Defenders of the Faith01

[23:05]	<[GM]Mary>	Nuns are preparing...
[23:12]	<Judas>	April twentieth, 1876. That's when I received a letter telling me that my father, a pastor of a small church in a small town, died in a freak accident. It was sent from an organization called "Fidei Defensor"... or Fidelis Defensors or something crazy like that. Some sort of underground religious sect dedicated to fighting monsters.
[23:12]	<Judas>	By the will of the church and almighty God, I am hereby made a priest ordained to defend the faith and uphold righteousness, and am given charge of a habit of sisters to assist me in my heavenly duties.
[23:12]	<Judas>	What a load of shit. My old man's dead, and all these people can tell me is that it's now my responsibility to chase after ghosts. A month later, I'm towing four little ladies across the Kaw in a cheap carriage, heading westward into Sentinel. Same small town, same small church my dad took care of.
[23:12]	<Judas>	I don't know. Maybe it'll be a good change for me. Maybe I'll have the chance to settle down and learn a few things about that guy my old man was always on about. I don't really understand all this "Instruments of Divine Will" crap, but it's still a regular church, isn't it?
[23:12]	<Judas>	It can't be too hard. And maybe there's some good-looking among these sisters. I wonder how they got dragged into all this...
[23:14]	<[GM]Mary>	5PM, a quarter mile outside of Sentinel after traveling the warm plains of eastern Kansas. You're in a small, dinky carriage, facing three(two?) of your colleagues as the priest rides up front, rambling on about something with the driver. His head pokes back through the curtain and questions you.
[23:15]	* Judas	pokes his head back and questions.
[23:15]	<Judas>	Uh... How ya doin'?
[23:17]	* Judas	tries to act as unimposing as humanly possible.
[23:24]	* Judas	tugs at his collar throughout the silence. Talking to girls is harder than it looks.
[23:27]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	offers a brief smile.
[23:27]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I am well.
[23:28]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The questions keep coming in a line longer than homeless begging for scraps at the town hall. All my inquiries up to this point have been useless. Why did they take the 9:50, not the 8:45? What exactly happened on the west bank? Which bastard touched my hat the other night? The charities have packed, the relief is gone, the remaining answers bicker amongst each other over the tiniest scraps...
[23:28]	<[Nom]Stone>	...of information. The only answers I have left are for children's homework and small talk.'
[23:28]	* [PB]Avn	blinked, and nodded quietly.
[23:29]	<Judas>	Uh... right. Great! We'll be there in a few minutes.
[23:29]	* [Nom]Stone	tips her hat over her eyes, mumbling to herself.
[23:29]	* Judas	pokes back. Good-looking was too much to hope for. They're freakin' nuts!
[23:30]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I am well in addition.
[23:32]	<[GM]Mary>	The carriage comes to a halt, and the priest thanks and pays the driver. A moment later, he opens the doors and offers to help you out.
[23:33]	* [Zem]Catherine	gets out on her own. She doesn't understand this "chivalry" stuff yet.
[23:33]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Minutes. I wonder. Every moment has been an eternity ever since I left the farmer's house. Guilt gnaws at the soul, but I had kept it down with drink. Now I have too much of the first and none of the second, and every second is and endless trial--'
[23:33]	* [Nom]Stone	's monologue gets interrupted. Whoops, they're already here.
[23:33]	* Judas	's self esteem drops another notch.
[23:34]	* [PB]Avn	nods in thanks, but gets out of the carriage by herself.
[23:34]	* Judas	two notches.
[23:34]	* [Nom]Stone	is not paying attention and gets out the other side
[23:35]	* Judas	contempt for women rises a notch
[23:35]	* Judas	's, even
[23:35]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	exits last, and accepts his offer, partially out of sheer contrariness.
[23:36]	<Judas>	Ah... Tell me something, is it a nun thing to... you know, not take help or something?
[23:38]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I just didn't notice.
[23:38]	<Judas>	Right...
[23:39]	* Judas	sets the littler girl to the ground, and the carriage goes off.
[23:40]	* Judas	turns about and counts heads.
[23:40]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Nothing prohibits such, that I am aware of.
[23:40]	<Judas>	One, two, three, four, f-... huh. Is that everybody?
[23:43]	* Judas	asks to no one in particular but obviously someone within immediate listening, distance, won't mention any names here but surely a nun or group of
[23:44]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I am here, obviously.
[23:44]	<Judas>	Yeah, but...
[23:45]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Should there have been more?
[23:45]	* Judas	pulls a paper out of his cassock.
[23:45]	<Judas>	Yeah, there should have been two more... huh. I wonder what happened.
[23:46]	* Judas	stuffs it back in his pocket and starts up the hill, towards the church. It's the first thing before you get into town, sort of off by itself.
[23:46]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The priest isn't satisfied with what he has. It figures. At the heart of every man sits dissatisfaction, leading to greed and manifesting in sin. I had seen too many go down that path and become lost forever.'
[23:47]	* [Nom]Stone	is mumbling more than usual, which she blames entirely on the alcohol. Or rather, the lack of it.
[23:49]	<Judas>	What? Hey, you haven't even given me the chance to be dissatisfied yet.
[23:49]	* [PB]Avn	ignored the banter and just quietly walked up to the church.
[23:50]	<[GM]Mary>	You arrive at the church, nameless and rather plain. The white paint is starting to peel off a little bit.
[23:50]	* [Nom]Stone	has no sense of keeping monologue internal, so makes do with pretending no one else is there
[23:51]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	surveys her new place. It probably doesn't have a proper dungeon.
[23:51]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	...Yet.
[23:52]	* [Zem]Catherine	's eye is unconsciously drawn to the cemetery.
[23:52]	* Judas	takes a look as well, but for a completely different reason.
[23:52]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The church is old and rundown, either unused or overused, the very reflection of a soul.'
[23:53]	* [PB]Avn	just looked on passively. Well, better than before...
[23:53]	<Judas>	Hmm...
[23:53]	* Judas	looks at it from an angle.
[23:57]	<Judas>	True, but... It's pretty well-built. It could use a new paint job, but the wood isn't warping and the shingles aren't looking bad either. Looks clean. And from the foundation...
[23:58]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	follows behind Avn slightly, and looks up over the threshold, then down around the foundation. Slowly, she begins to walk around the perimeter of the church building.
[23:58]	* Judas	puts his hand on the side of the house, inspecting... well, obviously something.
[23:58]	<Judas>	...Let's go inside.
[23:59]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	is already off around the corner, engrossed in her survey.
[00:00]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Sounds like a good idea.
[00:00]	<[Nom]Stone>	'I take a closer look at the structure of the building, this time inspecting it for signs of structural damage. As much as I hate to admit it, the priest was right. Good enough to not collapse on us in the middle of the night. That's a start. Slightly more assured, but still restless, I walk inside.'
[00:01]	* Judas	looks at Stone, then looks at Catherine and Avn questioningly.
[00:02]	* [Nom]Stone	forgets to actually walk, so after a bit of a lag actually enters the church
[00:02]	* [PB]Avn	shrugs, and walks in silently.
[00:05]	<[GM]Mary>	It's about all you expect a decent church to have. Row of pews, confessional box, stain glass window with the Lord's son depicted, altar up a few steps, and a solid layer of dust covering all of it.
[00:06]	<[Nom]Stone>	'It's about all I could expect a decent church to have. Row of pews, confessional box, stain glass window with the Lord's son depicted, altar up a few steps, and a solid layer of dust covering all of it.'
[00:06]	* Judas	steps in, clearing his throat with a cough. Oh, nice, these pews are made of mahogany...
[00:07]	* [Zem]Catherine	looks around. She only knew of churches through missionaries' descriptions of them, and this is all new to her.
[00:08]	* Judas	hasn't been to church on purpose in at least two years. Well, at least it's well-crafted...
[00:13]	<Judas>	So... you're all nuns, huh...
[00:15]	* Judas	wipes some dust off of a pew, then takes a seat for a moment.
[00:15]	* [Nom]Stone	is wrapped up so tightly she doesn't look like a nun at all. She wears large poncho over whatever it is, has a long scarf wrapped around her neck and lower face despite the heat, and broad-brimmed hat obscures the rest
[00:16]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Yes, we are. You've known this.
[00:18]	<Judas>	Yeah... I do.
[00:19]	* Judas	prays for the second time in ten years, this time for someone from planet Earth to step into his life
[00:21]	<Judas>	Ah, well... Where did uh, the little one go?
[00:21]	* Judas	probably means Zvalinka
[00:21]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I should pray, too.
[00:21]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	passes by one of the windows, still absorbed in her work.
[00:21]	* [Zem]Catherine	kneels and prays.
[00:22]	* [Nom]Stone	thought someone was calling her short for a moment. Stone -is- short, but doesn't appreciate people calling her on it.
[00:31]	* Judas	tries to walk as silently as he can past Catherine and steps outside, heaving a deep sigh.
[00:34]	* Judas	looks around the corner.
[00:34]	<Judas>	Hey, uh...crap... uh, Miss.
[00:37]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	finishes her tour, and looks up at the person who emerged.
[00:37]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Hello once more, Father.
[00:38]	<Judas>	Father...? Oh. Right.
[00:38]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	smiles slightly.
[00:38]	<Judas>	Just looking around?
[00:39]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	One should always inspect one's new dwellings before settling in too comfortably.
[00:39]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Nothing seems... amiss.
[00:40]	<Judas>	Yeah, it looks in good shape. Hell, my old man might've built it himself...
[00:41]	* Judas	thinks about that. he can't remember living in or near a church when he was little. Maybe it's built off of a home?
[00:41]	<Judas>	Well, anyway. I don't know who any of you are, so I reckoned we should all get together and introduce ourselves.
[00:42]	<Judas>	My name's Jack. Jack Callahan.
[00:42]	* Judas	presents a hand, and what passes for a smile.
[00:43]	* [Zem]Catherine	finishes praying, and is at a loss momentarily.
[00:45]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	inclines her head slightly, and looks at his hand for a moment, before nodding slightly to herself, and extending her own.
[00:46]	<[Zem]Catherine>	So are we supposed to be getting people here?
[00:46]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I am called by Sister Zvalinka.
[00:48]	<Judas>	Nice to meet you, Sister. I hope you got a better idea about this than me.
[00:48]	* Judas	shakes on it.
[00:49]	<[Nom]Stone>	'We are asked to give our names. I don't know how long is has been since i have used my own. Names are bundles of memories and regrets, and now I must dredge up mine. For the sake of politeness, I nod and introduce myself.'
[00:49]	* [Nom]Stone	nods and introduces herself, for good measure
[00:49]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Josephine Harlington Stone. Jo will do. Preferably Stone.'
[00:50]	<Judas>	Well anyway, let's go inside. The others are probably waiting on us.
[00:50]	* [Nom]Stone	actually thinks she used her name when she was registering for the library card last week, but that would have ruined her pathos
[00:52]	* Judas	goes inside, unaware of any introducing that may have occurred
[00:55]	* [Nom]Stone	isn't sure who she was talking to, but it isn't the first time
[00:56]	* Judas	pretends he did and METAHEARS
[00:56]	<Judas>	Stone, right? Right. Jack Callahan. And you're...?
[00:56]	* Judas	turns to Catherine
[00:57]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Sister Catherine.
[00:57]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Now how does this go?
[00:57]	* [Zem]Catherine	puts out a fist.
[00:57]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	quietly follows Callahan back inside.
[00:57]	<Judas>	uh...
[00:58]	* Judas	looks to the others. Surely someone here knows how to Christian.
[01:06]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	peers around Callahan. ...is she holding something out to him?
[01:07]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Is this wrong?
[01:07]	<Judas>	I don't think so.
[01:07]	<Judas>	Hold on...
[01:10]	* Judas	yanks out a little blue book from his cassock, flips the pages, clears his throat and reads aloud:
[01:10]	<Judas>	"Ye who step forth in the path of righteousness, fear not sin nor sorrow, enslavement nor banish, neither death nor decay, not beasts of the Earth nor devils beneath, for ye are those tasked by Divine Will to Defend the Faith, and your duties are handed to ye from THE LORD, and failure is not in THE LORD'S plan. May GOD ALMIGHTY guide you in your quest."
[01:11]	<Judas>	...At least, that's what this book says.
[01:13]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The priest speaks, but what comes out is not the language of men, but some garbled gibberished dressed up as speech. I can not understand his intention at all. Perhaps he is insane, or speaking in tongues, only doing it completely wrong.'
[01:14]	<Judas>	It's got a whole bunch of stuff about demons, and spirits and vampires... "how to consecrate a vampire"...
[01:14]	* Judas	flips through the pages, glancing over all the... words.
[01:15]	<Judas>	Come on. I mean... The Lord's well and good and all, and I uh, don't doubt His word, but there ain't really any such thing as vampires, are they?
[01:16]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The priest shows doubt, and the irony is not lost on me. I make an effort not to scoff, since he is our host. I would not be the one to correct him; the vampires will.'
[01:16]	* [Nom]Stone	scoffs
[01:17]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Vampires are one among many such things, Father.
[01:18]	<Judas>	This has gotta be a joke...
[01:18]	* Judas	puts the book away.
[01:18]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I assure you, it is absolutely not.
[01:19]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Little does the priest know that Josephine Harling Stone does not joke, only make funny remarks or employ circumstantial humour. But he will learn in time, and other things.'
[01:19]	* Judas	gets a little less happy, in Zvalinka's general direction. Dammit, I thought you were the only sane one here!
[01:21]	* [PB]Avn	stayed quiet throughout. Hmm, sleepy...
[01:26]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Father, if I may show you a little something?
[01:26]	<[GM]Mary>	Avn: Suddenly, you fall through the floor. Quite loudly and suddenly, might I add. Did I mention it was sudden? It probably took a few seconds for your panties to catch up with your crotch, but they did in the end.
[01:27]	<[GM]Mary>	Though obviously not loud enough to interrupt the conversation. The church is very well insulated.
[01:29]	<Judas>	...?
[01:30]	<[Nom]Stone>	'A crash of wood rings through the church, perhaps disproving the structural integrity of the building. What was that?'
[01:30]	<[Nom]Stone>	"What was that?"
[01:31]	* [PB]Avn	woke up from her nap, belatedly realising that she's no longer in the church.
[01:31]	<[PB]Avn>	?
[01:31]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	pauses. Painful demonstrations are postponed. Good.
[01:31]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	stops rolling her sleeve up, and goes to investigate.
[01:31]	* [Zem]Catherine	dashes over, showing characteristic agility.
[01:32]	* [PB]Avn	looked up at the hole above, quietly.
[01:32]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	It sounded as if it came from... the rear of the building?
[01:32]	<[GM]Mary>	Avn: Wherever you are, it's really dark. The light from the church gives a little light, and a few things carry a small shine from it, but not enough to tell anything.
[01:33]	* Judas	follows the others. Painful demonstrations are postponed. Good.
[01:35]	* [PB]Avn	totally ignored the little shiny objects in favour of staring at the hole with contempt.
[01:36]	<[GM]Mary>	Cathy and Zva: You find Avn staring up from below a trap door. It must have popped open on accident.
[01:37]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The rest dash off to investigate, but they are not being cautious. The possibilities are terrifying. A demon could have ripped itself out of the bowels of the world and is now consuming the atelier. We should wait. We should prepare. I want to warn them, but all I could is follow as well.'
[01:39]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Are you well?
[01:40]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	begins looking about for rope or a ladder or folding stairs built into the the door, or something.
[01:41]	<Judas>	Hey, what happened?
[01:41]	* Judas	arrives on the scene!
[01:42]	<[GM]Mary>	There once was a ladder, but it broke with the door.
[01:42]	* [Nom]Stone	pokes her head around the corner
[01:42]	* [Zem]Catherine	peers into the hole.
[01:42]	<[Nom]Stone>	'No one has been devoured. Yet. Positive sign.'
[01:43]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	We appear to be breaking new ground in expansion of the building.
[01:44]	<Judas>	...Huh. Neat. Hey, uh, are you alright?
[01:44]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Do you know if we have rope or a ladder, Father?
[01:44]	* Judas	talks at the nun in the hole
[01:44]	* Judas	looks around. Not for rope, but for...
[01:44]	<Judas>	Aha!
[01:45]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	gets a candle and lights it, then returns to the hole, so as to see what's going on down there.
[01:46]	* [PB]Avn	is as silent as always.
[01:47]	<[Nom]Stone>	'There is no sound coming from the hole. Perhaps the nun inside is dead. Or her soul has been drained from her from the terrors of hell. Who will be stupid enough to go after to find out.'
[01:48]	* [Nom]Stone	holds out her hand to Zvalinka for the candle
[01:48]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Apparently me.'
[01:48]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	blinks and looks up at Sister Josephine.
[01:48]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Very well, then.
[01:49]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	hands over the candlestick.
[01:49]	* Judas	grabs another candle off the altar and lights it with Zva's.
[01:49]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I would be willing to go down as well. I am not afraid of the dark, and perhaps we might find something exciting.
[01:51]	<Judas>	Uh, sure. Here, take the candle and I'll help you down.
[01:51]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...While I am sure many of you are interested in exploring, investigating, or something of the sort, would it not perhaps be wise to first secure a means of exit? Sister Avn may wish to ascend soon, at the very least.
[01:51]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The priest is incompetent and perhaps insane, but even he should be able to find some rope before we've finished. For now, the abyss awaits.'
[01:52]	* [Nom]Stone	does not seem to care that the priest in question is right next to her. Without a warning, she jumps down into the hole
[01:52]	<Judas>	...Ya know, maybe I'll just leave them down there.
[01:53]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Is there any way I can help you, Father?
[01:53]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Pardon me, Father. I shall return momentarily.
[01:54]	* Judas	gets criss-crossed in all the 'Fathers'"
[01:54]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	takes her leave, and trots off to the stables to find some decent, sturdy rope.
[01:54]	<Judas>	Er... You're going down, right?
[01:54]	* [PB]Avn	looked at Stone in silence.
[01:55]	* [Nom]Stone	hits the bottom with a crash
[01:56]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I am not sure now.
[01:56]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The girl stares. How to make contact? Will she bite? If I get infected the priest might not be able to fetch me before I can amputate.'
[01:56]	* [Nom]Stone	talks and talks while right in front of Avn
[01:57]	<Judas>	Hey, Stone or whatever. Do you see anything?
[01:57]	<[Nom]Stone>	"I have found a girl. She's one of ours."
[01:58]	* [Nom]Stone	passes the candlelight around her surroundings
[01:59]	<[GM]Mary>	Avn and Josephine: You do see something, a lot of somethings, and those somethings are weapons. Several models of firearms line the walls in gun cabinets and held up in holsters, along with an equally various number of swords, staves, axes, and blades. Many medevial, some very new, none rusted.
[02:00]	* [PB]Avn	stared at the walls of weapons. Oh, how cliched.
[02:00]	* [Nom]Stone	is awed by the trove she has stumbled on
[02:01]	* [PB]Avn	had also apparently ignored what Stone was saying. She had long judge the sister to be a bit loony and decide it's best not to get involved.
[02:01]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Father, send a team after us. Need to investigate."
[02:01]	<Judas>	A what? What is it?
[02:03]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Treasure."
[02:03]	* Judas	isn't sure what that means from a lunatic. What is this, a wine cellar or something?
[02:03]	* [PB]Avn	grabs a rifle, and threw it up the hole.
[02:04]	* [Nom]Stone	would have liked alcohol as well, but will make do with guns
[02:04]	* [PB]Avn	then noticed that it's loaded, a second too late.
[02:04]	<[PB]Avn>	Oh well.
[02:07]	<[Nom]Stone>	'I am too engrossed in my search to notice that the other girl can actually talk. Guns we all need. But this is shall be mine.'
[02:07]	* [Nom]Stone	surreptitiously takes one of the bottles for herself. She considers cracking the other
[02:09]	<[Nom]Stone>	'It won't hurt to try some now. The Lord knew I needed it. It was His grace.'
[02:09]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Well, my old priest never told us anything about guns.
[02:10]	* [Nom]Stone	stows one bottle in a pocket under her poncho, and tries to open the other one
[02:11]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	returns with the rope and begins tying it to a sturdy, secure spot.
[02:12]	<[Zem]Catherine>	So what will we do with the guns? Would they be safer staying down there?
[02:12]	* Judas	catches the rifle, a little bewildered.
[02:13]	<Judas>	Woah, a Sharps...
[02:14]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I it proper for men and women of God to carry them? And will they work against demons and vampires?
[02:14]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	ties it well, and feeds it back down the hole, starting slightly as a gun flies up from below into Callahan's hands.
[02:15]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	What seems to be down below? ...Has anything else of note been found?
[02:16]	* [Nom]Stone	tries a bit of her prize. Just a sip, for savouring.
[02:16]	* [PB]Avn	decides to throw a morningstar up as a reply.
[02:18]	<Judas>	Hey- dammit, cut that out!
[02:18]	* Judas	doesn't like having his gun inspecting interrupted
[02:19]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	reflexively reaches out to catch it, then jerks her hand back in reflex on catching sight of it, before remembering that she's wearing gloves. She just barely manages to grab the leather strap at the end of the handle.
[02:19]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...a museum?
[02:20]	<[Zem]Catherine>	This is not what I imagined a church to be like.
[02:21]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	peers down the hole, and sees the impressive selection caught in the candlelight.
[02:21]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	nods to herself, slowly.
[02:21]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Two faces, indeed...
[02:22]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Two sips. Two sips won't hurt. The first one hardly counted.'
[02:23]	* Judas	pulls back the finger guard and checks the loader. Nope, not Army-issue, but not a .52 either... definitely a carbine... I'll have to check the designation later.
[02:23]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	can see that Father Callahan is a busy man, and so asks gently:
[02:23]	* Judas	stands the weapon against the alter and squats next to the trap door.
[02:23]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	"May I descend, that I may have a look as well, Father?"
[02:24]	<Judas>	Yeah, I'm going in too. You want me to help you down?
[02:25]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I will... stay up here just in case the rope breaks or something.
[02:25]	* Judas	recalls Zvalinka as the only one that took him up on his offer back at the carriage. If it works once, it'll work twice, won't it?
[02:26]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Oh? I could likely manage, but if you insist, then by all means.
[02:26]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	accedes to his offer.
[02:27]	* [Nom]Stone	is dissatisfied
[02:28]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Sips are no good. It was a pansy way to drink. Mouthfuls is the way.'
[02:28]	<[Nom]Stone>	'...Just one.'
[02:30]	* Judas	almost grins right in front of her, feeling a little self esteem come back. He carries her down gingerly.
[02:31]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	sketches a light curtsy to Callahan.
[02:31]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Thank you kindly, Father.
[02:33]	<Judas>	Yes, ma'am.
[02:33]	* Judas	lowers himself down, landing on his feet.
[02:42]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	goes over to look up and down the rows of harm-inflicting variety.
[02:42]	<Judas>	Wow... check it out, a Peacemaker...
[02:43]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I never understood that name.
[02:44]	* Judas	picks up a long revolver, popping open the loading cap and spinning the cylinder.
[02:44]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The cat is here, so the mice can't play.'
[02:45]	* [Nom]Stone	looks sadly at her bottle, which is almost half empty
[02:48]	<Judas>	Jeez, this is a lot of artillery. Did my old man collect all this?
[02:55]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Your father did serve for a time here, then?
[02:55]	* [PB]Avn	picks up a sabre, and after inspecting it with a few test swings, sheaths it and decked the priest on the head with the handle.
[02:56]	* Judas	is reminded of something more important than the hunting rifle he was playing with after hiding the gun in his cassock.
[02:56]	* [PB]Avn	then points out the name etched on the blade. Callahan.
[02:56]	<Judas>	Yeah... This is his church. Was, anyway.
[02:58]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	peers at the name, and nods.
[02:58]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	It would seem we have proof, now.
[02:59]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	From your earlier words, I would assume you knew nothing of what he did?
[02:59]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	is guessing on that past tense, there.
[03:00]	<Judas>	Not really.
[03:00]	* Judas	suddenly isn't interested in all the weapons anymore
[03:01]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Hmm.
[03:03]	<Judas>	Well, whatever. We can go over all this crap later.
[03:05]	* [PB]Avn	shrugs, throws the sword away, and climbs back up the rope. Ah, windows~
[03:06]	* Judas	sets down the rifle and goes back up the hole, using a chest as a step up, then pulls himself out.
[03:07]	<[Nom]Stone>	'He's going. He has no interest in arms. I was like him once. Didn't know--woah'
[03:07]	<[Nom]Stone>	'--I take a bit to find my legs. Must have been older than I thought.'
[03:08]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Need these before I go.'
[03:08]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	steps closer to Stone.
[03:08]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	sniffs the air gently.
[03:09]	* [Nom]Stone	grabs a revolver...and sees a Zvalinka
[03:09]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Sister Josephine?
[03:10]	<[Nom]Stone>	'They rarely want to talk to me. They think I'm insane. Oh, how sane I am. Much too sane. Sane enough to realise they really shouldn't be talking to me. But she's a colleague. Etiquette.'
[03:10]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Yes."
[03:10]	<[Zem]Catherine>	We should probably sleep. Where are the beds?
[03:11]	* Judas	thinks it's a little early, but it's a long trip, so...
[03:11]	<Judas>	I dunno, go check in the back, maybe.
[03:12]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Very well. I shall go prepare the beds.
[03:13]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	's voice drops down quietly to a whisper between the two of them.
[03:13]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Perhaps next time you can wait for Communion before sampling the blood of Christ so freely?
[03:14]	* Judas	nods, and dangles his legs over the opening, thinking to himself.
[03:15]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	You smell... 'bloody.'
[03:15]	<[Nom]Stone>	'She's after the drink. It's natural. It's good stuff. But there's not enough to share. It's a shame.'
[03:16]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Transubstantiation doesn't work like that. Just alcohol. Good for the heart."
[03:17]	<[Tet]Agatha>	[Suddenly, the chapel's front door is kicked open from outside]
[03:17]	* [Tet]Agatha	lands her kicking foot down hard, then stands there in the doorway for, like, a minute.
[03:18]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	hears a commotion. It's from upstairs, this time.
[03:19]	* Judas	makes an unhappy face at the door, and the nun-woman bursting through it. for like a minute.
[03:19]	* [Tet]Agatha	is hunched over at an almost 45-degree angle, with a large bundle on her (?) back.
[03:19]	* [Nom]Stone	hears it too
[03:19]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Ah. Splendid. More breakage, and we've not been here but a handful of hours.
[03:19]	* [Tet]Agatha	finally takes another heavy step across the threshold to the in of doors.
[03:19]	<[Tet]Agatha>	muh...made it...
[03:20]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Someone has ruined the door. Or something. Best to shoot it. Never failed before.'
[03:20]	* [Nom]Stone	goes back up the rope with her revolver. Good thing she has high tolerance.
[03:20]	* [Tet]Agatha	thuds onto her face. The bundle rolls off her back onto the floor next to her.
[03:21]	* Judas	stands up and crosses a few pews to Agatha, who he really really hopes didn't just leave a footprint on that fine hand-crafted, deep stained door.
[03:21]	<Judas>	Uh, can I- aw, hell...
[03:22]	* [Rut]Justice	(the bundle) squirms.
[03:22]	<Judas>	...
[03:22]	* [Tet]Agatha	(the bundle carrier) doesn't.
[03:23]	* Judas	keeps a hand close to the SAA and crouches over the fallen nun.
[03:24]	* [Nom]Stone	clambers out of the hole with some difficulty, and goes over to Judas to check what the fuss is all about
[03:24]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	growls to herself as she ascends. Next time, need to put knots in the damned thing.
[03:24]	<Judas>	Uh. Is this a friend of yours?
[03:25]	* Judas	tips the girl over so whatever it is on her back isn't squishing her.
[03:25]	* [Rut]Justice	crawls out of the cloth cocoon with some effort.
[03:26]	<[Rut]Justice>	S... so hot... water...
[03:26]	<[Nom]Stone>	'I haven't called anyone friend since I shot Jill down at the bay. Probably not her. But if it is, I need to do this quickly.'
[03:26]	* [Tet]Agatha	is revealed to be smiling slightly, eyes open, her pupils apparently having transformed themselves into spirals by some strange miracle.
[03:26]	* [Nom]Stone	has her revolver pointed at the entrance of the bag
[03:28]	* Judas	snags the bottle out of Stone's hand and pushes the barrel towards the ceiling. It's just a... backpack full of girl.
[03:29]	<Judas>	Uh... here.
[03:29]	* [Nom]Stone	is rather small, so it's like a little girl being bullied
[03:30]	* Judas	hands the cocoon girl the wine.
[03:32]	* [Rut]Justice	rubs some sweat from her eyes before fixing them on the bottle. She grabs it with a sudden burst of speed and takes a good series of chugs.
[03:32]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Father Callahan doesn't appreciate the problem solving utility of a bullet. And he's taken my bottle. What is he gong to do with my bottle? Is he giving away my bottle? The fool! Zombies are immne to drugs!'
[03:33]	<Judas>	Woah, slow down... And shut up and get some water.
[03:34]	* Judas	slows Justice down while upshutting Stone
[03:35]	<[Rut]Justice>	Haa... I AM ALIVE!
[03:35]	<[Nom]Stone>	'He doesn't want water, water is for witches. He wants lead. I could have provided if only he let go of my hand. And my bottle.'
[03:37]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	arrives on the scene.
[03:37]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Not for long you aren't. Let go."
[03:37]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Only a few hours settle, and already the faithful pour in. I believe this is a new record, Father.
[03:37]	* [Rut]Justice	springs to her feet.
[03:38]	<[Rut]Justice>	Nope. Definitely alive!
[03:38]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Can help. Make him let go."
[03:39]	<Judas>	Yeah. Definitely alive. And definitely able to tell we what's going on.
[03:39]	<[Rut]Justice>	Ye-- uh, no. Who are you??
[03:39]	* Judas	takes the gun away, slipping it into his never-ending cassock.
[03:40]	<Judas>	Jack Callahan. A priest, I guess. Who's your friend?
[03:40]	* Judas	pokes miss spinney-eyes
[03:41]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oh?
[03:41]	* [Rut]Justice	stares at the girl blankly for a moment.
[03:41]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	comes up to stand on Callahan's other side.
[03:41]	* [Tet]Agatha	reacts to the poke by groaning. Her eyes seem to be normalizing gradually.
[03:42]	<[Nom]Stone>	'I could have wept. Our love, fresh as the oranges at the fruit market on Tuesdays, ended in here moments by a charlatan with superior biceps. Is this yet another trial for Josephine Harlington Stone?'
[03:43]	<Judas>	Stone, shut up. Go get some water.
[03:43]	<[Tet]Agatha>	mmmm, oranges...
[03:44]	<[Rut]Justice>	... Oh! Now I remember. I encountered a fallen civilian. Clearly beset by demons, and left for dead! And I gallantly resolved myself to carry her to shelter!
[03:44]	* [Tet]Agatha	squirms around on the floor and opens her eyes. Did I mention they'd closed earlier? 'Cause they totally had.
[03:44]	<[Nom]Stone>	'He is rude, but he is big, so I will have to swallow my pride and fetch him his water. Maybe they'll eat him. Then he will have no one to blame.'
[03:45]	* Judas	lifts the little girl up and sits her on a pew, not liking the dead-girl look the place has had for the last five minutes or so.
[03:45]	* [Nom]Stone	also has a second bottle, so goes to fetch the water
[03:45]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Hello, mister.
[03:45]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Thank you.
[03:45]	<[Rut]Justice>	Ack, it's alive! Oh, wait, I mean of course it is. Hahaha~
[03:47]	<Judas>	Hey there. What're you, uh...
[03:47]	<Judas>	I guess you're a sister, right?
[03:48]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	watches quietly.
[03:48]	<[Rut]Justice>	Huh? Who's sister?
[03:49]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Yes, I have a big sister, Ambrosia, and a little brother, Albert. So, that would make me a sister to them.
[03:49]	<Judas>	Let me try that again.
[03:49]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Er... wait. Why would you be asking about something like that? I don't even know you.
[03:49]	<Judas>	Are you a nun for this church?
[03:49]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Chur... oh! I made it?!
[03:49]	* [Tet]Agatha	perks up suddenly.
[03:50]	<Judas>	Uh.
[03:50]	* Judas	looks around. Nope, no finish lines.
[03:50]	<Judas>	I guess so?
[03:50]	* [Nom]Stone	returns with a bucket
[03:50]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Water."
[03:51]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Then you would be Father Callahan?
[03:52]	<[Tet]Agatha>	You're younger than I expected...
[03:54]	<Judas>	Aha, more like... son Callahan.
[03:55]	<Judas>	Sorry to tell you, but... George Callahan died just a month ago.
[03:55]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	called it right on the past tense, after all.
[03:55]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Ah... I'm sorry.
[03:56]	* Judas	. o ( I am too. )
[03:56]	<Judas>	Don't worry about it.
[03:56]	<Judas>	What's your name?
[03:57]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Well, um, yes, then, I am a sister. A nun, that is. Reporting for, uh, duty?
[03:57]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Water"
[03:57]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Water?
[03:57]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oh, thanks.
[03:57]	* [Rut]Justice	goes for the bucket.
[03:59]	<Judas>	Well, in any case, my name's Jack Callahan, and it appears I'm the inheritor of this house of God.
[04:00]	<[Nom]Stone>	'It's not even her water, but she already lunging at it like a beast. It's only Father Callahan's water, though, so I am at least content that nothing of substance is lost.'
[04:01]	* Judas	tunes Stone out and continues with the others.
[04:02]	* [Rut]Justice	starts slurping from the bucket.
[04:02]	<Judas>	What happened to you two, anyway?
[04:03]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Well, I was on my way here, when, uh... I don't know, and then I was here.
[04:04]	<Judas>	Hmm. I see.
[04:04]	<[Tet]Agatha>	I probably passed out. An iron constitution isn't exactly one of my strong points.
[04:04]	* Judas	doesn't, but whatever
[04:04]	<[Rut]Justice>	Well, like I said, I found this poor soul left for dead by demons. So, naturally, I decided to rescue her!
[04:04]	<[Rut]Justice>	And then... it gets fuzzy after that, for some reason.
[04:05]	<Judas>	What makes you think it's demons and not sunstroke...
[04:05]	* [Rut]Justice	shrugs.
[04:05]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Oh, then, I guess this person here must have carried me inside, even if I don't remember any demons, specifically. Thank you very much!
[04:05]	<[Rut]Justice>	Demons, sunstroke. Sunstroke, demons... Oh, sunstroke demons!
[04:05]	* Judas	goes back behind the altar and covers up the entrance.
[04:06]	<[Rut]Justice>	Ahaha~ don't mention it!
[04:07]	* Judas	sighs, and sits down at one of the pews.
[04:08]	<Judas>	Are either of you from here? We haven't been in town yet.
[04:08]	<[Nom]Stone>	'I stare face to face with the moral decay of this world. Not even a word of thanks for the water, and a man of the cloth, no less. He will never know all the work needed for a bucket of water, searching the church for a kitchen, having to go to the stables, hauling a bucket all the way here.'
[04:08]	* Judas	. o ( Aww, you poor thing. )
[04:10]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oh, right. Thanks for the water!
[04:10]	* [Rut]Justice	claps her hands twice and gives a polite bow.
[04:11]	<[Nom]Stone>	'It's like they can hear my very thoughts. I must be careful. They're getting inside my head.'
[04:15]	* Judas	thinks maybe he's just easily ignored
[04:16]	* [Nom]Stone	knows it is because he doesn't monologue out loud. It will help. Also, she's replying to a thought with a thought, which makes her a meta-psychic
[04:17]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	goes off to make sure the downstairs has been taken care of and closed up properly.
[04:18]	<[Tet]Agatha>	I'm from quite far away, actually. I suppose I was technically in town, but I don't remember much of it, on account of the sunstroke demons.
[04:19]	<Judas>	Hmm. Right.
[04:19]	* [Rut]Justice	mumbles "Fiends..."
[04:20]	<Judas>	Well anyway, I gotta talk to a mister...
[04:20]	* Judas	pulls another note from his cassock pocket, then another, then swaps two of them out and instead picks the little one
[04:21]	<[Rut]Justice>	Uh? Aren't -you- a mister, mister?
[04:21]	<Judas>	"Robert Halford". So I guess I'm gonna take a look around.
[04:25]	<Judas>	Try not to do anything weird...
[04:25]	* Judas	starts to leave.
[04:25]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Oh... okay.
[04:25]	* [Tet]Agatha	sits in the pew and spaces out for lack of anything better to do.
[04:26]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Being told to not be weird by a crazy man is puzzling. Does that mean that I should not do anything sane, since he is insane, and would consider sanity weird? These kinds of questions are the constant trials of Josephine Harlington Stone.'
[04:26]	<[Rut]Justice>	Wait, wait! Aren'tcha going to ask my name?
[04:28]	* Judas	steps outside, pretending he didn't hear either of the crazy people.
[04:29]	* [Rut]Justice	puffs her cheeks out.
[04:29]	<[Rut]Justice>	Drat!
[04:33]	<[GM]Mary>	No amount of cheek-puffing can convince Justice that there isn't something standing right behind Josephine, and probably no amount of communal wine or bucket water either.
[04:37]	* [Rut]Justice	's eyes glaze over as she stares at Stone.