Sessions
Barney claimed to be able to take the group to Father Tipsy, but only if they'd cover the incidental expenses...
A paper cup (from the Men's Room) was partially filled with some American Beer (on-tap, not from a can). Barney took the cup away for a few moments and came back with it fuller and ... yellower ... A Bag of Bacon Rings was obtained ("not the BBQ ones, although I like them more"). One of the colored napkins from the bar was readied, and a cheap lighter was borrowed from a patron. All was ready.
A single Bacon Ring was added to the cup, and the liquid set alight with the lighter. The napkin was quickly placed over the cup, and it was left for a few minutes, until the liquid (somewhat mysteriously) was gone. When the napkin was removed it had small white lines on it in some sort of rough (but inscrutible) pattern.
Barney interpreted the lines, and declared that they had to get on a particular train line and get off at a particular station. He predicted that there would be a bar across the street, and sure enough, there was one.
Once there he poured the remainder of the American Beer down into the street storm water drain, and then directed everyone to the alley beside the bar. Here he bade them throw the remaining Bacon Rings into a circular trash can (which he rightly predicted would be there) one after another. Then he stated that there would be a door that was ajar in the alley. And there was.
Barney suggests that it is important to bring a gift of spirits made in the country of your birth; Olga buys some Vodka.
Through the door, and its apparent curtain of light, was a saloon with a lone patron and no apparent staff. A short man was perched upon a stool at the bar, the white curl of his priest's collar to one side of a glass of something on the rocks.
The little man engages offers his guests something to drink, and engages in an overt display of flying glasses and bottles that serves to impress at least some of the group. A further demonstration of "magic" is called for, and Renee (as I recall it) ends up in the midst of a spinning vortex of tables and chairs for a few moments. He follows the experience with an alcohol chaser, perhaps to help numb his open mouth...
A conversation takes place.
The little man admits to being Father Tipsy, and indicates some afinity for Barney (well, at least Barney knows how to find him). He indicates he knows how to use magic, specifically what he calls dipsomancy, which he says is what Barney does as well. He also indicates that the ritual which he taught Barney to find him is a different form of magic, and the only ritual he knows. A disctinction is drawn at some point between rituals like those that Renee and his friends use, and what Father Tipsy means when he says magic.
He talks a bit about the local area, indicating various happenings and rumours. Along the way he mentions The New Inquisition, and None. He is adamant that he doesn't want to know what None said to the rest of them, and has to say that several times. He indicates that what she knows is of vital importance to Alex Abel, who is in charge of The New Inquisition, and by simply meeting with her they are probably marked by the group. Everyone they talk to is going to face similar treatment, most likely, so he's not too keen on introducing them around to others of their social circle.
He asks about them, and where relevant gets business cards and current rates. It seems that he knows of Olga by reputation, and Renee and his little band of ritualists as well (his impression is that Renee is supposed to be fairly skilled, but the others are a joke). When talking to Lindsay there is some sort of unspoken exchange which results in him saying something to the effect of: "I don't know what you are doing, but stop it!"
At some point links between things that Father Tipsy said and the others mentioned are made, and it seems to everyone that it is possible that Michael might have been possessed by a demon and been responsible for the death of Claire. Father Tipsy seems to find that chain of events more amusing than Renee.
Following some descriptions of events Father Tipsy also suggests that perhaps someone has what he calls an "entropic" attached to them - some sort of sprit that feeds on emotions and fuels those emotions with false memories implanted in the victim and those around them. He recommends a trip to visit a gypsy who he says is good with that sort of thing. For the demon he recommends a real exorsist (he got his creds from the internet and is of no use with real demons), or a good ritual (which Renee ventures that he might be able to locate). He doesn't really have any suggestions for locating Michael, though.
Lots of other likely significant stuff is also discussed. More than it is appropriate to relate here.
At some point near the end of the meeting, Renee sees something in his glass. It prompts him to go into the corner and make a call to his wife. They talk for a while (and Renee realizes he hasn't taken care of their animals since his wife left). He has a further, somewhat strange conversation with a somewhat disembodied voice on the phone that seems to be... Claire.
Eventually they all determine to leave, and after a train and car trip they are back at their hotel rooms.
The door to one room is ajar. The window is broken and there is glass everywhere. There is a body on the floor amidst many signs of a struggle. It turns out the body is Glenn, and he's just unconscious.
Coda
"I think I have it here, Glenn, in the 6th Century version... see?"
Glenn looks over from his pile of musty tomes for long enough to do a quick mental translation.
"I don't think so, see the modifier that's used there? That's Phonecian, and we know where that will lead us..."
As he turns back, there is a sleepy sound from the bed on the other side of the room. He whispers to the woman:
"We ought to be quiet so Aiden can sleep - he seems to be totally out of it - that tea didn't keep him awake at all. Poor guy. At least we're here to look after him, though - I don't want to sleep alone tonight after all of this."
"Whatever. Look, this research is as important for him as it is for Renee and the rest of us. We need to know what's going on. If he's that tired he'll sleep. Uh, I need a hand with this script - I'm rusty and it's almost impossible to ..."
Glass goes everywhere in a glittering wave as the window explodes.
"Oh dear Lord. What..."
6 March 2001
Lindsay walks quietly out of the hotel room, and down the stairs...