[19:14] <GM|JonB> ***LOG START***
[19:15] <GM|JonB> *The party stands triumphant as the demon vanishes
in firey dust. There's a moment's silence, then the crew races on
deck to try and determine the damage caused by the battle. Captain
Abdolhossein approaches.
[19:15] * GM|JonB is now known as GM|Abdolhossein
[19:16] <GM|Abdolhossein> "Splendedly done, my lord! I have heard of
these... foes before, but never have we been waylaid by them."
[19:17] <Raoul> "This particular foe was new to me as well..."
[19:17] * Kuleno melts into the background. At least, as well as he
can melt into any non-ice background.
[19:17] <Raoul> "...But the general principle is, sadly, becoming a
pattern."
[19:17] <GM|Abdolhossein> "What do you mean? What have you done to
earn the ire of those who blame the Islands for the fall of their
homeland?"
[19:19] * Raoul blinks. "Ah. Then perhaps we simply have the ire of
two different groups, then."
[19:19] * GM|Abdolhossein directs some of his men to scrub down the
deck where the fight occured. Get rid of the char, and see if any of
the planks need replacing.
[19:19] <GM|Abdolhossein> "It seems that we both have stories to
tell. Come, we shall retire from the deck, and speak in a place out
of the way of my crew."
[19:20] * GM|Abdolhossein leads the party back up to the for'castle.
[19:20] * Raoul nods, makes sure his blade is sheathed, and
follows. "Indeed..."
[19:20] * Yuki` follows behind, sticking relatively close to Anika
and trying to stifle a slight cough.
[19:21] * GM|Abdolhossein arrives, and waits for the rest of the
party to arrange themselves confortably.
[19:21] * Anika is learning by now to keep quiet until prompted to
speak. Not an easy task for her.
[19:21] * Kuleno stands by the doorway. Comfortably.
[19:22] * Raoul sits, but doesn't quite relax. His attention is still
needed, though his life is not in danger.
[19:22] * Yuki` sits down someplace where Raoul would keep most of
the captain's spotlight.
[19:22] * Anika silently follows Yuki and takes a seat.
[19:23] <GM|Abdolhossein> "I should start then. You see, there are
certain, shall we say... rogue elements in the citizenry of Faangar
that see us at the blame for their current condition as a province,
and not a nation. They have recently become bolder, and started
attacking ships that fly our illustrious flag."
[19:24] * Raoul leans forward. "How successful have these attacks
been?"
[19:24] <GM|Abdolhossein> "I can say that this is a tragic thing,
that they cannot bring themselves to properly comprehend their
predicament."
[19:25] <GM|Abdolhossein> "They have picked up in recent years,
though they have been more than simple acts of piracy for but a few
months now."
[19:25] <GM|Abdolhossein> "A cargo ship, the Nicator, was lost with
all hands, and that was the first."
[19:26] * Anika does not care much for political matters, and fidgets
impatiently.
[19:26] * GM|Abdolhossein sighs. "I had a cousin aboard that vessel."
[19:27] * Raoul nods. "My condolences." A moment. "...Do you know
what she carried, the Nicator?"
[19:27] * Kuleno doesn't know much about these whole 'outside world'
matters, but he's got a job to do. So he does it.
[19:27] * GM|Abdolhossein nods. "General cargo. If you think they
were sunk for any particular beyond her flag, you would be wrong."
[19:27] <Raoul> "Forgive me for inquiring, then."
[19:28] <GM|Abdolhossein> "But tell me, my Lord, what cause have you
to think you would be so assailed on the blessed seas?"
[19:29] <Raoul> "Largely, the fact that we have been assaulted
everywhere else up through now."
[19:30] * Yuki` nods.
[19:30] <Raoul> "Our train leaving Leaftown was hijacked, and Anshan
faced an attack from the mobbed citizenry - though I doubt it was
truly a citizen's revolt, given their combat ability."
[19:31] * GM|Abdolhossein blinks, knowing full well you haven't said
*why*. "That's certainly a unfortunate pattern."
[19:31] * Kuleno sniffs but says nothing.
[19:31] <Yuki`> "It seems to be the way of things, recently. I had
trouble on my trip to Leaftown, as well."
[19:32] <GM|Abdolhossein> "And I suppose that this is all just
accident and circumstance?"
[19:34] * Raoul sighs, but does reply with truth. "No, though I wish
it were. We carry with us plans for a flying machine. Doubtless, the
existence of those plans have stirred up much of the trouble we find
ourselves in."
[19:34] <GM|Abdolhossein> "A... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
[19:34] <Yuki`> "It's not unknown for trav..." Yuki just keeps quiet
at there.
[19:34] * GM|Abdolhossein laughs at the ludicris thought of a
*flying* machine.
[19:35] * Yuki` looks at the captain for a split second, then Raoul
for a bit longer.
[19:35] * GM|Abdolhossein smiles. "If you must keep your burden a
secret, so be it. But certainly, a more beleiveable lie may be
inorder."
[19:35] <Kuleno> "Water machine?" Kuleno ventures.
[19:36] <GM|Abdolhossein> "You sail upon one of the finest, my
towering friend."
[19:36] <Kuleno> "Under?"
[19:36] * Yuki` shrugs. "Maybe plans for a new ranged weapon?"
[19:36] * Raoul raises an eyebrow.
[19:37] <Yuki`> "May be a bit less silly."
[19:37] <Raoul> "Regardless of exactly what we know, it is safe to
say that much of it is troubling, and all of it is dangerous in
improperly guided hands."
[19:37] * Raoul thinks back to the stockpile of air-magic crystals in
Refulgo, but says nothing of the sort.
[19:38] <GM|Abdolhossein> "A reasonable percaution, for heavy
burdens. But, such is the lot of the higher nobility."
[19:38] * Kuleno goes back to being ignored and resumes his watch.
[19:38] <Anika> "What's the big deal about a flying machine?"
[19:38] * Anika looks around.
[19:38] * Kuleno is ignorant!
[19:38] <GM|Abdolhossein> "It is impossible!"
[19:39] <GM|Abdolhossein> "How could something fly, that is not of
the natural world? Or travel under the seas?"
[19:39] * Yuki` looks at Anika. "Basically. It goes against
everything generally known." >_>
[19:40] * Raoul will let the speculation go. A good laugh would be
useful for them all.
[19:40] * Anika looks to Yuki, as though seeking permission to go on.
[19:41] * Yuki` shakes her head slightly and whispers to her. "We
know it's plausible, but nobody else does, and it makes us targets."
[19:42] * Anika nods and says nothing further.
[19:42] <GM|Abdolhossein> "Well, I should examine the work of my
men. Please, stay here, and I shall send some refreshments."
[19:42] * GM|Abdolhossein takes his leave...
[19:43] * Raoul nods, and lets out a breath. "Thank you."
[19:44] * Anika sighs. She has a lot to learn about this world.
[19:44] * Yuki` looks at Kuleno. "A usable ship under the water?
Sounds interesting, but I have no clue how that would work."
[19:45] <Raoul> "Perhaps with enough corking. But I imagine one would
run out of air quickly."
[19:46] <Raoul> "So, we have survived yet another attempt on our
lives and the lives and property around us. This is becoming a
*habit*, and I do not like that. If we assume the resentful Fangaar,
or Refulgans, are attacking us... the question I must ask is, 'why'?"
[19:46] <Kuleno> "Kuleno just said. No idea if it work."
[19:47] <Yuki`> "Either we're really unlucky, or someone has info on
us and is still feeding it to... whoever. Honestly, either sounds
about right."
[19:47] <Anika> "I think it could work."
[19:49] <Raoul> "That was my fear, as well. Once is coincidence, but
thrice is malice."
[19:50] <Yuki`> "Then what can we do about it, if we can do
something?"
[19:50] * Kuleno continues to know nothing about all the talk going
on.
[19:50] * Kuleno makes a mental note - hah - to inquire about it.
[19:50] <Raoul> "Yet, I do not recall any mention of Earth in any of
the attacks. If they know our mission, but do not know that..."
*ponder*
[19:51] <Yuki`> "With how secret this whole 'Earth' thing is, the
people trying to do all the killing probably wouldn't know."
[19:52] <GM|Abdolhossein> *Around this time, a crewman arrives with
drinks for the party, then quickly leaves
[19:52] <Raoul> "True, but that raises the possibility that all the
attacks - possibly with two disparate groups - are orchestrated -
much like a beautiful symphony I once heard back home. Thank you,
crewman."
[19:52] * Yuki` stops talking the moment the crewman comes in, and
only continues after he leaves.
[19:53] <Raoul> "You see, it was the conductor's first outing, and -"
*crewman leaves* "- and I do not know how I continued that sentence
like that. Odd."
[19:54] * Kuleno picks up a glass of water and sniffs it.
[19:54] * Anika has many questions, but does not voice them
immediately for fear of seeming ignorant (which she is). She decides
to ask Yuki later.
[19:55] * Yuki` takes a drink of water. "Things can be connected a
lot more than you think. Or less, but that doesn't get you in danger
of getting killed."
[19:55] * Raoul coughs, just to get his thought back on track from
his horribly un-useful ruse. "Orchestration. That, in its own right,
makes me fearful."
[19:55] * Kuleno also makes sure not to break the glass.
[19:57] * Kuleno sniff sniff. [GM prod, GM prod]
[19:58] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((Sorry. Phone call. Letting you guys
talk))
[19:58] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((It's water. Go ahead and drink.))
[19:59] <Raoul> ((Heh. NOT POISON AT ALL >.>))
[19:59] * Kuleno downs it in one gulp. No one said it was a big glass
of water.
[20:00] <Yuki`> "At the least, we're going to have to be even more
careful about what we say. Make a more plausible lie that we can
fall back on - something that others would like to believe."
[20:00] * Yuki` looks at Anika and smiles slightly. "I think you
could do a great job at making fake crossbow blueprints for example,
Anika."
[20:03] <Anika> "Me? Sure."
[20:03] <Anika> "I could make actual crossbow blueprints, even if we
don't intend to build one."
[20:05] <Raoul> "They would have to look like a significant
improvement over current models."
[20:05] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((remember, DaVinci invented the Machine
Gun.))
[20:06] * Anika nods. "I'll get to work on it."
[20:06] <Raoul> ((He invented a lot of things, and half of 'em don't
quite work. <.<))
[20:09] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((True.))
[20:09] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((Fast-Forward?))
[20:09] <Anika> (( Sure. ))
[20:09] <Yuki`> ((Probably a good idea.))
[20:10] <Raoul> ((Mmhm.))
[20:10] <GM|Abdolhossein> *The rest of the voyage goes smoothly, and
soon you can see the wonderous capitl city of the Beit Islands
comeinto view.
[20:11] <GM|Abdolhossein> *It takes a little time, but the boat soons
finds berth, and the crew disembarks. The captain also makes sure
that he can get paid for his losses on this trip.
[20:12] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((Which can be handled off camera. Raoul,
time to play tour-guide!))
[20:12] * Yuki` looks pretty impressed at the city. Although after a
moment of staring, she forces her eyes right back to looking straight
ahead.
[20:12] <Raoul> ((Heh. Oh dear.))
[20:13] * Raoul is going to make quite sure of that, too. But as he
turns from the ship, his eyes light upon the low buildings, the clean
dry air, and the smell nearly overwhelms him. "<So good to be
home...>"
[20:14] * Raoul turns to the group, then, smiling. "Friends: Welcome
to the Azure Islands. I am no poet, so I can only describe them as
the most beautiful place in existence, with no caveats."
[20:16] <Raoul> "So. I submit that we attend to business first, and
if we do not die in the process, I can give you a tour of Azrag Biet."
[20:17] * Yuki` nods.
[20:18] * Anika has had enough with business, but nods anyway.
[20:19] <GM|Abdolhossein> ((You head for the palace then?))
[20:19] <Raoul> ((Yes. First we deliver the plans, then I'd like to
see to repaying the captain for his inconvenience.))
[20:19] <Raoul> ((Also, for almost killing him and totaling his ship.
<.<))
[20:21] <GM|Abdolhossein> *The party follows Raoul, who leads them,
not to the main entrance of the palace, but to a side entrance, no
less used.
[20:21] * GM|Abdolhossein is now known as GM|Guard
[20:21] <GM|Guard> "My Lord?"
[20:22] * Raoul smiles once again on seeing the guards. "Yes! How
good to be asked."
[20:22] <GM|Guard> "How may we be of service?"
[20:23] <GM|Guard> *The guards weild glaives, and are in dress
armor. Practical, but also very showy.
[20:24] * Kuleno continues to be accepted everywhere. He might just
be a piece of plastic!
[20:24] <Anika> (( Kuleno: He's everywhere you want to be. ))
[20:25] <GM|Guard> ((You're to big to be denied.))
[20:25] <Raoul> ((Or the even older joke: Where does a Yeti Summoner
go? Anywhere he damn well wants.))
[20:26] <Raoul> "I've an important delivery for Tahirid, and then a
matter or two to attend to otherwise. My guests will likely require
accomidations for at least this night. Will you assist them?"
[20:27] * GM|Guard nods and makes a signal. Soon, and chamberlain
appears, and leads you all inside.
[20:27] * Anika likes this treatment.
[20:27] <Kuleno> (( I was just idly commenting on how apparently
nobody's disturbed by me. I thought Yeti weren't widely known, but I
might be misremembering. ))
[20:29] <GM|Guard> After a few minutes of making sure his guests are
comfortable, a very stately man comes to you, wearing a full shirt of
white, even more than Raoul.
[20:29] * Kuleno shrugs and follows. Follow follow follow, there'll
be something dead soon enough.
[20:29] * GM|Guard is now known as GM|Tahirid
[20:29] <GM|Tahirid> "Ah, Raoul. It is good to see you again,
healthy and hale. Would you please introduce me to your guests?"
[20:30] <Raoul> "I would indeed." ((Let's see how well I actually
remember all this.))
[20:31] <Raoul> ((bah, maybe not.)) "Sir, this is Yuki, Anika,
Kuleno, and ((I presume Nikolai is in zombie mode)) Nikolai; they've
been most helpful in a number of tough moments on my journey home."
[20:32] * Anika waves.
[20:32] * Yuki` curtsies to the stately man, despire not having a
dress for that sort of thing.
[20:33] * GM|Tahirid nods to each as they are introduced. "I hope
that our dear cousin Raoul has been on his best behavior. Please,
follow me, I have a private room for this."
[20:33] <Raoul> ((I couldn't htink of good job descriptors; largely
for Yuki, because I'm never so good at keeping IC and OOC information
separate.))
[20:33] * Anika decides that it would be wise to imitate Yuki and
curties awkwardly.
[20:34] * GM|Tahirid gestures to a corridor, and the chamberlain
takes the lead, taking you farther into the palace.
[20:34] * Raoul listens to his footsteps echo, that specific timbre
bringing back a few memories.
[20:35] * Yuki` follows, still keeping close to Anika. Mainly for
Yuki's own benefit more than anything.
[20:36] <GM|Tahirid> *The chamberlain leads you to a small library,
currently empty. There are a pair of guards flanking the door, and
they casually examine each of you as you enter the room.
[20:37] * GM|Tahirid sits on an ornate cushion. "Please, have a seat."
[20:37] * Yuki` will go sit then.
[20:37] * Raoul sits, cross-legged, and tries to get his mind back on
business. Home is nice, but giving it air superiority is nicer.
[20:38] * Kuleno still stands. He doesn't sit very often.
[20:39] * GM|Tahirid nods at Raoul. "You have it?"
[20:39] <Raoul> "I do."
[20:39] * Raoul pulls it out, and spreads it wide, so that Tahirid
can see the blueprints in full.
[20:41] * GM|Tahirid looks them over. "Such thoughts that went into
this... Truly amazing..."
[20:41] <GM|Tahirid> "Now, please, tell me what has occured on your
journey."
[20:42] <Raoul> "A long tale indeed..."
[20:43] * Raoul , even so, will recount it in detail, his own worries
in place in the narrative. Assistance from others would be
appreciated, but as far as he knows he didn't miss anything terribly
important along the way.
[20:43] <GM|Tahirid> ((BRB))
[20:43] * Kuleno only does tribal storytelling.
[20:43] * Yuki` may mention things here and there. She does not
mention the air crystals at all, although Raoul probably will.
[20:44] * Raoul most certainly does. Though those currently in
control over it seem benign, and likely willing to trade, given the
events in Anshan he cannot consider them truly safe nor safe for
Azragi in and of themselves.
[20:46] <Raoul> ((I'm aware that doing so opens a whole 'nother can
of worms, but IC, I'd be stupid not to.))
[20:47] * GM|Tahirid sours at the mentions of the repeated assaults.
But the mention of the aircrystals makes even his facade crack...
[20:47] <GM|Tahirid> "That... That is something that will have to be
dealt with."
[20:49] * Raoul nods, himself displeased with the event, though
perhaps not entirely surprised. "In short, sir, I - we - believe that
more is in play than we previously thought."
[20:49] <GM|Tahirid> "But that can be done with other assets. I
would thank you all for coming on this harrowing journey. Please,
enjoy the safety and hopitality of our fair city."
[20:49] * Yuki` frowns a bit. She doesn't like the implications of
that...
[20:49] <Yuki`> ((The dealt with part.))
[20:50] * GM|Tahirid makes a signal, and the chamberlain appears, to
escort you to where you wish to go
[20:52] * Raoul will be the last to leave, but will in fact go. He
has much to think about, and unless further discussion is necessary,
think about it he will.
[20:53] * Yuki` is escotrted... somewhere, apparently.
[20:53] <Yuki`> ((*escorted))
[20:53] <GM|Tahirid> *having been dismissed, the chamberlain offers
the party a chance to freshen up, and perhaps a meal before Raoul can
take charge of group while in his home
[20:53] * Kuleno follow follow follow.
[20:56] <Raoul> ((<.<))
[20:57] <Raoul> ((BRB, food.))
[20:58] <GM|Tahirid> ((And I have a final in the morning. I'll just
call it here, start plotting fro next week, and give everyone 3000XP,
1500G, and full shopping.))
[20:58] <GM|Tahirid> ***LOG END***