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The familia Akrisael (minus the still missing Tea) are meeting in the Tower of Babel to discuss various things of import. Chancel Management, the upcoming lawsuit with Locus Makahtiel, and than the discussion turns to Nezha's flying dinosaurs. It seems that these dinosaurs have been alchemically transformed to flying serpents and taught to ability to identify those humans who have given themselves over to The World. These individuals are snatched up and devoured. This is causing some uproar amongst the Chancel population. After some discussion of the matter where the familia discusses the various philosophies on the place of power, its abuses and responsibilities, the matter is left with a stern warning. At one point they did discuss having the flying serpents do their work outside of the chancel, but it was felt this would create even more problems. Nezha does state that she does this to let Morgan (the Power of the World) know how serious their relationship is. Nezha finishes this deliberation by doing a Realm Miracle to let the Chancel folk know the place of these swooping dinosaurs and that it is her will. Merlin also quietly started creating sacrificial victims -- careerist bureaucrats with no friends or family -- to keep the dinosaurs fed but the people uncomplaining. This doesn't bother him, because he doesn't think people he makes are real, and it doesn't bother Nezha, because she does think they are real. Merlin does not regard this as a permanent solution. Instead he views it as a way to prevent the raptors from eating anyone important while the familia is at trial. At this point Akrisael wanders in listening to a set of crystalline headphones. She says she's quite perturbed by something and gives the headphones to Merlin. Merlin, finding only crazed confusion, uses a Miracle of Aspect to listen closer. He finds that its 100s of cannels all with just advertising. This second reminder from their Imperator causes the familia to take action. Working through Merlin's anchor they place a full-page invitation out to the Power of Advertising. This, needless to say, does get the attention of the Power of Advertising. Who responds with his own ads, offering legal services. This strikes the Powers as a good idea. So they contact the Power and meet the Rev. William Erasmus Saturday in Time Square. Exiting in a former Adult Theater they cause a slight stir of visiting nobility. Probably due to Nezha appearing in ceremonial Chinese Imperial garb with two spider people carrying her train and her tiger. Pressing through the crowd of autograph seekers they arrive at the rendezvous place, a cheese-cake restaurant. Pictures of this appear in all the local gossip rags on the next day, slightly doctored and seem to indicate that Nezha is some sort of Moroccan royalty. Alec seems heavily suspicious and reigns back the enthusiasm of the other Powers. Saturday offers his services to discredit their opponents and advance their own agenda. All for the price of one story. After some debate they agree to accept Saturdays offer. Story and Advertising have some debate (or is that turf fight) over the boundaries and overlapping of their estates. Nezha requests that Advertising aid her in getting the bans to her forthcoming marriage out into the world. Alec goes back into time to meet with Cardano in 1571 Rome. After rousing him from bed Cardano and Alec discuss the stars and astrology, in particular Alec's horoscope. It seems that his birthdate is a fractal variant on the pattern of the stars on the 4th day, the creation of the stars by the Creator (Alec assumes this is allegorical, but he's not s sure). Alec assumes this means his birthdate, but he's wrong, it's the date of his ennobling. This pattern (taking in account time) has repeated several times over the ages, including the advent of Lord Entropy's rule and sometime during the life of the Buddha. The knowledge that Alec takes from Cardano is the last piece of the puzzle. Reaching out he attempts a new Rite, and succeeds. He binds Cardano to him as a anchor. Not through love or hate but through love and connection to the Estate of Brilliance. Alec returns with his new anchor Cardano to the Chancel, where he instructs Cardano on his teaching duties. The Power of Advertising meanwhile engages in a Major Creation of his Estate and launches a full-scale smear-campaign against the Power of Futility. Questioning his validity and intimating that he serves, or is one of, the forces that from outside creation. The date of the trial has arrived. Forging a gateway through the Garden of Forking Paths the familia arrives at the city of Gandhara, locus Ram-Khvastra. There they are met by an honorguard led by Reshma, Marchessa of Coping. They promenade through the City arriving at the Inquisitorial Plaza where they are confronted by Locus Makahtiel in all their lock-stepping glory. Ram-Khvastra shows himself in veiled glory, his presence like the long-slow grind of two continental shelves forming a mountain range. Identified as the plaintiff, Alec speaks first, outlining the familia's claim that these buildings (the work of Albert Speer) are theirs because they are part of their chancel and have never been part of any other chancel. Vito Jocoy, Graf Ambition gives the opening statement for Locus Makahtiel. He outlines the miraculous work gone into inspiring the design of these buildings, the symbolic value of them, and -- of all things -- how they fit into their Imperator's conception of beauty. He also outlines (very efficiently) how these buildings were stolen out of time just at the moment the familia was working to bring them into their chancel. At this point the court is adjourned and the Powers are invited to banquet. Merlin, doing a Divination of Story hears the rumors going around about Futility. He also picks up some gossip about the rats in Delhi doing weird things. |
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