To Cure a Cabbit (Closed PS RP)

[pd Rydia]

"Aherm...Jeridan..."

Shaking her head, Dia followed after the mazoku. She didn't really have any goal in mind for her wandering, so much that she wanted to not be on the ship.

[FlamingDeth]

There. Valentia thought to herself. The enlongated building.

The building not only appeared somewhat different from the rest, but it had what looked to be stalls around it. While such a strange system of government may not allow shops, it seemed that if there were any, they would be there, and if there was anyone who knew of previous visitors, that seemed a likely place to begin looking.

She departed the ship, and began towards her destination, on her own. She almost hoped that none of the crew decided to go with her. While safety in numbers was always good, she also didn't want to raise too many questions...

[Uncle Pervy]

The Speaker looks over works of art with a curious expression. "We do not have such things." he says, "These are very evocative, Shamaya would not approve." Kelne may well note the seldom-invoked name of the Goddess of Order.

Then he comes to a landscape, showing a rather lovely forest. From what Kelne can recall, it was meant to be a fairly cheap decoration piece for a middle to upper class home. "What is this place?" he asks, "It is very...odd." Kelne could swear he almost heard some emotion in the man's voice.

****

Ushyu, Dia, and Jeridan; technically a trio, wander out into the town. Jeridian instinctively edges away from the crowd, which is slowly dispersing. Dia and Jerida may note, if they care to look, that the people seem to be uniformly human at a glance. But a more detailed look reveals that some of them bear a feature or two from other races. Some seem to have pointed eithers, others bear whiskers or light stripes upon their skin, one or two seem to almost have orc-like tusks. Many watch them with curiosity.

Most of the buildings are quite uniform and uninteresting; Dia ponders how many are homes, and how many serve other purposes. Two draw their attention, the same that drew Valentia's attention earlier. One which seems to be two stories, and one which is elongated, and seems to have a few cloth and wood stands along its side.

It is also rather hot, seeking shade may be nice.

****

Valentia makes her way toward the building, vaguely evading the Captain's orders to stay in groups.

She finds the streets are mostly empty right now, most people are at the harbor now, it seems. They are not unlike most dirt roads she has seen in her time. The buildings, on closer inspection, are about as uniform and boring as she suspected.

Drawing close to the elongated building, which does not take long, Valentia sees that the stalls are manned, though the people in them in seem to be looking toward the pier. It's hard to tell what the stalls without getting closer.

Edited by: Uncle Pervy  at: 4/27/05 16:26

[pd Rydia]

"Hey Jeridan," Dia tapped on her companion's shoulder to better grab his attention. "See those two buildings, there? There's something which looks like kiosks or stalls along one side. The sun's making things rather warm, maybe we should wander that way and see if there isn't shade over there?" Fluffy, still firmly attached to the dragonhalf's shoulder, looked for the nearest stranger, hoping to be able to get a good sniff or two, and maybe earn some Cute Points.

[Uncle Pervy]

Fluffy gets a general smell of the place. It smells a lot like dirt and sand, while the people smell like dusty people. There's a curious hint of metal here and there, like being near a smithy.

[JasonAB17]

Jeridan blinks, and turns slowly to look at Dia. His face is sort of blank, as though he were translating what she'd said... Maybe the heat's baking his brains? All the more reason to check out the possibility of shade. A minute later he flinches, and nods his head.

"Yeah, that sounds good. ... Sorry, I still feel a little out of it today."

Offering a wan smile, he then changes direction, towards the area suggested by Dia. In the mean time, he wonders idly about the features he's seen on these people.

It's almost like... Maybe they came from Igala, and breeding has just faded their features over time? ... Still doesn't explain the weird attitude though.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=jasonab17>JasonAB17</A]&nbsp; at: 4/27/05 17:27

[Kelne]

Kelne filed away the piece of information. No doubt, in the interests of 'balance', the desert-dwellers worshipped Nakibe. It was, in his experience, the way the world worked.

"Doma Forest, I believe," Kelne said, running a brief eye over the painting to check there was nothing to contradict his assumption in it. Not that the spokesman would be able to tell the difference one way or another.

Opposed to evocative imagery the man might be, but he suspected that there were a number of items down here that would catch his interest, given time.

[Shinigori V2]

Paige lingered behind a bit to make sure that the engines had properly been shut down and secured, then made her way to leave the ship. Upon stepping off the ship, she looked around for anyone who was still around- That is, anyone she didn't think would mind her being around to look around town with.

[Uncle Pervy]

Paige notes that Jak is still around, and may have seen Kelne on his way to the hold earlier.

****

"This looks like no forest I have seen," the speaker says. "It is very verdant. This is not embellished?"

Kelne can tell it isn't done so overly much.

"What else do you have?"

****

Dia and Jeridan make their way toward the elongated building, somewhat lingering behind Valentia, who is moving a bit more spryly. Their course takes them past an alley, where both notice another metal golem, which seems to be standing there doing nothing at all.

[Shinigori V2]

Paige looked over to Jak, and smiled in her best "You don't scare me, you just kind of set me at ill-ease" smile. "Uh..Are you waiting for someone to go with? Because I'm going to take a look around..."

[Kelne]

"Not much, no," Kelne said in response to the question, "As for what else we have, there are more landscape paintings in storage, different styles of clothing, a few examples of pottery and blown glass, along with some precious gems, and walking sticks, funnily enough." He considered, "That's pretty much it, although there are many different styles of what you've already seen."

Right now, Kelne was trying to figure out what might appeal to worshipers of Shamaya. They seemed desperately in need of imaginative architecture, but he doubted that would go down well.

Perhaps, more than anything else, they should be dealing in concepts. There were bound to be things these people hadn't come up with on their own, isolated from the outside as they apparently were. Certainly he'd quite happily steal any new ideas he came across during his time here.

He'd have to talk it over with the others at some point, see if there were any areas of expertise they might be able to contribute.

[Uncle Pervy]

"More records, like this one," says the speaker, as he gently runs a hand over the landscape. "We have pots. Glass is made as needed. We have clothing and sticks. Gems may have a use."

[Jak Snide]

Jak, who'd been soaking up the view a little more, snapped out of it as Paige spoke. He'd originally intended to head off with Dia and Jeridan, but it seemed that boat had sailed due to his inattention. Now he was left with the machine lady.

"Hm? Oh, yes. The captain said to stick together, didn't he?"

He began to move into town, telling himself it was probably a good idea that he was stuck with the woman. The first words she'd spoken in this land had proved that her head was more addled than the most reclusive mage.

"So, any idea where you want to go?" he asked, scanning the town himself for anything vaguely interesting.

[pd Rydia]

"I wonder what that's there for?" Dia stopped at the alley, looking down at the golem which stood idly by. "Maybe there's someone we can ask...?" Curious, she began to look for just that; Dia had learned from past work better than to mess with potentially dangerous or important things in strange settings.

[Shinigori V2]

"Well," The engineer replied, "I'd like to take a look at that thing that was cleaning the streets earlier. It looked like it was made out of metal, and I have a bit of interest in metal working, so I'd like to see..."

She trailed off a bit before quieting and clearing her throat. "So, what about you?"

[JasonAB17]

Jeridan stopped when she spoke, and took a closer look at the silent golem.

"... Huh. Fairly common then?"

He looked about breifly for an operator, just as Dia was.

"It doesn't seem to be... awake or whatever. Maybe they leave them out til there's work to do?"

[Jak Snide]

"What you saw was a golem. Quite a work of enchantment, that is. They don't seem to have a powerful enough spell to animate the entire thing, so they've placed numerous smaller ones on it."

He took particular pleasure in telling Paige this. Not because he was impressed with the golem, which he was, but because of the hope that he'd crushed her hopes that such a thing could constructed without magic.

[Uncle Pervy]

Dia and Jeridan spot what seems to be a random person returning to her home from the harbor. It's really hard to tell who or what she is or does, as she is dressed exactly like everyone else Dia has seen.

Edited by: Uncle Pervy&nbsp; at: 4/28/05 20:08

[Kelne]

Thankfully, the majority of paintings they'd brought along were landscapes of one sort or another. Kelne had figured that there wouldn't be any interest in portraits of people who the buyers had never, and likely would never, hear of.

After checking the label on one of the crates, he opened the front of it up, revealing the frames of several paintings. As an example, he drew out one of the paintings, revealing a mountain range and its foothills. Possibly the Shumans, but it could be difficult to tell.

[Uncle Pervy]

The Speaker continues to look at the various pictures with interest. Finally, he says, "These recordings, what do you want for them?"

Kelne knows they really aren't that expensive, those landscapes. The whole bunch is worth maybe five hundred gil. This is in Doma, of course...

[Shinigori V2]

"Oh, I know. I just thought it looked kinda interesting." Paige said, flushing a bit. Even she wasn't foolish enough to think that something like that could be made without magic.

[Kelne]

Here, Kelne suspected he could get considerably more than five hundred gil worth for the paintings. It would be such a simple matter to take a quick peek into the man's mind, and see just how much he could milk him for. But that would be an abuse of his skills. People might be surprised to learn that Kelne played by rules. Certainly he made it a point never to reveal just what those rules were.

He made a show of considering the matter. "The necessities, to begin with. Accurate maps of the region, provisions to last the crew a month, and enough coal to fill a good part of the hold. I believe I could part with half of our stock of paintings for that. Beyond that, I'd need a clearer idea of what you have to offer. Additionally, any suggestions as to where I might sell the rest of this," a sweep of his hand encompassed the other goods on display, "Would be greatly appreciated."

[Jak Snide]

Jak tried to not feel disappointed that he'd lost his imagined victory, consoling himself that he could put the tech-freak down later as he moved off.

"Well, let's take a closer look, then."

[pd Rydia]

Dia made moves to hail the random townswoman. "Excuse me, miss," she called in her best Polite and Content Innkeeper tone. "But if it isn't much bother, may we trouble you with a question?"

[Uncle Pervy]

The townswoman looks at Dia, a bit of confusion on her face. She quickly stifles it. "Your words are very odd. I can try to help you."

****

Jak draws near the golem, which seems to be content to ignore him. He can see it is not very much like the constructs he is familiar with. It looks much less like a human figure than most, more like an abstraction. Rather than a proper head, it has sort of a dome, which seems capable of swiveling. It's joints are clearly hinged, likely a result of lacking magic to make metal move like flesh. It's fingers, in particular, are articulated most intricately. Jak notes it only has two thick digits and a thumb. Even if this thing is magical, there is clearly an entirely different sort of craftmanship to it.

****

"Coal," says the speaker. "This will take time. Little is used or needed. We will have to gather it. It will need to be approved. This is a possibly. Food is difficult to spare, it will take time as well. A map can be provided."

He shakes his head once. "We will provide this in exchange for all the records, if it can be authorized. We will also want to study this machine and anderstand it."

[pd Rydia]

"I apologize, for the way of talk," the dragonhalf replied with slightly embarrassed sincerity. Being Rivan, she was reminded of her early encounters with the southern Common dialects of Igala. She reached up to scratch Fluffy's neck half to hide a nervous gesture, and half to keep the lapdragon from falling off in his overt interest in the townswoman. "My friend and I were curious as to what the purpose of this golem is, that is stationary at the end of the alley?"

[Uncle Pervy]

The woman looks to the golem, then says, "It is thinking. PR-7's edict is to leave it. It has been there for three years now."

[Kelne]

"If I must, then I must," Kelne said philosophically, "But I am afraid that the secret of airship construction is considerably more valuable than our entire cargo combined. I have not been authorised to give that up. You will have to be content with the paintings. And I, it seems, will not turn a profit on this trip."

He suspected that a reference to some higher authority which he could not cross would shut down that idea pretty quickly in this society. He was by now certain that this was not Savatra. Not only was there the language to consider, but the society simply didn't match the one Pervy had described.

He still had one card up his sleeve. Somewhere amongst the cargo were the technical and architectural plans Dia had suggested bringing along so long ago. He intended to take care of the necessities without falling back on them if he possibly could. After all, there was no telling what else they might find themselves in need of.

[FlamingDeth]

Valentia made for the closest stall, not actually sneaking, but also not making any real efforts to draw attention to herself. While she did need to get some sort of information, it would still be interesting indeed to see how such a structured society handled something as chaotic as business, and either way, she wanted to know what was in the stalls before doing anything.

[pd Rydia]

"Ah, thinking. Thank you very much for letting us know, we will be sure to leave it alone as well. May I ask, who is PR-7?"

[Uncle Pervy]

"You ask for much, but return little of value," says the speaker to Kelne. "Coal and food are things that take time to obtain. Unique visual records are not satisfactory returns, little comes from them. We could do much with knowledge of this vessel. That is our price."

****

Valentia approaches one of the stalls. The merchant there, a short-haired woman presumably in her mid forties, looks at her.She tries to keep an impassive face, but Valentia very much knows the look of who doesn't approve of what they're seeing. God knows she saw that enough back home.

The wares seem simple enough. Some fruits, some preserved meat, some rice in small bags...

****

Dia is given a blank look. Then the woman says, "PR-7 intreprets the will of Shamaya for Settlement Seven."

Jeridan and/or Dia may or may not be familiar with the seldom-invoked name of the Goddess of Order.

[Kelne]

"Yes," Kelne said, "You could. And that is precisely the reason it is not for sale. Not to you, nor the Belu, nor anybody else who might ask for it." His voice had lost its friendly tone, revealing the steel beneath.

"Now," he said, reverting to a more reasonable tone, "If knowledge is what you seek, there is one further possibility. We do have several volumes of architecture, engineering, and other sciences aboard. Without a better picture of your society, I cannot say how much this is worth to you."

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=kelne>Kelne</A]&nbsp; at: 4/30/05 0:56

[Uncle Pervy]

"Then you will have no food, coal, or map." says the Speaker. Unlike Kelne, there is nothing like steel in his voice. His tone is simply impersonally sure. "It is curious that one demand something precious and expect to give nothing precious in return."

With that, he turns and begins to leave the hold.

[Kelne]

Kelne shrugged, "You have a point. Unfortunately, my options are rather limited, since the one thing that you hold to be of value I cannot give you." He fell in beside the spokesman as he made his way out, "Would you consider a trade for the maps alone, or a reduced quantity of supplies?"

[Shinigori V2]

Paige went quiet as she looked over the golem. Inwardly, she tried to take in all the details, marveling at how well it was put together- Yes, this was definitely her type of golem. Perhaps she could find someone back home to cooperate with her on something like this...If she could figure out how to replicate it. "You can make something like this entirely out of magic, Mr. Jak?" She let herself say, quietly. It wasn't like her to be snarky, but she wasn't truely meaning to be, either.

[Uncle Pervy]

The speaker pauses, and considers. "I will allow a map for one of your records. I will allow a day's food for your people for another. Coal is difficult to obtain in any quantity. If time is considered, I will allow for it as well."

[Jak Snide]

Suppressing the urge to curse openly, Jak continued to observe the golem. The thing now made him feel sick to his stomach; the thing embodied a fear of his, and one he'd never admit. Here was a land where magic was deficient, and the people had risen above the problem by these vile, technological means. It made magic look partially redundant, and he didn't like that one bit. At least it was powered by magic, he told himself.

"I can't. As for those who've mastered enchantment magics, yes. A single, shaped piece of metal which can bend and move without having to fall back onto the methods used in the creation of this."

[JasonAB17]

Jeridan, sadly, is not familiar with the goddess. Truly, he's not much informed about the majority of the pantheon. So, he simply blinks, and keeps quiet. It struck him odd that a Golem would be thinking, but the woman seemed rattled enough without him piping up.

So he continued doing what he had been. Holding Ushyu, and occasionally petting or scratching behind her ears.

[FlamingDeth]

Valentia sighed. It was somewhat sad to see that even the common laborers were not permitted to show emotion. Or maybe they were, just not to outsiders. She really didn't care to stay long enough to find that out. She cared plenty, however, to try to squeeze some information out of them.

"Why, hello there!" she said, walking up and putting on the most expressionless face she could muster. Like they say, when in Rome, blah blah blah. She gestured to a package of preserved meat. "How much does this cost?"

[Kelne]

Kelne nodded, "I'll have to see the maps before I decide which ones we'll want," he said, "But I believe it will be at least two. We'll stick with five days' worth of supplies to begin with. As for coal, it depends on how quickly it can be gathered. I expect we'll want to be on our way as soon as we have a destination in mind. Likely in the next two days."