Defenders of the Faith04

[21:13]	<[GM]Mary>	Dawn of a new day!
[21:15]	<[GM]Mary>	The sky is filled cirrocumulus clouds, and the nuns are filled with... cirro... cu-... they're just waking up.
[21:15]	* [Tet]Agatha	hugs her pillow and mumbles.
[21:20]	* Judas	is doing manly things! And hoping his subordinates never wake up.
[21:23]	* [Nom]Stone	snaps awake
[21:23]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Who? What? Where?'
[21:24]	<[GM]Mary>	Stone: you occupy a bottom bunk, all nice and tucked in. Someone's mumbling in the bed above you.
[21:25]	* [Zem]Catherine	gets up, and bonks her head on the bunk above her.
[21:25]	<[Tet]Agatha>	...couldn't eat another bite... mnum...
[21:26]	* [Nom]Stone	hears what must be demonic chants coming from the sky
[21:26]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Gun, cross, scotch'
[21:27]	* [Nom]Stone	's inventory is totally lacking
[21:28]	* [Rut]Justice	's arm falls over the side of the bed and dangles, shaken loose by the bump below.
[21:29]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Wafer thin? Well, okay...
[21:30]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Urgh, not the best start to a day...
[21:35]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Came to in place unknown. Dark forces already coming for me. Lacking essential equipments. Headache like marching band on pogo sticks in cranium.'
[21:35]	* [Rut]Justice	gradually slides off the side of her mattress with the shift in weight before crashing to the floor.
[21:36]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oof... I fell off the mountain... go on without meeee...
[21:36]	* [Tet]Agatha	wakes with a start at the noise, looking blearily around her with the pillow dangling from her teeth.
[21:37]	* [Nom]Stone	groans and contemplates going back to bed and letting the demons take her
[21:38]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Hell might have vodka. Temptation.'
[21:38]	<[Zem]Catherine>	I might as well get up.
[21:39]	* [Tet]Agatha	ptooies the pillow back onto the bed, stretches, and leans upside-down to greet her bunkmate.
[21:39]	<[Tet]Agatha>	G'mornin', uh... Stone~
[21:39]	* [Rut]Justice	claws her way through the jumble of sheets.
[21:41]	<[Rut]Justice>	Uh... oh! Good morning everyone!
[21:41]	* [Nom]Stone	is startled at the demons overhearing her
[21:42]	<[Nom]Stone>	'No! Our Lord overcame the trials of the devil in the desert. Will not falter.'
[21:42]	* [Nom]Stone	says a very strange prayer at the top bunk
[21:43]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Is that your favorite part? I like it when He kicked the bankers out of the temple.
[21:44]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Bankers are the embodiment of sin in the mortal world, with compound interest as their heathen weapon."
[21:45]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Oh, yeah, totally.
[21:46]	* [Tet]Agatha	starts feeling pretty buzzed from the blood rushing to her head, and works some of it off by somersaulting the rest of the way over the edge of the bed onto the floor. Landing on her feet, naturally.
[21:47]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Reminder: stay away from Texas for a while. Tab must be huge by now.'
[21:48]	* [Nom]Stone	is making a cross with her fingers at the descended nun
[21:49]	* [Tet]Agatha	has her back turned, stretching obliviously.
[21:49]	* [Rut]Justice	gives a round of applause.
[21:50]	<[Rut]Justice>	Hey, hey! My turn!
[21:51]	* [Rut]Justice	clambers onto Agatha's empty bunk.
[22:02]	* [Zem]Catherine	gets out of bed, finally. "It's hard waking up when it's so dark in here."
[22:12]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	awakens, the noise of her chattering sisters having roused her from sleep.
[22:14]	<[Zem]Catherine>	"Hey everyone. Did you sleep well?"
[22:15]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	gets dressed, and combs her hair out before binding it up.
[22:15]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Well enough.
[22:15]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Like a log.
[22:16]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Can't remember."
[22:16]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	eyes her bedroll. It could be far worse. It has been worse, before.
[22:16]	<[Nom]Stone>	'And that is very disturbing. The possibility exists that all these sisters are illusions sent as yet another trial for Josephine Harlington Stone.'
[22:17]	* [Tet]Agatha	gets her habit out of her footlocker and starts pulling it on over her head.
[22:17]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I assure you, Sister Josephine, they are anything but.
[22:17]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	eyes some of them.
[22:17]	<[Rut]Justice>	Here I go!
[22:18]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Probably.
[22:18]	* [Rut]Justice	rolls off the bed in the same way as Agatha.
[22:20]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	slips her clothes on, and goes out through the chapel, and out the front door. Taking a seat on the front steps, she quietly says her morning prayers.
[22:20]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Of course, the illusions would say they are not illusions. Even an amateur would know that.'
[22:20]	<[Zem]Catherine>	If we weren't illusions, would we say we were?
[22:22]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Maybe. You can't know you're not for sure."
[22:23]	* [Tet]Agatha	works her tail through the opening in the back.
[22:23]	<[Tet]Agatha>	You're really weird, aren't you?
[22:25]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Cautious."
[22:25]	<[Zem]Catherine>	"We all are, Agatha."
[22:25]	* [Nom]Stone	apparently slept in her clothes, so simply get out of bed. She can't perform her morning 'rituals' without something at least 86 proof anyway.
[22:26]	<[Nom]Stone>	'And that wine is dangerous stuff. Pretty good though.'
[22:26]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Speak for yourself, sis.
[22:26]	* [Tet]Agatha	prunes at the fluffy hairs inside of her ears.
[22:39]	<[GM]Mary>	Eventually, it is presumed that the lazy nuns get out of bed. Upon searching the church's inner sanctum, it could be deduced that the priest is missing! You could've sworn you heard him griping about somesuch only moments before. There's also no food.
[22:42]	<[Tet]Agatha>	...uh...
[22:44]	<[Rut]Justice>	I'm hungry...
[22:44]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Yeah.
[22:45]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Dilemma. If priest went to find food, then all is good. But priest could have been captured by demonic forces. Or breakfast has been captured by demonic forces. Last possibility especially ominous.'
[22:47]	<[Rut]Justice>	What?! No way! I'll never let the forces of darkness have my breakfast! And they took Jack, too.
[22:50]	<[Rut]Justice>	Let's move!
[22:50]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Agreed. Basement."
[22:50]	* [Rut]Justice	storms out the door.
[22:50]	* [Nom]Stone	goes in the opposite direction
[22:50]	* [Tet]Agatha	heads for the kitchen.
[22:51]	* [Rut]Justice	stands before a vast expanse of semi-arid landscape.
[22:51]	<[Rut]Justice>	...
[22:52]	* [Rut]Justice	goes back inside.
[22:54]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	barely notices Justice's intrusion, let alone exit.
[22:56]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	finishes her prayers soon after, though, and heads back inside.
[22:57]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	notices a lack of nuns.
[22:57]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Hmm.
[22:58]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Those who hunt monsters must become the monster. Or have a gun. Gun preferred.'
[22:58]	* [Nom]Stone	passes Zvalinka on her way to the trapdoor hiding all the firearms
[23:01]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Good morning, Sister Josephine. Have you seen Father Callahan?
[23:02]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Missing. Presumed dead. Or shopping."
[23:03]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	stares at Josephine for a few moments.
[23:04]	* [Nom]Stone	flings the trapdoor open, and fumbles with her flint to light a lamp
[23:04]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...We should talk some time, you and I.
[23:05]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	nods her head to her.
[23:05]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Thank you. Please tell me if you see him.
[23:06]	* [Tet]Agatha	finds a stove, a pan, and some eggs. She then begins to extrapolate upon the situation.
[23:06]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	lights the candles by the altar, and, on thinking about it, wordlessly hands one to Josephine, who looks to be struggling.
[23:10]	* [Nom]Stone	stares at the candle for a moment, looks at the useless flint in her hand, and grudgingly takes the candle, nodding in thanks.
[23:11]	* [Tet]Agatha	lights the stove, takes the pan, puts in some cooking oil, some eggs, sets it on the stove, and then nods off while waiting for it to heat up.
[23:11]	* [Rut]Justice	stands by the doorway, staring at the floor and scratching her head.
[23:12]	* [Tet]Agatha	awakens to a small conflagration.
[23:12]	<[Nom]Stone>	'Prometheus plays favourites even now.'
[23:12]	* [Nom]Stone	jumps down into the hole
[23:12]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Uh-oh.
[23:13]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	smiles slightly to herself.
[23:14]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	calls down to Josephine.
[23:15]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Is he in there, Sister?
[23:15]	* [Tet]Agatha	throws some water over it. That doesn't help.
[23:16]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Father Callahan!"
[23:16]	* [Nom]Stone	washes the candlelight over the corners of the room, but there is no Judas Callahan to be seen
[23:16]	<[Rut]Justice>	Hm... where to look... ah?
[23:16]	* [Rut]Justice	sniffs the air.
[23:16]	<[Rut]Justice>	I smell food.
[23:17]	<[Nom]Stone>	'No priest. But guns are a good start.'
[23:17]	* [Nom]Stone	takes three this time, one in her sling and two hidden in her poncho
[23:19]	* [Rut]Justice	, tracking the scent, wanders into the kitchen.
[23:20]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Mm. Thank you, anyway.
[23:20]	* [Nom]Stone	stands under the trapdoor, a bit stuck
[23:21]	* [Zem]Catherine	still hasn't gone down the trapdoor yet.
[23:21]	* [Tet]Agatha	appears out in the chapel, looking kind of embarrassed.
[23:22]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Um, help? Anyone? I think I set the kitchen on fire.
[23:22]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	looks up.
[23:23]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Is it still burning?
[23:23]	* [Rut]Justice	walks into the kitchen to find a frying pan possessed by Satan! Thinking fast, she grabs the handle and hurls it out the window.
[23:25]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Yeah... I couldn't get it to stop.
[23:25]	<[Tet]Agatha>	It was supposed to be eggs, but it turned out to be fire.
[23:25]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Hmm.
[23:25]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	phoenix eg-- no, I'd have noticed such a thing lying around.
[23:26]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	smirks quietly to herself, and gets up.
[23:26]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I will see what I can do. Please assist Sister Josephine in climbing out of the basement, if you would?
[23:27]	* [Rut]Justice	ducks beneath the window. She levels her eyes with the sill, watching for any sudden movements, ready to spring and attack.
[23:27]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	goes into the kitchen.
[23:27]	<[Tet]Agatha>	'kay.
[23:27]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	smells the smoke, certainly, but sees no fire.
[23:27]	<[Rut]Justice>	!! Get down!
[23:27]	* [Tet]Agatha	squats down by the trapdoor and peers into the darkness.
[23:28]	* [Rut]Justice	grabs Zvalinka and pulls her to the floor.
[23:28]	* [Nom]Stone	just stands, and stares, and looks a bit pathetic
[23:30]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	is pulled down rather unexpectedly. Her hand immediately clamps onto Justice's wrist.
[23:30]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Kindly do not touch me without asking.
[23:31]	<[Rut]Justice>	Shh! It might hear you.
[23:31]	* [Rut]Justice	points out the window with her free hand.
[23:32]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Oh, there you are. Hi.
[23:32]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	squeezes forcefully, but not painfully, before prying her fingers off.
[23:32]	* [Nom]Stone	waves
[23:32]	* [Tet]Agatha	reaches a hand down towards the weirdo.
[23:32]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...What will?
[23:33]	<[Rut]Justice>	Ow! That. The fire's gone, but maybe he's just biding his time...
[23:34]	* [Nom]Stone	takes the hand of the weirdo and clambers out
[23:34]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Sister Agatha's cooking fire?
[23:34]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	stands up, and peers out the window.
[23:35]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Mm. Problem solved, at least.
[23:35]	<[Rut]Justice>	You think so?
[23:35]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Yes. It seems to be out. No further smoke is pouring forth.
[23:36]	* [Rut]Justice	takes a napkin off the table and balls it up, then tosses it at the pan outside and immediately ducks into cover.
[23:36]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	looks at her crouching sister.
[23:37]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I shall return momentarily.
[23:37]	* [Rut]Justice	nods grimly.
[23:37]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Did you find what you were looking for down there?
[23:37]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	leaves the kitchen, and goes outside, passing through the chapel.
[23:38]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Yes and no."
[23:39]	<[Rut]Justice>	Hmm... it seems safe.
[23:39]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	notices that Josephine seems maybe a little thinner than when she went down. Is she possibly hiding things down there?
[23:39]	<[Tet]Agatha>	...uh-huh.
[23:41]	* [Nom]Stone	sniffs, which is difficult to do with all the scarf she's wearing
[23:41]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Breakfast?"
[23:42]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Kinda got charred.
[23:42]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Oh, that reminds me, we should probably make sure we still have a kitchen.
[23:42]	* [Zem]Catherine	finishes cleaning up the bedroom after everyone else left.
[23:43]	* [Tet]Agatha	wanders off in that direction. No smoke in the hallway, is that a good sign?
[23:44]	* [Rut]Justice	opens the window wide and crawls out. Staying prone, she moves up to the fallen pan, draws her sword, and prods it a few times. Satisfied, she stands back up.
[23:46]	<[Nom]Stone>	"No breakfast?"
[23:48]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Something smells like it's burning a little...
[23:49]	* [Tet]Agatha	leans through the open window.
[23:49]	<[Tet]Agatha>	What's it doing out here?
[23:52]	* [Nom]Stone	says a silent prayer for the breakfast that was, too pure for this sinful earth
[23:52]	* [Rut]Justice	picks up the pan and turns around to see Agatha in the window. She waves.
[23:54]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	leaves and goes outside, circling around just in time to see Justice pick up the pan.
[23:54]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...I suppose that works, too.
[23:55]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	goes around and back inside
[23:56]	* [Zem]Catherine	heads toward the kitchen. "Most likely place for something burning..."
[23:57]	* [Rut]Justice	follows Zvalinka, grinning all the way.
[00:01]	* [Tet]Agatha	waits patiently for everyone to converge.
[00:01]	<[Rut]Justice>	Ehehe~ Success!
[00:06]	<[GM]Mary>	Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.
[00:07]	* [Rut]Justice	is chattering excitedly, and doesn't hear the knock behind her.
[00:07]	* [Zem]Catherine	decides to answer it.
[00:07]	<[Rut]Justice>	Did you see me, did you see me? It was like "mwahaha, this pan is mine!" And I was all "never!" And then I caught him off balance with perfect timing! Judo throw! Whoosh! Wham!
[00:08]	* [Tet]Agatha	decides to let someone else answer it. They're still heading for the kitchen, though, right?
[00:08]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	looks at the door.
[00:09]	* [Nom]Stone	surreptitiously points a revolver at the door
[00:09]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	doesn't recall seeing anyone approaching the church a few moments ago, and is suspicious of this.
[00:09]	* [Zem]Catherine	peeps out through the peepholes.
[00:11]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	slips off a rosary from around her neck, and holds it carefully.
[00:11]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Do you see anything, Sister Catherine?
[00:11]	<[GM]Mary>	Cathy: You see a dude. Clad in cowboy fatigues and a stetson hat, the long-haired dude knocks again, flashing a copper badge on his vest.
[00:14]	<[Zem]Catherine>	"Looks like a lawman."
[00:14]	<[Zem]Catherine>	"Should we let him in?"
[00:14]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Hmm...
[00:14]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	stands back from the door.
[00:15]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Sister Josephine, kindly put away your gun. Local law enforcement may not take kindly to perceived distrust.
[00:16]	* [Rut]Justice	shouts.
[00:16]	<[Rut]Justice>	Who is it~
[00:16]	<[Tet]Agatha>	zzzzzz...
[00:17]	<[GM]Mary>	The voice bellows back, "A message from God!"
[00:17]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	already does not like this lawman.
[00:17]	* [Nom]Stone	raises an eyebrow at Zvalinka and whips out a second revolver
[00:17]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oh, that sounds important. Maybe we should-- hey, wait a second...
[00:18]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Let him in.
[00:18]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	notices Josephine a moment too late, and sighs.
[00:19]	* [Zem]Catherine	opens the door for him.
[00:21]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	does not let go of her rosary, and if anything, moves behind a pew before the door is opened.
[00:21]	* TheWalkinDude	comes into view. Tall, skinny fellow with long auburn hair and a laid-back smile on his face.
[00:23]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Is there something wrong, Officer?
[00:24]	* TheWalkinDude	raises an eyebrow at the armed nun(s), but doesn't seem to be too bothered.
[00:24]	<TheWalkinDude>	I don't know... is there, partner?
[00:25]	* TheWalkinDude	holds a letter between two fingers with his arms crossed. Strange sight it is, a gunful of nuns. Or a nun full of guns.
[00:25]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Where did you come from? I entered this church not seconds before you knocked, and I did not see you.
[00:27]	* TheWalkinDude	shrugs.
[00:28]	<TheWalkinDude>	I didn't see you either, miss. Is a Mister Callahan about?
[00:28]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Feel free to pray here, then, though Father Callahan is not in.
[00:31]	* [Rut]Justice	is eying the man's badge.
[00:32]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	Not at the moment. What business do you have with him?
[00:34]	<TheWalkinDude>	Someone left me some mail for 'em. Told me to give it to 'em as soon as he entered town. Well, here it is.
[00:34]	<[Rut]Justice>	Hmm...
[00:35]	* TheWalkinDude	holds forth the letter. Zvalinka immediately recognizes the seal as Fidei Defensor's.
[00:38]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	takes it from him, 'hmm'ing for a moment as she sees it.
[00:38]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...Thank you.
[00:38]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	I will see to it that this reaches him as soon as possible.
[00:40]	* TheWalkinDude	nods, and introduces himself.
[00:45]	<TheWalkinDude>	I take it y'all are the new habit in Sentinel, right? I'm the sheriff in town, name's K.K. Downing. I sure hope you ladies aren't up to no good, it'd be a shame if I had to shoot ya.
[00:47]	* [Tet]Agatha	enters the chapel, having gotten tired of waiting in the kitchen.
[00:47]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Hey, what's keeping... oh, hello.
[00:47]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	nods to him, slowly.
[00:48]	<[Rut]Justice>	Nah, we're all good guys here. Right?
[00:48]	* [Rut]Justice	looks at Stone.
[00:48]	<[Rut]Justice>	...right?
[00:48]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	We shall try to avoid that, then, Sheriff.
[00:48]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Reciprocity."
[00:49]	* [Rut]Justice	stares blankly.
[00:49]	* [Nom]Stone	does, however, put away her guns. Or at least hides them from sight.
[00:49]	* KKDowning	tips his hat.
[00:49]	<KKDowning>	Well. God bless.
[00:50]	* [Nom]Stone	tips back
[00:50]	* KKDowning	pulls a 180 and makes like a slowly lumbering cowboy
[00:50]	<[Nom]Stone>	'The kind of man who appreciates a good hat. Probably not a demon.'
[00:52]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	withholds judgment on that, but says nothing.
[00:53]	<[Rut]Justice>	Hehe, he looks kinda cool.
[00:53]	<[Zem]Catherine>	God bless you, sir!
[00:54]	<[GM]Mary>	Zvalinka: The envelope is written for a "Judas Callahan". There's no other writing on it.
[00:54]	* [Tet]Agatha	approaches Zvalinka to stare at the envelope.
[00:54]	* [Nom]Stone	joins the huddle
[00:54]	<[Tet]Agatha>	Since when does the sheriff also deliver the mail...? Very strange.
[00:55]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...An exception may be made in this case. They wanted to be sure it would not be delivered by a common man.
[00:55]	<[Rut]Justice>	What she said.
[00:55]	<[Atai]Zvalinka>	...I hope.
[00:58]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Alternatively, a demon disguised as a postman disguised as a sheriff. Those are everywhere."
[00:58]	<[Tet]Agatha>	So... nobody still has any idea where Judas is?
[00:58]	<[Zem]Catherine>	N
[00:58]	<[Zem]Catherine>	"None whatsoever."
[00:59]	<[Nom]Stone>	"Open his private communications for clues."
[00:59]	* [Tet]Agatha	is still staring at the letter. Her tail is twitching back and forth.
[00:59]	<[Rut]Justice>	Oh, right! We have to save Mister Jack! And then make him cook breakfast.
[00:59]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	puts her rosary back on, and goes over to the altar.
[01:01]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	tears off a thin, tiny strip of paper off the envelope, and goes over to the to the candles next to the altar, and puts the strip into the flame.
[01:04]	* [Nom]Stone	follows the letter
[01:07]	* [Atai]Zvalinka	watches it burn for a moment, then pulls it out, and shakes the flame out. After staring at the smoking scrap of paper in her fingers, she frowns slightly, and puts the letter away for the time being.
[01:09]	<[Zem]Catherine>	Did that solve anything?
[01:25]	<[GM]Mary>	...We'll find out on the next episode of Defenders of the Faith!