Run by: Master of the Hunting Mist (3xp)

Players: V'neef Pasyra, Kardama

 

 Basilicar is a remote mining town connected loosely to the great trade routes formerly of the Guild, now up for grabs by anyone with the means to move raw materials from place to place. Chronopolis has been supporting the vast majority of the restoration of these vital networks, for otherwise places like this would fall back to the darkest times in Creation, and for Chronos, well, he may lose the opportunity to profit.

 The town is rising to a new day, the shacks where the residents live are poorly built you notice, as they bustle to life with the stirring of last night's ashes in the hearths to get warmth back into their meager lives. Smoke rises from the chimneys, and the only places that don't seem to be alighting with life are the work areas where the miners would already be at work..."

 

V'neef Pasyra had only walked the last couple of miles to the villiage of Basilicar before the sun rose in the sky. She had left the large fur-feathed familar waiting elsewhere, in a mountain cave, figuring such a being might not be well received. She touched her cloak as she finished the climb the gold,red, blue and green affair was marked by the Vale's seal, a single stylized Rose, with sea waves and an image of the large Cerulean Spire in the distant background forming a silouette. She stood at the entrance to the town, her green eyes surveying with enthusiasm. A place where no one know V'neef Pasyra, where no one knew Gilded Rose a place she could relax a bit...

 

Travellers probably aren't too welcome here, but somehow Kardama isn't really noticed. Then again, he looks reasonably anonymous in his dun-color cloak, pausing to look over the place from the town's center. He shakes his head, a little glumly at the standard of living. Hopefully, connection to Chronopolis's economic grid will pour some needed capital into this place -- it could use it. He heaves a sigh, making a mental note to ask Chronos about it. Absently, he scratches at the several-days-old five-o-clock shadow crossing his face; it's not peach fuzz, but if he wants to grow a beard he may have to wait a while.

 

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra makes a note that Rose has her hood up,

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Kardama, if you wish, you may make either a Bur + Int, or Lore + Int at a higher difficulty."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Noted, Rose. Going for inconspicuous. People tend to respect the universal sign for 'Leave me alone'."

(Judge) Kardama rolls Bureaucracy + Intelligence: [ 3 3 4 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Kar: This place is attached *peripherally*. Hardly worth a look on the books. Small town, small profit. It would take a while for Chronos to locate it in his purview without Charms."

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "No she's not its mostly cause she just hiked up a mountain she's probably droped the hood when she got to the gate :)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oi. Gonna let your rockstar goddess looks shine?"

-= OOC =- Kardama says, "Go ahead. I /like/ being inconspicuous :)"

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "Rose walks the line between 'Goddess' and ' I don't want to make everyone on the street want to serve me' most of the time... its the curse of App 5. She'll pull it up once she gets inside and only let a little of her features show."

 

         The townsfolk begin to appear after a while, taking note of the stranger at their gates in a dispirited way. Their eyes light up briefly, seeing something wonderous, but go listless after a while when no pronouncement is made, no further action is taken. Their thin frames lack a certain heartiness associated with a working people, and their lethargic pace lack any energy for carrying on labour. Children eventually appear, and start scrounging about gathering what they can of fruits, nuts or tubers nearby.

         A few men gather in the centre within a few minutes, talking darkly amongst themselves, all frowns and lowered voices. Eventually they move on to a small shed on the other side of the small town.

Kardama is a thief, or at least he started out that way. So when people start acting funny, he does notice. He 'conveniently' sidles around a corner from the men, just so he can listen in on the conversation, one eyebrow raised fractionally...

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You overhear them. They're talking about food, mostly, how to get it, are they going to catch anything today, when was the last time they did..."

 

V'neef Pasyra watches. The dishearted people give her pause and in an unconcious action, she lets the hood fall, moving her hair from the confines of the cloak. She walked listening to the chatter of people curiously. She wandered to the market curiously picking over the items.

In what passes for a market area, a single stall displays the local talent of these folk in copper-smithing. Crude torcs are on display, along with some bracelets and half-rings made by someone who may in fact have talent. The woman tending the stall, a particularily withered specimen, eyes Rose warily, as if trying to decide some matter of gravity for her and this town in considering you.

 

         By the shed, the men unbolt it and start rummaging within. They have between them two self-bows, and an array of devices that could be used in setting traps in a deranged hunter's mind. They look at their tools dispiritedly, and move off into the forests which surround this place.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Kar: any srvival?"

-= OOC =- Kardama says, "Nope. Sadly, Kar is a city boy."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Er, survival? Heh. Nope, those hunting tools are top-notch. Exactly the kind of thing you'd use, if you ever thought you would have to catch your own meal."

-= OOC =- Kardama snickers. Hey now, I'd only think that if I rolled blind and botched.

-= OOC =- Kardama hmms.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Heh. Without the skill, you can still make an attempt, but the tools simply are unfamiliar to you outside of names and vahue references."

-= OOC =- Kardama says, "Int or Per?"

You say, "Int, if you're remembering things. Per if there's something for you to observe that you can reference to your experience. Int, I think."

(Judge) Kardama rolls Intelligence: [ 7 8 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "RIght then. They made it from local stuff. You recognize not huntsman equipment, but mining equipment converted to the cause. And probably not the best conversion to boot."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That, you cannot determine without the Survival skill. :P"

 

-= OOC =- Kardama has a question. Can I use Flawless Pickpocketing Technique to put something down instead of pick something up without notice?

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yes, I allow the reverse pickpocket option."

Kardama watches the hunters move off, and shakes his head. Even he's not impressed with their gear, and he's very much an urban critter. Tapping his fingers together in thought, suddenly his dark eyes light up with an idea. Casually, he palms the purse of silver coins from his belt, keeping it under his cloak before ambling towards the rickety market. Pausing as he catches sight of a familiar form... but taking advantage of the attention she's generating, he unobtrusively sets his purse on the end of one of the tables, using a touch of Essence to do it.

 

She eyes the woman curiously, smiling warmly genuinely, picking over the items, her tattooed formed, withs it gold spiraled on her skin and torques are beauitful in her own right. "I'll take.." she plucks a few of the items. "Can I ask who made them? I'd like to compliment them on their crafts manship?"

        The woman, after hearing the sincerity in your voice, almost wells up in tears. "Oh, no, hon'red miss, my best friend, miss Mallabee, has taken to twisting copper while her leg heals from a fall off a cart she took a while back, and she's gotten some talent for herself! I'm very proud of her, I am!". You notice the hands shaking, and something about her that is filled with relief. "Its been *so hard* since the wars started, what with Walker, and the Guild and Greyfalls...and the Proctor practically starving us here..."

     V'neef Pasyra blinks. "What?" she asks softly. "I can see what I can do." she says. "If you'd like I can probably fix her leg." she takes out a few peices of jade to pay. "Keep the extra." she whispers.

Kardama scowls at the mention of the town being starved. The proctor, eh? Looks like he'll have to pay him a visit. He coughs politely. "Miss, is that your purse?" He points at the leather purse sitting at the end of the table, before offering a smile to the Rose, dark eyes glinting. He doesn't /say/ it, but his expression is quite curious: what is she doing here?

         Blubbering now, the woman tears up more, "A healer you are, now? A miracle, a miracle, I say! If Isalare could get up and get about, that would be a lift in everyone's spirits! Oh, you must, you must....how much would it...", and, upon seeing the *jade* on her table, stops, her mouth popping open and closed a few times, "Th-there's no way we can afford...we can't really do much with the money, lady...we're cut off, that's the problem...".

         Upon Kardama's words coming out, the woman looks at the bag, surprised, "No, I've never seen that before in my life! How did that get there?"

     V'neef Pasyra blinks. "I ..." she shakes her head. "No, keep it, save it for something important. I am a healer." She turns around at hearing Kardama's voice. "Hello there---" she smiles widely. "Traveling in the same circles now are we?" she asks. She turns back to the woman. "Perhaps, we could do something I could do something.." she thinks.

     Kardama hms and shrugs at the old woman. "Guess it's yours now. It's not mine." With that settled, he adds cheerfully, "Oh, and I guess you haven't heard; the caravans are on the move again. Someone restarted them." He grins at the Rose. "I'm feeling a need to talk to the proctor." His smile is still there, but there's something in his eyes that's not near so warm and genial. "I'm sure he'll listen to reason."

-= OOC =- Kardama did not, for the record, name one of his baneclaws 'Reason' :>

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I'm sure that will make the proctor all the more comfortable with them. Or reason."

     V'neef Pasyra nods. "I'll talk to the proctor." she says swiftly. "Easier you to handle."

         "Oh! You two know each other? We all thought he was a spy for the proctor. He wants this town, you know, turn it into who-knows-what! He's trying to starve us out, won't send the foodstuffs up here, and we don't know why!", and seeing both your reactions, "Well, he's back down in Red Fens, which is the nearest supply stop to us...if you think you can help, we'd be most grateful! We sent most of our menfolk down there a while back, and haven't heard from them...if you can find out where they're at, we'd be grateful for that too..."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Red Fens. Two days on foot through harsh terrain. Pack a few lunches. This place runs supplies on this trail, making it absolutely dependent on Red Fens..."

     Kardama looks pained. "A spy? You wound me... I'm an /honest/ thief, thank you." He sighs, cracking his knuckles. "Well, sifu told me I'd have to get my hands dirty now and then." Glancing at Rose, he hrms. "Are you sure you want to come along? Koal will hang me by my toenails if you get hurt."

         The woman looks back and forth between the two of you, "You know the Great Kaol, the Strategos?!", and almost goes white.

-= OOC =- Kardama says, "Oops."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Name dropping. Occupational hazard of actually being powerful."

-= OOC =- Kardama says, "We're in the back end of nowhere! I didn't think the news had gotten that far!"

     V'neef Pasyra laughs. She sighs. "I'll go. Koal knows me, I am one to never turn down people in need." she turns back to the woman. "I'll send supplies in, might take it some time, but if there's a place large enough to land a ship, I can get you supplies." she says. She inhales, wind carried words back to the Vale would be her best friend. "But first, can I see your friend. I want to do my best to heal her... small things first."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "News is news. War is *huge* news for everyone involved."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Spreads like water. Mortals are particularily attuned to it because they're helpless against it."

     Kardama blinks at the old woman, then rolls his eyes. "The only thing that travels faster than Mercury is news," he deadpans. "Yes, we know him. Which is why we wander around trying to stabilize things. Granted, we all do it in different ways, but if it works..."

V'neef Pasyra smiles. "I know Koal.. was married to him for a stint." she breaths, as if she missed it. "Won't be hard, getting him to send help, especially because I can see you all truely need it."

         The woman's demeanor has changed to almost sycophantic towards the both of you, and bowing, knuckling her forehead (a form of showing obescience), she replies, "Right away, Lord, Lady...", and leds you to miss Mallabee's residence, a shack of no particular note, whereupon she bangs upon it imperiously. "Isalare! Visitors! Important ones!", opens and leads the way in. Inside, a younger woman lies on a raised cot, slightly feverish, with a leg set in a splint with dressing that perhaps should have been changed a while ago.

         Miss Mallabee, half-sitting up, looks over to the three of you, peering, "Who...?"

V'neef Pasyra moves to her side. "Not important." she whispers brushing of the the comment. She removes her cloak laying beside her. She extends her hands, eyes scanning as essence begins to flow and warm dark skin. The golden tattoos seem to become vines again warming and seeming to 'grow' at least to eyes unsued to such.

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "I am gonna be using Wound-Closing Touches &"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "k"

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "ad Disease-banishing technique & Infection Nanishing parana... *pondres using some of the DB reproduction charms.."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Gah!! The disease spirits flee for their lives!"

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "Yes, Rose is a Healer archer, baby factory making lady..."

     Kardama steps aside, letting Rose take lead; he's no healer of injuries. He does, however, smile at the woman on the cot. "Friends. That's all that matters." He watches as Rose tends to the woman's wounds, knowing this will help boost the spirit of the town.

         Miss Mallabee hardly has time to register her visitors, let alone take in the Gilded Rose's beauty or Kardama's quieter presence before the magic takes effect. She immediatly breaks out into a sweat, sneezes three times, and shakes herself briefly. Looking down, her splint has fallen off, revealing a mended leg without any infection, and her eyes turn to the Rose with wonder, and not some small amount of social shock.

         "Tea?", she manages to squeak out.

Kardama raises both eyebrows at Rose's distress. Evidently Terrestrial healing is a lot harder than it looks! He does, however, move around the small shack, collecting up the teapot and the humble cups. "Well, the proctor probably has a little to do with it," he comments. "And this place is so isolated..."

V'neef Pasyra thinks. "Well as many." she adds. "I was just thinking." She flexes her hands. "But I suppose it's something I should ask the elders of the town, or do you all have some other form of leadership."

         Kicking off the old splint, miss Mallabee examines her healed leg, shock still muddling her thoughts. She speaks freely because of this, however, "The proctor is the mine's factor and manager of labor in one person. He's also the one who writes up the reports on productivity to whomever actually owns the mine. I don't know who that is, but if this place doesn't produce, its not worth owning by him. The food stopped coming up here some time ago, or if it did, in small bits, hardly enough for all of us. We sent the foreman and others down there to deal with this, but...they haven't come back yet. That was a week ago."

Kardama arches an eyebrow. "Not to question you, but /is/ the mine productive? It hasn't run dry, or anything? I just want to make sure he hasn't got some flimsy excuse for this."

         "No, the mine is still producing, but with no food...he would charge us *so much* just to bring the smallest amount up here...and his job was just to ship it! We were supposed to be taken care of...", the first woman almost wails. Miss Mallabee huffs, "Riala! Alright! It's alright, these people might help!"

     V'neef Pasyra blinks. "What?" she asks moving closer to Mallabee. "Go on, its fine, we can probably handle things... on our own." She smiles. Exalted charm lesson 1, we win over most mortals.

     Kardama's expression is somewhat forbidding. "I think someone needs to be taught a lesson. How far is it to Red Fens? Two days?" He smiles slightly. "Won't be too far. We'll just nip off and... rebuke the proctor."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "She was just going to go on about how miserable things are. No relevent details forthcoming, unless you're asking about something in particular?"

-= OOC =- V'neef Pasyra says, "Oh no."

V'neef Pasyra thinks. "We can cut that down too.... a few hours, maybe a day." she says to Kardama, with a smile. "Trust me. Friends in high places." She gets to her feet. "We need all the information you have on this proctor..." she turns to the women.

         The two ladies give all the contact information. He has an office in the merchant's square on behalf of the owner, one Ragara Pia.

         No, they have never heard or seen the owner, nor have they ever heard of the owner in question ever having visited.

Kardama merely shrugs at Rose; if she knows something he doesn't, all the better if it gets them there faster. This place is crumbling without adequate caravans. "Heh. The owner probably doesn't even know of this place personally." He grins at Rose. "All the better, really, to have a long chat with his or her proctor."

V'neef Pasyra nods. "Lets go." she grabs his wrist and begins to walk. She leads him outside. "We're riding on Gemstone, won't take us long. But we'll be flying above the clouds..." she sighs.

V'neef Pasyra says, "We'll do something. I think it'll be easier if we leave him whole but broken." she explains. "Or at least unlikely to cause trouble for any more towns.""

 

EPILOGUE

 

***Later, in Red Fens***

 

V'neef Pasyra smiles She leans against the desk, her body playing tricks with the mind, She's a dances and purposefully uses all those skills to bring the Thief into line. "Can you please, bring him to meet with me? I'd like to talk to him. To explain to him, that the mine won't be productive if he doesn't fix his ways. He'll starve, he's starving those people, and taking their money, but what when they're unable to work? Hmm?"

 

When you get right down to it, the proctor was pretty much Doomed. Bad enough to draw the attention of a Chosen of Sextes Jylis, but an Iron Wolf too? So it's one fine day when Rose and Kardama are in the proctor's office, making him sweat as the Impossible Thief cheerfully lists off all the ways the proctor's been appropriating funds. "Good thing you only imprisoned those men from Basilicar," Kardama comments, leaning on the desk. "I mean, if you'd tried to sell them off as slaves, who knows what might've happened to you?" He cheerfully clamps a hand on the man's shoulder, in just the right spot that it probably feels uncomfortable. "So why don't you listen to the nice lady. I'm sure what she has in mind will be a LOT less unpleasant than what I'd have in mind..."