Exalted Third Edition: An-Teng

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream





Halcyon returns the smile and clasps the woman's hand between her own, "No, thank you. You gave me a wonderful welcome. I'm just getting started, and I haven't even repaid your kindness yet. I'm Halcyon Dream - I don't have an address just yet - and if you ever have need of anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm passing familiar with the arts of the physician, and have some small skill with the sword, though I imagine in your line of work you have much more need of the former than the latter." She laughs, "You have the look of someone who has the blade well in hand."

 

[Sherwood]

Kiera laughs. "In my line of work, if I have to pull a blade, something had fine seriously wrong. But I must confess that I do enjoy the way a well balanced knife feels in my hand."


At this point, Whiskers decides that not enough attention is being paid to him, and the winged kitty jumps down onto the desk and stretches. He then pushes his way into the middle of the table and begins to sniff around. "Silly beast. Come here and let me give you some love."


The smug look on Whiskers' face is easily understood as mission accomplished.

 

[Esbilon]

Rising Tide





The young woman shakes her head, "I'm not from here," she protests and her accent the truth of that apparent now that her voice has cleared up a little, "I did nothing but stand there and listen." Her smiles curves a little at Halcyon Dream's offer of help, or at least attention, "you should be careful about making such offers, I'm sure there are a great many people in this city who will want to seek you out if you make your generousity known." She shrugs at the mention of swordsmanship, "I'm better than most, but I've had a good sifu and some natural talent, I think. Most people never learn these things properly. Oh," he eyes widen, "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. My name is N..." a sudden sadness seems to come over her as she interrupts her own introduction, "I'm called Rising Tide," she says instead.

 

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream





"You'd best make sure you take advantage of me first, then, Rising Tide," laughs Halcyon with a conspiratorial wink. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You are... [High Realm] from the Blessed Isle, then?"


She turns, slightly startled, as the woman in the back room. "Are you an... explorer, then?" Her eye is drawn to the smug ball of fur as the woman in the back room pulls it into her arms. "Aren't you pretty. Goodness, do you have wings? Oh, you're adorable. Yes you are," she calls in a sing-song voice as she presses her palms together, fingertips just brushing her lips.

 

[Sherwood]

The winged cat looks up at Halcyon and begins to purr. See? I told you I was adorable! I like this one. Can we keep her? Kiera nearly chokes on her laugh as the tossels his ears. "HIs name is Whiskers, and you've just made a friend for life talking to him like that. I am Kiera Valen, and yes, I have been known to do some exploring on occasion. I am an expert at recovering lost goods." She bows to the other woman. "I say, if you happen to have some tuna in a pouch somewhere, I may lose my friend for good with as much as he's purring for you."

 

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream


Halcyon blinks twice, her brow furrowing, "Tuna? Well, I don't think it's tuna." She grins and her back foot shoots out, body lowering into a lunge as she draws one of her Daiklaves in her right hand, her left extended across her chest. A gust of wind whips her hair and sends nearby papers flying about the room as she drives the ornate blade of blue jade back towards the doorway, blunt moonsilver covering the edge from tip to half way along its length. The curtains of the carriage fly outward as a porcelain tray is lifted off its small table and sent flying through the open door into Halcyon's waiting left hand. She catches it at a slight angle to ensure its contents don't decorate the far wall, then swiftly sheathes her sword and stands in one fluid motion, presenting a tray half filled with as yet unsavoured pieces of smoked fish over sweet melon.


"Will this do?" she asks, innocently.

 

[Sherwood]

Kiera is about to dive to the side as her hand goes to her chakram when the other woman pulls out her blade. The sudden appearance of the smoked fish, however, is enough to keep her from going full defensive and trying to stick her own blades into her. Whiskers lets out a loud "Mrow!" and pounces on the fish, pausing to look up at Halcyon as he licks his chops between bites, a kitty smile plastered on his face.


Kiera composes herself and begins to shake her head and laugh out loud. "Oh, my! You are a rare find, aren't you? I was worried for a moment, but I could tell that Whiskers likes you,and that is always a good sign that you are a good person. Don't eat too much, you greedy thing! You won't be able to get off the ground with a belly that full."


But its just soooo good! I can't help myself. <burp> Like I said, can we keep her?

 

[JayTee]

Kyros entered the building with a knock, wondering what to expect from a place that had come to him in a vision. Entering, he witnessed two women, one of whom was the orator from earlier in the day, making small talk with each other. "Good day." He said by way of introduction. "It seems I was not the only one drawn to this place."

 

[Esbilon]

Rising Tide





Tide is about to confirm Halcyon Dream's supposition when the winged cat enters the scene and the other's attention is caught by the equally adorable and unnatural beast. Instead of interrupting, she smiles a little awkwardly and regards the spectacle. When Halcyon uses her sword to summon food for Whiskers, her eyes widen and she says: "I thought you said you had only some small skill with a sword. That was hardly the work of a novice."

 

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream


Halcyon brings the tray slightly closer to her face and nuzzles Whiskers, "Hi, cutie. Do you all have wings here? I've never seen a cat like you." Not expecting a response from the clearly preoccupied cat, she turns to Rising Tide and blushes slightly at the compliment. "The sword was just for show, really. I can't claim credit for gifts bestowed by the Dragons."


She abruptly realizes she's standing in the way of the door as yet another patron of this department comes through and moves further into the room with an apologetic glance. She bows slightly, careful not to disturb the tray balanced on one hand, "Good day to you as well, sir. I am Halcyon Dream." She looks briefly puzzled at his comment, "I am pleased to see exploration is such a popular venture here. Then again, with so many mysterious jungles, how could one resist? Do you mean to suggest this department is not usually so busy?"

 

[Rykon]

As the papers begin to lift off the table the guild official's hands begin tacking down each piece of parchment in rapid succession. Those watching would see what looked like a blurred burst of motion over the table as a gentle breeze rolled outward from him. He stood in silence for a moment before posing a question, "Drawn here you say? Would this have something to do with the caravan attacks and disappearances, I wonder?" Those looking over the maps would see several trade routes traced over the region of An-Teng and it's bordering seas. Along many of them were thumb tacs marking a handful of routes leading toward Gem and Paragon to the East. Other markers representing realm garrisons, wyld patches, and shadowlands are also noted on the maps, some of these marks seem to indicate recent expansion of inhospitable territory.

 

[Sherwood]

Kiera looks up from the amusing sight of Whiskers enjoying his offering. "Attacks on caravans? More so than can be accounted to by local bandits? How long has this been going on?" Reports of any trouble against the Guild are disturbing to her.

 

[Esbilon]

Rising Tide


Looking between Kyros and the guildsman, Rising Tide frowns slight, "I was not drawn here by any stretch of the word. But I did see it in a dream. A strange and disturbing dream," she adds mostly to herself. "I know nothing of any caravan attacks or disappearances, though."

 

[Rykon]

"Investigations don't show the normal pillaging pattern of bandits, most of the trade goods were left unmolested." The official reported. "This group of incidents also left no survivors." He paused for a moment. "Oh, I'm Chief Archaeologist, and Guild Prince, Terron Craig, or just Craig for short. And you all are...?"

 

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream





Halcyon's eyes widen slightly at the mention of a strange dream featuring this office, but stays silent. She self consciously places the tray on which Whiskers is perched off to one side and bows slightly at Craig, "I am Emissary Dream, of Paragon. It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Terron." She smiles, "My assignment requires that I explore your nation, and I couldn't help but feel I had stumbled upon a most auspicious place to start. If I can make myself useful at the same time, so much the better."

 

[JayTee]

"I am Crystal Mind Kyros, Sorcerer and master sage." Kyros said by way of introduction. He gave a polite nod to Halcyon, and the others who had introduced themselves. "In my experience, visions brought by dreams are signs of great fortune or great ruin, especially if shared. I suggest we tread cautiously." He said to Rising Tide.

 

[Esbilon]

Rising Tide





With a puzzled expression on her face, the young woman turns to the self-professed master sage and asks, "do you have alot of personal experience with visions brought by dreams, master Kyros?"

 

[JayTee]

"Extensive experience." Kyros said with a nod. "More than once my future has been foreshadows by my dreams, and that knowledge has always served to better equip me for whatever task the visions showed me."

 

[Sherwood]

Kiera rubs the stuffed belly of Whiskers, making him purr. "I have not had any visions that did not involve obscene sums of money in my possession. I ended up here because Olaz has a buyer in mind for this statute." She reaches out and places her hand on the top of the jade statute. "I think it has some special meaning, but I do not know what that would be. However, the news that the caravans have been coming under attack is troubling, and if there is something that can be done to put a stop to it, I'm all about that."


With a flourish, Kiera produces a small throwing dagger and casually begins to clean under her already immaculate fingertips. "Letting people get away with killing members of the Guild is bad for business."

 

[Random Word]

Halcyon Dream





"Death generally is," she replies with obvious distaste. She re-examines the self professed Sorcerer with a measure of unease before quickly turning away. "Where are the caravan guards, the Legions, and the local militias? Surely there is a plan in place to stymie this threat to public order and safety."

 

[Rykon]

Craig lets out a deep sigh, "If only it were as simple as the folk being killed. We didn't even find corpses, savvy? Just signs of short conflict, if that. As for the forces... What forces? An-Teng's only standing military for the last 200 years has almost been exclusively Realm garrisoned troops, with native forces being mercenaries hired to guard the Princes. Now even the Red-Piss Legion has been called home. All that's left to us are the mercenary types really, and scraping together the funding for them with no solid evidence is hard to do with these miserly bastards." Craig takes a mouthful of a beverage he had on the desk before continuing. "You lot seem capable though, Dragon-Blooded, Sorcerer, and whatnot. You interested in helping me find out whatever these sods are up to?"

 

[Sherwood]

Kiera decides not to announce her status as a Solar instead of claiming to be a Dragon Blood. "Well, Master Olaz, I can tell you this; I am quite certain that, given a chance to do so, I can at least find out the identity of those attacking the caravans. Stopping them, however, may be a bit outside my skill set. I'm good with a knife or chakram, but that may not be enough to eliminate the ones causing such a ruckus." She turns her attention to the others in the room. "But, I'm sure that there are a few good blademasters around, and they would be more than capable in dealing with whatever I can sniff out."

 

[JayTee]

Kyros frowned. He was not at all interested in bing an errand boy for an archeologist who couldn't handle a few strange disappearances. And as he was personally wealthy enough that money was a non-issule for him, he was unlikely to offer Kyros a sum that would make it worth his while.


However, what Kyros did not have was connections and influence in the City of Steel Lotus, and having a Guild Prince owing you a favor was not something to be taken lightly. If anything were to be his 'in', this would be it. "I am willing to investigate this mystery." Kyros said. "Might I suggest we pretend to be apart of the caravan? To better lure out whoever is making these attacks."

 

[Rykon]

"I s'pose I ought to get employment contracts underway first actually. Olaz has the papers on it, but based on the number and ranking of the missing individuals, 12 merchant princes and their entourages, I believe such a job is worth a grand total of 20 Jade Talents or 80 Silver Talents, however you prefer to take yer pay is up to you, savvy? Naturally, this sum would be split among you 'outside contractors'... As for a plan of approach, we could tag along with a caravan, however this means we would be reacting to what evidence shows to be highly effective ambushes... Not sure I like bein live bait jumpin into a trap, but I'll leave plannin this gambit up to you all." Olaz drops a number of packets of employment agreements complete with liability waivers and deniability clauses. "Now, i there aren't any questions beforehand, those signing up for work just need to sign each of the three forms in the packet."

 

[Esbilon]

Rising Tide





"That... That's quite an extraordinary amount of money, Prince Terron Craig," Rising Tide says with obvious surprise. "You know next to nothing about us, and yet you would offer such a generous contract. Why, if I may ask?"