(OOC: Posting as Daqeim so you can see the image that appears.)

When Ballon plugs his cyberdeck into the monitor, he is astonished at how easy it is to navigate the computer system here. No guards, no checkpoints, just logbooks that can be safely ignored. From the medical monitors, a single path leads to the central hub of the hospital, with clearly identified pathways to medical records, surveillance cameras, and connections to networks leading to other hospitals.

Ballon checks the surveillance cameras from the time surrounding the entry for "The Chi Master's" sign-in. A young man in his early 20s wearing a robe with magical symbols is seen entering the hospital and moving to the ICU, signing in, and walking to Johnny's room. He is carrying a broomstick in one hand and what appears to be a small spice rack (six slots) in the other hand. The image is clear, with no hint of any obfuscation employed.

Half an hour later, the nurse enters Johnny's room, only to leave a minute later with an angry look on her face. A minute later, the visitor leaves the room with only the broom, descends to the ground via stairs, and leaves the hospital. He mounts the broom much as a child would mount a hobby horse, and literally flies out of camera range.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Fri 17 May.

Case sleeps on, oblivious to the world around him.

"Voila! And here we see Le Chi Master. Surely recognizable to Jean E. Itchy."

 (That part is run together, just say it like that with a terrible French accent)

Ballon Rouge summarily removes himself from any monitor records and goes about seeing if he can falsify an identity as a mortician at the hospital in case of future need.

Ballon Rouge sets up a false record that would stump most (if not all) computer experts and then disconnects himself. The tumult of people greeting Johnny eventually wakes Case up.

The arrival of a Danish soldier with orders to gather those who are heading for Ethiopia signals that they have very little time to get back to the airport.

OOC: Those in the Ethiopia group can offer a few parting words and actions and finalize any XP spending before heading out.

Johnny salutes the doctor, "Thank you for being a true professional. I will try to ask after Akbar if I get back to base. This thing is..." he trails off, sadly.

A little bleary, Case says his goodbyes to the other storm knights before checking with the others, "Think we want to check with that Viking leader too before we head into Aylish territory.  Get the lay of the land or any other help we can talk that um Storkek guy out of."

The Viking leader looks at Void puzzledly, but you have come to expect that when people talk to Void. She turns to leave, saying, "Good luck on your travels. And if you can help in that matter, I expect our relationship to blossom."

Case rubs his eyes and yawns, "Hiya Void, who's your friend?"

Void says with an attempt at a smile, "Tatrici Sjodrekkar, I would like you to meet my crew." Then turning to the group, "This is Tatrici Sjodrekkar, the leader of the Viking contingent here. I was able to convince her to take down the second undead longboat and send a few warriors to help us."

"Oh...um...thanks and pleased to meet you," Case says recovering, "Ah, we're heading into Sweden.  Is there anything you can can tell us or something you can do that will help us while we chase down the cyberpapacy agents?"

Tatrici nods as she speaks, "You have shown bravery, which we admire. For that I will show you respect. 'Sjodrekkar' means 'of the Sea Drakes', and we of Clan Sjodrekka imitate the drakes by mastering the seas. You will find many of my kinfolk in Sweden, though many despise me because I questioned the Edict of Death. So when I decided to move my operation south, some were glad of my ambition, while others were just glad to be rid of me.

"When the Dark Lord asked for us to come here, he warned us to stay in designated areas. I have seen that this world has more defenders than our world does, but that is why others like these Cyberpapacy folk have come, to spread the defense thin. Apparently, they never got the same message, as they have now come into our designated zone.

"Though many Viking clans came, three clans have the most power: Sjodrekka, Bjanni, and Sturloudir. Bjanni focused on the land, rather than the sea, and their leader Thorfinn claims to speak for the gods themselves. Based on their power, I cannot dismiss this claim as mere legend. He is the one who formalized the Edict of Death at the last Thing, and won over enough support to make it law until the next Thing (which usually only happens once every five years or so). I still can't bear to hear that Vikings who do not die on the battlefield cannot either be sent to the gods in a funeral pyre or left on the field to feed the living creatures but must be consigned to the unliving rocks and plants and become buried" She shudders visibly while saying that word.

"Clan Sturloudir are not many, but are most likely to wield supernatural forces, although they do not make the Bjanni claim that they speak to the gods directly. One notable feature is that when a Sturloudir speaks, everyone hears it. They never speak softly.

"As I have said to your friend Void here, there is a saying among the Vikings: Drakes quibble and fight over nesting territory until the dragon comes to claim their mountain. So we have, for the most part, stuck together to take on the forces of this world who seek to remove us. But since our leader Ingarta was able to find some common ground with the Delphi Council, and since the edicts coming from Thorfinn now sound more like those of the dragons than of the common drakes, we Sjodrekka have taken a more neutral approach. We are willing to work with those who work with us. And what we need now is means to fight the powerful weapons arrayed against us: giants in the north, firearms in the south, and the reality profile that causes our magicians and skalds to lose connection with their powers."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Mon 20 May.

Ballon Rouge sidled over to Dr. Flemming, "Pardon, madame....moiselle? As you are the physician, are there any supplies we should ask for while we are in this hospital before we go to l'Afrique?"

Case nods, as he tries to remember the names right.

OOC: Ophelia already has a First Aid Kit, which should be sufficient. If she is the one who needs the treatment, there are others in the group who either have the skll to use it or can use Mind to figure out the basics of its use. Also. you are at a hospital, not a Delphi Council headquarters, so the people here are more interested in using any supplies to do their job as opposed to letting them walk out the door in the hands of people they have never seen before today. If you feel you need more medical supplies, you can requisition them when you get to your destination.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 117):

Are you saying there a limits to a Frenchman's charm?! Hold my beer, I have 32.9 million guys I have to go set straight! And possibly one skunk!

After repeating the unfamiliar names silently several times in his head to help make them stick, Case uses another mnemonic trick he was taught to remember names (OOC use them in a conversation), "Tatrici Sjodrekkar, is Thorfinn of Bjanni in Sweden?  Is he main leader of the invasion of our reality for the 'Dark Lord'?"

"I have no idea where Thorfinn is right now. It is said that the wind has trouble keeping up with him. The Dark Lord has given Clan Bjanni wide latitude and broad power, especially in the land you call Norway."
This message was last updated by the player at 17:28, Mon 20 May.

"What's the Edit of Death?," Case asks, "Is it just how the Viking dead are to be treated, like buried in a large field or something or something more?"

"That's pretty much it. Those who die in battle are allowed the honor of a funeral pyre or to be allowed to remain where they fall, while those who die of old age or disease must be carried to a desolate field to the north and (yecch!) buried."
This message was last updated by the player at 17:29, Mon 20 May.

Something clicks in Case's memory and he turns pale at the thought, "Saw something in New York City and learned something that the crystal spire records told us about the invasion of Ulkhaan that might explain why Thorfinn is violating your traditions."

He pauses a moment before explaining, "We saw edeinos dragging  the dead to a large field in the City and burying them there.  Not sure that is tradition for the lizard men either but the Ulkhaan recorded that the invaders used creatures called a 'gospog' in their invasion of the Ulkhaan reality.  Gospogs are grown in fields of the dead from bodies with some sort of seed implanted in the corpses they violate.  In thirty days or cycles, the first gospogs emerge and are ready to follow orders and fight and then another after sixty more days (and more corpses planted in the field)."

"If your people don't bury the dead and find the practice disgusting I don't see a reason for the Edit of Death unless it is to feed gospog fields to fight for your dark lord," Case opines.

The Viking leader seems confused. "You have already seen how the Dark Lord can create undead from corpses, even without burying them. That just seems like doing extra work for the same result."

Tatrici then steps toward the exit doors. "I wish I could stay longer, but the Mayor wants me to look for potential new city council members and give them...what were they called again? Oh, yes, nomination papers. Best of luck, and may the winds ever blow favorably for you!"

"Undead don't work as well in my reality," Case explains, "The Ulkhaan learned that gospogs were perfectly aligned to the reality they were invading.  So they make attacking alien realities easier for the invaders."

Case nods goodbye as the Viking leader departs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 20 May.

OOC: And with that, the goals listed at the beginning of this thread are complete. Those who are heading over the bridge into Sweden will be able to pick up rations, backpacks, and standard "adventuring gear" from the elves. The gun and ammunition Ash requested are also there.

For those heading to Ethiopia, the Danish army has provided a transport to take you to the airport where your plane awaits. An opportunity to requisition will occur once you get there.

I plan to get the adventures running for real (with cards dealt for everyone) within the next 24 hours or so. Any last minute XP spending or changes to spending need to be finalized before then.

Standard "Adventurer Pack":

• Backpack
• Tent
• Flint
• Knife (same stats as a Dagger)
• Rations (one week)
• Cold weather cloak with hood

Packing away additional supplies, Case is ready to go.