[14:33] <@Shyft|ST> So, two of our Troubleshooters, Ronen and Crystal on deck, aboard the Maiden Voyage, en route to retrieve a shipment of raw materials and bring them back to Nexus. The air is crips and cool, the sky is clear, save for a few fluffy white clouds and a flock of birds winging alongside the skyship.
[14:33] <@Shyft|ST> Nexus spreads out below them, steadily getting smaller as the ship climbs higher and higher in a lazy circle. Now is the time to decide where to shop...
[14:34] <Ronen> "... I still think this is really awesome." Ronen peers over the deck. "Everyone looks so tiny..."
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06[14:37] * Crystal grins, arms crossed and coat billowing as she looks off into the horizon. "Once you go Sky, you'll never not want to fly. Just be careful not to fall!"
[14:39] <Ronen> "That a common problem around here?" Ronen brushes hair out of his eyes, glancing around the ship, then pushes away from the railing a bit. "Where are we headed, anyway?"
[14:41] <@Shyft|ST> A small cadre of Sasuke supplement your normal crew today. In a matter of hours they acclimate themselves to the layout of the vessel, and are little more than whispers as they pass through the halls.
[14:42] <Ronen> "... they're gonna be making ceiling panels on the ship, too, aren't they..."
[14:44] <Crystal> "Nah. Just keep off the edge when we hit full speed and you'll be fine." Crystal unrolls a detailed map of the Scavenger Lands, looking over the local area. "Let's see, here..poison's tricky unless you wanna go running around the black markets, so we'll start with metals for weapons and armor. Hrm..the minin' town at Eastbridge is a no-no, especially after that implosion bow accident..what...
[14:45] <Crystal> ...else is close.."
[14:45] <Ronen> "... Implosion bow accident?"
[14:57] <Crystal> "Yeah, yeah. Misfire, made a big mess..anyway! It's plan time!"
[14:58] <Crystal> The Crystal Sky Admiral grins, pointing off into the distance. "Today, we set sail for Mishaka! Ever met a God before, Ronen?"
[14:58] <Ronen> "If I have, I don't remember!"
[14:59] <Ronen> "What've they got in Mishaka?"
[14:59] <Crystal> "Mines. We need steel for weapons, salt for ghosts..maybe a bit of iron if we plan on pissing off any fairies."
[15:00] <Ronen> "Oh, that works. Let's go, then!"
06[15:05] * Crystal heads belowdeck, followed by a bit of murmuring before she comes back up, shouting. "CHANGE OF PLANS! WE'RE HITTIN' CHIAROSCURO!"
[15:05] <Ronen> "We're-- Wait, that's in the South! That's like ages from here! Why'd you change your mind?"
[15:07] <Crystal> "Better variety of stuff. We can probably pick up everything we need there, at better prices."
[15:08] <Ronen> "I hope you can speak ... whatever they speak in the South, then."
[15:08] <Crystal> "I can pretend!"
[15:09] <Ronen> "Oh boy." Ronen runs a hand through his hair and grins a bit. "Well, this is bound to be fun, at least!"
[15:10] <@Shyft|ST> The journey to Chiaroscuro takes about five days, with little to say other than it got steadily hotter as you made your way south. Soon, you're near enough to the city to start figuring out your approach.
[15:10] <@Shyft|ST> The glass towers reflect the slowly falling sun, making the city look as if it's on fire, from your vantage up in the sky.
06[15:11] * Ronen whistles. "Check that out..."
06[15:14] * Crystal nods as the ship approaches, looking for a flat patch of terrain near the city to use as a landing spot. "Chiaroscuro - it's kinda like a less-dirty Nexus. Big market town, lots of weird customs. Just try to blend in and no one'll bother you."
[15:16] <@Shyft|ST> A flat patch jumps out at you soon enough, far enough away that most people wouldn't bother hiking out that far to check. It's a bit of a hike, but you reach the gates with plenty of time in the day to spare.
[15:16] <@Shyft|ST> When you arrive a group of men stand in fairly good looking light armor. Sturdy, Uitilitarian. It's obviously realm-make. One carries a halberd and seems to be in charge. "I request you halt, and state your business in Chiaroscuro."
[15:16] <@Shyft|ST> You get the impression he's rehearsed that speech. His riverspeak is heavily accented as well.
[15:16] <Ronen> "Hey, Nexus has been getting a lot cleaner lately..." Ronen doesn't say anything about the 'blending in' comment, because it would be a bit silly to promise that he would.
[15:17] <Ronen> And then they were at Chiaroscuro! And Ronen shut up to let Crystal do the talking.
06[15:20] * Crystal nods politely, doing a slight bow to the guards, speaking rather plainly in Riverspeak.  "This is Ronen, the famed singer, and I am the Crystal Sky Admiral, his supplier. We're here on mercantile business."
[15:21] <@Shyft|ST> He frowns a bit, looking the both of you over, but then nods sharply. The other men, ostensibly on guard duty, lack his decorum, and plainly oogle Crystal. The leader coughs. "Welcome to Chiaroscuro." He stands aside, letting you past.
[15:22] <Ronen> "... Good to be here..." Ronen raises an eyebrow at the guards as they head into the city.
[15:23] <Crystal> "Thank you." Crystal straightens back up and heads right in, looking for the markets. "Well, I won't lie, Ronen, I've actually never been South before..just heard things."
06[15:24] * Ronen raises a hand to shield his eyes (where was all the shade around here? Honestly), looking around. "I've never been outside the East, but I don't think we really have to worry that much, unless they have some kind of beheading-people-who-break-rules thing going on."
[15:25] <Ronen> A pause. "... And even then, really, it'd be more of an inconvenience than actual beheading, since there's no way either of us is just gonna stand around and get beheaded. I mean, hypothetically. If they beheaded people."
[15:25] <Crystal> "Well, I'm from the West, so..hanging around foreign places isn't exactly new for me."
[15:26] <Ronen> "So there you go! We'll be fine."
[15:26] <@Shyft|ST> The Markets are fairly easy to spot, as the city is clearly divided into roughly three sections; the old glass towers, the tent complexs, and the more recent wood, stone and clay buildings that work best in the warm, temperate weather near the Inland Sea.
[15:26] <@Shyft|ST> The market lies inbetween each of those sections, sort of a buffer between the old and new.
03[15:27] * Zep|shower is now known as Zeplin666
[15:30] <@Shyft|ST> making your way in, it's a lot more boisterous than Nexus, that's for sure. Merchants and slingers hawk their wares. A jeweler raises a fistfull of baubles. "A pretty necklace for a pretty lady!" Calling out to Crystal. Women wearying gauzy silks and shadowed eyes look Ronen over as they walk by, hips swaying.
06[15:32] * Ronen smiles cheerfully back at everyone who notices him. Wow, usually people don't dress like /that/ in the East. ... In public, anyway. ... Most of the time.
06[15:33] * Crystal wanders around the market, her mind trained to ingore the various distractions such as the rather noisy man named 'Griftar' who was selling talismans that supposedly repel nonthreatening animals and small trinkets that look like Western dancers, and other things, such as potential night caste canditates trying to pilfer from bread stores. Now, who kept the raw commodities around here..
[15:36] <@Shyft|ST> Unfortunately, a burst of wind and sand, plus a sudden surge of people crushing around, got you completely turned around. When you finally got your bearings, you spotted a less-than-reputable looking wholesaler of sorts. Little more than a man in a chair, a sign post, an umbrella, and a leashed woman curled against his legs.
06[15:41] * Crystal approaches (dragging a distracted Ronen along in tow), barely managing not to grimace disgustedly at the fact that she was about to strike a deal with someone low enough to keep slaves around as she skips straight to the point, speaking slowly. First thing was first.. "You. Do you understand me?"
[15:42] <@Shyft|ST> The merchant rolls one eye at you, his face is florid and fat, with thick stubble. "Yes. Riverspeak, mongrel dialect."
[15:42] <@Shyft|ST> Looking closer, the woman is effectively naked, save for a collar around her neck. And her back and arms are lined in scars from a whip. She looks up at the both of you for a moment, and her eyes seem to flash. You're not entirely sure what-with, as she turns away just as quickly.
06[15:44] * Ronen takes a deep breath. Okay, just because he called you a mongrel by association is no reason to punch a dude. Don't want to get kicked out, right? Right.
06[15:45] * Crystal clears her throat rather loudly. How did that go again? Pendeuo si'lokshmar, pendejo..wait, no, maybe the word for that was 'hombre'..."Do you..prefer..that I use..this?"
[15:48] <@Shyft|ST> He leers at Crystal. "Such a fetching accent, yes, I do prefer that. A woman should be beautiful in all ways." He glares at the woman at his feet. "Some spend it frivoulously..." He rumbles.
06[15:49] * Ronen grits his teeth. He couldn't understand what they were saying now, of course, but body language says a lot about a guy.
[15:52] <Crystal> "We're looking for a supplier," she remarks, suddenly falling into a near-fluency of the local tongue. "Iron. Leather. Rope. Bombs. Lamp oil. Do you have it all, my friend? She pulls out her sack of jade, withdrawing a commemorative coin made from red jade in the shape of a 6-sided diamond. "I can offer you (Resources 2)."
[15:55] <@Shyft|ST> The man bristles at the implied insult. He flusters for a moment. "That... You... This is preposterous! Unacceptable!" his cheeks shake and bits of spittle collect at the corners of his mouth. He stands, but his slave is in the way, and he nearly trips over her. He kicks her in the ribs, pushing her aside. "I will accept nothing less than (Resources 4)!"
06[15:58] * Ronen runs a hand over his face. Calm calm calm calm calm, don't attack merchants, don't ruin things, don't ruin things...
[15:59] <Crystal> "Are you really going to gouge us like this?! The man next to me is quite famous, in the East! Surely you don't want bad relations.."
[16:01] <@Shyft|ST> He stares at Crystal for a long while, sweat building on his brow. his pudgy, piggy fingers drip with rings and jewlery, and he growls. "I will not stand here and be insulted by this... Woman."
[16:02] <@Shyft|ST> He turns to Ronen, switching to riverspeak again. "Really, why do you let this woman speak for you so? Deplorable. Surely you would've broken her by now."
06[16:02] * Ronen is silent for a moment, then very abruptly draws his hand back and backhands the merchant across the face.
[16:03] <Ronen> "Quit. Fucking. Around."
06[16:04] * Crystal clears her throat a little awkwardly at the situation.
[16:07] <@Shyft|ST> The man's jaw shatters, teeth flying out in a rain. He wails in agony, and the whole market seems to stop for a brief moment. He falls back, moaning and shaking.... TO BE CONTINUED
[22:16] <@Shyft|ST> TO BE RESUMED! The merchant scrambles to his feet, fire and adrenaline in his eyes, he's blocked out the pain, not caring that he's screaming incoherently, drooling blood and saliva, slurring his words. "Hufck FF-ffew!" He draws a knife, a wicked looking sharp steel thing....
[22:17] <@Shyft|ST> It's an odd consolation, but he at least has good taste in weaponry.
[22:18] <@Shyft|ST> He rears up, charging like an overweight bull, knife held forward, barreling right towards Crystal's chest!
[22:19] <Crystal> "Oh gods damn-" Crystal reaches for her rapier, and shield, drawing and readying them in a flash. "Fine! I didn't want your crap anyway!"
[22:20] <@Shyft|ST> Faster than you think possible, the slave is also moving, scrambling to her feet and putting herself between the two of you and the man with the knife...
[22:21] <Ronen> "--Hey, no, get out of the way, we can handle this!"
[22:23] <@Shyft|ST> Every so often, rarely, there's not much even a Solar can do. The distance is too short, the time too small. The knive cuts through the woman's leash, and slides through the bones of her ribcage, right into her heart. She stops, almost utterly, as does the merchant. (more)
[22:24] <@Shyft|ST> The marketplace is frozen, there's no sound, the wind itself has stopped moving.
[22:25] <@Shyft|ST> If you could see the woman's face, you'd know she was smiling, faintly. She grabbed his wrist with one hand, and his neck with another. She drug him close, almost as if to kiss him... But then you saw her open her mouth and tear his throat out.
[22:26] <@Shyft|ST> The man slumped back, arterial splater splashing across the woman, who fell to her knees, knife still in her chest. She's moving slowly, slugishly. She turns to Ronen and smiles, warmly, but then locks eyes with Crystal and Won't. Let. Go.
[22:27] <@Shyft|ST> A morphing block of silver bursts out on her forehead, the knife vaporizes, and the marketplace itself awash in silver light.
06[22:27] * Crystal gapes, suddenly falling back into seatongue as she backs off, blade held up in a defensive manner. "What the FUCK--"
[22:28] <@Shyft|ST> She coughs, blood dripping out of her mouth, but she's smiling. She stands up, the scars from what looked like years of abuse fading from sight. Malnourishment and more give way to health muscles.
06[22:29] * Ronen knows that light from Corva, and so ceases to worry, instead just staring.
[22:29] <@Shyft|ST> The former slave reaches out and wraps her arms around Crystal. You don't quite know what she's saying, but you get the impression that it's 'thank you. thank you'
06[22:31] * Crystal nods and pats her on the back, still looking a little thrown off. "All right. Ronen. I've got ten obol that says all hell's gonna break loose any second now."
06[22:31] * Crystal looks around. "There a cart or something around here?"
[22:32] <Ronen> "Whatever you need, I can carry it. We kind of need to get out of here as immediately as possible."
[22:33] <@Shyft|ST> Ten Obols drop out of the sky and land in Crystal's hands. And aways way, a group of guards see the comotion. As they stomp closer, you start hearing what they're saying. "Alright what's going on-Fuck me on a stick sideways." One gasps. Another grins goofily. "Hot! Anathema Action." He gets his head slapped.
[22:33] <Crystal> "All right. We're gonna bust into this guy's place, take all the stuff we need, most of the stuff we don't need, then bolt. - AND YEAH, I SEE YOU HEARING ME SAY THIS, I DON'T GIVE TWO SHITS - And we hack the hell out of anything in our way. How many guys you think you can take, Ronen?"
[22:35] <Ronen> The air around Ronen turns bright gold, and the soft sound of music fills the air briefly as the southern sun glints off the glass-shard notes that make up his anima. A cocky smile spreads onto his face. "As many as necessary."
[22:37] <@Shyft|ST> The guards shiver and shuffle, they're not paid to handle anathema
[22:38] <Crystal> "All right." Crystal nods to the Lunar. "Okay, Lady, I know you just busted out there, got the good old lunar might goin' and all, but we gotta make sure you get back safe - you don't know anything about fightin' do you?"
[22:38] <@Shyft|ST> She shakes her head. "N-No."
[22:39] <Crystal> "All right then. "Get behind me and if any of those fuckers get close, kick 'em as hard as you can. It comes naturally, I think, at least from what I've heard about you guys -"
[22:40] <@Shyft|ST> Her eyes go a bit flinty for a moment, and then her hands /ripple/. blobs of lustrious quicksilver flow out from her forearms to coat her hands in mutable, razor sharp claws. She stares at her reflection in her palms for a moment, boggling a bit.
[22:41] <Ronen> "If not, I can cover for you." Ronen steps up, between the girls and the guards, strapping the golden razor claws on as he does so. "OI! YOU LOT! YOU CAN COME AT ME IF YOU WANT! BUT DO YOU THINK IT'D REALLY BE WORTH IT?"
[22:41] <@Shyft|ST> The guards shout back. "NO. NOT REALLY."
[22:41] <Ronen> "MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO HOME."
[22:42] <@Shyft|ST> The guards don't seem to be doing much other than forming up and blocking your way.
[22:42] <Crystal> "All right." Crystal picks up the dead merchant by the shirt collar, glaring him down. "You've been with this guy for a while, yeah? You know where he keeps his stock?"
[22:42] <Ronen> "ENJOY SOME TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES."
[22:42] <Ronen> "EAT A NICE DINNER WITH THE WIFE. YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING."
[22:43] <@Shyft|ST> The woman shivers a bit when her hands brush against her side, but nods. She points down towards a cluster of larger buildings.
[22:45] <Crystal> "All right, then!" Crystal tugs Ronen by the collar, signaling for him to follow as she runs off, shouting to the guards. "COME ON THEN! SEE IF YOU CAN CATCH THE UNCATCHABLE!"
[22:46] <@Shyft|ST> And the chase was on!
06[22:46] * Ronen is abruptly distracted from his shouting match by being tugged. He changes direction and follows after Crystal, half-watching over his shoulder the whole time.
[22:47] <@Shyft|ST> Ronen pulls way ahead, his anima a beacon that lights the city up, banishing the growing darkness. Crystal is not far behind, her new friend gradually getting better and better at keeping up.
[22:48] <@Shyft|ST> The guards, while slow and pondorous, are still moving
[22:48] <Ronen> "You know, we probably could have-" he ducks under a low-hanging awning (everyone in the South was so /short/), then continues running. "-Just left and chosen a different city, but this is way more exciting."
06[22:51] * Ronen runs, runs-- and finds himself minus 2/3rds of his party. He drops one hand to the ground, skidding a bit, before dropping and dashing back to where he last saw the two. There was no way he was going to just let her be caught- what kind of bodyguard does that, especially with a newbie in the mix?
[22:51] <@Shyft|ST> Crystal and her new friend made a wrong turn at some place named Al-Bur-Querqe, according to the sign, and ended up in a culdesac, a group of ten guards managed to fill in the alley behind you, polearms and slashing swords, with good looking medium armor.
[22:52] <@Shyft|ST> The deadend walls are a good twenty five feet high, not impossible for an Exalted, but not easy either.
[22:53] <Crystal> "What - Oh come on, seriously!?" Crystal brandishes Skyshatter, looking around at the mass of guards that has her cornered. "Not even a Dragon-blood? Who runs this crappy town guard?!"
[22:57] <@Shyft|ST> Crystal, you realize, instantly, that the reason why the mortal guards are so underwhelming, is because Chiaroscuro is a Satrap of the realm, and has an imperial garrison. It's not a fantastic one, compared to other satrapies. But that still means Dragonblooded....
[22:57] <@Shyft|ST> And that means that the mortals are only trying to keep you in the city long enough to get caught.
[22:58] <@Shyft|ST> Off in the distance, both Ronen and Crystal hear warhorns, the Realm forces are moving.
[23:03] <Crystal> "Well are we gonna go, or what!?" Crystal grins, charging head-on to the ten-man-mortal blockade in front of her with the newly-exalted Lunar babe in tow.
[23:06] <@Shyft|ST> The mortal guards form up in linked shield phalanx, blocking the alleyway.
[23:06] <@Shyft|ST> They're shivering a bit, but confident. They don't like the way the naked girl is growing at them, or the way her hands are all clawed and driping silver
06[23:08] * Ronen crashes into them like a cannonball from behind, fists flying swiftly as he aims for one, two, three, four- four hits, each aimed at a separate guard. He's going for quick immobilization, not death, so each blow is delivered firmly with the side of the hand.
[23:10] <@Shyft|ST> Four of the guards just fell like a limp sack of rocks.
[23:10] <@Shyft|ST> And Ronen was in their midst! "WHAT THE FUCK!"
[23:10] <Ronen> "Yo."
[23:12] <@Shyft|ST> The newly exalted Lunar bullrushed forward, her claws slashing out hard and fast in a doublehanded strike, laying a man's armor and chest open fairly effectively. He was lifted into the air and crashed into his fellows, twitching softly and coughing fierce, as blood ran down his chest.
[23:12] <@Shyft|ST> The others scrambled to their feet and reformed ranks. Five mortals left.
[23:15] <@Shyft|ST> The soldiers reformed quickly but shakily, forming into a five-pointed circle, halberds pointed out. the hat-wearing woman was incoming, so two of the mortals slashed their weapons at her leg and midsection! One took a stab at the blood-soaked wild woman, while the last flailed at Ronen!
06[23:15] * Crystal literally leaps into the fight, spinning like a golden tornado as she wades into range, making carefully-timed, wasp-like jabs and turning aside attacks faster than eyes can see.
06[23:16] * Ronen takes a quick shuffle back, aiming to catch the blades between the slender claws of his own weapon. "Shoulda gone home to your wives, guys."
06[23:16] * Crystal raises her shield, catching the two mortals' blades on it and to shove them off her like ants. "And for the record, it's 'FORMER PRINCE OF THE EARTH!' Get it right, jackoffs!"
[23:20] <@Shyft|ST> The remaining five soldiers stand for a moment. A bust of dust blows through the alley, and almost as one, their halberds fly apart, cut to ribbons the long way, their armor bursts apart into useless shreds, and deep cuts split open all over their bodies, blood flies into the air. Four drop instantly. One remains doggedly standing.
06[23:21] * Ronen winces. Talk about overkill...
[23:22] <@Shyft|ST> But is in no condition to fight! his arm sags limpy at his side, and he slumps to the ground, alive but defeated.
[23:23] <@Shyft|ST> The way is clear towards the warehouse.
[23:23] <@Shyft|ST> But the Realm is moving.
06[23:24] * Ronen kneels down beside the fallen guard for a minute. "Sorry about this. If you're still alive once I'm done here, I'll see about introducing you to my friend the doctor."
[23:24] <@Shyft|ST> The two Solars and Lunar arrive in the main Chiaroscuro Plaza, a place a good three hundred yards square... And there stands arrayed against you a troup of twenty armored soldiers. Dragonblooded. One stands at the lead, a crested helmet and cloak adorning his armor. He raises his arm, and as one, the twenty men draw swords.
[23:24] <Crystal> "All right, let's move -" Crystal stops for a moment, noticing that Ronen seems more than a little distraught at all the killing and sighs. "Look, man, I'm sorry, it's just - you kinda get used to that thing in my line of work, you know? If it bothers ya.."
06[23:25] * Ronen shakes his head. "It happens. I don't blame you, I just don't like it."
[23:26] <Crystal> "I'll keep it to a minimum if I can, then - Oh, ABOUT TIME someone worth their fancy suit showed up!"
[23:27] <@Shyft|ST> The apparant leader doesn't answer, he draws his sword, a beautiful looking black jade reaper daiklave. He points it at the three 'Anathema.'
[23:27] <@Shyft|ST> And the Realm forces CHARGE!
[23:28] <Crystal> "What - not even a fuckin' justice speech, I swear, these guys are so boring.." Crystal falls in behind Ronen, dropping into a defensive posture. "All right, lead the way!"
[23:41] <Ronen> "Jeez, when I said I needed some practice, I didn't mean-- anyway." Ronen sighs and signals both Crystal and the Lunar. "Don't get separated. If they get between us, that's a weakness they can exploit. Stay together if you can." He grins a bit, then heads into the fray. "It's only twenty guys, we'll be fine."
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[23:46] <@Shyft|ST> The new lunar nodded. She growled for a moment and suddenly... Wobbled? Her entire body shifted, fur covering her skin, her face took on a more vulpine look, her eyes curved a bit, and her fangs grew out noticably. A long, bushy tail grew out, and her feet shifted, letting her stand stable on the balls of her feet.
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02[23:50] * Obligatum_VII ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: )
[23:57] <@Shyft|ST> Ronen's assault is furious a nd terrifying! He tears into the dragonblooded host, shattering armor and sending men and women flying through the air.
[23:59] <@Shyft|ST> At the end, the twenty soldiers in their armor and weapons and fell in ruin, and the leader ran, disgraced.
[23:59] <@Shyft|ST> Also bleeding heavily.
[23:59] <Ronen> "... That was way easier than I thought it'd be..."
Session Time: Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <@Shyft|ST> The guards from before, the ones who didn't die, or the others from the marketplace shuffle into position. Citizens start filtering into the plaza. They can't look at Ronen, because his anima is too awe-inspiring...
[00:02] <@Shyft|ST> In a ripple, the crowd drops to a knee. One man manages to shuffle forward close enough to speak with the three of you. "You've struck a fine blow for us today, young ones. Chiaroscuro thanks you." He squints a bit, and tries to smile. "Word has gotten around that you are looking for materials... The man who died, you may have his stock..."
[00:02] <@Shyft|ST> "... And you are free to return, assuming you don't mind dealing with the Realm again."
[00:02] <Crystal> "That was - I.." Crystal gapes at Ronen. "Tepet Christ, kid, I-"
[00:03] <Crystal> "They weren't jokin' about you Dawns."
[00:03] <Ronen> "Would you believe that's the first time I've done that?"
06[00:03] * Crystal laughs, wiping a bit of blood from her sword. "Yeah, actually."
06[00:04] * Ronen turns to the old man. "... Thanks. You guys won't get in trouble because we were here, right?"
[00:04] <@Shyft|ST> The old man waves his hand. "No more than we're used to, young man. I'd not come back for a while, at least not shining as you are."
[00:05] <@Shyft|ST> "But you are for the most part, reasonably welcome here. We frown on property damage, you understand."
[00:06] <@Shyft|ST> The lunar relaxes, shrinking down to normal human size, she looks even healthier than before.
[00:07] <Ronen> "I don't think I ..." Ronen looks around. "... I did pretty light on it this time! You know ... for me." He grins a bit, running a hand through his hair as the bright gold/white/red/violet of his anima slowly fades. "Crystal, you wanna get what we came for? Good fighting, new kid." This last one to the Lunar.
[00:07] <@Shyft|ST> The old man laughs. "Your kind has a reputation, that's all."
[00:08] <@Shyft|ST> The young woman smiles at Ronen, but makes to stand behind Crystal a bit. It's somewhat funny, because she's a couple of inches taller than the sky-captain.
06[00:09] * Ronen pulls his claws off, wiping them clean and stashing them away in his bag. "Man, she really likes you, huh."
[00:10] <Crystal> "All right, lesse, uh.." Crystal raises her arms a bit, waving to the crowd as her own caste mark flares. "Okay! So uh, public service announcement time! Name's Crystal Sky Admiral, this is Ronen, and this is..a girl we met! I'd apologize for the sudden peace-breaking, but I guess that doesn't seem to have bothered you guys too much, huh?" She chuckles a bit. "Look, uh - we'll probably...
[00:10] <Crystal> ...definitely be back later, so! If you guys know any good places for stuff like uh, metal, salt, all that - give us a shout and we'll strike a deal sometime, okay! And if the Realm starts givin' you shit about us, just let us know on a trip back and we'll knock their wind out some more, got it?" She grins and slowly begins to walk away, before waving and breaking into a full-sprint to grab...
[00:10] <Crystal> ...what they came for and get the hell out.
06[00:20] * Ronen abruptly notices that their new friend is naked, and takes his shirt off, draping it over her shoulders. He even dressed nice today too, so it was button-up! :D
[00:20] <@Shyft|ST> The old man nods graciously. "Of course, fair lady." By the time you've finished the quick-and-dirty parts of the informal deal, that jeweler you saw earlier walked up, genial and happy. The anima banners were far less blinding at this point too.
[00:21] <@Shyft|ST> The woman looks a bit swamped in the shirt, but waves, the cuffs swallowing her hands.
[00:22] <@Shyft|ST> The jeweler nods his head. "I've hated that man and his awful buisness and his terrible treatment of the young lady there."
[00:23] <@Shyft|ST> He pushes a box into Crystal's hand. "Some of my finest work. Beautiful jewelry for Beautiful women."
[00:24] <@Shyft|ST> The crowd begins to disperse, the civilians gently tugging on the guards, torn between doing their duty and doing the smart thing and not getting involved.
06[00:25] * Crystal nods politely, grinning. "Well, yeah, he was kinda pissing me off too and - well, thanks! I'll come by sometime, take a look.." ...so this is how the whole 'hero' act felt, huh...
[00:25] <@Shyft|ST> Ronen and Crystal, Plus lunar, make their way towards the now ownerless warehouse, a surly looking man with a wicked looking sword sits on a stool. He looks the two women over, then Ronen, before spitting into a can at his feet. "One of you kill my boss?"
[00:25] <Ronen> "It was a group effort. The city says we can take his stuff."
[00:25] <@Shyft|ST> "Good, lemme grab my pay and I'll leave you to it."
[00:26] <@Shyft|ST> He disappears inside the building, and returns a bit later, carrying a sizeable sack full of what is probably precious metals and/or gemstones
[00:26] <Ronen> "Pretty hefty paycheck, there."
[00:26] <Crystal> "Gonna retire with that?" Crystal raises an eyebrow at the huge scak.
[00:27] <@Shyft|ST> He lifts it without even trying. "Strong back, always been. Yeah, Retiring sounds good. Get a girl or two, buy an island. Live the dream."
[00:28] <Ronen> "The dream, huh? I dunno, pick your companions carefully if you're gonna buy an island."
[00:28] <Ronen> "Pick wrong, and the dream turns into a nightmare." He wiggles his fingers.
[00:28] <@Shyft|ST> He laughs a bit and waves, walking off. The warehouse is yours to plunder.
[00:29] <@Shyft|ST> Inside is a veritable cornucopia of... Stuff. Palletes of raw ore, crates of various sundries, stacks of lumber, pretty much everything a trading city would have on hand to trade, other than live stock.
[00:30] <@Shyft|ST> Most of it's at least, at first glance, of good quality. The man may've been a terrible person, but he was a good merchant. At least so far.
[00:30] <Ronen> "... Score."
[00:30] <Crystal> "All right then. This place is ours." Crystal pulls out her Ultimate Document and slaps it next to the front door, the paperwork reading "Sky Admiral's Place (go away)" in Old Realm with a little eclipse castemark as a signature. She looks around. "So, you know what I say to this?"
[00:31] <Ronen> "What?"
[00:33] <Crystal> "Take what we need, buy the whole damn warehouse for ourselves, and reinvest the rest. It's time we expanded the family business."
[00:34] <Ronen> "I think that's a good idea."
[00:35] <Crystal> "With this little bag of fun here, I'll make us rich. After all, we're gonna need the best shit, especially if the Realm gets pissed at us."
[00:35] <Crystal> "Plus, I doubt the Sasukes'll mind having their fingers in another pie on the map."
[00:36] <@Shyft|ST> You get the impression that one would pop out somewhere unexpected and say "No, we wouldn't." There however, are no Sasuke in the warehouse. None. At all.
[00:37] <Ronen> "First Nexus, then the world, huh... I can't wait to tell them the good news. And-" he turns to the Lunar. "Hey, do you have a name?"
[00:37] <@Shyft|ST> The woman coughs a bit, and shakes her head. "No."
[00:38] <Crystal> "Then what am I supposed to..."
[00:38] <Ronen> "Want one?"
[00:38] <Crystal> "..Man I'm fuckin' terrible at names."
[00:39] <@Shyft|ST> The lunar turns to Ronen, hands clasped beneath her chin, her eyes glitter and tears well up, before spilling down her cheeks.  She nods vigorously, burnette hair bouncing in response.
[00:40] <Crystal> "What do we - I mean"
[00:41] <Crystal> "..Uhh....."
[00:41] <@Shyft|ST> She coughs again. "I-I'm not used to talking..." she mumbles
06[00:41] * Ronen rubs the back of his head. "Let's see ... There's a bunch of names that I like ... Ilya? Luvia? Or do we want one of those fancy multi-word titles?"
[00:41] <Crystal> "We could do both."
[00:41] <Ronen> "Hmm ... Quick Fox of the Desert maybe? Although that's kind of plain..."
06[00:42] * Ronen grins at the lunar girl. "Tell me if we name one you like."
[00:42] <@Shyft|ST> She nods again.
[00:42] <Crystal> "And talk lots! You're free now, y'know."
[00:43] <@Shyft|ST> She shrinks a bit, but then stands straighter. "Maste-, I mean... He'd beat me, if I spoke." She looked at her arms, free of scars."
[00:43] <@Shyft|ST> "But he's dead... And I'm free."
[00:45] <Ronen> "Asjana? Tiai? Ame?" He ponders to himself, then smiles at her. "You sure are. Hey, wanna come with us? We're going back East when this is done, and we might be able to help you figure out the ropes."
[00:45] <@Shyft|ST> She nods. "I like Ame..."
[00:47] <Ronen> "All right! It's nice to meet you, then, Ame."
[00:47] <@Shyft|ST> She ducks her head a bit, but smiles warmly.
06[00:50] * Crystal nods. "Ame it is! All right, Ronen. We'll pack this shit up and fly home and decide what to do from here. I'll leave the Document so people know to fuck off and not take anything until we get back."