Evils

Having tested this evening, I've found I can still run Lambda trials without getting insta-mapservered. Problem isolated to BAF trial only.

Follow-up to the above with Hijack this info:


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 18:36:32, on 08/04/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cmdagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast5\avastUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cfp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgbhp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\oneself\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\oneself\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
E:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: SpywareGuard Download Protection - {4A368E80-174F-4872-96B5-0B27DDD11DB2} - C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\dlprotect.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe -expressboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast5\avastUI.exe /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LXBTCATS] rundll32 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LXBTtim e.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [COMODO Internet Security] "C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cfp.exe" -h
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: SpywareGuard.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {0CCA191D-13A6-4E29-B746-314DEE697D83} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/...oUploader5.cab
O16 - DPF: {2357B3CF-7F8D-4451-8D81-FD6097610AEE} - http://activex.camfrogweb.com/advanc...instmodule.exe
O16 - DPF: {8100D56A-5661-482C-BEE8-AFECE305D968} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/...Uploader55.cab
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} (get_atlcom Class) - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77F23EB-E7AB-4502-8F37-247DBAF1A147} (Windows Live Hotmail Photo Upload Tool) - http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr01...l/MSNPUpld.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{07F43A72-93FC-448C-92E0-90DEB955DB41}: NameServer = 156.154.70.22,156.154.71.22
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{143FD991-6BA4-44D2-8838-47F35A530BF5}: NameServer = 4.2.2.3,156.154.71.22
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{07F43A72-93FC-448C-92E0-90DEB955DB41}: NameServer = 156.154.70.22,156.154.71.22
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\WINDOWS\system32\guard32.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: COMODO Internet Security Helper Service (cmdAgent) - COMODO - C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cmdagent.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe

--
End of file.

Hi all. I can't find a topic about this further back, so shall create one.

My problem is pretty frustrating, in that on entering the map for a given Incarnate trial the client displays the lost connection to mapserver message immediately after the loading screen is passed. It happens more commonly on the B.A.F. trial than on the Lambda Sector one. Rarely, I am able to move a few paces before the mapserver message comes up. Repeated attempts to rejoin the trials result in more mapserver disconnections following loading screen. I am lucky if I can participate in less than half of a full run without issue.

I've attempted the trials on both of my two Incarnate-unlocked chars, and both are having the same L.C.T.M. problem, so I believe it's not limited per char.

My firewall is set to allow the game client. My video drivers are up to date. My connection speed is up to 50 megs. Below is the tech info people usually ask for.

Any help resolving this issue will be immensely appreciated and welcome.



---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at April 8, 2011 18:32 (+01:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Central Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory: 1024MB
.Net Memory Report: 632MB out of 1023MB available
Page File: 2512MB (459MB currently in use)
C Drive: (ST3160021A) 98599MB out of 152617MB (64%) free
E Drive: (ST3160021A) 48011MB out of 152625MB (31%) free
D Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.5512 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce 9600 GT
Video Memory: 512.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0012.6658
Driver Date: 01/08/2011 04:27:00
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Driver File: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.6300
Driver Date: 01/01/0001 00:00:00


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer:
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: NF4-INF
Motherboard Version:
BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Name: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20051019000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 75Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No


Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: ~32000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: 4x
Anisotropic Filtering: 8x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High quality
Bloom: Off
Depth of Field Enabled: Off
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: High


World Texture Level: Medium
Character Texture Level: Very high
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Shadow maps
Shadow Map Shader: Low quality
Environmental Reflections: Disabled
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Occlusion Strength: Off
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Enabled
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.500
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: Unknown bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1950.201102010039.0
Installation Directory: E:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
.\texts\English\Menus has 4 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\city has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Midnight_Squad has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Safeguard has 9 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\sewers has 44 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\static has 38 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\City has 1 file
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Outdoor_Missions has 9 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Static has 16 files

Edit: sent to pm.

((Uploaded with ImageShack.us))

A place for flyers, posters, personal/want-ads, graffiti and other items which are neither news reports nor rumour or gossip. This is an open thread primarily for any Unionverse roleplayer to use.

Items posted remain up for one calender month before removal by Zero's staff if not taken down by their posters before that time, but may by special arrangement remain for longer periods.

Among other things posted on the board are:

A large flyer for the Gladiators (Series Two) line up.

-----------------------------------------

An A4 sheet with tear-off phone number tabs stating "Wanted: Roomies for Steel Canyon U. students. Shared house with independent rooms, basement, garage and bikestore. Fifteen minute's walk from campus! No Trolls, pets, or huge types please (old building, unable to support the weight, sorry!)."

-----------------------------------------

Several call-girl cards, offering crude "personal massage" services and "discreet" escorts.

-----------------------------------------

A scribbled notice on a sheet torn from a notebook. "For sale; one cat, Persian, needs care owner cannot provide due to hero work. $400.00 555-201-8746"

TPN Today, morning edition, March 12th 2011

Rogue dog brought to heel!

Police yesterday reported that the dangerous ex-cop and model, Acre Lento, was killed during attempted escape through the sub-city tunnels. Lento, who had been working with members of the so-called Resistance, was brought to official attention following a series of raids on suspected Resistance sympathizers. Evidence found on the various scenes linked Lento, disgraced Powers Division and P.P.D. member, to terrorist bomb threats and activity across Imperial City and Nova Praetor.

Lento's wife, one Isabelle Lento, was also killed in the police action. The restaurant Le Gastronome has issued a statement of regret that "...such a fine, upstanding citizen, respected by all who knew her, could have been tragically misled by her own husband."

The bodies are being held by city officials, though it's expected that the family of Mrs. Lento will be free to collect and bury her with full dignity before week's end. Acre Lento's corpse will remain with officials until a full autopsy is complete.

Nuclear '90 member returns to the fold
Paragon Times morning edition, Feb 28th 2011

An anonymous tip yesterday delivered to notable hero group The Foundry has led to the release of three captured metahumans held by Knives of Artemis mercenaries. The three hostages have been named as Misadventure, a rogue individual, Holo Man of Paragon fame, and Nuclear 90 member and former fugitive Uvie "Ultraviolent Light" Fisherman.

Of the two wanted captives, only miss Fisherman has been detained by the group. Her current status is pending review, while members of The Foundry make moves to have her arrest warrant suspended in light of her attempts to turn over a new leaf last year with her work in the Warzone.

Miss Fisherman is under instruction not to renege on her promise to make amends with society, and as such is permitted in public only while supervised by Foundry members, though we've heard reports that she is able to attend DJ Zero's interdimensional nightclub freely so long as she returns to Foundry HQ immediately afterwards.

Oubliette (Dark brute),
Banhammer (mace brute),
Dishonesty (stalker),
Rumour,
Brainlock (mind/psi dom),

All on Union.

See you around Royal. Bases may have claimed many of Union's RPers, but there are still plenty of people outside've'em. Hope you enjoy wherever you land.

~Ly

I'd love to play CoX at work, but first I'd need for people to stop turning down my applications.

...

Gizzajob?

Jail bird has a taste for jailbait
Paragon Tattler, February 22nd 2011

Idle millionaire Eric “Hearth and Heart” Hart is known to have a thing for the ladies, but we’ve recently learned that he likes them young. On St. Valentine’s day he was seen handing roses to many a young girl at the social hotspot under Galaxy Girl’s statue, and was spotted later that evening in Pocket D doing more of the same.

Combined with the as-yet unknown age of the young woman he spent time with at the Geneva Hotel this month, it seems obvious that this young man’s a blatant cradle-snatcher.

Are the kids of this city at risk? We intend to find out!

This is an apology to the players on the Union Roleplayers channel. I've been heavy-handed with my role as mod on the channel since returning, thanks in no small part to ignorance of changes made during my absence. Things have been explained to me, I've taken a bollocking, and I wanted to let you guys know I'm sorry. I hate causing trouble whether by accident or design and hope that if I've offended you you can forgive me.

Hells, I don't even know who cares, but an apology is be better than nothing in m book. So yeah, this is what it is. Insert line about concern whether posted in right forum/necessary etc.

~Ly

Why do you play a millionaire?

Initially I didn't. I have one millionaire in the shape of Eric, but he only came into money fairly late into his twenty-some years. Even that only happened because of Big Lunk's inf giveaway comp a few years back. I reasoned that 50 million inf (back when this was still a lot of inf) could translate into an equivalent numerical sum, so just ran with it. Eric landed in Paragon broke, homeless, and jobless. He found two jobs, a flat, and was comfortable doing the heroics as and when he got time. He's never splurged his windfall, barely managing to spend even a few hundred thousand dollars before a massive investment last year. He's still sitting on eight or nine million, but simply doesn't know exactly what to do with it.

Another of my chars became wealthy through a life of crime over in the Rogues. She's recently lost her sanity and just doesn't remember much of her previous life, rendering her wealth irrelevant. A third char is wealthy, but not ridiculously so, due to having lived for over three hundred years. That, and vampires generally are rich.


Where do you draw the line between mechanic and lore?

For the most part I try and blur the line between mechanic and lore where possible, but to me the imagination must be permitted as free a rein as possible without going into silly areas like punching Zeus out cold or other such daftness.

I see mechanics as a means to an end, not the end in themselves. Having for example a tricked-out build with all the fancy set bonuses doesn't really create in my mind the extent and limit of a character's ability. It's just numbers, and being good at addition doesn't automatically make one a good storyteller.

There are times when I've had to ignore the mechanics in order to tell a decent story, but I've had to do the same when GMing pencil and paper games, so I don't feel it's too much of a crime as long as it's not done often, nor to excess. I think if something is impossible to fudge either with a temp, or a creative explanation of an in-game mechanic, and that what you want to do with your story needs the fudge to progress plot, then it's fine to go for lore over mechanics.


Why do you play a god?

I haven't. I don't like seeing people play them as they're almost always done so laughably it's impossible to RP around them. There's just no empathising with a char who walks the pantheonic bridge to use the toilet, or could according to their "story" dissolve the sun. This ties in somewhat with my views on lore/mechanics. If your char, in-game, cannot defeat Statesman, Recluse, and their relevant cohorts all at once with but a thought, then they cannot in roleplay. It's that simple. And I have very strong words with people who attempt a god-mode on any of my chars.


Why do you play a demon/devil?

I have one demon, a succubus (and I can almost hear people rolling their eyes, but hear me out), whose main and obvious shtick is tricking foolish and weak-willed mortals into handing over their immortal souls for a relatively trivial thing, like a couple of hours of passion or some magic trinket they've been lusting for. In one case, my demon talked a human woman out of her soul in exchange for a simple massage.

For me the fun wasn't the kink, it was in the bargaining for which most demons and devils are known for. I wanted to see how much or little people's chars were willing to give up in exchange for whatever they believed they most wanted. In most cases it proved to be very quite a lot. I mean, what's more valuable to a sentient living being than its very soul? And how often is that soul taken for granted until it's gone for good?

The very best fun I had was when my demon was trying to persuade another player's char, who was suffering from acute radiation poisoning and had terminal cancer, into giving her his soul. In exchange, she would cure his diseases and render his body mended. The choice between eternal damnation in a perfect and healthy body, or living a few short months more in a doomed, broken husk, but keeping his soul and chance for spiritual redemption was one he agonised over for an entire hour, enduring temptation and promise after temptation and promise. Ultimately, the man chose to decline the offer and died six months later.

That, I think, is why I play a demon. The battle, not the victory, is what it's all about.


Good questions CB.

That, too, I have tried without success. The updater just refuses to connect to test.

Edit: Problem solved thanks to some advice posted by Maelwys in another thread. Mod to lock/delete as appropriate please.

I've followed the instructions on creating a test server folder, shortcut, added in the -test to the target line, but the updater doesn't connect at all. Internet connection is fine and stable. Can access main servers without trouble. Just test which doesn't connect. Any help welcome.

Also experiencing this problem. Came back after a long break last Thursday, and experienced no lengthy load times. Following the patch yesterday, load times have trebled if not more.

Paragon Times, morning edition, February 2nd 2011.

Foreign Fireball sees release from incarceration.

English national, Eric "Hearth and Heart" Hart, was yesterday released unconditionally from Ziggursky prison, having served 270 days of his five-year sentence. Eric was originally imprisoned on charges of aiding and abetting the known super-villain, alias "Wind Chime" and failing to make any attempt to arrest her on U.S. soil, among other more minor related charges.

Eric Hart had no statement to make outside the infamous prison, taking to the air immediately on crossing the causeway. He has thusfar returned no calls and refused all visits to his apartment in King's Row.

I'm interested.

*ubiquitous joke* Wait, gamers get action?

Just kidding. Congratulations!!

I have a /stone Brute at 38. He's been at 38 for three months because I dislike the set so much. I can't bring myself to reroll him because the powers fit the concept (dark/stone, named Oubliette). If changing the appearance of the tier nine fixes things for the better I'd be happy and welcoming of that and would encourage me to play him more. I echo the thoughts of many who would like to not look like a DE monster, but understand the views of those who like the look as it is.

(Paragon Times, page eight.)

The body of Lioness' Pride, a little-known heroine on South African visas, was found earlier today in her apartment in Talos Island after neighbours noticed her newspapers hadn't been pulled through the mailslot for a week. Investigators from PPD were called to the scene and found miss Claudia Fisherman, 21, of Beaufort West, laying on her bed as though asleep.

There were no signs of struggle or disturbance. Cause of death was determined to be dehydration, prompting the coronor to suggest she simply 'Lay down to die.' Police are not treating the death as suspicious but will investigate further.

The body will be handed over to the South African Embassy later this week for repatriation.

Portia shook, followed Amy's glance and stepped out of line. There were a few impatient mutters and snide remarks from the other fans as she gave Amy a cheery wave and left. One or two zitfarmers followed her with their leers and sneers, and she saw one girl give her a flirtacious wink which would have been flattering had it been from someone a hundred pounds lighter.

With a shudder and her ears flat against her head Portia fell into the throng and left Amy to her fans, thankful she'd not eaten recently.

Portia's ears were quivering with glee at such a noble gesture from Amy, but it did make her wonder if the display was for her benefit; some carefully rehearsed act to make the huge feline seem more down-to-earth before her fans. Portia dismissed her doubts with a flick of her ears and cleared her throat.

"Make it 'To Dr. Carr' if you can please, ma'am," she replied feeling very near star-struck.

She took her autograph book and thin marker from her pocket and offered both out, her shining green eyes taking in every detail of Amy's physique. It may have looked like she was just another adoring fan but inwardly, she was noting muscle tone, proportions, mass distrubution and posture clues, body-language.

An ulterior motive of Portias' being at the convention was to find any felines she'd not interviewed as part of her ongoing study into cat-peoples' origins. Amy Zon was to her a mystery, someone who could unlock more clues to her own ancestry. Hopefully.

Portia realised she was staring and folded her hands patiently in front of her stomach, her smile broadly displaying her partly feline teeth.