> Sure.  Let's start.  She's going off to meet with the leaders of the
> Masked, yes?  OK, she's led off down an alley, into a building, down
> into the basement, and asked to put on a mask.  It ties on behind her
> head.  She puts it on, notices it doesn't appear to have eye-holes,
> and is led by the hand through a very confusing path -- you can let me
> know later if she tries to remember it.
>
> She's led to an appropriately sized chair/perch, then hears footsteps
> retreating.  Alone, in the dark, eyes covered by the mask, her ears
> strain for any sound.  After an indeterminate time, spots begin to
> float in front of her face.  She's not sure if her eyes are open or
> closed.
>
> The spots and strange waves resolve into a dimly glowing face, an
> idealized mask floating in the center of her vision.  She shakes her
> head to clear it, but the image moves with her.
>
> "Njorthsdottir!" a voice blasts behind her, and the glowing
> image-mask's lips move as well.  "Speak your case, but use no true
> name in this place, for they are blasphemy to its walls and ill-omened
> beneath these stars."
>
> Now what?
>
>> I also go as myself to the meeting.  I keep things I usually have on
>> me (no I don't go unarmed, every thief knows that is STUPID) and I
>> don't use any disguise charms.
>
> Ooh.  Cleverness bonus.
>
>> I don't try to remember the path.  Its for my own good, really.  (I
>> probably will be traumatized and not *want* to know how to get back.
>> Besides, if I know they might find out and erase my memory, and that
>> would be bad)
>> First I wait to make sure he done speaking, to be sure I don't
>> interrupt him.  I tell him everything, focusing on what we know
>> about the goo, what we know it's *not*, our adventures trying to
>> locate the source, the camp we found, what we found about goo
>> influenced people crossing to the other side of the river, how the
>> two towns water supplies differ, the concentrations in blood vs
>> water, and our theories on what it is.  All in true Windling
>> fashion.  But I don't say that last part.  In fact, I make *really*
>> sure not to say any true names.
>
> OK.  Then what?  You just wait for his response?
>
> The ending sort of goes like this:
>
> The fate of these people here is horrible, unless something is done.
> Something else is going on here, something bigger, something stronger
> and more powerful than I or any of my friends can deal with.  We want
> to help our people but are at a loss of how to save them by ourselves.
> A few years ago I might have just profited from the expierience and
> moved on with my life.  However, I have grown and learned that when
> even one of a community is in need and hurting and others are
> benefiting from it, everyone looses in the end.  We can't go on living
> like this.   sounding than pleading> They need your help.  We need your help.
>  I need your help.  I can't do this sort of thing alone
> anymore.
>
> 



"Your brethren behind me bear great love for their adopted city.  Love
 does not make a hero: they are no more capable of stepping into the
 light and leading a righteous charge than the council is capable of
 making peace.  Some of the councillors are within our sway, but none
 within our grasp.



"We are not the equal of this Horror in open combat; you may yet be.
 But we will be there: in the shadow, behind each corner, staring out
 of every eye from which you have turned away.



"Take this fetich bag: within it is shadow no light has ever
 touched, an eye which no friend has ever met, and a sliver from a
 blade which has never struck an honest blow.  When this task presses
 hard upon you, and your friends have fallen, grasp it tightly in your
 fist and call to the sliver and it will give you the strength to
 proceed alone.  When all your resources have been exhausted, dip
 *one* finger inside and call to the eye, and you will find new
 wellsprings of a different strength.  And if the final battle should
 go poorly, cast all the contents in the face of your enemy and call
 to the shadow, and we will be there in the darkness.



"But be warned: each of these has a price, and once paid it may never
 be reclaimed.



Now back to the party?

> (yes, that's ripped form star wars:I need your help, Luke. She needs
> your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.)

(Starring Danny Glover as Bail Organa of Alderran and Mel Gibson as
 Obi-Wan Kenobi... oh, what a different movie that would have been)

> yes, now back to the party.  but first i tie the bag around my
> neck and go get really really drunk.  (i'll either make it back to
> the party or feel free to find one of the bar-hopping party members
> (or even the whole party!) find kenisha)

Right.  Advisible.  Next time, Kenisha might want to drink a bottle or
four *before* exposing her fragile little mind to The Boss. ;)