"Oh aye? Then if pickpockets do show up you'll be the first to realize it then ah?" Zeru says with a chuckle. "Thankee for your vigilance." He salutes the guard, and makes his way back to the Jewelry shop tp ;ook for a stone for the Marlena.

Xander had been following the guards for a while watching the group shop. He had been thinking of various ways he could distract the guard in order to get a private word in with the group but short of killing the man he wasn't sure how to get rid of him for that long. "Problems of being an assassin. If I do need to distract someone its ussually only long enough for me to slip by. Never thought I'd have to distrat a guard long enough to get in a conversation with someone in the middle of a crowded market."

As he muses he notices that the man had turned around and confronted the guard and he was left with two choices either hide so he is not seen as well or let himself be seen but in a way that he is discounted. He discounts the first option. Trying to hide is likly to draw the attention of someone in this crowded place and its not like the man has any reason to notice him in the first place. In any case though Xander doesn't miss a step and casualy stops at a nearby vendor to examine her wares.

The woman vendor is nearing middle-age, with blue hair bound in braided beads. She smiles back at Xander, showing two missing front teeth. Her wares identify her as an alchemist and thaumaturgist by trade: bags of fresh picked tea leaves, pots of ointments and other herbal remedies, and a wide variety of lucky charms and protective talismans.

A couple items stand out, though. One is a knife with a carved-bone hilt, in a whale-skin sheath. It's been separated from the other items, with a sign next to it that reads in Seatongue: You'll never leave home without it. Next to it on the same display tray is a miniature salt-encrusted locked box that the woman claims was excavated in the deep Wyld.

While Xander 'browses', the coast guard raises his eyebrows at Zeru's salute. "Not really doing it for you," he mumbles dismissively at the Water Aspect's back.

Zeru comes Xander's way, passing right by the thaumaturge and her stall on the way to the jeweler's storefront. The coast guard stays where he is, eyeing the shop Zeru is going into, but not following. Cinna joins Zeru, delighted at her new scarf... she wraps it around her shoulders and neck, so that Coral gets half-tucked into it, and the pair enter the store. Xander hears the redhead says something like, "Marlena's even more classy than me... should I be jealous?"

Inside, Zeru has a wide range of precious gems, semiprecious stones and crystals to look at. There are a pair of women minding the store, one younger and one older, both with the same dark purple hair. "May I help you, sir?" says the younger, sidling up to Zeru almost immediately with a friendly expression. [Private to Peleps Zeru: Crystals of Res 1 would be a common variety, cut to look more expensive than it really is. Semi precious (amethyst, garnet, citrine, iolite, topaz...) would range from Res 1 to 2, depending on the cut and weight. Precious gems like ruby, sapphire, etc. would be Res 3+.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:57, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

Zeru casually puts his arm around Cinna's shoulders pulling her close. "Don't worry love, she's not more classy, just more... picky." He says. "Maybe we can talk to her together at sundown, see if she'll accept you as first mate. She's a mite demanding, but now that she's been healed and cleaned she might be a little nicer. She's had a rough time you know. But then again, hasn't everyone in the Alliance? It seems to me that she fits right in." He pulls her close "As for being jealous I really doubt you have to worry love. I'd really like to get to know you better though, if you don't mind telling me. It don't have to be now, maybe later when we're afforded some degree of privacy?"

"Mau!"

"Of course you don't count Coral, who would you be telling? Besides didn't you just make a new friend so you don't have to be as scared when I go diving?" As he was talking he selected a well cut but unset onyx stone for the Marlena, it cost him much, but he felt it was worth it, and there would be more work along the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

Tageru is still sitting calmly as the thug approaches, seemingly lost in his thoughts, but turns his head to the right, and tries to catch a glimpse of whoever is coming up behind him. He was in a foreign land, and one that seemed to dislike his kind. It would be wise to be alert.

[Private to Storyteller: OOC: Since Tageru would not want to actually START the fight, I'll just wait for the response about what is going on. If they attack, they'll regret it, but he won't actually initiate it until it's clear there will be violence. :) Also, if the person behind him is a more important threat, he'll deal with it first.]

Xander smiles cursing inwardly that they had gone into a shop. "Careful its not like your trying to assassinate them or something. Guess habits die hard." He looks around at the what the woman has to offer and his eyes catches on the box that is claimed to have come from the deep wyld. "Excuse me but thats an interesting box you have there. Has it ever been opened?"

Tallest tree on the island:

Tageru looks behind him, and sees the Immaculate woman he noticed earlier, watching him steadily. She neither moves nor speaks, but her eyes meet his and she nods slowly. Perhaps waiting to see how he will react to the troublemakers?

In front of him, Kythe and Shrike step closer, invading his personal space beneath the big tree. "You, get up. Move along," snaps one, followed quickly by the other: "There's no room in Seahaven for a vagrant with an attitude like yours." [Private to Cynis Tageru: Normally outcastes/dynasts are acceptable in Seahaven. They're mostly reacting to your 1) obvious breeding 2) disturbing demeanor... so the attitude toward Tageru is more likely to be hostile or mistrusting than tolerant. That along with the unusual number of Outcastes in the city pushed them to be aggressive.]

Shopping for shinies:

Cinna smiles widely at Zeru's attention, leaning her head on his shoulder when she's pulled close. "Sure, honey, I guess we can see what Marlena thinks. As for getting to know me? You can take all the time you want. I'm yours." She winks, her laughter warm and inviting.

Smiling at the amorous couple, the younger clerk with purple hair extracts the gemstone Zeru had requested from its display. She lets him and Cinna examine it before wrapping it up for purchase: a large, teardrop shaped cut with facets that drink the light, but give a mesmerizing texture to the entirety. "You are sure you don't want a setting? As you wish, sir..." Money exchanges hands, and Zeru is handed a small bag with the gem in a protective box. [Private to Peleps Zeru: You're back down to Res 1, though it's not bad, since Cobalt pays for your room and board.]

Just outside the jeweler's:

The woman vendor gives an unevenly-toothed grin at Xander's interest in the box. "Never opened, a treasure from the fae of the deep waters. The box is a puzzle left unsolved for ages that few have dared to brave." She cackles at the thought, as if to goad him into trying himself. "For a small price, take a chance and claim the prize that is locked within!"

If Zeru steps outside at this moment, he'll see a young man with dark blue hair being shown a small puzzle box at the thaumaturgist's stall.

Tageru smiles the best he can and looks at his assailants. "Gentlemen, please. I've been on a ship for a long time, and I haven't had the time to rest beneath a tree for quite a while. Would you deny a monk such a pleasure? Plus, I don't think I am actually bothering anyone just sitting here. I came to shop and I needed a bit of rest. Please, just let me be. I don't want any trouble while I'm here."
He bows slightly to them and pretends to close his eyes in meditation again. He sits cross-legged and seems completely relaxed, but is ready to react to any hostility in an instant.

[Private to Cynis Tageru: Is Tageru actually dressed like a monk still? I suppose I should have thought about that. :)]

"A monk... you? Traveling on the Outcaste ship?" The blue-haired one, Shrike, frowns pensively, actually drawing back a step. "Hey, Kythe, maybe we should just..."

But the fiery redhead is already pressing forward, either overwhelmed by emotion or just stupid. "Yeah? If you're a monk, why don'cha prove it?" He surges forward, grabbing for Tageru's arm.

By now there's more than just the Immaculate monk watching Tageru and the two men. Several shoppers and vendors on the street have turned their way, distracted from their tasks, gathering into a small but growing crowd of spectators. A pair of market guards start striding their way, as well.

The female monk continues to stand and watch...

[Private to Cynis Tageru: Did some rolls, Kythe went first and got 5 sux on a clinch attempt. Unarmed Tageru has 6 DV, so you can just block it and retaliate if you wish. I'm not meaning this to be a huge battle, the stupid guy probably just needs enough of a show of power so he'll move on. :P]

As the big guy grabs for Tageru's arm, his left hand moves like a lightning and slaps him across the face, just enough to distract him for a moment, and suddenly, the thug's right little finger is in Tageru's grip, and the thug screams in pain. "Please, just let me meditate. I'd hate to have to stand up and teach you some manners.", Tageru says, and with a flick of the wrist, the thug makes a somersault and lands unceremoneously on his back, and rolls down the street a few paces. Tageru looks at the other thug and raises his eyebrows. "Please, I am a patient man, but even my patience has some limits."

"Hmmm. Thats very interesting. So I'm guess your not selling the box itself. People are just paying for a chance to open it. Is that right?" Xander studies the box carefully to see if he can notice something just by looking at it. What its made of any outstanding designs and mabye a clue to opening it.

[Private to GM: 17:37, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,9,3,2,9,8,9,6. perception+awearness or laceny. ]

Tallest tree on the island:

"Sorry to trouble you," Shrike says hurriedly, backing away to help his companion up. He's noticed the Immaculate beside Tageru as well, and -- not certain whether the two are acquainted -- decides he's better off not testing that theory.

Kythe, however, is fuming. "Did you hear that!? He called us thugs. I ought to teach him a..."

"No you don't! Let's get out of here, we don't need this kind of press!"

As Shrike (and Kythe, unwillingly) start to remove themselves from the scene, the monk next to Tageru steps forward and leans towards him, whispering. "Excuse me, sir. I believe you are acquainted with Master Koto? He is convalescing at the local Immaculate temple, and has requested that I pass on his invitation to meet you there."

Just outside the jeweler's:

"That's right," says the vendor smugly, "and none yet have managed the trick of it. Five cowries per try."

Xander can see the box is an uneven shape, like a jagged cube. It looks as if it has several joints all along the body that can be twisted and locked into place. (OOC: it's actually a lot like a Rubik's cube, I suppose, except with more complexity. Basically you have to twist layers of the box around so that the box locks into a shape that can be opened. But it's possible to lock the box into a position where you can no longer progress and have to retry.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:40, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

"Thankee kindly miss..." Zeru says with a smile. Then he looks at his crazy-watch for the time. He slips his arm lower holding his arm around Cinna's waist, and the two walk out of the store.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Thu 11 Dec 2008.

Cinna is still in excellent spirits, comfortable at Zeru's side with her new shawl draped prominently around her shoulders. "I'm starving, think we could grab a bite to eat?" she suggests. The time on Zeru's "crazy watch" shows it to be three hours, forty minutes, twenty five seconds past noon.

Ahead of them, Xander hands over the cowries and gives the puzzle box a shot. One or two times he's almost certain he's gotten it right, but looks are deceiving: as he twists the box into what he is confident is the final series of moves, his entire strategy falls apart, leaving him with a jumbled mess.

The box shifts back into its original jagged cube position without his prompting, almost as if it holds an intelligence of its own. Chuckling, the vendor places it back on its display. "Another try?" she says to Xander. Zeru could potentially give it a try too, if he wanted.

---

OOC: as partially explained to Xander in PM...
roll Int+Lore (I would allow Larceny as well) 6 times.
if you ever get 6 successes on a single roll, you automatically solve it.
if you ever get 0 successes on a single roll, you automatically fail.
Other than that, it's possible to win with net successes, but I'm leaving the exact numbers secret. :)

[Private to Peleps Zeru; Xander Lucian: You guys are making it hard for me to get you to bump together ;) should I try to put in some scenario to force a meeting, or does this work?]

"Sure love" His eyes are drawn away to a puzzle box that a man is working at. "You see that?" he asks her. Just when he looks like he's going to win the last twist turns the box into a jumbled mess. He steps up with Cinna. "You mind if I try?" he asks. Then turns to Cinna. "We'll grab a late lunch afterwards. I'm now very curious."

"I'll see him as soon as I can." Tageru says to the young female monk. "Did he, perhaps, say why he required my presence?"

Tallest tree on the island:

While Tageru speaks to the Immaculate, the market guards step up toward the tree, looking first to the Wood Aspect, then the Water Aspect in the linen robe.

"We accept and respect your presence among us, Dragons, but please try to keep out of trouble," says one of the women in whale-leather armor. They bow, and say nothing more, moving onward to disperse the curious crowd without a backward glance. Tageru notices they don't bother to go after the two 'thugs' as they make their awkward getaway, though. Not even so much as a reprimand.

The female Immaculate does not speak again until they pass, still talking in a quiet, unobtrusive voice. "Master Koto has only said that he wishes to exchange stories with you again." If Tageru gives no more reply, she will go on her way, leaving him at peace as the afternoon sun filters through the branches of the great tree.

The thaumaturgist's stall:

The woman with ragged braids chuckles toward Zeru, and puts out her palm. "It's your money to lose, young man. Five cowries a try, please." [Private to Peleps Zeru: Should be within Res 1 to pay, so no worries there :) It'll only be worrying if you keep trying for a long time.]

Once the money is handed over she gives Zeru the box to try. (Go ahead and roll 'em!) Meanwhile, Cinna peers curiously at the other wares on sale, wrinkling her nose now and then at the pungent smells from some of the jars.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

He settles down for a moment and starts twisting. But the box resists his efforts to open it. When he finishes he hands the box back to the lady. "That is one stubborn puzzle."


[Private to GM:
21:21, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,3,9,6,1,6. box opening6.
21:21, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,6,8,6,3,7. box opening5.
21:20, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,8,9,6,4,4. box opening4.
21:20, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 5 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,9,1,9,9,9. box opening3.
21:20, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,9,5,3,1,10. box opening2.
21:20, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,1,5,2,2,10. box opening.]

"It is, isn't it?" The woman at the counter smiles her gap-toothed smile, when Zeru is done with the box. "But you were close -- mine eyes do not lie. It is rare that the dragon chosen would amuse themselves with such things."

"A shame... truly a shame that none may ever see the treasure trapped within..."

---

OOC: Xander oughta have some time to post today (or so he told me) so don't run off just yet... :D

Xander looks over at Zeru. "It was a nice try and I thank you for that. It would truly be a shame if this was never solved." He puts down some more money and picks up the box again. He starts twisting it and seems to come inches away from locking it several times. In fact you would almost swear he was trying to lock it.  Then suddenly there is a click and Xander smiles. "That should do it. Let us see what is inside shal we?" With that he open the ancient puzzle.

OOC: VICTORY IS MINE!

[Private to GM: :20, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 6 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,8,9,9,8,1. open box.
15:20, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,5,3,10,5,9. open box.
15:20, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 4 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,9,9,6,10,5. open box.
15:20, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,6,7,3,2,5. open box.
15:20, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,6,5,5,2,8. open box. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Sat 13 Dec 2008.

The woman minding the thaumaturgist's stall stares at Xander goggle-eyed, her mouth dropping open. "I can't believe you -- just two tries -- never seen anyone --" She can't seem to manage to finish a sentence, half blubbering and half praying to the gods she thinks will hear her, as if unsure whether Xander's success is a good omen or an ill one.

Meanwhile, the puzzle box opens at Xander's command. Almost immediately, the interior radiates a dazzling, iridescent light, the myriad colors of distilled dream. He reaches inside eagerly, and finds the shape of the object within almost reacting to his deepest desires, taking the form of something pleasing to him.

[Private to Xander Lucian: Thinking on it, I realized that given the Wyld nature of the gift, it'd be most interesting to make it represent 'something you most want'. So, whatever's inside will take the shape of something you desire, of a form small enough to have fit in that box.

Some examples: 'Wealth' could be a flawless diamond. 'Fame' could take the shape of an emblem of ancient royalty, passed on to you. 'Luck' could be a pair of dice that always give results to your favor. Wishing for 'women' could yield a bottled pheromone that increases your attractiveness. Or 'Being unseen' could be a ring that makes you invisible when worn!

Just use your creativity, I'll ultimately work out the actual rules involved. :) There could be some unknown negatives involved, again because it's Wyld--but your character would not know that!]

It is a pendant in the shape of a yin yang symbol. To Zeru's eye it doesn't look terribly remarkable, but Xander feels immediately empowered by touching it, and yearns impulsively to put it on.

Wearing it gives him the ability to sense wickedness in people's hearts. He senses it like a burning color in their chests above where the heart would be. Both Zeru and Cinna vary from bright green to blue-green, an appealing color. The woman at the counter is an orange-yellow. All around him on the street Xander can see varying shades of heartfire, most of them hovering around orange, yellow and green, with rarer blues, and some angry reds.

The thaumaturgist vendor sighs a little despondently, now that the excitement of Xander's victory is over. She accepts the puzzle box itself back from him, which rearranges itself back into unsolved form almost as soon as she reclaims it. "Well, I can at least still charge people to play," she mutters. Then her weathered face brightens considerably as others come to line up at her counter, thinking they could pull a prize from the box as well.

Xander sees the vendor's heartfire shift from orangish toward warm yellow as she smiles appreciatively at him. Even Cinna salutes him with a friendly grin. "Lucky you," the redhead says cheerfully. "Winning at something's always fun."

[Private to Xander Lucian: The other powers mentioned in PM are also accessible of course. But for the most part they require conscious activation.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:17, Fri 19 Dec 2008.

"Congratulations my friend." Zeru says with a smile, before turning to Cinna. "Now I believe we were thinking of getting a bite to eat. Did you spy anything you like?"

"I'm fine with anything that's NOT rations, ugh. I saw a noodle shop down that way, do you like noodles?" Cinna's eyes gleam with anticipation at the thought, as she turns away from the excitement Xander caused at his success. "Fresh egg noodles, none of that dried up stuff. Just thinking of it makes my stomach growl."

---

OOC: think we will have to wait for Xander to post back at this point or the opportunity for you two to meet will go away! oops!

Zeru and Cinna part ways with Xander at the counter, never getting the lucky man's name but certainly never forgetting his good fortune.

The rest of the day with Cinna is a restful and pleasurable one, and Zeru finds upon returning to the Marlena that the rest of his crew has (mostly!) behaved, and survived their first day in Seahaven. Whatever they'd done with the guard that followed them is a story to be told over a round of drinks, but it seems that from then on, the guards of Seahaven keep a wider distance when watching over their activities in the city.

After that, Zeru has nearly a week longer to accomplish what he wishes in the city or just continue to relax. Xander is left to his own devices as well, still seeking an opportunity to leave the city.

---

OOC: closing off this thread... Zeru, if you like you can post anything else you might've done during the shore leave in 'Chapter 2, Phase 1' (I will close it in a couple of days), but Phase 2 should start shortly.