Avatar Legends: The Forbidden Scroll

[jaydude]

Sesi seemed puzzled at this action..."How will a wall of fire keep firebenders from bending it so they can go through? We either have to deal with them or the Red Feathers, unless we can find a way up and out of this alley to evade them both. If we fight I would prefer it closer to a canal."

Sesi glances around to see if the canal itself was within range for them to bend forth some water while taking a defensive stance, uncorking their waterskin in preparation to pull water to defend themselves with it.

"It'll take them a few seconds to bend a path through the flames!" Niuan shouts before Sesi's finished speaking, the old man sounding like he'd much rather be running right about now. "Come on! The Red Feathers may have moved on!"

You're currently in an alleyway, with a canal nowhere in sight. Assuming that you get out onto the streets again though, it shouldn't be too much trouble to find one.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Eonivar]

Sesi shakes their head, seals their waterskin again, and proceeds to run back down the ally from whence they came. "I hope you are right."

 

[Random Word]

"Have you seen prince Zuko? Even the blood of the Fire Lord burns just the same as anyone," observes Yuza as she escorts Niuan back out onto the street.

 

[Rykon]

"It's like how a match between two Earthbenders doesn't tend to end up with them struggling to move the same rock." Zaran replies as he rejoins the group. "That and Firebending isn't typically used for extinguishing fires."

 

[jaydude]

The four of you emerge back onto the street that you had nearly been caught on by the Red Feathers. You can see two of them a short distance away, dismounted from their ostrich-horses and talking to a man selling flaming fire flakes from a stall. From the poster one of them's holding, they seem to be asking people about where the four of you disappeared to.

The rest of the group of Red Feathers you saw earlier can't be seen. You guess that they've split up to search the surrounding area for any sign of where you might have gone.

What do you want to do now?

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Random Word]

"We have no time to hide him," she gestures at Niuan, "So we move fast."

Yuza immediately sets about trying to rekindle any remaining contacts she has in the neighbourhood. Surely someone still remembers her after all these years. Someone who doesn't have an axe to grind. This is not a neighbourhood where the Red Feathers nor the family guard are likely to receive a warm reception. Their pursuers would have to pay a lot to get someone to beetle-rat them out, so she isn't shy about her inquiries. The wick is burning fast.

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon
As the four of you move through the neighbourhood, a voice calls out to you in a loud whisper.

"Yuza? Is that you?"

Looking around, you see a scruffy youth of about fifteen years staring at you with surprise clear on his face. Yuza quickly recognizes him as Kato; the older brother of the current leader of the Fire Finches, and an old acquaintance of hers.

He looks like he's going to ask what you're all doing here, but after a glance to the right tells him that a pair of Red Feathers some distance away are coming down the street, he frantically gestures for you all to follow him into the alley he's currently stood in. With little other choice, you do so.

There's a wide space in the middle of this alley that puts you all out of sight of anyone on the street. Peering around a corner, you see the two Red Feathers ride right by the alley.

"We should be safe here for a bit." Kato says, before turning to look at Yuza. With the danger over, he's gone back to being relaxed and confused.

"What the flameo is going on here, Yuza? The whole city's practically searching for you and...him." He nods towards Zaran. "And what's with the old man and the...Water Tribe person?"

Niuan looks unimpressed. "I am a Fire Sage, boy. Or rather, I was until not too long ago." he says matter-of-factly.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Random Word]

Yuza smiles when Kato pulls her out of the alley, but fights to keep it small. You don't know how people will remember you when you... leave. Things aren't the same now. She's learned a lot. Now she's in control. Her well drilled body is a machine, and she stands at attention without even thinking about it, ramrod straight, hands clasped behind her back. You stand at attention when you give reports. "I protect him," she gestures at Zaran. "He's... family." It still feels strange to say it. "He's doing something important. They're helping because they believe in it," she gestures at Sesi. "...we believe in it. The guards don't like what we're doing. The family really doesn't like what we're doing. We need to get out of town. Right now. The Sage needs to go, too. We're... helping each other."

She pauses awkwardly, fidgeting as she tries to relax. She catches herself and stills her hands, glaring at them for their betrayal. She hasn't quite schooled her features when she looks back up at Kato. "I'm... glad you're well," she pauses again, considering. "Are you well?"

 

[Eonivar]

Sesi watched the exchange between Yuza and Kato and was very intrigued by the change in Yuza's manner regarding the young man. They listened to the words spoken, was a bit embarrassed that they seemed so obvious as an 'Water Tribe Person" and found themselves looking at their clothing wondering if there was anything else they could do to hide who they were but found comfort in Yuza's response.

Sesi then glanced about while the conversion seemed to continue looking for Guards or Red Feathers around the alley they found themselves hiding. Sesi hoped that this kid may hold some way out of this place.

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon
Kato shrugs. "Well enough, I guess. At least for a teenager living on the streets here."

He then turns his attention to the other matter. "Okay. So you need to get out of this city. And from the sound of it, you need to get out of the Fire Nation as a whole."

"That is correct." Niuan says. "I have an...old friend...who told us of a rumoured tunnel that would lead us out of this city, to a beach used by smugglers. Do you know if there's any truth to that?"

He nods. "Yeah, I know about that tunnel. Me and the other Fire Finches found out about it years ago." he says. "From what we've seen, the smugglers still make use of it, and I reckon they'd be happy to ferry you out of here. Provided you can pay them, anyway."

Spoiler: OOC

Paying the smugglers to take the four of you and the scroll can be done with one lineage resource of cold hard cash, which Zaran can obtain through either his Humble Yourself move or his Raid Your Lineage's Resources move.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Rykon]

"We can find a way to make ends meet." Zaran replied. "I may have to impose upon some connections though."

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon
Niuan gives Zaran an uncertain look at the mention of his family's connections, before composing himself into a more neutral expression and looking at Kato. "Are you willing to tell us the location of this secret passage?"

Kato gives the old man a grimace. "It's not up to me who we share our secrets with. It's up to our leader, Rini. And given that one of your group's the golden child of Clan Daishu, it might take you a bit of effort before you can persuade her to help you."

He looks at Yuza. "I'm sorry, Yuza. I can help you meet with Rini, and vouch for you, but that's it."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Random Word]

Yuza shrugs, "That's enough. Lead the way."

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon

According to Kato, Rini was planning to put in some work hustling festivalgoers on Camellia Street, a little region of the city outside of the Canals. He leads you there, the five of you able to avoid the guards and gangs on the way, and it doesn't take him long to spot her and point her out to you.

She's a girl who looks to be around fourteen years old, with brown hair worn in a ponytail, bronze eyes, and ratty, light-red clothes. She's currently taking part in some kind of card game, one that seems to involve her shuffling a deck with high-level dexterity, dealing out three cards face down, then inviting members of the small crowd gathered in front of her to ben on the location of a particular card. From the size of the coin purse sitting on the floor next to her, the crowd haven't really had much luck so far.

Kato moves ahead of you and makes some discreet signal to Rini, who spots it out of the corner of her eye. She says something to the crowd that none of you can hear while making an apologetic-looking gesture, and stands up from the chair behind the table she's been playing on. A teenage boy within the crowd quickly slides into the newly vacated dealer's seat and begins calling for bets, while Rini approaches the five of you.

"They want our help getting out of the Fire Nation." Kato explains to her once she's close enough to hear him speak without raising his voice. Rini's eyes look over the four of you, paying particular attention to Zaran and then Niuan, before she folds her arms and smirks.

"I can't say I'm surprised. Last I heard, half the city's hunting for them." she remarks. Her gaze then turns to Zaran. "So then, Daishu kid. How does it feel, begging for help from 'street trash'?"

It's hard not to notice the hint of resentment beneath Rini's confident exterior.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Rykon]

"Bout as uncomfortable as it is to impose upon anyone else." Zaran says nonchalantly. "Regardless, my pride isn't worth the lives or freedom of my fellows here, nor the goal that drove us to this point. How bout you? How does it feel to see some officer's brat get the whole city scrambling with coals in their coats after one heist? Hopefully not bad enough that you won't take his money to let the folks out there simmer awhile longer."

 

[jaydude]

Rini gives a shrug of her shoulders. "It does make a nice change from your cousins joining up with the Red Feathers and hunting us down like elephant rats." she admits.

Zaran's mention of payment for services catch her interest. "What kind of money are we talking about?" she asks.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Eonivar]

Sesi kept their mouth shut as the conversation continued, feeling much like a third wheel here, although they understood greatly about being an outlaw on the run. They messed with their long white braid of hair while the others spoke, turning it over this way and that, looking down at the long alabaster strands woven together to keep it out of the way, noting the split ends and dryness, leading to them thinking about if and when they would be able to wash their hair or if they should just cut it all off. Sesi mused remembering when their hair was coal black like their mother's and father's, and after the tragedy and they emerged from the blizzard, their hair bright white. Sesi found it strange that their hair never turned back to black, even after shaving it off, it grew out bright white.

 

[Rykon]

"Ah, but we should agree on the product before the price," Zaran said holding up a hand, signaling Rini to slow down a moment. "All we're looking to do is get off the island in peace. Word is you can help us get to the smugglers to make an exit without complicating matters too much for the otherwise innocent. Now..." The young man added, before gesturing to continue. "I will bring enough to settle the finders fee and their toll I'm sure. So are you willing to lend us a hand? I'd rather this little squabble not spill out on the undeserving if we can avoid it. Still... We will do what we must."

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon
"I can point you to a passage that leads out of the city. It'll take you to a beach used by the smugglers." Rini answers. "But I'll only tell you where it is once you have the money."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Random Word]

Yuza gives Kato a long suffering look before turning back to Rin impatiently, "Acceptable. Name your price. Quickly."

 

[jaydude]

Yuza gives Kato a long suffering look before turning back to Rin impatiently, "Acceptable. Name your price. Quickly."

Spoiler: OOC

I don't know a lot about exact money figures in the Avatarverse, so I'm afraid you're getting a non-answer. Mechanically speaking, you'll be able to pay off the Fire Finches with one of the three resources Zaran can get through his humble yourself move.

Rini gives a fairly moderate figure, presumably guessing that even a disgraced Daishu heir can be milked for a good deal more money than the average person. Still, it's a small enough amount that the four of you could easily meet it with the money you could get from Zaran's grandparents, and still have more than enough to pay off the smugglers.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[jaydude]

Eonivar Random Word Rykon

Spoiler: OOC

Wasn't sure how long this was going to take, so I decided to sum things up and keep the story rolling.

Zaran's grandparents keep a high-end townhouse within Harbor City, the better to help keep an eye on family affairs in the capital. With the festivities still ongoing, the streets are busy enough to allow the four of you to avoid any more confrontations with guards or Red Feathers as you travel there, albeit with a few close calls.

The old man and his wife are understandably surprised to find themselves receiving their fugitive grandson and his equally wanted friends, but they thankfully don't try and have the four of you arrested. A private conversation in which Zaran explains his motives for stealing the scroll calms their doubts; though they've naturally been discreet with such opinions in a time when questioning the Fire Lord's wisdom is considered tantamount to treason, Zaran and Yuza get the impression that the two older Daishus have never fully approved of the Fire Nation continuing the war over the last few decades, when it's already prosperous from plundering the Earth Kingdom's resources. At some point, one has to wonder whether or not the continued push towards Ba Sing Se is just another way for the Fire Lord to stoke his ego.

In the end, Zaran's grandparents give him a bag full of gold pieces, and wish the four of you good luck in making your escape from the capital. Discretely exiting the townhouse, the four of you make another trek through the city to where Rini was running her hustle, and after getting her to follow you off the street, you hand over a fraction of the Daishu gold. She counts it out quickly, then nods.

"There's a narrow alleyway roughly four blocks north of here. In that alleyway, there's an empty fountain, with two stone dragon head statues just above it. Insert a knife into the left dragon's right nostril, and another into the right dragon's left nostril, give them both a counter clockwise twist at the same time, and you'll open up the passage." she explains. "You guys do have a pair of knives on you, right?"

Niuan nods. It's the exact same mechanism used to lock and unlock the restricted section of the Dragonbone Catacombs, and the three of you naturally bought a pair of knives along when the time came to execute your heist. These will be among the possessions that Niuan returned to you when he first broke you out earlier today.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][_][_] (Afternoon)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection

 

[Rykon]

Zaran nods also, "We have some knives that should do the trick. Anyhow, we should get a move on before we're stuck here. Thanks for the tip and your time. Warm hearths and cool waters friend, best of luck." Zaran gave a short wave of farewell and turned about to make for the alleyway with the empty fountain.

 

[Eonivar]

Sesi shook their head at the thought of an empty fountain as they proceeded toward their objective. They speak to Zaran and Yuza. "An empty fountain. What a waste. How do the people in the area get fresh and clean water for their daily needs? Does the leadership here do nothing to take care of its own people? It's about the same here as what I have heard about the ways the Earth Kingdom treats their common folk. There is no where to fish or get food on your own, no place to cook your food unless you have money, access to fresh water is a haul and probably also costs money, health care the same, and I suspect unless you join the army of butchers there are very little jobs. At least the weather here is reasonably stable and good. It's no wonder there are gangs here, how else do the common people survive? And they are made ignorant to the horrors their armies are commanded to commit beyond their borders through threats and dogma. I feel for your people."

 

[jaydude]

Sesi shook their head at the thought of an empty fountain as they proceeded toward their objective. They speak to Zaran and Yuza. "An empty fountain. What a waste. How do the people in the area get fresh and clean water for their daily needs? Does the leadership here do nothing to take care of its own people? It's about the same here as what I have heard about the ways the Earth Kingdom treats their common folk. There is no where to fish or get food on your own, no place to cook your food unless you have money, access to fresh water is a haul and probably also costs money, health care the same, and I suspect unless you join the army of butchers there are very little jobs. At least the weather here is reasonably stable and good. It's no wonder there are gangs here, how else do the common people survive? And they are made ignorant to the horrors their armies are commanded to commit beyond their borders through threats and dogma. I feel for your people."

Niuan listens gravely to Sesi's words. "We have spent so long staring at the horizon, we have neglected that which we stand upon. And neglect a problem for too long and it stops being a problem." he says.

The afternoon is starting to come to a close as you approach the alley Rini pointed out to you. Unfortunately for you all, you see a large group of guards gathered right in front of it. Kouza is among them, but there's also a tough-looking woman in her late thirties, who wears the armor of a very high-ranker. All of you recognize her as General Gong, head of the city guard.

"Spread out and search the area. We've got the perimeter set up, so they shouldn't be able to slip out without us noticing." Gong orders. The guards promptly disperse, but six of them remain in front of the alley alongside Gong and Kouza.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Clock:[X][X][X][_] (Evening)
Zaran
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Tradition - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Progress

Sesi
Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [X]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [X]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Forgiveness - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Action
Yuza
Fatigue: [X][_][_][_][_]

Conditions: (All start unmarked)
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Control - (_)-(B)-(_)-{_}-(X)-(X)-(X) - Connection