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  1. 06[15:55] * Soul informs Lemy, once he's available, that all of the remaining saps, aside from the one set aside, are to be 'disposed of'.
  2. 06[15:55] * Soul leaves it at that. :3
  3. 06[15:56] * Gandr goes for a walk. Doesn't like it. It's grizzly and not really a good way to die. But�
  4. 06[15:56] * Gandr but on the other hand, blood for the bloo-- I mean, might as well make use of thme.
  5. [15:59] <@Clarence_Mage> With Cultists interrogated, Cultists devoured and chains swung, Gandr Lemy & Soul felt their day was productive. However, when there was no sign of Kris for the rest of the day, it's safe to say they were worried. Still, the morning after, no sign of Kris. It was not until the onset of the Evening Kris stumbled back into their lodging, dangerously paranoid of the Fire Trees on her way there.
  6. 06[16:00] * Gandr is openly worried at this development; going on a solo hike is one thing, returning in a state of disarray is something else entirely.
  7. 06[16:00] * Kris shuts the door behind her and leans against it, sagging down against it. "Things just got a whole lot more complicated."
  8. [16:01] <@Clarence_Mage> Lemy's cooking soup in the kitchen along with Shi, whom cutting up some rabbit.
  9. 06[16:01] * Soul looks very disappointed, not in an optimistic mood to begin with. "Great, just what we need, more complication." He was helping Lemy and Shi a little but now...
  10. 06[16:02] * Kris eyes the windows warily. "Is there a room in this place with no window?"
  11. 06[16:02] * Gandr perks a little.
  12. [16:02] <Gandr> "Complicated how ?"
  13. 01[16:02] <Kris> "I want everyone around so I only have to tell it once."
  14. 03[16:03] * Clarence_Mage is now known as Clarence|ST
  15. 03[16:04] * LatroPrime (LatroPrime@20842D70.3BF2DF4C.E7A59EDD.IP) has joined #clarencexaltedic
  16. 06[16:04] * Gandr sits at the table, a set of tools laid out, along with a thin chain to which is attached a number of knives - or was attached, as Gandr is in the process of disassembling and reassembling them.
  17. 06[16:05] * Kris heads through the house, eventually settling on Soul's lab down in the basement. 'grumpy doctors and mad scientists always have basement labs'. Shi, Lemy, Gandr and Soul are all there. You all can tell that Kris is still a bit shaky from whatever happened. "Ok, you all here?"
  18. 06[16:06] * Kris looks around
  19. 01[16:06] <Kris> "What, this isn't a lab."
  20. [16:06] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "It's still a good enough place to organise a meeting."
  21. 03[16:06] * LatroPrime is now known as Tempest
  22. 06[16:06] * Kris rubs her head. "I must've gotten hit harder than I thought. Whatever, there aren't any windows or fire-trees."
  23. [16:06] <Soul> "Our lab's upstairs, you needed something?"
  24. 06[16:06] * Soul was mainly using this place for storage
  25. 01[16:07] <Kris> "I needed a place where we wouldn't be overheard... I kind of screwed up badly, but learned a lot."
  26. 01[16:07] <Kris> "Ok, i screwed up really badly... I think i'm being marked as an Enemy of the State."
  27. [16:07] <Gandr> "Enemy of Chaya ?"
  28. [16:07] <Gandr> "Kris, what did you DO ? how much does it TAKE to be an enemy of Chaya, of ALL places ?"
  29. 06[16:07] * Soul facepalms. He mutters something, you probably can't hear
  30. 01[16:07] <Kris> "Yeah, the gods in charge here don't like me. At all. One hit me hard enough to throw me through a stone wall."
  31. 01[16:08] <Kris> "I had to find somewhere to hide and heal, I was definitely not... In the best of shape."
  32. [16:08] <Soul> "Why didn't you come back here as soon as you could?! You DO know what I do for a living, right?!"
  33. 01[16:09] <Kris> "So i went to Altair's bell tower and well, hid. He was there, and he told me some interesting things..." And I didn't go here, Soul, because I had no idea if the god-thing whatever it was would follow me."
  34. 01[16:09] <Kris> "If it did, I didn't want to lead it to you guys."
  35. 06[16:09] * Gandr starts packing his stuff together, after rather hastily repairing the small chain.
  36. 06[16:10] * Soul sighs. "Fine, fine, we'll have to deal with this somehow, I'll see what I can do through the Guild..."
  37. [16:10] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "...Soul, I don't think it would be wise to mention this outside of this house."
  38. 01[16:10] <Kris> "It's bigger than that, Soul. Shi, Altair told me what you are. You're older than everyone in this room put together, Chosen of Saturn, /Exalted/. He also told me that you're here to solve the mystery of Chaya."
  39. [16:11] <@Clarence|ST> Shi almost chokes on his tea.
  40. 06[16:11] * Gandr does a spittake.
  41. 06[16:11] * Soul feels kinda stupid now for having assumed that was all baloney, and gives Shi a dirty look.
  42. [16:12] <@Clarence|ST> Shi forces it down, and smacks his chest to regain his breath.
  43. [16:12] <@Clarence|ST> "That bastard, Altair. Not even giving me a word of warning beforehand!"
  44. 06[16:12] * Kris shrugs
  45. [16:13] <Soul> "Awfully hypocritical to complain about HIM not warning YOU..."
  46. 06[16:13] * Gandr sits down after packing his stuff, and looks at Shi, then Kris, then Soul, then Lemy, then Shi again. he stays silent, though.
  47. 01[16:13] <Kris> "Warned or not, He suggested I help you with this, and so I will."
  48. 06[16:13] * Soul isn't really PISSED as he says that, just...disappoint.
  49. [16:14] <Soul> (Son I am Disappoint, that is.)
  50. 01[16:14] <Kris> "There's something really messed up about Chaya, the people are all... Dull, flat. But in the summer, the firetrees bloom and they go crazy. Everybody knows these stories. Altair told me they're true. Would you mind confirming, Shi?"
  51. [16:16] <@Clarence|ST> "...Indeed. It's true, and I've been researching my arse off to find out why for the last few decades."
  52. 01[16:16] <Kris> "Well, Altair also told me the fire trees can... See, I guess. Thats partly why it took so long to get here, I had to make sure i avoided all of them along the way."
  53. [16:17] <@Clarence|ST> "It's obvious that the Fire Trees and the Craziness are correlated, but UNFORTUNATELY, my PATRON GOD DECIDES I CAN'T HAVE THE RIGHT MAGIC TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE HELL THIS HAPPENS!" He shakes his fists at the sky.
  54. [16:17] <Gandr> "Patron gods. Ooh man."
  55. 06[16:17] * Kris winces.
  56. [16:17] <Soul> "So, no progress."
  57. [16:17] <@Clarence|ST> "You can understand how frustrating it is trying to do something for decades and NOTHING. HAPPENING."
  58. [16:17] <@Clarence|ST> "No Progress, Soul."
  59. [16:18] <Soul> "Well, I'm afraid your research is probably going to have to take a break."
  60. 01[16:18] <Kris> "So... Yeah, I managed to piss off the local god, city god maybe, I'm not sure, Chayan god at least, named Jaemero. Altair warned me to not to bother a god named... Oh, it was a stupidly long name."
  61. [16:18] <@Clarence|ST> "Xochichem."
  62. 01[16:18] <Kris> "Yeah!"
  63. 06[16:19] * Kris shrugs helplessly. "I'm totally out of my depth here, I can MAYBE convince these chayan gods to accept us and change their policies... But well, Gods are dicks."
  64. [16:20] <Gandr> "So, uh ..."
  65. [16:20] <Soul> "Isn't 'convincing' them what GOT you into this mess? No offense, Kris, but I think this is a situation your style of diplomacy can't resolve."
  66. 01[16:20] <Kris> "Since I'm probably an enemy of the state... I don't know what else to do here for a while. I have some ideas...." She shrugs again.
  67. 06[16:20] * Gandr looks at Kris askance.
  68. [16:20] <Gandr> "Why did you get into trouble ?"
  69. 01[16:21] <Kris> "I tried to take over Chaya, the gods didn't like that."
  70. 01[16:21] <Kris> "Well, technically I tried to take over this city and then eventually chaya..."
  71. 06[16:21] * Soul shakes his head. "Too ambitious. You KNOW how xenophobic the Chayans are, what were you planning on doing, bedding every one of them?"
  72. 06[16:22] * Tempest APPEARS FROM THE GOD DAMN SHADOWS. "BEDDING EVERY ONE OF THEM? IT'S A GOOD THING ALTAIR SENT ME."
  73. 01[16:22] <Kris> "... I don't have a good response to that."
  74. 06[16:23] * Kris turns to the newcomer and rolls her eyes. "What now?"
  75. [16:23] <Soul> "Whoa wait what...who the hell..."
  76. 01[16:23] <Kris> "... Soul, I know you don't know this, but realize, I've never had sex, OK?"
  77. 06[16:23] * Soul has the exclamation mark from metal gear solid above his head
  78. [16:24] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "Ah, I was wondering when he'd get here."
  79. [16:25] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "Friends, meet Eightfold Tempest. Night Caste Solar Exalt, and friend of Altair's."
  80. [16:25] <Gandr> "What the hells ?"
  81. [16:25] <Gandr> "Who are you ?"
  82. [16:25] <Tempest> "Correct"
  83. [16:25] <Soul> "Altair has FRIENDS?"
  84. 06[16:25] * Soul is incredulous
  85. [16:25] <Tempest> "Altair told me you may need some assistance"
  86. [16:25] <Gandr> "Aha."
  87. 06[16:26] * Gandr is a little "wait, what" at this.
  88. [16:26] <Soul> "I somehow doubt Altair would have a friend who's so LOUD." He cleans out one of his ears as if to say 'ow, man'
  89. [16:26] <Gandr> "So, help us how, exactly ?"
  90. 01[16:26] <Kris> "So we have a new ally, marvelous."
  91. 06[16:26] * Kris blinks, rapidly
  92. 01[16:27] <Kris> "Uhm, Guys! I forgot something! Kind of Important!"
  93. [16:27] <Tempest> "By sneaking of course"
  94. [16:27] <Tempest> "You know us Night castes"
  95. 06[16:27] * Soul looks at Tempest like he's a bloody idiot
  96. [16:27] <Soul> "Sneaking. While YELLING. Do you not see the problem inherent in this."
  97. 06[16:27] * Tempest smiles at Soul
  98. 06[16:27] * Kris notes that Soul looks at EVERYONE like they're a bloody idiot."
  99. 06[16:27] * Gandr fears this will never turn out well.
  100. 06[16:28] * Kris stands up and waves her arms. "Hello, sorry, we can get back to introductions in a sec, There was one last important thing!"
  101. [16:28] <Tempest> "Well pardon me, but I believe things need to be dramatic sometimes"
  102. 01[16:28] <Kris> "The chayan god can SET PEOPLE ON FIRE."
  103. [16:28] <Gandr> "Listen, can we...
  104. [16:28] <Soul> "That's...thematic, I guess?"
  105. 01[16:28] <Kris> "She, he, uhm, i didn't really notice, uh."
  106. [16:28] <Gandr> "Kris, I can set people on fire too, it's pretty easy."
  107. 01[16:28] <Kris> "She made 3 of her priests burst into flame by looking at them."
  108. [16:28] <Tempest> "Hey, me too"
  109. [16:29] <Gandr> "Can we ... Tempest, was it ? Can we sit down and talk ?"
  110. [16:29] <Gandr> "All of us."
  111. [16:29] <Tempest> "Sure"
  112. 06[16:29] * Kris sighs and falls silent. "The fate of this world is in the hand of people like us?"
  113. 06[16:29] * Gandr stares at Soul and Kris pointedly.
  114. [16:29] <Tempest> "What are your names, chums?"
  115. [16:29] <Soul> "Well I WAS hoping to discuss what We accomplished, since we actually DID accomplish something...sort of..."
  116. 06[16:29] * Gandr has been seated this whole time; the table has more chairs.
  117. 01[16:30] <Kris> "I'm fairly certain I was able to do SOMETIHNG constructive before pissing off a GOD."
  118. 01[16:30] <Kris> "But I don't know how that turned out."
  119. [16:30] <Soul> "Yeah, great. Look, we've got a bigger problem than Chaya."
  120. [16:30] <Gandr> "I am Gandr, of the eastern forests."
  121. [16:31] <Gandr> "I'd disagree with Soul purely on principle, but he's right. Chaya isn't a priority."
  122. 06[16:31] * Kris raise her hand. "Kris Holdmourn, Zenith Solar from the Hundred Kingdoms..."
  123. 06[16:32] * Soul sighs. "Flawless Silent Soul, Healer and Merchant of Medicine."
  124. [16:33] <Tempest> "Doctor are you?"
  125. [16:33] <Gandr> "A doctor of death."
  126. [16:34] <Tempest> "Quite"
  127. [16:34] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy finally pipes up. "I'm Lemy."
  128. [16:34] <Soul> "Pay him no mind, my patients LIVE."
  129. 06[16:34] * Gandr relishes being able to inject at least a LITTLE humor into the situation, dumb as it may be.
  130. [16:34] <Tempest> "And what do you do, then?"
  131. [16:35] <Gandr> "We have some objectives."
  132. [16:35] <Gandr> "First, stop the plague."
  133. [16:35] <Gandr> "Second, stop the deathknights who caused it."
  134. [16:35] <Gandr> "Sort of third, topple the rulers of Chaya ..."
  135. 06[16:36] * Soul shakes his head. "No, no, no..."
  136. 06[16:36] * Gandr grimaces at the third point.
  137. [16:36] <Tempest> "Why not?
  138. 06[16:37] * Soul sort of waits for everyone to calm down and begin listening to him
  139. 06[16:38] * Kris waits for Soul to start
  140. 06[16:39] * Gandr doesn't know what to expect from Soul right now, a tired spiel or a sensible proposal.
  141. [16:39] <Soul> "...Gandr, you remember what we talked about yesterday. As we were interrogating those cultists. And that guildsman; apparently someone was attempting to negogtiate with him, we dropped him off with the local Guild, they'll deal with him as they will."
  142. 06[16:41] * Gandr just 'mhm-hmms'.
  143. 01[16:41] <Kris> "Oh, good, some of my work was useful, the chayans started rooting out cultists for you?
  144. [16:41] <Soul> "They did."
  145. 06[16:42] * Kris smiles slightly. "Small favors, I guess. Continue please."
  146. [16:42] <Soul> "Well, for the rest of you...from our 'talks' with the cultists, it looks like their purpose here was...purely distractionary in nature. They were never intended to take over Chaya, they were just for getting our attention and freaking us out. Mission Accomplished, I guess, we're dug in."
  147. 06[16:43] * Kris blinks. "So... a flytrap scheme?"
  148. [16:43] <Soul> "Maybe. Maybe they just wanted to waste our time, let the plague spread further."
  149. 01[16:43] <Kris> "Have you made any progress on that?"
  150. 01[16:43] <Kris> "The plauge, I mean."
  151. [16:43] <Gandr> "We've talked about that."
  152. [16:43] <Gandr> "A cure won't help until we've stopped the source."
  153. [16:44] <Soul> "Which is exactly my point. I think Gandr of all people could understand my thought process here."
  154. 01[16:44] <Kris> "Makes sense. I don't think we should give up completely on researching the plauge, but I understand. Kill the head of the snake."
  155. 06[16:44] * Gandr sorta shrugs.
  156. [16:45] <Soul> "Even if we DO cure this plague...Diseases? They're a funny thing. They mutate. They evolve. It's...disturbing, really. Sometimes, diseases become RESISTANT to cures. And that's when they're NATURAL. This one? Has a lourde of DEATH behind it. Who knows what he'll do with it."
  157. [16:45] <Gandr> "Case in point, we're not doing anything here."
  158. [16:45] <Gandr> "We can spend some time bringing Tempest up to speed, but I'd REALLY like to get moving."
  159. [16:45] <Gandr> "As in, get out of Chaya."
  160. [16:45] <Soul> "That's basically what I'm saying. We've got no choice. We need to take down the Mask of Winters himself."
  161. [16:45] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "...OUT of Chaya?"
  162. 01[16:46] <Kris> "I have plans for Chaya, still, Gandr, I understand where you're coming from though."
  163. [16:46] <@Clarence|ST> Shi looks at Soul "...Are you saying we're..."
  164. [16:46] <Soul> "Hey, you have to kill him anyway. Why wait?"
  165. [16:46] <@Clarence|ST> Shi grumbles.
  166. 06[16:46] * Kris raises her hand like a student in class. "Soul, Question."
  167. [16:46] <Tempest> "Makes sense"
  168. [16:46] <Soul> "...yes, Kris."
  169. [16:47] <Gandr> "Listen, Kris, after all this is done and gone, I'll help you with whatever it is you've got in store for Chaya.
  170. [16:47] <Gandr> "But untill then, Chaya's not even on my list of prioritiies."
  171. 06[16:47] * Soul shushes Gandr until Kris has her say
  172. 06[16:47] * Gandr rolls his eyes and leans back.
  173. 01[16:48] <Kris> "Not to infringe on your whole sctick, but we're all relatively... New, at this Exalted thing, except for Shi... I'm all for taking out the Mask of Winters, comes with being a Zenith... But..."
  174. [16:48] <Tempest> "It's best to start small, at least for now"
  175. 01[16:48] <Kris> "Well, Hell, I've heard some stories about him. Shi could probably confirm a few. I just have to ask "Are we ready to take on a LORD OF DEATH?"
  176. [16:49] <Soul> "I understand. My preferably method would be more...refined than simply barging through Thorns' front door and attacking without a strategy in mind, no offense, Gandr. And we DO have five years, not that I want to take all that time."
  177. [16:49] <Gandr> "None taken."
  178. [16:49] <Tempest> "Honestly Kris? Not even close."
  179. [16:49] <Soul> "My OTHER point is...Depends on your definition of 'we'."
  180. 06[16:49] * Soul attempts to take the floor again
  181. 06[16:49] * Kris bows graciously to the doctor.
  182. [16:50] <Gandr> "Can I say something ? Soul ?"
  183. 01[16:50] <Kris> "Continue, good sir."
  184. [16:50] <Gandr> "It'll take just a moment, it's about the Mask."
  185. 06[16:50] * Soul stands up...and sits down and sighs as Gandr interrupts him.
  186. [16:50] <Soul> "Yes, fine..."
  187. [16:50] <Gandr> "Thanks."
  188. [16:50] <Gandr> "It's, ah ... well."
  189. [16:50] <@Clarence|ST> Shi puts his hands in his head. "Altair is such a dick..."
  190. [16:51] <Gandr> "The Mask of Winters is a conquerer - you all know that, right ? Took Thorns in a single swift attack ... and Thorns is HUGE."
  191. [16:51] <Gandr> "I know a thing or two about warfare, and ... well, the kind of army that I've heard the Mask's described as, and inferred through his attack on Thorns ... it'd have to be nothing short of enormeous."
  192. [16:52] <Gandr> "Enormeous armies mean simply stupefying amounts of paperwork, or some other equivalent burden in management."
  193. [16:52] <Gandr> "My point is, the Mask more likely than not does NOT have the time to waste on what is frankly an outback like Chaya."
  194. [16:53] <Gandr> "So he's delegating the repsonsibility - to his Deathknights, who DO have the attention, presence and time required."
  195. [16:53] <Gandr> "That said, it seems likely to me that this is part field test of a weapon - the plague - and part preparation for worse things, eihter here or elsewhere."
  196. 06[16:53] * Soul looks like you lost him for a second there but now you've got him back again.
  197. [16:54] <Gandr> "So - we don't have to take the Mask. Not now, anyway."
  198. [16:54] <Gandr> "We DO have to take the deathknights, though."
  199. [16:54] <Soul> "...We DO have to take down the Mask, eventually. And if we don't take him down, he could just make more knights."
  200. 06[16:54] * Kris shrugs. "My point was that we need to be much stronger, much more experienced to take on the Mask of Winters. Or his Deathknights, for that matter."
  201. 06[16:54] * Kris quiets down.
  202. [16:55] <Soul> "Can I continue, or do you have more tactical insights? Did you...eat Relain?"
  203. 06[16:55] * Soul cocks his eyebrow in a sarcastic but friendly manner
  204. [16:55] <Gandr> "Relain was easymodo."
  205. [16:55] <Gandr> "And I'm done. Thanks."
  206. [16:56] <Soul> "Well, here's the thing. And it sort of ties in to Chaya. Sort of."
  207. 06[16:56] * Gandr smiles in a satisfied manner - you've seen THAT before, in the court of judges and a few other places - and sits down.
  208. 06[16:56] * Soul stands up and MAKES DAMN SURE NO ONE ELSE ATTEMPTS TO ASK A QUESTION
  209. [16:57] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "Anyone want tea?"
  210. [16:57] <Tempest> "Me"
  211. [16:57] <Soul> "We're not in this alone. We have the backing of the Guild. They want to see this disease GONE, and if that means taking back Thorns, then, well, if the revenue from doing so is greater than the expenditure it'll take, then they'll do it."
  212. [16:57] <Soul> "And the Guild...their plans are expansive..."
  213. 06[16:58] * Soul paces around a bit. "When we first returned here...when we saw the cultists...I met with someone. I didn't tell you all about this yet because I wasn't sure how it would play out, but by now you must have all noticed how...INTERESTED...the Guild is in Chaya."
  214. 06[16:58] * Kris perks up
  215. 06[16:58] * Soul looks over to Kris
  216. 01[16:59] <Kris> "just paying attention."
  217. 01[16:59] <Kris> "I feel as if you're building up to something really awesome, and I want to hear it."
  218. [17:00] <Soul> "Oh. Well...the point is...the Guild thinks that Chaya is a...problem. Their attitudes are backwards, their potential is wasted...basically, they stand in the way of progress."
  219. 06[17:00] * Gandr chews on that.
  220. 06[17:00] * Kris nods
  221. [17:00] <Tempest> "So what does the Guild plan to do to Chaya?"
  222. [17:00] <Soul> "Do you understand what I'm saying, Kris? The Guild has been attempting to do more or less the same thing you've been doing. They want to throw the bums out too."
  223. 01[17:01] <Kris> "Honestly? I just want to get rid of the chayan gods because one threw me through a wall. The people I don't have a problem with."
  224. [17:01] <Gandr> "That seems a little petty."
  225. 06[17:02] * Kris shrugs. "I'm not made of sunshine and rainbows. Well, some sunshine, but I'm human, Gandr."
  226. [17:02] <Gandr> "Kris, I mean. I'd like to help you, but if you're just gonna topple the place and then be all sunshine and rainbows, ... eh."
  227. [17:02] <Soul> "The point is, the Guild wants to install a rulership that is friendly to our needs, one that isn't blindly ruled by dogma like xenophobia. One that won't step on the toes of free commerce. And now, an opportunity presents itself."
  228. 06[17:02] * Kris nods at Soul
  229. 06[17:02] * Gandr draws a finger across his brow.
  230. [17:02] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy gets Tempest his tea.
  231. [17:02] <Gandr> "We ARE made of sunshine, Kris."
  232. [17:03] <Gandr> "ooh, can I get a cup too, lemy ?"
  233. [17:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "I'm made of Sunshine and Decay. Kinda."
  234. [17:03] <Gandr> "You can put some of that poison in it if you want to."
  235. [17:03] <Tempest> "Too late Gandr"
  236. [17:03] <Gandr> "Dang."
  237. [17:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "Aw, Gandr, you should've told me earlier."
  238. [17:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "No, no, i'll make you some."
  239. [17:03] <Tempest> "I have complete authority over the tea"
  240. [17:03] <Gandr> "Yeesss, I know how much you want to poison me."
  241. 06[17:03] * Gandr smiles broadly.
  242. [17:03] <Tempest> "Blast you Gandr"
  243. [17:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy smiles. "If you say so."
  244. [17:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy marches upstairs.
  245. [17:04] <Soul> "..."
  246. 06[17:04] * Kris shrugs. "Gandr, I'm not going to go out and make a throne of skulls just because I can't. I'm not noble, but I'm not cruel either."
  247. [17:04] <Gandr> "Oh ! Sorry...."
  248. [17:04] <Soul> "May I continue?"
  249. 01[17:04] <Kris> "Erh, because I can'
  250. [17:04] <Gandr> "Yes."
  251. 06[17:04] * Kris nods at Soul. "Yes, Please do."
  252. 06[17:04] * Gandr seems a little 'oh whoops, oh well, oh lol'.
  253. [17:05] <Soul> "Right...I hope you can see where I'm going with this. On one hand, you have a massive organization that wishes to uproot a civilization and modernize it. On the other hand, you have a massive external threat that said organization is leveraging into doing what it wants."
  254. [17:05] <Gandr> "Waaiiit, what."
  255. [17:05] <Gandr> "Are you saying the Guild WANTS the plague to progress !?"
  256. 01[17:05] <Kris> "May I explain, Soul?"
  257. 06[17:05] * Soul sighs. "Please do."
  258. [17:06] <Gandr> "Or is the "massive threat" you're talking about, us ?"
  259. [17:06] <Tempest> "So you're saying the Guild wants the plague to wipe out Chaya so they can move in and rebuild?"
  260. 06[17:06] * Soul shakes his head profusely
  261. 01[17:06] <Kris> "No, The Guild wants the threat of the plauge to press down on Chaya, when people are threatened, they'll be more willing to do things, enter deals, whatever. The Guild wants Chaya to let them in."
  262. 06[17:06] * Gandr sits back again, and waits for explanation.
  263. [17:07] <Tempest> "Interesting"
  264. 01[17:07] <Kris> "that's more or less what you're saying, right Soul?"
  265. [17:07] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "...That's shenanigans beyond shenanigans."
  266. 06[17:07] * Soul nods. "Yes. This plague proves just how much they need us."
  267. 06[17:07] * Kris shrugs. "That's buisness."
  268. [17:07] <Gandr> "Dunno how I feel about being used like that."
  269. [17:07] <Soul> "But I'm not done. This isn't just about Chaya. This is about EVERYONE who's threatened by Thorns."
  270. 06[17:07] * Soul slams his hands on the table.
  271. 06[17:08] * Kris jumps a bit.
  272. [17:08] <Gandr> "I'm in this to HELP people. I'm not sure how that figures into helping the Guild. You just said it - they're about BUSINESS."
  273. 06[17:08] * Gandr does an annoyed hand-wave-triangle motion.
  274. [17:08] <Gandr> "Do continue, please."
  275. [17:08] <Soul> "What I'm talking about is no less than a full-on confederacy of everyone on the East and the Scavenger Lands. All united by the Guild's support. All united in economic free principle. And all united against the Mask of Winters."
  276. [17:09] <Tempest> "Sounds good"
  277. [17:09] <Gandr> "With the Guild pulling the strings."
  278. [17:09] <Tempest> "Sounds bad"
  279. [17:10] <Soul> "Only the Guild could COORDINATE something like this, Gandr. Don't you see? The Chayans, they wouldn't ally with anyone else. That's how Xenophobic they are. And no one else's perfect, either."
  280. 06[17:10] * Soul is still talking but turns around and sort os stares off
  281. [17:11] <Gandr> "And then when the threat's ended and Thorns is free again, what'll the Guild do ?"
  282. [17:11] <Soul> "Can't you imagine it? It'd be beautiful. If Chaya, Marukan, Lookshy, Sijan...all of them acting in concert..."
  283. [17:12] <Soul> "Any of of them alone wouldn't be enough to take on the Mask. But together they could overwhelm him..."
  284. [17:12] <Tempest> "Are you entirely sure about that Soul?"
  285. [17:12] <Soul> "I'm DAMNED sure."
  286. [17:13] <Tempest> "He managed to take Thorns so easily, and now he has a heavily fortified base of operations"
  287. [17:13] <Tempest> "I don't think it will be THAT easy"
  288. 01[17:13] <Kris> "If you want to unite the entire Direction, I'll help, but I'm... Skeptical, Soul. Sorry."
  289. [17:14] <Gandr> "Skeptical's not the word."
  290. [17:14] <Gandr> "It's complete nonsense."
  291. 06[17:14] * Soul turns around to face the group, almost a little crushed
  292. [17:14] <Tempest> "This isn't just a petty tyrant we're talking about here, Soul, this is a DEATHLORD"
  293. [17:14] <Tempest> "DEATH"
  294. [17:14] <Gandr> "The Mask would roll over something like that. He'd rip US apart, he wouldn't even bother looking at a mortal man."
  295. [17:15] <Tempest> "LORD"
  296. [17:15] <Gandr> "Doesn't matter how many mortal men."
  297. 06[17:15] * Kris sighs. "Shi, enlighten us, what can the mask of winters do? I heard he could kill mortal armies by LOOKING AT THEM. Truth?"
  298. [17:15] <Tempest> "Lord of death"
  299. [17:15] <Tempest> "That's all I need to know about the Mask"
  300. [17:15] <Gandr> "Lord of death's a title."
  301. [17:16] <Gandr> "And inaccurate one, probably."
  302. [17:16] <Gandr> "I've never heard of anyone or anything bringing the dead back to life."
  303. [17:16] <Tempest> "They don't need to be alive to rip off faces, Gandr"
  304. [17:16] <Gandr> "And anyone can kill a person. It's easy. The mortal body can break in innummerable ways. Lemy can attest to that. Soul, too."
  305. [17:17] <Gandr> "I know, Tempest, I know. I'm saying that you're afraid of a TITLE."
  306. [17:17] <Gandr> "You could pick better things to be afraid of."
  307. [17:17] <Tempest> "Like what?"
  308. 06[17:17] * Gandr shrugs.
  309. [17:17] <Gandr> "Like me."
  310. 06[17:17] * Soul lowers and shakes his head, so very disappointed he's almost morale broken
  311. 06[17:17] * Gandr smiles broadly.
  312. [17:17] <Gandr> "Hahah, sorry."
  313. 06[17:17] * Gandr notices Soul.
  314. [17:17] <Gandr> "Ah, sorry.
  315. [17:17] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "Indeed, Kris. The Mask of Winters can do what you say."
  316. [17:17] <Gandr> "I don't mean to flail on your parade, but your plan seems foolhardy at best."
  317. [17:18] <Tempest> "Yes"
  318. [17:18] <Soul> "Gandr, we don't have a CHOICE. We have to take him down SOMETIME. We might as well do so by beefing ourselves up with as many allies as possible, so we can face him with a united front."
  319. [17:19] <Gandr> "Normally, I'd agree."
  320. [17:19] <Tempest> "And when the united front falls and we're left defenceless?"
  321. [17:19] <Gandr> "But in all of Creation, there are no opponents - NONE - like the Mask."
  322. 06[17:19] * Kris stands up and puts her foot on a handy crate. "Gentlemen, this is pointless. Soul, No offense, but you're trying to throw economic might against... I dont even know, but it's military in nature. Our best bet is to focus inward, develop our own powers and face him. (More)
  323. 01[17:20] <Kris> "Soul, your idea is awesome, I'd be happy to help you attempt it, but quite frankly, there will be NO WAY to win throwing legions of mortals at the mask of winters, economically or not."
  324. 06[17:20] * Gandr nods.
  325. [17:20] <Soul> "Maybe we won't throw legions of mortals at him, then?"
  326. 01[17:20] <Kris> "So, I say we do this: We do the tasks Altair set us, we gain strength, build a powerbase."
  327. 06[17:21] * Soul facepalms. "Kris..."
  328. [17:21] <Soul> "One of the tasks he gave us was KILLING THE MASK OF FUCKING WINTERS"
  329. 01[17:21] <Kris> "YES
  330. 01[17:21] <Kris> "WE DO THAT LAST."
  331. [17:21] <Heaven> how
  332. [17:21] <Gandr> "Seems like a good way to top off the day."
  333. 06[17:21] * Gandr laughs weakly at his own joke.
  334. [17:22] <Gandr> "Oh, Heaven ... Altair set us some tasks."
  335. [17:22] <Gandr> "It's a bit finicky."
  336. [17:22] <Tempest> "I agree with Kris, work our way up to the Mask after we've gotten everything else out of our way"
  337. [17:22] <Gandr> "Killing the Mask is one of them."
  338. [17:22] <Tempest> "Something like this needs ALL our attention"
  339. [17:22] <Soul> "Well, in any event your protests are meaningless, in a sense. We already are dealing with Chaya, we can't back out of that now.:"
  340. [17:22] <Gandr> "Yes. But not right now."
  341. [17:22] <Gandr> "What ? Of course we can."
  342. [17:22] <@Clarence|ST> Heaven, who is REALLY FAR AWAY, feels a sense of being watched over by a loincloth wearing chain.
  343. [17:22] <Gandr> "Their gods even told us to fuck off."
  344. 01[17:23] <Kris> "Their gods told ME to fuck off, you guys are more or less safe, I think."
  345. [17:23] <Soul> "No. The Guild would look like cowards if they backed out NOW."
  346. [17:23] <Gandr> "A hole in the Guild, then."
  347. [17:23] <Gandr> "We're not here to take over Chaya, we're here to get at the plague. Remember ?"
  348. [17:24] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "There are more important things to do than worry about a small notch in the Guild's massive economic empire."
  349. [17:24] <Gandr> "Thank you Shi ! Trees above my grave, THANK YOU."
  350. [17:24] <Tempest> "What we need to do now is refocus our goals"
  351. 06[17:24] * Soul sighs and throws his hands up. "Well, you're all free to go about this as you see fit. I'm consulting with the Tribunal regardless, get their opinion on all this."
  352. [17:24] <Soul> (more)
  353. [17:25] <Soul> "You all can clean out the rest of the cult, now that we think we know where they are."
  354. [17:25] <Gandr> "What ? Soul ... we already know the cult business is KRAYSHIT.
  355. [17:25] <Gandr> "We need to MOVE."
  356. [17:25] <Gandr> "NOW."
  357. [17:26] <Soul> "Move where?"
  358. 06[17:26] * Gandr is becoming agitated."
  359. [17:26] <Gandr> "Gah ..."
  360. 06[17:26] * Gandr bites his tongue.
  361. [17:26] <Soul> "Exactly."
  362. 01[17:26] <Kris> "Soul has a point, we don't have any idea where to go next, other than the tasks Altair gave us."
  363. [17:26] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "...I could dig up something, perhaps."
  364. [17:26] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "I have contacts."
  365. 06[17:26] * Gandr looks at Shi with hope in his eyes.
  366. [17:27] <Soul> "Look, I've said my piece. I'm going to get some sleep, I intend to have a HEAVY discussion with the Guild tomorrow."
  367. 06[17:27] * Soul goes to walk up the stairs. If anyone wants to stop him now's the time.
  368. 06[17:27] * Kris sighs, flopping bck on the crate
  369. 06[17:27] * Gandr stops Soul.
  370. [17:27] <Gandr> "Wait ..."
  371. 06[17:27] * Gandr licks his lips, looks around a little before settling on Soul.
  372. 06[17:28] * Soul looks a little taken aback
  373. [17:28] <Gandr> "Listen, I ... I don't mean to piss on your parade."
  374. 06[17:28] * Soul in fact looks like a maiden cornered in a dark alley
  375. [17:28] <Gandr> "We haven't been together long, but this circle is strong, because each of us is strong."
  376. [17:28] <Gandr> "And ..."
  377. 06[17:28] * Gandr seems to grasp for words.
  378. [17:28] <Soul> "I wasn't brought along because I'm strong, Gandr. I'm not. I'm just smart. That's all I'm good for."
  379. [17:28] <Gandr> "That ... this is, this bond is trust and faith."
  380. [17:28] <Gandr> "But you ARE, Soul."
  381. 06[17:28] * Soul dismisses Gandr with a handwave and retreats
  382. [17:29] <Gandr> "We are strong in each our ways."
  383. [17:29] <Gandr> "No !"
  384. [17:29] <Gandr> "We need to trust and rely on one another; in war, in combat, and in our tasks."
  385. [17:30] <Gandr> "And I want you to know that, despite all this kowtowing nonsense, I still have your back."
  386. 06[17:30] * Soul is already gone, you're preaching to the choir now
  387. 01[17:30] <Kris> "Fuck."
  388. 06[17:30] * Gandr was staring at the floorboards.
  389. 06[17:30] * Gandr is not very good at those sort of words.
  390. [17:33] <Gandr> "Very fuck."
  391. 06[17:39] * Gandr slumps.
  392. [17:49] <@Clarence|ST> In the following week, the group set off to do what they do. Soul talks to the guild, who are impressed by his plan to unify the East into a confederacy. Kris makes a disguise to make her appear as anyone who is not her. Gandr trains as a warrior should. Tempest familiarises himself with the countryside.
  393. [17:49] <@Clarence|ST> One morning, a rat-a-tat-tat is heard at the door.
  394. 06[17:50] * Heaven rat-a-tat-tat
  395. 06[17:50] * Kris opens the door. "Oh, Hello. What Can I do for you?"
  396. [17:50] <Tempest> "Who is it?"
  397. 06[17:50] * Kris calls back. "I don't know yet!"
  398. [17:51] <Tempest> "Right then"
  399. 06[17:51] * Heaven double checks the address "Yea.. this is it, uh.. Hi!, erm.." *grabs one of souls apprentices* I was sent along with these guys by the guild.."
  400. 06[17:53] * Kris pulls the young woman and the apprenticies inside.
  401. [17:53] <@Clarence|ST> Bear: "Hey! Get your hands off me, you fruit loop!" A loudmouthed kid wearing green slaps Heaven's hands off of him.
  402. 06[17:54] * Soul has been busy doing labwork with Lemy
  403. 06[17:54] * Gandr isn't around at the time, as he is out for his morning jog.
  404. 06[17:55] * Heaven sighs "Tch, ungreatful brat, after all we went through to get he--" straightens up and looks at Kris "I was sent to deliver these.. monsters to their mentor, and to assist him with anything he may need."
  405. 06[17:55] * Kris nods. "Wonderful."
  406. 06[17:55] * Soul stumbles downstairs. "Oh crap oh crap ohhhh-"
  407. [17:56] <@Clarence|ST> Bear: "I'll show you ungrateful brat.." He makes a motion to smack Heaven, but doesn't.
  408. 06[17:56] * Kris heads back into the living room and flops on a couch, idly poking at her cheek.
  409. 06[17:56] * Soul stops and sees Thrice-Evaded Bear. "-crap."
  410. [17:57] <@Clarence|ST> Flaxen Dragon, a boy wearing blue spots Heaven. "Sir Perfect Silent Soul!" He runs up to Soul & kneels. "It's been too long without you, Sir!"
  411. 06[17:57] * Soul facepalms. "Indeed you could say it has, Flax..."
  412. 06[17:57] * Heaven "Do it, i'll beat you senseless infront of your master if I have to little br--" noticing soul gives a little nod "Hello."
  413. [17:57] <Soul> "If anyone's going to beat my apprentices it'll be me, umm...you are?"
  414. [17:58] <@Clarence|ST> His other apprentices, Empty Lion's Scroll(in red), Thrashing Rose Servant(In pink), and Loving Keep(In yellow), stand in the back, smiling at the antics of the other two and waving to Soul.
  415. [17:58] <@Clarence|ST> And... Some other guy in Gold he doesn't recognise.
  416. [17:59] <@Clarence|ST> He seems to be peddling fish to Gandr.
  417. 06[17:59] * Heaven Straightens up "Fluttering Heaven... erm, a specialist if you will, I was sent by the guild to assist you, as the higher ups were a bit.. worried at your lack of reported progress."
  418. 06[18:00] * Soul sighs and nods his head. "Yes, yes, I'm afraid things have become a bit...jumbled up on this end...well, don't stand out there like a bunch of worthless bums, get in here all of you!!!"
  419. [18:00] <@Clarence|ST> His five apprentices line up infront of Soul.
  420. 06[18:00] * Heaven scratches her head "The rude dancer-type already dragged us inside.. unless there is some sort of invisibl-- oh whatever" walks closer
  421. 06[18:02] * Soul motions to his apprentices to sit at the table in the main room
  422. [18:02] <@Clarence|ST> They do so
  423. [18:03] <Soul> "I...TRUST my wards did not cause you too much grief...Lion, you all behaved, correct?"
  424. [18:03] <@Clarence|ST> Lion: "We behaved... When Heaven wasn't trying to choke her schedules down our throat."
  425. 06[18:04] * Soul cocks his eyebrow. "Schedules?"
  426. [18:04] <Heaven> "Well, we ended up in the we-- I mean off schedule, I had to put us into some sort of working shape or we would have been late.
  427. [18:04] <Soul> "Well, all I'll say is you didn't arrive a moment too soon, I guess."
  428. [18:05] <Heaven> "How so?"
  429. [18:06] <Soul> "Well, matters have only gotten more and more complicated. Finding a cure may prove to be a monumentally difficult matter, perhaps impossible. What work we've done has been inconclusive, although I'm hoping my assistants will help in that matter. Speaking of which, I trust you brought all our tools and ingredients with you like I requested."
  430. 06[18:07] * Soul also walks to the stairs as he's talking and calls Lemy down from the lab
  431. [18:08] <@Clarence|ST> Rose & Keep bring in a small cart that looks exceptionally packed well inside.
  432. [18:08] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy walks down.
  433. [18:08] <@Clarence|ST> Lion: "Everything we need is in that cart. Heaven just HAD to have her way with packing it."
  434. [18:08] <Soul> "Good, good. Lemy, I want you to meet my apprentices. Hopefully together we'll all be able to accomplish something."
  435. [18:09] <@Clarence|ST> The small cart almost looks like it'll explode
  436. 06[18:09] * Soul goes down the line. "Flaxen Dragon here works hard enough and is eager to please, I think you two'll get along nicely..."
  437. 06[18:10] * Soul waits for Flaxen to add something insipid to that
  438. [18:11] <@Clarence|ST> Flaxen: "Pleased to meet you!" he aggressively shakes Lemy's hand.
  439. [18:11] <@Clarence|ST> Flaxen: "Any friend of Perfect Silent Soul is a friend of ours!"
  440. [18:12] <Soul> "Easy, boy. Third-Evaded Bear here...you'll need to make sure he doesn't goof off. If he does...eat him"
  441. 06[18:12] * Soul smirks a little and waits for Bear's reaction
  442. [18:12] <@Clarence|ST> Bear: "Hey, I get the work done. Just on my OWN time."
  443. [18:13] <@Clarence|ST> Bear stabs his thumb into his chest arrogantly
  444. 06[18:13] * Soul bops Bear on the head with a little fan he has in his hand for some reason. "You'll get it done on MY time or NO time at all."
  445. [18:14] <@Clarence|ST> Bear rubs his head.
  446. 06[18:14] * Soul moves on. "Loving Keep, without her my operations would fall apart from all the menial tasks she's mastered. Everything needs cleaning up, preparing, tabulating...she'll be a big help to you too. Just...make sure she doesn't break anything."
  447. [18:16] <@Clarence|ST> Keep salutes, and knocks over a Vase. Shi dives and catches it right in the nick of time.
  448. 06[18:17] * Soul facepalms. "Thrashing Rose Servant has been helping me with poisons, not sure how much help she'll be as far as the cure goes but she can hold her own in a fight, I can attest to that..."
  449. [18:19] <@Clarence|ST> Rose: "Pleased to meet you all."
  450. [18:19] <Soul> "And last, but certainly not least, my head apprentice, Empty Lion's Scroll. I'll let him introduce himself."
  451. [18:23] <@Clarence|ST> Lion steps forward, and assumes a confident stance. "Good Morning, I'm Empty Lion's Scroll. I don't need any long-winded introductions, so I'll keep this brief. Don't get in my way, and everything will be fine. I'm looking forward to working together with all of you in the future."
  452. 06[18:24] * Soul chuckles. "Brunt as always, Lion. Good, good. Anyway, Fluttering Heaven, I suspect you need to be debriefed on what's happened, as does my group."
  453. 06[18:24] * Gandr opens the door and steps in rather quickly, shutting the door in a hurry.
  454. 06[18:25] * Gandr leans up against the closed door.
  455. [18:25] <Gandr> "There's some kid following m--"
  456. [18:25] <Gandr> "Who are you ?"
  457. 06[18:25] * Gandr notices the new arrivals.
  458. [18:25] <@Clarence|ST> THE DOOR IS KICKED IN.
  459. 06[18:25] * Heaven nods "Yes that would b--" startled takes her Vajra in hand and stares towards Gandr "WHO THE HELL IS THIS MOSNTER"
  460. [18:25] <Soul> "A monster for a monster, eh?"
  461. [18:25] <Gandr> "WHAT ? MONSTERS !? WHERE ?"
  462. [18:26] <Gandr> "THE DOOR"
  463. 06[18:26] * Gandr assumes fightan stance, aimed at the door.
  464. [18:26] <@Clarence|ST> "Heeeeeeeeeere's SUSHI!" It's a kid dressed in Gold grinning like a madman, with a sushi cart tied behind him.
  465. 06[18:26] * Heaven is confused at why the monster is about to fight the door but shifts her attention and gets ready anyhow"
  466. [18:26] <Gandr> "Aaaahh !"
  467. 06[18:26] * Gandr makes to kick the sushiboy.
  468. 06[18:26] * Soul raises his eyebrows sky high...then squints at the kid, heavily...then gets right in his face and examines him, blocking Gandr.
  469. [18:26] <Gandr> "GET AHHT !"
  470. [18:27] <Gandr> "Ah !"
  471. [18:27] <Gandr> "So-ooul~~!"
  472. [18:27] <Soul> "...I RECOGNIZE you. You used to peddle outside my house when I was a kid!"
  473. [18:27] <Soul> "And in Nexus too!"
  474. [18:27] <@Clarence|ST> "Yes! And you are Flawless Silent Soul!"
  475. [18:27] <Soul> "Correct. Wait, what are you doing HERE?!"
  476. [18:27] <Gandr> "And YOU'RE A LUNATIC."
  477. [18:28] <Gandr> "You've been ... Soul, he's CHASED ME AROUND ALL MORNING."
  478. 06[18:28] * Gandr seems rather upset.
  479. [18:28] <Soul> "Gandr, YOU'RE a lunatic, and you don't mind exercizing anyway."
  480. [18:28] <@Clarence|ST> "He hasn't yet tasted the glory that is..." his teeth gleen. "The Golden Sushi."
  481. [18:28] <Soul> "If he scared you that much you should have just chained him up."
  482. [18:28] <@Clarence|ST> "But that's not the point at hand."
  483. 06[18:28] * Kris is getting a very, very large headache.
  484. [18:28] <Gandr> "He's a KID. I can't just smack kids around !"
  485. 06[18:28] * Heaven is puzzled
  486. [18:28] <@Clarence|ST> "Soul, wether you like it or not, I am an apprentice of yours now!"
  487. [18:29] <Heaven> "I'm confused, are we killing the strange golden man or the monster.?"
  488. [18:29] <Soul> "...you are."
  489. 06[18:29] * Soul blinks
  490. [18:29] <Gandr> "He is ?"
  491. [18:29] <Gandr> "Strange golde-- ..."
  492. [18:29] <Heaven> ".. he didn't come with me."
  493. 06[18:29] * Gandr turns to Heaven.
  494. [18:29] <Gandr> "Who ARE you ?"
  495. [18:29] <Gandr> "..."
  496. [18:29] <Gandr> "Who are YOU ?"
  497. [18:29] <Heaven> "I should ask you the same thing, monster."
  498. [18:29] <Gandr> "What ?"
  499. [18:29] <Soul> "WOULD THE REST OF YOU SHUT UP"
  500. [18:30] <Gandr> "No."
  501. [18:30] <Gandr> "She called me a monster."
  502. [18:30] <Gandr> "And all I've done is go for a jog."
  503. 06[18:30] * Soul presses his finger on the sushi cart man's forehead bandana. "WHY are you my apprentice now."
  504. 06[18:31] * Gandr turns from Soul to Heaven again.
  505. [18:31] <Gandr> "Why did you call me a monster ?"
  506. [18:31] <Heaven> "You are larger than any mortal i've ever seen, AND you come bringing some strange golden man, that kind of screams monster."
  507. [18:31] <Soul> "Gandr, shut up. Heaven, he's with us."
  508. 01[18:31] <Kris> "Heaven, was it" Gandr is not a monster, he's just very, very large. Now stop calling him a Monster."
  509. 06[18:31] * Gandr in a very small voice, "yes mom."
  510. [18:31] <@Clarence|ST> Golden Boy: "It's simple, really."
  511. 06[18:32] * Heaven straightens up "Sorry err.. Gandr, was it? Startled me, there."
  512. [18:32] <@Clarence|ST> Golden Boy: "Your apprentices are weak! I am here to fill that gap in weakness!"
  513. 06[18:32] * Kris sighs. The girl named Loving Keep plopped down next to her. She exhuded a sort of Moe-field of comfort. Kris levels a flat stare at her. "I'm the original Moe, that has no effect on me."
  514. 01[18:33] <Kris> "Tempest, Kill the golden one, please?"
  515. [18:33] <Soul> "And how do you know how strong or weak my apprentices are? Have you been...have you been bothering them all this time?"
  516. [18:33] <Tempest> "Will do"
  517. [18:33] <@Clarence|ST> Golden Boy: "Yes!"
  518. 06[18:33] * Soul holds up his arm. "NO ONE'S KILLING A MERCHANT ON MY WATCH!"
  519. 06[18:33] * Tempest readies his bow and aims at the aggressive young boy
  520. 06[18:33] * Soul turns to Lion. "Seriously, did he follow you guys ALL this way?!"
  521. [18:33] <Tempest> "What now?"
  522. 06[18:33] * Heaven steps in and levels her Vajra at the golden boy
  523. [18:34] <@Clarence|ST> Lion: "Even through the wyld zones."
  524. 06[18:34] * Gandr does a little hand motion that conveys something like, "it's okay. I'm just a little weirded out by this boy here, who's been chasing me around all morning, you see, dragging that sushi-cart behind him and yelling sales slogans at me, like "running the wrong way" or "golden sushi delights". You know how it is."
  525. [18:34] <Heaven> "Woah woah, you've been with us all this time, as in following us the past week?"
  526. [18:34] <@Clarence|ST> Bear: "He really doesn't know when to quit."
  527. 06[18:34] * Soul grabs Heaven's Vajra with his hand. "ANYONE WHO KILLS AN APPRENTICE ANSWERS TO ME."
  528. [18:34] <@Clarence|ST> Dragon: "Of course he was. Maybe you were too busy choking us with paperwork to notice."
  529. [18:34] <Soul> "Wai-WYLD ZONES?!?!?!"
  530. [18:34] <Heaven> "I'm not going to kill him, ju-- oh fuck that's bad."
  531. 06[18:34] * Soul turns and glares at Heaven
  532. [18:34] <Heaven> "Uh, ignore him."
  533. 06[18:34] * Soul doesn't
  534. 06[18:34] * Heaven drags the golden boy outside for a moment.
  535. 06[18:35] * Soul undrags
  536. 06[18:35] * Soul projects an aura of NO
  537. [18:35] <Soul> "All right, everyone stop touching the golden sushi boy. That's an ORDER."
  538. [18:35] <@Clarence|ST> The Golden Boy is torn between two solars! This is not good.
  539. 06[18:35] * Soul flares his anima to make his point
  540. 06[18:35] * Heaven glares at Lion ".. you realise we sealed on oath on that matter, right?"
  541. [18:36] <@Clarence|ST> Lion: "I havn't said anything."
  542. [18:36] <Soul> "If you made them swear an oath to withold information from me you are in DEEP trouble."
  543. [18:36] <Heaven> "It wasn't from you.. particularly."
  544. 06[18:36] * Soul glares harder. "You I will deal with...LATER. FOr now..."
  545. 06[18:36] * Soul turns back to the golden boy...and holds out his hand.
  546. [18:37] <Soul> "Welcome aboard."
  547. [18:37] <@Clarence|ST> Golden Boy: "No no, wait, I can pro-- Wait, what?"
  548. [18:37] <@Clarence|ST> Golden Boy: "Are you serious?"
  549. 01[18:37] <Kris> "Whatever, I don't care anymore. Just siddown, shut up, and do something useful."
  550. [18:38] <Soul> "You're an aspiring merchant. I remember even as a kid how hard you pedaled with your father, even though you were a lot younger than me. And you clearluy put your heart and soul into this, coming this far. Maybe some of them," He jerks his thumb to EVERYONE else in the room, "could learn a thing or two from you."
  551. 02[18:38] * Tempest (LatroPrime@20842D70.3BF2DF4C.E7A59EDD.IP) Quit (Ping timeout)
  552. 06[18:39] * Soul still has his hand out btw
  553. [18:40] <@Clarence|ST> The Golden Boy has tears in his eyes, and takes Soul's hand. "Thank you, thank you!"
  554. 06[18:41] * Heaven places her hand over the two and her anima flares
  555. 06[18:41] * Soul almost gets his hand yanked off by the overenthusiastic-wait a minute..."Umm...what IS your name?"
  556. [18:42] <Heaven> "Oath sealed.. for better or worse.."
  557. 06[18:42] * Heaven stratches her head and walks away thinking of how best to explain the detour without breaking the oath she sealed
  558. [18:43] <@Clarence|ST> "Many Slashes Squid."
  559. [18:43] <@Clarence|ST> He seems to think this name is THE BOMB.
  560. [18:43] <Soul> "...ok. Well, uhh...do you want us to call you Slash or Squid?"
  561. 06[18:43] * Kris flops....
  562. 06[18:45] * Heaven stares at the dancer and the moeblob.. continues scratching her head.
  563. [18:45] <@Clarence|ST> Squid strokes his chin... "Slash. No, Squid! No, Slash. . ."
  564. [18:45] <Soul> "...vote. Show of hands, who prefers Slash? Squid?"
  565. 06[18:45] * Soul turns to the others as he requisitions the vote
  566. 06[18:46] * Kris is too annoyed to care
  567. 06[18:46] * Heaven doesn't care either
  568. 06[18:47] * Soul looks at his apprentices, they BETTER care
  569. 06[18:47] * Gandr raises his hand in the international sign for Squid.
  570. [18:47] <@Clarence|ST> Red, Blue, and Yellow raise for Squid. Green and Pink for Slash.
  571. [18:47] <Soul> "...Squid it is then. Welcome aboard, Squid. Sit down next to her," He points to Kris, "and pay attention. I have a lot to cover."
  572. 06[18:48] * Soul smiles to Kris
  573. [18:48] <@Clarence|ST> Squid: "Allright!" He sits down next to Kris. Unsurprisingly, he smells like fish.
  574. 06[18:48] * Kris wrinkles her nose and nods to Soul
  575. 03[18:48] * Tempest (LatroPrime@20842D70.3BF2DF4C.E7A59EDD.IP) has joined #clarencexaltedic
  576. [18:49] <Soul> "All right. For those of you whose memory is foggy, I left because the Guild requested my assistance on a matter involving a plague."
  577. 06[18:49] * Soul paces back and forth as he talks and talks
  578. 06[18:49] * Heaven raises her hand "Uh, Soul?"
  579. [18:50] <Soul> "...yes."
  580. 06[18:50] * Soul is interrupted. AGAIN.
  581. 06[18:50] * Soul is most visibly displeased.
  582. [18:50] <Heaven> ".. uhm, who are these three?" *points to Kris, Gandr, and Lemy
  583. [18:51] <Soul> "I WAS GETTING TO THAT."
  584. [18:51] <Heaven> "I see, would it not be more efficient to make introductions first, rather than having to interrupt yourself in order to do so later?"
  585. 06[18:51] * Heaven sighs "No matter, continue."
  586. [18:51] <Soul> "AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, a Guild representative-who is currently out drinking, unfortunately, we have to punish him when he returns-placed me and a group of other 'Solars' with the responsibility of dealing with this plague."
  587. [18:52] <Soul> "We also met up with another 'Exalted', he's not a solar but that's not really important right now, what is important is he's an apothecary like me and you'd be wise to learn a lot from him as you work with him on this problem."
  588. [18:52] <@Clarence|ST> Shi's eyes move around UNSUSPICIOUSLY.
  589. [18:53] <Soul> "Unfortunately we learned-another long story-that this plague is the work of forces of the underworld, and the Mask of Winters in particular. We're still working out how to deal with that issue."
  590. 06[18:53] * Gandr rolls his eyes at that.
  591. [18:53] <Soul> "And we're stuck in Chaya because the Guild Tribunal here was concerned about a local death cult being a precursor to an invasion by said deathlord."
  592. 06[18:53] * Gandr keeps silent otherwise, though.
  593. [18:54] <Soul> "And we're not much closer to finding a cure for the disease, I'm afraid. What work we've done has been inconclusive. Tell me, you five...the Broc flower, Uisi root, and Opal Wreaths...do those mean anything to you? Rose, in particular?"
  594. [18:57] <@Clarence|ST> Rose: "Well, the Broc flower is indeed useful for curing many things. But, it grows like wildflowers so there's no problem there. Uisi root is somewhere further down South, last time I recalled, and is frequently harvested by a sort of tribe. They're easily bargained with, so no worries there."
  595. [18:57] <@Clarence|ST> "The only thing I know about Opal Wreaths is that they are in the west. Somewhere."
  596. [18:58] <@Clarence|ST> "...And they're all used in funerary practises. Why do you ask, Soul?"
  597. [18:58] <Soul> "Correct on all counts, except for availability. Apparently all have fallen on hard times. The Broc Flower, we have a sample of, which may be the last remaining sample, we're hoping to grow more from it. I was hoping that the Guild was able to find more, as per my letter explaining their significance. Did they send any with you?"
  598. 06[18:59] * Soul seems almost hopeful...
  599. [19:00] <@Clarence|ST> They all look to eachother, and shake their heads.
  600. 06[19:01] * Soul sighs and slumps his shoulders. "Getting that damn flower was a nightmare, literally."
  601. 06[19:01] * Soul turns to Heaven
  602. [19:02] <Heaven> "Yes?"
  603. [19:02] <Soul> "Well, you wanted to know why we don't have a cure yet? We've been busy with DEATH itself. A Deathknight attempted to stop us from harvesting that last Broc Flower, and we suspect that more may be awaiting us if we attempt to traverse whatever Shadowlands may house the remaining two ingredients. And that's assuming they'll even help, which is by no means certain."
  604. 06[19:04] * Heaven pretends to be shocked "Most Terrifying, the occasional report on such matters would have prevented me from having to come all this distance, you know."
  605. [19:04] <Soul> "Well, that WAs the purpose of the rider I attached to the letter that summoned you here. It was all in there."
  606. [19:05] <Heaven> "However, there is little issue, if it is just normal reagents we need, I can likely convince some of the local merchants to pick some up on their trade routes.. the deathlords can't have a shadowland set up EVERYWHERE it grows."
  607. [19:06] <Soul> "THey may very well have."
  608. [19:07] <Heaven> "Then we'll just have to find someone who has aremaining stock of it, i'm sure the leaders of this town wouldn't let their doctors stocks remain empty."
  609. [19:07] <Soul> "We've checked, I'm afraid."
  610. [19:08] <Heaven> "This town is fairly xenophobic, is it not? Any proof they weren't lying?"
  611. [19:08] <Soul> "Not really, but the merchants who supply them were all open with us."
  612. [19:10] <Heaven> "WERE open or ACTED open -- just because you pretend to show your stocks to someone doesn't mean you are ACTUALLY doing so, feigning to trust a customer you don't want to sell to is the easiest way to prevent them from becoming angry and coming back in force."
  613. [19:10] <Soul> "They're not locals, though. They're all Guild-friendly or actually in the Guild. We've made some headway in that department..."
  614. [19:10] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "I've looked. The only plants that the Chayans use for funerary practises are the Fire Trees."
  615. [19:11] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "Rather, the fire fruit."
  616. 06[19:12] * Heaven shrugs
  617. [19:12] <Gandr> "No wonder they have an undead problem."
  618. [19:13] <Heaven> "Regardless, I would like to have a chat with some of the local merchants.. you'd be suprised what you can learn with a little skill."
  619. [19:13] <Soul> "Well, not so much here in Chaya, they-"
  620. 06[19:13] * Soul suddenly slaps his forehead. HARD.
  621. [19:13] <Gandr> "Sorry. Bad joke.
  622. [19:13] <Gandr> "
  623. [19:13] <Soul> "DRAGONS BE DAMNED TO MALFEAS"
  624. 06[19:14] * Soul says that loud enough for the Empress to hear, wherever she is
  625. [19:14] <Gandr> "Come on, it wasn't that bad."
  626. 06[19:14] * Soul turns to Kris. "HOW did we miss that?!"
  627. 06[19:14] * Soul turns to LEMY. "HOW?!?!?!"
  628. 06[19:14] * Kris shrinks in on herself. "What did we miss?"
  629. [19:14] <Soul> "The fucking Fire Fruit."
  630. 06[19:15] * Kris nods. "Ok, What did we miss?"
  631. [19:15] <Tempest> "What in Sol's name is going on here?"
  632. [19:15] <Tempest> "What about the Fire Fruit?"
  633. 06[19:15] * Kris looks at Soul. "The chayans eat it, thats all i know."
  634. [19:15] <Soul> "We never thought about it. The locals use it for funerary rights, the trees have some sort of special property..."
  635. [19:16] <Gandr> "But people die all the time."
  636. [19:16] <Gandr> "They're BURIED all the time."
  637. [19:16] <Gandr> "I don't see the connection."
  638. [19:16] <Soul> "Gandr. The other ingredients were used for funeral rites."
  639. [19:16] <Gandr> "What, all of them ?"
  640. [19:16] <Soul> "The ones that have been disappearing. The ones that might be of use in any potential cure."
  641. 06[19:16] * Gandr whistles lowly.
  642. [19:16] <Gandr> "Cunning."
  643. [19:16] <Soul> "The FIre Fruit might contain something that'll help us. And it might ALSO be what the cultists were trying to deal with."
  644. [19:17] <@Clarence|ST> Shi SERIOUS'S THE FUCK UP
  645. [19:17] <Soul> "They werern't trying to CONVERT the populace, we knew that. But they WERE trying to destroy the trees. Maybe."
  646. [19:17] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy looks pensive, and puts his hand on his chin.
  647. [19:17] <Soul> "And even if I'm wrong on that, we have to consider the fruit as an ingredient in our experiments."
  648. 06[19:18] * Soul looks like he's realised that he's the biggest idiot ever
  649. 01[19:19] <Kris> "The fire trees are also connected to the Chayan's emotional swings too."
  650. [19:19] <Soul> "Eh, those are irrelevant right now."
  651. 06[19:19] * Kris shrugs.
  652. [19:20] <Gandr> "Maybe, and maybe not."
  653. 01[19:20] <Kris> "If you find anything that might be relevant to Shi's or my own goals, do tell us."
  654. [19:20] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "We're going to need to grab ahold of a few of them."
  655. 01[19:20] <Kris> "I can't go near any fire trees though."
  656. [19:20] <Gandr> "This is just an aside, Soul - the Chayans are dull and flat, except for when the fruit's in them. What'll happen if the fruit is removed ?"
  657. [19:20] <Soul> "Yes...that's the hard part. How do we..."
  658. [19:20] <Gandr> "What'll happen if someone takes CONTROL of the fruit ?"
  659. [19:20] <Gandr> "Like, say, the Mask ?"
  660. [19:21] <Soul> "Can't say without studying some. Which is where YOU come in."
  661. 06[19:21] * Soul points to Tempest
  662. [19:21] <Tempest> "Hmm?"
  663. [19:21] <Soul> "You were telling us how stealthy you were? Time to prove it."
  664. [19:21] <Tempest> "Right then"
  665. [19:23] <Soul> "Well...that's all I have to say, I guess. We'll have more to discuss if we get some fruit to examine."
  666. [19:23] <Tempest> "What do you need me to do then, Soul?"
  667. [19:24] <Soul> "Steal some of the damn fruit. Won't be easy I Imagine. Actually I imagine it'll be quite difficult."
  668. [19:24] <@Clarence|ST> Lemy: "Depends where you're going to steal the fruit from."
  669. [19:24] <Tempest> "This won't be too dangerous will it?"
  670. 01[19:24] <Kris> "You have to be careful, the Chayan Gods like their trees."
  671. [19:25] <Tempest> "Any merchants I can get some from?"
  672. [19:26] <Tempest> "I suppose not then"
  673. 06[19:26] * Heaven buts in
  674. [19:26] <Gandr> "Too dangerous ?"
  675. [19:26] <Heaven> "uh,.. if it's just fruit.. can't we just.. buy some?"
  676. [19:26] <Gandr> "Tempest ... are you SURE you're Exalted ?"
  677. 06[19:26] * Soul facepalms
  678. 06[19:26] * Gandr smiles at Tempest.
  679. 01[19:26] <Kris> "The chayans worship their fruit, Heaven, they don't sell it to outsiders. As in, Us."
  680. 06[19:26] * Tempest smirks at Gandr
  681. 01[19:27] <Kris> "Oh sure we can ask, but there's no guarantee we'll get it."
  682. [19:27] <Heaven> "They don't -normally-"
  683. 06[19:27] * Kris nods.
  684. [19:27] <Heaven> "Everything has a price.. I specialize in obtaining things that aren't normally available.
  685. [19:27] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "You think alot like Soul."
  686. 06[19:27] * Kris stands up. "Ok, here's the plan. Everybody be quite while I explain it so everybody knows what's going on. Sorry to intterupt you Soul."
  687. [19:27] <Gandr> "So we do both things. You try buying it, Tempest goes at it the underchained way."
  688. 06[19:27] * Kris blinks
  689. 01[19:27] <Kris> "Gandr, that's exactly what I was going to say."
  690. [19:27] <Gandr> "I meant Heaven."
  691. [19:28] <Gandr> "Well thank you."
  692. [19:28] <Gandr> "Is there anything else ? I haven't had breakfast yet. really hungry."
  693. 01[19:28] <Kris> "Is there anything that we need done along social channels? If not I'll... I don't know."
  694. [19:28] <Gandr> "Ah !"
  695. [19:29] <Gandr> "Kris, if you can, try just ... talking to people.
  696. [19:29] <Soul> "Heaven, I'm afraid you'll find the concept of 'price' is one the Chayans are not terribly tied to. They won't sell to us.""
  697. [19:29] <Gandr> "The ordinary people on the street. Ask them how their fruits are."
  698. 06[19:29] * Soul shakes his head. "A most difficult people..."
  699. [19:29] <Gandr> "Get a feel for what's going on with the fruit religion-business."
  700. [19:29] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "Indeed. It's one of the side-effects of such a culture. They work together like... like ants, almost."
  701. 01[19:29] <Kris> "That's more an investigative thing, that's more Soul's perview."
  702. [19:29] <Gandr> "Not if you're just talking to people."
  703. 01[19:30] <Kris> "True."
  704. [19:30] <Heaven> "Soul.. you hold mortals in too high of a regard, anything can be bought, you just have to know where to look."
  705. [19:30] <Gandr> "And ... I don't think Soul is very well suited to talking to the average Kejak on the street."
  706. [19:30] <Gandr> "No harm, Soul."
  707. [19:30] <Soul> "I'm wounded, Gandr. But...perhaps you have a point. It's easier to deal with commoners when they're SICK, and HAVE to deal with you."
  708. [19:31] <Gandr> "Exactly."
  709. [19:31] <Tempest> "Does anyone know where the fruits grow?"
  710. [19:32] <Heaven> "Just guessing, buy Chaya, fire trees, fire fruit."
  711. [19:33] <Gandr> "Eh."
  712. 06[19:34] * Soul flips through his notes. "The trees bloom their fruit year long...although...hmm...they only explode their flowers during the season of Resplendant Fire. And my notes mention the pollen as being important..."
  713. [19:35] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "Tempest, you can't miss the trees."
  714. [19:35] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "They're everywhere."
  715. [19:36] <Gandr> "It's pfhor your eyes only."
  716. [19:38] <Soul> "Well, you can discuss the acquisition matters. Apprentices, Lemy! Come with me!"
  717. 06[19:39] * Soul beckons with his hand to have them follow him up the stairs
  718. [19:39] <@Clarence|ST> They all stand, and follow him up the stairs
  719. 06[19:39] * Heaven scratches her head
  720. [19:39] <Heaven> "So uh, he never did introduce us."
  721. 06[19:39] * Kris pulls her face off
  722. [19:40] <@Clarence|ST> Shi: "What the hell, Kris!?"
  723. [19:40] <Gandr> "Gah !"
  724. [19:40] <Gandr> "Put your face back on !"
  725. 06[19:40] * Heaven Cocks her head "That's.. an interesting ability."
  726. 01[19:40] <Kris> The face in her hand wobbles into an ivory mask. Her original face is on beneath it.
  727. 06[19:40] * Soul shows them the 'lab' setup he has upstairs, as well as the sleeping quarters in the upstairs, including the giant bed which Shi has so GRACIOUSLY offered to share with his apprentices.
  728. 01[19:40] <Kris> "Sorry guys, Just messing around with this thing Altair gave me, helps with disguises."
  729. [19:40] <Gandr> "Seems handy, but unlike you."
  730. [19:41] <Heaven> "I know the feeling.. I was the same way when I got these clothes."
  731. 01[19:41] <Kris> "I needed a way to stay hidden, because I'm AN ENEMY OF THE FREAKING STATE."
  732. [19:41] <Tempest> "Yes, you don't seem like one to skulk Kris"
  733. 06[19:41] * Kris nods. "I'd rather not, to be honest, but the usefulness of being sneaky cannot be denied."
  734. [19:41] <Gandr> "Very true. You're probably some sort of imposter."
  735. 06[19:42] * Gandr seems deadly serious, but in a very distanced way - as though talking about the weather.
  736. 01[19:42] <Kris> "Just for future information, when I'm wearing this fake-face, and we're not inside or among friends, call me Iron Silk Sky, or Sky, for short."
  737. [19:42] <Heaven> "I don't believe I got your actual name either.. uh, sky, was it?"
  738. [19:42] <Gandr> "Alright."
  739. 01[19:42] <Kris> "My real name is Kris Holdmorn, Heaven."
  740. 06[19:43] * Gandr 's belly rumbles.
  741. 01[19:43] <Kris> "Descended from some random northeastern culture, So their names are kinda weird in comparison."
  742. [19:43] <Gandr> "Well. Starving. You know how it is."
  743. [19:43] <Tempest> "Maybe it would've been wise to purchase some sushi, Gandr"
  744. 06[19:43] * Heaven "Kris, right, got it.. the mo-- big guy is Gandr.. and.." looks at Tempest and Shi "The shady one and the entirely plain looking one are?"
  745. 06[19:43] * Gandr goes to the kitchen to get some breakfast because damn.
  746. [19:44] <Gandr> "I heard that."
  747. 06[19:44] * Gandr from the kitchen ...
  748. [19:44] <Heaven> "What, you ARE a big guy, you can't deny you size"
  749. 01[19:44] <Kris> "The Shady one is Tempest, a night caste, Shi is a Chosen of Saturn, some other kind of Exalted, He never told us himself."
  750. 06[19:44] * Heaven mutters "monster.'
  751. 06[19:45] * Kris puts on a mischevious grin. "You're paying a lot of attention to his size, Heaven."
  752. [19:45] <Heaven> "Tempest.. and.. Shi, got it."
  753. [19:45] <Gandr> "I heard that too, Kris."
  754. 06[19:45] * Heaven gives her a blank stare ".. of course.. have you ever seen anyone that HUGE? I tried to slay him the first time I saw him."
  755. 06[19:46] * Gandr The sounds of things being eaten flow from the kitchen steadily.
  756. 01[19:46] <Kris> "Couple of my brothers are as big as Gandr, it's not that suprising."
  757. [19:46] <Gandr> "Wha-..."
  758. 06[19:46] * Soul has to remember to get Loving Keep to make plenty of Sandviches for Gandr
  759. 06[19:48] * Heaven "Anyhow." straightens up and bows a bit "My name is Fluttering Heaven, a.. specialist in obtaining hard to obtain objects, and overseeing projects wherein success or failure are critical.. Not always for the guild.. but somehow I think letting the doctor there think i'm al oyalist would help -- It looks like I'll be sticking around.. seeing as i'm being paid to help him finish his job."
  760. [19:49] <Gandr> "So you're ... a ..."
  761. [19:49] <Gandr> "A what ?"
  762. [19:49] <Heaven> "Eclipse caste, if not obvious by my little oath sealing earlier.. pleasure to meet you all and what not."
  763. [19:49] <Gandr> "Is there a word for what you do ?"
  764. [19:49] <Gandr> "Oh, I knew that."
  765. 06[19:49] * Gandr didn't know that.
  766. 06[19:50] * Soul does what he can in the interim to get his apprentices situated into their various roles.
  767. 06[19:55] * Soul sends Loving Keep and Squid downstairs to help in the kitchen
  768. 06[19:56] * Gandr The kitchen is full of Gandr.
  769. [19:57] <@Clarence|ST> Keep & Squid arn't worried, they delicately balance between Gandr
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