."

<> Daimonique says "That's it. I want the birthday presents I sent you back."

Daimonique groans and sits up, hold her head in her hands.

The Mercurian gently reaches across to support her. "Are you okay?"

Daimonique groans again in response, and tries to shake her head to clear it.

The Mercurian leans back to fill the glass with water, and offers it to Daimonique. "Here you are. Sip it slowly."

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, when you take a good look at the Mercurian (which may not be yet) make a Per roll."

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CHECK: 5.

There is something ... wrong ... about the Mercurian. Her wings are pale, there is genuine compassion in her eyes, but she isn't quite ... right. It's like someone's image of what a Mercurian _should_ look like.

Daimonique files that away in a big way.

<> Pat says "The wings are all wrong."

<> Hitherby laughs!

<> Daimonique says "That's what I'm thinking."

Daimonique takes the glass of water, and thinks, heck, if it's poisoned, then I'll die all that much faster. And sips it, slowly.

The water seems all right. Daimonique's head feels less painful, if still a shade muzzy.

Daimonique says "Where am I?"

The Mercurian says, "Heaven!"

Daimonique says "If I'm in Heaven, why aren't I in the Halls of Creation or the Spires?"

The Mercurian blinks. "I suppose that'll come when an Archangel accepts you into his service."

The Mercurian says, "Do you want to work for Eli? I've only seen him at a distance, but he looked _wonderful_."

Daimonique says "An Archangel HAS accepted me into his service. Heck, two of them have. And one of them is _Dominic_. What planet are you from?"

The Mercurian blinks, then looks understanding. "It's okay. They said you'd be a bit confused. Just remember, you're _Redeemed_ now."

Daimonique says "Yeah, I've guessed that much. The aura and the wings and the fact that I'm missing my PANTS tipped me off. Look, where is Mazpatiel? Where are my pants?"

The Mercurian blinks. "I don't know who Mazpatiel is, and why do you want pants?"

Daimonique gets up off the bed and starts looking for the normal Daimonique suit. "I was brought in, in a suit. I always wear a suit. Where are my pants?"

The Mercurian is in white robes and golden girdle like those of Daimon, and wears a collar of gold and emeralds around her neck. There is no sign of any hidden Suit in the room.

The Mercurian gets out of her chair, and follows behind Daimonique, evidently wanting to be soothing but not quite sure how.

The Mercurian says, "I haven't seen you in a suit, just like this."

Daimonique stands, and looks vaguely irritated. "Okay, so I got rescued. That's fantastic. That's better then I could have hoped. But my boss is going to kick my ass, so I've gottan go to the Spires."

The Mercurian looks shocked. "Oh, but we can't leave here without an escort."

Daimonique says "I've gone all over Heaven without an escort."

The Mercurian says, "Perhaps you're hallucinating again. They did say it was very painful for you."

Daimonique says "And you know, I can find my way back to the Halls of Creation, and back to my stuff, without one. Yeah, okay, I'm going to get lost - again - but that's the chances we take."

Daimonique starts searching the room for something more important then pants. Yes, you guessed it, a pack of cigarettes.

There are no cigarettes in the room. None none none.

Daimonique says "AUGH."

The Mercurian shakes her head. "You don't understand. It's not _safe_. We have to learn about Heaven first and about being angels."

Daimonique very slowly, with much deliberation, turns and just LOOKS at the Mercurian.

<> Demiurge says "Staring, Daimonique, or resonating, or both?"

<> Daimonique says "Oh, I'll resonate."

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 3.

The Mercurian stands there, big-eyed, lip-trembling, somewhat at a loss. She Needs to get you to relax, to recover, to accept the joys of Heaven, to be a better angel herself, to be happy here, to love people.

<> Demiurge says "All these are definitely genuine Needs."

Daimonique ponders, trying to wonder what the hell is going on.

Daimonique says "Excuse me. I need a smoke."

Daimonique then attempts to leave the room.

The Mercurian says, "You can't smoke! This is Heaven!" However, she isn't actually standing in Daimonique's way.

Daimonique tries Mr. Door.

Mr. Door is open.

<> Sephar says "Demiurge. After Sarah woke up and used her resonance, I'd likely have done a Song of Tongues to tell Daimonique where we are and that, btw, there was a Habbalah posing as an Elohite."

Mr. Door gives onto an ivory-walled hallway with several other doors off it.

There is a room at the end, from which a faint drone of voices, like someone reading, comes.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, why not pose it happening now?"

Daimonique turns to the Mercurian, and her face softens a bit. "Look, you're very nice. And you genuinely want to be an angel, and I can dig that. I'd rather die then Fall. But look, this isn't the way it is. Okay?"

<> Demiurge says "And put your message in fifteen words."

The Mercurian simply looks lost. Then she brightens. "You must still be confused. Shall I call one of the healers?"

Daimonique says "Redemption sucks. It's just painful in so many ways. But this. Isn't. It."

Daimonique then walks out into the hallway, looking for the front door outta here.

The Mercurian blinks. "No, no, no. It's lovely. It's bright and happy and it's all music and water." Her voice trails off, then she runs to catch up.

<> Shannen wipes her tears away "This is so beautiful."

Daimonique growls, "Yeah, well, mine sucked ass and I'm not even done yet. But it fixes your head."

In the Tower Sephar puts together a Song of Tongues to Daimonique, "The three of us were locked in tower by Habbalite posing as Elohite. Watch out."

There is no obvious door out. The corridor ends at Daimonique's room, and at the other end is the room where a reading is going on.

Daimonique sighs, eyes closed, at Sephar's song of tongues. They're all okay. Thank God above.

<> Sephar says "You get a point of Essense, too. "

Daimonique spins on her heel, and stalks toward the reading. She's going to dole out some nasty hurt.

<> Daimonique says "Woo hoo!"

The Mercurian puts her hand on Daimonique's elbow. "Slow down. This is Heaven! You want to work on being loving and kindly and understanding."

Daimonique says "I'm a Dominican. The last thing I want to be is loving, kindly and understanding."

<> Pat says "YES!!!!!"

<> arcangel applauds!

<> Pat feels all kinds of vindicated.

<> Shannen sniffs.

<> Sarah cheers!!

The Mercurian blinks. "No, you're a Creationer. Eli Redeemed you."

Daimonique says "Yeah, and then I happily, without hesitation or blinking, offered my services to Dominic for reasons you probably could never understand."

The Mercurian says, "That's impossible. You've only just Redeemed. It must be those hallucinations again."

The room is a largish one, with a number of comfortable chairs, beanbags, and the like. Several angels are scattered around it, all in white robes with the necklaces, and are listening to a fawn-winged Cherub, who is reading something about loyalty and trust.

Daimonique says "I've hallucinated, baby, and this is just a bad ass trip."

The Cherub pauses in its reading, marking its place in the book with one claw.

Daimonique says "Hello. My name is Daimon. Has anyone seen my pants?"

There is a general giggle. Eventually, a jerkily-spinning Ofanite sings, "This is Heaven. Why do you want pants?"

Daimonique says "Because without them I flap free."

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, try a Per check."

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "All of the angels in the room - all of them - look faintly "off" in the same way that the Mercurian does."

Daimonique says "So where's the front door to this party?"

The Cherub growls, quietly, "We are glad to have you with us, Lilim of Creation. Would you like to listen to this sermon on the subject of trust and loyalty?"

<> Zebina says "Well, this has certainly put the fox amongst the hens."

Daimonique says "You know, I know all about trust and loyalty. I have Sarah. And I'm afraid she's flipping out right now. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to get a move on."

The Cherub growls, "Who is Sarah?"

<> Daimonique says "Or the smart ass among the hallucinations."

Daimonique says "Sarah is someone who is obviously not here."

Daimonique is looking for a door.

The Cherub says, "It is safer for you to remain here until you are accustomed to Heaven."

There is a door the other side of the room. It doesn't look like _the_ door out, but it's definitely a door out of the room.

Daimonique climbs over the assembled faux-angels, making a comment about 'wings being all wrong', and heads for the door.

The door is opened from the other side. There is a pair of Big Hulking Cherubim there.

Daimonique sizes them up through narrowed eyes.

Daimonique thinks she can take 'em.

<> Demiurge says "Per roll?"

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 6.

<> Zebina says "Little did they realize that Daimonique is a Celestial Thug."

<> Demiurge says "The Cherubim are also ... wrong. Shouldn't be quite that bristly. Or fluffy."

The fawn-winged Cherub says, "Come and sit down, Daimonique. You are still weary from the strain of Redemption."

Daimonique decides to stalk right on by them.

The Cherubim attempt a unison - though not vicious - grasp for Daimonique's shoulders.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 6.

Daimonique says "Yes, you may let go of me at any time."

One of them rumbles, deep in his bear-chest, "We're not going to hurt you. This is a place of love and healing. We just want to stop you hurting yourself."

Daimonique says "Oh, I've just begun to hurt myself. I'm very grateful that you've put me in a suicide free happy zone, really. But you are all FREAKS."

The angels sitting around the room - in particular the Mercurian - look worried, to say the least.

One Seraph pipes up, folding back her pale-feathered wings, "It's just Redemption, Daimonique. It does bad things to you. It makes you hallucinate."

The Seraph sings, "You'll get over it."

Daimonique says "Hardly."

<> Sarah . o O ( Actually, it makes you play really well. )

Daimonique says "Last thing I want to do is 'get over' Redemption. It's something that I intend to savor for a really long time."

Daimonique says "Every bit of pain, every bit of suffering, every bit of self doubt. All of it."

The fawn-winged Cherub says, "Someone send for one of the Healers. She may need to be sedated until the shock wears off."

Daimonique says "Fuck you."

There is a general stir of shock.

Daimonique announces to the reading group, "You are all being misled! You might honestly want to be redeemed, but this is... all... a... lie! Heaven doesn't make you go around naked! Unless you're at that Creationer party I threw, that's a whole different story. Heaven isn't all about love and happy. Heaven is about the War!"

The Ofanite points out, "We're not naked! We're wearing robes."

Daimonique says "You can't be happy and fluffy and be an angel. You have to change. You have to want to be something more then you are! And no fucking book is going to teach that to you."

<> arcangel wanna see that Ofanite.

The Ofanite says, "Well, the others who aren't wheels of fire are."

Daimonique says "I suffered for a century, people. Suffered. It's not all about warm fuzzies. Get a clue."

<> Hitherby ogles the robed Kyriotates.

<> Sephar too!

Daimonique says "You wanna be an angel? Act like an angel. And break out of here."

The Seraph begins to look vaguely annoyed. "Excuse me. I did want to change. I met Novalis. I was Redeemed. Go get a clue and get some sleep, Lilim..." She pauses, and looks shocked at herself. "That is, please. Try and rest."

<> Hitherby says "With little eyes peeking out on stalks through the neckhole."

<> Demiurge says "No Kyrios currently in the room. Hard luck, guys. :)"

Daimonique says "This isn't how it is."

<> Sephar grins and bets that Seraph is the one Aron is hunting.

<> Pat says "Wouldn't that be an amazing coincidence?"

<> Daimonique says "Amazing."

<> Sephar just giggles.

The Seraph says, "Oh yes it is. Look, I'm a Seraph. We know these things."

<> Zebina says "If that's true you'd better hope that Beleth isn't 'pretending' to be one of the Cherubs."

<> Hitherby fluffies Beleth.

Daimonique sighs. There isn't an easy way of getting out of here. "Okay, Seraph. I say this place is a lie. Resonate on me and tell me the truth of my words. Pick the truth from the Symphony.

She shakes her head. "I can't do that. We need to be taught how to use our Resonance. But..." She looks around. "Look, come _on_, can't you see this place is Heaven? And we all know it. We've all been Redeemed."

<> Sarah . o O ( I've been to Heaven! I bought a tie there! )

<> Zebina is going to be really impressed if Daimon 'accidentally' ends up truly Redeeming some of these crazies.

Daimonique says "If you're an angel, you can use your resonance. Just like I can."

The Seraph says, "You're a Lilim. Your resonance hasn't changed." Behind the two Big Cherubs, an Elohite is shouldering its way towards Daimon.

Daimonique says "Come on, Seraph. You know what it's like. You can hear the Symphony beating in your soul. All you do is reach out and resonate."

Daimonique says "What's it sound like? Tell me that. Tell me what the Symphony sounds like to _you_."

The Seraph pauses, big eyes suddenly uncertain. "When an Archangel takes me into their service, then it'll work."

The Elohite has a syringe in its hand.

Daimonique says "You're already in an Archangel's service! This isn't Hell! You don't SERVE like a slave! You do it because it frees your soul!"

Daimonique says "And because it gives you license to kick some demon's ass."

The Seraph unfurls her wings. "No! I do it out of love! Why should I want to hurt people? You sound like a Punisher!"

Daimonique attempts to avoid the Elohite.

<> Eduardo says "YEAH! Daimonique gets the Malakite Way!"

The two Cherubim grab for Daimonique, trying to hold her long enough for the Elohite to get the syringe in.

Daimonique says "Because when I get out of here, there's gonna be some punishing. But not unjust-"

Daimonique ergs, and fights like crazy. "Fucking, if that's addictive, someone is gonna pay."

The needle goes in, and black sleep spreads like a cloud behind it.

Daimonique sags, as it hits her like a freight train.

The last thing you see are the angels looking down at you, and the last thing heard is the Cherub saying, "She'll be all right. We can heal her."

<> Daimonique cackles.

<> Daimonique says "That's hilarious."

<> Zebina says "If Daimon's nose were any harder, we could use him as a pickaxe."

<> Daimonique says "Pat's fault."

<> Pat beams.

<> Eduardo pats Pat on the head. "Good boy. For a Dominican."

---

Fiat Justitia