Sue Is there any chance that the Mark II came with us?

Dionysus If you thought to bring it, yes.

Sue It would have been loaded on the airship, if there were any indication that we'd be prevented from leaving or using powers.

Dionysus You can have it on the wagon with you now, I've no problem with that

Sue ok

• Sue would ask Tlane about the rules as pertains to the key when he gets a chance

Dionysus "Entering the Void would be leaving. That breaks rule one."

Dionysus "Opening a void gate and not entering it, so long as no contact is made with anything through it, is a call for the judges."

Sue "Can I use it to draw sustenance from the Void?"

Dionysus "That is for the judges to decide. They are in rooms 217, 230, 237, 402, 406, 412, and 431, so far."

• Sue would go meet them and ask their opinions.

Dionysus Which room first?

Dionysus We can still do this if yer up for it

Sue In order.

Dionysus In room 217, a muse opens the door, "Yes?"

Sue "Hello. I'm Sue, of the Sound and Fury. Are you one of the judges?"

Sue I have to go to work in a couple hours, but anything to keep me awake until then is welcome.

Dionysus "I am. Welcome, Sue."

Sue "Thank you. I have a question about one of the rules. Can you clarify rule #7?"

Dionysus "Clarify? As I interpret it, it means you may not use powers to contact any other being outside of this Arena during the Contest."

Sue "So contact is only done between two conscious beings? Insensate matter or energy is exempt from the rule?"

Dionysus She frowns, "You sound like you have a specific case in mind?"

Sue "Yes. I have a gift, the Key of the Void. Its primary use is transportation, but that application is excluded by rule #1. However, I can draw sustenance through an open portal without entering. I need to know if this is excluded by rule #7."

Dionysus She considers, "Is this somehow necessary for you to do this?"

Sue "I require the use for one of my instruments. Also, any athak will eventually die without void. It nourishes us, like food."

Dionysus "There's void food in the kitchens, but if this is required for musical purposes, I will grant you an exception to use it as such. But no other ways without permission. Understood?"

Sue "Very well. I understand. One more question, please. You are the first judge I have spoken with, and there are 6 others. If the judges do not all disagree, how is the final decision determined?"

Sue er, s/disagree/agree/

Dionysus "My judgment can only be overrided by agreement of 2/3 of the judges, and more will arrive as Contestants do. If one judge is unsure, it goes to a 2/3 decision."

Dionysus overridden?

• Sue grins a little. "Is that because you are special, or because you were the first to make a ruling?"

Dionysus She pauses, "And of course, the Champion's wordis law. Because I was the first to make the ruling."

• Sue nods. "I see. Thank you."

Dionysus She nods.

Dionysus Do you go to another judge?

Sue Yes. I want to meet them all, feel them out.

Dionysus The next one is a lamia. Her leonine lower body lowers to a sitting position after she answers her door, but she doesn't look any shorter. She has no clothing on. "Hello."

Sue "Hello. I'm Sue, of the Sound and Fury. Are you one of the judges?"

Dionysus "I am. Welcome, Sue."

Dionysus Her voice is deep, rich.

Dionysus She extends a hand to shake.

• Sue reaches up to accept it. "I have a question about rule #7. Can you clarify it for me?"

Dionysus "Perhaps."

Dionysus Her grip is firm, but not crushing

Sue "I have the Key of the Void. Rule #1 excludes me from using it as a means of transport, but I can draw void through it through my own ability without any part of myself leaving the arena grounds. Is this excluded by rule #7?"

Dionysus "As Judge Ea has decided, so it shall be."

Sue Can I read any sense of her attitude toward me?

Dionysus She's a little haughty, but not rude.

• Sue nods. "Thank you." And he goes to the next one.

Dionysus The next is a greater gnome, "Yo!" he shrieks as he answers the door.

Dionysus His tiny fist punches the air.

• Sue startles, but then rattles off his standard greeting. "Hello, I'm Sue, of the Sound and Fury. Are you a judge?"

Dionysus "Yep. Want an exploding duck's egg?"

Dionysus He holds out an egg, which explodes into a spray of yolk.

• Sue refuses to accept that any of this just happened. "I have a question about rule #7. Can you clarify the rule's meaning for me?"

Dionysus "Well, as rules go, it's pretty succinct and clear. If you contact anyone outside of this Arena, you are subject to the consequences of breaking rules, as determined by the judges. The only exception is prayer."

Sue "Why is prayer excluded?"

• Sue wipes specks of yolk away absently.

Sue "Er, excepted, rather."

Dionysus "Because I just said so. Or do you mean why did I say so? Because I realized it might be a point of contention, and really, who doesn't need to pray? Besides Guardians. Then again, maybe they pray to not-Gods?"

Dionysus "Also, Gods don't usually answer in conversational style. Perhaps, if they do, that is against the rules."

Dionysus "I'll consult with the others, a decision will be delivered soon."

Sue "Er, yes, as an avatar, that is a possibility in my case."

Sue "I'll refrain from direct contact until you come to a decision."

Dionysus "Thanks! How kind of you! Do you want a spring-loaded fork?"

Dionysus He holds out a spring-loaded fork.

• Sue takes the fork with one hand and peeks at his notebook with the other. "Oh, that reminds me, rule #6 ... if I speak to my deity in His own temple, is that use protected by rule #6?"

Dionysus "Rule 6 exclud--" he stops as the spring unloads, sending the prongs fly into the ceiling, "-es people from defiling the temple areas, as is ancient gladiatorial tradition, and we're renting this place. You're void faithful?"

Sue "Yes."

Dionysus "Well, we can't keep your god out of his own temple, but don't go looking for him for any unfair advantages. If we find out you're talking to him, I'm thinking that's trouble. We'll discuss to be sure, though."

Sue "Okay, I see. Thank you."

• Sue moves on before he invents an exploding fork.

Dionysus The next is a centaur, who bows slightly when he opens the door. "Greetings, musician."

• Sue bows back. "Hello. I'm Sue, of the Sound and Fury. Are you one of the judges?"

Dionysus "I am, goodman Sue. How may I be of service?"

Sue "I have a question about rule #7. Can you clarify its meaning?"

Dionysus "Tis about contacting those without this Arena. Judge Morgo hath ruled it seemly to pray, and is calling a meeting on implications, but otherwise tis not seemly to speak to beings without. For instance, no magician may speak with spirits outside, nor a dark priest with demons. None shall either send letters nor codes without, either."

Sue "What about pure energy? If I open a portal to the void, is it a violation to draw void energy through it, assuming I can avoid violating rule #1?"

Dionysus "Tis seemly, according to Judge Ea. I would add caveat that rule 2 must not be violated either in this as well."

Sue "Okay. I think I understand. Thank you."

Dionysus He bows, slightly. "You are most welcome."