In reply to Ethan (msg # 78):

I'm feeling much better, Jason nods as he looks over his skin and seeing many of his Tatoos have returned.  Not at one hundred percent, but better.
He reaches back to touch the top of his right shoulder.  On his back, a stylized hear the size if his hand sits between his lower shoulderblades,  with attached eagle-like wings that run from just below his waist all the way up to rest atop his shoulders, where they can be easily touched.  Hiwever, the skin around it has not yet fully regrown.  Thank you.  I will heal normally now.  And, in a few hours, I will have the energy to finish healing myself.  No need to use any more of your energy upon me.
He turns to Na-Wa and Lucas.  I feel I must go with them to deal with this vampire infestation.  If you find them, wait for me.  Reconnoiter, get good intel, but do not engage them until I arrive.  Perhaps I will have help.

Polk looks from Sir Arulas to the horse and back.

"Your smart like Nyx and Doc. You know many things.  Poor horse needs someone poking it to learn."

"Yeah the twins are smart when it comes to guns and a few other things. I got blade and some tech smarts."

Kalista saw Polk's indecision and acted, "Polk, I think you should go with the others. If they are following a dragon they will need your insight." She knew he would be sorely missed, but she could not in good conscience keep him from his own kind.

Polk looked to Kalista, "Keep Doc and Nyx safe." Polk said almost tearing up being seperated from them.

He then looked to Arulas then back to Kalista before dropping the pick ax.

"Teach Picky how to be good. I think he wants to try."

Then Polk sadly while looking back several times to the twins moved to the new group.

"Im Polk I can help you."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Tue 10 Apr 2018.

Doc was a little bit sad to be letting Polk go, even for a while, he was sort of like a younger brother to him and Nyx. He moved close and put an arm around Polk and whispered quietly.


Doc looked to the new group his friend was about to be leaving with, "Y'all let him get hurt or worse... well, you'll regret it." his index fingers tickling the handles of his pistols, his eyes moving from one party member to the next making direct eye contact with each one.

Lucas joins a frustrated Arulas at the horses. Working together, they are able to finagle a temporary solution. The looted robot horses will follow transportation commands, but they will not fight until properly reprogrammed. They use the same series of commands on all five robot Arabians.

Polk nodded to Doc.
"I will miss you hopefully be back together soon."

Polk turned into a cat got into the saddlebag of his horse and asked it to follow his new conpanions horses.

Lucas nodded to Arulas for the decent patch job they managed. "That should do for now, at least." He turned back to catch the tail end of the conversation being held and realized they'd traded an undead slayer for a dragon, and a juvenile one at that.

Moments later, upon being confronted by Doc, his mind debated whether to scoff, scold, or just roll his eyes. He knew the man's words came from concern for his friend, and so opted for a flat stare, "I regret it when any brother falls in combat, as any good soldier does. We will care for him no less than we do ourselves or each other." Turning to ready his own horse, he wondered at the company he kept nowadays. A psi-stalker and dragon were certainly a long way away from his old ranger squad.

Over his shoulder, he directed a question to his new companion, "So, Polk... do you know how to get to the dwarves' home? That would certainly make it easy, if we manage to finish our business first. Mind you it's not necessary. So don't worry about it if you don't. I'm just curious. I'm sure I can bring us back here and track them to the dwarves, but a direct route would be faster." He turned to listen to the response, and saw the dragon was now a cat. He blinked, opened his mouth as though to say something, then closed it and turned back to his horse. "Well, that will make for a quiet ride."

"Maybe, usually the others lead, though I think I could find it back from the boat." replied the black cat with green eyes.

Hope I can help you rescue dragon and find stalkers blade. Should we go direction Severance was fleeing ?"

Lucas jumped at the voice, and turned to look at the cat. "Ummm... good. I'm... sure we'll appreciate the help. I don't know about the direction. We'll have to see where Na-Wa's 'old scent' leads and we'll find out, I guess." He turned back to his horse slowly, a bit unnerved by the talking cat. After tightening the strap he had been working on, he leaned over toward Na-Wa and whispered to his friend, "You heard that too, right?"

And I can track back to from here, especially since you probably won't be worried about counter-tracking, Jason adds to Lucas' comment.
He also adds to the conversation with Doc by turning to the dragon-turned-cat.  Polkitain, is it?  He extends a hand in greeting.  I entrust my companions welfare to you, as I take the welfare of yours to my heart.  They will take care of you as well as I am sure I will be taken care of.
He then turns to Doc.  Hopefully, that helps to alleviate your worry.  He is in good hands.  He then turns to the others.  Now, if you do not mind, we must get up the hill to un-bury the rest of our supplies.  Then we shall all be ready to head to our destinies.
He looks over one of the horses.  So, they are ridden as a living horse, but respond to vocal commands?

Polk stuck a paw out to shake Jasons hand.

"Wow you said Polk's full name." Polk's kitty chest puffed up with pride.

"I will try and protect them. Doc says I get ahead of myself sometimes but I will try not too. Dragons can sense dragons your friend feels different but can still feel him. So should be able to help."

With a smile at the young dragon, Jason responds, It would be impolite to use your nickname without permission, as we have not known each other long.  As it would be to refer to your Cyber-knight fellows without their title of "Sir" or "Lady".
He turns to Lucas with a chuckle.  You are not crazy.  Dragons are shapeshifters of varying degrees, dependent upon breed.  Some can do so more often, or for longer periods of time than others.

"I like Jason Damien you know about dragons. Yes Horned, Thunder and Frilled are a bit better at metamorphosis and fitting in."

I'm ready to start the next scene+s. Does anyone have any last actions to declare or words to speak?

My young, draconic friend, I have soent some time around dragons.  I fact, the Tatoo Master I am trying to rescue is the very one who gave me my Ink.
He turns to model tge intricate tattooing, as well as the Tattooing, covering most of his upper body.  Many will just place their Tattoos in places that they best suited and easily reached.  But each Tattoo is done individually and stands alone.  This particular dragon considers himself an artist, and each Tattoo has to be a part of a greater canvas.

I think I'm done here.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:15, Wed 11 Apr 2018.

"Dragon does art ? Wow. What is his name so I know what to call him ? Do you know what kind of dragon he is ?"

Ethan was pleased to see that his treatment of Jason had been effective. He was even more pleased that Jason confirmed what he eyes had told him by way of thanks. “Let me know if experience any returning pain or injuries. God only knows what all those vampires did and there could be lingering side effects.”

The NEMA Combat Medic followed his wife outside and found Polk struggling with one of the robotic horses the vampires no longer needed. The young dragon’s antics never ceased to amuse and surprise him. “At least this time he isn’t trying to hatch a piñata,” he thought as the dragon eventually gave up. One of the freed prisoners, Lucas, came over and offered to help with the recalcitrant robotic equestrians.

Ethan watched silently, curious mind interested in the differences between working on a pure robot rather than a cybernetic system. The latter was an area of medicine he had formal training and some practical experience in. In his century, medical science had progressed to the point that most injuries that would require a replacement limb or organ, could be done with a vat grown ‘clone’ of the original. It eliminated the possibility of organ rejection and provided full functionality to the person with minimal physical therapy needed to adjust to their ‘new’ limb. That was the option favored by most civilians however. Those in the military, when faced with the need to repair injures sustained either in training or combat, often elected to use cybernetic systems for the added functions and capabilities they provided. The loss of that part of their humanity was deemed a small price to pay for something that could give them a much needed edge in tactical situations.

Once Lucas had finished tinkering with the robots, Ethan walked over to him and offered his hand, just as his wife had. “I’m Ethan Hawthorne, a combat medic by trade and by the grace of God, the husband of Kalista.” Ethan had left his helmet clipped to belt. His chestnut eyes were bright and he smiled at the other man. “I’m fairly good with cybernetic systems but would have been out of my depth with these robots. The AI built into cybernetic systems are intentionally limited and designed to the nervous system of the person they are attached to rather than voice commands or physical manipulation. We are fortunate that you possessed the skill to get these robots moving for us.”

OOC – Ethan will select one of the horses for himself as he didn’t have a ride yet. I am of course always ready for more roleplaying but I am ready to move on to the next scene if that’s what you are wanting GM.

Did Arulas or Kalista destroy Picky ?
If not Polk will slip out and save his new friend.

Private Note to Polk
No, Polkitain is the only character thus far who has done anything with the false rune weapons. Consider a Syphon Entity to be in your saddlebag.

When the other Lumberjacks began to prepare to leave, Nyx remained still. His own robotic steed, which had carried him to the ancient vessel, stood a few paces from the others: whether it disdained the others because of their prior association or foreshadowed the 'slingers next words was ambiguous, "I will continue Polk here's schooling, try and find the friend of these folk .. Perhaps this Chiang Ku too..."

After speaking he fell silent, moving to his brother and clasping him by the shoulder for a moment, "Stay safe. Don't be making too many tall tales in my absence"

Just a short explanatory post

Doc smiled, "Don't go fillin' Polk with no fool ideas either." Patting Nyx on the shoulder he nodded, "Maybe that dragon fella can teach Polk about bein' a dragon. Might do him good. Hey! maybe he can give us some of them fancy tattoos."

OOC brotherly retort

Jason cocks an eyebrow at the Elven 'Slingers.  They work best on Atlanteans, humans, and ogres.  Not so well for anyone else.  I've heard it's a lot more painful.  But, you never know.  He might as a reward.

Nyx, thanks for helping to even out the parties a little