Skyscraper Graveyard IC: Renaissance City

[Deadly]

Amun raised an eyebrow. Handsome? That was definitely a new one.

"Can't say I have." He gave the strange ... stranger a fascinated look. "Might I ask who you are, good sir?" There was usually a reason someone was looking for someone else. And often enough that reason gave the other man a good reason in turn to not want to be found.

[Thanqol]

"Victor," said the beautiful man, deftly juggling both coffee cups into one hand so he could offer his other to shake. "Well, if you see him, tell him for me his coffee's getting cold. I'd appreciate it."

[Deadly]

[Need I roll anything to sense what's going on?]

"Amun," Amun said, shaking the hand. He looked around. "Sure, I'll let him know if I see him."

[Thanqol]

[What do you think is going on? This guy seems legit so far]

"Great. Thanks," said Victor, walking over and sitting on the park bench vacated by the priest and setting the spare coffee down next to him. He slouched languidly, looking up at the skyscraper and whistling.

[Anarion]

Tessen shrugs and quickens her pace to match the priest's. "So, where are we going in such a hurry, sir?"

[Thanqol]

[If you're seriously going to Pinkie Pie this guy until he gives up, what we're going to do is roll contested resolve to represent each half hour of walking. First one to fail the roll gives up first.]

The priest muttered something that sounded like "Away" and kept walking.

[Deadly]

Originally Posted by Thanqol

[What do you think is going on? This guy seems legit so far]

"Great. Thanks," said Victor, walking over and sitting on the park bench vacated by the priest and setting the spare coffee down next to him. He slouched languidly, looking up at the skyscraper and whistling.

[Yeah, he does probably seem entirely legit to Amun. Some little detail might be off, though. Just asking because he definitely doesn't seem legit to me His exceptional looks also make him stand out]

Amun watched him, wondering if he should have asked if he could spare a coin. The man looked like the kind of person who wouldn't say no, but also like the kind of person whose coins came with a long and tiring tirade about the value of getting yourself a job. Amun decided he wasn't that desperate yet and turned around.

As he often did when wandering the city, Amun opened his mind to the many impressions that lay hidden to normal vision, looking at the flow of the city as he resumed his walk. There was often something new to find, a resonance here, a resonance there, fascinating things he hadn't noticed before on his walks or which hadn't been there last time he came by.

An impulse took him and he turned to look at the man again. How many people genuinely looked that good? Perhaps here was one of those interesting little things.

[Supernal vision.]

[Anarion]

Originally Posted by Thanqol

[If you're seriously going to Pinkie Pie this guy until he gives up, what we're going to do is roll contested resolve to represent each half hour of walking. First one to fail the roll gives up first.]

The priest muttered something that sounded like "Away" and kept walking.

[Would it help if I RPed some of it? Because I can do a mean version of her Picklebarrel Kumquat bit only about organized religion and the existence of god. Tessen's resolve roll. (3d10)[3][2][1](6)]

[Thanqol]

[He is Striking Looks 4 and wearing a tailored suit in downtown Detroit, that's plenty cause for suspicion]

There was a significant magical residue about Victor's body, a taste like coffee and chocolate and sweat. It felt Awakened, though there weren't any spells on him right now.

[Thanqol]

Originally Posted by Anarion

[Would it help if I RPed some of it? Because I can do a mean version of her Picklebarrel Kumquat bit only about organized religion and the existence of god. Tessen's resolve roll. [roll0]]

[Sure, extra dice will be based on how annoying/detailed/lengthy/convincing your patter is]

[Anarion]

Originally Posted by Thanqol

[Sure, extra dice will be based on how annoying/detailed/lengthy/convincing your patter is]

[You asked. I'm going to spoil this to avoid hurting everyone else's eyes.]

Spoiler

"Well, sir, since you don't seem to want to talk to me, I hope you won't mind too much if I talk to you. Anyway, I studied a lot of literature in college, I really liked Hemmingway in particular. And he always seemed to me to have a particular image of god. I think you're a priest, so you would appreciate that kind of thing maybe, y'know? But anyway, Hemmingway had this image of people being able to find their own peace, particularly if they could get away from things, like all the chatter and noise of the city. He thought that if people could just find some peace and quiet, they would maybe be able to find god, or at least some sense of internal peace. And really, that's kind of what I think God is anyway. Because religion tells us that God helps those who help themselves, so it seems like going out and trying to find your own sense of peace and self would be the best way to find God anyway because that's helping yourself. But it seems to me that you're being kinda mean about this whole thing, not even talking to me. A priest is supposed to help people. They confess their sins, and then you help them redeem themselves by telling them what to do to get better and to receive forgiveness in god's eyes. That's kind of the whole thing with Catholicism anyway, right? That Jesus and Mary and all those saints kind of intercede with God to make him forgive us. It has to be something like that because I studied a bit of the bible and let me tell you, the old testament god was all smiting everything all over the place. He was like "Abraham, you better sacrifice your son or I'll smite you. Jacob, go wrestle with this angel or you'll get a smiting. Soddom and Gamora, oh man those are getting smited so hard. And Cain and Abel, although I guess Cain deserved it because he killed his brother, so if anybody was going to get a smiting it was going to be Cain. But then that wouldn't have happened if Adam and Eve hadn't been smote first, and that one was really stupid. I mean seriously, smiting people because they gained knowledge. I think that one's made up personally because gaining knowledge is all about the human soul. That's what I think anyway. That the soul comes to the mortal world and it tries to learn everything that it can and picks up on everything that's happening. Even though it kind of forgets what it is while it's inside most people, it's still learning everything, and then it ascends back up to heaven when someone dies and that lets heaven grow a little bit. What do you think happens to the soul, sir? I don't think the bible really talks about it. I mean, there's heaven and hell, but most of that is from Dante Alighieri, and his description of heaven is nothing but blinding light everyone. "Oh I was blinded by the light of my love, oh I saw an angel and the light blinded me. Frankly, with all the blindness, I think heaven sounds a bit worse than hell really. Well, except for the fire and the brimstone part. Although don't you think it's weird that everyone thinks hell is so fiery, but then in The Divine Comedy, Dante made out that the worst layer of hell was icy instead? And Satan was the coldest of all and Dante had to climb around Satan and through the frozen pools to get to purgatory. Of course, that's just a myth, but since it's the basis for most of the Christian afterlife, it seems kind of relevant. Personally though, I always liked the idea that the world was balanced on the back of a giant turtle. I heard a story once, that there was this scientist, an astronomer or something, and he was talking to a big crowd, telling them all about the big bang and the theories of the universe about whether it would contract or expand and everything. And there was this little old lady in the crowd and she raised her hand and interrupted the scientist. And she said to him "Sonny, I say sonny, that's a bunch of hoohaw. The world is balanced on the back of a giant turtle and that's all there is." And then the scientist, because he wanted to look smug and superior, y'know? Anyway, the scientist says to the woman, with this big smirk, he says "Well miss, what is the turtle on top of?" And then she put up her hand and wagged her finger at the scientist and she said, "Oh, you can't fool me sonny. You think you're so smart. But I'll tell you. It's turtles. Nothing but turtles all the way down."

[Thanqol]

Originally Posted by Anarion

[You asked. I'm going to spoil this to avoid hurting everyone else's eyes.]

Spoiler

"Well, sir, since you don't seem to want to talk to me, I hope you won't mind too much if I talk to you. Anyway, I studied a lot of literature in college, I really liked Hemmingway in particular. And he always seemed to me to have a particular image of god. I think you're a priest, so you would appreciate that kind of thing maybe, y'know? But anyway, Hemmingway had this image of people being able to find their own peace, particularly if they could get away from things, like all the chatter and noise of the city. He thought that if people could just find some peace and quiet, they would maybe be able to find god, or at least some sense of internal peace. And really, that's kind of what I think God is anyway. Because religion tells us that God helps those who help themselves, so it seems like going out and trying to find your own sense of peace and self would be the best way to find God anyway because that's helping yourself. But it seems to me that you're being kinda mean about this whole thing, not even talking to me. A priest is supposed to help people. They confess their sins, and then you help them redeem themselves by telling them what to do to get better and to receive forgiveness in god's eyes. That's kind of the whole thing with Catholicism anyway, right? That Jesus and Mary and all those saints kind of intercede with God to make him forgive us. It has to be something like that because I studied a bit of the bible and let me tell you, the old testament god was all smiting everything all over the place. He was like "Abraham, you better sacrifice your son or I'll smite you. Jacob, go wrestle with this angel or you'll get a smiting. Soddom and Gamora, oh man those are getting smited so hard. And Cain and Abel, although I guess Cain deserved it because he killed his brother, so if anybody was going to get a smiting it was going to be Cain. But then that wouldn't have happened if Adam and Eve hadn't been smote first, and that one was really stupid. I mean seriously, smiting people because they gained knowledge. I think that one's made up personally because gaining knowledge is all about the human soul. That's what I think anyway. That the soul comes to the mortal world and it tries to learn everything that it can and picks up on everything that's happening. Even though it kind of forgets what it is while it's inside most people, it's still learning everything, and then it ascends back up to heaven when someone dies and that lets heaven grow a little bit. What do you think happens to the soul, sir? I don't think the bible really talks about it. I mean, there's heaven and hell, but most of that is from Dante Alighieri, and his description of heaven is nothing but blinding light everyone. "Oh I was blinded by the light of my love, oh I saw an angel and the light blinded me. Frankly, with all the blindness, I think heaven sounds a bit worse than hell really. Well, except for the fire and the brimstone part. Although don't you think it's weird that everyone thinks hell is so fiery, but then in The Divine Comedy, Dante made out that the worst layer of hell was icy instead? And Satan was the coldest of all and Dante had to climb around Satan and through the frozen pools to get to purgatory. Of course, that's just a myth, but since it's the basis for most of the Christian afterlife, it seems kind of relevant. Personally though, I always liked the idea that the world was balanced on the back of a giant turtle. I heard a story once, that there was this scientist, an astronomer or something, and he was talking to a big crowd, telling them all about the big bang and the theories of the universe about whether it would contract or expand and everything. And there was this little old lady in the crowd and she raised her hand and interrupted the scientist. And she said to him "Sonny, I say sonny, that's a bunch of hoohaw. The world is balanced on the back of a giant turtle and that's all there is." And then the scientist, because he wanted to look smug and superior, y'know? Anyway, the scientist says to the woman, with this big smirk, he says "Well miss, what is the turtle on top of?" And then she put up her hand and wagged her finger at the scientist and she said, "Oh, you can't fool me sonny. You think you're so smart. But I'll tell you. It's turtles. Nothing but turtles all the way down."

[Okay, Thanqol's Super Precise modifier calculator:
1: For opening the textbox and seeing that giant block of text.
1: For not using any sort of linebreak.
1: For dissing Dante, who is a hack.
1: For turtles.

So +4 dice.]

[Anarion]

[Personally, I did find Inferno enjoyable, but the other two books are awful. Beatrice might actually be the worst tour guide in history. (4d10)[10][1][8][7](26) 10 again is a 3. 2 successes.]

[Thanqol]

Originally Posted by Anarion

[Personally, I did find Inferno enjoyable, but the other two books are awful. Beatrice might actually be the worst tour guide in history. [roll0] 10 again is a 3. 2 successes.]

[That's a tie, it goes to the Player Character after an hour and a half of walking.]

It was a slow and creeping realisation, but eventually the priest was unable to deny the horrifying conclusion that she could keep doing this forever. The unending tide of words from the girl's mouth wore away at the old man's resolve, causing visions to flash behind his eyes of going to bed and having Tessen stand outside his window continuing to yammer.

Finally, the horror achieved physical manifestation. The old priest stopped where he was and shouted, "FINE! I GIVE UP! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" having genuinely forgotten how this unceasing noise-box had entered his life in the first place.

[Anarion]

"Huh? Oh, um. I wanted to know who you were, how you knew me, and why you were sitting outside my building seemingly just waiting there for me."

[Thanqol]

"Because you are a witch, a bride of Satan and an evildoer, and your demon-possessed den of sin is a blight in the heart of this city!" said the priest.

The passerby weren't too unused to a crazy old dude shouting in the street about religious stuff, so they just walked around the two.

[Anarion]

"oookay. Who told you that, and who are you planning to report to?"

[Thanqol]

"I answer only to God," said the priest.

[Anarion]

"Since I don't believe that God spoke to you personally and told you what I look like, and I've never met you before, I'm pretty sure that someone told you about me. Who might that have been?"

[Thanqol]

"Of course you wouldn't believe in God, witch, as much as you throw his name around," said the priest.

[Anarion]

"Actually, I said that I didn't believe God spoke to you. I guess I could be wrong. Are you saying that God actually spoke to you, personally, and told you what I looked like? Actually, that would be sort of a compliment, even if it would make God a peeping Tom."

[Thanqol]

"God is not a - omnipresence - phaw!" the priest choked off mid sentence. "If you must know, I found the cursed building and simply paid attention to who went in and out of it."

[Anarion]

"Okay, now we're getting somewhere. So you found the building. Where did you come from? Actually, what's your name as well, and what church are you a priest at?"

[Thanqol]

The priest almost said "I don't have to answer your questions", but the memory of the past hour and a half washed through him like a chill.

"I am not endangering my home or my flock by telling you their names," he said, "but my name is Father Pritchard."

[Anarion]

"I see." Tessen takes out her notebook and writes down his name. While waiting for the book to take effect, she says "you said you had heard about the building, not who was going in and out of it. So, I'll ask again. Who set you to watching us? A description will do if you lack a name."

[Thanqol]

"Nobody set me to watching your damn building! If you have a problem with divine revelation, maybe you can pray for forgiveness!" said Pritchard in frustration.

The notebook's insight was, "Blinding light must be met with blind faith, even if one has no idea what one is praying to."

[Anarion]

"Actually, I don't, Father. I hope you'll forgive me for being untrusting, but divine revelation is so rare. Here, why don't I buy you a coffee, and you can tell me about your divine revelation, how does that sound?"

[I don't care if I have resources zero, coffee is in the same category as cigarettes and bullets: anyone can afford it.]

[Thanqol]

"You untrusting? You're the one who lives in the demon house! I have walked in the dark places of the city, I know their scent and I have driven out the filth that inhabits them," he almost sounded like a real monster hunter here. "I know the corrupting rot that besets those who dwell there and the false idols they worship, and I know of the dark beasts they call forth. Why should I tell you more than I already have?"

[Anarion]

"Well" *she puts a finger on her chin, thinking aloud* "for one thing, you're a priest, so when someone wants help being saved, you should try and be friendly with them so they'll take your advice. Second, you were spying on me, which is a little bit rude, so it would be nice if you explained some things. On top of that, I want to help people too and you could teach me to do that better. Being secretive and mean just makes it seem like you're hiding something."

[Thanqol]

"Do you want to be saved?" that looked unexpected, "Do you renounce Satan and all his works? Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?"

That sounded a little... more Hollywood than Priest.