RPGWW

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:04 am

Kelne is fairly certain that he can navigate his way to AD-10's residence, if the trend of identical city planning keeps up.

The nearby marker place should provides some excellent shade for the weary and the blood-spooked. The air is a bit dry and dusty, but otherwise fresh and good for cleansing the nasal cavities. Those more hardened toward the odor find that the hustle and bustle of the Thalsians provide a lovely distraction. Although hustle and bustle is something of a misnomer, Kelne and Jak have to admit, for dozens of people getting their daily necessities, they are not loud or disorderly. There is talk among what are presumably friends and neghbors, but it is hardly loud, due to no one really needing to shout. People line up in a fairly organized manner, and those milling about seem more prone to do so off to the sides, under the shadows of canvases.

The group recieves their fair share of odd looks, some curious, and some distrustful. A group of children seem especially curious; pointing, glancing over when they don't think anyone is paying attention, and whispering to themselves. It seems some social norms can be found anywhere.

Soon, the smell of violence is but a memory, save for Jeridan, who has to deal with it lingering longer due to his enhanced senses, but finds it much more tolerable in the same hand.

by **Jak Snide** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:23 am

Jak contemplated firing off a simple cantrip at the children as he caught them staring, but the urge soon passed. The worst he'd get for that back home was an angry mother and a bawling brat, but given the general disposition of the town towards them he wasn't going to risk delaying them all with needless run-ins with that overzealous guardswoman.

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:58 am

Kelne was content to wait for the others to recover themselves before proceeding. It wasn't as if they were in any particular hurry - AD-10 was hardly going to use the time preparing an excessively nasty reception for them.

After all, he didn't even know they were coming.

Nor was he bothered by the kids. Staring openly at the unusual was a trait common to children the world over. Granted, he wasn't used to being on the receiving end of such stares, but he'd live.

by **Uncle Pervy** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:36 am

Kelne is able to reach what he believes to be AD-10's place in short order. Walking in through the open curtain door, he finds a middle-aged man sitting at a table away from his work desk, eating something.

The man looks at Kelne with surprise, then unguarded suspicion. "You are foreign, why are you here?" he asks, doing his best to keep his tone neutral but letting paranoia flow into it regardless

by **Kelne** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 6:40 am

Ah, the famed Thalsian hospitality. Might as well stick with the straightforward approach.

"I was hoping to get some information on the Limiter artifact, and on the people who took it," he said, keeping his own tone polite. In all fairness, he himself would have directed considerable suspicion at anybody who'd turned up on his own doorstep. The difference being, of course, that a local would have gotten the same degree of suspicion as a foreigner.

by **Jak Snide** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 6:56 am

While Kelne did his thing, Jak tried to focus his astral senses and sense what potential this man held, acting simply out of curiosity.

by **Besyanteo** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:13 pm

Jeridan stood and waited. God, he really was useless, wasn't he?

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:42 am

"The people who took it were foreign," says AD-10. "If they have not fled back to your lands already, I would not know where to find them. I do not see how our relics concern you."

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:56 am

"Allow us to explain, then. A friend of ours has asked us to find a means of removing such an artefact from his "little girl." My friend here should have her." he said, gesturing towards Jeridan.

Edited by: Jak Snide 

at: 12/10/05 3:57

by **Shinigori V2** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:34 am

"Well, it's only one thing." Paige says. "That is, one thing that we need to know about. That's not asking much. And we may be able to offer something in return."

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:15 am

"I do not believe it is in my power to tell you such things without the approval of TO-10, at the very least," says AD-10. "I will consider of exchange as a favorable aspect. What do you offer?"

by **Shinigori V2** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:17 am

"Well, I can teach you guys about some of our machines we've got.." Paige begins. "And we can tell you about where we come from, too."

She looked at the others, hoping for more ideas.

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:24 am

Jak simply sat tight and smouldered, though he did his best to conceal it. Go here, talk to him, get sent there, talk to her, go North, get accused of murder. He was getting awful sick of dancing to the tune these people and their endless bureaucracy were playing and the constant lack of mana did little to soothe his temper.

by **Kelne** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:22 am

Kelne could have quite cheerfully throttled Paige at this point. Had she learned nothing from their time back in settlement 7? They'd tried the trading knowledge angle before and gotten precisely nowhere. They simply didn't have any knowledge that interested the Thalsians. At least, none that he was willing to put in their hands.

He would have much preferred convincing them that giving them the knowledge would cost them nothing, and could do no harm. At the very least, the idea of an exchange should have come from them. After all, proposing a trade and then having nothing to trade just made them look stupid. This was going to end with them being maneouvred into hunting down the whatever-it-was that had hit the farmhouse last night. He could just tell.

He refrained from telepathing her to give her a piece of his mind. It wouldn't serve any useful purpose, and besides, you never knew - the approach might just work.

"Knowledge for knowledge strikes me as an equitable exchange," he said, keeping any trace of his inner thoughts from showing in his voice, "Though I can't help but wonder how much more there is to learn beyond what we've already been told."

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:41 am

"It is not my place to speak of our Relics," says the man firmly. Several of the party note this hasn't stopped others from doing so. He stands and walks over toward his desk, leaving his meal behind. "Understand that the last line we extended thehand of friendship to your people, we found ourselves being taken severe advantage of. It is difficult for me to authorize granting anything to you; my instincts tell me to cast you from this town, though law forbids such. Understand that your welcome is extended only by the last of crime on your part. It is not my place to bequeathe this to you."

He sits now, and looks toward them. "Is that all?"

by **Shinigori V2** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:48 am

Paige's face goes blank, as she tries to understand what was just said. "...You mean...You don't care that this poor girl, a CHILD, was hurt because of one of your relics?"

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:59 am

"I care that your people abused our hospitality and took our relic to use upon this victim," says AD-10. It's hard to tell whether any sort of actual coldness can be heard behind his neutral voice. "We allowed ourselves to trust too freely in the past, and grew neglient. It will not be repeated."

by **Shinigori V2** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:01 am

"But this child could have been hurt by the same people that abused your trust!" Paige says. "We're not trying to do anything truely selfish; we're trying to help a child be relieved of it's suffering...Is that really a lot to ask? Just a little information to help us?"

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:05 am

Jak held out his hand to silence Paige. Appealing to these people's sympathies would do them no good. Their entire culture was based around emulating emotionless automata.

"Listen, you have something we need, and we can provide something your people need. A fair exchange. A few of your fellows just got sliced up real good last night and your guards simply aren't up to the task of sorting it all out, unless you call burying a few bodies and forgetting about it a solution. My friends and I are what're called adventurers back home. We can work outside the system and achieve results. Your system is woefully ill-equipped with regard to the matter at hand, so how about you get your people to talk with PQ whatever's people so you can ratify the decision to entrust us with the resolution of this troublesome matter. We'll take care of that, you give us the information we need and then we part ways . Deal?"

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:13 am

"You are asserting that the EF cannot deal with the recent difficulty. You wish to assist?" says AD-10, looking at Jak severely. "Very well. You will take full responsibility for dealing with the predator?"

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:17 am

"On the condition that you will provide us with whatever information we desire, yes."

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:21 am

"I will arrange for it," says AD-10. "You agree to take full responsibility?"

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:26 am

Finally! Progress.

"Yeah. We'll make sure whatever killed your people won't threaten you again."

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:45 am

"Very well." AD-10 produces some parchment and begins to write on it. "It is your responsibility to prevent another murder by the predator, as well as any additional damage. You are expected to adhere to all laws. Should you fail at any part of this, it will be considered the same as breaching conduct. You shall report all investigations and findings to the EF, and present a record on your general activities in the beginning and ending of each day. These will be checked for falsification."

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:59 am

"And once we bring proof of the predator's demise our duty shall be ended and we will recieve any and all the information we desire, correct?"

by **Kelne** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:48 pm

Breach of conduct. Kelne rather suspected that the penalties for such a breach would be harsh. Not that he was surprised. The man might not have legal grounds to engage in any sort of vindictive behaviour, but let them sign that contract, and if they failed, he'd have all the grounds he needed.

Still, the outlines of a plan were already beginning to take shape in Kelne's mind. He felt confident that they could take down the creature, if they could only get at it. The trick was to do so before it struck again. Or to have it strike at a place of their choosing.

In the end, he decided not to try and alter the terms of the contract. If they couldn't take down the creature, they wouldn't get what they wanted. Therefore, planning for the eventuality of failure was rather pointless.

"We will expect whatever cooperation your people can give, naturally," he said. He didn't expect the Thalsians to be good for much, but at the least, they could provide information.

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:57 pm

"You shall have all reasonable cooperation," says AD-10, as he finishes writing, seals the papyrus document, and offers it to the party.

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:03 pm

"Cooperation?" he began, taking the sealed document from the man. "Any chance you could use some divination to get us started in the right direction? If we can track the thing to it's lair then we won't have to wait for it to show up again."

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:27 pm

"I have tried, and found little." says AD-10. "To do anything effective, I would need time and things related to the predator, closer than the remains that we have now."

by **Jak Snide** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:31 pm

The mage simply nodded in reply, his respect for the man having increased slightly. They might be able to find something from the site of the attack.

"Are we to present this document to....EF 10A, would it be? Or shall we get started right away?"

by **pd Rydia** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:54 pm

Dia seemed to take her cue from Jeridan, staying quiet during the exchange with AD-10, even standing near him, with her face turned toward the doorway and outside air. She seemed content to stare at the doorway for the larger part of the discussion, occassionally glancing around the walls and ceiling. The only time she looked directly at the speakers was when Jak began to hammer out his proposal with the AD.

Throughout the entire time, she kept her arms tightly crossed while her foot tapped out a soft, even rhythm on the floor. Despite all this, the dragonhalf seemed to be remarkably collected and calm, particularly considering her reaction from earlier. Anyone paying attention to her gestures couldn't quite pin them down as nervous.

by **Uncle Pervy** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:05 am

"Present it to anyone that rejects your responsibility," says AD-10. "This should be all."

by **Shinigori V2** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:40 am

Paige's jaw dropped. Yeah, adventuring. Great idea. And what was Paige supposed to do while everyone else went looking for some killer monster? She sure wasn't gonna go chasing it; she was a MECHANIC, not a dragonslayer! She made a note to bring it up with Jak when they were out of the company of an official.

by **Jak Snide** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:46 am

"Right. Anything else we need to take care of, Kelne, or shall we be off?"

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:00 am

"No, I think that about covers everything," Kelne said, nodding, "I expect that we can get a bit more information from law enforcement, then decide how we're going to go about this." He doubted they'd be able to prise much more information out of them, but they might as well make the effort.

by **Jak Snide** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:34 am

"Let's get to it, then." he stated, nodding in thanks to the AD and then making his way out of the room.

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:40 pm

With a nod of his own to AD-10, Kelne followed Jak out. After giving the others time to fall in, assuming they didn't have anything further to say themselves, he took the lead, seeking out the EF building.

by **Shinigori V2** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:42 am

Paige followed closely behind the other two, keeping an eye on Jak. As they left earshot of the official, she began talking. "Are you CRAZY!?"

by **Jak Snide** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:47 am

"You're not the first person to accuse me of being so." he stated, turning to face the mechanic. "Now, what's your gripe, woman?"

by **Shinigori V2** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:51 am

"You want us to find that thing? I don't know about you, but I don't have that sort of thing in me! I FIX THINGS, not hunt down monsters!"

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