.... a fire in the skkkkyyyyyy .....  no wait c.c  that's not how it goes >.<

---

The Astrolabe of Fate gives a foreboding low tone, there is an uneasyness in the stars, a rewarod on the moon and the planet Venus awaits them but something else has called them from behind the thick vale that only now they can hear it's cries. Dose some terrible fate await them, or is it something worse.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:06, Tue 20 Oct 2015.

The astrolabe had tried to guide them to Ganymede but inside the heart of order there was nothing of outside that realm it could get a baring on. Now it was to late, not that they could have helped much yet but now what little of Neo Orleans that was above water was burning and they where doing there best to save what they could of the city from sinking or at the very least not sinking bellow crush depth. The toxic pollution from the acidic plasma having called into gas and liquid made the waters deadly and sea life in the area was dying out as they tried to contain that...the trying to desolitify the toxic gasses out of the water was the harder part and was calling in many mages into unsafe working increments. Senex again quickly dispatched a small team to help, and is working to help insure containment in any future attacks, sadly they seam exstreamly shorthanded.

Now they where in orbit of the moon though, the astrolabe was ready to guide them to the moon and ether the seeds raven needed or Gluttony, it was hard to tell. Thanks to the governor they had access codes to bypass the gate checks though they no longer nedded them with the new drives, the codes still turned many heads the other way for a no questions asked approach and landing... still quite useful. Even if your not using a gate the local air/space traffic control is going to take notice of your entry and track you... these codes though let them go dark.

Only thing left was to take care of any unfinished business before they left and deside if they should keep there new feline and child friends onboard with them or drop them off on the moon.

The child considers the incident on Ganymede and Senex's reaction. Wondering if any of the others might be interested.

When she arrives on the bridge and watches their descent. Smiling to Osman and Huoshui the girl speaks to the monk, "Glad you weren't stuck in sickbay too long. Amps still okay? Did you hear about the Vivo?"

ooc: missed the edit in october for the first message. does inks notice the promptings of the astrolabe of fate?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:43, Wed 23 Dec 2015.

The codes were very welcome, it was certainly a change from previously having to be hidden from the authorities. It was a weight on his soul certainly but with all that needed to be done there were far more pressing matters. Sneaking through the gate could be seen in itself as practice or an experience for Luci, Huoshui himself had studied under some more stealth brothers and sisters of the akashic.

"I am only without will working, and I trust the tapestry that this will only be for a time." Commenting on his sickbay stay, "Amps... from my knowledge is mending. Their kind is of sterner stuff." Looking to Inks, Huoshui recalls the events as he witnessed. It was much the reason that they were wanted. "Vivo, yes. A witness one could say also, of some of the atrocities at least. I cannot imagine one could say they saw it all. The scale was too much. What does it mean to you, were you affected by it?"

(only Raven would have noticed, and given the situation there was little anyone could have done about it at the time, they where in the middle of fighting pattern spiders off.)

There where plenty of organizations helping out but the only one of any note is Senex, particularly considering they can't really afford to help. They are still begging for help with Shard Realm Entropy.... the help they have given with the Vivo has goten them some people willing to give them some resorces or hands when before they where getting nothing so it might have just been a political gambit but hard to tell if they really care or not...

From past activities of Senex the company appears to have a very "one for the many" way of though, even to the point of killing insentient people to save the lives of many others. But the preservation of the cycle of life and death is there core intent, there main one bing protecting the Realms from anything that might be coming from the Shard Realm of Entropy or beyond the reaches of our realms. The company side of there activities are to fund such.

Speculation is they are only concerned about containing and sealing away what ever life/realm corrupting toxins the Vivo's bio-plasma are leaving behind, and hoping to gain help for the help they are giving.

They have been quite vocal that there is a war of sorts in the Shard Realm of Entropy and that they are losing it, and if they do..... well.... at the very least what they are fighting will spill lose.... at the worst the shard realm will spill forth into our realm aswell.

Most people think this is a load of shit though, and no one other than Senex has been allowing into the SR-Entropy in decades so kinda hard to trust them on whats in there when they have never been willing to share before and arn't to willing now.... they won't even tell people what the threat is right now.

Raven had been silent for a time now, staring in mute contemplation at one of the gifts Mars had given him. He had trusted in Luci and Osman to get them where they were now headed, but the monk's words seemed to catch his attention and he folded the device up into a circle before storing it away in his recently acquired suit; in retrospect, if the former owner did somehow manage to rematerialize on the ship, he'd be rather cheesed at the Bird for stealing his weapons and armor. He'd also be naked and unarmed, so the splicer was fairly certain he could take the guy whomever he happened to be.

Thanks to having four hands, he was able to perform the first action while also getting out and lighting a cigarette. He drew in a lungful and expelled it slowly as he walked up to the others, his manner more contemplative than one might normally expect from the old man.

"Of course she was affected by it my friend, there isn't a one or thing I can think of that wasn't. This thing, Vivo, destroyed a space station and aid waste to Earth's moon, and now it struck again. Dead bodies are stacking up like wood next to a winter's fire, buildings meant to withstand the Ages reduced to rubble, the best weapons and Magick fail to give it the slightest pause, and we seem to lack the technology to even clean up the twisted remains of its passing. No demands, no ultimatum, just continued death and destruction.

"It's declared war on us, it spares no one and nothing, and our most powerful fighting craft barely scratched it. Every creature it runs across thus far has been fair game, no one placeor thing spared. A massive thing like some ancient god appears from nowhere, is unstoppable, and wipes off moons and out of space as easily as spilt water on a floor. Who, facing that, could be unaffected?"

Ded finally found her way to the others.  She paused, listening to the talk of her companions.  Then she strode forth with a grin,

"Indeed doth it sound like much merriment to be had!  Are we going to set matters aright again?"

"The task ahead is indeed a great one but each of us must have looked forward to this and seen." The continued horrors of this whole extended event explained by Raven only mounted on top of what seemed now to only be a glimpse of the true power before them. Foes are closing in and covering the sky, I won't turn my back. he thought to himself, I'm prepared with unwavering resolve. Reminding himself promises he'd made to himself, that this was the path to walk. "There must be a way to stop it. If not harm it then stop its ability to return. I've said before that even the Vivo itself is only a part of a much greater play. Maybe there is something or someone out there that needs to be met so that we can stop the vivo itself."

I raise my fists, withs gods and spirits within them, pushing onwards. The monk continued the mantras in his own mind. Losing his magic, which he wished was only temporary, along with everything else was having its effect on his morale. He would not let this show however, consoling himself for now at least in his mental mantras and positive words. "This is a war as Brother Raven says, I am not accustomed to war but I cannot deny it." By learning pain, you can become a person who can be kind to others. "As more experienced people in the arts and ways of war, for my experience is more theoretical in this area rather than practical, I would ask you all what our next step should be." When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.

Lee struck in. "Your right bird man, but I don't think having the tech to stop it isn't the problem it's having it or getting it there. It did a number on the Cop when it was stolen or stole itself. But they weren't expecting anything, and because of that lost most there fleet stationed there, but they did damage the thing quite a bit and protected the Cop.... I looked it this things history when it showed up... Even if it's got a few upgrades I'm sure what ever weapon they have cooked up on that Atlas class ship of theirs can do a number on it, and there a few of the dreadnoughts about the system besides the two stationed at the moon."

"Reminds me of this old horable horable horable movie, but they had the same problem we got. This thing appears and disappears at a moments notice. So we ether have to find a way to get anywhere it might do so and do it FAST, or do what they did.... learn where it's going to appear before it dose so."

Raven turned suddenly, pulling Tried and True from his side to shove it in the boy's face.

"I'm an old drug using chain smoking drunkard with a habit for fighting, I don't think there's a part of me that hasn't been broken or damaged in the last near century. This firearm in my hand is an antique, fit in most minds only for a museum. The monk on one side of me threw a rock into a wall, jumped on nothing but air, and dug it back out with his bare hands. The knight has a kickass magic sword and the skill to use it, while my brother Tex over there has four guns he can shoot at once. If I pull the trigger, I could be shot multiple times, my neck snapped so quickly I don't even feel it, or have a blade driven completely through me.

"I the biggest weapon, I'm old and have been hurt many times in the past, and there's fighters who are far more skilled than myself. According to you, that's all that matters; I'll even admit there's no way I'd make it off this bridge after decorating it with your gray matter, but you'd still be dead.

"Open your eyes and look for yourself, you arrogant little bastard. Does it look like we hurt it, or even slowed it down? Do you think it just goes, 'oh, I'm damaged and there's nothing I can do about it?' If we can repair our ship, they can do the same. If we can make a deadlier weapon, guess what?

"Right now, there's a little girl on her knees of her former home. One hand is clutching a filthy teddy bear to her chest while the other shakes the cold shoulder of her mother, the words 'Mommy, mommy, wake up mommy!' said pointlessly over and over. Do you think she believes we've done a thing to the Vivo? And, if you do, you're even more stupid than I gave you credit for."

Develanna approached Raven from his side so that she was fully aware that he would see her.  A man with a gun does not need to be surprised.  Softly, she placed a hand on one of his arms and spoke,

"I believe thy point is well made M'Lord Raven.  Tis one that would behoove our young friend to think 'pon.   Is this not true sirrah?"

She aims this last to Lee.



"Wisdom comes from survival which this fine old warrior so effectively demonstrates youngster.  Do thou attempt to learn lest thy end come way too early and from an ally that thou hast driven mad by thy thoughtless words."

Dev knew not whether or no Lee would heed either of them, but at least she had tried and it would be on another's hands the kid's blood if he did not stop to think, not Raven's - this time.

He's a bit shocked by the suden gun in his face but looks more downtrodden at the verbal licking and the talk about the little girl.  "Your right, I don't know anything about war... I've been in some nasty fights but I was to young to remember any wars my family was a part of. But I've learned a lot and I understand guerrilla warfare, and I know this thing is going to keep popping in and then popping out to lick it's wounds and there isn't much we can do about that."

"I was just saying I think if we can some how be waiting on it when it shows up we can do enough that it can't pop out, or like in the movie, get inside the thing so when it runs off we are taken with it."

"It's fighting dirty, I just think people should fight it dirty."


Lucy adds to that coment. {It is ageist the Geneva Convention to use biological and chemical warfair, but it is alive... though it is using such itself there is a fairly high probability it is posable for a talented geneticist to create a biological agent that is tailored to the Vivo. We do not have any samples of it's DNA as far as I know.}

"The flow of battle isn't something you read, it is something you become. This war, this battle before us." Putting his thoughts into words this time rather than keeping them in his head. "If Luci and Lee's idea is sound then it is an option. Though I do feel myself that this is but one option. Regardless it is true we need to be where it is headed next. A sample is needed for the crafted weapon to work so either we meet it head on or look where it has been for a sample." There were some leads he could recall as to moves their adversaries were making, Raven himself was a large part of it. "We've to think what we are to do with our passengers also."

Feeling for the boy but he had trust in Raven that this was frustration and he would soon be sorry for his actions, things were bad and even the monk was in a dark place. Only could he imagine where Raven was, being an agent. "I believe that one day it will fear us as much as we fear it. It is alive after all. It must have instincts of its own, Luci is alive and a being different from our own are you not my friend. But be it programming evolved or DNA and parental ingrained instincts there must be something driving it. Patterns or desires, even the agents of chaos have these. Even if it is only to strike at places of most order." Coming to place a hand on Lee's shoulder, trying to show the whole that they were that. One whole and a team. "We've all out spoken ourselves, but we must also see the wisdom behind each others words. There is a path before us and it is one we shall carve together."

Lee lays his hand on Huoshui. "He's right though, war is terable and I did my best to avoid the refuges when I went out.... it's not something I want to face, I'm not that strong, I need to try and stay focused on the bigger picture or the real affects of this just.... " He wasn't to comfortable admitting it but he had already shown it bothered him so he didn't see the point in hiding it. "Just people I know seam to think it's a distraction, it's one we can't ignore though, I have no idea what is going on just the facts I've gathered on it looking things up but who ever thinks guerrilla strikes on large civilian targets makes a good distraction can't have ever been human." He shakes his head. "I'm blabbering... It's frustrating as hell because regardless I don't see a way to stop it next time it appears and I can't help but think how many times it's going to before it is stopped and it drives me nuts and I don't know what to say. I just want to see it dead. But the only people that know anything at all about it have shut down there gate. All we know is they found the ship barely functional and adrift in deep space and brought it back to study, and tried to make a war ship out of it.... they had some artifact they found they didn't fully understand but could transport large amounts of biological mater instantly, and installed it on the ship.....  Just like military scientist, lets take something we found and don't understand and attach it to something we found and don't understand and see how it works."

{Accessing secure files shared with the CCG by the Copernicus Research Center.... This will take some time to access all the files they have, but it seams the Cop dose possess it's DNA but it seams it is exstreamly dense and more than 99.999% inactive gene's making it impossible to make much sense of. We will likely need the assistance of some one knowing high understandings of life magic in order to create a biological weapon.}

Raven didn't seem overly upset or angry, and although his voice had been calm it wasn't the level of a detached killer. His feet hadn't moved into a shooter's stance that for him was akin to second nature, and as he holstered his weapon once more he turned to Huoshui with a slight grin.

"The kid learned a life lesson from me, and all it cost him was a dry pair of pants. I'd say it's not bad for my second try ever, but then again I don't have much experience in this area. You however are all for sharing wisdom and stuff FW, so what do you think? Do I have the makings of a teacher in me, or should I stick to fighting and flying?

"As for where to go next, I think I can help with that."

From a pocket, the pilot once more withdrew the ring he'd been given back on Mars.

"I believe this thing is trying to tell me where I'm needed next, but I don't have a full understanding about its workings. Can anyone give me a hand in working, and understanding, it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:45, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

Ted was not paying to much attention, cleaning his guns and running some scans. "I know a little about astrology, enough not to get lost, but an astrolabe is some old school pirates and navy boats stuff.  I would look up some graybeards if you want teaching there...or fiddle with that computer stuff if you trust being wired into a bunch of computers."  "You know you can just sensory d-"  "blah blah blah all you want you dont know what that junks built to do if you didnt build it your self or can take it apart and put it back together..."

"All should strive to pass their lessons on, the method would be different for each lesson so I cannot say that your lesson was poor or if you are a good or poor teacher. Only that it is the results of your students which shall tell this." With the tension, mostly removed Huoshui smiled lightly back to Raven. "As long as Lee is ok then I can say nothing more about this." Seemed the gravity of this whole event was also hitting Lee. All of them he was sure were being hurt by this in one way or another.

Nodding his head lightly as he tried to bring thoughts back to the present, "Ted, maybe Lee might have some input on this. I can look at the item as well but for the time being I shall be limited to my ... abilities which do not upset the tapestry or overmind of the universe." Taking a moment to glance at the ring to see if he had any idea on it.

Raven placed the ring down on a flat surface, then did what was required to expand it into its full form. He did so in silence, allowing the others to study it as they would; he did have a slightly defensive stance about his person however, as though he were a bit protect of a gift he received from a God.

Raven was able to attune to the astrolabe though his lack of understanding made it a little difficult, it was pre-attuned to him by a god. It starts turning and rotating about until it finds it's barrings, the symbols on it shift from runic looking ones to English and magi recognized astrological symbols.

Huoshui had seen some astrolabes before in his studies but this one was more complicated, more rings, and more parts of it that seam to point to different places.

It was all rather confusing, but most everyone could recognize that the largest and outer most was pointing to the symbol of Venus on a ring that held the astrological symbols of the planets.... and others that looked the same style but wheren't recognizable to most... Raven at least recognized one of the symbols to be that of a realm he was sent to in the war, while Huoshui recognizes a few of them as various major realms leading him to amuse the rest are minor or lesser known ones (or just ones he forgot).

It was possible the others gave headings or where meant to show exactly where on Venus they where suppose to go... but it was a bit complicated and some of the inner rings where unstable moving around. Why they where not locking in on a location was unclear it could be any number of things.

Looking over the astrolabe, studying as a monk of the akashic involved not just physical training. The art of Do taught that mind, body and soul needed training. Occult, Cosmology, Medicine, Lores of all kinds each given time since even his leaving of his temple. In this case he recalled the hours spent infront of such devices, charting them out, memorising them and even just watching their delicate balanced movements.

It was the beauty of the cosmos given form, like a painting. Though this one far more details than any he'd seen before, realms he knew and those he did not recall. It would be just a wonder to be given the time to study it and compare it with others, maybe that was not a bad idea as Raven seemed to wish this to be investigated.

So this is what he did, studied the mapping of Venus looking for a pattern to the unstable movings. He had lost the attachment to entropy and its visions but Do had taught him enigmas, there were games in them or lessons more accurately that were given in poems and puzzles to be solved by a worthy student. If he could not work it out maybe he could workout how to help make things clearer and remove the instability.

(If people are waiting on me I already said you can't make sense of the inner diles, you know it's venus and some of them likely indicate some where.... but you can't tell what they mean and they arnt zeroing in on anything even if you could.... some one needs to do some research, talk to a more knowlagable person, tune in some past lives / spirits.... something else to figure out more....or just spend more time examining it and make more rolls at it. Depending how well the bird navigates you will least have a few hours to look it over or research it.)

(Some one say something. =p )

(something)

(*baps bird beaks* IC )

"Well if there are no objections friends I say we follow this." Pointing to the unstable nature which seemed to emanate around Venus in this model, "Do we know of any others who might be seeing such measurements or readings from this region?" Huoshui had studied the stars and planets, their movements understood to him to a certain degree but this was different and on some levels confusing. "Can we use this to plot a course? Use Raven's gift to guide us forward?"

"Before we get to that, you look like shit, FW. What the hell happened to you? I thought you were just supposed to safeguard a box or something, and you look like Luci decided to use you as chewing gum."

"The harder you punch, the more it hurts you. The same is for magic." Huoshui replied, "The nature of myself, my magic and what was at play were at odds. The tapestry snapped back to its perceived design and I was caught in it. I will be fine given time, I've faith. Thank you for your concern friend."

Though Huoshui could feel the metal barbs or spikes in him, he would not be able to heal without their removal. "Actually my friend, you are a solider. Field training give you first aid experience? I have sharpnel of sorts, if you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate their attempted removal."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Sun 14 Feb 2016.

Raven nodded.

"Yeah, though I've yanked more metal out of myself than anybody else over the years. Still, shouldn't be a problem; my talons are sharp enough to work as scalpels, and telling flesh from fabricated isn't hard even for an old druggy like me. Speaking of which, you want me to get you something from my stash? Cause I'm not going to lie, this is going to hurt like a SOB."

Huoshui had realised it would cause pain, great pain but still unsure of the exact magnitude. "I'll gladly take any aid for the pain Raven." Nodding bowing his head. Huoshui would try to control his breathing and pain, but he would accept the drugs if his friend recommended them. "I trust in your skills and abilities. Though I will ask you give me the shards after, I wish to study them. They're made of me and what we fought, and are of that battle. I'm sure meditating on them and even studying them will be useful."

Raven left the bridge, and returned within minutes holding a glass vile which he handed over to his injured friend.

"There you go, this should do it; they call this stuff Bliss, it'll induce a state of peace and serenity while removing all fears. You'll be relaxed and happy until after I'm done, and there's no real downside to the stuff other than I wouldn't try operating heavy machinery or the like while you're on it.

"It's a restricted drug, even outlawed here and there, but that's because it works so well; people would take it for their nerves, and then would like how they felt on it so much they'd abuse the stuff and use it when they had no need.

"I've got other stuff if you'd rather have something else, but out of my stash Bliss suits our needs the best with the least chance of side effects. I would suggest however that you get to where you want me to do this, while picking a location still matters to you."

"I need to talk to you when you feel better Huoshui.... before you two go, I must say I wish you had told us you had a source for bliss. When we are done on Venus if we have no other leads we should see if your source has any leads on getting Sublime. The 'offical' labe on sublime shipments is very similar to the angelic rune for Sloth. We talked about it before but no one had any leads." Lee said, having thought back to the conversions about the runes.

Tex rose a brow and huff/chuckled "You were looking for something illegal and you didn't ask me, I'm hurt..."

Raven turned a 'I wish I could slap you' expression on Lee.

"I don't have a source, numb nuts; I'm an adrenaline junkie, what would I want with something that kills that sensation? I found the bag after the survivors left the ship, no one was around so I searched it for, um, identification. Yeah, I'll go with that. Anyway, there were drugs inside, no one was around, so I counted the bag as abandoned and kept it. If you want this whatever you're looking for, seems to me Tex just volunteered."

Bowing to Raven as he returned with the drug, looking at it with some interest. He'd heard of it, and some temples he'd visited used it in rituals or meditation.

"I'll be grateful for the aid as I said." Thinking maybe the room he'd cleared in preparation for sorting out rituals and meditation would do well, though currently it was only a cleaned and cleared room. "I've a room I think is appropriate if Luci is ok with it, I can lead the way."

Talk of things to come and sources caused friend Raven some annoyance, "Calm my friends, I am sure sublime if it comes up can be investigated or traced. Lee, I'd be glad to talk with you after Raven has helped me. I can only say I look forward to it only seconded to Raven removing the metal from me." Turning to Raven, Huoshui offered to guide him to the empty room.

"I didn't mean to offend, I was just asking.."  "I don't know per-say but I know plenty of black market dealers that might be some help."

He rubs the back of his neck looking at Huoshui. "Yah, I would help but all I know of mending the body comes from working with it's pasterns, and those shards like paradox-tass or something .... there freaky, the backlash of that arrow was unreal, your lucky you got some one that can get them out safely with out magic or hyper-tech tools. I would offer you some blood, but I got nano-bots."

OOC

Huoshui is at:
Torso 2 agg 1 lethal
Left leg 3 agg
right leg 4 agg

if lealthal/agrrevated (total) damage to his torso reaches 7 he will be incapacitated, 10 he's going to need a transfusion to stabalized him, 14 will kill him

Ill let you do the rolls, you got 4 dice at difficulty 7 and magic is only going to make things worce. Each roll will take 15 minutes.

1 success you do an aggregated damage but get shards out.
3 success you do a lethal damage but get shards out
5 success you do bashing but get shards out
If you actual get 7 or 5 with two 10's you don't do any damage.

Failer deals lethal damage
A botch deals aggrevated

You have to have 5 successful rounds of surgery to get it all out. Afterward though it will be safe to use magic to heal him, but there are some drugs and medical supplies available that are set enough into common reality (like bliss which was a mage drug) that its gone from hyper tech to just plain tech... the same way some magics become stadic rituals anyone can do. They can help stabalized or temporarily heal damage (takes twice as long or twice as many success to heal after it comes back)

Raven waited until his fellow mage was high on Bliss, then began his requested task.

OOC

One fail

One success

One success

One success

One botch

One botch

Three Successes

If I read the list right, that totals;

5 Agg, 2 lethal, and got all the shards out. I rolled 2 successes, but didn't know how to rank that since the list only has '1' and '3' listed. Here's to hoping the monk's still alive.:)

Thought you would want to RP it lol


6 agg 2 leathal

puts him at

Torso 8 agg 3 lethal - critical condition
Left leg 3 agg
right leg 4 agg

means after the first hour ~ hour and 15 minutes he loses concuiousness

By the end of the surgery he's lost to much blood and needs his wounds tended to and a transfusion (or there is a shot that can be injected into his bone marrow, owch, that could help stabilize him but at this point that would be awful close. )

Raven is able to stich up what he can, and what he can't there is extracellular matrix powder stored in some of the medical supplies he's able to use to stop the bleeding and start the wounds healing. (drops 4 of the agg to lethal as long as it's continually applied.)

This leaves Raven with the problem of having to ether get him a blood transfusion, hope some of the shots that can be given to stimulate blood production can work fast enough, or try some of the other drugs and to wake Huoshui up and hope he can heal himself before they ware off.



As for the shards, most of them crumble away into nothing as they are removed, but he's able to save 5 fairly decent sized chunks and a pile of metal dust.

Raven remembers enough of his emergency medical field training to set up a transfusion line, putting one end into a free arm and the other into the monk. Then he checks to make sure there's no air bubbles in a hypo, and jams the needle as hard as he could in hoping to pierce the bone before injecting the solution inside the tube; he didn't give the shot to Flowing Water though, but to himself.

The directions for the blood stimulant gave the amount of time it might take to work, and from the Brother's waxy and pale skin that might be more than was available. Instead, the Splicer figured the stuff would shove his own marrow into overdrive, overproduce blood cells so the excess could be fed directly into the monk's body.

(rolled for it)

Thankfully Raven thinks to use Immunosuppressant drugs, and the prossess works all be it with some minor complications... Huoshui goes into shock but it's not to bad, Raven holds him down and it passes... and possessing the Splicers odd blood is murder on his kiddies but the monks powers can repair that later.

He is however stabilizing now, once he is the bird man can use some of the hyper tech medical supplies to heal him up enough for him to heal himself.

This just requires waiting out the transfusion, watching over him, and changing his bandages / applying more ECM poweder to his back.

Playing nursemaid may be a bit off what he normally did, but he knew his friend would be ok now.

Raven was glad he had skills with needles and shock he was able to use, though in honesty he had kept at least part of this in practice from his extensive drug use. He waited until Flowing Water's breathing became regular, his skin no longer cold and sweat soaked, and its tone a normal flesh tone before he began very lightly patting the monk on either upper cheek.

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. We thank you for enjoying Mister Raven's Wild Ride, but if you want to go again you need to buy another ticket; or pick your intestines for the location of a new scrapyard, whichever you prefer."

Waking up as if he'd been through hell. The monk had been through pain and suffering in his past but this was different, the shards given to him by the arrow event had left their scar and their removal was more painful than how they'd grown from him. Voice sounding weak as he replied, "Thank you friend, I may never be able to repay you." Huoshui also wished no one ever had to go through this, he would not wish it on his worst enemy let alone anyone else.

Wanting to try to get up but knowing better for it. Closing his eyes, he tried to feel how his body was. Knowing every inch of it, it was his weapon after all. Feeling the damage done, but the healing that had been performed as well. The monk really did appreciate the work done, he could only imagine the pain and panic his dear friend had gone through to save him. "Thank you Raven."

"You've got three different types of animal DNA in you and probably some trace amounts of human too, all drenched in Rejuvenate. Also some immunosuppressant, I needed them for the blood transfusion and if it was in me, it's in you now. So, until you find out the end result of all of that, you may want to hold off on the thank yous.

"Here you go, per your request; most of the shards broke apart, but I kept the dust in case you wanted it. I did get five out of you that held together, and I know you wanted them all but could I have one? I've had plenty of trophies over the years that proved I could take a life, but none really that showed I could save one."

Torso 7 agg 3 lethal
Left leg 3 agg
right leg 4 agg

Raven don't quite set the healing devices right but they work some, the stimulants though.... well he knows his stimulants.

Houshui is awake for a bit but he has to heal himself at least the 3 leathal to get to 7 (at which he has to spend a willpower every so often to stay up if he can't heal the rest... but if he just wants to stay in the med bay a while can say he just takes his time to heal up and skip a buch of rolling lol)

The shards have a very strange sorta un-resonance that don't make much sense to ether of them... it's like it has a VERY strange resonance while having none at all at the same time. It's not hard to tell they came from a rather nasty paradox considering that they just don't seam right... but have this order to them that seams like there meant to be the way they are... yet an oddness that makes them fell wrong like they shouldn't exist.   Yah..... WTF..... Some one with a higher level of prime needs to look at this (and trying to look at it's pattern is just going to give you a headach lol)

"I am alive that is enough to be thankful friend." Taking a deep slow breath, feeling the flow of the universe once more. It almost brought a tear to his eye, he missed it so much and more than he would have admitted. "You can of course keep the souvenir, it is a item of our combined adventure and your saving me."

Focusing on the wounds on his body, the damaged organs, torn muscles, broken skin, bones cracked. Mentally going through them all, listing each in his mind as he spoke words of healing he knew of Kaja. It was time his body was as ready and willing for the fight as his mind and spirit. Restoring himself, bringing him back to how he was before. It mattered not about the drugs in his system or the foreign blood all life was one in the great tapestry and he would use this to be able to rise once again.

(sorry been sick... yah you can spend quin and willpower)

(Cool ok making Roll... if I've done wrong forgive me bit rusty as to the system)

lol if you want to spend willpower or quintessence you should before the roll

Shit knew I forgot something... oh well want me to reroll with those spent or just take that as done?

(just re-roll spending what you want)

(remaking the roll spending a quin, will as well but that is just forcing success if I recall? eh.)


(Didn't change the results, but hey those are dice rolls for ya.)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Fri 11 Mar 2016.

3 success is enough for 3 leathal and an agg

Torso 6 agg
Left leg 3 agg
right leg 4 agg

so he can stay awake.... just hate life lol

While the others were wrapping business of whatever nature on the moon before departing once more, Raven decided to do the same once he'd washed up from his (somewhat) successful attempt to heal his friend. He didn't know how much time he had, but thanks to the clearance he shared as a member of a crew granted diplomatic privileges within reason, he requested a vehicle and went to check the status of his up and coming Veteran's Home. The crystal the monk had gifted to him wasn't present, as it had been carefully tucked away elsewhere.

Huoshui now able to keep awake but in some kind of world of constant pain, his will working returned to him enabling him to heal to a level where he wasn't needing constant aid. Sat in the centre of the room he'd prepared, legs crossed in the lotus position with his eyes closed. Mantras in the ancient tongue coming from his lips, focusing him through the further healing process. There would be time till they arrived and action was needed, he'd spend it here meditating and healing through his magics unless disturbed.

They where on there way, but we can back that up, or just skip ahead to getting there if you like.

(Skipping ahead would be awkward for me, since Raven is currently driving on the moon)

(skip is fine with me, I'll be just healing unless called on)

Develanna, who has been away from the action for quite some time for reasons that are no one's business, comes to visit her friend and ally Huoshoi, bringing with her a large bowl of chicken soup.

"Hail friend.  How dost thou now?"

Ok we can back up to on the moon, some people want to join and waiting to leave can help with that.... won't cause anything to happen due to exstra passed time.

"Greetings." Huoshui opens his eyes having been quite lost to meditation and healing magics, "I am well. Mending, but as with all things it takes sometime even with will working." Exhaling slowly letting go of his mental mantras and healing spell weavings. "How do you fair yourself Lady Devellana?"

Well considering it's been like a day or two.... not much progress has been made at the hospital.. but they have done a fair amount.

They patched up the air leaks in the main area's.
They got power to be mostly stable, and have the main area's rewired.
Have a lot of supplies and stuff moved in... but there all in hudge piles of boxes.

In reply to Huoshui  (msg # 56):

"I am indeed well my friend, but it seemeth to me that I have interrupted thy rest and meditation.  I beg thy forgiveness!  Here, in this tureen is what I am told is gooly broth for healing.  Tis made to represent chicken soup, and I am assured that twill do the trick!"

As she spoke, the knight set down the tray upon which the vessel and smaller bowls rested.  Her dragon, the young Nimina had entered with her and flown over to greet the monk by licking his face and nuzzling.  Develanna removed the lid and swore,

"Galahad's balls!"

Tink flew out of thelarge bowl, dripping rust colored broth and scattering warm droplets everywhere.  The creature belched, mimicking Raven and flew off upside down, leaving a frustrated knight to stare into a bowl now devoid of vegetables.  Slapping the top back down upon it, she smiled at the monk,

"I hope that ye did enjoy it and much good maun it do thee!"

"No forgiveness needed, it is well met your company." Bowing his head, honestly thankful for the interruption.

As the young dragon came to him, he stroked it lightly still unsure what was the proper form of petting to such a beast but the lick and nuzzling seemed to tell him he was doing fine in befriending his friend's companion and familiar. When Tink appeared from the broth Huoshui could but smile and laugh lightly, "Tink and Nimina are quite something both. The fact that you both have such interesting familiars is quite astounding. Says much of the pureness of your hearts I would say."

Dev was grinning as she watched Tink pop out.  A blush colored her visage at his compliment.

"I thank thee for the kindness of thy words.  And I do know that raven is a good man, mayhap scarred, but the better for it".

She smiled softly as she watched Numina get her cuddles,

"Is there aught that I maun do for thee Friend?"

Raven nods approvingly at what's been done so far, and then checks up on George to see how his caretaker is getting along.

"Raven is indeed a good man. I feel that even with Tink's misbehaviour and oddities display well for the both of them. Free Spirited, and mischievous soul such as Tink to have chosen Raven. To me speaks of his own soul in ways none of us will fully understand."

Stretching a bit as he took a more relaxed seated position, smiling back to her.

"Nothing friend, I am just happy for the company. You as with everyone have done marvelous in keeping us all alive. I owe you and everyone for allowing me to join you all on this quite wonderful journey."

You cross a soldier and a doctor and that was the general mindset George had, he was very focused and didn't have very many emotions. George was a spirit who was complex enough to interact with, but not enough to be much of a conversationalist. He was in way just a babby, just one given the skills and knowledge to do what he was created for, it would be years before he started to show much of a personality.

However he seamed to be doing well, overworked, but well. He ofcorse liked being overworked but it didn't give him much time to develop. He asked if Raven had brought new orders.

"No George, you seem to be doing good all on your own. I know the knight was looking for you before we left, to give you some of her energy to help out around here. Did she find you, and if so how much sooner to opening did her power put us?"

"I am afraid it will still be over a month. This place may have went mostly unharmed by the bombing, but it is in years of disrepair. I work as quickly as I can, this place dose not feel right with it's city wounded and dying... it is eager to have more company, even if it will be able to interact with few."

"Well, I can always say hello to it when I stop by. I see we got in some supplies, who all so far has agreed to help us?"

He lists off plenty of places, seams there a few refugie centers being set up and plenty are donating to help them get set up, they have all the supplies they need just need young hands and time to set up. Problem is most the people that would volunteer to help on something like this are tied up keeping the refugee camps guarded and policed. But some people come here to help when they are off there shift anyway.

"Looks like we've got a decent stock of goods, any trouble with raiders or looters to date? A place like this, filled with a big score, could prove very tempting to scum like that."

He left out how said scum would need someone to run the pilfered goods to buyers in order to make a profit off them, but he saw no reason to muddy the waters with extra facts...

"Very little, some people have seen fit to spread that I and the building itself protect it. Some have tested that but, not much sense then."

Raven reached over, and affectionately patted the nearest wall.

"Speaking of which, how are you doing big fella?"

The sensations that came where some what unpleasant but spoke of the buildings conditions...

It was hard to put to words but it felt the way you might exact and old man, full of achs and pains, waking up in the morning and having to stretch to get ready for the day..... but then the relaxing long missed smoothness of a newly implanted hip-joint.

It's mood is .... ok.... but like he said the city spirit could be looked at as it's mother/father for it to be in the condition it is... it's hard, very hard. But it is glad to have been awoken to the purpose of serving the displaced wards of the city.

The spirit of a city like Neo New York would take more than this to kill... but that meant it suffered, and suffered bad. There was not much people could do to help it, but it was given to chance to do it's part how ever small to ease it's cities pain.



It's sore and depressed, but it's getting better as it's fixed up, and it is ever so grateful to be given a part in helping the people of the city.

The only thing it would ask is that he make sure it's not listed as being in some suburb or something like that... people are tempted to forget all this was part of the city now that the city is ruins.... it wants to be listed and thought of as being IN Neo New York.... not near the edge of it's ruins....
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:10, Mon 02 May 2016.

Develana watches her familiar get cuddling and grinned.

"I do believe that Numina likes thee Sir Monk"

Happily to continue to cuddle up to the small creature, tickling under its chin and generally petting as it seemed to desire. "Huoshui is fine Devellana, we are friends are we not. Formalities between the two of us would be a discredit to our relationship would it not?" The monk laughed, "Numina might just sense the kinship. The comradery between yourself and I, the dragon I hold within my very self or maybe Numina is just friendly to all those who give it the attention it craves."

"Of a certes she senses it my friend!  But think not that she will allow just any to cuddle her; tis not true!  And it has been but few who have called me Devil Anna since I was a wee babe!"

Develanna laughed with the monk.  Life had been so much struggle to survive of late, that these few moments of careree comaraderie were precious indeed.

"I can only imagine the horrors baby devil Anna caused those around her, probably as much as little Numina here could cause if it did not get its way." The monk continued to play with the familiar of Devellana, knowing not if her comments were true all he had seen from Numina was friendly affection. It did give him some pride if it were true that the little spirit given form did sense something. "Devellana, while Numina is in such a cuddly mood perhaps you might indulge me in a tale. I am of the order of monk in the Akashic brotherhood to collect and tell stories, such as the contract I have with the dragon within me. If you would not mind I would like to add the tale of Devellana and Numina to the tapestry as is understood by the Akashic."

Develanna finds a seat and relaxes as she thinks back.

"I was but five when I first found myself taken to the Temple to be trained by the sisters there.  It had not yet been decided whether I should be trained as a knight or healer or cleric ... divers are the methods of serving Gallahad that are taught there, and those of us who are offered and chosen  train and grow in knowledge until the tenth year in which we are led to seek alone for a vision as to what nature our future is to take.  According to the Lady my Mother, I had begun speaking of having seen things that had occurred before mine own birth.  Due to the accuracy, my Father decided to take me to the Sisters for training.  I know now that this was a great honor to be taken so young, but at the time, I was wroth at having to leave home.  And the Sister who was in charge of the younger students seemeth to be a crabby old harridan...I do know better now of course, her face to hide the smile that my memory shows me though at the time methought it to be disgust.  She finally got me to calm down and told me that if I desired to stay in service to Gallahad, I would have to take on a quest to determine how I should best learn to respect all the elders and sisters of the Order and most importantly, learn to rein in my own chaotic nature.  She gave unto me a small dagger for protection though I was not to leave the grounds of the temple; these were vast however and some parts quite wild.  She also gave me a water skin and enough victuals to keep me fed for a fortnight.  The last thing I was given was a heavy cloak for warmth and to sleep in.       I was then led to the door and bid not return until I had found mine own answers.

I confess that I was greatly excited and asked to spend the night before I left in chapel keeping vigil as did a knight sent on quest.  I ... was spoken to by the Sword of Gallahad that I even now bear, but of what I cannot tell thee.  Also I bed thee keep secret the identity of the sword.  I have told no other of it since leaving my home world, but I do trust thee."

Here Develanna lowered her head and went silent as she gathered herself to continue with her tale.

"Twas at the moment of dawn being   most magical, as tis neither day nor ni but in between that I left the doors of the temple.    I did spend much of the next few days in meditation on mine own poor behavior, but twas the night before I was to eat my last bit of food that the miracle occurred, the message for which I had been questing came to be.  I had settled myself into a small copse of trees to spend the night and behold the sunset when I didst see  a  large and ugly bird settle on the shore of a small lake with a heavy burden.  I recognized what it held almost immediately and was horrified to know it for a dragon's egg, a small one, but still .."

The remembered horror of seeing a most precious dragon egg about to be devoured by a scavenger overcame the knight and she again fell silent.  Numina disentangled herself from the monk's easy embrace and flew back to her knight and settled in Dev's lap, reaching up to lick her face.  Smiling, the knight embraced her friend and petted Numina for a moment before continuing,

"I could not allow such a foul thing to happen, though the craven bird was near as tall as I.  I ran screaming at ti, weilding my dagger.  It attempted to fly away with the egg, but was not able to catch the air 'e'er I came upon it.  We fought wildly, but to protect itself, it had to release the egg.  I had not intended to kill the thing, but it wounded me with many deep slashes until I was forced to destroy it lest I not live long enough to save the egg.  When twas done, I lugged the egg back to my camp and curled round it and slept.  The next morn, I began the trip back to the temple for I was afeared that the egg would die if I could not get it to one of the priestesses quickly.  I fear me that it took longer than It should have for I was more injured than I knew.  Only two steps from the door of the temple I lost consciousness.  I know not how long I lay there, but when they found me, twas with a wee bit of a lizard bug nestled on my neck and a great deal of broken eggshell.  I dreampt the name of the gragon, and she has been with me ever since."

Apparently, Numina took a bit of offense at being called a lizard bug and  nipped gently at De'b's nose.  She was shaken off with a twist of the blond head, and a laughing knight finiished her tale,

"And that is the end of the story of how I came to be blessed with a Numina and not kicked forth from my order"

[8 blank lines suppressed]

The monk listened to the tale, took in all the minor and major aspects of this story of knights, dragon eggs and monastery temples. Hearing that the knight Devellana had gone through a selection and training tradition much the same to his own, from a young age, taken from the old life to live in a temple. Numina born of an egg found and rescued by the night, they'd gone through it all together. From the earliest stages of the knights will working training she had this small creature by her side, even if it seemed to resent being referred to by certain phrases which the monk would remember to avoid.

"Thank you for sharing that with me Anna." Smiling and even laughing as he witnesses Numina's light assault of Devellana. "You two must have been through a lot since that day. Truly kindred spirits who I am sure will share as many if not more adventures in the future than you have already."

Raven tells the building he will do his best to comply with its wishes, then turns to George again;

"Anything I can do to help out? My crew is handling their own stuff, so I'm pretty much free until they tell me they're ready to go again."

"Weaking the walls between this world and ours further would help."

Raven gave a nod, then walked back down to the room with the corner stone in it. He once more placed two hands on the grip of the Sword of Mars, and this time held the others out to his side. He closed his eyes, and envisioned himself using the weapon now firmly part of the building to cut an opening between this reality and the place where Spirits dwelled. Then, he attempted to cast hisspell while singing;

'You know the day destroys the night
 Night divides the day, tried to run, tried to hide
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side

Yeah, made the scene week to week, day to day, hour to hour
 The gate is straight deep and wide
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through, break on through
 Break on through, break on through'

The spell works out just fine, and he can feel the difference... It's not like the shade realm on Mars, but the wall is quite thin now down in the basement, and weakening around it.

Raven feels the difference, nods to himself, then goes to find George again.

"Okay, I got it taken care of down when you and the building both woke up. So, now that I did it, mind telling me why it was needed? Yeah, I know I probably should have asked first, but you try killing your brain cells for forty years then see how fast on the uptake you are..."

"It brings the soul and body of the building closer to eachother, allowing more influance over the physical. You have stories of objects exposed flog intense feeling or that have been around over a hundred years coming to life. Such are from a time and land where the Vail was so thin. These our its 'words'. However it can not 'come to life' like this, but it can do much more now. That is all the explanation it will give, however I can personaly tell you repairs and self defense will be easier." Seams george has been working on his language skills, though he could hardly tell if it was a good translation with out talking to the building himself and spirit talk was so abstract it was easier just to trust whatever speaks on the spirits behalf.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Thu 05 May 2016.

"Well, if one rift makes it better, wouldn't me creating another one make it better still? Or, what if I go back down, and actually punch a hole instead of just wearing a thin spot in the wall between there and here?"

He is quite a moment. "Bring the two worlds together could be harmful to the residents of this place, it beleaves it could protect them but it dose now what to risk the difficulties and side affects of creating an incursion zone. That and the strain on you of 'braking' reality like that would be to much to ask. Doing so will also attract attention."

"Damn, and I'm so good at breaking shit, too. OK, anything else I can do to help out?"

"Everything has been set up, just needs time. Please see to it though we are listed as being in Neo New York, it would mean a lot."

Raven gives a nod, then using his fancy suit and glove connects to the Infosphere; per the double request, he logs the Veteran's Home as being located in New New York.

Those in power often do not possess the luxury of foreplay.

[Let me in, Bird Brain.]

Ek'chua Ix stood outside the sealed portal, one hand on his hip while the other carelessly tossed his tomahawk in quick slicing cycles. The red scarf that covered his mouth shifted in a spiritual breeze, though his body remained still. It hadn't been too hard to catch up with his old friend down; between his skill with Correspondence and his contact with Senex he was able to achieve a rather rapid rendezvous with the beaked renegade and the motley crew.

His side mission had been a terribly easy series of successes. The neutralized targets were probably still having their remains vaporized by the time the hitman made it to the moon. It was fortunate that the ease of such a side venture tool little in the way of effort and time. The Good Death Dealer had bigger fish to fillet.

OOC: Ix stands outside the building, having sent a text to Raven's comm]

Raven had just logged off the Infosphere when he received Ix's message, and grinned as he responded;

"I can't, your mother isn't decent yet."

That said, the soldier made his way to the front entrance to let the assassin in.

Ix nodded in approval at the comeback. I'll guess he's been doing well since we last met. As he tucked away the tumbling tomahawk and sashayed beyond the portal, he came face to face with four arms and feathers.

Raven may notice how the words floating over his head were in their proper form, no longer deformed into malformed fonts. The killer cast his gaze about the area in a slow circle before returning to Raven.

"Thhank you my friend.  I have been blessed.with this companion as well as with others."

Dev kissed the top of the dragon's head who repaid the compliment by climbing atop of he knight's head.

Raven smiled as his old friend complimented the building, and then led the assassin to where some furniture that hadn't been moved into rooms yet was gathered. He motioned to a seat, then took another for himself before pulling out a pack of smokes. He shook a few out, lit one up, then tossed the rest of the cancer sticks plus his batter Earth Army lighter to Ix. He took a drag, then looked thoughtfully at his friend.

"Getting you up to speed might be something of a tall order, but I'll give it my best shot.

"We had some new additions to the crew, in fact an entire crew of another ship and their leader, I think it's some kind of cult. Whatever they believe, they helped me out by getting furniture for this place so they're not bad in my book. We also had a girl sneak aboard, she used some hocus pocus to hide but I knew she was somewhere onboard. I tried to kick her off, but I got outvoted so she stayed at least until we got back to the moon from our last mission. Speaking of that;

"The Monk made a friend, some furry chick who's mother was involved in government level stuff. Mommy and her girl were worried about this giant planet-sized computer that was about to come online, and when it did it was going to think itself a god and judge Humanity by the harsh rules of their own religions. She wanted it dealt with, and we got picked as the problem solvers. We met up with several other ships, they caused a distraction and we punched through a shield and were set upon by Pattern Spiders. We dealt with them, and then some flying genome things tried to take us out; but the PSs had cut this one big chuck free to try and smash us flat, it missed us so I woke it up and it decided to help. It broke into a bunch of little flying bits too, and took care of the ones trying to stop us. Flowing Water stayed with the furry chick, his main job was to hold a box he asked us all to pump energy into. Then when I got us close, he took an arrow out of it and handed it to the animal woman who fired it from a bow. It struck the giant computer orb, and made a vine grow that ripped and destroyed shit. I was piloting so I didn't actually witness the opening of the container or the shot, but that had been the plan and I could see they succeeded. A lot of ships were lost to get us in close, and more were lost fighting the thing once it was weakened; those souls though, I think they planned to go down fighting from the start. One craft even set off a reality bomb, if that gives you an idea of how serious a battle this was.

"We got back here, and fur girl's mommy gave us diplomatic paperwork as payment. The kid who snuck on board turned out to be a good mechanic, but the last I saw of her she was worried about her parents and might have left the crew. The cult too, might have packed and gone by now, once they saw what life aboard Luci was really like. The monk was hurt bad, got really fucked up to the point where I tried to save him with what little I could recall of battlefield first aid. I think I messed stuff up worse here and there, but overall I got a shitload of shards out of him then managed to close up all the holes more or less. Well enough for him to take over his own care, which is a prime example why it's good to have more then one healer on hand at a time...

"As for this building, I bought it with some money I came into. It had been a nut house for a while, then a hospital, and is so old it actually has an oxygen generator down in the maintenance levels. It predated the dome that was over the city that used to be here, and it was up for sale before the attack came that laid New New York to waste. As you can imagine I got a good deal on it after what befell this area, and I used the powers I denied for decades to not only awaken the building itself, but to create a guardian and caretaker as well. Various groups and organizations were helpful too, as you can see from the stacks of supplies around us. This is going to be a Home for not only Veterans, but the families of those killed in the line of duty who have nowhere else to go."

The old man went silent, a look in his eye said he was conflicted about something; he reached a decision, and resumed speaking;

"Back on Mars, the Goddess Clashing Boom Boom told me that there was a way for me to redeem myself for what I did so long ago. She told me for each of the 1200 souls I took early, I needed to save one in its place. I took food, shelter, and safety away from them, and left one thousand outside to die. When I first started this project, that's what at least part of my mind was focused on, paying off my Universal tab. But there was more to it, feelings and thoughts so alien to me I couldn't give them names. Still, they were there, and they grew stronger as I helped stop the false god from awakening, and then saved Flowing Water's life. Now that piece of my brain that said this was to redeem myself, it's fallen quiet. There's still more for me to do, chapters of my life left open far too long that need closure. But when that's done and I've saved 1200, I think I might just go on saving people. Well, that I get people what they want, a bird's still got to eat right?"

Raven smiled, and winked at his friend while practiced hands hot boxed another cigarette.

(As a note from the GM, the people from the ship are the main bulk of the people repairing and working on the building. They like Ravens idea, and on top of that they have kinda came to the mutual conclusion they want to save people in shity situations like they where in and they would like to have a place for those fucked up individuals to come and get right)

"I have sometimes thought that our little group has become quite the family." the monk opened up, "Meditations on our accomplishments, our relationships as well as what the path ahead of us will be. Companions all of us." Huoshui was a monk, of the Akashic brotherhood much of his downtime was spent meditating. Alongside trying to work out what he was meant to do, the visions of the 10th seat. All that had happened, the only positives he could hold on to were those gathered around, the friends. "I believe at this point many of us have even pledged ourselves to spirits which could also be called companions."

Ix listened intently as he settled into his seat, drawing softly on the cigarette and letting the smoke liner in his lungs. He was only halfway done through his smoke as Raven concluded his story with another nicotine stick. Eyeing the supplies, Ix couldn't help but be impressed. To acquire these resources without a distributor like Senex to be involved took a great deal of money and Fate.

Glad to see things are working out... for the better.

The bird's acute retelling left few questions that needed to be asked, but they would be addressed all the same.



He didn't doubt the avian's ability to assess safety. He came to peace with the idea that they would always be on the run in one way or another.



Ix still didn't care nearly as much for the others as he did for the smuggler, but as they were working together, he would like to remained informed. Especially...



There was something he desired, something gnawing at him that seemed so base in nature that it became hard for him to address. Ix knew he would need to talk to the martial artist to satiate the itch that picked at his nerves. As he puffed on his cigarette, the thought lingered as he patiently stilled himself for Raven's response.

"It should; as part of the ritual to wake this building up, I jammed a Sword of Mars into the foundation's cornerstone. Then between said building, the blade,  and me, we created a caretaker; according to my suit's readout, it's called a drone, and it can get nasty if someone gets in the way of its assigned duties."

Raven tapped on his gauntlet, tying it into what was left of the PA system.

"George? Hey George! When you get a sec, come by the lobby and say hi to an old friend. Thanks, Raven out."

The bird took in and blew out a breath of smoke, then turned to look once more at his friend.

"According to George, rumors have spread that the building is awake, and what little trouble there's been the two have dealt with handily from what I was told. This place can also repair itself; it's not a fast process, but it saves a fortune in materials and people. In fact it requested I weaken the barrier between here and the Spirit Realm, so it can better interact with its solid form."



"Oh, sorry; seems I always leave something out when I tell a story. Last I knew the knight with the antique sword, the monk, Monkey No Bath, and that little pimple named Lee whom I haven't yet managed to accidently shoot out an airlock were still on the ship. That's not to say they didn't leave after I did, of course."



"Return? He might have been awake and alive when I got done with him, but if the mess he had left for a body could have made it two feet under its own power I'd give you one thousand credits. He was going to try that Voodoo he do so well to fix himself I think, but managing not to need a pee tube would be an astounding feat of recovery for him in my humble opinion."

"I am indeed made happy by this, our fellowship and family!  And though there are those who come and go,  the center holds,  And mayhap those who we miss will retourn again.  But I have not felt so at home since leaving the Temple and the Sisterhood."

Dev sat back, and Numina, who had fallen asleep on her head, dell off with a squawk.

The knight acted as if she had not noticed,

"But tell me friend; are we holding up thy healing by remaining here?  An if doth behoove thee that we leave thee in peace for the nonce, we would much prefer to so do than to belabour thee in any way"

George showed up after a bit... just seamed to be there suddenly when no one was looking. Him and the building where clearly gaining some strength from the attention they where getting. "I can assure you, it would take a specialized assault team or a fair sized force to significantly endanger this structure. It is capable of protecting it's inhabitants to a bit shy of that so long as they are of a health they can be moved." He looked to Raven. "I took the liberty of examining the shard you have as a posable threat, it appears to be what you would most easily understand as calcified paradox. There are several other factors at play in it, but that is the more important matter. It can and will absorb more paradox but if it takes in enough the pattern that holds it will brake. It rare phenomena that can be fairly dangerous and I suggest disposing of it."

"Will she be ok?" The monk asked as he watched Numina fall of her knights head, in a sleepy state. "My healing is going fine, you need not worry. I hope to be healed by time of our arriving to our destination. So I've time, and taking healing slow can often be better especially with will-working involved."

"Besides your company is far more interesting than my own meditations on healing, the drama and Kaja." His fingers touching at the scars on his arms, the marks given to him when the dragon was bound to him. "I find myself wishing to be more careful now I'm not the only one in this vessel. Though I fear it too war harmed as I was earlier, we shall not know for some time as it still lumbers."

In reply to Huoshui  (msg # 103):

Devellana winked at the monk as she said


"Naught save her pride is harmed, and should ye not notice at all, all shall yet be well!"

Dev bowed a partial bow to her friend as he told her of his pleasure in her company,

"I thank thee and feel much the same.  Tis thy rurn for a tale spinning."

She took out a flask and offered it to him,

"Maun ye have a sup as ye heal?  Or would it make thee feel too good to pay attention to aches?"

"I would never turn down the offer of drink, much to my former masters annoyance." Taking the offered flask and drinking from it, only to hand it back. "Feeling good is a step to healing. It helps in the believing we are well. For is it not our will and feelings which allows us to perform the miracles we do?"

"Pray tell knight, but yourself are a knight accompanied by a dragon. Hailing from much the same place as myself, a temple to your chosen way. What are you own opinions of what is before us, the items we've shared of this journey, what we've seen and our place in it." Pausing briefly as he thought more. "What we strive to accomplish, I know it is right for we save lives and plan to but the greater scheme. Are we fighting a force which should be allowed to occur?"

Dev took the flask back and administered her own healthy swig. before handing back the flask.

"Raven gave unto me a drink once that caused me to believe that the sky was the floor and t'other way round as well.  But we are on a grand quest to fight for Right and Justice.  In my worldview, I once thought that twas Arthur behind the evil, but Galahad spoke to me and said`that I had been mistaught.  Methinks that tis Morgaine that we maun stop.  Saving folk is indeed a worthy  endeavor, but peole are but born to die, so we maun save lives for the proper purpose".

"Morgaine, I recall the name in stories my mother told me. She was from outside our people, so stories she told were different to the ones my sibling's mother would tell. I myself have had visions showing a figure behind the final sphere of will working, maybe it is the same being you saw needing to be stopped." To his own pondering it was the tenth sphere, a being behind the tenth seat at the council. Maybe Morgaine was a name of it, if Galahad did come to Devellana with this news it certainly gave more weight to this journey. "My avatar revealed to me similar visions, a force and being behind the tenth seat on the council of will workers. Manipulating the forces we chase, these beasts of sin and vile forces. Forgive me if some of this has been shared before, but your Galahad and my avatar seem to be both pointing us in similar directions. Different names but isn't that true for all things, was I not hit with the tapestry only recently and English stolen from me." The monk laughs recalling the various paradox curses he'd been struck by. Hair of grass, skin of bark and his mother's tongue stolen from him.

The thought of his mother only reminded him of the visions his avatar had given him, traumatic and shattering as they were. "Raven, a drink for which the sky becomes the floor. Ah he is a fine soul. He delves in so many things which I'm sure both our orders would frown upon." Gesturing to the drink Dev now held, "Though mine own vice is one which perturbed the brotherhood, even going as far to have my Akashic name be from it. Of our friend, do we know of his machinations? I have things I must keep to chest, but I shall confess he is of import to the visions I've had."

Dev had taken to sipping from her flask rather than swigging from it.  At the mention of Morgaine, she nodded and added some information:

"Morgan of the Faer Folk, called leFae.  Sister to Arthur whom some call Artos or the Once and Future King.  It is said that she bore enmity for her half brother, the king for divers reasons.  She would have him from the throne and her own ill-begotten bastard Mordred placed 'pon it."

She passed back the flask and nodded as she listened to Flowing Water.  Though when he spoke of his own brotherhood looking askance at his drinking, she grew angry on his behalf:

"Is't their place to so fash thee an whatever they judge to be fault withthee does not affect them?  Mayhap they shouldst keep their own noses pon themselves and leave others to their own counsel!

She perked up at the mention of Raven, and she grinned, thinking of him and some of his antics.  She answered the question:

"He is a good man and honorable ... in his own way.  And I know not of him nor where he maun be.  The closest that I can tell thee is that there was much chicken soup in that pot and no Tink when I brought it thee.  As to his um, master? I canst not say.  Ask Lucu where he is!"


She handed back the flask and thought of her own reasons for wanting the pilot back.

Taking another drink from the flask as it was handed back. Beings of fae, future kings and relatives on either side of conflict. "I had also anger issues, which I still wrestle with. Alongside my former master I was brought to many inter order meetings, representatives of the main represented will working orders. That was not due to my choice of sin but it can be said to be related. I do not fault them for looking poorly on this vice, it is not part of their path and we each have our own."

The monk had accepted the parting of ways, it had been hard but his former master was not someone he could follow and he now had a new student to teach. "Tink is here so I am sure that Raven shall return, the little spirit I am certain is bound to our friend as your little dragon is to you." Features warming, recalling the little creature making its mess earlier. "As much as I might wish for us to move forward, we must so as a whole. And I am a believer that we shall continue to be where we are needed, when we are needed. It is amusingly curious that his spirit companion keeps to your company."

"I believe he is at his building on the moon, I could contact him if you like."

Dev relaxed even deeper into the chair and listened to her friend.  She nodded when he remarked that he did not blame his former comrades.  She did remark on Tink:

"Methinks that Tink and Numina have become fast friends."

When Luci made her report, Dev said:

"Aye!  An tho wouldst pease thee!  Inform him that whensomever he finishes what needs doing there that I have need of his assistance in a personal matter"

She winked at Huoshui and grinned,

"Mayhap we can kill twa corbies, not ravens  wi' one message so to speak!"

She contacts raven's com <Sir, you are needed on the ship. We need to be leaving, and Devellana and Huoshui wish to talk to you about a personal matter.>

Ix finished his smoke, tossing the butt behind him with a casual flick of his fingers. Where it landed, no one would know; somehow it seemed to simply cease to be.

The mention of the ship sent the slayer's thoughts to one of his primary objectives. His task to vanquish the vagabond vessel still left him with inquiries he had no answers to. He was still unsure as to the validity of his mission, going off the hopes of Senex's instructions and his faith in the Wheel. Had these hips not been enough,  his pride would carry him through. Ix was not one for unfinished work.

George's appearance made the agent's eyebrow quirk. The odd automaton's report satisfied his concerns for the safety of this new base, and the mention of a shard spurred his curiosity. It's containment reminded him of a certain soldier who nearly cost them their lives by way of his reckless weapon-wielding. He trusted that Raven would make the right decision.



Ix's nod of his head emphasized his statement.The crew seemed to have made palpable gains despite their quasi-fugitive status. It had been one thing to challenge a god in their own abode. It was a different matter to utilize the momentum of the accomplishment to fuel further ventures.



The Great Wheel Warrior was in no hurry to head out. He'd just returned, still smelling of death from his secondary mission. Rest was an essential element to any longterm endeavor. From what he understood, the monk would need plenty of it.

Raven turned his head away from the other two so they would not think he was speaking to them, then said;

"Acknowledged, Ix is with me, and we'll be leaving my property shortly. But I need you to give Huoshui a Priority message; tell him those crystals he asked me to give him are paradox sponges, and if they soak up enough they'll break which is not a happy event. The one he let me keep was just analyzed, you can double check with a scan of his if you like, but warn him all the same. Thanks Luci, Raven out."

The bird had smoked his second cigarette down to a nub, and held it up while the cherry smoldered as he looked at George.

"Thanks for the heads up, there's several of those things back onboard my ship. I didn't even know it was dangerous, just a souvenir from helping a friend. I'll take this one out of here so you, the workers, and the building are safe; I'm not sure just how I'll deal with this thing as I've not run across it before, but in the Space Marines I did have to handle dangerous ordinance from time to time so I'll figure something out; worse case scenario, I'll fly my ship into an empty place in space and shoot it out an airlock."

The old splicer next turned his attention to Ix.

"'Speak of the Devil, and he will appear'. I've got no clue where I heard that old saying, but it seems fitting as you asked me not to minutes ago about the monk and I just now received word he and Devellana have requested I return to Luci. I have a diplomatic transport parked outside, it's great for shooting through checkpoints and roadblocks so we'll be back in I'd say an hour at most."

The follower of Clashing Boom Boom placed the now cold butts in one palm and made a fist, stood up, and when next he opened his fingers Entropy had turned them into nothing. He looked one final time to George, giving him a friendly clap on the shoulder.

"I don't know if it matters to you, since you're the first drone I've actually run across, but you're doing a great job here George. I was hoping we'd be of some help to the troops, security, and their families hurt in the attack, but that was just eagerness on my part and if it takes a month that's what it takes. I've heard there are those who can work time as they please, but even after burning my brain on drugs for sixty years give or take I'm not dumb enough to try that shit; and considering I used a Sword of Mars to awaken a building in  ritual I pulled out of my ass, that's saying something."

Raven chuckled, then his helmet closed up and he headed outside to his vehicle to await Ix.

"You where guided in your ritual. As for being a Drone, some memories of being a human are being recovered from repaired brain tissue. I would say we are fundamentally different from other creatures you would encounter, and our perpouse would be what defines us to your like or dislike I would think. It seams I am much like humans but I do not have any of the emotions you do, and I am much like the machine spirits, but I have more capability to be.... 'creative' and interact with humans. I can tell you there is no more human or his course, and there is no more spirit, there is only myself. The two things I was made from no longer exist and never will again. I am a perfect amalgam of the two and there is no way to differentiate what was once one or the other because all that I am is both and thus something new. This is what a Drone is, we serve the one who made us. I would think most would be your enemy if you encountered more. For example the 'machine god' you damaged likely had drones working with-in it's structure."

---

Passing on the message to Huoshui. "I was told they are on there way, and that the fragments from your back where analyzed. They act as 'paradox sponges' but are only capable of taking in so much, if they take in to much they will brake and release said paradox. With the number of them and levels of paradox I would say they are quite safe for now, but as we do not know how much paradox they can take I would advise making plans for how to deal with them."

"Friends indeed." Personal matter, such wording confused Huoshui as to its purpose but it was none of his business. "Well I am sure what keeps him is something of import Dev." Yes haste was needed for the future events and their chasing of the enemy but Huoshui truly believed in his heart that Raven was off doing something noble.

Receiving the message, "Fragments, paradox absorption given form. Interesting well I was to keep them by my side as a keepsake and memory but I might have to think of that more. I would not wish them exploding in my face, though if they were to delay and protect me from the backlash of the tapestry disliking my tinkering."

"There are means of such like that but they all pose the same problem. They may gather paradox but they have there limit. The same is said for the things that extend the amount of quintessence you can hold.... it also extends the paradox and thus the possible backlash. It may release the paradox slowly over time but if it builds up to quickly it could be quite disastrous."

Ix nodded as the bullet-bearing bird informed him of their next step. It certainly wasn't coincidence that his speaking of the monk coincided with his communication; Fate had a way of enveloping her direction within the whims of mortals such as themselves. He looked on as the smuggler spoke to the summoned guardian, using his developing senses to make out what he could of it. Their crew appeared to be taking on more and more members, some more sedentary than others.

As Raven brought his helmet to bear, so did Ix with his mask. Its red and white highlights gave tribute to his totem, and his jacket and gear now followed in the same vein of colors. He walked just behind Raven with a mind keyed on the task to be. He wondered what would change with his reuniting of the gang.

Raven fired up the transport, and took most direct route back to the ship available. If all went well, he'd come to a stop next to where Luci was docked in an hour tops as he had guessed. He exited the vehicle and boarded the ship, automatically heading for Sick Bay since both Ix had seemed eager to know of the monk, and the old splicer was told Flowing Water and the knight wished to speak to him.

"I doubt thee not Friend.  For Raven hath spent much time in noble effort,; this is why I worded the message so.  As I did not speak of great import, but requested he attend at his leisure, i r must follow that he will give heed when he hath the time and is not so involved"

"As they came from me I shall be sure to use them sparingly, I shall strive to work out a balance which will allow them to release paradox slowly over time. Maybe they were destined to come to be, so I shall try to give them purpose or find what they are meant for."

"We'll have to ask Raven what good deeds he was off doing. I saw much in his eyes when we were dealing with the disaster, caring eyes behind it all. I feel he does not do things just for things he feels he must make amends but also just he knows it is right."

Points out this is a good time to make use of:
Library: Hermaic (in several data pads) - 4
in group/shared resources


Think about how many books you can save on a kindle or the like.... then think the data pads are more advanced a bit.... and there are like half a dozen of them with nothing but books on magic.

This is like a steep down from being the library of congress for magic on disk. XD  lol

Open coms to everyone:

<That reminds me. You are aware of out thaumavore nature. I think at this point we might as well share in such things as it will not be long before will will need to turn to you to keep us 'feed' so to say. We have a few items we have recovered that we would ether brake down for there quintessence, or sell for tass. I think it best we give you access to them and let this crew take part in keeping out tass supply in order.... this is why this became a pirate ship in the first place, the need for tass.>

<THE HELL, we can take care of this on our own.>

<They have become our crew, 'our' should include them aswell. The 'booty' you have been guarding is slowly dwindling and you will not listen to my advice of settling for tass in forms other than fruits. >

<Oh you think if we share with them our hull and because we have been hulling them around they will get us tass... you maybe but what about me?>

<You also helped save them fending off the spiders, and you and lee have keep the ship supplied quite well... but what we have left is only enough to stock up on Venus and there is no telling how much we could get or how long it would last.

<*A snort is hurd* fine...>

<We drained them but we have two Periapts that you could find use of. One is a book, that according to library Sam recovered, is an Æther Codex of Hermetic origins that was made by spinning the words of muses into thread that is meshed into tass wood pulp and used to make the paper and.... hu.... this is a bizarre and unorthodox method of making a book... non the less it seams people use it to make it easier to affect the gauntlet.... this copy has several burnt pages but still seams functional. The other is an only mildly damaged hydrogen battery. The rest are items of little use to us, that Lee and George had planed to sell, I estimate there value at around half a million credits.>
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:24, Tue 31 May 2016.

Raven walked in to where the knight and monk were, and gave a wave.

Amaphutha woke with a gasp wich quickly turns to a groan of pain and a panting panic before she seams to realize where she was and start to calm some.

"Luci, this Æther Codex. Where is it, and might I make use of it?" The open comms heard, and knowledge was something he was more than happy to attain. "If Tass is needed, I may have the capacity to help. If there is anything I can do to help, or anything I have that might be of aid." Huoshui tried to call over the comms in this, it would be a shame not to aid those who'd aided them so much.

Waving to Raven, "Welcome back friend, I hope your trip was a pleasant one." hearing Amp gasp and wave, he turned to her and seeing her calm once more. "Welcome to the waking world once more friend, what fortuitous timing."

"They know! We have to get out of here.. It won't come back but there more that will we have to leave, if-" She was cut off by the ship shaking, red lights coming on with a siren alarm, and the sound of the ships engines coming to life.  <Dangerous reaction, unable to stop, I have hacked explosive docking clamps and engaged sub-light - > The shock wave that followed was strong enough to tier through the ship, and those in it where sent flying as inertia dampeners and artificial gravity both went out.

Huoshui though, wearing just a hospital gown, did know how to handle impacts of such sort through his do training, and though he was only in that trainning chamber once before it was broken, his time in there was intense enough for him to have learned to deal with sudden shifts in gravity and inertia.... even still wounded by the shock wave, and objects hitting him.

Cats land on there feet right?  lol.. Amp fairs better but she's made of sturdier things than they are, and taking human (ish) form lets her recover almost right away.3

Dev's internal organs are completely protected by the shock of the blast by her fairy armor, and lucky for her her shield landed on her face... well... kinda lucky.... got a broken nose out of it but no brain rattling around in her head from the shock so mostly a win! >.> 1

The blessing of the hunter gave Ix a little bit of a warning and his nano weave adapted to the impact of the shock, so he was ready for the impact when it hit. 3

Raven knew how to roll into something he was thrown agenst/onto/whatever and his armor was fairly tough but it was not made to take concussive forces... but much like the rest he came out with only a few buses and almost having lost his lunch. 3

Tink just burst into rust as he materialized in advance of the shock wave.

The one worse for ware was poor Numina, she was young and awfully small for such an impact and was knocked unconscious.

Huoushui 4 bashing - Wounded -2 : aproxement healing time: 4 hours if untreated
Amaphutha 3 bashing -> healthy with regeneration
Devellana 1 bashing - Bruised : aproxement healing time: 1 hour if untreated
IX 3 bashing - Injured -1 : aproxement healing time: 3 hours if untreated
Raven 3 bashing - Injured -1 : aproxement healing time: 3 hours if untreated
Tink - fled
Numina 6 bashing - incapacitated: aproxement healing time: 19 hours if untreated

Lucy - ????????????

There was some rather unpleasent sounds through out the ship, Lucy in pain?, as the lights when in and out... parts of the walls seam to be.... hemorrhaging? some sort of fluid within them, while some of the medical equipment was on fire.

Ix , not being in sick bay could see what looked like parts of the wall losing there color and turning a gray metallic tone, and could feel a hull breach.

lights where unstable.
Engine's where dying out and the ship as a whole was not making pleasant sounds of any sort.
Gravity was out and they seamed to be drifting in orbit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:57, Fri 03 June 2016.

Raven waited for several seconds to make sure there wasn't going to be another explosion, then got his feet under him.

"Everyone OK?"

Dev responded to Raven:


"Dot exactly.  Broke by dose..."

Shoving aside her shield, the knight uprighted herself just before the gravity gave way and placed a hand on either side of her smashed nose.  With a disgusting snap and grind of cartiledge, she put it more or less back in place.  But before she could see to stopping the bleeding, she looked around for her dragon friend ...



"Doomida!  Oh Galahad!"

She literally flew to the unconscious dragon and grabbed her close.  The blood and snot flowed unchecked down her face as tears joined to make her one nasty looking mess as she gently held the dragon and called to her:

"Please baby, wake up love ..."

Dev has enough medical knowledge to tell she's just knocked unconscious. She is fairly sure she don't have a concussion...and she thinks she looks to be breathing and the like well enough that any internal damage isn't serious. Poor girl though did get the knock around.

Seeing the knight with her dragon caused Raven to have concerns of his own, and he put a hand to his mouth calling out,

"Tink! Hey Tink buddy, where'd you go? You OK?"

The dust just collected again on Ravens shoulder into a perfectly fine tink that nipped a shard sticking out the side of his head, chewing it up.



( hehe =p )

Tinker is now a familiar and has learned on his own healing lick (3)

He flies over to, as if to land on Numina, but suddenly spreads it wings wide greatly slowing it as it opens it's mouth giving an electronic sounding bird cry. The air infont of it sizzles with ozone and arches little sparks through the air zatting the little dragon with electricity and waking her with quite a start... though she immediately makes some rather pitiful chitterlings and the like not feeling at all to well.

Tinker instead lands on a floating curten rod like it was a perch and just turns around to cant it's head to one side.

Numina 5 bashing - mauled -5 dice: aproxement healing time: 9 hours if untreated
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:56, Fri 03 June 2016.

The monk even in the poorly fitting robes managed to avoid much of the incoming debris of the impact, not lucky enough to avoid all but one could only hope to be so lucky. "I am well, but I fear for our companion Luci." Her well being their very own, she was their sentient ride across the seas of the tapestry. As harmed as they seemed to be now, the situation would worsen only if they Luci was to come to more harm or maybe already they were too late. Beginning to mutter to himself in Kaja, that ancient tongue spewing from his lips in streams of blessings and prayers. Extending his senses, through all the will working ways he knew, looking, listening, sensing out for what was going on. Checking the health of his allies but also what was attacking them or why this had come to be.

Seeing that Tink was OK, Raven figured the monk had a point about the ship. As the splicer watched his friend begin chanting, the old man decided to try some Magick of his own working; closing his eyes, the ex-Space Marine reached out to sense the Spirits around him, in hopes of reaching Luci or at the very least tell if they were in any more immediate danger.

Ix was still processing Luci's information before he was knocked akimbo. Mixcoatl seemed to smile on him as he twisted as best he could with the impact, allowing his armor to absorb the debris at its strongest reinforced points. I haven't even made my greeting, and already the party's starting. Fate couldn't even leave a rain check for trouble.

The hunter saw how the wall shifted into strange colors. Instantly his chain sprung to life about him, swirling over him like some deadly ribbon dance as he drifted toward the entryway of the sick bay. As he spun the whip in one hand, his other hand tapped at his chest where his bullet charm lay beneath his beaten armor. Is this a breach? What crazy shit will be greeting us today? With the use of his magic, he'd find out soon enough.



The words projected over his head as he drifted by the door. His focus was preparing for what things may come.

George comes down the hall past Ix with two odd looking rifle like devices on his back and one in his hands, he takes one of his back tossing it to Ix with out stopping. "Come on, fire it at damage.... particularly anything leaking or burning... get shrapnel out first." was the only thing he said as he headed to the breach and out onto the hull.

Large chucks of what was once ozman's ship lodged in the ship, with a grate deal of damage in the area near where the ship was docked. There was quite the debri field and parts of Ozman's ship leaking dangerous stuff like plasma.

---

Huoshui and Raven could figure out about as much with there magic/scanning.

Over the coms lee checked in, he sounds like he's in a good bit of pain. <Is anyone seriously hurt? I'm on the bridge. I think I broke my leg, or worse... display's a lot of nonsense and none of the controls are responding.>

Amaphutha groaned and pulled herself to gather some closing her eyes and placing a hand on the nearest wall/floor. She winced biting her lower lip enough it bleed. "gods... she is in so much pain.... We can't stay here that explosions going to bring a lot of attention, we have to go but she can't fly like this.... dammit..." She bit, "Huoshui please help ease her pain.... she can block it out but the shock of so much, well you are more accustom to such pain, hell her shut her pain out. 'Turn it off'"

Huoshui fell to the floor, instantly into a lotus seated position. "My blood is steel, my heart is glass. My eyes to discern evil, my mouth to speak truth. I walk the path of righteousness, my sword forged to purge evil." The monk began in prayer, there were two rotes he'd learnt in his travels concerning pain. One Unlocking the Gate, which removed pain at risk of causing damage to the self allowing you to push past physical limits. The other Garden of Delight which is where he developed unlocking the gate from, taught to him by members of the Sahajiya. "By withstanding pain, I have made my body the sword which I shall wield against the darkness. By learning pain, I have become a person who can be kind to others." As his spoke the words out loud, the markings on his body lit up. The Kaja reacting and flowing to match his prayer, each phrase he spoke in English then Chinese and then in Kaja. "We do not fight to hear praising or ovation. We fight for we know our path is right. The mightiest hero was once a child, overcoming weaknesses to become stronger. A child goes through pain turning blood to steel, discipline is key. Keeping heart glass, knowing power is not for the self."

The chanting continued, eventually losing the English and then Chinese only leaving him chanting in the tongue even he did not fully know. Kaja the words of magic to his people. Focusing on what he knew of the rote Unlocking the gate, pushing this to his hands, feeling the chi pool to his palms. Eyes having been closed through the chanting till it was the moment, pressing his palms to the ground, pushing his chi to Luci. Sending the unlocking gate to her and Huoshui prayed it would free her of pain as it had him so many times before.

Raven for his part headed out of the room, and toward where he sensed the largest amount of damage. When he got there, he drew in a breath, and tried to weaken the fabric between the Spirit and Mortal Realms; it had worked to help his building heal faster, he hoped somehow Luci could likewise take advantage of it at least enough to make her flight-worthy. He actually wanted to help her more than that, but they were an assassin, a smuggler, a marked girl, and a wanted man aboard a ship by all sense shouldn't exist in the first place. So, getting their asses out of there had to be step one, then they'd have time to figure out a step two.

What separates spirit and flesh is so very week in space Raven could not do much to weaken it more with out rending it .... and there was already a few places it was torn appart from the eruption of Osman's eather/mater conversion drive.

The upper rear of the ship looked rather horrible, the most obvious help the bird could give was to use his spirit magic to yank out the bits of Osman's ship that where lodged in Lucy.

He could see George out there shooting some gun that made what seamed to be some weird metallic foam grow over the ship where he sprayed it... he was sealing off leaks and what he guessed was the equivalent of open wounds. Well if he couldn't say he'd seen everything before he could now... a four armed monkey, in space, preforming first aid on a ship.

---

Huoshi experiences a grate deal of pain tapping into luci's mind, as much as he had just recently had if not more... but he was able to block it out with sure will long enough to finish his spell and set her free of hers, unlocking said gate was a good deal easier for her as it was programed into her, she was ment to be able to shut of pain in such a situation... apparently though it was not set up to do so automatically if she could not herself.

---

Across the ship the alarms and red lights turned off, and general lights dimmed as power over the ship shifted. Lucy started to drone out over the ship coms.

<Hull integrity - 61% - multiple breaches detected
Structural integrity - 79% - Destruction of: (lists off the loss of a few unused living quarters in the back of the ship, though Dr. Ciactrix's was among them.. most of his medical stuff was moved to sick bay but what was left is now gone and the cargo bay which thankfully just had some food.) Damage to: Hydroponics; Shuttle bay
Life support - 85%
Quintessence amplification - 68%
Tass resivour - 54% - multiple leaks detected
Intelligence core - 89%
Eather/Mater conversion drive - No response - Condition unknown presumed destroyed
Correspondence drive- 37% - Non functional
Ion drives - 71%
.......>
Thus it continues for about a minute.

Raven attempted to use his Spirit Magick to help remove th4 bits of the other ship, then he tried to locate some tools and headed for the ion drives to see what he could do about them. According to the damage report he'd heard they were still intact enough to move the ship, but he needed to be sure that there was no damage to them that would be made worse by their activation.

Raven was right to worry, the main drive had damage to it's magnets, the drive would have a lot harder time producing ions and the plasma would be almost right agents the outer walls of the chamber. Not only would it be a lot weaker but it was bound to blow after a bit of use... he couldn't guess how long it would last before it did he had to just get those magnets fixed. It was strange being the drive was organic, but magnets are magnets and he could tell what was broken by what wasn't... it was weird working with them but he was able to figure out what he was doing.

Also power wasn't getting to the plasma bridge neutralization cathodes, if they where not fixed instead of a beam of ions they would be blasting plasma out of them. The heat would do damage but it was no where near as big a concern as the fact leaving a trail of plasma would make it rather easy to follow them.

"Come on, fire it at damage.... particularly anything leaking or burning... get shrapnel out first."

Am I a repair man, now?

Since this excursion began, the marksman had taken on many roles. He wasn't sure how he felt about the changes of pacing, but he was aware of the importance of their goals. Ix retracted the whip as George's weapon? flew towards him giving the device a once-over with inquisitive eyes. He assumed there was no use in waiting, as the time to action was now.

He sped after George, though at a slower pace, searching for any impairments in Luci's structural damage. Following the automaton's instructions, he began to displace the shrapnel from the "wounds"of the ship before firing accurately at the damage. Ix tried not to let himself become distracted by the idea of hostiles flooding their ship. His will to kill was suppressed beneath the needs of the moment.

Using Matter (with a healthy doese of Correspondence) to find and repair the damage.

It was about the size of his uper arm and quite traslucent making it so very hard to see agenst the stars... and it was fast... they where fast, so very very fast.




They darted about in space faster than many fish do so in water. He could see one of them going after George... the one attacking him he didn't notice till he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck and near completely translucent tendril, a good deal to long and strong for a cuttlefish, wrapping around his neck. Thankfully Ix was just as strong as the strange space-cuttlefish-thing, and it was having a hard time chewing through his nano weave.... still hurt like a bitch as it's teeth pierced the material and scratched and cut at his skin. That was not the feeling of the bite of a natural creature.

3 agg soaked

He could see a good two or three more of the buggers darting about the ship, and George seamed none the wiser to the one about to latch onto him, let alone the others... and who knows how many of the things there where he couldn't see.

"Rank you Tind!"

Develanna was so grateful to see her dear little friend's eyes open again.  She checked the fairy dragon over to make sure that nothing was seriously hurt.  She could tell however that Numinah did not feel good.  Her friend was not pretending to be at death's door which she did when she wanted attention, and she had not yet begun to clean the yuck from Dev's face.

The knight had curled around the small dragon almost in  the same position as the monk, only Dev was floating around.  She started paying more attention to those around her and realized that her friends were all busy trying to help Luci.  So she called out to Lu:

"Luthi, ith there adytindg tat I cad do to help?  Cad I sedd you edergy?'

<Visualization on intruders.>

An image is displaced to those in the sick bay of some of the cuttlefish swimming through the halls. "Lee, pinned down." Amp says and runs off torge the bridge.

Huoshui bit down as the pain Luci was going through flowed through him, like lightening it stung and spread to all his muscles. It didn't take too long to cast his spell, for his will to break through this linked pain and work on her own. It was odd, she was built with this ability already in her but for whatever reason it had not triggered something to look into in future. A charm or something would need to be made, or whatever that meant in more technological means.

"I'm linked." The monk announced to anyone near, not that he could see as his eyes were closed and his other senses were still focused on Luci. Listening to the listed complications. Now he believed that some were already dealing with the hull, and some of the other aspects he could not help with not having the knowledge or skills. But Tass leaking, well that was mystical and magical in nature wasn't it. Maybe his prime could aid here, though he would not know till he checked.

All of that faded as he opened his eyes to an image of the creatures running through the halls, floating or swimming would be more accurate. Amp ran off to aid Lee, rising and grabbing his things. "I'm behind you, those things must be part of this attack. I'll cleanse them." Grabbing his robes on the way out as well as his sword. Using a combination of Sparrow Flight, Lung gom and Plum Flower Blossom to give him the speed, swiftness and agility to get through the halls pulling his robes on and hunting to find the intruders.

Huoshui is just BARELY able to sense the one that comes to attack him in time to stop it, they act almost at the same time...Huohui is just a bit faster because of his Do. When it noticed he had noticed it recoiled some, it did not seam to interested in attacking him unless it was from behind.

Robes hastily thrown on and sword still in sheath in hand, none of that prepared him however for the creatures skulking the halls. Only by a hair's width did he get away from their attack, feeling it at his back and moving out of their path. Turning and anchoring himself to the spot, facing them but extending his senses all around him these before him might not be the only ones and they already showed preference for a back attack.

"I know now who you are or your purpose being here, but I ask you to leave." Keeping his sword sheathed and to his side, "We are both swimmers in the ocean of the tapestry, pass by and I shall have no quarrel with you." Hoping they understood if not his words but his intent.

It moved back slowly, the tendrils over it's moth moving methodical, it's skin was adapting over the few seconds they stared echo ther down.... it lost it's translucency as scales started to form over it. It was moving and seamed to be looking for a way around Huoshui it was sure he could not strike it from but seamed to be having a hard time with it, for a thing with no brain it was sure overthinking such a simple action..... but then again it must have a good idea of how well Huoshui could strike it.

Ix was beginning to find that Fate had a sick sense of humor. He could recall how Raven told him only hours before how they were attacked aboard Luci, and now it seemed to happen again. It was interesting to watch the strange creatures make their advance, openly hostile despite their conspicuous nature. Yet he didn't let their stealthy approach put him off his guard.

The lack of gravity gave him options he couldn't normally take part in, but felt the need to utilize. A quick grip on his plasma pistol brought the weapon to bear on the creature sneaking up on George, and he pulled the trigger quickly to remove whatever threat assessed him. He also leaned forward to throw a foot backwards, hoping to land a devastating heel-kick on the creature that threatened him from behind. The rifle George handed him was fired into the breach in hopes to repair whatever damage was being done to the ship's walls.

Actions: Attack creature behind George with Plasma pistol, unarmed kick against creature that bit him on the neck, firing "rifle" into damage on ship.
Does Ix know what it was that George threw at him? I'm assuming Omnidexterous trait helps with multiple actions.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:28, Tue 07 June 2016.

The monk pressed to his comms device, opening to all aboard Luci. "Just what are these creatures? Does anyone have any idea? I've got some here with me and after they failed to land a hit they are just floating here." Huoshui could sense no mind within it, as if some sort of large and over sized bacteria or other smaller life forms. The strange thing that even this theory failed to explain was that it also appeared to be thinking, being cautious while analysing its next move. That was beyond instincts, fight or flight, or the other responses usually displayed by a creature under stress never really included such analysis and patient waiting. "Could something be controlling or manipulating them? Is this a hive minded creature?" Purposely sharing his thoughts, yes his new path allowed defence against something that had attacked him. He was not the Huoshui of old, but analysis of the situation was needed as the monk feared things could be bigger than just some space cuttlefish invading their ship.

Keeping his senses all around him, this creature could be just waiting for another of its kind to sneak up on the monk. Even if he was not quite ready to do battle with this creature the whole ship itself was a battlefield in which the monk would not be a victim of.

Huoshui's mind did touch on the cuttlefishes, and though it had not brain, it did have a mind... one that made huoshui's own feel small cast under it's shadow and who's thoughts where so alien they where almost painful to try and make sense of, and boy did it touch back.


Another did come up on him, but this one was not as stealthy as the other having already given up its translucency for scales.... nor was it as fast to react when the monk noticed it going for the back of his neck. He was more than able to attack first as they both came down on him.

---

Ix underestimated his oponates, they looked weak but the one warping up around him did so tighter garbing at his arm with a tendril pulling his shot off aim... it was only the hunters blessing that made him stronger than the thing, it took a bit of struggling to get free (two actions) before he could kick the damn thing off him.

3 bashing, 2 soaked

George got it just as bad as Ix but he to was lucky his thick skin was a little to tough for the critter to chew threw quickly. He put up quite the struggle but could not get free... "SON OF A BITCH WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS GET IT OFF" he did manage to however get one of his four arms free and that's all he needed to pull one of his plasma pistols and blindly aim at the thing.... he didn't seam to bothered about maybe shotting himself in the back, but he nailed the little bastered and it let go.

Ix healthy
George healthy
Cuttlefish A - 1 bashing - bruised
Cuttlefish B - 4 agg -  -2 dice mauled
Cuttlefish C healthy
Cuttlefish D healthy
cuttlefish E healthy

As they where hurt there skins adapted, they lost there translucency but gained thick scales over there body. It made the others swimming about much more visible though!

No longer using the communication device, this was only to the creature before him. Between the two of them now it had made itself known. "I choose the third option." Feeling another of the creatures come at him from behind, Water Style Internalization had taught him one important lesson. The flow of battle isn't something you read, it is something you become. The monk had more than enough time to ready himself and make the first move, Bright Steel Katana in hand drawn and struck at the beast. Leaving a blurring streak in its path aiming to cleave through it as it went for his neck.

His chi focused through its blade with the knowledge of Metal Style Internalization only able to use his Do with the blade thanks to Ten Thousand Weapons. The monk would show who truly was underestimating his enemy, this being who thought so little of them. No his masters through the years had instilled in him to never fall to this sin, the monk went all out against it showing how a monk of the Akashic brotherhood began battle. Even without will working.

Huoshui's strike was swift and clean, however surprisingly enough the thing caught his blade mid swing in it's tendrils! The scales hardening even more agents the blade sending sparks and quintessence flying as the two surfaces grinned agents each other, in the end the blade one out cutting threw a tentacle or two braking lose of the grasp, it did not seam to have done to much harm to the cuttlefish though.

6 agg done, all soaked. (barely it got a lot of 10's lol)

The orginal attacked, and forced Huoshiu to use his staff to avoid it's grasp. There forms where small and it would not take much to kill them, but it seamed there arrogance was not internally unjustified.

The spirit of Huoshui's blade suggest using it's ability to strike through/past both of them if he could line them up in such a way.

Devellana looked around and saw that she was indeed alone in the sickbay.  Cursing in an archaic vocabulary that is impossible to transcribe in this venue, she begins searching for some way to carry her dragon with her.    The lack of gravity has made it impossible to stomp, which only heightens her sense of frustration at yet again being left behind by all and told nothing of what was going on.  The fact that she might have heard what was happening arounf her had she not been so upset at the state of her dragon was, at this point in her snit, of no importance to her at all.  .  Moving around the area, she hunts until she finds a piece of cloth that is of sufficient length and bredth to make a sling.  Into this sling, she puts Numinah to hang down her left side.  In this wise, the little dragon is hidden behind the shield which she caught as it floated by.  Pulling her sword from her back, she aimed herself at the door and exited the bay.  She looked both ways  before she enters the hall lest she be attacked from behind by the umpudent sushi, she carefully floats to wards the bridge to lend what help she may.

From his attempt to weaken the Wall between the Mortal and Spirit Worlds, Raven had felt just how incredibly thin it was already in space. This knowledge gave him an idea of how to help Luci, and by connection the crew; he could see the broken remains of the magnets, and think what they looked like as a whole piece. In the Realm of the War God Ares, the bird had been able to do whatever he wished by command of Spirit alone, and once more he attempted this; drawing on the power of his Sphere, the splicer wove and molded the energy together, defining and giving it solid form.

<gray>"'How many parts will the engine take,
Before it's working again?
The answer my friend
Is in the Spirit Realm
The answer is in
The Spirit Realm.'"

He fabricated the parts needed to repair the engines, and after that fixing the connection he also spotted was easy enough.

He would have pondered what repairs he should undertake next, yet he was disturbed in his ponderings by the Ghost of Sushi Past; he didn't know the exact details of the creature, but in light of just how many teeth the thing was showing him he didn't rightly care either. He had his usual selection of weapons on him, all of which 'voiced' they'd willing help him in the fight against this creature, but having never faced such as this before the bird wasn't sure which armament would take it out easily and what would just bounce off its armor; the old soldier knew a general amount for his profession about armor, and the stuff used by Skippy The Pissed Off Goldfish was unfortunately not in the 'tissue paper' category by the looks of it.

The beastie hissed and snapped it's endless rows of razor-sharp teeth at him (at least they seemed endless to him in that moment), as it's body darted at frightful speed about in the air. On the plus side, the old man was never out of options; the number of those one had on hand at any given time, was directly linked to just how bat-shit crazy they were willing to be. For Raven on a scale of one to ten, the Universe hadn't invented a number that high yet...

He pulled Old School and Tried and True, holding them up at the ready; when the Tadpole of Terror lunged at the feathered fighter, Raven suddenly aimed his weapons behind him at an angle and fired; in the loss of gravity, the solid shot rounds shared their momentum with the sidearm that fired them, and that was the intent in the first place. Combining this boost with his Space Marine Corps. training on how to 'swim' through Zero G, the former Commander hoped he would be swift enough to dodge the Fins of Fury.

He hadn't randomly picked a direction; when faced with a force of unknown strength, there was one cardinal rule every soldier as a fresh-faced recruit learned; hit it with the biggest MFing gun you had.

If he'd managed to avoid the thing, it had an express ticket right into engine through the open paneling Raven hadn't gotten around to closing when Fangy the Fish showed up; the splicer had aimed himself directly for the control panel, and slammed his full body weight into the big, red manual activation button; as he heard the big machine behind him power up, he idly wondered just how many units of ion radiation his new suit was rated to withstand; well, he'd find out in a sec...

Devellana was lucky enough to leave the sick bay before any swim in after her, and lucky enough to head to the bridge after they did. She caught sight of one swimming in front of her in fact.

---

The thing was bloody fast, Raven had hoped it couldn't stop itself however it was fully capable of doing so.... unfortunately for the squid faced monster it did so just a smig to slow and only managed to cling to the rims of the hatch as it dipped into the plazma and pulled itself out, it's scales now burnt to a crispy black with the smell of bad seafood filling the air.

It took 6 agg and only soaked 1.

Nasty things at Crippled -5 Dice

It barely saved itself....

As for the magnet fixed but will have to fix the cathode manually.

---

The engine firing with out the dampeners did made the ship lurch forward for everyone.

Huoshui's blade caught, the tentacles too fast and agile for him. With some work the blade was freed and the tentacles cut, but still nothing. This creature showed now sign that it had been harmed, or hindered at all. Only with the aid of his staff was he able to avoid its counter attack and grapple.

Hearing the advice of the blade, maybe with one good cut with the sword's ability it could be done. Sparrow Flight, Dragon stance and Plum Flower Blossom once more the monk began to demonstrate the skills that his life of training had given him. Swiftness of the sparrow gave each leap distance as if flying, the stance of dragons allowing him inhuman balance and his jumping off of air only extending each bound. Even the ship in the state it was, no gravity and any number of objects floating around. The monk had Lung gom and other training in difficult terrain. All of this was to get into a position that he could strike through all his opponents, or lead them to a position that the result would be the same.

The sword sheathed, the monk focused its energies and asked the blade in a small prayer to lend its powers in exchange for some of the monk's energy. "You are a worthy opponent this is sure, but I am not alone. Allow us to show you our combined skills." The spirit within the blade had Huoshui's complete trust, they were partners in this and he knew they could defeat the creatures together.

Huoshui's rapid strike cut through the first one slicing it in half, the long way, but the second had time to move out of the way only getting the top of it's head chopped off.... which surprisingly didn't stop it from swimming rapidly a safe distance away and eyeing him contemplating what to do next.

6 agg done to both of them, one soaked 3

it's at Wounded -2 dice, the other very much dead

The dead one starts to devolve into foam from where it was cut. The part chopped off don't, least not yet anyway.

The melee maneuver proceed that Ix was no brawler. He held a strong preference for distance between him and his prey. Once he freed himself from the creature's grasp, he quickly brought the borrowed rifle to bear as he skipped back away from the tentacled target. The move allowed him to plant his feet on the wall, and in they moment he got a bead on the cuttlefish.

The enemy looked all the world like a hibachi grill's nightmare. What had attracted these beings to their neck of space in the first place? Never would the young hitman thought he'd be crossing spiders and seafood off his kill list, but there was a first time for anything. There was little time to meditate as he tugged on the trigger, firing patiently placed shots into the creature.

Hopping to stand on wall, firing burst shots from the borrowed rifle.

The gun designed to patch up the hull did a good job wrapping the thing up in bio-metal, after a few seconds of steady streaming the stuff over it, the thing couldn't move anything.

Meanwhile George pulled free of the tenticels, pulling out all his gun, and reinvented the world overkill on the thing that tried to bite him.

The other three fish in the rubble of Ozmans' ship though where coming down after them.

Ix healthy
George healthy
Cuttlefish A - 1 bashing - bruised reduced to 1 str, 0 dex, 3 stanima due to foam....alive but isn't going anywhere.
Cuttlefish B - nothing but a few chucks of foaming dibree floating about
Cuttlefish C healthy
Cuttlefish D healthy
cuttlefish E healthy

The blade slowly returned to the scabbard, Huoshui saying yet another quick prayer in thanks to it lending its power in vanquishing the foe. One cut clean in two, disappearing into nothing soon after while the other losing what could be said to be its head remained. Even the removed part of it stayed, the concern being now that it might have some control still of this separate piece. Best to stay alert the monk thought, don't rule out the floating head piece.

Feeling his resources low, the monk had for whatever reason denied himself willworking for this fight but still he had placed much of his power into these actions. "I had asked you to leave, I ask you this final time. Leave now, or I shall continue as I have demonstrated here. My allies I have faith are doing much the same, you have this final chance. I pray you take it." Kiaijutsu, Hold the shout in, the monk had come into the ability to use his voice as he had used his fist but this was slightly different because this was focusing it on the words. The monk had tried to allow this thing to see the error of its ways, part of him as shown with the sword swing had enough and wanted to vanquish it but the monk was still a monk of peace at heart. The ability and willingness to end life shown, this was the final chance for this to end. With in his mind he prayed to the gods that his offer was taken, while also praying the gods forgive him if it is not.

It didn't seam moved by his words, in fact his use of Kiaijutsu brought a totally unexpected response.  It however swam off, as it became translucent again.

The ship jerking didn't surprise Raven, since he was the one who'd just fired up an engine. It also didn't effect him much, as he was pushed effortlessly through zero gravity in the same direction the panel he'd landed against was going. He would be pleased later his repairs were both working correctly and holding, but right now he was occupied with finishing his blackened fish recipe...

The old splicer once more called upon the raw essence of Spirit, this time forming it into a solid wall of force sized to just fit through the opening that exposed the plasma stream. He didn't make it fancy or showy, he just wanted it to size and solid as quickly as could be done. Then he shoved it forward as hard as he could hoping he'd catch the sea bug with it, trying to knock the Seafood Special back on the grill...

"Back back back,
In the burning
Stream of fire.

Back back back,
It's your time
To Expire.

"And you'll
Burn burn burn
In the stream of fire,
The stream of fire."

The cuttlefish pushed agents the wall of force, but it just didn't have the strength left to fight agents it, and the thing dissapeared into the plasma. The plasma venting from the engine turning a rather odd greenish color for a few seconds.

Now all he had to do was grab some tools and fix that cathode.

The creature's response was not the desired one, and in fact it only continued its own aggressions even while leaving. Showing no sign of it actually leaving the ship, so the monk had no choice but to follow the creature attempting to track it. It once again went translucent, indicating a switch from an aggressive attacking form to the one it had displayed in the first place. Trying to extend his senses, prime to sense changes in the tapestry, mind to see if it could feel the being's own, life as he could only guess these creatures were alive. It couldn't be left to deal more damage to poor Luci.

Huoshui had some trouble finding it, even with the chunk of it floating there to get a sense of it. At first he couldn't find it, but he found one on the bridge and one headed there, and at least two outside.

Concentrating harder he can sense it finally... it dose seam to be leaving the ship. He can also now sense two on the bridge, one headed for the bridge, and at least four of them outside, two of those rather close to Ix and George.

(yes there least two out side besides the ones Ix and George see)

Raven waited just long enough to assure himself the thing was gone for good, then slammed a fist against the manual activation button to turn the engine back off; the old man's idea to use the machine as a weapon was doubly beneficial, as not only did it remove the nasty thing from his presence but plasma being formed instead of an ion stream meant he had more work to do.

The splicer decided to recheck the cathode, and then just to be sure he[d eyeball the rest of the engine room as well to make sure there wasn't anything else left to bite him in the ass (figuratively or actually).

Develanna was not in the habit of attacking enemies from behind, but she was more concerned with keeping Numinah safe than she was worried about the honor of creature attacking from behind.  She pointed her sword at the cuddlefish and spake:

"Let all tthe air hat surrounds thee
Come within thee
And let it become fir and heat"

Ok not the greatest of spells, but she sent her will down through the blade.

Slippering being in mind, body and soul. It took the monk some concentration to be able to find them all, or he hoped he now sensed them all. It was leaving the ship, but its words and intent were not fully understood. Only now did the monk find concern in what it might do once having left, would it call allies or other machinations. Ix and George seemed to be engaging with a larger of the possible groups.

Huoshui took to his comm device as he made his way to any of the enemy currently not engaged, he believed his friends and allies would not need aid so it was best to see if he can take ones that were currently alone. "There are more outside friends, also they have a mind. Something powerful, it has spoken to me a number of times now. I am unsure but might have convinced one to leave, if I am lucky." There as still concern there if it truly was leaving. "If anyone needs aid call, I am unengaged now and on my way to continue work."

Numbers always came easily to the executioner.

As the bio-metal bursts left thebarrel of the repairing rifle, Ix calculated the velocity of the blasts from the delay of the trigger pull and the vibrations from the weapon. The answer produced was immediately factored into his next mathematical maneuver, pushing of from the shop wall with a powerful leap at a sharp angle to the ceiling. He drew the haladie dagger that still remained unsullied since it was given him by the White Baron. Its three blades sung through space as he sought to stab what remained of the strangled squidling. It didn't know how long the barrier would contain the thing, or if their pacifistic ninja would try and turn it into some pet.

His other hand was busy with the rifle, the stock now tucked under an arm as he twisted his body to land. Just before his feet connected with the roof, he fired off another steady stream of bursts towards the incoming calamari. The tool proved effective in slowing the intruders down, and Ix thought to capitalize on this new knowledge. One they were immobilized, he would make his killing blows.

The cathode was the only thing broken, the tube cracked in several places... duck tape or spirit magic, it wasn't that hard of a fix. The other engines had released ion streams, now this one should too... everything seamed to be good.

---

Devellana's odd words may have served to warn the thing so she did not stab it in the back so to say... but if anything they seamed to confuse the fish, even giving her a bit of a 'wha?' kinda look before it's insides started to boil.

She dose 3 agg to it leaving it at mauled -2 dice

---

Ix pushed of a little to hard and barly hit the blob of patch-metal... doing so though reminded him why he hadn't used the weapon yet. It barely scratched the metal, if it wasn't hardened by magic the electrem might have chirped off even. He remembered the Baron had told him such, it was an assassins blade specifically forged for killing fera and wasn't strong enough to do much agents metal armor.

One of the shots back at the others reduiced it's strength to 1 and it's dexterity to 3 as it was hit with a fairly large glob.

George saw what Ix was doing and opened fire on the same one ix was finishing trapping it.

The two left make a dive for the others, one grabs the one from between them and swims off, the other tries to get the one Ix was stabbing at but seamed to know it couldn't do it with out Ix attacking it, so it swam off grabbing the other too so they could swim away faster.

Ix could also see the one with the top of it's head cut off fleeing out a hull breach, and three CCG ships approaching. (still some ways out but they was leaving the other ships heading in the direction of lucy)

---

Devellana's boiling fish fry, tore an access panel free and darted into the cramped tunnels.

Once everything had been fixed, Raven made his way to the bridge as quickly as he could; what signs of battle he could see around him on the way seemed to suggest they were winning this fight, so instead of stopping to help he tried to get to his seat and the flight controls. The explosion that had first damaged the ship had to have caught someone's attention, be it the authorities to investigate or looters to grab what they could. Whatever the case may be, with Luci injured it was just better in his mind if ship and crew were gone far enough away to deter anyone from following them.

When he got to the bridge, the old man 'swam' over to the Engineering Control area and activated the startup sequence for the engines; instead of his hasty test fire from before, this way all dampeners and other safeguards would be in place. He then clicked on the emergency channel, got to his chair, manifested a seatbelt to keep his feathered butt in it, and grabbed the orbs he'd had a great deal of practice recently using. With Luci 'out of it', the old splicer didn't know how long before the engines could be used and the sight of three CCG ships closing in didn't make him breathe any easier; however, the fact a plasma stream was generated earlier instead of an ion one, plus the fact something living was shoved into it, gave him an idea that might buy them a little space. Using the E. Comm., the smuggler put his hastily thought up plan into action;

"THIS IS BIO-WASTE TRANSPORT SHIP WILLAIM WALLACE, TO ALL VESSELS IN LUNAR ORBIT! THERE'S BEEN A LEVEL ONE CONTAINMENT BREACH, CODE RED! VENTING FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEM, CODE BLACK EMINENT! UNLESS TRAINED AND EQUIPPED FOR OMEGA ONE BIO-HAZRAD EVENTS, DO NOT APPROACH! REPEAT, DO NOT APPROACH!"

Raven didn't know if Luci could change her signal to that of the ficticous ship he'd just named, but it wasn't really important; this wasn't the first time he'd pulled a trick like this, being a smuggler allowed you to invent fun ways to keep nosey people at bay.

If procedures hadn't changed, the first thing the incoming ships would do would be to scan the plasma emitted earlier to see if it was biological waste and if so how harmful it might be. Thanks to fish face, the readings should come back positive, but with several categories listed as 'Unknown' (unless the finned freak was common, and he was the only person in the known Universe not to ever heard of one). After that, the senior crews would be called for a meeting, and by that time the splicer planned to let them all kiss his Ion Drives...

The ships did stop there approach, and Luci was able to create false information, she was busy trying to fix what needed to be fixed but she didn't need a ship firing on her ether. Gravity and the dampeners where coming back on line slowly too, as trying to fly with out them is not such a good idea.

The bridge itself was damaged and Amp was tending to Lee's broken leg, "Do we have a way out of here?" There was foaming masses of dead fish about... three or four where killed here.

<This is the CGS titan-escort Atalanta, your profile dose not match the one we have on file, please transmit your Senex Hazmat codes for verification.> Well that baught some time and there was a chance they could get the codes from there contacts if they hurried.

---

George looked to Ix "We should probably get inside."

"ATTEMPTING CODE RETREAVAL, BUT RADIATION DAMAGE TO MAIN COMPUTER CORE MAY DELAY PROCESS. WILL TRANSMIT ASAP, STANDBY."

The splicer muted the E. Comm, and put a finger to his own ear.

"Ix, it's Raven. Whatever the hell happened got the attention of the cops, and we've got three ships full of unwanted company looking in our direction right now; I told them we were a bio-waste transport ship that suffered a containment breach, and that stopped them in their tracks for the moment. But they want Senex codes to prove we are what I claimed, and though I told them we had some computer damage I don't think they're going to wait too long for me to transmit the information. With the shape Luci's in, I don't want to risk a high speed chase, or take a chance she might get shot up and more damaged. So, if you happen to have a fewof your employer's codes on hand for a rainy day, it's getting ready to pour outside Brother..."

Amp finished healing Lee and looked to Raven "Those creatures may be heading to those ships too, they will make them fire on us if they can. I had visions of them, we need to get out of here... if you don't have an Idea, I do... but it's a little crazy, you think you can fly through a tunnel only a bit bigger than Lucy?"

There was hardly time to talk, let alone breath.



Ix resheathed his blade as he released his grip on the rifle. It floated lethargically through the air as the hunter's favored tomahawk spun into grip. His other hand tapped away at the keyboard that materialized beneath his grip. The handaxe continued its circulations as Ix tensed tight as a cobras coiled form.

It was a test of speed for the assassin. While he would have liked to neutralize their current targets first, he knew their possible capture could result in this confrontation being met for nought. He chuckled through his list of contacts quickly, selecting his best shot at who he thought would give him the results he needed quickly. His message was typed as fast as thought while the enemy sped towards him.

Using magic (correspondence and entropy) to reach fastest method of obtaining authorizing codes. Preparing for counterattack with his other hand.

The monk began to float in meditation, trying to take this brief possible pause in the battle to recharge his spent spiritual and will working resources. Opening himself to the energies of the universe, becoming once more with its infinite chi. Huoshui and his sword would need a recharge, trying to seize this moment to gain something. The sword on his lap, as he floated within the halls of the living ship luci.

Huoshui finds it a little hard to meditate with that chunk of cuttlefish head floating about.

---

The rec officer seamed to understand the urgency that kinda request would come with, and got the codes to him quickly.

Drawing the sword with some disappointment, the monk truly did wish to combat to be over. Harming let alone killing hurt him deeply within his soul. Walking up to the chunk of cuttlefish and slashing at it, wishing to be done with the vile thing. Trying to banish it or whatever killing had done before with the one he had managed to kill.

As soon as Ix gave him the codes, Raven transmitted them. He gave Amp a scowl.

"If I don't have an idea?! I fixed the ion engines with parts formed of Spirit Magick, fed a space squid into a plasma stream, and right now am bluffing like hell to stall the cops. Does it sound like I'm ever without a fucking plan to you, lady? If you want to be useful fine, otherwise go quietly hack up a hairball in the corner and leave me the hell alone!"

As her distressed enemy disappeared into the tunnels, Dev made the choice not to follow as she would find it a tight enough fit without her wounded passenger.  But she did stick her head and arm that held the sword into the tunnel and spotted the damned thing.  Pointing the sword at it, she bade it return to her, making its path rewind so that she might spit it on her sword.

It fought Devellana's shifts in kinetic energy simply by making more kinetic energy, and struggled like it was swimming against a current. After about 5~15 seconds though it gave out and was pulled onto the blade starting to disintegrate into a foamy mess around it.

<Codes verified. Are you in need of any assistance?>


Amp said apologetically. "Sorry, I am glad you got this under control with you quick wits, there a lot of problems everyone's trying to solve as many as they can. I just want to offer one out of this realm. It's near a full moon and Selina is close to my kind, I may be able moon bridge large enough for us to pass through. It would be a squeeze, but nothing could follow us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:08, Mon 13 June 2016.

(sorry forgot about Huoshui)

He chopped the chuck of cuttlefish into even more chunks and it too started to disintegrate into sea-foam.

"WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE AND DANGER LOCOLIZED TO THE SHIP. WE HAVE A GREEN READING ON SOME OF OUR DRIVES, AND WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM ANY HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS."

Raven clicked the E. Comm. back off, and looked over to Amp.

"If you're talking about a Smuggler's Run, just say so in smaller and fewer words. I've lucked into a few of those, so if you can make one I can fly it. I know a place we can hold up, give Luci time to heal and even trade for anything we'd need to fix her up. How close can you get us the Barrier? Also, if Spirit Magick can give your mojo a boost, I'm willing to toss in with you on this."

"I have dispatched the last of the opponent before me." Huoshui called over the communications. "I feel I need to take a moment to rest, if not otherwise informed I'll just be right here."

Returning to try to meditate, refueling himself and healing his body. Making sure he was primed for anything he would be needed for.

"They will only take us to one of the inner-celestialrealms, or one of the thirteen near realms. We could use it to bypass the gates to the celestial realms...." she cuts herself off. "Best bet I can think would be to go on to Venus, its where your cumpus last said we should go and she will heal faster there, I could get us out of the Aetherial and land the ship in the umbra to lay low.. not may people even know out in space there is umbra 'ground' 'bellow' considering the fact I could not even easily explain such in words. But if you dead set on some where in the herizon, I take an achorhead, then you could try and open it with me and guide it to form from here to that achorhead..... I would sugest we both call the lunes to help us if we try that."

He knew smugglers paths, and runs, where guarded by Lunes. They protected travelers and where more frequent and stronger the brighter the paths, but there was only far fetched rumors of Lunes opening up new paths/runs for travelers. All in all they would probably be the kinda spirit raven found creepy though, they where just an aura/source of moonlight floating there, not doing a thing but 'watching' (not like the have eyes) you pass buy.... unless something tried to attack you, then it was a laser light show of death, and if they won... back to the creepy floating and 'staring'.

However they where the main reason people used the paths, even if you where blatantly doing something highly illegal, the law couldn't stop you with out getting on the Lune's bad side. You have to be a down right horrible person, or transporting something real nasty for the Lune's to attack you just for using the path, other wise they only attacked if some one tried to hurt a traveler.

Lee seeing he was clearly not wanted just said "I'll go patch the leaks in the power systems." and quickly makes off.

Raven made a frustrated, growling sound in his throat before he spoke.

"Nobody on this ship, even Flowing Water, knows how that thing works or can even translate all the symbols on it. Besides that, it was POSSIBLY pointing to Venus before our ship got fucked up; who knows where the fuck it would point now, even if we had the time to ask it?

"Let me break this down for you; those are cops out there, and they have this amazing ability to contact other cops even over a great distance. That means that the police here, can send a message to all other officers and probably already have to warn about the leaking bio-waste ship. A description of our ship will have been given, and there will be law enforcement officers at Venus and any of the more commonly traveled places.

"I, however, know of a place that those guys never go, and we can as I said get whatever we need to fix Luci depending on what we have to trade. We can lay low there, no one will find us, and then after the ship is working right again and people assume the bio-waste ship went 'boom' somewhere, then we can go to Venus or where ever else we like. Get it now?"

"I get that, I'm trying to tell you this will get us strait into the atmosphere with out having to deal with any cops, and it would be less risky. But achorhead it is... if you can call up some lunes it will help... I'll get to work on the ritual."

She moved to the middle of the bridge, forward about half way between where raven was and the front of the room and set down pulling out what looked like a fairly well worn out path-stone and keep a hand on it while chanting something. "[Language unknown: Itusmo Thoughore, io t fiwemiho ereol evhadi, reawhever ndit fondad, etous nte stiovelar, ssfi'ivwh na weck, oless miore presonear. Olla inble nd arers dimi om ect ieher, isil wh ro shepreast o any mechos ritic enmois n no ekne tinaventi.]" As she speaks the path stone gives off moonlight of it's own that spreads out over the ship.

Raven was glad at the particular moment in time that he no longer had human hair, because it removed the temptation of ripping it out in clumps; shooting out a Smuggler's Path into an atmosphere that would have who knew what effect on the Spirit made parts of the engines and trying to land an already damaged ship wasn't what he considered, even by his mostly limitless standards, a good idea. He was in favor of going to an Outlaw Station, in a lawless section of space where he'd found himself more than once in the past.

But from what the furry woman was saying, that wasn't possible because she didn't have enough oomph to get them there on her own. Even his added power didn't sound like it would be enough, not without calling in the Street Lights (a slang term for the glowing masses that watched and protected both Paths and Bridges of the type the crew now needed). He'd had some great traction recently dealing with Spirits, but he had once or twice seen what those guardians could do and wasn't in favor of getting on their bad side. Not only that, but he was nursing the idea that spirits like mortals liked to be compensated for their time and trouble, and he had nothing to trade that he could figure these things would want.

"Fine, Venus then."

So it looked like they were going to Venus after all, and the splicer idly wondered if Ares was having a good laugh right about now. Regardless, he walked over to Amp, placed one of his non-taloned hands over hers, and envisioned the start of a Smuggler's Run while trying his best to repeat what the woman said;

"Hop On Weekly, in press money wuss Molly, eerie North Carolina wear outside, nose urine one's a man, forever was lime mold, trout eve ear dropper. Is us four in on, what wit on toast alien my, at pee to wit name of it my North Carolina Merrill Haggard no foam set or etc. I arty not your repo man."

Despite his usual chaotic attitude, the pilot had his eyes shut and his tone was strained as though he were taking this ritual seriously and trying hard to get the words right. There was no grin upon his features, indeed they showed the signs of one who was trying to focus; maybe old dogs couldn't learn new tricks, but thankfully for Miller he was a bird...

Dev withdrew herself and her sword from the hole that the damned what-the-hells had swum into.  She scraped as much of the bubbly ick from her sword as she could, silently promising it a thourough cleaming later.  She checked the halls for further piscean intruders and then sneaked a peak at Numinah who was asleep in the sling, curled up and clutching one of Dev's fingers.

(XD lol the game makes up some random bull shit for languages you don't know, his interpretation of that random bull shit I must say in the most helerious thing I have seen in a while... +1xp just for the shits and giggles)

The light around them spread and shot forth like a flashlight, and slowly before them the light welled up and a river of moon light shot forth from the moon into the distance. Now all he had to do was enter that river, and stay inside it. Once in there was no stopping, and letting a part of the ship stick out of the river could cause the kinda drag that would tear the ship out of it in a quite unpleasant way. Thankfully the bridge/run they set up was fairly wide, enough that it didn't make him as nervous as he expected this to make him at least.

Amp had a strong connection to the spirits and Raven gave a fair kick of his own.

The monk floated perfectly in the centre of the hallway he'd found himself in, unmoving in relation to the room itself as he concentrated on the tapestry and his meditation. Sensing no sign of distraction. Not concentrating on one thing, for if he did he would miss the glory that was the heavens and the very plane they sat in now which ever that might be currently. His mind empty, shapeless like the element of his name. Continuing as best he could to tap into the energies of the cosmos and draw them into himself, hearing chatter through the ship of their journey continuing and his allies being in good health at least compared to what they might have.

Listening as best he could for the others, for Luci and her pain hopefully still blocked, Raven with piloting and all his exploits, Devellana who the monk was sure was in the fight as he had been, Ix freshly returned to them and quick to work with the true workers of this vessel. All aboard the monk wished well, as he tried to calmly recharge and keep his minds eye out for any more possible problems.

Numinah was resting easier than she had been which was a relief to the knight.  She took up the shield again to protect her familiar and made sure that her grip on her sword was good.  She then continued to the bridge checking for allies and enemies alike.

Raven looked at the opening of the bridge before them, and blinked.

"I did that? Wow, even knowing how great I am, that impresses me. Well, time to follow the moonlit road..."

The bird got back into his chair, placed two hands on the orbs, then used the E. Comm. one last time;

"OK BOYS, WE'RE PULLING OUT; WISH US LUCK, AND IF WE DON'T MAKE IT LIFT A COLD ONE AND THINK OF US. THIS IS THE WILLIAM WALLACE, SIGNING OFF FOR POSSIBLY THE FINAL TIME..."

The last part of his con done and the E. Comm switched back off, the pilot aimed the damaged ship toward the glowing entrance before them and moved onto the Smuggler's Run using the recently restored impulse drives.

Before he could finish the com one of the ships opened fire on the moon bridge... which begged the question, could a moon bridge even be destroyed like that?

The open coms got a bit hectic on the other side before raven could finish. <THE HELL, what the fuck is the Eryma doing?  I can't raise the bridge, getting reports from crew members there has been a shoot out on the bridge an> seams about that far they realized the coms where still open.

As the ship was entering the moon bridge lunes could be seen rising up to the Eryma, and the other two ships using kenedic/tractor beams to try and keep them away with out openly attacking them. Though the Eryma had no problem with attacking the lunes.

Even being comfortably sized the 'current' of the moon bridge was strong and pushed the ship along quickly. It wasn't like a correspondence point where space was just shorter between two places, it was more like a wormhole that pushed you through it.

The only reason he was able to keep in the middle though was his eye could see the subtle shifts and changes in the bridge as it whent. But he couldn't keep it up and near the end he dipted the port side of the ship, tairing a small chunk of the hull off. Just enough that the contents of some ones room had everything not tied down ejected into space. Thankfully it was Huoshui's room and he had everything of value locked away or on him.

It sent them spiraling out of control though over Aphrodite Terra (name of the continent on Venus), Raven was fairly use to the world spinning around him though and was able to pull her out of the spin. ( =p )

The city of Acraea on Ovda Regia was the only magor port city near the area the astrolabe had pointed to.

Huoshui after his time of meditation and recharging, now he felt more recharged as to his will but his actual magical energies were still nill. Sadly with all the movement and sounds he felt he did not have the mental fortitude to become one with the tapestry enough at this time to absorb the tapestries Chi and become whole once more. The monk just needed to know what was going on more accurately, so he rushed to the bridge knowing full well that many would already be there.

Entering the bridge he said nothing, made little impact and even his arrival made no sound. He only stood there as an observer, waiting to see if he could be of help.

(*snickers*)

Huoshui, being Huoshui, ofcourse walks onto the bridge as the ship hits the side, has the jarring impact, and spins out of control for a bit..... like he's walking across the kitchen floor in the morning for a cup of jo. Damn cheeky monk... XD =p

Raven didn't even blink as the ship came out of the Smuggler's Run hot and in a spin; this wasn't a new experience for him, not by a loooooooooong shot. Using the engines he had, as long as he still had them, the splicer straightened out their descent and in not too long a time Acraea could be seen through the view screen.

"Hey Flowing Water, you know how you monks detest material possessions? Well, I've got some great news for you! You're Earthly burden has been lessened, no thanks needed just glad I could help you out Buddy.

"Amp, you're a diplomat's daughter. You want to get on the comms, and see if you can sweet talk us clearance for an open port? I'd do it myself, but one of the cops opened fire on us after my bluff, and the Smuggler's Run was a touch rough. So I think I'll let you handle this, if it's all good with you."

She took that path-stone putting it away. "I don't think that was cops fiering on us from the sound of things." She got on the coms and started talking to them and trasmited the codes they got from her mother.

After a moment she responded and brought up some cordinates on the screen. "I got a closed port, and had them cut the lights... people won't see much as we come in." it is night.

Lee will try and catch IX in the hallway. "Hey, Ix.. Raven seams awfull pissed at me, could you talk to him for me? I need his help with altering huohui's blade and I need to know what kinda weapons you want made or altered to be organic-metals? It's inevable will we likely end up inside that Vivo thing, something that size you don't take down from the outside, and it's very very very likely it will use that drive of it's causing everything non-organic to be left behind.... so... best think way ahead I say, being the kinda time doing this sorta stuff takes."

Develanna followed Huoshui onto the bridge.  Her nose had begun to bleed again.  In a very quiet voice that could and should be considered extremely dangerous, asked:

"Is Luci well?  And it seemeth that yet again summat has attacked us and caused disruption.  Knoweth any who it was, and may I be pointed in their direction so that I might teach manners by cutting off their Merlin bedamned heads?"

"My order has been known to speak of discarding material items to allow oneself to easier become one with the universe." The monk replied, pulling out his flask from inside his robes and taking a swig of the depleting brew. "If the universe discarded it for me with your aid then I must have had too many things holding me down. Thank you Raven." He kept much of his things on him, and what little was precious was stored securely but in all he was thankful it was his own room and not someone else's.

Turning to the knight, "I aided Luci in blocking out her pain, she should not be feeling any it now but I cannot speak for the actual damage. She may still be in danger and I believe I was successful stopping the pain but... this does is not fixing the cause of the pain. We'd have to ask those who were actually repairing to know much more. Raven, friend, is there anything we might aid with? Do we know of any other boarders on Luci or if there are repairs still needed that Ana and myself might help with?"

Raven docked them in the port indicated, finalized the docking procedures, then slumped back into his chair with a relieved sigh. He turned on shipwide communications, and began speaking.

"I managed to get the Ion drives up and running again, but I used Spirit Magick to make the parts I needed and to be blunt about it I've got no idea how long that'll last.

"Flowing Water, give the ship a once over, from stem to stern, and make sure we don't have anymore unwanted guests.

"Ix, you've got a decent eye for the value of something; take a look around our craft and see if there's anything of worth we can afford to trade. We might need to get materials to help our craft recover, and for that we'll need credits or goods in trade.

"Tex, use that big honking goo gun of yours, and keep sealing up cracks. I'll scan the interior from the bridge, and inform you of any weak spots I find that could do with some reinforcing.

"Dev, you go with the monk; I'm not sure he's all healed up from our fight with the machine-orb-god-thing, so give him a hand if he needs it.

"Amp, the city thinks we're diplomats, so see what you can score us for free. I'm not picky about what you can get your paws on, if we can't use it now we can save it for later or trade.

"Lee, go to the engine room, and make sure the Ion streams are working correctly by jumping into one..."

"If anyone has spare magickal power, try working it into the vessel to help the healing process before you go to your assigned tasks.

"Finally, Luci, could you give me an updated damage report please?"

Dev put her sword back into its scabard on her back and saluted him.  As her player had forgotten about her broken nose that was once more bleeding the last time, she one-handed it back into place and checked on Numinah who was resting a bit more comfortably.

"Will do Cabtain.  How art thou Friend?"

she eyed the monk for anything awry.

"If you wish I can tend to your wounds some, I myself all I shall require after this will be some rest." Bowing his head to Devellana, "Seems Captain Raven has requested our movement Lady Devellana, so if you feel up to it then you and I can search the vessel to see if any more remain." Offering a hand to her before making motions to explore and search the ship.

Develanna bowed to her friend:

"Cabtaid, eh?  Better him dad me!  Ad for myself, I am sure dat it is worse by look than by damage.  Though if you would check on poor Dumidah, I would be grateful."

She lowered the shield to allow him to peek in at the sleeping dragon.

"Twould gibe me great joy to bring harm od some odder ebil beastie!"

Lucy responded. <I detect Ix and Osman have left the ship. Decryption of shuttle logs has finished. I must rest now, shutting down all nonessential systems for repairs. I will reactivate in an emergency situation.>

The ship dimmed some as many systems went onto back up power. Tex called in <Don't worry I'll patch the old girl up of all these leaks.>

Amp walked over placing a hand on develinana's shoulder comfortingly while talking to Raven, "I will see what I can do, give me an idea of anything you are looking for besides stuff we lost... but I don't want to push to much, as we don't want to attract to much attention." She leans down nuzzling numuna giving her a few licks, and the bruises and her fade away and she wakes up, startled and worried considering the last thing she remembered was the explosion.

The monk watched in some awe as to how Amp casually went about healing, comforting and discussion. Well Luci was to rest, Numina cared for and all seemed well. "Well Ana, seems all your little friend needed was the attention of our friend here. Now lets get moving on this patrol asked of us while I see about that injury of your own." Tucking his hands into his sleeves, smiling lightly. Seeing all get along and help each other was nice, but maybe he would have to check the halls solo and let Ana have some healing time or just be with her little friend.

"If you wish Ana, to take time to yourself, your injuries or just with Numina. I can walk the halls by myself." Offering, happy whatever the result. "Luci is resting, Tex repairing and our other friends doing all they can. You've done much, rest if you need."

Lee in the end decided to buz in. <Sure a good many of you know Lucy is least a few lifetimes of some ones work, but some of this stuff isn't to hard to figure out. I'll work on repairing things, and helping her heal, but please keep an eye out for Tass from this planet it should help her heal herself a hella lot more.> He sighed some. <Also we may end up fighting on the Vivo, so I've been working on some organic replacments for some gear incase we do and the Vivo uses that teleportation drive that only works on organic matter... If you could all leave list for your prefured loadout in order of what you need/what the most I'll get to work on that too.... just you know, what to get to work on it ASAP after Lucy is alright. Good gear is not quickly made.>

In reply to Huoshui  (msg # 210):

Develanna was obviously pleased to see her friend healthy again,

"Oh Dumidah!  Tou art well!  Tank you dear Lady!"

She released the dragon to prowl and fly around.  She turned to Huoshui,

"Do you don't!  Dere is dothing wrong wid me, and dere is do deed for you to patrol alode!  shall we away?"

The crew seemed to be following his orders for the most part, except for Lee but a splicer could dream. He turned his attention to Amp;

"Start off small, and work your way up; try for military surplus; food, medicine, weapons, repair parts. There's always a stockpile of that sort of stuff somewhere, gathering dust usually. Most people don't mind parting with the overflow, it gives them less to worry about and more room to fill with more junk they'll never use. After that, just gauge things yourself and use your best judgement. I'm sure you've done this before, or seen others do it. Oh, and the weapons don't need to big fancy and flashy; remember, anything we can't use, we can trade."

"Ana friend it seems I cannot argue with you, come with me then but please do not call this nothing. You've taken harm, so come with me but at least let us attempt to see to this injury." Bowing his head and began to patrol the halls with her aid, looking out for anything of note.

Hearing over the comms, pondering a moment before answering over the same line. "My sword and the robes on my back are what I might need. The glove I was gifted I cannot allow to be changed, but I must mention the sword has a spirit of its own which shall need to be protected. If it cannot be kept then I shall go with just my fists and the clothes on my back."

Caressing the scabbard lightly, comms off he tried to speak to it. "I shall not let you come to harm even if it means my fighting without you. I cannot let a friend and partner suffer." Turning to Devellana, "My sword, with the aid of a friend had its spirit awoken and because of the dragon bound within me I've attained limited ability to communicate with such spirits. So please do not worry, I've not lost my mind." Laughing as he realised it was the first he'd really spoken of it. "Maybe when we are not in such madness I can share the tale of this blade and you can share tales of your own, over drinks. I believe all the crew of this vessel could do with that. Calm, drinks and tales."

Lee responds <I think your sword would be fine, it's reforged with fae magic, I don't pretend to come anywhere close to understanding how that stuff works but if your bond closely and it's a part of you I don't think you can't go anywhere with out it.>

"By dose is back on my face to whence it was bord, and dow must reduce in swellidg --tis all but good!  And I agree wid you on the swappidg of tales. Dow dat Dumidah is well, I am dot fashed over daught!"

Raven for his part left the bridge, and went back down to the engine room to see what state the impulse ones were in after actual use.

Lee was already down with the primary ion drive... He was pulling some serious, serious, magic too. He didn't feel like he had this kinda magic in him before, maybe this was just a fluke, that or he was holding back on them.

He was rapidly healing/repairing it, and his magic was flowing through to the lines leading into the other ion drives. For Lucys sake it would probably be a good idea to let him finish rather than interrupt it.

"I would like to think our bond is close, and indeed the metal and soul is indeed of fae birth by my understanding." the monk replied over the coms, "We have become one since our meeting, I trust it in your hands." Touching the handle once more, hoping to reassure the spirit once more that they were a team and nothing bad would come to it.

"Well let us patrol all the halls and confirm for all that the enemy has fled and we are safe from at least them. So then we might worry about what is ahead and not is now behind us."

Dev left the bridge with her sword out and shield back in place.  Numinah dlew to circle around her head so to accompany her knight.  The little dragon settled on the woman's chest and started grooming the blood and snot from the knight's face.  Dev knew that it would do no good to shoo the dragon away for Numinah would get more and more determined to clean her friend.  At least this way, Dev could watch over the little head and contunue to patrol -- as long as she kept her mouth shut and tried to ignore the sometimes painful grooming.

The monk smiled seeing the little dragon try to aid in cleaning up its master, "Do you have anything you feel you need to have them look at?" Huoshui had given his ok for his items to be reforged to make it able to be used in the possible future encounter, organic components needed or something he was not sure but would soon seek out that knowledge. "Numina, we are to patrol and look for any adversaries. Would you kindly allow Ana to see better by removing yourself ever so slightly?"

Dev laughed,

"Ad least she has only tried to butn off  summat on my face once many yearth ago.  ."

The little dragon gave a final slurp to a not quite cleaned face and blinked at the monk.  She flapped her wings and began circling around them, doing her part to help the patrol.

"Ah!  Thumbone is imprethed wid you!"

Over the comps Amp chimes in to raven <Hey... um, the guards are saying we got a very snoopy engineer outside they turned away and she said 'I will just have to find another way in' to them. Rather odd for some one to tell security they are going to try and brake in, but they thought we might want to know. She apparently saw us coming in and thinks we need her to fix the ship.>

"Can they give us a freeze frame from the security feed of her face, and any information they have regarding her?"

Raven had been intending to help with the healing process too, not in a small part just to show Lee up, but this new detail distracted him for the time being.

A picture of Edith got sent to Raven's armor. <They don't know much, she showed up with a boy and a cat. She is a willpower doing good work at a smelting plant up the mountain. But they are asking lots of questions, it worries them... I just think it's that there curious, she don't look like some one trying anything funny from the picture.>

Raven sighed.

"Is there any chance the guards could stun her, then lock her up for trespassing?"

<If she tries to get in.>

Another sigh.

"What exactly has she said, and where is this woman now?"

<That she wanted to see the captain of the ship because there was a lot of repairs to be done. Like she already had the job or something.>

"Fuck. What are the chances she'll just get bored, and go away on her own?"

<Not very good>

"Well, that's just fucking dandy. Any suggestions on how we get rid of her?"

<Go out there and talk to her?>

"Fine, I'll go deal with her. Make sure every stays on task until I get back, I don't want to lose anymore time than absolutely necessary over this chick."

Moving To Another Thread

Raven reboarded Luci, then went to the bridge in hopes of finding Amp.

"Got rid of the woman, turned out she didn't like my winning personality for some strange reason. She acted all stuck up like we were losing out by not hiring her, but she'll never know the favor I did her by not letting sign up with this crew; we entertained one God, crippled a pretender, fought spirit sushi, and those are just the highlights.

"I tried to keep Inks from joining, and right after we got back to the moon she ran off the ship. I don't know when she'll get over what she  saw, if she ever does.

"So let this woman hate me, think bad thoughts of the mean old captain, and take a job someday with some safe, normal cargo ship to keep their aged engines running. I'll not destroy a life, in soul, mind or body, and will prevent it if I'm able."

Taking a bit of cloth from his side, out of a pouch, handing it to Ana so she would be able to remove the slobber and blood still remaining. "She is a treat, I do not know how she feels of me but she as are you is a dear friend. We are here together working as a family for one goal. Adorably desperate to aid you and clean you, sometimes we need others to notice and tell us we need to stop." The monk chuckled, "And look she takes to patrolling ever so well."

<I saw those creatures in visions while I was unconscious... they frighten me. They are from something far older than anything I have ever known, they could be from one of the first things to be birthed from the triad... or birthed from something even older than them... I do not know what they are, or where they have been, but I do not like that they have returned. I will try and learn more about them.>

Dev took the cloth gratefully and finished cleansing her face.

"I will wash this and return it thee whence I can.  Methinks, nay I know that Numinah consideres thee a friend.  And she is her own self a treasure of mine heart."

She stops talking, crosses her eyes in attempt to peek at her nose.

"Verily!  Mine nose is healing apace!  Huzzah!"

"The advantages of being an awoken human. We heal far easier than those who remain asleep." Placing his hand gently on her shoulder, "Later once our patrol is done, if you need more aid in healing I am of some knowledge of the healing arts. I see Numina as a friend of myself, as you and all here. Dear to my heart each and everyone of you."

In reply to Azraile (msg # 237):

"What they are is dead, where they have been is on the receiving end of an ass kicking, and if anymore show up they'll get the same."

(*prod*)

(I posted last)

<Ether way I have a guide that can take us to the area we need to go to.>

The monk continued to search the vessel for any remains of the threat which had only recently attacked them. Calm of mind if not of body, he still needed time to heal and recharge. Chi and will depleted, he could meditate later to open himself to the re-charging energies of the universe. The tapestry itself often welcomed him in its warm embrace. A dragon and a knight keeping him, so even at this low powered state he felt safe to continue besides Do held him strong even if true magicks would be difficult at this time.

As they headed down another seemingly endless hall, Develanna pondered aloud,

"Is this vessel endless, think ye?  Glad I am that we have found naught, but I am wondering how much farther it is that we have to go?"

Nimina was a bit ahead and started to fly vertical circles in the air as the wee dragon practiced her skills.

Raven looked at Amp.

"How goesit with the handouts, what are we up to?"

In reply to Devellana (msg # 245):

"Luci is quite a vessel, but with winding hallways and so many places and rooms we had to check all." Smiling at Numina's antics, "Maybe we should head back, or find others. As the enemy seems to have parted from here. Luci is in need of healing, as are many of us. Why don't we see if we can help elsewhere."

When Raven shows up she shrugs to him. "They are willing to part with some meat, metal, and spare parts but not much. But I did find a hunting party that, for a price, will take you guys into the Theis region where the Shade Realm is."

"Aye, sounds a most worthy notion!"

Deb whistled a soft note and her dragon responded by flying back to her and settling on her shoulder.  As the knight turned aroun followed by the inevitable clanking jingle made by her armor, Numican turned to face backwards so as to keep an eye on the passage lest something sneak up on them.  Dragons were not only adorable, but also quite handy. In Dev's opinion anyway.

"Numina has a tactical mind within." The monk commented watching how the two seemed less as two and more as one. "Two eyes forward and two back." Following the knight in her noisy armour back towards the others, his feet making no sound with each step quite the contrast. "I would, if I were our enemy, fear the day I stood before the knight and her dragon."

The two have searched much of the ship but haven't found any sign of stragglers.

Dev smiled at her friend again as she clump-jingled along with him,

"I am thinking that Captain Raven should order us all to have a mug of something tasty and cold for all our efforts!  What think you Sir Monk"

"A rest is deserved by all on this vessel, I am unsure however if we have the good luck to be allowed the time to. There might be much to do. Though mugs shared with friends does sound a plan."

In reply to Huoshui  (msg # 253):

Dev smiled,

"Let us see ... and hope!"

She turned and headed back towards the bridge.

Huoshui followed with Dev to the bridge, when entering he bowed with a smile. There seemed to be no issue or enemies about the ship left and now it was time to see how things were going with the docking and repairs. "The knight and dragon escorted me around, they have been able to confirm the lack of presence of the enemy. Captain." Why not, the title was apt and Dev had already used it for him so why not continue.

Raven was talking to the faux diplomat when the monk and knight entered.

"Well until we get those thing aboard, we have nothing to trade for passage, so let's worry about that first. Meat sounds good, we could all stand a good meal. Get me an ETA on when we can expect the goods, and also from Lee on when Luci will be capable of self repair."

He turned to the newcomers, and gave a nod in reply to Flowing Water's report.

"Very good; I know we've been through a lot in the couple of hours, but I didn't want anymore of those things biting us in the ass when we tried to catch our breath. Things are proceeding decently so far; Amp has managed to secure some food, metal, and parts, while Lee is infusing our ship with energy in what I presume is an attempt to make her once more sufficient at self healing. There's a hunting party willing to guide us on this planet, but currently we have nothing to trade so we might need to pass on them or try for another group.

Huoshui, if I'm what passes for a Captain, you're the closest thing we have to a medical officer. You're looking rough yourself, but if you can go to the Sickbay and call anyone in you what to look over. I know we all need some solid sleep, and if we had a bigger crew those here would already be in their bunks. But it's just us few, and we must make due as best as we can. Actually I need to stay here, so if you'd like to check and make sure I'm fit for command before you go, that's fine with me."

(Hallaluya some one talked to the only other person that knows about the money about something that requires money! And the only one that actualy has some conspept of commercialism! lol =p  )

"I don't think that should be to much a problem, Senex payed us 5 million credits in advance to look into the situation... nice little Electrum case with 50 maxed out chits in it. Don't know where it is but you could ask Huoshui, or Lucy when she comes back on if he forgot where he and Kairos put it. We used a good bit for arming ourselves and stocking up but there should be most of it left over."

(and a few minutes later some guy on the other side of the planet blinks as they hear an echoing yell of "FUCKING <insert a long string of obscenities to make a sailor blush> MONKS")
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:31, Sat 20 Aug 2016.

Dev spoke to the captain,

As ye maun stay here, is there aught that I may do for thee to give aid?"

"I shall retire for a time then to heal and aid any who need me." Thinking on the Electrum case, recalling the credits and if the group needed sure they were not his to deny. Having little need himself, the better of the whole over came any thoughts he could have. "The Electrum case, it should have been placed in the safe spot within ... hold on I should be able to show you on this device." Hoping to be able to convey where it should be on the device he'd been give, pointing at a map schematic of the ship.

"My own healing will or should only take some quiet time. The universe recharges us if we open up to it. Refuelling us mind, body and soul if we have the knowledge as to how." Smiling as he began the internal mantras which he knew would enable him to heal and recharge. "I shall be off back to my room then, I shall aid anyone I pass but if you find more who need healing do send message or them to me." Bowing and making his way out once more.

Returning to his room, sitting down before beginning to re-wrap his wounds. Beginning his meditations, tapping once more into the vast tapestry in which they all lived. Summoning to him the Chi, willpower and all energies needed for him to be whole again. As part of his meditations he wrote, to his sister back home, Kaja formed within each paragraph. He knew not when he would be able to sent it but it spoke of all he could share with her, keeping the secrets shared to himself but conveyed how close he felt to all aboard.

Raven headed off in search of the sudden windfall, while trying to get a report from Tex on how repairs were coming; also, if they'd need to get anything planetside, or if Luci could do the work herself once rested enough. The splicer doubted the monkey was an expert in such matters, but then he'd been part of the crew when the others joined and therefore it stood to reason he would understand her better then him.

Develanna spoke to the monk:

"Get thee hence and heal thyself friend.  I will aid our good captain as I might.  We will call thee  an we do need thy aid -- fear not!"

Then she took off after Raven as he had not accepted her aid nor had he refused it.  Numina rode lazily on her shoulder.

Mokey man just fussed at being bothered again so soon, he has no idea how long it's going to take. However now that Raven knew what he was looking for he was able to find it in Kairos room rather quickly, it was a nice case but he hadn't guessed it was Primium, and he never seen a credit case so plain before, there usually a lot more reinforced or fancy... then again it's made of Primium so that takes care of the reinforced part with out looking the part.  Unfortunately the case wouldn't open for him and he guessed the only person on board it would open for was Honshu, though he or Devellana could probably brake it.

There was no sound of anything moving around inside when he moved it though.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:35, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

Raven plugged his glove into the lock, and tasked both it and his suit with reprogramming the mechanism to count him as allowed to access the case. Shooting a case as reinforced as this one didn't strike him as the best of ideas, and though he could try brute force he'd then be left with transferring any funds insdide to something less secure. The fact h heard nothing moving about inside didn't immediately worry him, as it would have made sense from his point of view to pad the individual chits so they didn't get knocked about and damaged.

(meant you could use entropy to decay the lock)

Well considering the suit and Senex and the lock is Senex by general programing it just gives an error and won't hack it.

Sorry forgot who use to own the armor before Raven.

It don't need to hack the lock, the lock recognized the armor and unlocks.

There 35 100kc chips inside, if he bothered to check they are all full, and yes, there is a nice foam form lining keeping the chips in place. So that puts 3,500,000 credits in the case. Like they said there room for 15 more chips that are missing.

Develanna follows in behind Raven and watches him open the case.  She catches the eye of Stinky and winks.  Clearing her throat, she taps Raven on the shoulder and says,

"Captain?  Wouldst thou set that down for the nonce?



If and when he does so and turns to face her with a questioning look on his face, she bends low and catches him and throws him over her shoulder.  Turning she heads towards her room.  Hust in case he does not understand, she pops him lightly on the ass.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

The monk felt the universe feed him as it had so many times before, going over in his mind the recent events. Placing them in the same mind space as the journey as a whole, how they were chasing something which caused so much destruction without any sign he'd seen of growth. The dragon within him, his own soul which had spoken to him with faces of loved ones and those close to his heart. The raven's souls also was a piece of something larger, that still stuck in his mind as something which remained cloaked in shadows and mist.

Wounds mended just sore, he worried less now knowing everyone was accounted for and in their own healings or busy elsewhere with some work. Standing up now, the monk began to stretch as what better way to check his continued ability to work alongside his allies than to practice some Do kata. Making sure all of his form was stretched and warmed up, a flurry of blows began to fly out to unseen and none existent enemies. In his mind's eye they were all they'd faced before and were to face. The man behind the empty seat and his minions, to the madness filled folk of the ship.

Raven turned at the tap, and shook his head as he snapped the case closed.

"Sorry girl, but I've got to secure this case before I do anything else. We could really use the funds, and as Captain of the ship it's my responsibility to look after them. Amp's on the ship's comm begging for table scraps, when we could have afforded a seven course banquet at any time. I'm not dumb enough to return whatever free stuff she scores, but I'd like to have the option of being financially independent. Under normal circumstances I'd just have Luci create a hiding place accessible only by me, but that's not possible right now which leaves me holding onto it until something better presents itself. I wouldn't mind a smoke though and have to go to my room to get a fresh pack, so if you need to talk you're welcomed to follow me there."

One of the better options he has is to get a Gold banking chip with the 1 billion credit limit, and load the money onto it. The security on it probably on par with the case and is not as big a target. Even with a shity deal some one could probably pass a gold banking chip off for 1 million credits on the black market, un-cracked, as the chip itself is worth 10 million. The good side though is this gives him a secure way to spend the 2.5 mill on the chip and it would be easy to secure on his armor.... the bad side is it's one thing to steal instead of 35 and it's easier to hand off full chips some times...

-Develanna looked at the case in his hand and shook her head,

"I beg thy pardon Captain!  I do see the need of procururing the safety of that!  Hast thou need of aught that I can do to aid thee in caring for the ship?  Order and it shall be done!  Otherwise, methinks that I will  accept thy kind offer.  And mayhap I canst offer thee a drink from my flask to go with thy smoke?"

Dev stands waiting.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

Sight is often mistaken for seeing, they are not one and the same an old master once taught him but untill recently his ability in this was lacking. Will working allows you to see without sight but he was training to do this even when his magicks were not with him.

Taking a scrap of cloth he blindfolded himself, a student of Do was to practice everyday without fail. Huoshui did not see combat as training or practice, when in the heat of battle one had their mind in the zone of conflict. Do was more than conflict, everything was Do, everything was kung fu. Brushing his fingers over the blindfold now keeping his vision from him, brushing them through his hair and taking a deep breath.

The room opened to him, including the hole in the wall of his abode. His home away from home, his ally even as the ship herself had a mind of its own even if she was sleeping. Shifting a foot, taking a stance once more. Smiling as he begins to feel his senses come to him even without sight he then walks over to the wall and places a hand to the damage there, where there was now a hole. Sitting and letting his feet dangle over the edge, Huoshui extended himself to explore the place around Luci. Wanting to know of where they were without the use of his sight, maybe the others wouldn't mind if he went exploring as they had so many other things to do and he was supposed to be resting. And to Huoshui exploration, meeting new people was all more relaxing than anything.

Raven led the way back to his quarters while lugging the case with him, then set the container down by his alter to Clashing Boom Boom figuring no one would be dumb enough to risk angering Her; well OK he knew one guy, but as far as the bird was aware that person was in some other Realm taking classes in how to not be stupid right now. Now that the money was moved and he could keep an eye on it, the old man found his backpack and removed a pack. Tucking a cancer stick in his beak, the soldier offered one to Dev to at least be polite as he said,

"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?"

Dev waved the cigrette away,

"I thank thee but nay.  I think that tis  summat I am not prepared to try at this nonce..."

She took out her flask and took a healthy swig from it and then did the same courtesy to him by offering it.  When he had lit his smoke and asked his question, she smiled sweetly at him and smacked his ass.

Raven felt the slap on his rear, turned to see the look of intent on Dev's face, the calmly locked his door while he finished his cigarette. After that, they spoke respectfully to each other about kittens, bunnies, and other things which mark the passage of time spent in pure innocence...

With the idea of meeting new people and experiencing new things, the monk climbed out of the hole of the ship. Sliding down and following where the energies of the world took him, this had no goal or aim but people were busy and he needed to find purpose and use even for the short term. They had come here with their quest in mind, making sure his communication device was still functioning before moving on.

With his gear as always on him, he may come to discussion with security or other staff of where they had landed but even that to him sounded better than being stuck away inside Luci.

Aye and wasn't it a sweet and magical time that Deb spent with Raven, discussing theology and pondering the nature of the Universe and why English majors can not do higher level mathematics.

And meanwhile, Numinah sat outside and plotted revenge on Dev who had once more left her behind.

After their High Tea concluded with a in depth discussion of great literary works, Raven assured the money was safely hidden and unlocked his door to once more go about the business of being the ship's Captain. His current thought, other than to finish his fresh cigarette, was to check in with his on board diplomat now to see what she had managed to accomplish in the time he'd been away enjoying a conversation about the price of tea in China.

The monk leaving the ship behind searched for someone of this world to strike a conversation with. Anyone really, as all he wished to find out was more about this world and if they'd had any strange events like the ones that their group had been bumping into in the recent times. They were on their quest but still other than the beetle monster and the man behind the chair, there was little to go on. The rest they had were ideas of split souls and the end of days.

Amp explains that they don't have much time before the expedition is going out if they want to join it.

Huoshui gets drawn up into a long boring conversation with one of the dock guards that won't let him get in a word edge wise even to let him say he's in a hurry or anything of the like......

Raven's response to Amp was a disinterested shrug.

"Then we'll have to pass this time around, simple as that. In less than twenty-four hours we suffered an onboard explosion, got attacked by Spirit Sushi, almost got torn to shreds on a Smuggler's Run, and did a less than graceful wheels up landing into this dock. Not to mention before any of that, our only medic almost died.

"My crew have had no sleep or food in the length of one full day, and while I have no doubt at all that both the knight and monk can push themselves, I won't give any such order unless I have to. There's no point in me sending them out fatigued to face whatever might be out there, when they can first get some sleep and food. If there's one hunting party there'll be another, and if not we'll trail blaze. Putting myself at risk is one thing, and to shove myself full throttle until the only thing pumping in my veins to keep me awake is pure adrenaline is something I very much enjoy. But I'm not going to put the others at needless risk, I'm done sacrificing others to pay for my own selfish goals."

The big man cross both sets of arms, and gave Amp a look that indicated she'd have a better chance moving the entire planet with only her two hands than to change his stubborn mind. From his viewpoint the matter was closed, while Flowing Water listened to ramblings and Dev snoring like a chainsaw in Raven's bunk where she had fallen asleep while doing crossword puzzles.

"There not heading out till morning, but I can probably convince them to give us some more time, being there possible political favors, a life mage, and an entropy mage involved. But the hunting parties take camp out there and will be out for months at a time, and this is not a world we can just wonder around in with out an experienced guide. You where in the army... I'm sure you have hurd stories of why there not many wars fought here." Yes, yes he had. It was a very short and very little spoken of one to... quite simple... No one goes to war on Venus... when you go to war on Venus, it's Venus that wins that war. Medics would say it was there dream come true, and there worst nightmare.

On the other hand, just as an entropy mage and a life mage where appealing compatriots, they where also had the best chances with out a guide.

It was a fact though, all the planets where dangerous and it came from the sphere they where linked to. Even the inner planets people felt the most hospitable... The moon was just a weird place at times, mars was full of violent forces, Mercury while it could take you anywhere it was hard to get to any easy to get lost on the surface, and venus... well every native living thing was supercharged and out for it's own survival.

Raven gave his friend what could best be described as a 'Duh' look.

"Yes, I was in the Earth Army, which as you can imagine does me a hell of a lot of good when it comes to other planets. What you meant to say was Space Marines in which I also served, and implying to a veteran that all branches of Service are the same is paramount to me saying all fuzz butts like you are the same. Just some friendly advice so you don't make the same mistake again, some guys can get pretty riled up over something like that. Me too, if it's the only excuse I have to start a fight."

Raven grinned, winked, and continued talking.

"Yeah I know about Venus, but then I wasn't planning to wage a war was I? Just cut a path to where we need to go, and then get back to the ship. As for this hunting party they might not be planning to go out until daylight, but it's going to be first light; I learned that in Survival training, you get up then so you have the most light to work with. So there might night be even enough time to get a full night's rest, not to mention eat something. If you can hold them off for even a day I'd consider us joining up with them, but if not then we'll just have to do without. After all you said we needed a guide, not a full party. I'm sure we could find one in or near this city, and trust me when I say payment will not be a problem.

"By the way, what the hell is Entropy? Isn't that what happens if someone doesn't move for a long time, or something? How the hell could something like that be helpful, and who do we have on board who could cast it anyway?"

Raven had Awakened decades ago, but only recently had he come to accept the Mage aspect of himself so he was still a bit behind the learning curve compared to other Casters...

"That who good luck bad luck you do.... It has something to do with the rate that things decay and the balance between order and chaos. Like Cahlash, the shadow brother, or called the wyrm... the corrupter before he became corrupted... was a creature of balance. If there was to much chaos it would consume it and it's excrement would bring order... and if there was to much order, it would consume it and put forth chaos in it's place. Your power can be used these ways but it can also be used the way Asura, the many-faced corrupter would... and eat away at something, braking it apart until there is little left on your own... a distaistful means of dealing with things but people see this as highly afective methed for this planet.... but with Huoshui the two of you could work together and control the delicate balances of the life energy around you... making it much safer."

"As for the use of a hunting party over a single guide... yah, have you seen some of the things that live here? I'll do my best..."

"Oh, that? I used that crap to win at dice, do little parlor tricks to show off in hopes of getting laid, and give people a hard time. It's the same shit a god can do? Damn, if I'd known that... ...I still would have used it to win money, fuck with people, and get pussy to be honest. I didn't have anything else to use it for, and even if I had I wouldn't have given a damn enough to care. Although, it does explain why that old scrapped fighter I had kept working. And here I thought I was just good with machines, eh either or gets the job done. As for the Hunting Party, DO NOT bring this up unless you exhaust all other choices, but we can offer them more than their asking price."

Raven went silent for a moment, a thoughtful look in his eye, before he began speaking again.

"Speaking of the good brother, let me ask you a question. I originally went to the space station because I heard of the expensive thing that was to be auctioned off there, more correctly I went to see if I could steal it then sell it myself to the highest bidder. Sure security was going to be tight but I didn't care, after if they killed me in my attempt so what? I was already damned while I was still alive, whatever was waiting for me after I figured couldn't be worse than an agony that stretched at least twenty years.

"Then everything went to fuck; explosions, fires, raiders, even a ghost in human form. I had so much animal in me by that time I guess my fight or flight response kicked in, and as the battlefield wasn't going to be there much longer it made the choice easy for my subconscious I suppose. But while I was trying to get away, I found a man trapped in rubble and stopped to help. Then I ran for the ships, but out of those there I headed for this one. When I got on board, I found out there was no pilot and that was a skill I had yet to drink or drug away. We get away safely, to another planet, and I leave the ship. Then I get contacted by one of the crew, who wants me to join them. Turns out not only had I met him before, but he was friends with the man I saved.

"Since then, the ashes of my burned out existence were blown away, and the scant embers still left carefully fed back into a steady flame. I was picked up from the muck and mire of my own existence, and shown that I did still have the strength to stand on my own two feet. I not only still have a chance to pay my debt, but a Goddess who believes in me to do so.

"If I told Flowing Water of this he would ramble on about purpose and patterns, but then that's the nature of monks from what I've heard. So, instead, I thought I'd ask this to you; was it pure chance I boarded this ship out of those docked, or even before I met Gods was there a string pulled to lead me in this direction?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Tue 08 Nov 2016.

With apparently little to be able to do or people to interact with Huoshui takes his time to go and practice the art the moon rabbit taught him. Finding the ingredients and making the pound rice cakes. His attempt at conversation with the guard had gotten him no where so maybe if he could offer to fill their bellies with the rice cakes, maybe he might find the path he is meant for on this space rock.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:28, Mon 07 Nov 2016.

"Thats not an easy question to answer and I am not sure I have an answer for you. But I would have to say some one likely had some plan for you, rather if this is it and it's going as intended it's hard to say... but as a mage, the wiser of your kind would likely tell you... your probably the one pulling your own string.... Your kind has a part of you that, well isn't a part of anything as we know it, for that you all that is happening has already happened .. among other things.. part of you is part of everything. Not that that isn't true for everything, but with you, both you and it are far far more aware of that fact than anyone else."

---

The ingredients he used didn't really matter, save for saving time, but the mix of ingredients Huoshui picked out where actually passable for a fair meal to start out with. Now it just depended how long Huoshui wanted to spend hammering the dough.

Huoshui sends message as best he can to the ship Luci that he is just outside practicing one of his arts, the monk began to hammer the dough and would so unless he received message back. It appeared to him it was not time for him to leave, as the world moved him to meet guards whom offered nothing and so he happily fell to a task he could busy himself with. The act of preparing and hopefully feeding others, the monk was an agent of water and his people's teachings.

Softly he sat and prepared the pound rice cakes, as he did so he would happily speak to any who'd listen. Speaking of the teaching's he'd learnt, of the stories he had heard, of the dragon's tale that now was etched into his flesh and the dragon bound to him.

It wasn't something you do sitting down or casualy... kinda hard work.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8mLMWa1Wfc
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:57, Mon 07 Nov 2016.

Well being the spectacle that is if anyone sees him, looks interested or questioning then he will offer them some of the wisdom he has obtained during his travels.

Raven made a snorting sound.

"'I am the master of my own destiny'? Really? That's the best you've got? Damn girl, that old self help quote was worn out and fit to be put down before I was in diapers. Well I guess you did your best, after all nothing about you really screams 'keeper of cosmic truth' now, does it? We all have what we're good at, and this is clearly not it for you. Don't feel bad, you'd have the same luck if you asked me for advice on diplomacy; pop a breath mint and smile a lot? See?"

The splicer grinned, then let out a sigh while shaking his head.

"I wasn't happy in the perpetual fog I spent twenty years perpetuating, with the only thing strong enough to break through the souls of those I condemned in a single selfless act of cowardess. But, I have to admit, it was a hell of a lot easier than dealing with the waking world. I did bad, the good, then nothing; am I a villain, hero, antihero, or none of the above? You know if there is a me who's been through this already, I wouldn't mind if he sent me a cheat sheet..."

The old man winked at his friend.

"Well, I better go check on the Brother since I know Dev is catching up on her sleep. Then I have to figure out how to feed everyone, since we don't happen to have a cook on board. Eh, if you can score us some meat, bread, and anything along the lines of pasta I can whip up a batch of SOS; any guy who's ever served knows how to make it, it's cheap, quick, filling, gives you energy to go for hours, and even tastes good to boot. Just do yourself a favor when you're eating it, and don't ask what the name stands for. Just, trust me on that."

With that said, the Captain left the bridge and the ship to find the monk.

---

Thanks to the message, Raven found Flowing Water in short order. When he saw Huoshui slamming some weird looking weapon into a lump over and over, he stood still for a few seconds and took that time to light a cigarette. He could have stood there gawking at this strange activity, but then considering he'd fed phantom fish into a plasma stream before flying a ship repaired with parts he literally pulled out of thin air, this didn't shock him as much as it might have otherwise. He simply walked up until he was in view of the man, looked from him to the mound he was attacking, back to him again, and said in an even voice;

"When I heard you monks practiced Do, this is not exactly what popped into my mind."

Huoshui laughed as Raven made mention of the Art of Do, "As with the many martial arts which inherited from it, Do is in all things. All things are kung fu. From the way baker bakes, the mother nurtures her young, to this my making of Mochi. Do is said to be a mixture of our will working and the more mundane, showing the path and will working of all things." Continuing his pounding of the rice cake. Even with chat work still had to be done, and a idle monk was a poor monk in his eyes. "I could move to practicing more traditional, or preserved Do practices if you wished Raven. I had only wished to first give to the people a little food from the items I was able to find around. A gift the spirits taught me and I'd yet to practice, so I do hope everyone forgives it being the first and maybe not the best of its kind."

Slamming the mallet down one more time, before taking a break to stretch and seek the Raven's answer. He too had a spirit guiding his hand now, the group had many spirits. A dragon of physical and spiritual, the god's guiding behind a number of their group. Which reminded him he might need to take some time to see how the dragon within him was doing, Lièkōngzuò the last he'd tried to focus he had been too early and too hastey in their bonding. Time he would need to wait for their union to be enough that he could use the spirits power. "How are things moving with the ship and all our friends? Forgive my inability to sit still but even with all that has gone one, I see people who could do with my aid. Is there some way I can aid you friend?"

Raven gave the monk a quizzical smile, and held up a hand before waving it back and forth through the air.

"Wait wait wait wait wait, let me see if I've got this straight; you're apologizing because you have a strong work ethic? Geeze bud, I knew you were from another planet and all, but you're starting to make me thing that maybe I shouldn't have been using the literal definition of that term all this time."

The soldier took the cancer stick from his beak to ash it, put it back into it's spot, then stepped closer to the lump before bending over it. He poked at it with a talon, then straightened himself and looked at the Brother.

"Hey, if this is food and making it helps you practice Do, then I can really help you out by making you the ship's cook as well as the medic. Oh, and if you've picked your ingredients with even basic common sense, I'm sure there won't be too much indigestion. After all, the burning's eased with preparation H.

"As for the crew; Dev is catching up on sleep in my quarters because she saw a dust mite in hers and you know how easily freaked women are, Amp is making with the nice nice trying to get us free stuff, Lee is still breathing my air and refuses to take up the art of hara-kiri despite the lovely starter kit I got him, I can't get anyone to give me an update on Luci so I guess we just wait and see, and Tex's BO problem is so bad now I had to hang wallpaper just so the stench could peel it. There, all caught up.

"As for helping me, you already are. After all, it's because of me you're even on this planet to start with. I've got to go get the magic beans, so I can force a vine to grow up the Universe's ass. No, wait, you beat me to that didn't you? Oh well, still need those seeds. I don't know who I'm supposed to trade with for them, but I hope they don't have a cow when they realize I don't have a cow."

After being left unattended for a few moments, the dough wobbled and then just bonged up into the air and popped like a balloon falling down into a few rice cakes.

Yes it seamed the bunny did this for a (thousand/hundred forgot which) years at a time.... with out taking a brake.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:44, Tue 08 Nov 2016.

"I mean no ill only that some see such need to keep busy as ill balanced. I've had a few teachers and some allies see my actions as such before, though I am glad to see you see it as a benefit."

Seeing the Raven man poking at the dish he was preparing and only smiling."You may try some but the spirits tell me the longer I work at it the better its taste."

"I can try to aid providing meal as well as healing but I am no cook my friend. I've only ever aided alongside the cooks of temples, not picked up any skill in the kitchen." Though he imagined that through Do he might learn, take his skills from other aspects in attempt to learn the new. Taking up the hammer. "I am sure Dev will find your bed quite comforting, Amp as ever is a wonderful gift to our aid and a kind friend. Lee is quite the kind soul and challenges he might present you in altercation shall only make you better for it. As for Tex he might just feel his method is the best to give his chambers a make over, I wonder what colours he shall pick to replace the old wallpaper."

"We are here for it is the path we are needed for, our paths cross and have kept the same line for it is written. Your goal and path as much as I hope it might be, one that shall lead to keeping the cycle. I am told and discarded by my views that this coming end, and it being forced, are not what the tapestry needs." Mind casting briefly to his parting from his mentor, "You have the funds now I'm sure Raven, you would have been to the chambers of their obfuscation and shall I am sure put them to good use. Are those materials not sufficient you feel to exchange for that which you seek? If you need more I offer all I have in aid of this."

Seeing the dough pop up and form the rice cakes as per the ritual that the rabbit had given to his soul, smiling with satisfaction. As even if the taste were not to a great level, he believed it should fill bellies and bring joy to his world even if briefly. "Friend Raven, now shall I or you take the first bite?" Questioning as he gathered up the rice cakes.

(they are fine, they have some taste to them that is good.... but nothing that grate)

Raven blinked, then gave Huoshui a quizzical smile.

"Dude, I would think if anyone on this crew understood material wealth equals only the value people put on it, it would be you. You wanted for nothing, but all the glitz and glamor did nothing to fill an actual need in you now did it. After all if it had, you wouldn't have flushed your bank account now would you? To get these seeds I have to go out into the middle of nowhere on Venus of all places, so I'm guessing they're not at a general store which means all the chits in the Universe won't amount to a hill of beans. Think about it for a moment, we paid Ares for everything He gave us, and not a single credit swapped hands now did it?"

The old splicer's eyes grew wide as a realization hit him.

"Oh crap! Did I just have one of those 'figuring out a Universal truth' moment? No seriously did I, because the only ones I know of are from movies and involve things like snatching pebbles from some old guy's hand? By the by, do you guys really do that, or is it just propaganda?"

The big man gave his head a shake, as though attempting to clear it, then grinned at his friend.

"You know FW, you've got to be one of the most accepting, kindest people I have ever met. I could crack a two by four in half over your head, and you'd thank me for swatting a fly that was breaking your concentration. Then, you'd perform a five hour ritual on behalf of the bug's spirit. Even when trying to practice an art for your own betterment, you can't manage it in a way that's not beneficial for others. Everyone has a selfish part of themselves, no matter how well disguised it is; Dev is protecting a holy relic of her people, but wants to prove what a great and mighty knight she is by doing so. Me? I want to help both those I've damned and keep others from suffering the same fate, but I'd be lying if I said the prospect of a clean slate to build a more meaningful life for myself didn't appeal to me as well. But you? You'd jump in the way of a bullet to save a stranger's life, then with your last dying breath compliment the shooter on his aim.

"I can forge the energies of the Spirit Plane to my will, or cause the first four cards from a deck to be Aces no matter how well they're shuffled. Dev commands the very forces of Nature itself, Amp made a super vine grow through solid metal, and Lee's some kind of rod that can pull in massive amounts of power with which he is currently healing the ship. It could be said we do the impossible, but this thing I've been jawing about that isn't just a part of you, but plain out is you? Now that my friend, is truly impossible. Anyone you care to name could search for all their lives and never figure out how to do it, no matter how much power or knowledge they have. You've got something one of a kind going on there, do yourself a favor and never lose it."

There might have been more to say, but it was at this moment the dough ball decided to swell up and pop into cakes. The bird picked one up and looked at for a moment, then turned to the monk with a grin when the offer to be the first to try it was given.

"Before I get to that, I'd like to address your new position as ship's cook; You can make food, as you've just demonstrated, and that is the single requirement I'm looking for. Well that, and no one get sick or die from it. OK, Lee can, but not anyone else. Let me put this to you another way; right now the only two possible people who can fill the role are you and me, we can both only make a single dish, and mine is called Shit On a Shingle. So you win, contest over.

"As for me trying this thing first, I'll make a deal with you; I liked how you were able to throw a pebble clean into that wall when we first met officially, and I'd love to be able to do cool shit like that. So, you agree to show me how to do that Voodoo you do so well, and I'll be your test subject. What do you say?"

"As with the tapestry the consensus controls much, the value of credits and the ability for you or I to perform our miracles." Raven's realisation only brought the monk some glee, what could be better than a person finding ultimate truth for themselves. "I am sure what value those present at this station places upon the credits in the possession of the group shall aid in helping all involved. This one places not too much value on material goods but are not ignorant on it keeps the world moving. I can see we might need to grace palms with coin for services in getting to the location of your beans if nothing else."

"Your kind praise brings great pride to me my friend, but we all have our darknesses and no one is full dark or full light. Water which is too pure has no fish it is said. I have been reckless, I have spoken out to elders, I am partial to drink to a level which even my Do could be said to be tainted by it." It was sweet he'd given such an image to his friend, he would of course jump to stop a bullet or anything. Huoshui would not stand by while someone was attacked but from that he was unsure about his complementing the shooter. "I shall strive to not lose what you see in me friend as much as I strive to evolve."

"I can be all I can my friend, if that is cook, if that is medic or if that is a teacher to yourself. I am open to all who would listen and learn from what I have learnt myself, if you wish to be a test subject as you put it I can and shall be willing. Do is in all things, and I am sure together we might find your path through it so you too can learn... once again as you put it the voodoo." Taking a bite of one of his newly made treats, they were satisfactory but he did have in mind that it would take just some more time to make them better. He would be happy to give out these as they were however. "What aspect did you have in mind to be taught? I will warn there is a lot of... outside items that come into the path I've walked. The Drahma Sutra divides the path into eight areas of study. Dhyana, Prajna, Karma, Sunyakaya, Dharmamukt, Shastamarga, Tricanmarga, and Jivahasta. Through these areas of study it is shown that the way is not only for combat but all aspects of our lives. If you wish I can explain what each of these limbs means and the common practices associated with them."

Raven chomped into his own cake, figuring no matter what it tasted like he'd had worse at some point during his artificially extended life. The thing didn't grab his tongue in a choke hold or hit his gut like an A-Bomb, so he was satisfied. However, as Huoshui began to speak in earnest about spiritual matters the pleased look on the old splicer's face was replaced by one of utter confusion.

"Yeah, this might be the normal speed for green eared monks, but I'm thinking you're going to need to slow it down a couple of gears for me. Let me put it to you this way friend; I've only ever heard of one 'Sutra' in my life, and the word that preceded it was definitely not 'Drahma'."

"Well the Drahma unlike the Sutra you might have heard of is one of the great wheel. the Jnani composed the Drahma Sutra from the recollections of the Akashic Record and the experiences of Himalayan warriors and pacifists sages. Along with the writing of the Drahma Sutra, the forms of Do were formalised. But I go beyond myself, I've yet to explain the terms I have used so far. Drahma is the great wheel of life, there are cycles we die and are reborn again and again. It is how we can do our miracles, your, my and Dev's souls have lived before. The Drahma sutra is the teachings we Akashic monks use in hopes of ascending from the cycle and ascending from our current beings."

"As I named them there are said to be eight limbs. Dharmamukti, as I named it is the closed fist of the Drahma and would hold the most visible aspect of our teachings being Do. Now one can be confused in seeing one as an aspect of the other but Do without the Drahma cannot achieve the level that you've witnessed. Do without the rest of the Drahma is like any of the sleeping martial arts that trainers teach sleeping souls. Dhyana, calming the excitable mind. Escaping ego and attachments while also not forgetting how humanity needs to accept them. Often called the limb of meditation. Jivahasta, the hand of life. Seen for its healing and body control, knowing your own and others. Karma, the humble labour. “Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.” The focus of knowing we are but a small part in an infinite cosmos while also knowing that this is fine."

It felt quite calming to actually be asked of such things, the monk only feared if he was drowning too much so kept to the names and meanings. "Prajna. The ethics and philosophy. Within this limb holds such phrases and questions as once was asked by a student to his master. "You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How does one reconcile the two" To which the master replies, "It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war." It is knowing that we prepare our bodies for war but must also refine our mind with kindness. The body is armour but the heart must forever remain glass." Moving from just the definition on that one as his own teachers would stress this limb to new students, it was not more important than the others but could often be the hardest to take truly to heart.

"Shastamarga. The way of weapons, both making, maintaining and their use with knowledge of consequence. Judging your actions against the greater whole, expanding bodily awareness into tools that extend the body's reach. Sunyakaya. The limb of the empty body, obfuscation. The ability to disappear based in removal of ego by concealment of identity. Tricanmarga, this we share across with many ways of magic new and old. The way of the tripple struggle between dynamic, static and entropy we see them as Tiger, Phoenix and Dragon. It is a limb of balancing these three forces in the self and then by extension the world beyond the self." Laughing once he took a breath. "Well sorry, but hopefully that is all the limbs explained. In future I'd be glad to aid you in attaining the starting steps of any of these if you wish. Hopefully there is much to think of and as a man as yourself with a rich life behind you. I am sure there is much in yourself that is reflected within these."

"Let me share with you a Space Marine's prayer, OK?

'Yea though I walk
Through the valley
Of the Shadow of Death
I shall fear no evil,
For I am the baddest
Mother Fucker there'.

"Right now I'm supposed to do a lot of crazy stuff I don't understand, and in the course of trying I'll probably get another laundry list of Weird to tackle. I might make it or not, but I couldn't think that way without my ego damaged though it may be. So, I'm afraid anything that has to do with letting go what many a soldier uses as his greatest tool and weapon, is plain out.

"Look, if walking on rice paper and drinking tea while I'm twisted up like a pretzel will let me shoot a stone through a wall with just a flick of my wrist, then I can find my way to doing such. As to thoughts about reincarnation, we had an expression in the service that went like this; it's above my pay grade. Yeah, I'm probably a sad excuse for a student of this kind of stuff, but if it means anything I believe everyone is connected in life and death. After all, we all get born and then kick it at some point, right?

"Now the weapon thing you mentioned, that sounds pretty cool. There's a group of Hunters who are willing to take us out into the wilds in trade for money, that and the two of us; apparently a mage like you or me can be handy out there, and together we're a double threat to whatever might decide we're on the menu. They wanted to leave tomorrow, but I told Amp to stall them if she could for at least a day. No one's slept or eaten, plus we'd all be worrying about Luci if we didn't know anything for sure, and there's no call for you or the knight to push yourselves if it's not needed. So, if Amp pulls it off, we might have a short bit of down time and you could run me through some paces to see if I'm a hopeless cause or not. So, what do you say?"