Through Sorcerer's eyes - Oct 7, in which the Count gets ratted out

Part of a series analyzing Roger Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October through Sorcerer.

Starts here.

October 7

Again Snuff tells us of the doings of last night's outing, when Jack took him back to London. The fog helped hide their contribution to the Great Work, but slicing a piece of fabric off a woman's cloak does attract some attention. As they flee, Snuff accidentally trips the Great Detective's companion. Snuff notes that the specifics of sorcery make little sense to him.

After failing to seek out Nighwind later that night, Snuff detects an intruder with his heightened senses. He easily pounces on the rat, whose name turns out to be Bubo. Bubo is the familiar of the Good Doctor, and lists Needle, Cheeter, Quicklime, and Nightwind in rapid succession to lend credibility to himself. He seems to be new to the Game, as sneaking into another's house is a great way to get yourself rightfully killed. He says he found out that Snuff knows a lot about what's going on, and is willing to trade information. He goes first, taking Snuff to where he says the Count sleeps. It seems credible enough, although Snuff is unable to check it out, so he tells Bubo about the rest of the players.

We now find out how Snuff and Jack communicate directly - at midnight, dog and man are able to simply converse. Jack makes sure to be around when this happens, and debriefs Snuff's about the day's activities. They have a clear sense of where in the Game's timeframe they're set, and how well they're starting to learn what is needed, who is involved and the relations between them. Jack is curious about why Snuff trusts Graymalk, and whether he knows her and Jill's persuasion, presumably opener or closer. Snuff says they have not shared it, that it's best to delay knowing so that it's easier to cooperate. Snuff feels compelled to mention how a woman of the opposing team distracted Jack during a previous event.

Finally, Snuff expects to visit with someone called Growler to practice stalking, and falls asleep - although maybe "the world went away" is literal, rather than metaphorical.

Bubo talking about just the Good Doctor suggests that perhaps he is the sorcerer of that group. Jack and Snuff seem to be familiar with how this Game goes, suggesting they've played it before. Furthermore, they treat each other with respect, and Snuff feels comfortable poking holes in Jack's pride. Suggests a pretty even Binding roll.

Sorcerers and Demons

• Jack - Binder of Snuff (probably 0 or +/-1), a wand, and a big knife, as well as a Container of several Things. Described as cursed and having to do much of his work at night - perhaps his Price has to do with insomnia?
• The Count - Binder of Needle
• The Good Doctor - Binder of Bubo, and possibly of the Hunched Man, although that might just be a human servant
• Snuff - a Passer whose Cover is a watchdog. High Will. Possible abilities: Command: dogs, Hold, Perception: heightened senses, Perception: sorcerous pattern, Special Damage: claws and fangs, Special Damage: holy hell. Able to trace paths between sorcerers. Able to communicate with Jack verbally right after midnight.
• Needle - a Passer whose cover is a bat.
• Bubo - a Passer whose Cover is a rat.
• Hunched Man - possibly a Passer whose Cover is a hunched man, although possibly just a servant.
• Growler - someone that Snuff visits, possibly in dreams.

Sorcery and Setting

• The required ingredients for sorcery are sometimes very specific, occasionally silly rather than gruesome.
• The Game has been played before.
• We've heard it's not polite to ask who's an opener and who is a closer, but there are practical implications, as well.
• Dreams might have something to do with sorcery here.